Shi Muyuan was preoccupied with thoughts in the palace. She felt so stupid. Why did she agree to Huo Qizhou's suggestion to return first? She knew nothing about what happened afterwards. It was really driving her crazy with curiosity, and her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat.
Even in her dreams, Shi Muyuan saw Yin Muran, who had escaped.
Early the next morning, someone came to the Palace of Longevity and Peace. But what they brought was not the news Shi Muyuan had been waiting for all night, but the gifts she had lost on the day she left the palace.
The person who brought the things kindly reminded her that if these things were discovered by others, they might be used as a handle to spread rumors.
"Then why did you bring them here?" Xiao Xiao frowned and asked. These things should have been disposed of. Why bring them here to be used as evidence?
"Our master said that these are the Empress Dowager's things, and it should be up to the Empress Dowager to decide." Sun Ru felt extremely aggrieved. His elder brother had gone out with the master to investigate the case, while he was sent to do this unthankful task.
"How's the progress of the case?"
"Your Majesty, I don't know. I've been waiting in the mansion. It's my elder brother who has been with the master handling the case. But judging from my brother's expression, it seems that they've encountered some problems."
"The person escaped?" Shi Muyuan was greatly shocked. How could the person escape like this?
"The person has been captured, but the person behind this..." Sun Ru shook his head and didn't say any more.
It seemed that they had touched the interests of some powerful official.
Who could it be?
Shi Muyuan suddenly regretted that she hadn't been more serious during the court sessions to remember who all those ministers were.
Not wanting to make things difficult for the man, Shi Muyuan asked Ze Ze to take him out.
Seeing that she seemed in a bad mood, Xiao Xiao knelt down beside her and massaged her shoulders.
"If the Empress Dowager is not happy, why not invite some young ladies into the palace to enjoy the snow?"
"Yes, yes. Last time when the Empress Dowager was attacked, you missed the Beginning of Winter Ceremony. Everyone must be bored now." Zi Huan also stepped forward to join the conversation.
"Enjoy the snow?"
"Yes, yes. The snowman I made last year, the Empress Dowager liked it so much."
The two little girls got more and more excited as they talked. Ze Ze, who had just come back after seeing the man off, also showed an excited look.
Shi Muyuan had a soft heart. She didn't need to do anything as the female officials would make the arrangements. She could just play then. She had been preoccupied with things in her mind and felt a bit restless. It might be a good idea to change her mind.
Suddenly, Xiao Xiao blurted out, "It's just annoying that all these imperial concubines in the palace have to be invited. They're really a nuisance."
None of these imperial concubines were easy to deal with. When the late emperor was alive, they always tried to cause trouble for the Empress Dowager. Now they had been relatively quiet, but there were still one or two who were idle.
Xiao Xiao hated them the most.
"Xiao Xiao, are you saying that Concubine Rui also has to come?"
"Of course. Your Majesty, I know that you and Concubine Rui don't get along well. But if you don't invite her, some gossiping people will surely say something bad about you."
Xiao Xiao thought that Shi Muyuan would be unhappy and tried to persuade her kindly. But unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager actually showed a smile. Xiao Xiao was a bit confused. When did the Empress Dowager's relationship with Concubine Rui improve? She didn't know.
Previously, she was deceived by Concubine Rui and led out. It was Huo Qizhou who reminded her that a person who didn't like the imperial garden suddenly appeared there and then told her that there was something interesting outside the palace.
Maybe something could be found out from this.
Shi Muyuan couldn't wait to tell Huo Qizhou this idea.
But she had never summoned anyone into the Palace of Longevity and Peace. Would it be strange if she suddenly called him here?
After thinking for a while, Shi Muyuan decided to go and talk to him herself.
She asked about the time. It was exactly the time when Ji Ling and the others were having classes. She didn't know if it was Shi Li or Huo Qizhou there.
Shi Muyuan immediately decided to go and take a look.
In the Hall of Elegance and Culture, Shi Li was patiently teaching the youngest Ji Ling to recognize characters. Ji Huang and Ji Heng were burying their heads in reciting books.
It seemed that Huo Qizhou was not there.
Looking at Shi Li's gentle and elegant appearance, Shi Muyuan suddenly realized that none of her three good brothers seemed to be married, and there wasn't even a girl in their rooms.
Didn't ancient men get married at a very young age? Why were the three brothers still single?
But the three brothers were quite popular in the capital city.
Not wanting to disturb the children's study, Shi Muyuan had to return the same way.
In ancient times, communication was really inconvenient. She couldn't find anyone anywhere.
"Your Majesty, why don't you ask Ze Ze to send a message?" Xiao Xiao was a bit puzzled.
"I want to talk to him secretly. If I ask Ze Ze to go, everyone will know. And there are too few trustworthy people in the palace."
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao lowered her head and said, "It's all my fault. If my martial arts were as good as Miss Yao Er's, I could help the Empress Dowager." Since the last time Shi Muyuan and Yao Kun were injured and came back from outside the palace, this matter had always been weighing on her mind.
Shi Muyuan reached out and stroked her head. "How can this be your fault? You're so good. Kun Er has been practicing martial arts since childhood and has talent. Naturally, she's more powerful. But you also have your own strengths!"
"Your Majesty, don't comfort me. I know my own shortcomings." Xiao Xiao's eyes turned red.
"Well, since that's the case, when Kun Er gets better, you can take Ze Ze to ask her for advice. Will you protect me well in the future?" Shi Muyuan knew that no matter how much she tried to persuade her, it wouldn't work. Only by resolving the knot in her heart would it be useful.
"Okay, Your Majesty. I will definitely learn hard." Xiao Xiao finally felt that the burden in her heart was a bit lighter and there was hope.
"By the way, how is Kun Er now?"
"She was making a fuss to see Your Majesty this morning. But since her wound from last time hadn't healed yet and she ran out again, the wound started to bleed again. I tried my best to persuade her to stay."
"Then let's go and see her after we find Huo Qizhou."
"Okay, but Your Majesty, you don't want to ask others to pass on the message to the National Master. And it's not convenient for you to move around. How can we find the National Master?" Xiao Xiao was a bit troubled. If the National Master didn't enter the palace today, even if the Empress Dowager took her to search the whole palace, it would be in vain.
"We can only wait and see if Heng Er will see him today. I don't know when I'll be able to meet Huo Qizhou." Meeting him depended entirely on luck. Shi Muyuan was a bit worried that it would be too late.
"Your Majesty, why didn't you ask the Second Young Master just now? The Second Young Master is not an outsider." Xiao Xiao asked.
Shi Muyuan was stunned. It seemed that she was right. Her elder brother was there. Why didn't she ask him?
Just now, with the "Chinese parent" mentality, she didn't want to disturb the children's study and had forgotten about this.
So the two of them turned around and went back to the Hall of Elegance and Culture. The snow on the way back was trampled into a mess by them.
When they got back, Shi Li had just finished teaching Ji Ling and told her to practice on her own.
The Second Young Master Shi was sitting at his own desk, organizing the books he planned to teach next time. Then he saw a head popping out of the small window beside him.
Shi Li suppressed his smile, looked at the children who were seriously reciting books below, and then stepped out.
"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."