The two thanked and took their leave. Shi Muyuan watched out of the window listlessly.
Xiao Xiao saw what was on her mind.
"If Your Highness misses home, you can go back anytime. Anyway, there's no one in the palace who can control you."
"Never mind. Your wedding with Qin Feng is coming soon, isn't it? When the time comes, I'll be your wedding witness."
At the mention of this, Xiao Xiao shyly lowered her head.
"It's okay. This humble maid still wants to stay by Your Highness's side for a while."
"What are you saying? You'll get married sooner or later. If you can be happy, I'll be at ease."
Just as they were talking, voices were heard outside.
"Your Highness, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites is here. It seems he's looking for Auntie."
Shi Muyuan hooked her lips, a smile on her face.
"It seems our prospective groom can't wait any longer. Go quickly. Don't keep him waiting. I've got so many people here with me."
Xiao Xiao nodded and didn't decline.
"Then this humble maid will go out first. I'll bring back the osmanthus cake you like later."
"It's good of you to have this thought. If you don't go now, lest the minister should say later that I'm deliberately keeping you here."
"He wouldn't dare."
As Xiao Xiao answered, she disappeared at the door.
Watching their figures getting farther and farther away, Shi Muyuan suddenly felt a little melancholy.
She wondered when she would be as happy as Xiao Xiao.
She sighed and slowly turned around.
Unable to relieve the depression in her heart, she disguised herself and went out of the palace with Zi Yi to relax.
However, there were always some people who wanted to spoil this peaceful atmosphere.
As soon as Shi Muyuan stepped onto the street, she was blocked. Looking at the well - dressed noble lady in front of her, she knew what it was about even with her eyes closed.
"Madam Ye, it seems we haven't seen each other for a long time."
"Yes, it's been a long time since I last saw the Empress Dowager. I didn't expect that this time I'd come to see the Empress Dowager for my daughter's matter."
"The matter is already settled. There's no need to say more. If you think I've handled it unfairly, I have plenty of evidence here."
Madam Ye gritted her teeth. Obviously, she wasn't going to let it go easily.
"My daughter is smart, kind and gentle. She would never do such dirty things. It must be that bastard daughter who deliberately framed her. Why does the Empress Dowager have to fall out with our Ye family for a woman who can't be put on the stage?"
"Oh, what you mean, madam, is that I don't know the times? Do you still want to reason with me?"
Normally, Madam Ye would never have dared to offend the Empress Dowager. But she just couldn't bear to see her daughter in such a desperate state.
Moreover, her daughter was the one she had carried in her womb for ten months and endured the pain like broken bones to give birth to. Her daughter's current situation was like stabbing a knife into her heart.
If her daughter wasn't well, what was the use of putting on a good show? So she just couldn't figure it out and thus took the initiative to find Shi Muyuan.
Clearly, her husband was still working under the Shi family. How could Shi Muyuan ruin her daughter's reputation?
A married daughter was like spilled water. Even if their Ye family could find someone else to take their daughter in, it would still sound bad.
Moreover, no decent family would want a woman whom the emperor had discarded.
Shi Muyuan's eyes were cold. Madam Ye was indeed a good mother. She dared to confront her in person regardless of the difference in their statuses. However, she had spoiled her daughter too much. Otherwise, her daughter wouldn't have been so calculating.
"Of course I don't mean that. I know that Xinxin did something wrong in some matters. It's normal for the Empress Dowager to be angry. But since ancient times, the harem has been full of intrigue. Isn't the Empress Dowager in the harem and still not clear about this? Just because my daughter made a mistake, you're going to punish her so severely. A woman being divorced by her husband is such a big thing. I'm afraid she won't even be able to leave the house in the future."
"I always judge things on their merits. She is morally corrupt, which is a great taboo for those in the royal family. If you're not satisfied, you can go to the court and let the ministers judge clearly. Also, I hope the matter of bullying the bastard daughter will just end like this. If you're not convinced, you can try again. I will never just sit back and watch you bully others."
After Shi Muyuan finished speaking, she was too lazy to continue arguing and just lifted her feet and left.
Madam Ye was so angry that steam was coming out of her ears. Almost all the people coming and going around looked over. Knowing she was in the wrong, she finally slunk away.
Shi Muyuan thought the matter was over. Unexpectedly, at a secluded alley entrance, she was still attacked.
...
The news that the Empress Dowager had disappeared outside the palace quickly spread throughout the court. The ministers gathered outside the Imperial Study, hoping that the person inside could come out and confirm whether this was true or not.
The young emperor had no choice but to send someone to summon the national master into the palace. Unexpectedly, the national master had also disappeared at this time.
"How is that possible? The national master didn't say he had other things to do recently. Have you looked carefully? At this critical moment, there can't be any mistakes."
Fu Lu was helpless. He also knew that only the national master could find the Empress Dowager now. However, the people sent out really couldn't find a single trace of him.
"Your Majesty, could it be that the national master has something important to do? Why don't we find the eldest young master first? Maybe he'll have a way."
"Now we can only do that."
When Shi An received the news and rushed into the palace in a hurry, he was surrounded by several ministers at the door of the Imperial Study.
"The eldest young master is in such a hurry. Could it be that something really happened to the Empress Dowager? Who has such a big nerve to make a move under the feet of the Son of Heaven? She's the current Empress Dowager."
"Yes, the eldest young master is here to see the emperor now. Do you have any clues? Could you tell us first so that we can have an idea?"
Shi An had no patience for these people at all.
"If you don't get out of the way, I'm not so easy - going."
He gave them a cold look. The ministers were rebuffed and had to step aside.
These people were simply delaying his time to save his younger sister. Although he didn't have any evidence yet, he could roughly guess who had made a move at this critical moment.
"Your Majesty, why don't you send someone to check the Ye family first? I heard that Lord Ye reported sick today. It seems too much of a coincidence."
He spoke straightforwardly, and the young emperor didn't hold back either.
"I suspect the same as you. However, for a matter without evidence, if we search the Ye family, we're afraid of being gossiped about."
Shi An understood his concerns, but he wouldn't just sit back and watch his younger sister get into trouble.