Chapter 289 - Meeting with Empress Dowager in the Palace Sets Her in a Dangerous Situation (1/2)

Chapter 289 Meeting with Empress Dowager in the Palace Sets Her in a Dangerous Situation

After getting out of the carriage, the old eunuch smiled and greeted her. “Your Majesty, come with me. Her Majesty has been waiting for a long time.”

Mo Xuetong took the opportunity to slip a silver ticket into his hand, smiling. “How do I address you?”

“You can call me eunuch Yu. I am a servant in Cining Palace, taking care of Empress Dowager. Usually, I help my master with the garden.” Eunuch Yu received the silver ticket and became even more polite.

Inside his heart, he approved of the girl as he recognized her as a sensible woman despite her young age. It was no surprise that Princess Royal had her as a foster daughter as she was indeed a bright woman.

Following him in, Mo Xuetong smiled as she chatted. “So it’s Eunuch Yu. Eunuch Yu, I apologize for my ignorance as I was extremely nervous just now, having never received an order from Empress Dowager before. I wonder why Empress Dowager would want to meet me.”

She was sincere and respectful, showing a modest and docile att.i.tude.

“There’s no need to worry. Empress Dowager heard that Princess Royal had a new foster daughter, and wanted to see you for herself. Empress Dowager is extremely kind and loving, especially to the younger generation. If you can get Empress Dowager to like you, you will naturally have a good life.” Eunuch Yu smiled, as he expressed wishes for Mo Xuetong to appease Empress Dowager.

However, his words conveyed a vague meaning as Empress Dowager had always been residing deep within the palace, leaving the management of the Emperor’s harem entirely to the Empress herself. It was as if she did not care about worldly matters. However, even since she discovered that King Ning entered the palace, Mo Xuetong knew that Empress Dowager was merely waiting for an opportunity to strike for King Ning to become the next emperor.

However, she was unsure about why she was involved.

Perhaps now wasn’t the most ideal time for Empress Dowager yet?

She was full of doubts but still chatted with Eunuch Yu all the way to Cining Palace.

The current Empress Dowager sat on the throne at Cining Palace. She wore plain but prestigious clothes. Her face was expressionless, and her eyes were poised like an ancient well without ripples. However, her ordinary demeanor could not hide the royal aura that she involuntarily gave off. Lady of Xian, whom Mo Xuetong had met once before, and a woman in her late forties sat beside her.

There was another beauty sitting by her other side. She wore a glamorous dress and was holding a fan with a jade pendant hanging on it. The drawing on the fan indicated that it was a treasure.

Mo Xuetong went in and kneeled down in front of the Empress Dowager, who was sitting in the middle. “I bow in respect before Your Majesty. May you have prosperity and good health, together with eternal glamour.” As she spoke, she paid her respects.

“So you are the foster daughter of Mingzhu. Lift up your head.” Empress Dowager focused her glance on her face and examined it as she lifted up her head slowly.

“Empress Dowager, Princess Royal’s new princess is really pretty, comparable to the one from your family. If no one told me, I would have thought that she is your birth granddaughter.” Lady of Xian, who saw Mo Xuetong before, joked with Empress Dowager.

“Your words are really sweet. People will laugh at you.” Empress Dowager replied jokingly.

“That’s not possible. I dare to joke before Your Majesty only because you’re extremely kind. Even if I am a little overboard, Your Majesty will always forgive me.” Lady of Xian continued.

“That’s right. Everyone knows that Empress Dowager follows the Budda, and will not be angry at us. Take me, I could not find my direction when I entered the palace for the first time. It was due to the generosity of Empress Dowager that I was not punished, even though I forgot to pay my respects. Even thinking about it now makes me extremely thankful.” d.u.c.h.ess Mingyang, who was seated by them, joked as well.

Those words made Empress Dowager extremely happy as she giggled. “You are also so talkative, working with Ruoling to just flatter me.”

Then, she smiled and turned to Mo Xuetong. “Anping, please sit. If you kneel for too long, you will injure your own knees, and Mingzhu will be angry at me!”

Her words were very casual as if she were just joking with her own granddaughter, showing a faint sense of intimacy. The servants lifted Mo Xuetong up and sent her to sit on a large chair at the side. The servants then sent a cup of fragrant tea to her and then left.

“I heard that Princess Anping is not yet fourteen but she is so beautiful. Her beauty is unmatched by anyone within the imperial palace.” Sitting beside Empress Dowager, Consort Yu covered her lips with her fan and smiled.

“That’s ironic because you are the prettiest in the entire palace!” Empress Dowager chided her jokingly before introducing her to Mo Xuetong. “Meet Consort Yu from Caiwei Palace!”

Consort Yu from Caiwei Palace was the sister of Yu Mingyong. Even though Yu Mingyong managed to not get jailed in the end, he was frightened by the Ministry of Justice and couldn’t eat or sleep well. Thus, he was sick upon his release. Furthermore, the affairs with the Yu family were complicated as well. It was definitely not easy to judge Consort Yu.

“Well wishes to Madame Yu.” Mo Xuetong stood up and bowed to Consort Yu respectfully. Anyway, Consort Yu was not only Emperor Zongwen’s concubine but also someone older than her. She had to act carefully and not show any weakness in front of her, for Consort Yu was not someone as harmless as she appeared to be.