Shi Muwǎn held the child's hand and walked towards the palace hall. The soft and chubby little hand in hers made her can't help pinching it a few more times. Ji Heng felt a bit strange about the pinching but didn't pull his hand away.
The person pinching got a bit carried away. Her fingertips rubbed the little palm one moment and pinched the pads of the little fingers the next.
By the time they reached the palace, Ji Heng's ears were already bright red.
After all, his father and mother passed away early. No one in the palace dared to treat him like this. Given the original owner's temper, it was already a miracle that she didn't skin him alive. When had he ever experienced such affectionate gestures?
Shi Muwǎn looked at the palace and reluctantly let go of Ji Heng's soft little hand. Instead, she ruffled his hair. "Heng'er, go and have a good rest. Those ministers are really exhausting. In a few days, it will be your enthronement day. You need to get enough rest to be in good spirits."
As she spoke, her mischievous hand reached out to Ji Heng's baby - fat cheeks and gave them a couple of squeezes. She felt completely satisfied.
So tender! So comfortable. Next time, she would try the feel of Ji Huang and Ji Ling's faces.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Grand Dowager."
Shi Muwǎn was taken aback for a moment. Why did she feel like she was about to be buried?
"Aha, aha. Heng'er is so obedient. Ahahahaha..." Shi Muwǎn forced a smile and sent the child away. Then she shuffled back to the inner hall with her aged steps.
Damn it! She didn't even have a child yet, but she was already a grand - dowager. Her love life was gone again.
Shi Muwǎn threw herself onto the couch with a thud. Then she suddenly stood up and shouted, "It's over!" Fortunately, she had dismissed all the servants when she entered, or else she would have been surrounded immediately.
She suddenly realized that she was now a young and beautiful grand - dowager. Her husband was dead, and she had a grandson.
She, Shi Muwǎn, was going to be a widow?
What bad luck! She was only twenty - five!
Shi Muwǎn lay down on the bed, turned over, and buried herself under the brocade quilt, silently feeling sad.
The secret guard observing in the dark frowned, finding it strange. Not knowing how to report to the master, he simply took out a notebook and recorded everything in detail.
Her Majesty the Grand Dowager's behavior is strange and mysterious.
...
In the Qingning Palace, the development of the matter deviated from Concubine Rui's expectation again. She was so angry that she smashed a few precious porcelain vases. The palace servants in the hall didn't even dare to breathe loudly, for fear of being caught making a mistake and being used by the concubine as a punching bag.
The little palace maid whose face was injured by Concubine Rui's armor last time still had a scar on her face. At this moment, she wished she could dig a hole and hide in it.
Why was that woman Shi Muwǎn always so lucky? She wasn't favored and had no children. How could she become the grand - dowager!
Because of her older brothers?
...
Shi Muwǎn didn't feel sad for long before she was woken up by Ze Ze's soft voice. "Your Majesty the Grand Dowager, the National Master requests an audience."
"What does he want?" Shi Muwǎn was a bit annoyed. If he didn't like her, why did he always keep showing up in front of her?
"This... Your servant doesn't know..."
Shi Muwǎn sighed helplessly. "Alright, bring him to see me." Shi Muwǎn walked towards the tea table outside the screen.
When Huo Qizhou entered, he saw the woman idly fiddling with the tea lid.
This woman seemed less arrogant after her illness, but she was still moody. Just now, the imposing Grand Dowager had become obedient because of his words, but now she looked so down.
Huo Qizhou suddenly felt that she was hard to figure out, and it seemed that she was getting out of his control.
He composed himself, bowed, and said, "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Grand Dowager."
"National Master, please rise. Does the National Master come here on some important matter?"
"Your Majesty the Grand Dowager's sudden critical illness the other day was quite strange. But since the envoys have arrived, it's not suitable to spread the news about Your Majesty's illness, so the matter was put on hold. Therefore, your servant sent people to investigate privately."
"Have you found anything?" Shi Muwǎn perked up. This was related to her life! She had to take it seriously!
Huo Qizhou didn't expect her to suddenly look up and stare straight at him. Her nervous movements couldn't hide her eagerness to know who was trying to harm her.
Looking at the suddenly bright eyes of the woman in front of him, Huo Qizhou paused. Her eyes were so bright, completely devoid of the previous look of contempt.
Huo Qizhou unconsciously lowered his eyes. "Not yet for the time being. Your Majesty the Grand Dowager, please be more careful about the things around you these days."
Someone was lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity. But it was useless to tell Shi Muwǎn these things. It might even tip off the enemy.
Shi Muwǎn slapped her forehead. Ancient - costume dramas didn't lie to her. There was indeed such a plot.
She unconsciously bit her fingertip. The original owner was arrogant, tyrannical, and had made countless enemies. Relying on her family background, she had become the grand - dowager. It was normal for someone to want to kill her.
Wasn't this how the original owner died? Could she escape?
Huo Qizhou then continued, "The Crown Prince's enthronement is approaching. There are many things that need Your Majesty the Grand Dowager's decision. Also, the envoys are still here. They will return in three days. Please issue an imperial edict to announce the news of the new emperor's enthronement."
Shi Muwǎn really wanted to vent at this moment. Someone was trying to harm her. She hadn't even had time to worry about her own life, and now she had to work? Besides, she originally wanted to be a hands - off manager. Why did these things fall on her head?
"Do I... No... Does this humble one have to do these things? Isn't there someone specialized in handling this? As for the envoys, just treat them well with good food and drink." Shi Muwǎn said.
Huo Qizhou finally looked up at her. Oh, this was her true self. She really couldn't pretend for long. A flash of disgust passed through his eyes.
"Of course, these trivial matters don't need to trouble Your Majesty the Grand Dowager. But there are some things that the palace servants don't dare to decide on their own. They need Your Majesty's decision."
Shi Muwǎn hesitated but didn't say anything in the end. Alright, she was the grand - dowager. Since she was here, she might as well accept it.
"This humble one understands. Does the National Master have any other important matters?"
After Huo Qizhou said what he wanted to say, he didn't dawdle. He bowed and left with his elegant sleeves trailing behind.
He thought she finally had some sense, but now it seemed it was just a coincidence.
...
The Grand Dowager's birthday had passed. For some reason, the guards in the palace had been strengthened, and some officers were secretly investigating. Mo Sang inquired but only got some half - true and half - false news. It was said that the Grand Dowager was ill?
Judging from the way she tricked him that day, he knew she wasn't ill at all. In fact, she was in good health. He had even been indirectly scolded by the accompanying officials.
Of course, that half of the country's territory wasn't ceded, but he had been tricked into paying a large amount of silver and ceding a small piece of land!
He might well be impeached by some loyal ministers when he got back! Mo Sang sulked in the post - station for a long time.
However, it was most likely related to the Grand Dowager. If something really happened to the Grand Dowager, their group of envoys would be in danger.
There were footsteps outside the door. The attendant Su Xing knocked on the door and called him. "My lord, there's news from the palace."
"Come in and tell me."
"Yes." Su Xing responded, pushed the door open, and walked behind him. "Yesterday, Her Majesty the Grand Dowager issued an imperial edict to enthrone the eldest grandson. The enthronement ceremony will be held in ten days."
"In ten days? So hasty." Mo Sang frowned slightly, obviously a bit surprised.