Chapter 202 Song Zhuran is missing
"Sister, sister."
The Empress was still processing what she had just learned when Song Zhuran's voice came from outside.
"Sister, Sister Jiang!" Song Zhuran ran in.
Seeing that only Jiang Wan Ning and Shen Zhu Yi were in the room, she subconsciously asked, "Did your elder sister send Sister Jiang back?"
After saying that, she realized it wasn't appropriate and immediately changed her words, saying, "Sister, I just came from Sister Jiang's hot pot restaurant. I didn't know there were such delicious and fun things in this world."
"Their shop can toss the noodles so much they look like flowers before putting them in the pot, and they also have a lot of delicious and beautiful things to eat."
"Sister, what's wrong?" Song Zhuran saw Empress Song Zhuyi staring at her blankly, without her usual doting smile.
The Empress snapped out of her reverie, a slight smile playing on her lips. "It's nothing. My sister was just thinking about something else and got a little lost in thought."
"I thought my older sister was angry with Ranran, blaming me for dragging Sister Jiang away earlier," Song Zhuran said, pouting.
"By the way, Sister Jiang was just urgently summoned back to the Marquis's residence. What happened?"
Song Zhuran widened her eyes and shifted her gaze to Jiang Wanning, staring at the medicine box that Jiang Wanning had just packed. "Is my older sister sick?"
"There's something else," Jiang Wan Ning replied calmly. "I just checked Her Majesty the Empress's pulse."
"Didn't Sister Jiang already check my sister's pulse at the palace last time? Is she checking it again because my sister isn't feeling well?"
Song Zhuran looked at Empress Song Zhuyi nervously and put her hands on the Empress's arm. "Sister, you must tell me anything. Please don't keep it from me."
"If my sister gets sick, Ranran will definitely find the best doctor."
In the past, upon hearing such words, Empress Song Zhuyi would have smiled and gently touched the forehead of her well-behaved and adorable younger sister, then lovingly embraced her.
But listening to it again today, I feel that behind this concern are many tests.
My heart sank.
"Why is Sister spacing out again?" Song Zhuran asked innocently.
"Sister is just a little tired, and she's been a bit distracted," Empress Song Zhuyi said with a smile.
"Why didn't you explore more? You came back so soon?"
“I saw Sister Jiang come back in a hurry and I was a little worried. I thought something had happened to my sister, so I ran back.”
"It's all my fault, elder sister. I finally got to come out, but I didn't let you have a proper look around," the Empress said with a hint of guilt.
"It's alright, I've been there quite a few times anyway." Song Zhuran realized she had let something slip and immediately corrected herself, "Sister, you should take a good look around now that you've finally left the palace."
"What I mean is that I still have a chance to sneak out later."
"You," the Empress poked Song Zhuran's forehead, "be careful that your grandfather, father, and mother don't find out."
Song Zhuran stuck out her tongue and chuckled.
"I've heard that there's a young master Xuan in this teahouse, whose ventriloquism is absolutely superb," Jiang Wan Ning suddenly suggested. "Miss Song is right."
"Your Majesty the Empress rarely leaves the palace, how about she go for a stroll?"
As Jiang Wanning spoke, she observed Song Zhuran's expression.
Hearing this, Shen Ruzhi, who was outside the door, poked her head in and said, "I was just about to go, but Miss Song dragged me along. Why don't we go together?"
The sudden appearance of the person startled the queen.
Jiang Wanning quickly explained, "Your Majesty, please don't be offended. This is my good friend, and also the beloved daughter of Minister Shen Zhao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."
"I suppose they were afraid of suddenly barging in and offending Her Majesty, which is why they've been waiting outside."
Shen Ruzhi grinned, having forgotten about the ventriloquism performance by Young Master Xuan that she was so excited about it.
She disliked meeting these dignitaries the most, with their endless formalities and rules.
"It's alright. Since this is a private visit, just treat me as your elder sister."
Shen Ruzhi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"Are you really going, sister?" Song Zhuran asked.
"Do you want my elder sister to go?" the Empress asked in return.
Song Zhuran felt that the Empress was different today, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. To be precise, she was different after she came back from the street.
"Of course I'd like my older sister to go, but given her status..."
"I'm afraid my sister is in danger."
Song Zhuran frowned. "Ranran was very confused. She wanted her older sister to go for a walk in the street, but she was also afraid that her older sister would encounter danger."
“Miss Song need not worry. The palace guards are highly skilled in martial arts. If Your Majesty does not mind, you can dress as an ordinary person and nothing will happen.”
"Even if something happens, I will risk my life to save Your Majesty."
"But..." Song Zhuran wanted to say more, but the Empress spoke first, "I also want to go and see."
"To be honest, there is a Miss Shen in my heart," the Empress said with a smile. "It's just that I don't have Miss Shen's good fortune."
"Since I can't do whatever I want, I'll indulge myself for once today."
Shen Ruzhi grinned at the Empress, then moved closer to Jiang Wanning and asked, "Is the Empress praising me or scolding me?"
Saying she does whatever she wants just means she doesn't act like a girl.
"I envy you," Jiang Wanning said softly.
Shen Ruzhi frowned and thought for a moment, "Although I don't know why the mother of the country would envy me, my intuition tells me that the empress is much better than her younger sister."
“Your intuition is always very accurate,” Jiang Wanning said with a smile.
"Sister Jiang, what are you talking about?"
"It's nothing," Jiang Wanning said. "I still have a few new clothes in the Marquis's residence that I haven't worn yet. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I'll take you to change."
"Alright," the Empress nodded.
"Sister, are you really going?"
"It seems Ranran doesn't want her older sister to go?"
The more Song Zhuran tried to stop the Empress, the more distressed she became, because this proved that what Jiang Wan Ning said was very likely true.
"No, no," Song Zhuran denied repeatedly. "Then go ahead, sister. Ranran will wait for you here."
“In the past, you would follow your older sister wherever she went, whenever she was by her side. Why are you being so obedient this time?”
"I just ate too much, and I was in such a rush to get back that I'm a little short of breath. I want to rest here for a bit," Song Zhuran said, rubbing her stomach.
Jiang Wan Ning took the Empress to change her clothes. When they returned to the front hall, only Shen Ru Zhi was lying sprawled on a chair, fast asleep.
"Zhizhi." Jiang Wanning nudged Chen Ruzhi.
Shen Ruzhi woke up with a start, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and sat up straight. "You've changed."
"Where is Miss Song?" Jiang Wan Ning looked around but couldn't find Song Zhu Ran.
Shen Ruzhi rubbed her eyes. "She just said she went to find you guys."
"I was bored, so I took a short break here."
Jiang Wan Ning frowned and glanced at the Empress. "This humble woman will have someone inquire."
With so many servants in this manor, Miss Song certainly couldn't have just vanished into thin air.
"good."
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