The next morning, two older female officials and several strong palace maids arrived at the residence, and Pan Jinyue was forcibly taken into the palace. (Latest and fastest updates, free reading)
The old lady was heartbroken by Pan Jinyue yesterday, and her heart ached so much that she couldn't sleep well all night. But after all, she was a child she had loved for many years, so how could she just stand by and do nothing?
The old lady felt a pang of sadness at the thought that her child, whom she had raised for ten years, was about to go far away to the north, and that they would be separated by life and death.
Therefore, before dawn, she got up and dressed, intending to personally escort Pan Jinyue to the palace and give her a few words of advice to prevent her from suffering any misfortune there.
The old lady had a well-thought-out plan. Her first priority was to appease Pan Jinyue, then she would go to the Imperial Concubine to plead for leniency and see if there was any way to replace her on her journey to a distant marriage. She would then send her far away and find a good family in the south to marry her off in a couple of years.
The old lady racked her brains over Pan Jinyue's matter, but who would have thought that Pan Jinyue would be so ungrateful? Before she could even speak, Pan Jinyue gave her a cold look. After getting out of the sedan chair, she directly lifted the curtain and walked out without a care, completely ignoring the old lady who was wearing heavy court robes and trembling as she got up.
The palace maids who were attending to her knew more or less about the relationship between Pan Jinyue and the old lady. Seeing Pan Jinyue's lack of respect for hierarchy, they couldn't help but look at her with pity.
In an instant, the old lady's face burned like fire, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Pan Jinyue walked into the alley without turning her head.
The palace maids, feigning deafness and muteness, led the awkwardly behaving grandmother and granddaughter into Fengzao Palace. The Imperial Concubine offered a few perfunctory words of comfort to Pan Jinyue before sending her to rest in Shunkang Palace, leaving only the old lady to speak. (Latest and fastest updates)
Half an incense stick later, the old lady walked out of Fengzao Palace with a pale face. She returned to her residence and fell ill that very night. The physician came to her residence overnight to examine her and finally concluded that she was depressed and advised her to take good care of herself.
Shi Lan and the other younger generation learned of the news the next day and all came to take care of her. Han Shi thought that her daughter was about to get married and did not want her to be tired, so she sent the younger generation back and only left Sun Shi to take turns with her.
Half a month later, the old lady's condition finally improved, and Han and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Shi Lan received an invitation from the palace. Pan Jinyue, the current Empress Xianfu, invited the young ladies of her household to the palace for a casual chat.
Shi Lan had a very bad impression of Pan Jinyue and wanted to refuse her, but couldn't think of a suitable excuse.
Seeing her predicament, Madam Ruan was about to send the lady-in-waiting back when Shi Lan quickly stopped her, saying, "Forget it, she's bored in the palace. Eldest sister is busy preparing for her wedding and can't go out much. Fifth sister is too young to talk to. If I don't go, she won't have anyone to talk to."
Having said that, Madam Ruan dared not stop her. She could only sigh softly, help Shi Lan tidy her hair, face, and clothes, and then help her out.
In the Shunkang Palace, which is close to the current residence of Pan Jinyue and the East Palace, Pan Jinyue sat calmly in the main seat of the main hall, slowly sipping fragrant tea.
Chun Ya, who was serving her, kept stealing glances at her, her face showing barely concealed anxiety.
Pan Jinyue cleared her throat, looked up at her, a smile playing on her lips, but her words were chillingly cold, "Are you trying to make everyone know that you know something you shouldn't know?"
Chun Ya was so frightened that her lips trembled, and she quickly shook her head.
Pan Jinyue said, "Then straighten your back and stop looking like you've done something wrong."
Chun Ya quickly straightened her back, trying her best to appear less timid.
Pan Jinyue nodded in satisfaction and said, "Go outside and greet them. Why haven't they arrived yet?"
Spring buds should be quickly stepping out of the tall, carved gate.
Once out of Pan Jinyue's sight, Chun Ya slumped her head as if she had lost her parents, deeply regretting that she should have been more assertive that day and stopped the princess, or that she shouldn't have acted impulsively and followed her into this mess, eavesdropping on the conversation between the Imperial Concubine and the old lady of the Marquis's mansion.
Undeniably, when she first heard the news, her first reaction was to report it to the Emperor. But then she thought that if a palace maid with no rank were to rashly report such a matter involving palace secrets, she would probably only be left with a three-foot-long white silk ribbon or a cup of poison.
Chun Ya let out a long, frustrated sigh. Suddenly, she remembered what the lady who had taught her when she first entered the palace had said: "Don't listen to what you shouldn't listen to, and don't look at what you shouldn't look at."
At that time, she was young and impetuous, and she forgot the lady's words as soon as they passed her ears. Now, thinking back, they were truly wise words, but it is too late for her to regret them.
A few people walked slowly in the distance. Chun Ya looked at them intently, her face stiffening for a moment, but she quickly forced a smile.
Shi Lan followed the palace maid to Chun Ya, who bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Fourth Sister of the Pan Family."
Shi Lan nodded, and Chun Ya led the way with a beaming smile.
The palace maid who was leading the way quietly withdrew, and Shi Lan followed Chun Ya up the white marble steps, stepped over the high threshold, and entered the hall.
Pan Jinyue looked down at Shi Lan, who was walking towards her step by step, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.
Shi Lan walked to a distance of five steps from her and, according to etiquette, gave her a deep bow, saying, "Fourth Sister of the Pan family pays respects to Princess Xianfu."
Pan Jinyue watched her finish the ceremony with a smile, and then said with a smile, "We are sisters, why bother with such a grand ceremony?"
Shi Lan, who was prostrating on the ground, twitched the corner of her mouth, slowly stood up, and said calmly, "Propriety must not be disregarded."
Pan Jinyue smiled and gestured to the person in the first seat below her, saying, "Fourth sister, please sit down."
Shi Lan bowed again and went over to sit down.
Pan Jinyue looked up at Chun Ya, who was huddled by the door, and said, "Aren't you going to serve tea?"
Chun Ya's shoulders trembled, and she went out the door shakily.
Shi Lan turned to look at her back, feeling a little strange.
Pan Jinyue picked up her teacup, tapped it lightly twice, and said, "I have been away from the manor for many days. I wonder how things are at home?"
Shi Lan, interrupted from her train of thought, turned her head and replied, "Grandmother fell ill as soon as she returned from the palace. My aunt and mother have been busy taking care of her, and my eldest sister has been helping us with some tasks."
Pan Jinyue frowned slightly, feigning concern: "Sick? How could you be sick? What did the doctor say?"
Shi Lan opened her mouth as if to speak, but Chun Ya stepped forward and offered her some fragrant tea.
Pan Jinyue then said, "This is Buddhist tea. Fourth Sister, please try it and see how it tastes."
Shi Lan had been staying at Fengzao Palace recently and had tried all kinds of tea, including the Four Seasons Buddha Tea, but none of them had shown off like this.
However, Shi Lan was very composed. She smiled, picked up the teacup, skimmed off the foam, took a sip, and then put it down.
Pan Jinyue asked her, "How does it taste?"
Shi Lan nodded and said, "Not bad."
Pan Jinyue stared intently at her, slowly stood up, and said as she walked, "*The taste of the powder is not bad either?"
Shi Lan was taken aback, and frowned as she looked at her. "What do you mean?"
Pan Jinyue sneered, "The literal meaning."
Shi Lan tried to get up, but her legs felt weak and she felt dizzy.
Pan Jinyue stopped in front of Shi Lan and said, "I've searched high and low for so long, and it turns out the person I've been looking for was right in front of me, and I didn't even know it."
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