Before dawn the next day, Su Wanwan was woken up to get up, wash, and have breakfast.
When she saw Lu Xingjian already sitting at the dining table, her expression became somewhat unnatural.
Last night felt like a dream.
Sinking into depravity and sin.
Although they hadn't gone all the way, the feelings between the two of them were genuine.
She must have been a widow for too long, and her emotions were hard to suppress.
She comforted herself.
No wonder men love visiting brothels and wealthy women love keeping male lovers.
Lu Xingjian did not look at her.
Instead, he frowned as he looked at the maid holding Su Wanwan. Only when he saw that the maid's movements were gentle and meticulous and that Su Wanwan did not cry out in pain did his frown relax.
The voice was calm and quiet: "Have your meal first, then we'll go directly to Ning Shou Palace. You can use these two people without worry."
It was as if nothing from last night had ever happened.
This is an arrangement for her to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager on her birthday.
Su Wanwan responded softly, eating in small bites like a pecking bird, barely tasting the food.
The table was full of her favorite foods, but she had no appetite for them.
I was extremely conflicted.
On the one hand, they were thinking about how to keep him hanging on and make him confront the Marquis of Qingyang's mansion.
On the one hand, she was thinking that after the birthday celebration, she would have to leave the palace and could not return here.
Otherwise, they will only get more and more entangled, making it even harder to sort things out.
When it comes to feelings, once you fall in love, it's a pain that can break you to the bone.
She had suffered enough and was terrified of pain.
Last night... let's just say she went to a brothel and hired a male prostitute!
After dinner, Su Wanwan was carried back to her room by a maid to get ready.
The clothes and jewelry were all newly delivered.
Seeing that it was a dark-colored silk round-necked robe, understated yet luxurious, Su Wanwan changed into it anyway.
But when she saw Lu Xingjian, who was also wearing a dark-colored round-necked robe, as she went out, she couldn't help but curl her fingers.
The two people's clothes were similar in material and style, except that one had a dragon pattern and the other had a lotus flower pattern.
If they stand together, people might mistake them for a couple.
Lu Xingjian looked over and swept his gaze over her, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Su Wanwan was very embarrassed and was about to say that she would go back and change her clothes.
Lu Xingjian said, "It's getting late, let's go."
"After you enter the palace, just stay in Ning Shou Palace and rest. I will take care of everything else."
Su Wanwan swallowed her words.
Men and women are separated during birthday celebrations, and others may not notice this.
After she got out of the sedan chair, the maid helped her into the wheelchair that had been prepared.
Empress Dowager Wang had already gotten up, but she was not in good spirits. She squinted for a while before recognizing Su Wanwan, and smiled kindly.
"It's Wanwan! You still came to celebrate my birthday despite your leg injury. It's so kind of you to show your filial piety."
Wang had someone arrange for her wheelchair to be placed next to her, served her tea and snacks, and held her hand warmly to ask about her recent situation.
Su Wanwan obediently flattered and responded.
Empress Wang was Emperor Xianzong's second empress. She had been without favor or love for many years and had no children.
She was also Zhou's daughter-in-law.
However, thanks to her intelligence and quiet, tactful nature, she managed to gain a firm foothold despite the double pressure from her ruthless mother-in-law, Zhou, and her daughter-in-law, Zhang, who was favored by the late emperor.
Her three brothers were all granted the titles of marquis or earl, bringing glory to the entire family.
Their abilities and ambitions are not to be underestimated.
Su Wanwan grew up under the care of Madam Zhou and only had a superficial relationship with Madam Wang, who was then the Empress Dowager.
Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, Lady Wang has successfully risen from Empress Dowager to the new Grand Empress Dowager, becoming the most honored woman in the palace.
She couldn't understand why Lady Wang would think of her, a court lady who had been married for many years and had always kept a low profile in the palace.
Perhaps they felt she still had some use?
After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Xia have always disliked Su Wanwan.
More and more ladies from both the inner and outer courts came to offer their birthday greetings.
The palace servants orderly escorted them to a nearby palace to wait, where they were divided into inner and outer court ladies to pay their respects.
Su Wanwan was the only one who could stay by the Empress Dowager's side.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "I am lonely in the palace. You will stay in the palace with me from now on."
Su Wanwan's feelings were somewhat complicated. "Thank you for your kind words, Empress Dowager."
For others, this is an extremely rare blessing.
With the approval of the Empress Dowager, the highest-ranking and most prestigious member of the royal family, anyone who wanted to make things difficult for her would have to think twice.
She suddenly understood what Lu Xingjian meant by the arrangement: to have the Empress Dowager keep her in the palace.
It was indeed for her sake.
It can help avoid those hidden dangers that haven't been investigated yet.
She wouldn't be as unrestrained as she was at Xiaoyuan, and she wouldn't cross the line with him again.
It will only benefit her reputation.
Whether she remarries or interacts with others in the future, her status will rise accordingly, and she will be looked up to by others.
This gave her mixed feelings about Lu Xingjian.
However... staying in the palace would likely inevitably involve contact with Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Xia.
How could they possibly tolerate her?
When Empress Dowager Zhang and Xia Xueyi brought their ladies-in-waiting to offer birthday greetings, their expressions changed slightly upon seeing Su Wanwan.
Zhang Taihou's expression turned somewhat cold and stern.
"Su, you've lost your title and yet you've entered the palace?"
Su Wanwan gave a slight bow as a form of greeting:
"The Empress Dowager has summoned me to the palace. I pay my respects."
Zhang Taihou's expression darkened, and she sneered:
"What arrogance! You don't even kneel and pay your respects to me?"
The Empress Dowager noticed her growing arrogance, coughed, and slowly said:
"I heard a few days ago that Wanwan had returned to the capital, so I specially invited her over to have a chat. What, does the Empress Dowager not even tolerate this?"
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