His hand brushed past Shen Mingzhu's.
【Shen Mingzhu! You've gone too far! Just leaving me like this with the dog emperor!】
Hearing this thought, Shen Mingzhu smiled even more cheerfully. She patted Xie Lang's hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid. Anyway, the emperor can't possibly kill you right here."
With that, she turned and left.
Shen Mingyuan was sitting at the upper seat. He couldn't hear their private conversation, but he saw the elder princess gently comforting Xie Lang. She even whispered something in his ear before turning away with a smile.
Xie Lang looked up slowly after Shen Mingzhu left. He saw Shen Mingyuan sitting at the upper seat, looking at him with an unhappy expression and even a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
Xie Lang: "······"
Shen Mingzhu! You venomous woman!
The atmosphere in the grand hall was oppressive. Even the sound of breathing seemed clearly audible.
Xie Lang had no idea what was going on between this brother - sister pair, but he knew that he had been left behind as a scapegoat. He probably wouldn't suffer physical pain, but he was sure to be lectured by Shen Mingyuan later.
So as soon as Shen Mingzhu left, Xie Lang immediately got up sensibly. He stood there uneasily, rubbing his hands, looking like a completely useless playboy.
Shen Mingyuan frowned as he watched. The lower the air pressure around him became, the colder his look at Xie Lang.
Seeing that Shen Mingyuan didn't say a word, Xie Lang knew that the man in front of him was trying to put pressure on him. So he cooperated by becoming more and more restless. He rubbed his hands, licked his lips, and tugged at the corner of his clothes.
Finally, Shen Mingyuan couldn't stand it anymore. He said coldly to Xie Lang, "Xie Lang."
"Here!"
Xie Lang immediately shivered. His eyes dodged as he said cowardly to Shen Mingyuan, "What does Your Majesty want to say to this commoner?"
Idiot!
Hearing the words "commoner", Shen Mingyuan remembered that Xie Lang currently held no official position and was just a good - for - nothing who loafed around on the streets all day. So he felt even more annoyed. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Do you have any official positions you fancy now?"
What on earth were these two siblings fighting about?
Xie Lang was completely confused. He gave Shen Mingyuan a simple - minded smile and scratched his head. "Your Majesty, this commoner has no great ambitions. I just hope to lie at home every day and go out for a little fun occasionally. That would be enough for me."
Shen Mingyuan: "······"
"Really?" He smiled, but his expression was cold. He stood up and looked down at Xie Lang, saying, "The son - in - law sure is leisurely."
"The elder princess married you as a downgrade." Shen Mingyuan paused for a moment here, then continued, "So if you treat her badly and I find out, then..."
"This commoner wouldn't dare!"
"Good that you wouldn't dare. After you go back, remember to set aside a courtyard for the elder princess. It must be quiet. The elder princess doesn't like noise."
What did this mean?
Xie Lang lowered his head to hide the coldness in his eyes, but he didn't forget his current persona. So he hurriedly said, "Yes... I'll do everything according to Your Majesty's order!"
Saying this, Shen Mingyuan couldn't stand looking at Xie Lang's useless playboy appearance any longer. He gritted his teeth and told him to leave.
...
After leaving the grand hall, although it had only been a few days since she last entered the palace, Shen Mingzhu felt as if years had passed. Everything in front of her seemed strange.
She headed towards the Empress Dowager's palace. Along the way, there were dead branches everywhere. Spring had just arrived, and the cold wind was still blowing in the imperial city. But there were already dots of new green on the branches.
Shen Mingyuan stood there quietly for a while. Suddenly, she remembered last spring. At that time, her elder brother had been dead for three years. Her mother had started to suffer from insomnia day and night, and her father's health had gradually declined without giving her and Shen Mingyuan any time to prepare.
At that time, although the two of them had faced difficulties, they had still supported each other and faced the aggressive court officials together.
Thinking of this, Shen Mingzhu's expression turned cold. She turned around and continued walking towards the palace.
The grand hall had been unoccupied for a long time, but it didn't seem to have any dust. Everything was just the same as before.
This showed that Shen Mingyuan hadn't forgotten the kindness of their mother in his heart. At least on the surface, he hadn't treated her badly. Although the Empress Dowager had left the palace for nearly a year to recuperate, her bedroom was still well - maintained.
"The eldest princess has arrived."
When the little eunuch outside saw Shen Mingyuan, he immediately announced her arrival inside. Then he flattered her and said, "Your Highness, please come in. The Empress Dowager has been looking forward to your arrival."
Shen Mingyuan lifted her foot and stepped into the grand hall expressionlessly.
After entering, Shen Mingyuan put her index finger against her lips, signaling the eunuchs and maids not to make a sound and disturb the Empress Dowager.
After turning the screen, Shen Mingyuan looked towards the big golden - silk nanmu bed, but it was empty. Turning her head, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting in front of the screen, quietly looking at herself in the bronze mirror.
"Your Highness is here?"
Chao Yan, the senior maid beside the Empress Dowager, looked at her with a kind smile on her face. Then she leaned down slightly and said gently to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, Princess Mingzhu has come."
"Mingzhu?"
The Empress Dowager frowned with some difficulty. After thinking for a while, she followed Chao Yan's gaze and looked at Shen Mingyuan. After hesitating for a long time, she asked uncertainly, "Mingzhu?"
An infinite sense of sadness welled up in Shen Mingyuan's heart. Her eyes were involuntarily covered with a layer of mist. She forcefully suppressed the sourness in her nose, took a step forward, grabbed the Empress Dowager's hand and put it on her face, saying, "Mother, I'm Mingzhu."
As she said this, a tear slid down from the corner of her eye, across her face, and onto the Empress Dowager's hand.
The Empress Dowager was startled. She looked at Shen Mingyuan as if suddenly waking up from a dream and asked again, "Mingzhu?"
"Mother, it's me." Shen Mingyuan had already calmed down. Choking with sobs, she said, "I'm here."
The Empress Dowager looked at her quietly for a long time.
Before Shen Mingyuan could say anything, she heard the maid outside announce with some embarrassment, "Princess, Empress Dowager, the son - in - law has come."
So soon? Xie Lang wasn't even held up by Shen Mingyuan?
Shen Mingyuan was a little surprised. But remembering that she and Xie Lang had pretended to be deeply in love with each other in front of Shen Mingyuan, she had to say, "Let him in."
The sound of footsteps approached. Before Shen Mingyuan could stop Xie Lang outside the screen, she heard the Empress Dowager beside her suddenly say, "Let him in. I want to take a look."
Shen Mingyuan secretly thought it was bad. She was worried that Xie Lang would be out of line. But seeing the rare clarity in the Empress Dowager's eyes, she gritted her teeth and said, "Xie Lang, come in."
When Xie Lang came in, he saw Shen Mingyuan shoot him a warning look. She looked extremely reluctant.
A strange smile welled up in his heart. Without realizing it, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He took a step forward and respectfully said to the Empress Dowager, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager."
Shen Mingyuan was nervous. Her gaze towards Xie Lang was full of caution. Without waiting for the Empress Dowager to speak, she helped Xie Lang up and said half - smilingly, "The son - in - law needn't be so polite."
【? What does this look of Shen Mingyuan mean? Does she suspect me? I'm so angry!】
【It's so annoying! She even left me with Shen Mingyuan. Shen Mingyuan, you'd better watch out when you sleep at night. I might just get up and stab you out of anger!】
【I knew the Empress Dowager earlier than she did. I had already met the Empress Dowager before she was even in her mother's womb. I'm so angry!】
Shen Mingyuan: "?"
What? What did he mean by saying he knew the Empress Dowager before she was in her mother's womb?
Shen Mingyuan frowned slightly and looked at the man in front of her suspiciously.
As a result, Chao Yan beside her smiled gently at Xie Lang. Then she leaned over to the Empress Dowager's ear and said, "Your Majesty, Young Master Xie has come. He's the son of Miss Wen."
Miss Wen?
Shen Mingyuan's expression froze slightly. She was filled with doubts.
She remembered that Xie Lang's biological mother seemed to be surnamed Wen. Judging from Chao Yan's reaction, did her mother know her?