Chapter 86 The Empress's Summoning
The drawn-out voice of the imperial eunuch still lingered in front of the general's mansion, but he did not leave as usual.
The face, thickly powdered and bearing a forced smile, leaned forward slightly, addressing Xie Sangning, who remained kneeling on the ground, holding the imperial edict in both hands:
"Princess Jianing, what a joyous occasion! You have nurtured talents for the country and benefited scholars. Even Her Majesty the Empress deeply admires you and speaks highly of you!"
"Well, Her Majesty is very pleased and has specially ordered me to convey her decree, summoning you to the palace immediately. Her Majesty wants to personally reward you for your sincere dedication to cultivating talent for the country! Princess, why don't you come to the palace with me to thank Her Majesty for her grace?"
The Empress? A personal reward?
Xie Sangning's lowered eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
For a fleeting moment, an impulsive thought even crossed her mind, but it was quickly suppressed.
This needs further verification.
However, this reward came out of nowhere. Normally, the Empress Dowager wouldn't need to personally bestow a reward on someone who is merely granted the title of County Princess.
There's clearly a ghost involved.
However, it came at just the right time.
Xie Sangning slowly raised her head, her face showing just the right amount of flattery, her voice revealing no sign of anything amiss: "Your Majesty's kindness is overwhelming. Please wait a moment, sir, while I change my clothes. I will then accompany you to the palace to pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Oh dear, Your Highness, please rise! Her Majesty is merciful and need not stand on such formalities!"
The eunuch offered a helping hand, his face full of smiles, but a hint of scrutiny flashed in his eyes.
The county princess remained calm when she received the imperial decree, but when she learned that the empress was going to bestow rewards upon her, she was even more flattered than when she received the imperial decree.
Inside Ruixue Tower, the atmosphere was as oppressive as iron.
Ru Chun quickly helped Xie Sangning change his clothes.
She changed into a long-sleeved blouse with peony patterns, symbolizing her status as a county princess, and a dark blue skirt with gold cloud patterns.
“Miss…” Ru Chun looked at the still-bleeding wound on Xie Sangning’s palm, her eyes filled with heartache, her voice choked with emotion, “Your injury…”
Xie Sangning stretched out his hand expressionlessly, letting Ru Chun carefully wrap and bandage it with soft cotton cloth.
She looked at the woman in the mirror, her makeup exquisite and her clothes dazzling, her eyes cold and devoid of any warmth.
"It's alright," she said calmly.
The carriage drove out of the general's mansion, its wheels rumbling over the bluestone road, heading towards the palace.
As spring and summer approach, people hold their breath and concentrate, even their breathing becomes extremely soft.
Xie Sangning closed her eyes slightly, leaning against the soft brocade cushions, but her heart was in turmoil.
The image of her mother being dumped in a mass grave and dismembered by wild dogs after her death flashed through Xie Sangning's mind, causing her to lose control of herself several times.
We must not act rashly.
She repeatedly told herself this in her heart.
The deeper the blood feud, the more you must remain calm and composed.
The more directly you confront your enemy, the more cautious you must be.
Impulsiveness is the devil, and anger blinds us.
Any slight misstep could drag you into an abyss of no return!
Lin Wantang... She was only six years old at that time.
The immense shock, the dark environment, the repression of years of being unable to speak…
Is her memory completely accurate? Could there be any bias?
Is it possible that...the sound was misinterpreted? Or that the time was confused?
Or... have you fallen into someone else's carefully designed trap?
She needs confirmation.
Xie Sangning slowly opened her eyes, the surging crimson in the depths of her eyes forcibly suppressed, and she gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.
Outside the car window, the outline of the imperial city became increasingly clear.
Her gaze, like a probe, silently swept over the imposing guards at the palace gates, the guiding eunuchs, and the occasional fleeting glimpses of palace maids and eunuchs within the palace walls…
She greedily captured, analyzed, and stored every detail.
Phoenix Palace.
Empress Xiao Fengyi sat gracefully on the phoenix couch, dressed in a bright yellow silk phoenix and peony robe, and wearing a red gold filigree headdress inlaid with pearls and kingfisher feathers. She was elegant and noble.
However, her well-maintained face was now covered with a layer of frost that could be seen with the naked eye. Her carefully drawn willow-leaf eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and deep in her phoenix eyes was a surging anger and a trace of imperceptible fatigue.
She only just found out that she was to "reward" Xie Sangning!
Just half an hour ago, the chief eunuch Desheng came to deliver an imperial edict, saying that His Majesty was considerate of the Empress and knew that she greatly appreciated Princess Jianing's efforts in cultivating talents for the country. He specially ordered the princess to come to the palace immediately for an audience, so that the Empress could personally commend her, as a sign of imperial favor and a model for women.
"Jia Mian?"
Empress Xiao Fengyi was so angry that she almost smashed the teacup in her hand onto Desheng's old face!
She suppressed her anger, forcing out her words through clenched teeth: "Eunuch De, what does His Majesty mean by this? When did I ever say I wanted to see Xie Sangning?!"
Desheng bowed, his smile humble, but his words were sharp: "Your Majesty, His Majesty said that Princess Xie has rendered great service to the court. Your Majesty, as the mother of the nation, is most considerate of the younger generation and will surely be pleased."
"His Majesty also said... that the matter of 'taking a concubine' that he mentioned to the Empress last time seemed to have some concerns. Now that Princess Xie has been granted the title of Princess, her status is even more noble. The Empress summoned her now to commend her and show her closeness, so that in the future... it will be a natural and logical progression. His Majesty is... trying to share the Empress's burdens."
Share the burden?
Xiao Fengyi felt a rush of blood to her throat!
The emperor is clearly using her to forcefully push forward the matter of Naxie Sangning entering the palace!
Using this pretext of "commendation," they forced her to mention it to Xie Sangning!
It was also a warning to her that this matter was not open to discussion!
She hates it!
She hated the emperor's autocratic rule, and even more so Xie Sangning, who, like her mother, was an inescapable scourge!
The thought of bringing such a scheming woman, who held sway over a rising star in the court and had Xie Zhenting's powerful army behind her, into the harem and placing her under her own nose sent a chill down Xiao Fengyi's spine!
Not to mention, she's Lin Ruyue's daughter...
Xiao Fengyi felt a wave of nausea.
But the emperor's will was hard to defy, and she was not allowed to publicly refute his decision.
She could only swallow her anger: "Your Majesty... has considered everything carefully. I... understand."
At this moment, the Empress sat upright on her phoenix couch, listening to the palace maids outside announcing, "Princess Jianing has arrived—", and felt a tightness in her chest.
She took a deep breath, tried to adjust her facial expression, and put on that dignified and graceful mask again.
"Announce."
The heavy palace doors were pushed open.
A figure dressed in a bright red palace gown with gold trim stepped steadily into the warm pavilion, guided by two palace maids.
Xiao Fengyi's gaze instantly fell on the newcomer.
Xie Sangning.
Lin Ruyue's daughter.
He was also the one who stirred up a huge storm in the capital.
Xie Sangning stepped forward slowly, his posture respectful and his manners impeccable.
He stopped steadily a few steps away from the imperial bed, placed his hands together in front of him, and bent his knees deeply, performing a standard courtly salute.
The movements were fluid and natural, exuding elegance.
"Your humble servant Xie Sangning greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
Her voice was clear and pleasant, carrying just the right amount of respect, without a trace of flattery or enthusiasm.
Xiao Fengyi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
like.
Now she looks even more like Lin Ruyue!
No wonder! No wonder!
The Xie Sangning before me stood tall and straight like a bamboo stalk. Though she kept her head down and her eyes downcast, she possessed an air of refined elegance that could not be ignored.
The gorgeous dress and heavy makeup on her did not diminish her natural radiance; on the contrary, they accentuated her fair skin and beautiful features.
Especially those eyes…
They are exactly the same.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
