From the moment she entered the palace, Zhao Shu felt that the people in the palace were not as lively as before. Although they worked in the palace, the maids and eunuchs were all careful and cautious, but today they took their caution to an extreme.
Upon arriving at Cining Palace, Zhao Shu saw many people kneeling in front of the palace gate. As she approached, she realized that it was the Empress leading a group of people kneeling at the palace gate.
The Empress removed her phoenix hairpin, and her phoenix robe was plain, embroidered only with a perched phoenix. She also removed the nail polish from her hands, and her face was bare of makeup, making her look at least ten years older than before.
Zhao Shu curtsied and said, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
Upon hearing the voice, the Empress raised her head and looked at Zhao Shu. Her pale face and the fine sweat on her forehead indicated that she had been kneeling there for quite some time.
She forced a smile devoid of any charm and said in a voice as thin as a thread, "Ah Jun has arrived. Go and see your imperial grandmother."
At this moment, Ji Yun came out from inside. When she saw Zhao Shu, a look of reluctance flashed across her face, but she still gritted her teeth and said the Empress Dowager's edict: "Empress Dowager's edict!"
Zhao Shu hurriedly knelt down, bowing respectfully. Ji Yun shook his head and continued, "By imperial decree of the Empress Dowager, the princess is to be punished by kneeling until dawn tomorrow."
Granny Zhong and Liang Yun looked on with pity and desperately tried to wink at Ji Yun, questioning why she wasn't helping. It was only early morning, and if she had to kneel until dawn, the princess was still young, and kneeling like this would ruin her knees.
Ji Yun shook his head slightly without speaking, but the group knew very well that the Empress Dowager was furious. Unlike last time, the Prince had left the capital and that incident had occurred at the residence, so she must be extremely angry.
"Yes, granddaughter obeys the decree." Zhao Shu said softly. She straightened her back but remained kneeling. She felt guilty but did not know how to explain. She could only kneel there silently. If kneeling could make her grandmother feel better, she would kneel until tomorrow, or even the day after tomorrow, without batting an eye.
The words "I obey the imperial decree" made Granny Zhong and the others feel a pang of sadness, their noses stinging with tears. When had they ever seen such an understanding princess?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
