When Zhao Shu arrived at the gate of Cining Palace, she hesitated, pacing back and forth, but did not go in.
Xiao Guozi and the others followed behind her, pacing back and forth, unsure how to persuade the princess.
Finally, it got dark. Looking at the sun, she bit her lip and sighed like an old woman.
"Hmm." A rather stern voice sounded from behind, "Aren't you going back to the manor?" Emperor Mingde stood behind him with a serious expression.
Upon seeing Emperor Mingde, Zhao Shu hurriedly ran over and pitifully tugged at his sleeve, saying, "Uncle Emperor, I swear in my father's name that I did not mean it, really."
"Yes, I believe you." Emperor Mingde nodded.
Zhao Shu was so moved that she almost burst into tears. "Uncle, you are so kind."
Immediately after being moved, Emperor Mingde said, "I believe you did it on purpose."
Zhao Shu: ...
"Hahahaha." A series of laughs rang out as Emperor Mingde walked into Cining Palace with his hands behind his back. "Why aren't you coming in yet? Are you going to stand here all night?"
“Oh…” Zhao Shu drew out the “oh” sound for a very long time.
He followed cautiously behind Emperor Mingde, trying his best to keep his presence to himself, which made Liang Yunsi, who was following him, feel sorry for him.
Emperor Mingde glanced at Zhao Shu out of the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but smile. "Do you know where you went wrong?"
"You secretly released the Imperial Concubine Dowager from the palace," she said in a low voice.
Emperor Mingde nodded, "Yes, he's not beyond redemption yet; he knows where he went wrong."
Zhao Shu suddenly grabbed Emperor Mingde's sleeve again. Emperor Mingde turned around and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Uncle, please put in a good word for me later. I promise I won't do it again. I just made a mistake because I was too soft-hearted and acted impulsively. I promise I won't do it again!" she said pitifully, her big eyes glistening with tears, and she blinked twice.
Emperor Mingde was secretly delighted, thinking that he should cause him a few more troubles like this, but when he thought that this girl had been standing in Cining Palace for so long and the Empress Dowager had not sent anyone to invite her in, he knew that she must be very angry. So he decided to wait until the Empress Dowager calmed down before he could have a good laugh.
"Your attitude in admitting your mistake is good. Don't worry, your imperial uncle will definitely put in a good word for you." Emperor Mingde patted her head and took another step forward.
Zhao Shu moved her feet with difficulty, as if she were going to her execution.
Unfortunately, although Cining Palace was quite large, it was only a short walk away. Liang Yunsi shouted, "His Majesty has arrived!"
As if knowing Emperor Mingde was coming, Jiyun was waiting outside. When she saw Emperor Mingde and Zhao Shu arrive one after the other, she turned around and glanced at the brightly lit hall. She then curtsied and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty and Princess."
"Aunt Jiyun, has the Empress Dowager gone to rest?" Zhao Shu asked hurriedly.
Ji Yun glanced at Zhao Shu, his expression no longer as warm as before. It was a pity that the Empress Dowager doted on the princess so much, yet the princess had angered the Empress Dowager so much.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has retired for the night."
Zhao Shu's face fell, and she wailed, "It's all over! Grandmother must be angry with me. What should I do? What should I do? Uncle Emperor..." She continued to tug at Emperor Mingde's clothes and act coquettishly.
The eunuchs and palace maids around her exchanged glances. No wonder the princess was so favored. In front of the emperor and empress dowager, she was like a child from an ordinary family, even more considerate than girls from ordinary families. The princesses and princes in the palace would not dare to act like this.
Emperor Mingde was in a very good mood. Today's events had accelerated the infighting within the Wang family and inadvertently broken the alliance between the Wang and Yang families. The Yang family was no longer worth mentioning. Thinking about the new policies that were about to be issued, he felt more confident.
His gaze fell on Zhao Shu, who had a bitter face. Ah Jun was truly a lucky star in Dayong; even when she caused trouble, she could resolve things.
"Since the Empress Dowager has already retired for the night, I will come to pay my respects again tomorrow," Emperor Mingde said helplessly.
Ji Yun quickly changed his words, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager invites you in."
Zhao Shu's eyes widened, her little face showing great grievance. Emperor Mingde laughed heartily, "Ah Jun, please wait here for a moment while your imperial uncle speaks on your behalf."
"Yes, yes, Uncle, you must make Grandmother calm down." Zhao Shu nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.
Ji Yun led Emperor Mingde into the main hall, while Liang Yunsi waited outside. "Princess, don't worry, the Empress Dowager will definitely not be angry with you," he couldn't help but comfort her.
Zhao Shu said with a bitter face, "Grandmother must be very angry. Eunuch Liang, please think of a way to appease her."
Seeing her pitiful state, Liang Yunsi pointed out a promising path, "Why don't you research some new dishes?" The Empress Dowager loves double-skin milk pudding, but no one in the palace is willing to give it to her.
Just as she was debating whether to go back and research the cold rice cake she hadn't made yet, or the cake, Jiyun came out, curtsied, and said, "Princess, the Empress Dowager invites you in."
"Really?" She rushed into Cining Palace in surprise. "Grandmother, I know I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again. Please forgive me this time. I promise I will never do it again, really..." As soon as she stepped into the hall, a string of words came out.
Emperor Mingde and the Empress Dowager turned to look at her. The Empress Dowager wanted to get angry, but seeing her aggrieved and resentful expression, most of her anger subsided. However, she still pretended to be furious and asked, "What did you do wrong?"
Zhao Shu wondered if all parents liked to ask "What did you do wrong?" She always felt a special warmth in her heart, and she suspected that she had masochistic tendencies.
With a playful grin, she approached the Empress Dowager, pursed her lips, blinked, and began to whine, "Grandmother... Ah Jun shouldn't have let the Consort leave the palace without permission, shouldn't have sent someone to beg Grandmother for favors, shouldn't have..."
"Alright, alright, if I die, let's see who protects you." She was angry not because Zhao Shu had secretly released the Dowager Consort from the palace, nor because she had sent someone back to the palace to ask for favors, but because she was angry at Zhao Shu's willful and reckless behavior. Were the Wang family people easy to mess with? If it weren't for the help of Qiu Chengshi, Wang Jiyang and others, how could that madwoman have sent Wang Kuanqi to the Jingzhao Prefecture by herself?
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