The first snow of early winter fell, and the chill became increasingly biting.
"Miss, watch your step."
Shen Tangning was helped down from the carriage by Xue Qing. She raised her eyes slightly and saw the magnificent palace in front of her.
Today's palace banquet was originally intended for Mr. and Mrs. Chi to attend, but she found an excuse to keep them at home.
By this time, many carriages had already gathered at the palace gate. She joined the crowd and went with everyone to the palace where the banquet was to be held.
The floor lamp stand was filled with candles, illuminating the floor of the main hall. The golden pillars were carved with fierce dragon patterns, exuding an air of grandeur.
Guided by the palace servants, Shen Tangning sat down in her seat. Shortly after she sat down, she saw Aunt Wenlan sitting next to her aunt.
Wenlan's gaze swept across the crowd for a moment before landing precisely on her. She smiled and stepped forward, whispering, "There's still a while before the banquet. Her Majesty knows that Miss has entered the palace and has specially invited you to come and have a chat."
Shen Tangning felt a warmth in her heart. She hadn't seen her aunt for some time. Since handing over the power to manage the six palaces to Consort Li and Consort Rou, the Empress had been living a secluded life.
She immediately agreed and followed Wenlan to Kunning Palace.
Inside the palace, the Empress, dressed in simple plain clothes, was looking down at the Buddhist scriptures she had copied. Hearing a noise, she looked up and a smile appeared on her dignified face.
"Ningning, come and sit down."
Shen Tangning curtsied before stepping forward and curiously peering over: "Is Your Highness copying Buddhist scriptures?"
The Empress glanced at it casually: "To pass the time."
She gestured for Shen Tangning to sit beside her. Shen Tangning hesitated, feeling it was inappropriate, but the Empress pulled her down to sit and carefully examined her: "It has been a long time since I've seen you."
Shen Tangning's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Why don't you talk to Aning?"
When no one else was around, she revealed a bit of a junior's coquettishness.
The Empress gave her a helpless glare, then took her hand and said slowly, "A few days ago, I summoned your mother to the palace. We reminisced about the past. When I first met you, you were only this young."
She smiled and gestured with her hand, her slightly wistful gaze tracing her features, "Now our Ningning has grown into a young lady."
Shen Tangning said sweetly, "Auntie is still the same as before, she hasn't changed at all over the years."
She didn't know why the Empress would suddenly bring up the past, after all, she was never a sentimental person; perhaps it was because she had seen her mother...
Hearing this, the Empress sighed and tapped her forehead: "All you do is try to make me happy."
"No way." Perhaps it was the atmosphere, but she leaned closer and made an intimate gesture. "These are all from Aning's heart."
The Empress let her lean on her shoulder, and where the Empress couldn't see, a faint sadness flashed in her eyes.
She took off a bracelet from her wrist and put it on Shen Tangning's wrist. The latter instinctively pulled away and looked up in surprise: "What do you mean by this, Aunt?"
The blood-red bracelet was of excellent quality, just barely covering her slender wrist, making her skin appear even whiter. The Empress nodded in satisfaction: "This is the red chalcedony that was presented as tribute this year. Several pieces have been obtained throughout the palace, and I felt it would suit you from the very beginning."
Shen Tangning naturally couldn't accept it and hurriedly tried to refuse: "Such a precious thing, Aning can't accept it."
The Empress feigned displeasure: "This bracelet is brightly colored and suitable for young girls like you. What would it look like for me to wear it? You should accept it if I give it to you."
Seeing that she was upset, Shen Tangning dared not refuse any longer.
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