Wei Shuxuan was reading a book in the study when she heard Chief Eunuch Li calling her from outside. "Empress Dowager, the Grand Emperor wants to see you."
Hearing that it was Emperor Jinzheng summoning her, she replied unhappily, "What does he want me for? I'm very busy."
"I don't know either, Your Majesty. The Grand Emperor said he had something to discuss with you. Please go to the Grand Emperor's chambers as soon as possible."
"… I see. I'll go to him later. By the way, which palace is the Grand Emperor in now?" Wei Shuxuan put down the book in her hand and asked Chief Eunuch Li, who was still outside, gloomily.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Emperor is waiting for you in the Full - Moon Garden. Please go there early."
"Got it. And you, Chief Eunuch Li, stop calling me 'Empress Dowager' all the time. It irritates me."
Wei Shuxuan finally couldn't help complaining about Chief Eunuch Li. She hadn't married Xin Zizhao yet, but the maids and eunuchs always called her 'Empress Dowager'. She wondered if it was that rascal Xin Zizhao who told them to address her like this.
"But… this… His Highness, the former Fifth Prince, is already the emperor of the Yulong Kingdom. Although you and His Majesty haven't had the official wedding yet, in the eyes of many in the palace, you're already the mother of the nation of our Yulong Kingdom. It's appropriate to call you 'Empress Dowager'."
Wei Shuxuan stroked her chin. "Wait a minute, Chief Eunuch Li. I have a question for you. Did His Majesty tell you to address me like this?"
As soon as her voice fell, there was an eerie silence. Great, Wei Shuxuan already knew the answer. Through the paper window, she saw Chief Eunuch Li waiting outside. "Forget it. You're just doing your job. Chief Eunuch Li, go back to work. I'll go to the Grand Emperor by myself later."
"Yes, I'll take my leave first."
Not long after Chief Eunuch Li left, Wei Shuxuan got up and left the Fenghe Palace, heading towards the Full - Moon Garden.
The Full - Moon Garden was just as it was when Wei Shuxuan first came here. Elegant and delicate Chinese roses were in full bloom all over the round arch, and their faint fragrance wafted in the air, making people feel refreshed.
She vaguely remembered the location of Jinzheng's room. Passing through the round arch full of Chinese roses, she would see a square pavilion, which should be where Jinzheng rested.
As soon as Little Gaozi, who was guarding outside, saw Wei Shuxuan, he immediately bowed to her. "Greetings to the Empress Dowager!"
"… Get up," Wei Shuxuan still heard this irritating title even when she came here. "Is the Grand Emperor inside?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Grand Emperor is resting inside."
"Then I'll go in and see the Grand Emperor."
"Do you need me to announce your arrival to the Grand Emperor?"
"No need. I'll go in and find him myself."
As soon as Wei Shuxuan walked in, she heard Jinzheng's voice. "Oh, Shuxuan, you've finally come to keep this old man company."
"Wasn't it you who called me here?" Wei Shuxuan rolled her eyes at him.
Seeing Wei Shuxuan's eye - roll, Jinzheng stroked his beard and looked at her with a smile. "Seeing you is like seeing your father. Whether in the past or now, only your father and Ge Long'an have rolled their eyes at me, the former emperor. Hahaha, I feel somewhat nostalgic for those days!"
"You're not using me as a substitute for my father, are you?" Wei Shuxuan raised an eyebrow.
"Hahaha, of course not. Although I'm old, my mind is still very clear. You're my daughter - in - law!" After abdicating, Jinzheng replaced 'I' (the imperial self - reference) with 'me', which sounded more amiable.
"I haven't married the Fifth Prince yet, okay?" Wei Shuxuan said crossly.
"The day of the wedding has been set by the imperial astrologer. When the time comes, you two will have the wedding."
Wei Shuxuan pouted. She had her own plans, but she didn't intend to tell Jinzheng. Anyway, it wouldn't matter even if he knew later.
"You didn't call me here just for this, did you?"
"Yes, it's just for this. The wedding will be on the fifth day of next month. By then, I'll have someone prepare a good dowry for you. You just need to take care of yourself and get ready to get married."
"I see. If there's nothing else, I'll go back to the Fenghe Palace first."
"Okay. Go back and discuss with Zizhao how you want to hold your wedding."
"Then Shuxuan will take her leave."
As soon as she returned to the Fenghe Palace, Xin Zizhao was already back. He had just been discussing the flood in Hua'an Town with the ministers in the imperial study. After they came up with a solution, he came back here to rest.
"You're back so soon? I thought you'd be discussing for a long time."
"Did you go out?" Xin Zizhao saw that Wei Shuxuan seemed to have just come back from outside.
"Wasn't it your father who called me over?" Wei Shuxuan still had some complaints about this.
"What did he call you for?"
"It's about our wedding. He said the imperial astrologer has chosen a date."
Xin Zizhao looked down at her. He didn't see any sign of reluctance on Wei Shuxuan's face, just a bit of dissatisfaction. "Xuan'er, do you really not want to marry me?"
"I remember you said you wouldn't force me. Does your promise still hold?" Wei Shuxuan didn't answer Xin Zizhao's question but instead asked a question that concerned her.
Xin Zizhao nodded. "Of course it does."
"I can be honest with you. I like you, and I can marry you, but you can't restrict my freedom. Do you understand?"
"I understand what you mean," Xin Zizhao wasn't unaware of Wei Shuxuan's concerns. Maybe her concerns were the things she had been hiding from him. "So, are you planning to leave me?"
"I won't leave you for now. Well, let's not discuss this question anymore. I want to go back and rest."
Wei Shuxuan didn't want to discuss this question with Xin Zizhao anymore, so she got up and went back to her own room. Although they were engaged, they hadn't gotten married yet, so they still slept in separate rooms, just like before.
Not leaving him for now? She only said 'for now' but didn't mention the future. Did she really think he couldn't understand her veiled words?
Xin Zizhao laughed at himself. Well, since he had promised her that he wouldn't force her, he might as well just let her do as she pleased.
Back in her room, Wei Shuxuan called out Wei Wei. "Wei Wei, have you finished the task I asked you to do?"