Chapter 458 - Exchange a Jade Pendant for a Jade Pendant (2/2)

Shao Wanru, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, heaved a sigh of relief. She had finally received the Empress Dowager’s approval for it.

“Come here!” The Empress Dowager looked up at Shao Wanru. After measuring her with the eye, the Empress Dowager looked at the jade pendant on her waist and waved to her kindly.

A palace maid came over and helped her up.

Shao Wanru slowly walked up the stairs and stood in front of the Empress Dowager.

“Sit down here. I really like such a filial child like you!” the Empress Dowager said gently.

A palace maid hurriedly moved a chair over and placed it next to the Empress Dowager.

Shao Wanru sat down with good manners and felt uneasy. Shouldn’t she be allowed to leave since the matter had been settled at this moment? Why did the Empress Dowager keep her here?

“This jade pendant is nice. Where did you get it from?” The Empress Dowager glanced at her and then suddenly looked towards her waist. “Let me take a look!”

Shao Wanru hurriedly reached out to take off the jade pendant and presented it respectfully.

The Empress Dowager picked up the jade pendant and looked at it carefully. Sensing the warmth on the jade pendant, she looked at Shao Wanru with increasing darkness in her eyes.

Shao Wanru lowered her head nervously and looked down at her toes. She could sense that the Empress Dowager kept looking at her and felt profoundly regretful of bringing the jade pendant into the imperial palace.

She did that in case of encountering Chu Liuchen. He had told her to bring the jade pendant with her. If he saw that she didn’t bring it, he would probably make trouble again. Therefore, she decided to bring it obediently just in case.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t encounter Chu Liuchen, but attracted the Empress Dowager’s attention. The Empress Dowager must have found that this jade pendant belonged to Chu Liuchen.

Thinking of this, she blushed.

“This jade pendant is nice. Where did you get it?” The Empress Dowager looked over the jade pendant a few times and asked calmly.

Hearing the Empress Dowager’s question, Shao Wanru knew that the Empress Dowager probably would not reveal the secret. She heaved a sigh of relief in her heart and hurriedly answered, “Reporting to Your Highness, this is a gift from a friend!”

“Friend?” The Empress Dowager looked at Shao Wanru with a faint smile.

With her heart skipping a beat, Shao Wanru hurriedly composed herself. After that, she became calm immediately. Speaking of the jade pendant, she actually had a clear conscience. Chu Liuchen insisted on giving it to her, and she didn’t ask for it.

“I like this jade pendant. Maybe I can exchange another piece of jade pendant for your jade pendant. What do you say?” Seeing that she calmed down so soon, the Empress Dowager nodded in secret, but did not leave Shao Wanru any chance to answer and continued asking.

“It’s my pleasure. Your Highness, if you like it, we don’t have to exchange jade pendants!” Shao Wanru said cautiously.

There was no need for exchange, because it belonged to Chu Liuchen.

“I won’t take anything from a child. Someone brings me a piece of jade pendant.” The Empress Dowager leaned back, smiled gently, and pointed at a chair by the side.

Shao Wanru stepped forward obediently and sat down.

A palace maid behind her had brought a piece of jade pendant. The Empress Dowager placed the jade pendant in her hands onto the tray held by the palace maid, took out the jade pendant from the tray and handed it to Shao Wanru with a smile after taking a look at it. She said with gentle and amiable eyes, “I can’t take your jade pendant for nothing. I’ll exchange this piece of jade pendant for yours!”

“Thank you for your reward, Your Highness!” Shao Wanru said with her long eyelashes fluttering several times. She didn’t know what was going on. Did the Empress Dowager take a liking to Chu Liuchen’s jade pendant?

She even had an absurd thought. Could it be possible that the Empress Dowager had taken a liking to Chu Liuchen’s jade pendant long ago, but it was not convenient for her to “exchange” with him, so she immediately exchanged for it at the sight that it was in her hands?

“Bring this piece of jade pendant with you from now on. This piece of jade pendant of mine is very nourishing. I’ve been in possession of it for many years and have never granted it to anyone. It is rare that I feel pleased at the sight of your jade pendant. So I exchange this piece of jade pendant for the jade pendant you like.” Watching a slightly ignorant girl sitting in front of her blankly with delicate features which were pleasing to the eye, the Empress Dowager showed a more cheerful smile.

Shao Wanru was a good girl. She had thought that there was a problem with her identity, but now Shao Wanru seemed to be a perfect match for Chu Liuchen with her identity. She didn’t need to play the villain anymore. She had been in a bad mood because of the bad reputation of Ningyuan Army General’s Mansion, but now it had gone. Thinking about this child’s family background, she found her really pitiful. At this moment, Shao Wanru looked cute and likable with such delicate features. She felt so satisfied with her.

The brat dared to give away the warm jade pendant for nourishing his body. She would definitely criticize him fiercely…