Early the next morning, Ji Yue dragged Lu Wanning out of bed. "Hurry, Princess. Hurry up and get dressed. We're going to the palace."
Lu Wanning mumbled sleepily, "Why do we suddenly have to go to the palace? Didn't we go there the day before yesterday? Ugh, I haven't even slept well."
Ji Yue said, "The Empress Dowager was on the verge of death last night. They only sent someone to invite us this morning. The Prince and the Princess Consort have already gotten up. Princess, the Empress Dowager loves you the most. You should go there early, too."
Lu Wanning woke up with a start. "The Empress Dowager, she..."
Ji Yue looked sad. She quickly helped Lu Wanning get up and dressed her up.
Lu Wanning felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her head. According to the book, she should have been married by now, and the Empress Dowager should have passed away. Now that she wasn't married yet, the Empress Dowager still couldn't escape the fate written in the book.
The Empress Dowager was very old. It was already a long life for her to live to this age. But the Empress Dowager was so close and dear to her. How could she not be sad?
When Ji Yue was putting on Lu Wanning's makeup, she saw the traces of tears in her eyes. She didn't dare to say a word. She quickly finished the makeup and wrapped a cloak around her before going out.
On the way, no one said a word. When they reached the palace gate, Lu Wanning took a look and felt quite curious. The Empress Dowager was seriously ill. Why were there so few carriages at the palace gate? Shouldn't all the noble families be going to the palace?
The Princess Consort lowered her voice and explained to Lu Wanning, "The Empress Dowager didn't want to alarm anyone. It was the Emperor who knew that the Empress Dowager missed your father and you. That's why he ordered us to come to the palace."
Tears welled up in Lu Wanning's eyes. In the book, the Empress Dowager was a person who couldn't tell right from wrong and always protected the Lu family blindly. But the Empress Dowager she knew was completely different. She was the kindest and the smartest person.
The Princess Consort held her hand. "Ning'er, don't lose your composure in the palace."
But Lu Wanning couldn't help it. She even staggered a little while walking.
Granny Gui was waiting at the gate of the Shoukang Palace. She saw Lu Wanning following Shao Shi at a glance. She was walking unsteadily, with wet eyes. She was even using a handkerchief to secretly wipe the corners of her eyes.
A smile appeared on her face. She quickly stepped forward and said, "The Empress Dowager was so happy when she heard that the Prince was coming."
Lu Hongxi was slightly stunned. "The Empress Dowager... is she okay?"
Granny Gui nodded. "It was a false alarm. It was very dangerous last night, but she's fine this morning. The Empress Dowager originally said not to invite the Prince to the palace. But the Emperor said that the Empress Dowager hadn't seen the Prince for a long time. So he asked the Prince to come here."
Lu Hongxi waved his hand. "How can it be hard work? It's a blessing for me to see the Empress Dowager in good health."
Although it was a false alarm, the Empress Dowager's health was still not good. Lu Hongxi accompanied her for a quarter of an hour and then led everyone to leave. He only left Lu Wanning behind to accompany the Empress Dowager.
The room was very stuffy. Lu Wanning was wearing a lot of clothes. Her face was flushed.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand. "A Gui, go and lift the curtain. It's so stuffy."
Granny Gui refused. "Your Majesty, it's still very cold in spring. You can't catch a cold."
The Empress Dowager laughed. "I'm already half buried in the soil. Being careful won't do any good. Don't let my Ning'er get suffocated."
Lu Wanning quickly got up and took off her outer clothes. "Like this, Ning'er won't feel stuffy anymore. There's no need to lift the curtain."
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but point at her and laugh. "You naughty monkey. Why are you so careless? If others see you like this, you'll be so embarrassed."
Lu Wanning sat down beside the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, you're just too careful. You always have to change your clothes when you meet guests. Changing several sets of clothes a day will even exhaust a healthy person. Besides, when I'm with you, it's like being at home. Why can't I be casual?"
Although she said so, Granny Gui immediately asked Yuanyang to find a thin outer shirt for Lu Wanning to put on.
The Empress Dowager was in a good mood when she saw Lu Wanning. She talked to her for a while. "Your father is the kind of person who only reports good news but not bad news. He's afraid that I'll worry about him. He always says that everything at home is fine. Is it really fine? Ning'er, tell me the truth."
Lu Wanning nodded. "Everything is really fine. Sister-in-law is pregnant again. Everyone at home is very happy."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Having a large family is the thing I like the most. Now Chengcheng should start his education. Have you found a suitable teacher for him?"
Lu Wanning's face darkened slightly. But she still cheered up and nodded. "The He family has invited a tutor for the children's enlightenment. Chengcheng will go with them... But it's still early. The teacher hasn't returned to the capital yet. He should return in summer. It should be almost autumn when Chengcheng starts his education. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry about it. I've already talked to Sister Jiang. I'll send Chengcheng to the Jiang family in a few days."
The Empress Dowager's mind was a bit confused. She thought for a while and then nodded. "The Jiang family is not bad."
Lu Wanning added, "Like this, even if Brother and Second Brother go on an expedition, Sister-in-law won't be too tired. Second Brother will leave first. He should leave at the end of this month."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows. "What about your father?"
Lu Wanning's eyes flickered slightly. Seeing that there were only them and Granny Gui in the room, she boldly said, "I remember everything you said, Your Majesty. I've also come up with a way... Now the Emperor has asked Father to investigate the case in the Dali Temple. He's very busy. Naturally, he won't think about going back to Luocheng."
The Empress Dowager's face changed. She asked, "What? Your father has taken over the investigation of the Dali Temple. When did this happen?"
Lu Wanning was a bit confused. She didn't understand why the Empress Dowager was so angry. She quickly comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't be in a hurry. I also know that Father is a stubborn person. He thinks that being loyal to the Emperor and loving the country is his duty. He's always worried that the people in the north will start a war again. This time, the Prince Xiao has committed a crime. No one else dares to interfere. It's just right for Father to take over the investigation."
The Empress Dowager tightly held Lu Wanning's hand. She was so excited that she couldn't breathe. It took her a long time to catch her breath. She asked, "Is this your idea?"
Lu Wanning nodded slightly. "It's... my idea."
The Empress Dowager let go of her hand. She lay on the bed and looked at Lu Wanning. Seeing that her eyes were clear and full of confusion, she suppressed her thoughts and sighed. "My Ning'er has grown up. It won't be long before she gets married."
Lu Wanning blushed. She coquettishly said, "Your Majesty, I'm still young. I want to spend more time with you and my parents. I'm not in a hurry to get married."
The Empress Dowager laughed and stroked her hair. She asked, "Ning'er used to pester me and insisted on marrying the young master of the Fu family. Now you say you don't want to, and you don't want to anymore? Ning'er, tell me the truth. Do you have someone else in your heart?"
Lu Wanning shook her head. "No, Your Majesty. Don't make fun of me anymore."
Granny Gui knew what the Empress Dowager meant. She also laughed and said, "Is the Princess still shy in front of the Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager is most concerned about the Princess's marriage now. If you have someone you like, you can tell us. We can consider it. If not, the Empress Dowager should make other plans."
Lu Wanning got anxious. She looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "I really don't have anyone I like. I don't want to get married at all. I just want to accompany you like this!"
She buried her head in the Empress Dowager's arms. The Empress Dowager stroked her hair one by one. Her eyes were full of turbidity, but there seemed to be a bit of sharpness in them.