Chapter 140 Zhou Yan, he must like her.
The first thing Shui Xian did after regaining power was to transfer Yin Zhu back to Lihe Palace.
Her reasoning was impeccable: Yinzhu was transferred to Kunning Palace by Emperor Zhaoheng to take care of the princess. Now that the princess has been brought back to Lihe Palace, what need is there for Yinzhu to stay there?
After Granny Sun "committed suicide out of fear of punishment," Yinzhu was released from the Shenxing Division and was originally arranged by the Empress to recuperate in a low and narrow room in Kunning Palace.
When she was brought back to Lihe Palace, Yinzhu was wrapped in white cloth, and her exposed face was almost bloodless. The only thing that remained unchanged was her calm and steady eyes.
"Your Majesty, Yinzhu...is back."
As Xiao Lizi helped her into the gate of Lihe Palace, Yinzhu met Shuixian's slightly red and tearful eyes.
Yinzhu's usually calm demeanor became slightly flustered. She tried to walk quickly to Shuixian's side, but Shuixian was faster than her.
Her beautiful skirt traced a graceful arc on the ground. Although Narcissus was pregnant, she walked briskly and quickly to Yinzhu.
She wanted to reach out and support Yinzhu's arm, but when she saw Yinzhu's wrist wrapped in white cloth peeking out from her sleeve, she was afraid of hurting her, so she slightly curled her fingertips and pulled them back.
"Yinzhu...you have suffered because of me."
Ignoring her rolling hot tears, Narcissus carefully cradled Yinzhu in her arms.
She was afraid of touching Yinzhu's injury, so she held her own arm up with some difficulty.
From that banquet, Shui Xian vaguely sensed the impending storm. At that time, only Yin Zhu was by her side, and Shui Xian had no choice but to entrust Yong Ning to Yin Zhu.
Yinzhu's loyalty meant that even after Shuixian was released from the Cold Palace, she did not leave Yongning's side. It was precisely because of this that she was framed and sent to the Shenxing Division.
"For the princess, this servant is not afraid of hardship."
As Yinzhu spoke, she firmly embraced Shuixian with her arms wrapped in cloth.
For a moment, Shui Xian and Yin Zhu embraced and wept bitterly in Lihe Palace. Their cries disrupted their words, and none of the palace servants waiting nearby could understand what the two, who had finally reunited, were saying to each other.
Yongning was held by her nanny. She had come out for some fresh air and a walk, and she saw her mother's familiar figure in the distance. However, her little mind still couldn't understand why her mother was hugging someone and crying and laughing at the same time.
Yongning was getting anxious. She grabbed the nanny's sleeve and shook it anxiously, pointing her little hand in the direction of the narcissus, as if she wanted to go and help her mother.
The nanny chuckled, then hugged Yongning tightly and walked into the palace, not wanting to disturb Consort Jin and her head maid, Yinzhu.
It took about an incense stick's time for Narcissus and Silver Pearl to calm down.
After confirming repeatedly that Yinzhu's injuries were not too serious, only affecting the skin and flesh without breaking the bones, Shuixian didn't know if this was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune, or if it was the result of instructions from Emperor Zhaoheng and the Shenxing Division.
However, she wasn't in the mood to investigate right now.
Even if it really was Emperor Zhaoheng, wasn't it he who ordered the silver beads to be thrown into the Shenxing Division?
"I've already sent someone to summon Pei Jichuan. Let him take a look at you, so you don't end up with any problems."
In her previous life, Yinzhu died in her arms, and even now, Shuixian can still remember the feeling of Yinzhu's hot blood.
This time, when she heard that Yinzhu had been falsely accused of poisoning, her heart was in her throat.
She was terrified of hearing news of Yinzhu's death again. For several days, Shuixian often dreamed of Yinzhu's miserable state in the Shenxing Division and would wake up in the middle of the night in fright.
On one occasion, when Emperor Zhaoheng noticed, Shui Xian only said that she had forgotten the scene in her dream and did not know what kind of dream she had encountered.
She couldn't tell her husband about her fears. On the surface, she seemed calm and collected, but in reality, Shui Xian was only completely relieved when Yin Zhu returned safely to Lihe Palace.
Shui Xian led Yin Zhu toward the main hall, gave Yin Zhu a brief introduction to the specifics of Lihe Palace, and then said, "No matter how you refuse this time, I will find you a good family with a generous dowry so that you can marry into a glamorous family."
If she had a choice, Shui Xian wouldn't want Yin Zhu to leave the palace and get married.
However, the palace was treacherous, and Yinzhu suffered repeatedly because of her. Shuixian could no longer ignore her and only wanted to find a good place for Yinzhu, a good family, so that she could spend the rest of her life in peace and health.
In the past, whenever marriage was mentioned, Yinzhu would say that she wanted to stay in the palace and accompany her until she grew old and died there.
This time, however, Silver Pearl's reaction was slightly different.
Upon hearing this, Yinzhu paused for a moment, her fingertips tracing the hem of her palace maid's robe before she whispered, "My lady, Yinzhu wants to stay in the palace with you forever."
"You've got your eye on Silver Pearl."
At first, Narcissus didn't realize it. "You are of good birth and have a job in the palace. With the dowry I've prepared, you can live a good life wherever you marry."
"If you stay in the palace, your honor and disgrace depend entirely on my favor. But if I fall out of favor one day, your fate might be worse than if you were outside..."
At this point, Narcissus suddenly realized something.
"wrong."
Narcissus suddenly stopped and looked at Silver Pearl's lowered face in the warm sunlight.
“You hesitated just now, Silver Pearl. You’ve never hesitated before.”
Yinzhu is usually quiet and reserved, but that doesn't mean she is indecisive. In fact, she is very decisive and efficient, and sometimes so stubborn that even Shuixian can't do anything about her.
Even someone like her hesitated when Narcissus mentioned leaving the palace to get married!
Yinzhu stammered, but ultimately couldn't find an excuse. She was decisive and straightforward, but her reactions weren't quick, and she wasn't good at lying.
"...There is such a person, Master, you know him too."
Unable to hide it any longer, Yinzhu told the truth.
"Zhou Yan, the manager of Dengdi Inn... he actually sent someone to deliver a message after I entered the Shenxing Division... my mother's chronic illness has finally been cured by Physician Pei."
As an innkeeper who had not entered officialdom, Yinzhu had no idea how he had asked someone to bring her the news.
But upon hearing this news, Yinzhu felt that she would be willing to die on the spot.
Her mother's old illness was stubborn. If it weren't for the Consort's arrangement, how would she have known that Pei Jichuan could cure her mother?
After several months of treatment, her mother finally recovered from the illness, a piece of news that thrilled Yinzhu more than anything else.
In the dimly lit prison, the news was like a ray of warm sunlight, giving her indescribable strength.
In places like the Censorate, death is easy, but living is incredibly difficult.
Those eunuchs, skilled in torture, knew how to make people wish they were dead. Several times, Yinzhu thought she wouldn't see the sun rise the next day, but she would wake up the next day in excruciating pain and face a new round of torture.
The news of her mother's recovery made Yinzhu abandon her thoughts of suicide due to extreme pain. At the same time, she also gained a deeper impression of the name Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan.
Yinzhu wasn't unaware of Zhou Yan's feelings; he must have liked her.
It should be because Zhou Yan had never expressed such thoughts to her.
However, Yinzhu could still notice many subtle things, such as the way Manager Zhou's eyes lit up every time she stepped into Dengdi Inn on behalf of her master.
On another occasion, Zhou Yan had a hairpin beside him. When he saw her step into the inn, he not only looked nervous as he spoke, but his hand also kept stroking the plain silver hairpin.
Yinzhu guessed what he meant, but she didn't say it outright. After giving her master instructions, she was about to leave.
The next moment, however, he was stopped by Manager Zhou.
When Yinzhu turned around, the first thing she saw was Zhou Yan's nervous face. He was supposed to be calm and composed, but at that moment he unconsciously tightened his hands at his sides.
She immediately noticed the plain silver hairpin that Zhou Yan was holding.
Yinzhu's father abandoned her and her mother, running off with a woman who only wanted the small amount of silver in his pocket.
Yinzhu never longed for marriage and even wanted to live a solitary life. However, Zhou Yan's unwavering persistence and his consistent adherence to his duty of not disturbing her left a vivid mark on her heart.
She was never particularly conflicted, but when it came to matters related to him, she couldn't help but reveal a hint of confusion.
Will Zhou Yan's current kindness towards her change later?
Was her father also a charming young man who promised her mother a stable future?
Seeing Yinzhu's hesitation, Shuixian said gently, "...Take your time."
"Um."
Yinzhu nodded. "Take your time."
She is now being tortured and can't stand for long periods of time.
Shui Xian asked Ting Lu to take Yin Zhu to a side room. Only then did Yin Zhu see Ting Lu. She had vaguely heard that Ting Lu was Shui Xian's head maid, but she had only met her before and had not gotten to know her well.
"Sister Yinzhu".
Her ears were bright and clever, and her little mouth was as sweet as if it had been coated with honey.
"Thanks to Sister Yinzhu, the master asked me to take care of you and specially allowed me to share a room with Sister Yinzhu. The master specially gave Sister Yinzhu the largest and most spacious room in Lihe Palace."
She put it cleverly.
Yinzhu smiled slightly, her expression revealing no sign that she had any objection to Tinglu being her current head palace maid.
They are all very good people and wouldn't hold a grudge over such a trivial matter.
However, Tinglu, fearing that Yinzhu might mind, chattered on and on about the current situation of Lihe Palace.
For example, after Yinzhu returned, she and Yinzhu were both first-class maids by their master's side, with no distinction in rank.
For example, Yinzhu served her master for a longer time, so her monthly salary was slightly higher than hers.
for example......
In the end, Yinzhu couldn't stand it anymore and shouted "Stop!" with a mix of laughter and tears.
“Tinglu, from now on we will all serve by your side. I will not hold these details against you. Besides, Lihe Palace is very large and there are many things to do. Once I have recovered from my injuries, I will discuss with you how to share the burden.”
"Is this alright?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appeared in Tinglu's eyes.
"As expected of Sister Yinzhu, who has served the master for a long time. The master said the same thing before!"
Her words were a bit too sweet. Although Yinzhu found them a bit noisy, after leaving the Shenxing Division, where life had been stagnant for too long, she began to appreciate the lively atmosphere.
Shui Xian stood at the entrance of the main hall, gazing in the direction where Yin Zhu and Ting Lu had left. A hint of relief and a faint smile flashed in her eyes.
Finally, everyone from the Palace of Rites and Palaces was present.
As for tomorrow, it will be the first time she has held a morning and evening greeting since she and Consort De jointly took power.
She looked at the distant horizon.
Tomorrow, another tough battle awaits...
......
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