"Chen Nian, how are you? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Once Ziwei released her, Xiaoyanzi rushed to Chennian's room.
She had visited Cining Palace many times to look for Chen Nian, so she knew where Chen Nian's room was.
"May the Empress Dowager be blessed, and may the Empress be blessed."
As soon as she ran into the room, she saw the Empress Dowager and the Empress sitting by Shen Nian's bedside. Xiao Yanzi stopped in her tracks, fell silent, and obediently gave a curtsy.
Her relationship with the Empress has been alright lately. She hasn't caused any trouble, and the Empress hasn't made things difficult for her. With Chen Nian mediating, Xiao Yanzi has also started to greet the Empress respectfully.
"Okay, you guys chat. Qing'er, if Niannian feels unwell, be sure to tell me."
Seeing the proper manners of the people and the worry in Xiao Yanzi's eyes, both the Empress Dowager and the Empress nodded.
"good."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, I've made milk tea. Please try it and don't waste my good intentions."
Shen Nian reached out and tugged at the Empress Dowager's sleeve. Seeing the worry between the Empress Dowager's brows, Shen Nian tried her best to ease the heavy atmosphere in the room and spoke with a smile.
"I understand, Your Majesty, let's go."
The Empress Dowager was no stranger to contemplation.
She raised her hand and gently stroked Chen Nian's head, managing a faint smile, though her brows still betrayed her worry for Chen Nian.
"Um."
...
"Chen Nian, Niannian, how are you? Did you take your medicine? Is there anything else that's bothering you? Why are your hands so cold? Should we put a fire basket on them?"
After the Empress Dowager and the Empress left, Xiao Yanzi sat on the edge of the bed and happened to touch Chen Nian's hand hanging by his side. Feeling the coldness of his hand, she was very worried and took Chen Nian's hand in her own.
He lowered his head and breathed on Chen Nian's hands from time to time, trying to warm them up. While warming Chen Nian's hands, he looked him up and down.
Her face was white, her lips were white, and she looked weak all over. She was nothing like the lively person I had seen before, and her hands were so cold.
"Little Swallow, what do you think about this?"
Shen Nian watched Xiao Yanzi's actions and felt uneasy. It would be a lie to say that she wasn't upset, but she wasn't one to make things difficult for herself. She needed to figure out Xiao Yanzi's attitude first.
Chen Nian moved her hand, trying to break free, and her tone became distant.
"Don't move, let me warm your hands. They're so cold."
Little Swallow patted Chen Nian's hand, signaling him not to move. Instead of letting go, she tightened her grip on his hand.
"Are you asking if I'll blame you? Blame you for making Ziwei kneel as punishment and Erkang get beaten?"
She may have limited experience and education, but having grown up in the streets, she was adept at reading people's expressions. She wasn't stupid; she noticed the aloofness in Shen Nian's eyes.
She knew that if this matter wasn't handled properly, her relationship with Shen Nian could very well end, so she had to make her stance clear.
“Chen Nian, I don’t know what happened, but I know it’s definitely not your fault. The fault lies with Er Kang. Although I don’t know why Er Kang would accuse you, I know you must be innocent.”
Xiao Yanzi spoke firmly, without any doubt.
She didn't know the truth of the matter, but based on her time with Chen Nian, she was sure that Chen Nian had been implicated.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are not people who would indiscriminately judge right and wrong. Since Ziwei and Erkang were punished, then Ziwei and Erkang must be at fault.
She knew how much Erkang cared about Ziwei. It must have been that Erkang was furious, and coincidentally, Ziwei had done something that made Erkang misunderstand, so Erkang took his anger out on Chen Nian.
"Little Swallow, you trust me that much?"
To be honest, Shen Nian didn't expect that Xiao Yanzi would choose to believe him without even knowing the truth.
“Chen Nian, although we haven’t known each other for long, I know you are a good person and you are innocent in this matter.”
Xiao Yanzi's attitude was very firm; she had 100% trust in Chen Nian.
...
"Xuan'er, please explain."
Xiao Yanzi's attitude made it clear that Chen Nian and Qing'er exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with satisfaction. They realized that Xiao Yanzi could be a friend, and the feigned aloofness in Chen Nian's eyes disappeared.
...
"What! How could Er Kang do this? How could he take his anger out on you? How could he be such a bastard!"
He's insulting you without even knowing the truth? Is he out of his mind? Don't worry, I'll definitely get justice for you. Erkang is really outrageous; he didn't get enough punishment. Why didn't Father Emperor give him a better beating?
After hearing everything, Xiao Yanzi was furious, even more so than Chen Nian, who was the person involved, feeling that Er Kang's punishment was too lenient.
"And Ziwei too, why didn't she stop Erkang? Not only did she not explain things clearly, but she also let Erkang accuse you."
In this whole affair, Nian Nian was a completely innocent victim. In the end, Er Kang said those things, wasn't that just stabbing Nian Nian in the heart?
Even as an outsider, she was angry just listening to it, let alone pondering it; no wonder she fainted from anger.
Erkang is really outrageous; he loses his mind whenever it comes to Ziwei.
She has no parents either, so she naturally knows what it feels like to be told that you don't have parents.
Her initial desire to plead for Erkang vanished instantly. What a load of rubbish! Only a madwoman would plead for him.
He deserved the punishment. When he got to Shufangzhai, she would have to give Yongqi and Benjamin another lecture.
Little Swallow's eyes were filled with heartache for Chen Nian.
"Don't you think I'm making things difficult for Ziwei? She injured her hand and I still made her make Luohan cakes for me."
Xuan'er only recounted how things unfolded, and said nothing else.
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