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After Qin Sheng entered, a young eunuch led him inside.
Once inside, the three of them didn’t say much, they all stepped forward to confirm their identity tokens. Xie Zhan was the first to confirm, and immediately a young eunuch escorted him away. Before he left, he glanced at Lu Songli and Zhao Yutan, nodded, didn’t say much, and followed along.
Next was Zhao Yutan, “Miss Zhao, the Empress Dowager has granted you permission to ride in the sedan chair, please come this way—”
Hongdou looked smugly at them.
“Alright, thank you for the Empress Dowager’s concern.” Zhao Yutan finally said to Lu Songli, “Ah Li, I will go ahead.”
Lu Songli looked on calmly without responding.
After Zhao Yutan left, Mo Bing felt indignant for her, “Second Miss, how can Miss Zhao be so shameless? Look at the mess you two have caused, why does she keep calling you by your nickname!”
“You, your emotions are too easily swayed by others. How she addresses us is not our business, we can handle it however we want.” In future generations, there are many people like Zhao Yutan who do as they please, speak their minds, and still have thick skin. Can she really care about it?
Mo Bing was comforted by her master with a few words, suppressing the displeasure in her heart.
“Young eunuch, what is your surname? Are you here to lead us?” Lu Songli asked the young eunuch with a delicate face waiting beside them.
“Yes, my surname is Li. Miss Lu can call me Little Li.”
“Little Li, please lead the way.”
“Alright, Miss Lu, this way please.”
“Little Li, I am not feeling well, so I may walk slowly later. Thank you for your understanding.” As Lu Songli said this, Mo Bing took out a purse and discreetly handed it to Little Li.
Little Li was startled, and hurriedly put the purse away before saying, “Of course, of course.”
Lu Songli’s pace was slow, walking through the long palace walls, passing by the winding corridors. She walked and admired the scenery of the palace. You have to admit, the Da Li Imperial Palace was built quite grandly. Every five steps a scene, every ten steps a pavilion, carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and towers, layered buildings and terraces, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, they were quite attractive.
Little Li could only slow his pace to accommodate her, but he was muttering in his heart. He initially thought she was being polite, but it turned out she really was walking slowly.
Actually, Lu Songli wasn’t walking slowly, it’s just that she wasn’t rushing like those who were summoned. The Empress Dowager definitely didn’t like her, and even if she rushed over in a panic, it wouldn’t make the Empress Dowager look at her any differently.
Little Li couldn’t help but remind her, “Miss Lu, let’s hurry up, don’t make the Empress Dowager wait.” Could Miss Lu have forgotten she was summoned by the Empress Dowager? Miss Zhao, Master Xie, and Master Qin were all ahead of her, they might have already reached Chang Le Palace by now, how come Miss Lu isn’t in a hurry at all?
“Alright, Little Li.” Lu Songli agreed.
Little Li thought, this noble lady is quite easy to talk to, but, what did he discover? This lady was still walking leisurely.
Little Li: ??? No, Miss Lu, you agreed, why don’t you hurry up and walk?
After walking for a while, he glanced at the sky, and couldn’t help but urge her again, Miss Lu agreed nicely.
Finally, Little Li estimated the speed and simply stopped urging her. He understood, for other people’s requests, Miss Lu would always agree nicely, but her legs just wouldn’t move.
By the time Lu Songli arrived, the lanterns were already lit in the Chang Le Palace.
The late arrival of the master and servant duo caught the attention of the head palace maid, Yin Yue, who gave them a disapproving look.
Yin Yue ignored Lu Songli and her servant at first, instead reaching out to flick the servant’s forehead with her index finger, scolding him, “I asked you to fetch someone, and it took you so long!”
The servant rubbed his forehead, pleading, “Please go easy on me, Sister Yin Yue.”
“Alright, you may leave now.” After the servant left, Yin Yue turned to Lu Songli, scanning her up and down with a critical gaze, and then said in a somewhat sarcastic tone, “Miss Lu has finally arrived at the Chang Le Palace. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager is busy at the moment and hasn’t had the time to summon you. You will have to wait for now.”
Lu Songli raised an eyebrow. Stand there? Without even offering tea or a seat? If they had provided tea and a chair for her to wait on the side for the summons, that would have been acceptable. After all, she had just walked a long distance and could use a rest.
But making her stand there? Sorry, she was not willing to do that.
“Yes,” Lu Songli replied with trembling lips, clutching her chest as if struggling to breathe, her body swaying as if she might collapse.
Mo Bing quickly supported her, looking extremely anxious. “Miss, what’s wrong with you? Are you having a heart attack?”
The commotion of the two caught Yin Yue’s attention. At first, she suspected that Lu Songli was pretending. But Lu Songli’s acting was too convincing, and her complexion was indeed pale and lacking color, making her seem believable. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I… I might be having a heart attack.”
“Please have a seat.” Yin Yue had a young palace maid bring a chair for her to sit on. She knew that the Empress Dowager had summoned Lu Songli and others for a reason today, and since the Empress Dowager had not yet met them, if Lu Songli fainted, it would be a waste of effort. That would not be acceptable. She would be blamed as well.
After Lu Songli sat down, Yin Yue walked to the front and whispered to an older maid, occasionally glancing towards Lu Songli.
Lu Songli faintly heard some short phrases.
“What a coincidence?”
“It does seem like a coincidence, but it doesn’t look fake to this servant… If something goes wrong, what should we do?”
“Alright, I’ll go in and ask later.”
Before long, Lu Songli was summoned.
She adjusted her dress and walked in gracefully. As she took the first step into the hall, she quickly scanned the room and saw Zhao Yutan, Xie Zhan, and Qin Sheng already present. The Empress Dowager was seated in the main seat, with several elegantly dressed women beside her, presumably the princess consorts.
They were just picking on her, weren’t they?
Lu Songli approached and bowed, “I, your humble servant, pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”
“Please rise.”
On this late autumn night, the palace was brightly lit.
From the moment Lu Songli appeared in the palace, entering the sight of everyone present, the entire hall fell silent.
As the saying goes, “A beauty under the lights has a unique charm.”
Lu Songli’s crisp voice, like the ringing of a bell, brought everyone back to their senses. The crowd, now aware of their surroundings, couldn’t help but shift their gazes between her and Zhao Yutan, unsure where to focus their attention.
Lu Songli’s beauty was like the moon, illuminating everything with a gentle radiance. Zhao Yutan, on the other hand, was like the blazing sun, her beauty bold and vibrant, painted in bold strokes. Standing face to face, they seemed to embody the sun and moon shining together, their beauty equally captivating.
Xie Zhan, observing the scene, sighed inwardly. He had never realized his fiancée was so stunning, her beauty rivaling even Zhao Yutan’s. After all, Zhao Yutan was renowned as a beauty in Chang’an City.
The Empress Dowager, looking down from her high seat, spoke, “Recently, Chang’an City has been plagued by rumors and gossip, a complete mess. Your affairs have stirred up a storm in the city, even affecting the court. Today, I must step in and settle this matter. What do you say?”
“Your Majesty, we leave it to your judgment,” Xie Zhan and Zhao Yutan answered in unison.
Qin Sheng hesitated for a moment before echoing, “Your Majesty, I leave it to your judgment.”
Only Lu Songli remained silent.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes narrowed, and she said in a displeased tone, “Lu Songli, are you dissatisfied with my decision?”