When Zhaoyan saw Shen Mingzhu, a look of surprise flashed across her face. She exclaimed in astonishment, "Your Highness? Is Your Highness here to visit Her Majesty?"
As she spoke, she bowed to the two of them. There was a hint of delight in her expression. "Your Highness, please come in. Her Majesty is in better condition than the previous days."
Shen Mingzhu was silent for a moment. For the first time, she couldn't force a smile when seeing Zhaoyan.
The woman in front of her turned out to be the illegitimate daughter of the Zhang family behind Concubine Wei. Even though her status was not high, she was indeed related to the Zhang family.
Shen Mingzhu simply couldn't figure it out. So, there was even a hint of scrutiny in her eyes, and her gaze on the woman in front of her carried an indescribable look.
"Aunt Zhaoyan," Shen Mingzhu said. She looked at Zhaoyan and asked, "You've been in the palace for so many years. Do you want to go out of the palace to get some fresh air?"
Zhaoyan was startled at the words. She instinctively refused and said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? Where Her Majesty is, there the maid will be. If I leave Her Majesty, I don't know what to do."
Shen Mingzhu was silent. Her expression turned solemn, and there was only confusion left in her heart.
There was no doubt about Zhaoyan's loyalty to the Queen Mother. But why was she from the Zhang family?
Shen Mingzhu frowned. There was a hint of solemnity in her eyes. She instinctively stopped in her tracks and stared at Zhaoyan's back.
As she walked, the sound behind her stopped. Zhaoyan was a bit surprised. She turned around and saw Shen Mingzhu standing still in place. So, she also stopped and gently probed, "Your Highness?"
Shen Mingzhu nodded slightly. First, she glanced at Xie Lang. Seeing Xie Lang go to dismiss the palace servants, she continued, "I have something to ask you, Aunt. How about we move to the courtyard next to us?"
Zhaoyan's expression paused slightly. There was a hint of speculation in her heart, but she still calmly said, "Naturally, I'll follow Your Highness's arrangement."
They moved to a small table in the courtyard. Shen Mingzhu motioned for Zhaoyan to sit down. Waiting for her to look at her, she then said, "Over the years, Aunt Zhaoyan has stayed by the Queen Mother's side, worrying about everything for her. I'm really grateful."
"I just wonder if Aunt Zhaoyan has any relatives left. So that I can promote them."
Shen Mingzhu's words were euphemistic, but her eyes were extremely straightforward, clearly showing her intention.
Zhaoyan watched her grow up. Naturally, she understood her probe. So, she frowned and said, "Your Highness must have known?"
Shen Mingzhu nodded. She frowned and looked at Zhaoyan. After a moment of silence, she said, "Aunt Zhaoyan also knows what I want to ask."
"Yes," Zhaoyan nodded. Her gaze on Shen Mingzhu was still gentle. "Your Highness, the maid was originally from the Zhang family. But I was just an illegitimate daughter who was out of favor. After the Zhang family was raided, I was pitied by the Empress Dowager and entered the palace as Her Majesty's personal maid."
Seeing the hint of inquiry in Shen Mingzhu's eyes, Zhaoyan continued, "Is Your Highness wondering how the maid came to the capital?"
"The maid was originally an illegitimate daughter of the Zhang family. But Concubine Wei's power was already weakening. So, the Zhang family tried every means to help her regain the Emperor's favor. Finally, they set their sights on the maid."
Shen Mingzhu was surprised. Her eyes widened slightly.
"The maid was an illegitimate daughter, but I happened to have a bit of beauty. I was already engaged, but I was still sent to the capital by the Zhang family. They planned to let me stay by the Concubine's side first. When the time was right, they would send me to the Emperor's side."
"It's just that the Zhang family didn't expect that as soon as the maid arrived in the capital, the imperial edict arrived at the Zhang family first. You should know what happened next, Your Highness."
Shen Mingzhu was silent for a moment. She nodded and said, "Thank you for your trust, Aunt."
Hearing this, Zhaoyan just smiled. Her expression was gentle. "As long as Your Highness wants to know, the maid won't hide anything."
Shen Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat. There was a hint of indescribable depression in her heart. "Then do you want to leave the palace to take a rest, Aunt? My princess mansion will be completed soon. I'll take you and the Queen Mother there to stay for some time."
Zhaoyan was surprised. Finally, she shook her head and said, "Your Highness doesn't need to worry about the maid so much. The Empress Dowager's condition is changeable. She's not suitable to leave the palace. Let her continue to rest here."
"Then do you know anything else, Aunt Zhaoyan?" Shen Mingzhu said. "What on earth is the Queen Mother hiding from me?"
Zhaoyan was silent and forced a smile. She said to Shen Mingzhu, "The maid doesn't know either. If Her Majesty doesn't want to say something, how could the maid ask?"
"However..."
Zhaoyan hesitated for a moment. Finally, she said to Shen Mingzhu, "Her Majesty said last time that she hoped Your Highness would stop investigating."
Shen Mingzhu looked up in disbelief. She said, "Did the Queen Mother really say that? What did Shen Mingyuan say to her?"
Zhaoyan shook her head. "Your Highness, don't worry. Her Majesty said this to the maid. It has nothing to do with the Emperor."
What on earth was the Queen Mother hiding from her?
Shen Mingzhu only felt that her heart was filled with confusion and anger. Her gaze on Zhaoyan even carried a hint of helplessness.
"Is the Queen Mother awake today?"
Zhaoyan shook her head. Then she heard Shen Mingzhu say, "Then I'll leave first. If there's anything, Aunt Zhaoyan, just send someone to find me."
When Shen Mingzhu got up, she even staggered for a moment. There was a hint of indescribable panic on her face.
With a solemn look in her eyes, when she walked to the door of the main hall, she saw Xie Lang leaning against the palace door, with a calm expression.
When he saw her, a familiar smile curled up on Xie Lang's lips. He said, "You're here?"
Shen Mingzhu nodded. Her heart was filled with heavy emotions, and she couldn't say a word.
After getting on the carriage, Xie Lang then said, "Are you still sad?"
Shen Mingzhu turned to look at him. She only felt a bit dazed. From the time she left the palace to getting on the carriage, her mind was blank, and she lost the ability to think.
She couldn't figure out why the Queen Mother would say so and why she would give up investigating this matter. That was her own son, her elder brother!
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu didn't want to talk, Xie Lang then changed the topic and said, "Your Highness, why not worry about the immediate matter first?"
"I was just kicked out of the Xie family. Are we going to sleep on the street tonight?"
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
Yes! She almost forgot this important matter!
"Of course, I have other yards," Shen Mingzhu glanced at Xie Lang. "Where do you want to live? Closer to the bustling area or a quieter place?"
Hearing this, Xie Lang raised his eyebrows and smiled. "I almost forgot. I'm a gigolo. Why should I worry about such things?"
Seeing the teasing in his eyes, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but chuckle.
"Then Your Highness might as well go with me to take a look. See if you like my residence?"
Shen Mingzhu was a bit surprised. But thinking of Xie Lang's many identities, she then asked, "When did you prepare it?"
"Did you plan to be kicked out by General Xie a long time ago?"
Shen Mingzhu knew that Xie Lang was not a person who did useless work. Since he could tell her now, he must have made preparations a long time ago.
But where was his mansion?
With a hint of surprise, after about a cup of tea's time, Shen Mingzhu stood in front of the mansion and fell into silence.
Why was it here?