Empress Dowager Rongning's face was expressionless as she slowly said, "It was my suggestion that you come to the capital this time. Your grandmother misses you, and I thought that since this opportunity has come, I would like you and the Empress to go and see her together."
Zhong Muyu said cautiously, "My grandmother is not well, and I would like to visit her as soon as possible to show my filial piety."
Just then, a eunuch announced that the Empress had arrived.
The Empress, dressed in a fiery red phoenix-tail dress, looked solemn. After bowing, the Empress Dowager Rongning said, "I was just talking about you and you've arrived. It just so happens that Princess Ning has also just arrived. In a little while, you two can go together to visit the Grand Empress Dowager."
The Empress agreed, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, the two got up to visit the Empress Dowager.
Upon reaching the palace, Zhong Muyu noticed two sedan chairs parked outside. Perhaps sensing her confusion, the Empress explained, "Due to the shock of the late Emperor's passing, the Empress Dowager's health has been poor. The imperial physicians advised her to recuperate in a secluded place. Since the Empress Dowager is not here, it would take a long time to walk there, which is why I prepared sedan chairs."
"I see. Thank you for your understanding, Mother."
The Empress smiled slightly, turned around and got into the sedan chair first, followed closely by Zhong Muyu.
The sedan chair swayed and wobbled forward. Zhong Muyu knew that the Empress Dowager lived in a remote place, but she never expected it to be so remote.
The eunuchs were already walking very fast, but it still took them more than half an hour to walk.
Zhong Muyu noticed that fewer and fewer palace servants were hurrying along the roadside, and finally the sedan chair stopped in front of a secluded palace gate.
This place is indeed remote, and it seems to have been hastily maintained. A plaque with the three characters "Jing'an Palace" hangs there, and you can still vaguely see spider webs that haven't been cleaned up.
A palace servant knocked on the door, and a rather old palace maid opened it, bowed and greeted them before welcoming them inside.
The palace was very empty, with nothing but some flowers and plants. Looking at the desolate palace, Zhong Muyu said, "Even if the Empress Dowager wants to recuperate, this place is too spacious and remote."
The Empress said, "Since the Emperor ascended the throne, the harem has been in decline. The palace will soon welcome new concubines, and it will be noisy and chaotic everywhere. There will be very few quiet places. This place was chosen by the Emperor after a long period of searching."
"But this place is so remote, wouldn't many things be very troublesome?"
"No, the imperial physicians come to pay their respects every day, and the palace will never lack anything for the Empress Dowager."
The Empress seemed unwilling to say more, so Zhong Muyu didn't ask any more questions and followed her into the house.
The Empress Dowager had just woken up. When the two entered the room, they found that there were only two old nannies, a maid who opened the door, and two rough eunuchs. It was cold and deserted, which was hardly the treatment the Empress Dowager deserved.
The Empress Dowager looked much older, her eyes were cloudy, and she was not as energetic as before. She seemed much happier after seeing Zhong Muyu, but she quickly looked away as soon as she met the Empress's gaze.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor treated her badly.
To be honest, the current Empress Dowager Rongning and the Grand Empress Dowager didn't have a good relationship to begin with. The late emperor had many sons, and the Grand Empress Dowager didn't like Lu Ziying much either. However, it was a bit too much for Lu Ziying to treat his grandmother so carelessly after ascending the throne.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Empress suddenly said, "Seventh Sister-in-law, it's rare for you to come here. Your Majesty must really want to talk to you more. Why don't you stay at Jing'an Palace for a few days? I believe that with your company, Your Majesty will definitely get better."
Zhong Muyu clenched her hand in her sleeve: "I also want to spend more time with the Empress Dowager, but we are only here in the capital to report on our duties. There are still many things to deal with in Lingqing, so I'm afraid we can't stay too long."
That's true. There were indeed a lot of things going on with Ling Qing. Besides, how could a princess stay in the palace for so long?
To everyone's surprise, the Empress laughed and said, "Seventh brother's wife, please don't refuse. By the way, His Majesty's summons of the Seventh Prince to the capital this time is not just for a simple duty report. He will probably stay for a few more days. Don't worry, it's only a few days. If you find it boring here with your grandmother, you can come and chat with me anytime."
The Empress seemed determined to keep her here, and Zhong Muyu had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but it would be inappropriate to act rashly.
The Empress Dowager remained silent throughout. After a moment's thought, Zhong Muyu said, "Then I will accept Your Majesty's kindness and stay in the palace for a few days."
"That's right, you must keep Grandmother company!"
After speaking, the Empress got up and left. Looking at the heavy, closed palace gates, Zhong Muyu felt extremely depressed.
Turning around, I was surprised to see the Empress Dowager getting out of bed.
Zhong Muyu quickly went to help her up: "Grandmother, you're not feeling well, why did you suddenly get up?"
"What does it matter whether it's good or bad as it is now?"
Her tone was full of resentment, completely different from before.
The Empress Dowager grabbed her hand: "Yu'er, you shouldn't stay in the palace."
"What does Grandmother mean by this?"
"The Emperor is wary of his brothers, especially Yuan'er, and you, the Emperor still has other uses for you, although I don't know what they are, but it's definitely not a good thing."
The Empress Dowager spoke with utmost seriousness, and Zhong Muyu's heart skipped a beat. She then asked, "How did Grandmother know about these things?"
"Hmph, they think this old woman is stupid and deaf, but I'm perfectly fine! It's just that I'm really old, and now Rong Ning is in charge of the harem, so there's nothing I can do to help you."
The Empress Dowager became more and more sorrowful as she spoke. Those were all her own grandsons. How heartbroken she would be if Lu Ziying were to execute them all.
Unfortunately, she was just an old woman and couldn't do anything.
Zhong Muyu knew the situation was serious. She comforted the Empress Dowager and put her to sleep, and then a palace maid led her to a side hall.
When the Empress left, she deliberately left behind several palace maids and eunuchs, who then quickly tidied up the side hall for Zhong Muyu to move into, which was clearly premeditated.
On this day, Zhong Muyu did nothing. The palace maids and eunuchs kept a close watch on her. Apart from that, Jing'an Palace truly lacked nothing.
As night fell, Zhong Muyu couldn't wait to fall asleep. She waited for a long time before Lu Ziyuan finally drifted off to sleep.
"Lu Ziyuan, what exactly happened? Why are you staying up so late?"
Upon seeing him, Zhong Muyu couldn't wait to ask, and Lu Ziyuan also looked eager after seeing Zhong Muyu.
"Yu'er! I'm so glad you're alright. I'm so glad you came to me. The Emperor said you should stay in the palace with your grandmother for a few days. This couldn't have been your idea, could it?"
"Of course not! The Empress Dowager and the Empress deliberately kept me in the palace. I don't know their purpose. What's going on with you?"
Lu Ziyuan's expression hardened: "The Emperor originally wanted me to come and discuss the matter of reducing military spending, but unexpectedly, the Xi Rong tribe, which had already made peace, rebelled in the northwest and needed me to suppress it. I received the decree in haste and had no choice but to go."
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