NCCnovel Chapter 413: Changning Palace
Chapter 413: Changning Palace
The morning light was beautiful. A magpie flew over to the newly blossoming winter plum trees in Changning Palace and started chirping non-stop.
Madam Ke was helping the Empress Dowager comb her hair when she heard the magpie chirping outside. She couldn't help but smile and said,
"Even the magpie knew that the Empress Dowager was very old and blessed with long life, so it came early in the morning to announce the good news!"
Empress Dowager Lin Yueyi is now 72 years old. Since the beginning of winter last year, she has been suffering from intermittent illnesses. Who would have thought that her condition would actually improve after a year!
Hearing Nanny Ke's flattering words, the Empress Dowager's wrinkled face showed no expression, as if her recovery from a long illness did not bring her much joy.
Seeing this, Nanny Ke continued combing her hair but sighed deeply in her heart.
Soon, the Empress Dowager's gray hair was meticulously tied up. After putting on the phoenix crown that symbolized her status, a majestic and noble aura suddenly leaked out from her crimson purple phoenix robe, interweaving with the lingering smell of decay in her old body, creating a harmonious and weird feeling.
"Has the Lin family been quiet recently?"
Although the Empress Dowager was ill, she did not relax her control over power, so a steady stream of news continued to reach Changning Palace.
Nanny Ke helped the Empress Dowager to sit down at the dining table. When she was about to reply, she caught a glimpse of a bright yellow figure walking in from the corner of her eye, and she immediately fell silent.
"My grandson sends his regards to the royal grandmother."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyelids and glanced at the slightly bowed Emperor Tianqi, then quickly retracted her gaze and said in a neutral tone:
"Why is the emperor here today?"
When Emperor Tianqi stood up, he saw the dazzling array of delicacies on the table. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had no intention of inviting him to dine with her, he was not annoyed.
After pausing for only a few breaths, Zheng Tianbao behind him understood what he meant and stepped forward to pull out the chair opposite the Empress Dowager so that Emperor Tianqi could sit down.
"I am the ruler of the world and the grandson of the Empress Dowager. Isn't it my duty to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager?"
Emperor Tianqi spoke in a brisk tone, and he simply changed the "Imperial Grandmother" to "Grand Empress Dowager" fluently. People who were familiar with him knew that Emperor Tianqi was angry.
Zheng Tianbao's heart tightened when he heard this. He immediately raised his whisk with a gloomy face, turned around and scolded the servant girl who was waiting outside:
"Foolish servant, you are blind! Hurry up and serve the emperor some more bowls and chopsticks!"
The little palace maid was so frightened that her face turned pale. After she hastily retreated, Zheng Tianbao turned around and put on another face, smiling flatteringly at the Empress Dowager:
"Your Highness, the Emperor has just gotten up and is coming to greet you. He wants to have dinner with you and chat with you."
The little palace maid who was just reprimanded was sent in by the Lin family this year, saying that it was to show filial piety, but in fact it was just to place a spy in Changning Palace.
The Grand Empress Dowager had been ill and could not remember this person at all. Nanny Ke was afraid that the bedridden Grand Empress Dowager would worry too much, so she did not mention it specifically and only sent a little palace maid to serve outside the palace.
Zheng Tianbao's roar today reminded the Empress Dowager of the "Lin family's filial piety". Her forehead twitched slightly and she was speechless for a moment.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager spoke solemnly, pointing her finger at Emperor Tianqi:
"My servants are not as well-educated as the emperor's servants!"
Zheng Tianbao, a servant, actually dared to teach a palace maid of Changning Palace a lesson in front of the Empress Dowager. If he had not been the personal eunuch of Emperor Tianqi, he would have been dragged out and beaten to death long ago.