"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager live a long and prosperous life."
Hearing the magnetic voice, Shi Muyuan couldn't help but feel rather unlucky. Hadn't she checked the almanac today? How could she have bumped into this man of all people?
However, just as one should face water with earth and soldiers with weapons, since they'd already met and there was no way to avoid him, she had no choice but to confront the situation.
"I see it's the National Master. At this hour, you should be leaving the palace, shouldn't you?"
With this opening, she immediately blocked all the man's potential words. She'd originally thought the man was a sensible one and would take the hint, but it turned out she'd thought too much.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, not moving an inch.
"I've recently heard that the Empress Dowager has been busy preparing for the Emperor's concubine - selection. So I'd like to have a private word with the Empress Dowager."
As this matter concerned the young Emperor, even though the young girl usually seemed unconcerned on the surface, she now became serious.
"Then let's go to the Shoukang Palace first. It's not a proper place to talk outside."
...
After the two of them arrived at the Shoukang Palace, the others left and closed the door behind them.
When there were only the two of them left in the room, the young girl nervously spoke up.
"Does the National Master have something important to say, or have you found any clues and want to remind this Dowager?"
Her nervous look amused the man, and on a sudden whim, he scanned the surroundings and suddenly stood up.
"The Empress Dowager's chamber smells so nice. I wonder what kind of sandalwood is used. I might as well have my own chamber scented like this later."
The young girl got a bit angry. She had no idea where he was leading the conversation.
"National Master, didn't you say you had something to discuss with this Dowager regarding the Emperor? Why have you suddenly veered off to this topic? The Emperor's matter is of the utmost importance."
Seeing her getting angry, the man had no choice but to take out a letter from his sleeve.
"Some days ago, the men I sent followed Concubine Rui. Later, she disappeared in a certain place. I sent people to search there many times, and finally, they only found a pigeon similar to the one we saw before. There was the same mark on the pigeon's leg. Meanwhile, a woman once appeared at the place where the pigeon disappeared, and then her trail vanished outside the palace."
Looking at the location marked on the letter, the young girl thought it was an unlikely thing.
"Except for the recent beauty - selection, no other outsiders have entered the palace. You must be too nervous, or your subordinates made a mistake."
"Absolutely impossible. Has the Empress Dowager forgotten? So many people have entered the palace for this beauty - selection. How can you ensure that each of them is innocent?"
"But it's impossible for them to reach the capital city of Changjing in such a short time."
The young girl argued forcefully, but after thinking it over, she felt that what the man said seemed reasonable.
She pursed her lips and felt a bit helpless before the man could speak.
"Then are we just going to watch as the person behind the scenes continues to cause trouble while we're in the open?"
"No. That person won't simply leave the palace after entering. From her previous targets, it seems that at least she's related to the Empress Dowager. As long as the Empress Dowager is around, that person will appear."
After he finished speaking, the young girl understood.
"You mean to use this Dowager as bait. As long as someone shows their true colors during the beauty - selection, that person must be the one with problems?"
"That's right. I just don't know if the Empress Dowager is willing to be the bait."
"Of course I'm willing. I've been through so many life - and - death situations. I believe the National Master will surely send people to protect me, right? Moreover, I don't want anything to happen to the Emperor."
Just like that, the two reached an agreement.
Time passed quickly. As soon as Ye Xinxin's one - day confinement was over, she couldn't wait to come.
She got up unusually early, which made the two women following her laugh.
"Those who don't know might think she's going for the beauty - selection today. She really takes herself seriously. The Empress Dowager has to meet so many people sometimes. It's unlikely she'll even remember her."
"Sister is right. Then let's walk a bit faster. We mustn't keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
The three of them rushed to the Shoukang Palace but were told that the Empress Dowager hadn't gotten up yet. They looked up at the scorching sun and suddenly fell silent.
Previously, they'd heard that the Empress Dowager came from a noble family. How could she be so unaware of the time?
However, no matter how much resentment they had, they could only swallow it and wait at the palace gate.
After two hours, Ye Xinxin couldn't bear it any longer. As a young lady from a wealthy family, she'd never suffered like this before.
"Sister, could you go in and check if the Empress Dowager is up? I've been waiting here and I'm almost melting in the sun."
The palace maid guarding the door looked at her disdainfully.
"Miss Ye, the Empress Dowager has already given orders before. If anyone doesn't want to wait, they can just go back. There's no need to suffer here."
After hearing this, Ye Xinxin immediately fell silent.
She couldn't afford to go back. If she did, she'd become the laughingstock of everyone, and her dignity as a young lady would be gone.
Helplessly, she glanced at the two women behind her and could only resign herself to continuing to wait at the palace gate.
At this moment, Shi Muyuan was lying in the courtyard, basking in the sun, and eating the grapes that Xiao Xiao had just peeled for her.
"These grapes are so sweet. By the way, I heard that the grapes from that place are just in season. You should send someone to buy some secretly. Make sure no one knows it's for me."
"Yes, Your Highness. You're the most considerate of the common people. Every time you buy these fruits, you pay for them yourself. You could just give an order and others would offer them as tribute."
The young girl shook her head. As a new - era woman from the 20th century, she hated such bad customs the most.
She wasn't dead yet. If she could buy things herself, why should she force others to offer them as tribute?
After swallowing another grape, she suddenly remembered the three women waiting at the palace gate out of boredom.
"How are they? Has anyone left?"
"It's quite strange. Ye Xinxin is usually the most impatient one among them. But today, except for asking a few more questions, she's been waiting there all the time."
"What about the other two?"
"Jin Miner is acting quite normally. But He Hui is a bit strange. After being exposed to the sun, her skin turned red, but she still managed to hold on without falling. Even I, a killer, have to praise her extraordinary perseverance."
As she listened, Shi Muyuan gently tapped on the chair.
"Yes, for a merchant's daughter to endure so much hardship, it's hard to say if it's a good or a bad thing."
"Then should we let them wait a bit longer?" Xiao Xiao asked.
The young girl looked at the sun and thought it was about time.
"Call everyone in. Bring the three of them to the side hall together. Oh, and also display all those precious items that I got from outside before. Display as many as there are."
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao suddenly didn't quite understand what her master was up to.
"How can they be worthy of those things?"