Chi Yan accompanied Shen Tangning to Kunning Palace, but unexpectedly the emperor was also there.
The Empress was injured, and her forehead was now wrapped in gauze, and her face was slightly pale.
Emperor Chongde sat nearby drinking tea, and seemingly casually asked, "I heard that the Empress issued an imperial decree summoning that Miss Shen from prison?"
Whatever happened in the palace could not be kept from him, and that was precisely why he made a special trip to Kunning Palace.
The Empress and the Eldest Princess had always been on good terms, so he couldn't help but wonder if her actions were a way of indirectly helping the Eldest Princess out of a predicament.
The Empress held her forehead, her voice weak: "I haven't seen Tang Ning for some time. I heard she was summoned to the Jingzhao Prefecture for questioning. Since it's just questioning, it shouldn't take too long. Why don't you come and see me while you're at it?"
Emperor Chongde lowered his eyes and remained silent. The Empress paused, her tone gentle, "Your Majesty has watched this girl grow up. She has always been well-behaved and dutiful. If she has made any mistakes, Your Majesty may punish her."
Her tone was slightly lower, and her voice carried a hint of assertiveness, "But if anyone deliberately tries to humiliate her, then I absolutely cannot tolerate it!"
To avoid suspicion, she always avoided getting involved in matters outside the palace, fearing that her husband might become suspicious.
For so many years she has been cautious and walked on thin ice, but now that she has reached this position, she can't protect the people around her. What's the point of that?
Emperor Chongde turned to look at her and saw that her face was weak and tired. Remembering that she had just been injured, his tone softened: "If you want to see her, then summon her to the palace and let her talk to you. It's just a matter of a word."
The Empress smiled faintly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Scholar Chi and his wife request an audience."
Emperor Chongde stood up: "You two haven't seen each other for a long time, so you must have a lot to talk about. It just so happens that I also have some matters to discuss with Chi Yan."
Upon seeing a figure in bright yellow robes emerge from the hall, Shen Tangning and Chi Yan immediately knelt down to pay their respects.
Emperor Chongde glanced at Shen Tangning, then smiled at Chi Yan: "The Empress wants to see your wife, but she didn't say she wanted to see you. Why did you come along? Come with me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Chi Yan lowered his head and agreed, glancing at Shen Tangning with unease.
She blinked, giving him a reassuring look, and only then did he leave with peace of mind.
The Empress dismissed her attendants and then looked at the newcomer with concern:
"Tang Ning, have the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture given you any trouble?"
Shen Tangning shook her head, not mentioning Chi Jingyu's matter: "Is Your Highness's injury any better?"
The aunt standing nearby replied on her behalf: "Her Majesty kowtowed and bled quite a bit, but she has recovered somewhat now."
She frowned: "How exactly did Auntie fall?"
The Empress's eyes turned cold: "The Moon-Viewing Pavilion is cleaned by palace maids every day, but when I passed by that day, there were a few scattered beads on the steps. I accidentally slipped and fell down. Afterwards, His Majesty was furious and punished a group of palace maids who were responsible for cleaning."
Shen Tangning's gaze sharpened: "Was the Princess and Aunt's visit to the Imperial Garden arranged in advance, or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision?"
The Empress lowered her brows slightly: "We just happened to run into each other on the way."
"That's it then." Her voice turned cold. "If it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, how could the other party have scattered the beads on the inevitable path beforehand? Moreover, how could they guarantee that it would be Aunt who stepped on them?"
The Empress understood immediately, her expression turning serious: "You mean there's someone around me harboring malicious intentions?"
"Tang Ning is just guessing."
It's also possible that the problem lies with the eldest princess.
The Empress's eyes flashed with thought: "I've also considered this issue. The palace maids and eunuchs who went with me that day were all punished. However, daring to betray us right under my nose, it seems the punishment was too lenient!"
She gathered her thoughts and changed the subject, "I have my own plans for this matter. Right now, the most important thing is the case of the Eldest Princess. What do you think?"
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