Everyone in the room knelt down simultaneously.
"Greetings to Your Majesty."
Lan Miao's heart was pounding like a drum. She didn't dare to move at all.
She was almost lying flat on the ground, showing a section of her snow - white neck. Her cyan sleeves spread out, looking like a gentle cyan lotus from afar. A breeze blew from behind. The emperor's majestic aura passed by her, strong and scorching. Only after this feeling disappeared did she relax.
"Why is Your Majesty the Empress Dowager so happy?"
The voice of Emperor Jingxiang was deep and solemn, yet it seemed to hang in the sky.
The Empress Dowager let out a soft laugh. "Some time ago, the Marquis Yongyi's Mansion presented a pair of purple jade pendants. I like them very much. The person who carved the jade is actually the eldest mistress of the marquis's mansion. Her craftsmanship is excellent. I summoned her today to prepare a birthday gift for Princess Kaiyun."
"I see."
Emperor Jingxiang responded lazily. He nodded and, seeing that everyone in the room was still kneeling, said, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lan Miao mustered her strength and managed to stand up, always keeping her head down. Fortunately, Mrs. You also seemed very nervous and kept fidgeting, which eased Lan Miao's nervousness a bit.
The Empress Dowager knew that the emperor must have come for something when he suddenly showed up. She said to Lan Miao and the others, "Since the emperor is here, you two may return to your mansion first..."
"Wait."
The heavy stone in Lan Miao's heart hadn't landed yet when Emperor Jingxiang suddenly spoke. "Lift your head and let me take a look."
Mrs. You beside her nudged Lan Miao with her elbow.
Only then did Lan Miao realize that the emperor was talking to her.
She calmly raised her head and unexpectedly met the emperor's cold and scrutinizing gaze.
After a moment, Emperor Jingxiang let out a soft laugh.
"Since you're a jade carver, why are you wearing such an ordinary yellow jade pendant? Could it be that you're just a fraud?"
Only then did the Empress Dowager notice that the jade pendant Lan Miao was wearing was indeed of poor quality.
But the emperor's words were a bit too harsh.
Lan Miao bowed respectfully to him and said calmly, "This jade pendant was given to me by a loved one. It's not a valuable thing. What I value most when wearing it is the sentiment."
"This sentiment is too cheap. Lady Lan, take it off."
"...Alright."
Lan Miao took off the jade pendant from her waist. The emperor's chief eunuch, An He, took it and presented it to the emperor for inspection.
Below, Mrs. You's face turned pale and then red. She just remembered that this jade pendant was something she casually gave to Lan Miao. She just had someone buy it from a stall in the market. She never expected that Lan Miao would wear it today.
Lan Miao mustn't say that she gave it.
Wouldn't that make their marquis's mansion seem mean to a widow?
Mrs. You was worried, but she didn't know that her face had already betrayed her.
The emperor noticed it. His face remained unchanged as his slender and fair fingers played with the ordinary yellow jade pendant without saying a word. About half a quarter of an hour later, the emperor stood up and whispered something to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager looked at Lan Miao, and the smile in her eyes deepened.
"Since you're here, go and see Yujia."
"Okay."
The emperor turned around and left the room with his entourage. When passing by Lan Miao, his index finger gently tapped the yellow jade pendant in his hand, making a soft sound. Just like that, he took the jade pendant away without saying a word.
Lan Miao was puzzled. Since he thought it was cheap, why did he take it?
But fortunately, the emperor didn't recognize her. It was a gain to come to the palace this time.
After the emperor left, Lan Miao and Mrs. You also prepared to leave.
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly. She stared deeply at Lan Miao.
"I suddenly remembered that there are still some places in the jade - carving pattern that need to be changed. Lady Lan, please stay in the palace for a few days and discuss with me how to change the pattern."
Lan Miao's heart suddenly tightened.
Why did she suddenly have to stay in the palace?
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, my daughter at home is still ill and waiting for me to go back. Since my daughter was born, I've accompanied her every night. Please forgive me. How about I come back to the palace after Your Majesty decides what pattern to carve?"
Lan Miao knelt on the ground again, her words sincere.
The Empress Dowager didn't say a word.
The room instantly fell silent.
Mrs. You was anxious. She was afraid that Lan Miao's stubborn nature would anger the Empress Dowager. This was someone who could have their heads chopped off without saying a word.
Mrs. You quickly said with a smile, "Sister - in - law, it's not as serious as you said. Xue'er is much better. It doesn't matter if we stay in the palace for a few days."
The Empress Dowager, who had never paid attention to Mrs. You, picked up her words this time.
Her voice was gentle, showing no trace of anger.
"I didn't know that Lady Lan's daughter was ill. Why not bring her to the palace for the imperial physician to take a look? It's not evening yet. If you bring her here, she can have dinner with us in the palace. Lady Lan and your daughter can stay in the Cining Palace for a few days. Your daughter can also accompany my Yujia. Isn't it a win - win situation?"
The Empress Dowager's words were reasonable.
Lan Miao felt a lump in her throat.
She had already walked on the edge of a cliff when she spoke just now. She didn't dare to refuse anymore. Besides, the emperor didn't recognize her even when he was so close. She shouldn't be nervous.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I'm extremely grateful."
"It's also my honor to stay in the palace. I kowtow to thank Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Seeing Lan Miao agree, Mrs. You was overjoyed. It was really lucky to be favored by the Empress Dowager like this.
But the next sentence from the Empress Dowager made Mrs. You dumbfounded. "Lady You is the mistress of the marquis's mansion. I wouldn't dare to keep you in the palace for long. You may go back to the palace first to pick up Lady Lan's daughter."
"Ah? Then... thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, for your kindness."
Mrs. You bowed her head and kowtowed, smiling awkwardly.
So the Empress Dowager just wanted to keep Lan Miao in the palace.
Why was that?
She watched as Lan Miao calmly bowed, her movements smooth and more graceful than others. Suddenly, she regretted bringing Lan Miao here. She also regretted not listening to Lan Miao and privately presenting the jade to the palace. She was just worried that if Lan Miao stayed in the palace alone without her supervision, she might talk nonsense in front of the Empress Dowager.
---
Accompanied by the Empress Dowager's maid, the two of them left the room together.
When Lan Miao saw Mrs. You off to the palace gate, Mrs. You "admonished" her in an almost threatening tone. Lan Miao thought it was funny. She wasn't a fool. How could she directly tell the Empress Dowager about the disputes in the inner courtyard?
After following the maid back to the Cining Palace, the maid's attitude towards Lan Miao improved a lot. She took the initiative to smile at Lan Miao and said, "Lady Lan, this way, please. I've prepared all the clothes and daily necessities."
"Thank you, miss. May I know your name? I'll have to trouble you to take care of me these days."
"My name is Jiang He. Lady Lan, you're too polite."
Jiang He had a great impression of Lady Lan. Her beauty would stand out even in the three palaces and six courtyards, and her temperament was so calm and peaceful. No wonder the Empress Dowager liked her.
As they were talking, Jiang He led Lan Miao to the side hall on the west side of the Cining Palace.
"Lady Lan, you'll stay here these days. If you think there's anything missing, just tell me and I'll go and prepare it."
Lan Miao looked in the direction of the voice. The side hall was elegantly decorated, and all the items were very complete. It was no worse than the Pinglan Courtyard where she lived in the marquis's mansion. The Empress Dowager was really considerate.
She looked at Jiang He with a sincere expression. "I don't think there's anything missing. Please tell Lady Jiang He and the Empress Dowager for me. Also... if my daughter comes, please tell me immediately."
"Don't worry, Lady. As soon as Miss Wen enters the palace, I'll immediately ask the imperial physician to come and take a look at her." Jiang He smiled. "Also, you can just call me Jiang He. There's no need to be so formal."
"Okay..."
Lan Miao agreed with a smile.
After Jiang He left, Lan Miao found a chair in the hall and sat down. Only then did she relax a bit.
The soreness in her body also came over her.
She didn't understand why the Empress Dowager suddenly wanted her to stay for a few days.
It would have been fine to just send the modified pattern to her mansion.
Lan Miao thought hard and suddenly thought of a reason.
Did the emperor say something that made the Empress Dowager doubt her jade - carving skills? Did she want to see her skills in these few days to avoid wasting that peerless jade in her hands? After all, it was a birthday gift for Princess Kaiyun. To put it grandly, it was a gift for the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The more Lan Miao thought about it, the more she was sure that this must be the reason.
She suddenly got motivated.
If she could complete this big order, her jade workshop would surely rise to a higher level, and there would be more guarantees for Xue'er. If she could win the favor of the Empress Dowager, the marquis's mansion wouldn't dare to bully her at will.
Lan Miao thought of the method proposed by Mrs. Wen after Xue'er was born and felt disgusted.
It was best to rely on herself.
Lan Miao sat alone for a while. An hour later, there was a knock on the door from a maid outside.
"Lady Lan, your daughter has been brought here."
Lan Miao's eyes lit up.
She opened the door and walked out. Several palace maids were chatting in the corridor.
"My goodness, this little girl is so beautiful!"
"This mother - daughter pair is really amazing!"
Not far away, Jiang He led Xue'er to Lan Miao. In the corridor, Xue'er had been quietly following the palace maids, looking straight ahead and behaving properly. When she saw Lan Miao, her eyes blinked gently.
"Mother..."
Lan Miao quickly walked over, bent down, and hugged Xue'er tightly. Her eyes were a bit red.
"Mother, this place is so big. It looks so much fun."
Xue'er nestled in Lan Miao's arms, wrinkled her nose, and whispered in her ear.
Lan Miao was amused by her.
Beside them, Jiang He couldn't help smiling when she saw the mother and daughter hugging each other.
This heart - warming scene of mother - daughter love was also seen by the emperor who came out of the east courtyard. He stood at the door and tilted his head slightly.
After standing there for a while, the emperor flicked his sleeves and left.
An He followed the emperor's steps. A group of people walked on the palace path, and the maids and servants around them quickly knelt down to make way.
An He still had the yellow jade pendant of Lady Lan in his bosom. The emperor didn't say anything after giving it to him, and he didn't know how to deal with this cheap jade pendant. It was definitely not okay to return it to Lady Lan. It was also not okay to just throw it away casually.
An He was still thinking wildly when the emperor in front suddenly asked,
"Has there been any news from the shadow guards?"
"Your Majesty, there's no news of that person for the time being."
An He replied carefully.
He looked up and saw that the emperor was rubbing a white jade hook in his palm again. The jade hook, only the size of a thumb, was of ordinary quality, but it had developed a smooth and shiny luster in the emperor's hands over the past five years.
This jade hook was from that person.
Five years ago, during the court officials' banquet, the palace gates were wide open, and people were coming and going. There was also a sudden rain, and thieves had sneaked into the palace banquet. The emperor was drugged by a spy from an enemy country. In an abandoned courtyard, he had an affair with a certain woman. But afterwards, the emperor didn't see the woman's face clearly and didn't know who she was.
The woman accidentally left behind a jade hook.
But this jade hook was so ordinary. Whether it was the material or the quality, it could be seen everywhere. Only the pattern on it was very strange, and there was nowhere to find a similar one. And His Majesty seemed to be extremely interested in the pattern on this jade hook.
Over the past five years, he had been sending people to look for the woman, but there had been no clues at all.
All the matters of that year had been investigated clearly.
Only that person was nowhere to be found.
Your Majesty had really developed a heartache over this.