FID – Chapter 806

Chapter 806: The Awkward Old Lady

The next morning, after waking up, Liu Yusheng went to the inner hall to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.

As she approached, she heard the sound of lively conversation coming from inside.

By the time she thought about turning back, it was too late. Someone with sharp eyes inside had already spotted her.

“It’s the Princess Consort of His Highness coming, this concubine greets Your Highness.”

Liu Yusheng had no choice but to walk into the hall. After greeting the Empress Dowager, she looked at the group of women sitting at the lower end.

They were dressed in vibrant colors, exuding charm and beauty.

These were Xiao Feng’er’s harem.

Tsk, just fifteen years old, and already in control of three palaces and six courtyards.

Xiao Feng’er had it tough.

She should make some tonics for his kidney and vitality. He needed to take better care of himself.

“We heard yesterday that the Princess had come to the palace as a guest. We had planned to visit the Shuangyun Hall to greet Your Highness, but to our surprise, you stayed in Yangxin Hall. Fortunately, we didn’t waste a trip.”

“Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s favor, it is I who have disturbed you,” Liu Yusheng smiled.

She didn’t recognize any of the women present and had no idea who was who.

“We heard from the servants below that the Princess Consort is already with child. Congratulations Your Highness.”

“The Prince and the Princess Consort share such deep affection, it makes us envious. With Your Highness pregnant now, and resting in the palace, it seems you will stay here for quite a while. Perhaps, when there’s free time, we could have tea and chat with Your Highness?”

“Indeed. The sisters have long admired Your Highness by reputation, but there was never an opportunity to make acquaintance. Now that the chance has come, Your Highness must not disdain our lowly status.”

Their words were exchanged with subtle insinuations, making one’s head spin. Liu Yusheng continued to nod and smile faintly, “You all flatter me.”

Seeing her stiff demeanor, the Empress Dowager let go of her sleeve and lightly issued a dismissal, “Since you’ve done your greetings, you may leave now. I am old and prefer peace and quiet.”

When the Empress Dowager spoke personally, even the concubines who didn’t want to leave dared not stay.

One by one, they withdrew.

After everyone had left, Liu Yusheng finally relaxed and rubbed her sore back. Dealing with all those delicate and chatty women was more exhausting than facing a tiger. She had to be on guard.

She straightened her back.

“You may leave too,” the Empress Dowager gave another dismissal.

“I’ll return to the side hall, but it’s very quiet there. Last night, Didn’t Your Majesty ask me to come over, saying I could keep you company? Let me stay here and accompany you.”

“I offer my prayers to the Buddha, and I don’t enjoy idle chatter.” The Empress Dowager frowned. What she had said last night was just an excuse. Liu Yusheng was intelligent and could hardly have failed to see through it.

What was she trying to do by blocking her with these words now?

“Exactly. I usually enjoy preparing medicinal herbs and refining pills. When Your Majesty is offering her prayers, I can refine medicine nearby without disturbing you.” Liu Yusheng smiled and turned to the old maid by her side. “I wonder if you could help me find a medicinal furnace, and perhaps bring some herbs as well?”

Last night, the Empress Dowager and the old maid had said that if there was anything needed, she could ask for it. Now that she was asking, surely they wouldn’t refuse.

That would be a slap in the face.

Besides, what she wanted wasn’t anything precious.

Chenxiang and Zisu exchanged glances, lowering their brows and eyes. They couldn’t understand what the Princess was up to, so they could only stand by and wait for instructions.

The old maid looked troubled and turned to the Empress Dowager, waiting for her signal.

After a brief silence, the Empress Dowager spoke, “Get the items the Princess Consort needs.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare them right away. Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”

After giving her orders, the Empress Dowager paid no further attention to Liu Yusheng. She took a book from a cabinet beside the couch and began reading, completely ignoring the others in the room.

Liu Yusheng remained quiet, not saying a word or making a sound. She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the elderly woman reading.

In her composure, there was a calm and steady presence, with an understated dignity that naturally radiated authority.

She had little contact with the Empress Dowager in the past, and had never been able to see through her true character.

But from the few encounters they had, she always felt that the Empress Dowager wasn’t as cold as she appeared.

“How long are you going to stare?” The Empress Dowager looked up from her book, her gaze indifferent.

Caught in the act, Liu Yusheng naturally responded, “Did I disturb Your Majesty from reading?” Her expression was quite innocent, as she hadn’t made any noise.

The Empress Dowager stared at her for a moment, then turned her gaze away. From then on, no matter how much Liu Yusheng observed her, the Empress Dowager did not speak another word to her.

She was as still as a mountain.

The old maid quickly brought over the medicinal furnace and various herbs, all gathered from the Imperial Medical Academy, so they were all high-quality ingredients.

After lighting the furnace and washing her hands, Liu Yusheng began refining medicine with the available herbs.

Soon, a faint medicinal fragrance filled the room.

It was different from the sandalwood scent, yet it still brought a sense of calm.

As the scent spread to her nose, the Empress Dowager glanced at her.

The woman, immersed in her work, moved with calm efficiency. Her expression was composed and confident, exuding an effortless serenity.

She was just like Feng Qingbai.

“The process of refining medicine takes quite some time. You should return to the side hall later, Princess. I am not accustomed to this scent,.”

The woman, who was slowly adding herbs into the furnace, turned around. “What scent does Your Majesty like? You can tell me, and maybe I can blend something using the herbs.”

“You are refining medicine, not blending perfumes.”

“Could be worth a try.”

The woman smiled faintly, and the Empress Dowager furrowed her brows slightly before speaking, “Sandalwood.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Liu Yusheng covered her mouth, seemingly about to gag.

Her reaction was so strong that she couldn’t even bear hearing the word ‘sandalwood.’

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and remained silent for a long while. Then she spoke, “Granny, go fetch some sour plums and some sour plum cakes.”

“Your Majesty, is that for me to eat?”

“No manners. I am the Empress Dowager. How can you refer to yourself as ‘I’ in front of me?” The Empress Dowager’s brows furrowed again, and her gaze briefly lingered on Liu Yusheng’s abdomen. “Now that you’re with child, you should eat on time. If you’re not hungry, the one inside you still needs food.”

After saying this, her brows tightened further, and she threw the book aside as she walked into the inner room.

Her back appeared stiff, as if she was angry with herself.

Liu Yusheng smiled faintly. It seemed her guess was not far off.

A morning of testing, and she had revealed the awkward old lady.

Even so, the unresolved grudge still remained, and she did not know how it could be alleviated.

Back in her room, sitting in front of the vanity by the window, the Empress Dowager looked at her reflection in the copper mirror. Her fingers curled up, tightening one by one.

“Your Majesty?” The old maid stood carefully beside her.

The Empress Dowager’s mood was off, and she did not dare to guess.

After thinking for a moment, she cautiously asked, “If Your Majesty dislikes the Princess Consort’s presence, should I send her away and keep her in the side hall?”

“No need. If she enjoys being here, let her stay.” The Empress Dowager’s voice quickly returned to normal. “I personally invited her here; how can I neglect her? That would only invite gossip.”

The old maid lowered her head, remaining silent.

The Empress Dowager clearly disliked the Princess Consort, yet insisted on having her stay at the Yangxin Hall, seeing her every day, making herself unhappy.

In reality, why endure this?

But these words she dared not speak, so she kept them locked inside.

The elderly woman closed the copper mirror in front of her and lifted her gaze to look outside the window.

The sunlight outside was bright, the flowers were blooming perfectly, yet it couldn’t dispel the loneliness that lingered in Yangxin Hall.