"This humble servant, Song, greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Just as the Empress Dowager was lost in thought, a soft, sweet voice suddenly rang out. It was so gentle and endearing that it made people feel fond of the person just by hearing it.
The Empress Dowager looked toward the source of the sound and saw a woman kneeling obediently. She was wearing a light green palace dress and her slender body was kneeling below.
Looking at her, her hair was neatly combed, making her look like an honest person. Her attitude was extremely humble, leaving no room for criticism.
I suppose this woman is the one the emperor brought back from outside the palace—no, it should be said that he abducted her. I'm really curious what she looks like.
"Raise your head and let me see you—"
Before the Empress Dowager could finish speaking, she saw Song Lingxi's small face hidden in the shadows. What a face it was! Her skin was like solidified cream, her bones were like ice and jade, and she was a beauty that could topple kingdoms!
The woman had her eyes lowered, her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows slightly curved, and her curled eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings, making one want to explore whether her eyes were just as beautiful.
Beneath her small yet straight nose were thin, luscious lips. Her skin was as white as snow, and the contrast between red and white on her face was brought to its extreme, creating a striking allure.
Song Lingxi wore a green belted dress, her slender waist so delicate it could be encircled by a single hand, but her breasts were full and round, making one worry that they might break under the weight of her small waist.
She didn't perform the court lady's hair-touching ceremony, but rather the commoner's kowtow, yet it didn't make her seem vulgar; instead, it made her appear innocent and beautiful.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "She is indeed an exceptionally beautiful woman, so lovely that I feel pity for her. No wonder the Emperor lost his senses because of her."
Since the woman hadn't intentionally embarrassed her, the Empress Dowager herself didn't want to be too harsh on her; no one could bear to hurt such a precious girl.
"Get up, good child. You are so pretty and pleasing to the eye."
The Empress Dowager's rapid change of expression surprised Song Lingxi. Just a moment ago she had looked impatient, but now she had a warm smile on her face.
That's really strange. Do people in the air change their expressions?
Song Lingxi suppressed her doubts for the time being. After getting up, she stood obediently beside the Empress Dowager, without saying anything flattering, and just stood there blankly.
It can only be said that everything a beautiful woman does is pleasing to the eye. The Empress Dowager's eyes seemed glued to Song Lingxi, and she wouldn't let anyone else help her down from the imperial carriage, insisting that Song Lingxi support her.
Looking at her reddened hands and the Empress Dowager glaring at her, Rongpei Mama didn't know what she had done wrong to offend the Empress Dowager.
But seeing the Empress Dowager's eyes constantly glancing towards Song Lingxi, he found it amusing and still spoke up to remind Song Lingxi.
"The Empress Dowager likes you, so why don't you help her?"
The Empress Dowager gave Rong Pei an approving look; it was rare to see her so clever, and these words really struck a chord with her.
Song Lingxi was taken aback, but quickly recovered. She used her delicate white hands to help the Empress Dowager to her feet, and the fragrance emanating from her body entered the Empress Dowager's nose.
"What kind of perfume powder are you using? It smells quite nice, and it's very pleasant to smell. It's a rare and good perfume."
Supported by her, the Empress Dowager smelled the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms, as if she were in a sea of flowers. The peach grove in April was fragrant and sweet, and she even saw peach blossoms covering her face in a daze.
"Your Majesty, I did not use any perfume or face powder. Perhaps I accidentally got some on my face when I was applying makeup this morning."
Song Lingxi couldn't smell her own scent. The saying "living in a room full of orchids, yet unaware of their fragrance" perfectly describes this situation; she was completely unaware of her own body odor.
"Um."
Since she couldn't get the information out of her, the Empress Dowager gave up. Her purpose in coming here was to find out if Lady Song was truly involved with Jin'er...
The main hall of Fengyi Palace.
The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, and Song Lingxi sat to her left. The Empress Dowager pulled her aside to ask her questions.
"Did anything happen between you and the Emperor at the flower-viewing banquet at the Princess's residence yesterday? Why did you suddenly attract the Emperor's attention?"
The Empress Dowager's tone was neither happy nor angry, but she didn't seem to be asking any questions, which reassured Song Lingxi. In her previous life, she had never dealt with the Empress Dowager, so she could only try to speak as little as possible.
The more you say, the more mistakes you make; the less you say, the fewer mistakes you make. She knew that the nobles in the palace were ruthless killers, so she was extra cautious in her reply this time.
"Your Majesty, I attended the banquet with the Prime Minister's wife. The fruit wine was so delicious that I drank a few extra cups and became quite tipsy."
"My consciousness was a little unclear when I came back, but when I regained my senses, I was already in the palace, with a divorce agreement by my pillow."
As Song Lingxi spoke, she recalled the divorce agreement with the bloody handprint on it. Regardless of whether Xie Changling was forced to sell his wife or did so willingly, she was the one who was abandoned.
"I don't know what I've done wrong to make the young master dislike me. I'm just stupid and ignorant, but I truly resent it—"
As soon as the word "resentment" came out, she knew she had misspoke and hadn't been able to control her mouth, so she quickly apologized.
"Your Majesty, I have misspoke."
Song Lingxi's voice was hoarse. She harbored resentment about this and felt somewhat aggrieved when she thought about it. She felt she had been somewhat impolite in front of the Empress Dowager, so she quickly apologized.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I lost my composure for a moment. Please forgive me."
As Song Lingxi spoke, she was about to kneel down. She was somewhat annoyed. Although she was heartbroken, she was still resentful. If she angered the Empress Dowager and was punished, it would be deserved.
"Don't kneel. You are a good girl. Since the emperor has taken a liking to you, you should live a good life in the palace and bear children for the emperor."
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