"Of course I'm anxious. The Emperor is in his early thirties this year, and he only has the second and third princes and Princess Yujia. He rarely sets foot in the harem, and he doesn't even hold the beauty pageant. If this goes on, when will I be able to hold my grandchildren?"
The Empress Dowager thought of the Emperor's cold and detached nature and couldn't help but sigh.
Nanny Qiu quickly put down the comb and comforted the Empress Dowager.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is a sage king and knows what he's doing. You don't have to be too anxious."
Thinking of something, she paused for a moment and continued, "Although Lady Lan is extremely beautiful, she is a widow after all. Your Highness had better choose someone from the noble families to enter the palace."
"The Emperor doesn't take a fancy to any of those people."
"As long as the Emperor likes her, even if she is a widow, I'll accept it."
"But His Majesty still didn't take a fancy to her, right?" Nanny Qiu asked doubtfully.
The Empress Dowager shook her head slightly, and her complexion softened a little.
"These days, I've been taking Lady Lan around the palace, just hoping to create an opportunity for the Emperor to run into her. But except for the accident in the imperial garden, the Emperor hasn't come to the harem even once. It seems that I've thought too much. Fortunately, she still has a daughter left in the palace..."
Seeing this, Nanny Qiu took over the Empress Dowager's words, "Your Highness is wise. Lady Lan's daughter will stay in the palace from now on. If His Majesty really has feelings for her, there will surely be opportunities for them to meet."
"Right. Then let it be so. Let her leave the palace first."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows and agreed.
Then she let out a long sigh, "The Emperor is good in every way, but he doesn't care about women. When will there be more children in the harem..."
Nanny Qiu laughed along with the Empress Dowager.
The candlelight cast a pale yellow glow on the moonlight. The gentle breeze twined around the treetops and swayed within the vermilion palace walls. The figures gradually faded into silence.
The sun rose in the east, and the dim morning light instantly filled the whole sky.
Morning had arrived.
With the Empress Dowager's permission, Lan Miao would take Xue'er out of the palace and return to the Marquis Mansion today. After the Elegant Hall in the palace opened in five days, she would send Xue'er back to the palace. Thanks to Nanny Qiu's careful arrangements, this coming and going was made possible.
After bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager and Princess Yujia, Lan Miao took Xue'er and several palace servants and slowly walked to the palace gate.
The Marquis Mansion had sent two indigo carriages, one big and one small. They looked simple and elegant and had been waiting quietly at the palace gate.
After the palace servants put the gifts bestowed by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager on the back carriage, Lan Miao said goodbye to the palace servants beside the Empress Dowager. Then she took Xue'er and walked to the front carriage. Lan Miao reached out to lift the curtain, but unexpectedly, a pair of well - jointed hands protruded from inside, and a clear voice slowly sounded.
"Sister - in - law, please come in."
Lan Miao looked up in surprise.
It was not Mrs. You who came to pick her up, but Wen Yuanning, the third young master of the Marquis Mansion.
The lifted curtain revealed his handsome side profile.
She immediately sank her face.
Seeing that she didn't move, Xue'er behind her gently tugged at the plain white sleeve that had fallen down and asked curiously, "Mother, what's wrong? Is this carriage not good? Then let's go and sit in the back one."
Lan Miao nodded calmly. Just as she was about to put down the curtain, Wen Yuanning said again, his voice firm.
"The axle of the back carriage is a bit broken on the way. It's not convenient for people to sit in it. Sister - in - law, please get in this one. Don't delay your time to return to the Marquis Mansion. I also have something to say to you."
It was really a dilemma...
Lan Miao's heart skipped a beat. No matter what had happened in the past, Wen Yuanning still seemed to be a gentle and elegant gentleman on the surface. She didn't have the heart to think too much and then took Xue'er into the carriage.
The carriage was spacious. Lan Miao and Xue'er sat on one side, while Wen Yuanning sat opposite Lan Miao and quietly looked at her.
Lan Miao had calmed down her mood and said calmly,
"I wonder why it's you, third brother, who came to pick up Xue'er and me today?"
"Second brother was summoned by the Emperor into the palace. I came with him and happened to pick you up."
Wen Yuanning smiled with the corners of his mouth. He picked up a plate of fruits from the small wooden table beside him and handed it to Xue'er, "Xue'er, this is the Jasper Fruit from Changfangzhai. Uncle bought it for you on the way."
Xue'er's bright eyes twinkled, and she smiled happily.
"Hello, Uncle. Thank you, Uncle."
She picked up a piece of Jasper Fruit. The fruit emitted a faint fragrance. After taking a small bite, she turned to Lan Miao in surprise, "Mother, there are osmanthus flowers in the fruit. Don't you like this the most? You should try it too."
Lan Miao looked at Xue'er and smiled, "Mother's not hungry. You eat it."
"Okay..."
Seeing that Lan Miao didn't touch the plate of fruits, Wen Yuanning shifted his gaze and continued, "The mansion has already received the imperial edict that Xue'er will enter the palace as the princess's companion. It seems that both Xue'er and sister - in - law have had good fortune after coming to the palace. This is a good thing. Second brother and I will take care of things for Xue'er in the palace."
"Then I'll thank the Marquis and third brother."
Hearing this, Lan Miao's expression changed slightly. Since they already knew, she didn't have to tell the old lady about it.
After that, there was no more conversation. She sat upright beside Xue'er, calm and serene like a fine piece of jade, with a pure and refined glow on her face.
Wen Yuanning looked at her for a long time and finally couldn't help but speak.
"Sister - in - law looks better in complexion after entering the palace than when you were in the mansion."
Lan Miao squinted her eyes slightly, and the corners of her pink lips curled up, "The Empress Dowager doesn't mind my status as a widow and treats me very kindly. Princess Yujia is also very good to Xue'er."
Wen Yuanning was stunned.
After hearing this, his face suddenly turned a bit green.
Xue'er pinched the fruit and also chimed in, "Yes, Uncle. The Empress Dowager and the princess are very good to me and mother. The Emperor also... gave me something." She didn't mention that the Emperor almost beheaded her. She thought it was better not to say it.
Wen Yuanning's face turned green and then white.
"Really? Sister - in - law can have a good rest after returning to the mansion."
His voice was as light as a feather.
Lan Miao nodded with a smile, making it impossible to detect any clues.
From then on, no one spoke on the way back to the mansion. The carriage was silent, only the clattering of the horses' hooves and the whistling of the wind outside the carriage could be heard. The carriage drove straight on the streets of Luojing and gradually faded into a small, blurry black dot.
Emperor Jingxiang stood on the palace wall. The wind blowing from the horizon puffed up the sleeves of his black - and - gold dragon - patterned robe. He stood with his hands behind his back in the middle of the tower, surrounded by a cold and aloof aura that exuded a strong sense of oppression. His deep eyes, however, fell on the bustling street in the distance.
An He bent over and trotted all the way to Emperor Jingxiang's side.
"Your Majesty, the jade pendant has been returned to the Marquis of Yongyi."
"How did he react?"
Emperor Jingxiang's voice was calm, yet imposing without anger.
An He lowered his voice and said, "After I presented the jade pendant to the Marquis, he said that the Marquis Mansion had never mistreated the descendants of the loyal and heroic, nor had they ill - treated the widow of his elder brother. There must be some misunderstanding. He will surely return to the mansion to rectify the family tradition. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
The Emperor nodded slightly and said no more.
An He bowed and stepped back. Just now, the Emperor only told him to return the inferior jade pendant that Lady Lan was wearing to the Marquis of Yongyi and didn't say much else.
He thought that the Emperor's actions might not necessarily mean that he had special feelings for Lady Lan. It was probably just because the old Marquis of Yongyi and his son had died outside the pass while doing things for the Emperor, so he showed some concern for his widow.
He stood behind the stone pillar waiting. He saw the Emperor take out the jade hook from his bosom and carefully examine the pattern on it. His side face was as cold and sharp as the overlapping mountains.
The Emperor's mind was really hard to fathom.