In the imperial garden in May, the crabapple blossoms are in full bloom.
Sheng Xiyan leaned against the vermilion railing, watching Jiang Jiang chasing a colorful butterfly.
Three wet nurses were holding their babies in their arms and basking in the sun in the pavilion. Yu Yan was blowing bubbles, and Yu Chen's little hands were playing with the straps of Le Zhao's skirt.
"My Lady..." Ruan Niang gently put a gauze dress on her, "The morning dew is heavy, be careful not to catch a cold."
Sheng Xiyan looked at the orange figure that flashed by behind the rockery in the distance, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched the handkerchief.
"Xi Yan." Mother Sheng took over the babbling Yu Yan and said softly, "The Empress Dowager must really want to talk to you... You have been separated for twenty years..."
"Mother!" Sheng Xiyan suddenly interrupted, "Do you think Yu Yan has gained weight again?"
Whenever Sheng Xiyan thought of the Queen Mother's face glaring at her, she felt frightened and had only one thought: she didn't want to face it.
Mother Sheng and Ruan Niang looked at each other and sighed helplessly.
At this moment, Jiang Jiang suddenly jumped up and shouted, "Grandmother!"
The little guy rushed towards the hesitant empress dowager behind the rockery like a happy little deer.
Sheng Xiyan's body stiffened as she watched the empress dowager being pulled closer.
She quickly composed herself and performed an impeccable ceremony, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Mother."
The Queen Mother excitedly stretched out her hand, but it was avoided before it touched her sleeve.
The pair of phoenix eyes that looked similar to Sheng Xiyan's were instantly filled with tears.
Mother Sheng smoothed things over and took Yu Yan to the Queen Mother.
"Okay... okay..." The Queen Mother forced a smile and turned to the children, "I came to see my grandson..."
He held up the wicker puppy as if presenting a treasure: "Look, Grandmother! I'm really good at tossing the ring!"
The Queen Mother caressed Jiang Jiang's head lovingly, feeling both sad and sweet in her heart - no wonder she had always loved this child so much, it turned out that he was her blood-related grandson.
Sheng Xiyan stood three steps away, always avoiding the empress dowager's loving and passionate gaze.
Neither mother nor daughter said a word until they said goodbye.
At night, in the Cining Palace.
Under the dim and flickering candlelight, the Queen Mother held a small embroidery needle in her hand, her hand trembling slightly.
"I'm old. Before I entered the palace, my embroidery skills were considered outstanding. Now I can't even do this simple needlework properly."
The head nanny was twisting the thread beside her and said with a smile, "Your Highness is in the prime of life, but you are a little rusty because you haven't done it for a long time."
The Queen Mother looked at the crooked and uneven stitches and felt a sense of loss in her heart.
There was a hint of anxiety and uneasiness in his eyes, and Sheng Xiyan's appearance kept appearing in his mind.
"I never took care of her."
Suddenly, the needle tip pierced her finger, and bright red blood quickly oozed out. The Queen Mother hissed softly and frowned slightly.
"My Lady, are you alright? I'll apply some medicine for you."
"No need. This little injury is nothing." The Queen Mother continued to sew clothes, imagining how Sheng Xiyan would look wearing this dress.
The entire harem knew that the queen was the empress dowager's daughter before she entered the palace.
In Chuxiu Palace, Concubine Liang was angry and threw the teacup, which scared Princess Le Yun who was playing on the couch next to her into tears.
"The Queen is even more impressive now. How did my aunt become her biological mother? Isn't she even more powerful?"
How could Concubine Liang not be depressed? Originally, when Concubine Jia died, she would have the full support of the Empress Dowager, but now everything is gone.
The head maid said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I heard that the Queen refuses to acknowledge the Queen Mother, and their relationship is very strained!"
Concubine Liang suddenly remembered that she had heard her father, Prime Minister Feng, mention it at home before - the late emperor gave Emperor Xuanwu to the empress dowager for upbringing. After Emperor Xuanwu became the crown prince, his biological mother, Concubine Yun, also known as the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, died suddenly of a serious illness.
In fact, he was poisoned to death by the Queen Mother.
Two days later, Jiaotai Hall.
Sheng Xiyan sat upright on the phoenix throne, the eastern pearl hanging from the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin swaying slightly.
The bright red phoenix robe with gold thread set off her skin like cream, and the peony flower between her eyebrows was dazzlingly bright.
This was the first time she had formally paid respects to the entire palace since she was crowned queen.
"Is there any important matter in the palace recently?" She glanced at the concubines below.
Concubine Liang suddenly covered her lips with a handkerchief and chuckled, "Yes, there is, but I'm afraid the Empress is not fit to hear it."
Sheng Xiyan sneered and said, "Then Concubine Liang, tell me what's going on. I'll see what's going on."
Concubine Liang pretended to cough.
The concubines at the back were whispering.
"Yu Shuyuan." Sheng Xiyan tapped the armrest with her fingertips. "What's so interesting?"
Yu Shuyuan stepped out of the line and knelt down with a plop: "I...I dare not say..."
Sheng Xiyan said: "Speak, I will forgive you."
You can hear a pin drop in the hall.
Yu Shuyuan rested her forehead on the ground and refused to speak.
Concubine Liang had a smirk on her face, and Concubine Shu glanced at her. Many concubines knew about the rumors in the palace, but no one dared to say it out loud because it involved the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's biological mother, the Holy Mother Empress Dowager.
Seeing this, Sheng Xiyan did not press the issue any further.
After the whole palace had paid their respects, the concubines left the palace. Imperial Concubine Shu said, "Liang Fei, was this a good deed you did?"
Concubine Liang chuckled and said, "What nonsense are you talking about, Concubine? I don't know what you are talking about."
Concubine Shu returned to the palace. At this time, Concubine De, Concubine Gao, and Concubine Lin were about to tell Sheng Xiyan about the rumors, but when they saw Concubine Shu coming, they stopped talking.
Concubine Shu said, "I know you think I'm a bad person, but I want to tell Her Majesty the Queen that rumors may not be true, but they can also hurt feelings."
Sheng Xiyan put down the jade cup and said, "Noble Consort, you and the others don't have to hide anything from me. Tell me the truth. What did you hear?"
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