However, she still stuck to the purpose of her visit.
"It's nothing else. I was just thinking about Sister's bet with the Emperor today. I wonder if there's anything this younger sister can do to help."
She urgently needed an opportunity to redeem her image and gain the trust of these two powerful people.
Shi Muyuan lazily lifted her eyelids and didn't take this woman seriously at all.
"If you could just stay in the harem and stop causing trouble for this imperial mother every day, you'd already be doing this imperial mother a great favor. What? Was the lesson from a few days ago not enough? So you've come here today looking for trouble again?"
The Imperial Concubine Rui quickly shook her head. When she knelt on the ground and kowtowed, several wounds suddenly appeared on her hands.
"This younger sister has no such intention. I just really know I was terribly wrong before and now I want to find a way to make up for it."
"What happened to the wounds on your hands?"
Shi Muyuan was really fed up. What on earth was this woman up to today? There were even more wounds on her hands. Did she plan to frame someone and then tell others that the wounds were inflicted by her, the empress dowager?
But such a tactic was too childish. She didn't even bother to deal with it. It was a waste of time.
The Imperial Concubine Rui hurriedly withdrew her hands, as if she had just noticed that her wounds were exposed.
"This younger sister punished herself before, so I made these wounds. Sister doesn't need to worry too much. After this punishment, this younger sister has deeply realized my mistakes. In the future, I only hope to live in harmony with Sister."
Even though she had said so much, she still failed to move Shi Muyuan.
"Do you think you can just make up for all the harm you've caused with just a few words? Why don't you go and apologize to Concubine Mo? As long as she can forgive you, this imperial mother will also forgive you."
After saying that, she was about to ask Xiao Xiao to show the guest out. But the Imperial Concubine Rui was reluctant. "This younger sister can share Sister's worries now. Sister, please give this younger sister a chance to turn over a new leaf."
"What can you do to help this imperial mother? This imperial mother should be praying to the gods if you don't plot against me."
"Sister, have you forgotten what that envoy said at the gate of the Shoukang Palace? It must have attracted a lot of attention by now. Maybe there will even be rumors about Sister spread outside. This younger sister may not be good at other things, but I'm familiar with dealing with such things. As long as Sister agrees to forgive this younger sister, I can help Sister settle this matter."
Shi Muyuan rolled her eyes. With her status, even if those people wanted to talk, they wouldn't dare to do it openly. She could handle the rumors herself.
"You'd better take care of yourself first. Xiao Xiao, show the guest out."
The Imperial Concubine Rui didn't expect this empress dowager to be so unyielding. She had already groveled to this extent, but the empress dowager still didn't give in. Angrily, she stomped her feet and left.
Shi Muyuan didn't bother. After the bedroom became quiet, she looked at the red sandalwood door not far away and suddenly missed her partners in the modern world.
She wondered how Aunt Li, who sold vegetables in the West Market, Uncle Wang, who sold meat, and Sister Zhao, who sold egg pancakes, were doing now. Would they be happy without her?
She let out a soft sigh. Just as she was about to lie down on the bed, there was a noise by the window. Her heart tightened. Could it be that the Imperial Concubine Rui had sent someone else to assassinate her?
When had her elder brother become so unreliable? The people he had sent to secretly protect her hadn't noticed someone trying to climb into her window again.
It was excusable that they hadn't noticed the national teacher before. After all, he was a master of martial arts. But now it seemed that anyone could secretly climb into her window. Should she consider changing the people who protected her?
As the window was about to be opened, she quietly picked up a vase from the side for self - defense. Just as a figure climbed in and she was about to smash the vase down, her hand was caught.
"I thought the empress dowager would just let anyone climb in through the window."
The sarcastic words came out of his mouth. The familiar tone made Shi Muyuan subconsciously relax. She knew who it was just from the tone.
In the whole Liang Dynasty, besides him, no one else would dare to talk to her like this.
But according to the news, wasn't that man seriously injured? She looked at him in surprise, and for a moment, she even forgot that her hand was still in his.
"Wasn't the national teacher in a coma? Why did you suddenly appear in the palace?"
Cui Qizhou coughed twice and quickly found a legitimate reason for himself.
"I heard about the bet between the empress dowager and the Emperor in the palace. I wanted to come and see what was going on. But on the way here, I found another interesting thing."
Shi Muyuan was stunned for a moment and then withdrew her hand.
"Lan Xi is a rare talent. Doesn't the national teacher trust this imperial mother?"
Cui Qizhou shrugged, and a flash of dissatisfaction passed through his eyes. However, the carefree woman didn't notice.
"No one can change the empress dowager's decision. By the way, I wonder how the thing the empress dowager promised to find for me is going?"
If he hadn't reminded her, she would have almost forgotten. But Fan Zhen had been busy helping her with things recently and simply didn't have the time.
"How about we talk to Fan Zhen about this when he's free? He's really tied up recently."
"Has the empress dowager forgotten that my matter can't be delayed?"
Shi Muyuan pursed her lips. She didn't know what was wrong with this man. He had said before that he would give her enough time, but now he was constantly pressing her.
"Could the national teacher wait a little longer? At least wait until Fan Zhen comes back. Otherwise, how can I talk to him about this?"
"Would the empress dowager be at a loss?"
Shi Muyuan turned her head to the side and pretended not to hear what the man said. "The weather is nice today. I think the national teacher is walking so fast that his body must be fine. I wonder when you'll return to the court? Some old guys have been getting more and more excessive recently."
Hearing this, Cui Qizhou also became serious. He knew about all the things that had happened recently.
"I'll handle it. The empress dowager just don't forget what she promised. By the way, the empress dowager'd better not go out recently. Although the Imperial Concubine Rui has ulterior motives, what she said is right. If you go out, you'll hear some filthy and unpleasant words. So it's better to stay in the Shoukang Palace."
Since he had said so, it was probably true. But how could Shi Muyuan be the kind of person who could stay idle? She didn't care at all.
"Even if those people want to gossip, they won't dare to say it in front of this imperial mother. Otherwise, this imperial mother will tear their mouths off."
As she said this, the woman made some gestures. Unexpectedly, she received a disdainful look from the man. The man gently parted his thin lips and said, "You're such a rude woman. You're still the same as before. You never change. It seems that you've been pretending all this time."
Shi Muyuan was too lazy to explain to the man. She knew that he was a male chauvinist.