After lunch, she casually asked Zhuque to apply a light makeup for her and picked out a decent dress.
When the mistress and maid arrived at the Cheng Mansion, they happened to meet Prime Minister Cheng and Cheng Zhiyue coming out.
Today, Cheng Zhiyue was dressed gorgeously... An outsider might think she was going on a blind date.
A blind date...
The Empress Dowager...
Cheng Xiran had a faint idea.
However, she still walked forward silently. Prime Minister Cheng didn't even glance at her and just got into the carriage on his own.
Cheng Zhiyue walked towards her haughtily and looked her up and down with a condescending air. "Cheng Xiran, you never thought you'd end up like this, did you?"
Cheng Xiran ignored her and directly got into the carriage.
On the way, Cheng Zhiyue chattered non - stop, and Prime Minister Cheng patiently responded to her one by one. Cheng Xiran just sneered in her heart, sneering at her father's blatant partiality, which had lasted for more than a decade.
She didn't feel heart - broken but rather disgusted.
After the previous Hundred Flowers Banquet, she wasn't really curious about the palace anymore. As Helian Duo had said, it was indeed a golden cage for the royal family.
They went to the same place where they had attended the Hundred Flowers Banquet.
"Please wait a moment, Prime Minister Cheng and the two young ladies. The Empress Dowager will arrive soon."
The maids served them tea and some delicate pastries.
Cheng Xiran was a bit hungry, so she picked up two pieces and ate them. However, Cheng Zhiyue maintained the poise of a young lady from a noble family, sitting upright with her eyes looking straight ahead... not afraid of getting a stiff neck.
"The Empress Dowager is coming!"
Cheng Xiran gulped down the pastry in a hurry, then got up and bowed deeply with Prime Minister Cheng.
After everyone was seated, the Empress Dowager's eyes naturally fell on Cheng Xiran.
"Today, I summoned Prime Minister Cheng to the palace. Do you know why?"
Prime Minister Cheng replied respectfully, "I suppose the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned my two daughters for the matter of the Prince of Qi taking a concubine, right?"
Cheng Xiran saw the Empress Dowager nod.
Cheng Zhiyue showed a delighted expression.
Cheng Xiran deliberately avoided the burning gaze from the Empress Dowager, but no matter how she tried to hide, she couldn't escape. The question finally came to her. "Xiran, what's your opinion?"
"Your humble subject..." Cheng Xiran hurriedly got up and knelt on the ground. Then she said, "I must report to the Empress Dowager that I can't marry the Prince of Qi!"
Prime Minister Cheng was stunned. After reacting, he got up and roared at her, "Many people are desperate to enter the imperial city. Why are you so ungrateful? Today the Empress Dowager is personally proposing a marriage. How could you say such heretical words?"
Only then did Cheng Xiran notice that what she said seemed a bit too absolute.
But it was too late to change her words...
She had no choice but to bravely bring up Helian Duo. "I must report to the Empress Dowager that I privately promised to marry the Regent not long ago."
The Empress Dowager's face looked really ugly.
Prime Minister Cheng knew he was in trouble. But after all, he was Cheng Xiran's father outside. He couldn't pretend not to know anything about his daughter's affairs.
So he could only choose to remain silent.
After the atmosphere was silent for two seconds, the Empress Dowager put away the coldness in her eyes and showed a sneering smile. "Really? I haven't heard the Regent mention this personally."
She cast a skeptical look. Cheng Xiran could only bury her head lower. "I must report to the Empress Dowager that we just confirmed our relationship these two days. It's normal that the news hasn't reached the Empress Dowager's ears yet."
She said carefully. Cheng Zhiyue was already crazy. If it weren't for the presence of the Empress Dowager and her father, she would surely get up and confront her, asking what kind of coquettish means she had used to seduce the Regent.
After a while, the Empress Dowager fixedly looked at Prime Minister Cheng and said with a half - smile, "It seems that Prime Minister Cheng doesn't really know his own daughter well. You seem to have just learned about such a great happy event."
Prime Minister Cheng looked embarrassed and could only bow his head and make a salute, trying every means to excuse himself. "Recently, I've been busy with court affairs and indeed neglected to communicate with them. I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive me."
"Go and invite the Regent here. Tell him that I have a few words to ask him."
The Empress Dowager ordered the eunuch beside her, and the eunuch responded and withdrew.
Cheng Xiran breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, Helian Duo had already entered the palace because he was worried about her, so he came over soon.
Everyone saluted again. Cheng Zhiyue's eyes were completely fixed on him.
"Did you know what I wanted to talk to her about, so you've been waiting in the palace?"
Helian Duo was a bit confused and asked in return, "Why does the Empress Dowager say so?"
Cheng Xiran quickly gave him a meaningful look, but Helian Duo didn't quite understand the pleading meaning in it for a moment. Why was she pleading with him?
The Empress Dowager showed no emotion and asked indifferently, "The eldest daughter of the Cheng family said that she privately promised to marry you not long ago. So I specifically came to ask you. Is this true?"
Helian Duo's peripheral vision glanced at Cheng Xiran involuntarily and found that she was still looking at him pleadingly.
Actually, there was no need to plead. Hadn't she remembered his previous confession?
Helian Duo stood still, and his tone was extremely firm. He said unhurriedly, "So the Empress Dowager is referring to this matter. It's true. I entered the palace today just to ask the Emperor for his permission to marry her."
The Empress Dowager was silent for a moment. Prime Minister Cheng carefully served her, not daring to be the least bit negligent. Mainly because this situation between Cheng Xiran and Helian Duo was beyond his expectation, so he didn't know how to deal with it.
As for Cheng Zhiyue, her eyes were full of envy, jealousy and hatred.
"That really surprises me. After all, I haven't heard much about your relationship before. Now suddenly saying that you've privately promised to marry and asking for the Emperor's permission to marry seems a bit abrupt."
There was an implication in her words, and Cheng Xiran understood it.
Helian Duo understood her implication even more quickly and immediately replied, "I must report to the Empress Dowager that I really fell in love with Xiran not long after the publication of Anecdotes in the Capital. Otherwise, why did I just ignore so many stories she wrote about the two of us?"
Cheng Xiran suddenly thought Helian Duo was extremely handsome today, especially when he said he had fallen in love with her.
She was very touched. These words seemed to touch the softest part of her heart, making her heart filled with various emotions that could burst out at any time, only needing a look or a smile from him as a fuse.
The Empress Dowager had nothing to say, because Helian Duo had blocked any room for doubt.
"Zhiyue is really a wonderful girl..." The Empress Dowager then looked at Cheng Zhiyue, smiled at her and continued, "If she can bear children for the Prince of Qi and continue the royal line, she would be the perfect candidate for the princess."