Halfway up the mountain, the autumn colors are dyed, a tree of cold fragrance, a small pavilion quietly makes a pair.
Tang Xiaobai, when thinking, habitually lowered her gaze.
After thinking, she lifted her eyes to discuss the next topic: "The Empress Dowager—"
The voice ca to an abrupt end.
The young man’s bright eyes were already close at hand.
She suddenly blushed, her eyes unconsciously drifting to the side.
There are still people around...
Before her eyes could return, her lips were warmly covered.
The air was mixed with the fresh scent of rain and vegetation, gently brought into the pavilion by the wind, lingering all around.
Her hands resting on her sides involuntarily curled and then were captured, drawn towards him...
...
Tang Xiaobai originally had many matters she wanted to discuss with him, but ended up only speaking about Luo Xiong.
When it was ti to part, she held the corner of his sleeve, looking sowhat annoyed.
Seeing her reluctant appearance, Li Mu couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips, gently kissed her forehead, and said softly, "We can et again tomorrow."
Tang Xiaobai was puzzled, "Tomorrow? How do we et?"
Li Mu pinched her hand and said, "The Empress Dowager woke up—"
...
The Empress Dowager woke up, and all the external noblewon had to enter the palace to visit.
However, it was only after Tang Xiaobai returned from Wulou Temple with her mother to pray and returned ho that she officially heard the news.
The Empress Dowager had a stroke and fell into a coma on the first day of August, remaining unconscious for half a month before finally waking up.
"Awake as she is, she’s still unable to speak or move, probably—" The servant stopped talking as they touched on the topic of a superior.
But the implication was clear.
The Empress Dowager was likely paralyzed.
"Doctor Feng’s dical skills are brilliant. Given ti, the Empress Dowager should improve." Tang Xiaobai said.
This statent revealed her stance, catching Gu Ning’s attention.
Tang Xiaobai lowered her head, quietly playing with her fingers.
The Empress Dowager was the real grandmother to her little ancestor and had defended her several tis, so naturally, she had a slight bias.
Gu Ning smiled softly, dismissing the servants, then asked: "Do you rember why the Empress Dowager fell ill?"
Tang Xiaobai nodded, "On the first day, the Crown Prince accused Wang Maozhao of forcing the Empress Xiao’ai to her death at the Taiji Palace. A palace maid rashly passed the news to the Empress Dowager, causing her to faint from shock."
This matter was easily investigated, and the palace maid was already controlled early on.
But no trace of conspiracy was found, as if it was just a coincidence.
What did Gu Ning an by ntioning this?
"Do you think the Empress Dowager was angered by the Crown Prince or Wang Maozhao?"
Tang Xiaobai couldn’t answer.
The Empress Dowager appeared to be a grandmother who doted on her grandson, but she also bore the surna Wang.
Now, her own grandson had personally brought down the Wang family that even the current emperor couldn’t, and it was uncertain how the grandmother and grandson would get along in the future.
Thinking this deeply made Tang Xiaobai anxious, wishing for tomorrow to arrive imdiately.
With the Empress Dowager awake today, the external noblewon would enter the palace to visit tomorrow.
Her little ancestor said he would also go to visit the Empress Dowager around the sa ti tomorrow.
Then, she could also observe their interaction...
...
In fact, Tang Xiaobai didn’t have much opportunity to observe the interactions between the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince.
When the external noblewon went to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager, it wasn’t just the Duke Yan’s family.
All external noblewon above the third rank in the Capital City had entered the palace, standing in a complete formation outside the Zhaoqing Palace.
Thanks to the Eldest Princess of Ji Country, Tang Xiaobai stood at the forefront of the formation.
As a result, when the Crown Prince arrived as promised, he walked past just three steps away from her.
Just as he was in front of her, he stopped.
He turned his head to look at her.
Tang Xiaobai blinked, "shocked," she lowered her head.
"Your Highness—" The palace attendants at Zhaoqing Palace had also heard of the Crown Prince’s madness whenever he sees the second daughter of Duke Yan, and upon seeing him pay attention to Second Miss Tang, they hurriedly spoke up, "Your Highness, please enter the palace!"
The Crown Prince took a deep look at Second Miss Tang, snorted coldly, and walked into Zhaoqing Palace, flicking his sleeves.
He went in for about a quarter of an hour, then ca out.
Tang Xiaobai sneaked a glance.
However, the Crown Prince’s expression was indifferent, showing no signs of emotional fluctuation.
At this mont, another person walked out from the palace.
The palace rules dictate that unless it’s an ergency, one must walk with dignity.
Dignity ans not walking fast.
However, this person’s steps were clearly half a beat quicker than the palace maids behind, her light green skirt fluttered like water waves, without red outfits or gold ornants, but still exuding a bold and unrestrained air.
With a tall and slender figure of about 1.7 ters, standing on the steps, her gaze swept across with an arrogance surpassing even the Crown Prince beside her.
"Please, Eldest Princess of Ji Country, Princess Consort Su, Princess Consort Qing... enter the hall!" The bright and clear voice, both proud and cold, caused many below to frown in displeasure.
But since when did Miss Tang care whether others were pleased or not?
After conveying the ssage, she focused her gaze on her relatives below the steps.
Tang Xiaobai also couldn’t help but look at her.
Her sister must have missed her and their mother to have co out specially to deliver the ssage.
Otherwise, with her temperant as the eldest of their family, such a task wouldn’t have fallen on her.
In the palace, one must adhere to palace rules.
No matter how free-spirited Tang Jiaojiao was, she had restrained herself significantly, especially with the Empress Dowager still ailing; there were no red garnts or golden ornants in sight.
Yet even so, Miss Tang’s appearance remained dazzling and unmatched, overshadowing all others.
But this was not the occasion for a reunion. Tang Jiaojiao only nodded slightly to them before leading the princesses and consorts inside.
As her waist twisted and she turned, the alluring curves dazzled even the young eunuch beside her into a daze.
Suddenly, Tang Xiaobai’s heart skipped a beat, recalling a casual comnt from Li Mu the day before—
The Emperor visits Zhaoqing Palace three tis a day.
Her face paled as she abruptly looked at Li Mu.
Li Mu was also looking at her.
Their eyes t briefly before quickly shifting away. Turning around, taking two steps in the direction of departure, he stopped and coldly said, "The Empress Dowager needs peace. Those in the palace should be taken back to their hos!"
...
When Tang Jiaojiao left the palace, she was still reluctant, muttering, "Look how full of himself he is, with just a word he sent people away! Only because when he cos, there’s no one flattering him? Doesn’t he rember how many benefits he received while at our house?"
Tang Xiaobai didn’t an to counter her, but she really wanted to say, "When he was at our house, Sister called him a little weakling."
Tang Jiaojiao: ...
"Sister once made him take off Brother’s shoes."
Tang Jiaojiao: ...
"She also once made him kneel to be punished—"
"Why are you holding grudges like this?" Tang Jiaojiao glared at her, "The Crown Prince didn’t even say anything, yet you rember everything so clearly!"
Tang Xiaobai chuckled and hugged her arm, "The Crown Prince isn’t soone petty—"
"Would he dare hold grudges?" Tang Jiaojiao scoffed, "He himself played tricks, can he bla ? Besides, did our family treat him poorly? Didn’t you pamper him every day?"
Tang Xiaobai blushed, coughing lightly, "What I an is, he asked you to leave the palace for your own good."
Tang Jiaojiao glanced at her, "Do you need to say it? Do I not know what’s good for ? Even if the Crown Prince hadn’t said that, I would have left with you all today."
She wasn’t stupid.
That old emperor running three tis a day to Zhaoqing Palace, his eyes greasy and nauseating each ti he looked at her.
"From now on, if the palace summons again, Jiaojiao’er need not attend." Eldest Princess of Ji Country said slowly.
Tang Jiaojiao had just agreed when the sound of galloping hooves ca from outside the carriage.
In a mont, a voice approached: "His Majesty summons the eldest legitimate daughter of Duke Yan!"
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