Inside Chang Le Palace, Empress Dowager Dou Miao, attended by several palace maids, was handling some nuts that had been presented as tribute by the Imperial Household Department.
After selecting the rounder and plumper nuts and filling two wooden boxes, Dou Miao looked at the palace maid Xiao Qiong.
"Xiao Qiong, take some people and take these away in a bit. Make sure the pastries are made soft and crumbly! Then send them to His Majesty!"
"promise!"
The palace maid Xiaoqiong gently picked up the wooden box full of nuts from the table and retreated.
Just then, the female official Xiao Hong walked in with light steps.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Rang has arrived and is waiting outside the palace!"
"Yes! Summon him in!"
"promise!"
Then Xiao Hong walked out of the hall again. Several palace maids beside Dou Miao quickly tidied up the things around the table. Dou Miao sat upright by the table and looked out of the hall.
"This servant, Zhang Rang, greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well!"
Upon entering the hall, Zhang Rang saw Dou Miao sitting behind a table and hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.
"Get up! I called you here today because I have something to ask you!"
Dou Miao spoke calmly and composedly as she looked at Zhang Rang, who was bowing and had his head down.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager! What are your orders?" Zhang Rang didn't dare to raise his head, but just stared intently at the ground.
"How has the Emperor's appetite been lately? You must answer honestly!"
Although Dou Miao's tone was calm, it sent a chill down Zhang Rang's spine.
Although he was a little apprehensive, Zhang Rang still respectfully said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is doing quite well lately!"
Seeing Zhang Rang's appearance, Dou Miao frowned slightly.
"Xiao Hong!"
"Empress Dowager?"
The female official looked at Dou Miao with some confusion.
"Drag him out and beat him!"
Dou Miao's face turned frosty as she pointed at Zhang Rang, who had his head bowed.
"promise!"
Xiao Hong accepted the order, turned around and waved to the outside, and then two eunuchs ran in.
"Your Majesty... I don't know where I went wrong? Why..."
Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager was about to hit him, and seeing two eunuchs rushing in and walking menacingly toward him, Zhang Rang was so frightened that his legs went weak and he immediately knelt down on the ground.
"Hmph~ If you don't tell the truth, do you think you deserve to be hit?"
Dou Miao gave a light snort and then waved her hand.
Seeing this, the two eunuchs beside Zhang Rang came up behind him, each grabbed one of his arms, and were about to drag him away.
"Your Majesty! This servant will speak the truth, this servant will tell the truth, please have mercy on me!"
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was about to do something serious, Zhang Rang was terrified. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he looked up at Dou Miao with a pleading expression.
Seeing this, Dou Miao turned her head and glanced at Xiao Hong. Xiao Hong understood and then looked at the two eunuchs.
"You all go down first!"
"Yes, sir!" Upon hearing this, the two eunuchs bowed and withdrew.
After the two eunuchs released him, Zhang Rang breathed a sigh of relief.
Dou Miao looked at Zhang Rang and said slowly, "Then tell me!"
Zhang Rang dared not conceal anything any longer and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has been burdened with heavy state affairs lately and is often worried. As a result, not only has His Majesty's rest time been greatly reduced, but His Majesty's meals have also lost their flavor!"
After speaking, Zhang Rang glanced at Dou Miao cautiously and noticed that the Empress Dowager's expression had become noticeably more unpleasant.
"How could this be? What has happened recently? It's already winter, why would there be so much official business?"
Dou Miao frowned as she looked at Zhang Rang, her words carrying an indescribable chill.
"Your Majesty, the main issue concerns the three imperial censors. Since they left Luoyang, they have been submitting a constant stream of memorials. This is because many officials have recently committed crimes and have been arrested by them. Most of these officials were people Your Majesty had previously assessed and promoted, which is why Your Majesty has been so worried."
Besides their affairs, there's also the migration of displaced people and some instability at the border. These are all important matters that require Your Majesty's approval, which is why Your Majesty has indeed been working tirelessly lately and is quite exhausted!
"Sigh... This child, he left us, his mother and son, with all the mess left by the late emperor. He's really suffered!"
Dou Miao sighed softly and couldn't help but complain about the deceased Emperor Xiao Huan, which frightened Xiao Hong, Zhang Rang, and the others so much that they quickly lowered their heads and dared not speak.
"Xiaohong!"
"I am here!"
"Give the order that from now on, His Majesty's meals will be provided by Chang Le Palace. This cannot continue!"
"promise!"
Then Dou Miao looked at Zhang Rang and asked, "What did you go out to do today?"
Zhang Rang respectfully said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has bestowed upon Song Feng, the Palace Attendant, the title of Commander of the Imperial Guards. This servant is here today on His Majesty's orders to summon him!"
Dou Miao's expression flickered, but she quickly recovered and said softly, "Alright! You can go back and serve His Majesty now!"
"promise!"
Zhang Rang was about to turn around when he suddenly remembered Song Yue from the Song family. He stopped in his tracks, glanced at Dou Miao hesitantly, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to say it.
"What? Is there something else?"
Seeing Zhang Rang's hesitant expression, Dou Miao couldn't help but ask.
"Your Majesty, this servant went to the Song residence today to announce your arrival and discovered that the Song family has a daughter who is dignified and beautiful, with an extraordinary temperament, and moreover..."
Upon hearing this, Dou Miao's interest was piqued, and she asked softly, "And what?"
Zhang Rang respectfully said, "Moreover, judging from his age, he seems to be about the same age as His Majesty. In a few months, His Majesty will turn thirteen..."
"Hehe~ You seem quite concerned about His Majesty!"
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