Yan Ning and Wu Chun stood outside, but because of the heavy winter curtains, they could neither hear nor see clearly what was happening inside.
After waiting for a long time, Yan Ning felt that she had carefully examined the patterns on the exquisite artifacts in the palace before a palace maid lifted the brown and yellow brocade curtain to welcome Yan Ning and Wu Chun inside.
The old lady sat upright before the warm couch where the Empress Dowager was taking a nap, her body as straight as a tender bamboo stalk in winter, making one feel that with the slightest force, one could hear a crisp snapping sound.
Yan Ning and Wu Chun knelt behind the old lady, unable to see her appearance. The Empress Dowager, however, could be clearly seen.
The Empress Dowager reclined on the warm couch, her eyes closed, dressed in a bright yellow silk nightgown, covered by two brocade quilts. Her silver hair was styled in a simple bun, adorned only with a jade hairpin. The hairpin was made of the finest old mine jade, its vibrant green like a pool of clear spring water.
The emerald green surrounding the silver threads was originally a cause for lament, but the Empress Dowager's face was haggard and withered, with deep ravines piled up, rugged like the surface of a natural Taihu stone.
Despite wearing fine clothes and adorned with beautiful jade, his face lacked luster, and he was unable to intimidate others.
As if she had heard what Yan Ning was thinking, the Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, her brown, almost transparent pupils looking at Yan Ning and Wu Chun.
Before Yan Ning's heart could even leap into her throat, the Empress Dowager's eyes closed again.
"Aunt An, come forward!"
The Empress Dowager's voice was faint, but fortunately, the palace was quiet, so it could be heard clearly.
Wu Chun's initial shock hadn't subsided, but it turned into joy. She struggled to her feet and walked to the Empress Dowager's warm bed. Just as she was about to kneel and pay her respects, Granny Zhuang grabbed her arm. "Aunt An is pregnant; there's no need for formalities!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Chun's face lit up with two dimples, like apricot blossoms just beginning to bloom in spring. As soon as Granny Man released her hand from supporting Wu Chun, a palace maid brought over a round chair and helped Wu Chun sit down.
Granny Zhuang glanced at Yan Ning, who was still kneeling at the back, and said, "Madam Fucha, please get up! If you kneel too long, you'll hurt your knees and won't be able to dance. The Empress Dowager will be very worried about that!"
Since it wasn't the Empress Dowager who spoke, Yan Ning hesitated whether to get up. However, seeing the Empress Dowager's demeanor, she feared that many words were stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them. She could only let Granny Zhuang, who had served her for decades, convey her thoughts on her behalf.
A palace maid brought over a round chair and placed it behind the old lady and Wuchun. Yan Ning then got up, walked to the round chair, and sat down.
A Zhuang brocade cushion sat on the round chair, embroidered with subtle floral patterns symbolizing good fortune and longevity. Yan Ning sighed inwardly; at the Empress Dowager's age, all she could ask for was eternal happiness and longevity.
The Empress Dowager raised her hand to stroke Wuchun's swollen belly, but she couldn't lift it. Her half-closed eyes opened and closed intermittently. "It's been a long time since the palace has heard of such a joyous occasion! I'm afraid I'll never hear the baby's cries again. In the future, all I'll hear are your mournful cries for my passing."
No one dared to continue the conversation, not even Granny Zhuang, whose eyes reddened and who remained silent.
The old lady stood upright, her head bowed, refusing to look at the Empress Dowager.
After waiting for half a day and seeing that no one made a sound, the Empress Dowager muttered to herself, "Perhaps I'm getting senile and have said such nonsense again. Even if you cry until you're hoarse, I won't be able to hear you! Who knows, some people might be hoping for my death day and night!" Perhaps she had said too much and exhausted herself, because the Empress Dowager's eyes closed completely.
When the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Yan Ning saw the old lady's upright back twitch slightly, but only for a fleeting moment.
A palace maid brought in ginseng soup, which Granny Man took and fed the Empress Dowager a few mouthfuls with a jade porcelain spoon. Then, to ease the atmosphere, she said, "Isn't it easy for the Empress Dowager to hear a baby cry? This General Fucha has been raised under your care since he was a child, how is he any different from your own grandson! Our Cining Palace has not had a happy event for a long time, why don't we let Consort An stay in Cining Palace to rest during her pregnancy? The midwives and wet nurses in the palace are almost useless! It's good to let them keep busy!"
Granny Zhuang's voice was loud and clear like the morning bell, steady and powerful. As she spoke, she smiled spontaneously, as if she was also happy about Aunt An living in Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager, her eyes still closed, said, "This matter depends on whether Aunt An is willing. What kind of advice are you giving me?"
Although the words were meant to blame, they sounded completely devoid of any real reproach due to the speaker's lack of strength.
Granny Zhuang immediately blamed herself, "Look, it's all my fault, I was too focused on pleasing the Empress Dowager!"
As she spoke, Granny Zhuang looked at Consort An, "Although there are many palace servants in Cining Palace, most of them have nothing to do! If there is anything that is not going well, Consort An, please tell me!"
What seemed like a question was actually a prelude to keeping Wuchun in Cining Palace. Yan Ning looked at Wuchun's back, which was now arched due to her protruding belly, and couldn't tell whether she was happy or apprehensive.
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