As for Xia Yunshang, Su Wanyan guessed that yesterday, the first day of the Lunar New Year, was indeed the best time to slip out of the palace due to the busy affairs and various sacrificial rites.
However, compared to the Empress Dowager, she was still slightly inferior.
"We agreed not to go to the palace today, but I didn't expect to end up going anyway." Su Wanyan covered her mouth and whispered to Yu Nanqing.
Yu Nanqing tightened his grip on Su Wanyan's small hand, a hint of melancholy in his brow, and looked down at Su Wanyan with pursed lips.
He didn't know whether to say Su Wanyan was too kind or too unscrupulous. Since she knew the Empress Dowager had ill intentions, why didn't she wait for him to arrive before entering the palace?
If Qiuye hadn't come to report, wouldn't she have been bullied by the Empress Dowager if she had entered the palace?
Su Wanyan has always been intelligent, so she probably doesn't think it's such a trivial matter. Given the current power of Prince Gong's Mansion, Su Wanyan's refusal to enter the palace won't cause any major trouble.
There is only one reason: Su Wanyan herself wants to enter the palace to see what the Empress Dowager is up to.
Even so, Yan'er should wait for him!
Yu Nanqing asked, frustrated, "Why don't we wait?"
Before I knew it, I blurted out the thoughts that were on my mind.
Su Wanyan looked up and saw a pair of bright, clear eyes looking at him with pure, innocent eyes. She grinned and said, "Because I knew you would come."
Yu Nanqing never made her wait.
He never asked her to stop for him.
That smile and those words instantly dispelled the gloom in Yu Nanqing's heart.
Instead, there was an unexpected blush.
He quickly looked away, clenched his fist and coughed, his tone still tinged with barely suppressed excitement: "Yes, Yan'er is absolutely right."
Oh my! Su Wanyan couldn't help but feel overjoyed. Yu Nanqing was so easy to please!
She couldn't help but grab his hand and rub it against his little face: "You have to chase after me next time, okay? Sometimes I really don't know how to handle situations like this. That old woman was so aggressive and scary!"
Yu Nanqing felt a tickle in his palms from her rubbing against him, and couldn't help but blush, but he answered seriously, "Yes, I'll take care of everything!"
After speaking, he glanced casually at the messenger outside.
Yonghe Palace.
This is the palace where the Empress Dowager currently resides.
She wasn't surprised to see that Yu Nanqing had come with Su Wanyan.
Although she ordered that only Su Wanyan be summoned, she also knew that it was impossible to do so. As long as Yu Nanqing was with Su Wanyan, he would not let Su Wanyan take the risk alone.
However, even though I knew this, the fact that the people in the palace were incompetent was another matter entirely.
Her eyes, which reached straight to her temples, held a hint of a smile as she gave the messenger a sharp look.
The old woman kept her eyes lowered and carefully withdrew after Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan entered the hall.
Su Wanyan stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "This humble woman greets the Empress Dowager."
Yu Nanqing frowned slightly, only lowering his eyes in response to Su Wanyan's gesture, without saying a word.
The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered imperceptibly, but she didn't show it on her face. She waved her hand slightly and said, "Get up quickly and have a seat."
Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. There are various activities in the palace. Why is the Empress Dowager so free?
Whether the Empress Dowager saw through Su Wanyan's thoughts or not, as soon as the two sat down, she laughed and said, "Alas, I am old and cannot compare with those young people. Let them do what they want in the palace. I really can't walk anymore."
Su Wanyan lowered her eyes and pursed her lips. She should rest more when she gets old. Why did they have to call her into the palace and interfere so much?
"Speaking of which, why didn't Prince Gong and Princess Gong attend the palace celebration banquet today? I thought you were young and would enjoy the palace's New Year's banquet, or perhaps Prince Gong and Princess Gong have other plans? If so, my summons to you has perhaps disturbed your enjoyment."
Although the Empress Dowager smiled, her words carried a hint of questioning.
Are they not attending the New Year's banquet because the palace banquet is not good enough? Or is there something more important than her summons?
Upon hearing this, Su Wanyan suddenly realized what was happening.
Could she possibly think that Xia Yunshang's meeting with them yesterday was the result of some kind of agreement?
"The Empress Dowager says she's old, but she's actually very young. Look at me, I was up all day yesterday, and today I slept until the sun was high in the sky. The Prince felt sorry for me, so he sent a letter and didn't come to the palace for the banquet. Compared to the Empress Dowager, I am truly ashamed of myself." Su Wanyan smiled perfectly, defusing the sharp edge in her words with a laugh.
Even though she didn't enter the palace, she still went through the proper procedures.
"Hehehe." The Empress Dowager smiled with loving eyes: "Princess Gong is always good at making me happy."
She sighed, "The reason I called you all here today is actually to have a heart-to-heart talk with someone. As you can all see, the situation in the court is unstable right now. The young emperor is still a minor and not up to the task. All the responsibilities have fallen on this old woman's shoulders, and there is no one in the palace who can share my burdens..."
She looked at the two men: "The great victory of Prince Gong and Prince Gong has not only put the people of Great Jin at ease, but also relieved the officials and me. I will always remember the great contributions you have made to Great Jin."
Su Wanyan did not believe that the Empress Dowager's forceful summons to the palace was to say these comforting words.
She lowered her eyes and gave a symbolic smile, replying, "These are all things that a subject and a prince should do."
The Empress Dowager curled her lips, her gaze suddenly darkening slightly: "However, with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, there are still many officials in the court who outwardly comply but inwardly defy him, forming factions and plotting to disrupt the court's order once again and trigger a civil war."
She paused for a moment: "I am exhausted from trying to consolidate the court. Do you two know the bitterness I have endured?"
Su Wanyan rolled her eyes inwardly. Do you even know the hardships Yu Nanqing endured fighting on the border?
If you really feel tired, then don't argue, just give in.
You may think this in your heart, but you can't show it on your face.
The Empress Dowager's words were simply a warning to them that she was now in power in the court, and helping Xia Yunshang would only be counterproductive.
However, Su Wanyan thought of another aspect: did the Empress Dowager's nervousness mean that her foundation was not as solid as it appeared on the surface?
Prince Gong's Mansion had no intention of helping Xia Yunshang. The fact that the Empress Dowager was so alarmed without any evidence shows that the power she wielded was not as great as it appeared on the surface.
Before Su Wanyan could finish her reply, Yu Nanqing's voice rang out from above her head: "Is this the reason the Empress Dowager forced Yan'er to come?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned immediately.
Even Su Wanyan was stunned for a moment.
Is that really the case?
"Hehe." The Empress Dowager's face darkened: "What are you saying, Prince Gong? I already said that I summoned you here only to have a heart-to-heart talk."
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