"Greetings, Empress Dowager!" Four young and beautiful palace maids knelt on the ground and bowed respectfully.
"You are the Empress Dowager?" Although she had already guessed the old lady's identity, Shen Lixue was still somewhat surprised to receive confirmation.
"Doesn't it look like it?" The Empress Dowager's gaze remained kind, yet it carried an indescribable air of authority and solemnity.
"No." Shen Lixue shook her head, her eyes clear as a spring: "In my mind, the Empress Dowager was strict, serious, and aloof. I never expected you to be so kind, gentle, and approachable!" Along the way, the old lady hadn't shown any airs. She had thought that the old lady was at most the old princess of the Prince's Mansion, but she never expected that she was actually the Empress Dowager.
"You are just like your mother!" A trace of desolation flashed in the Empress Dowager's deep eyes, but she quickly returned to normal: "Is this Li Xue's first time in the palace? Hua Rui, take Miss Chen around the palace and let her see the scenery!"
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Shen Lixue curtsied in gratitude. Today was the Empress Dowager's birthday, and she needed to return to the palace to change her clothes before meeting the guests. Shen Lixue would not be so tactless as to follow her.
The Empress Dowager sat in her sedan chair, seemingly looking at someone else through Shen Lixue. Her lips moved, but she said nothing. A soft, almost inaudible sigh drifted away on the wind...
After seeing the Empress Dowager off, Shen Lixue slowly walked into the palace. The moment she stepped through the palace gate, a familiar figure appeared not far away, walking steadily forward before disappearing into the courtyards: that figure looked like Prince An, Dongfang Heng…
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a faint scent of pine resin into her nostrils. Shen Lixue frowned: Dongfang Heng must have been standing here for a long time, otherwise, there wouldn't be any trace of his scent in the air...
Hua Rui gave a slight curtsy: "Miss Chen, where would you like to go for a walk first?"
Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows slightly: "Where are all the ladies and young ladies who came to attend the birthday banquet?"
"Miss Shen, Madam, the young ladies are all in the Imperial Garden!"
“Then I’ll go to the Imperial Garden too!” Shen Lixue’s lips curled up slightly, revealing a strange smile: I wonder what Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue’s reaction will be when they see me in the palace.
It was springtime, and the Imperial Garden was in full bloom with a riot of colors, dazzling the eyes. Noble ladies and young women stood in small groups by the garden or sat in the pavilions, admiring the beautiful scenery.
After exchanging pleasantries with the other young ladies, Shen Yingxue sat down next to Madam Lei and whispered, "Mother, how did things go?"
"Don't worry, everything's arranged. I guarantee Shen Lixue will be utterly disgraced!" Lei's deep voice was filled with boundless hatred. Shen Lixue's absence from the palace made it easier for him to smear her reputation...
"Madam Shen, where is your Lixue?" A noblewoman asked with a smile, bringing up a new topic.
"Yes, although she is not the Madam's biological daughter, she is still the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, and she must attend the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet..."
"Li Xue is unwell and is resting at the Prime Minister's residence!" Lei Shi's helpless tone left much to the imagination.
Sick and resting? Not necessarily. The eldest daughter of the household was absent from the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, which was the fault of the mistress of the household. Shen Lixue actually pretended to be sick and didn't attend the banquet in order to embarrass the Prime Minister's wife. She really didn't know what was important!
Seeing the gloomy faces of everyone, Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue exchanged a glance and sneered inwardly. This was only the first step in damaging Shen Lixue's reputation; the more serious things were yet to come.
"Look, isn't that Shen Lixue over there in the blue dress?" a noblewoman suddenly exclaimed. Everyone looked in the direction she was pointing and confirmed, "Yes, yes, that's Shen Lixue..."
All the puzzled looks turned to Madam Lei: "Madam Shen, didn't you say she was sick and didn't come to the palace?"
Lei was stunned for a moment. Shen Lixue had entered the palace? How could that be? Had they seen wrong?
Looking up quickly, Lei's questioning gaze met Shen Lixue's unfathomable eyes...
044. Forcing her to give a gift
"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress has arrived! Consort Li has arrived!" The eunuch's distinctive high-pitched voice echoed throughout the Imperial Garden.
Shen Lixue stopped in her tracks. As everyone knelt and bowed in obeisance, the garden fell silent. The soft footsteps of the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the concubines were all the more distinct.
"Rise, all of you, no need for such formalities!" The Empress Dowager sat in the superior position, her face dignified and her eyes kind.
The noble ladies and young women thanked the Empress Dowager and rose to their seats gracefully. They glanced at Shen Lixue standing outside the pavilion; Shen Yingxue's beautiful eyes were filled with schadenfreude. Shen Lixue had no seat and could not sit; she had disobeyed the Empress Dowager's decree and would surely be punished…
"Lixue, come to my side!" The Empress Dowager smiled gently, her eyes filled with kindness.
"Wow!" Everyone's surprised, puzzled, envious and jealous eyes were all focused on Shen Lixue. Sitting next to the Empress Dowager was an unparalleled honor. What did Shen Lixue do to deserve such favor from the Empress Dowager?
"Thank you, Empress Dowager!" Shen Lixue accepted the imperial decree and expressed her gratitude. She gracefully walked to the main seat, her light blue begonia-patterned long dress fluttering in the wind. Her glass hairpin and emerald green teardrop earrings shone brightly in the sunlight, exuding an indescribable nobility amidst the warm spring atmosphere.
Shen Lixue's appearance is very similar to Lin Qingzhu's, and the Empress was slightly surprised: "Is this Qingzhu's daughter? She looks just like Qingzhu."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Shen Lixue smiled gently, feeling a little sentimental. After so many years, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor still had a deep impression of Lin Qingzhu, which showed how exceptionally talented she was back then!
Shen Lixue sat below the Empress Dowager, her status and position far superior to Shen Yingxue's. She gritted her teeth in anger, thinking that Shen Yingxue must have used some underhanded methods to bewitch the Empress Dowager and the Empress. What a vile woman!
"Grandmother!" A clear, cheerful laugh rang out, and a handsome man appeared before the crowd. He wore a crimson robe that accentuated his tall and straight figure. A tourmaline belt was tied around his waist, and he wore a purple-gold jade crown. His sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, and his lips were slightly pursed, making him appear even more dashing and outstanding, with extraordinary good looks.
"It's His Highness the Crown Prince!" a young lady exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise.
Many young girls, their eyes sparkling with desire, exclaimed, "His Highness the Crown Prince is so handsome..."
"Isn't Hong'er assisting with state affairs in the Imperial Study? Why is he here?" The Empress Dowager smiled gently, her eyes full of affection.
"Grandson has come to present birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager!" Dongfang Hong waved his hand, and two jade ruyi scepters of emerald green were presented to the Empress Dowager.
Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows. This jade ruyi came from the East Sea and was a top-quality item, extremely rare in the world. Obtaining even one was incredibly difficult, yet the Crown Prince had actually gifted two. He had indeed put a lot of thought into it.
"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless happiness and longevity!" Dongfang Hong softly congratulated the Empress Dowager, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Shen Lixue.
"Good, Hong'er is very thoughtful!" The Empress Dowager smiled kindly.
"Grandmother, we've also prepared gifts!" A handsome man rushed over, accompanied by the Third Prince, Dongfang Zhan. Behind them followed a chorus of complaints: "Dongfang Zhan, Dongfang Che, why are you rushing? Giving gifts isn't urgent. Wait for me and Prince An..."
As he spoke, Nangong Xiao, dressed in a sandalwood brocade robe, appeared before everyone, slowly and deliberately waving his folding fan. His devilishly handsome face was so striking that it was impossible to look away.
Walking three meters away from him was Dongfang Heng, handsome and imposing. His white brocade robe was embroidered with exquisite cloud and sea patterns, the lines flowing like clouds and water, grand and majestic. His face was like white jade, his snow-white face was incomparably handsome, but his obsidian eyes were like a deep pool, unfathomable. An invisible murderous aura emanated from his brows, making people feel awe.
The young ladies' eyes sparkled with hearts as they covered their mouths in amazement once again. The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince were so handsome! The Prince of Nangong was truly a devilishly handsome man! And the Prince of An was even more stunning. Were their hair still in a mess? Were their clothes still neat enough? Would the Prince of An, the Prince of Nangong, the Third Prince, and the Fifth Prince notice them?
Shen Yingxue's heart raced, her eyes filled with adoration, yet also with a hint of disappointment. Knowing that Prince An liked pine trees, she had specially worn this pine-patterned dress to come, but he hadn't even glanced at her!
"Grandmother, look at my white jade Buddha, it's priceless..." Dongfang Che showed off his gift, while Dongfang Zhan glanced at Shen Lixue. She sat quietly, smiling without showing her teeth, her eyebrows and eyes curved, her skirt flowing down, reflecting her fair, delicate, and translucent skin, making her even more beautiful and proud.