"What are you doing in my palace so early in the morning?" she said irritably.
Guo Yuzhen glanced at her and suddenly said, "Why are you still wearing yesterday's clothes?"
A Tuo Jiang Hua's heart sank for a moment before she remembered this.
Oh no, I forgot to change my clothes first.
Meeting Guo Yuzhen's strange gaze, she coughed lightly and said calmly, "I have two identical dresses."
Hearing this, Guo Yuzhen became even more puzzled. "Your dress isn't very nice either, so why did you make two identical sets?"
A-Tuo Jiang Hua choked for a moment, "That's because you have no taste. I think this dress is very beautiful." As she spoke, she lifted the dress and deliberately twirled in front of her.
Guo Yuzhen rolled her eyes. "You're the one with no taste. Only you think this ugly dress looks good."
“How is it ugly? It’s clearly very pretty,” Atuo Jianghua said, dissatisfied.
"Whatever you want," Guo Yuzhen said, looking like she didn't want to argue with her.
After saying that, she stepped forward, took her hand, and started to walk into her bedroom. "There's some progress on what happened yesterday," she said, deliberately lowering her voice.
Atuo Jianghua followed her for a couple of steps, then suddenly remembered the secret in the bedchamber. She quickly grasped her hand in return, turned around and walked out, saying, "Let's talk there."
Guo Yuzhen found her troublesome, but didn't think much of it and nodded, "Alright."
Upon arriving at her palace, she recounted the findings of her previous day's surveillance to Atuo Jianghua.
“Yesterday I followed Wen Ruyi all the way to Jingci Palace. She stood outside Jingci Palace for a long time before leaving.”
Just now, when I went past your palace, I saw her heading towards Jingci Palace again. Isn't that strange? What exactly does my cousin the Emperor want her to do?
After hearing this, Atuo Jianghua was also quite surprised.
Could there be something in Jingci Palace that Gu Heng wants?
"Let's go for a walk in Jingci Palace; perhaps we can discover some clues," she said after a moment's thought.
Wen Ruyi wouldn't go to Jingci Palace for no reason; it must be related to Gu Heng.
"Then hurry up and go," Guo Yuzhen said hastily, afraid that if she was late, she wouldn't be able to catch Wen Ruyi red-handed.
"Hmm." Atuo Jianghua stood up.
Jingci Palace was bustling with activity today.
The Empress Dowager's wise eyes swept over everyone, and she sighed inwardly.
It seems her grandson is convinced that she has the will in her possession.
Thinking of this, she was extremely glad that she had given the will to Nong Nong.
"It's been a long time since my palace has been this lively," she said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Guo forced a smile and said, "Your daughter-in-law has long wanted to visit you, but she was afraid of disturbing your rest."
Yesterday, I heard from the Emperor that the Empress Dowager was unwell and that my daughter-in-law was having trouble eating and sleeping, so I made a special trip to see her this morning.
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Wen Ruyi and Tu Tong standing to the side, a shadow of gloom flashing across her eyes. "I met Consort Liu and Consort Tu on the way. They were very worried when they learned that Mother was unwell, so they asked me to bring them here."
Seeing their filial piety, the daughter-in-law couldn't bear to refuse them, so she brought them along. "I hope Mother will not take offense!"
The Empress Dowager glanced at Wen Ruyi and Tu Tong with a faint expression, "You two are very thoughtful."
For some reason, the two men felt a jolt when she looked at them like that, and some dared not meet her eyes.
Wen Ruyi mustered her courage, stepped forward, and said with her head bowed, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is blessed with great fortune. I humbly request that Your Majesty allow me to visit Jingci Palace more often."
As she spoke, fearing the Empress Dowager's wrath, she knelt down tremblingly, supporting her large belly, and said, "This concubine is about to give birth and just wants to share in the blessings of Jingci Palace. Please grant my request, Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, Tu Tong sneered inwardly.
This shameless woman, relying on being pregnant with the emperor's child, dares to make outrageous demands; she truly doesn't know her place.
How could a mere concubine like her freely enter and leave the Empress Dowager's palace?
The Empress Dowager would definitely not agree.
She thought confidently, waiting to see Wen Ruyi lose face.
Empress Dowager Guo also felt that Wen Ruyi was ignorant of her place, and frowned as she reprimanded her: "Consort Liu, how dare you! How can you come and go as you please here in front of the Empress Dowager?"
The Empress Dowager glanced at Wen Ruyi's belly, sighed, and said, "Fine, considering that Consort Liu is about to give birth to an heir for the royal family, I will make an exception and allow you to visit Jingci Palace."
Upon hearing this, both Tu Tong and Empress Dowager Guo were somewhat taken aback.
Wen Ruyi's face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly tried to kowtow to express her gratitude, but the Empress Dowager waved her hand to stop her, saying, "You are in poor health, so don't bother with such formalities. Get up quickly, and don't tire out my great-grandson."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager," Wen Ruyi said immediately.
Seeing that even the Empress Dowager had said so, Empress Dowager Guo could only glance at Qinglian.
Qinglian understood and immediately stepped forward to help Wen Ruyi up.
The Empress Dowager did not want to waste her energy dealing with them and was just about to find an excuse to send them away when a palace servant suddenly came in and reported: "Empress Dowager, Consort A-Tuo and Consort Zhen have arrived and are requesting an audience with you outside the door."
Upon hearing this, Granny Zeng frowned.
What's going on today? Why are people coming to Jingci Palace one after another?
Fearing that the Empress Dowager was tired, she was about to reprimand the palace servants and tell them to send them away, but the Empress Dowager spoke first: "What day is it today? Why does everyone like to come here? Well, since they are here, please let them in."
Upon hearing this, Granny Zeng had no choice but to shut her mouth.
Soon, the palace servants led A-Tuo Jianghua and Guo Yuzhen in.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress." The two stepped forward and bowed in turn.
Upon seeing the two approaching, Wen Ruyi pursed her lips, clearly displeased.
I don't understand why these people are here to join in the fun.
"We heard that the Empress Dowager was unwell, so we came here specifically to see her. Are you feeling better now?" Although Atuo Jianghua came here mainly to find out what Wen Ruyi's purpose was, she asked with concern when she saw that the old lady was not feeling well.
The Empress Dowager knew that she was on good terms with Nong Nong and that she was sincere in her words. Her expression softened and she said kindly, "You are very kind. I am fine."
"That's good. Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself," Atuo Jianghua said sincerely.
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, "Alright."
Guo Yuzhen stood behind Atuo Jianghua, her eyes secretly sizing up Wen Ruyi.
Wen Ruyi quickly noticed and frowned. Just as she was about to think that she knew something, she saw her gaze sweep over her stomach.
Upon seeing this, she immediately became nervous.
Guo Yuzhen, relying on being Empress Dowager Guo's niece, was not only very domineering in the harem, but also very jealous.
She had looked at her belly like that more than once.
She's about to give birth, so we can't let her scheme against us.
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