For some reason, when the man heard this, a faint blush flashed across his face, which was caught by the young girl.
She twitched the corner of her mouth. She had just asked a question. She hadn't done anything to be misunderstood. Was he really overreacting?
"The Empress Dowager and I have the same goal, which is to safeguard the Great Liang Empire. Since we've made the decision, I'll take my leave if there's nothing else. By the way, the Empress Dowager can't hurt anyone with that thing. It's been with me for years. Consider it a birthday gift for you."
Shi Muyuan pursed her lips and didn't stand on ceremony with him. To save her own life at the moment, she had to prepare more self - defense weapons.
However, as she listened to the man's words, she got a bit distracted.
"Such an important thing to you. Are you really giving it to me? Isn't it a big loss?"
Although she said so, her hand tightened around it, as if she was afraid the man would take it back.
When the man noticed her action, he was somewhat speechless.
"Don't worry, Empress Dowager. I never have the habit of taking back what I've given. I've said it's your birthday gift. You don't need to ask so many questions."
After saying that, the man disappeared. The young girl always felt there was something strange in her heart.
She didn't think too much about it. Maybe it was because she hadn't slept well recently.
Anyway, this night was the best sleep she'd had in a while. Her hand was always clutching that dagger.
Early the next morning, while the young girl was still sleeping, an unexpected guest came.
"Get out of my way, all of you! I'm here to see the Empress Dowager. If you don't make way, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Oh, my little master, please go back quickly. The Princess Consort has said that you should stay in bed and recuperate recently. Don't make things difficult for us servants. If the Princess Consort finds out, she'll surely skin us alive!"
"Cut the crap. That's your problem. I'm here specially to play with the Empress Dowager. Get out of the way! Father said the Empress Dowager can tell all kinds of strange stories I've never heard before."
"Little master, why don't you go back and rest for a while before coming to see the Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager will always be here."
The servants' voices were on the verge of tears.
It was understandable. They were all He Hui's people, and He Hui doted on her son like a treasure. If anything happened to the child on their watch, even their lives wouldn't be enough to atone for it.
Anyway, with so many people blocking outside, the young girl was too lazy to care. Surely so many people could stop a little kid.
She turned over and was about to go back to sleep, but she miscalculated.
So many servants really couldn't stop a child.
In the blink of an eye, Ji Junlin had entered the room.
"Empress Dowager, are you awake? Get up quickly and tell me stories. Father said you know a lot of interesting storybooks."
Maybe He Hui was training this child as a successor to the throne. Although he had rushed into the room, he still knew the propriety between men and women. He stood on the other side of the screen and whispered, which was completely different from his attitude in front of the servants just now.
If she hadn't heard it with her own ears, she would have thought she'd misheard.
The young girl wrapped herself in a robe. Now she had no choice but to get up.
She laughed and said, "Serve me to wash up. You go and play over there. The Empress Dowager will wash up first."
"Okay."
...
After a flurry of activity, Shi Muyuan sat at the table, holding a bowl of millet porridge. There was a hint of helplessness in the corner of her eyes.
"You've just recovered. Why did you come out in the wind? If something happens to you again, your mother will surely blame me."
Panic flashed across the child's eyes, but he quickly calmed down.
"I'll protect the Empress Dowager. No one can hurt you, not even Father and Mother."
This little child already had such thoughts.
Shi Muyuan was a bit surprised but remained calm on the surface.
"Who taught you these words? Besides, the Empress Dowager and you have just met. Why do you trust the Empress Dowager so much?"
"Of course. The Empress Dowager is a good person. Father told me that you are both strong and gentle, a rare and wonderful woman in the world. It's a pity that you've fallen into the royal family. He will surely take good care of you in your old age and let you enjoy your later years in peace."
The young girl twitched the corner of her eye. These words were really touching, but kid, do you know what you're talking about?
I'm only in my twenties, but in your eyes, it seems like I'm already an old woman.
Forget it. She couldn't argue with a child.
Pulling herself back to reality, she picked up another bowl prepared by the servant beside her and put some dishes into it.
"You're in poor health. You should eat more. After you finish eating, the Empress Dowager will tell you storybooks."
The bowl was full of green vegetables at a glance. Ji Junlin wrinkled his little face, but thinking of her words, he finally ate all the vegetables with a bitter face.
When He Hui rushed over in a hurry, she saw the two sitting side by side under the apricot tree.
She was a bit surprised but still stepped forward.
"Mother, children are naughty. Don't take it to heart. I'll take him back right away so as not to disturb you."
Ji Junlin had just reached the climax of the mermaid story. How could he leave so easily?
He tightly grabbed the young girl's corner of the robe and refused to let go no matter what.
He Hui didn't expect that the child would get along so well with Shi Muyuan just after they met. This was not a good sign for her.
If those old secrets were made public, all her hard work in this life would be in vain.
So, the woman who always doted on her child was strict for the first time.
"No! Go back with Mother quickly. Don't disturb the Empress Dowager here. The Empress Dowager hasn't had a good rest for a long time."
"No! I want to stay with the Empress Dowager and listen to the mermaid storybook. Mother! Let me finish listening before I go back. No, the Empress Dowager also said she would make a lot of delicious pastries for me. I want to go back at night."
His eyes were full of tears, which was really pitiful.
Shi Muyuan noticed that there was a red mark on the child's hand from being pulled. She frowned slightly and pulled the child into her arms.
"The child has just recovered. If you pull so hard, he can't stand it. Alright, the Empress Dowager won't do anything to a child. Besides, the Empress Dowager is in a difficult situation herself. What else are you worried about, daughter - in - law?"
When she said the last sentence, He Hui stiffened for a moment. Although she quickly returned to normal, the young girl still caught it.
Sure enough, there was something wrong with the child's background.
Otherwise, since she was living under their roof now, in every aspect, the woman in front of her shouldn't be afraid of her.
She thought for a while and continued, "Come over for dinner tonight. The Empress Dowager will cook in person."
"Don't trouble yourself, Mother. Junlin almost lost his life after eating your food yesterday. I don't have the courage to let him try again."