freenovelworld Chapter 244 Mother and Daughter Enter the Palace!
Chapter 244 Mother and Daughter Enter the Palace!
Just as Duanmu Chuze had predicted, the next few days seemed to be peaceful until Mu Xinnuan suddenly received the Empress's decree to enter the palace. Only then did she feel a little nervous, because the Empress's decree clearly stated that Li Shi must take her with her to the palace.
This was Mu Xin Nuan's first time visiting the Kun Ning Palace, the residence of the Empress. It was magnificent and luxurious, needless to say. Every flower and tree in the palace was extremely exquisite, and the arrangement of the furnishings was also very pleasing to the eye.
"Greetings to the Queen."
"No need for formalities, please rise. Someone, please have a seat."
"Thank you, Queen."
As a Lady of the Imperial Court, Lady Li was naturally entitled to sit, but Mu Xin Nuan was merely a daughter of an official and had no rank. She wisely stepped back behind Lady Li, her demure demeanor befitting a lady of high birth.
The Empress nodded subtly when she saw how polite Mu Xin Nuan was.
"Madam Mu, it's been almost half a year since you last entered the palace, hasn't it?"
"Your Majesty, I have been preoccupied with household affairs and my youngest son is still very young, so I have been quite busy. I have also heard that Your Majesty has been devoted to Buddhism, so I have not dared to disturb you."
"I'm just reciting Buddhist scriptures. If you have time, you should come to the palace more often and keep me company."
"Yes, ma'am."
"This is your daughter, Mu Jia's Nuan?"
Upon hearing the Empress mention her, Mu Xin Nuan quickly came out, curtsied gracefully, and said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed me."
"Good child, raise your head and let me see you."
Mu Xin Nuan frowned slightly. So the Empress was really going to help Prince Ming with the divination? But didn't that Duanmu Chu Ze say he had already settled things for her? Why was the Empress actually interested in her?
Mu Xin Nuan dared not delay and slowly raised her head. What she saw was a bright yellow phoenix robe. After glancing at the Empress's kind and gentle face, she immediately lowered her head three times, her attitude very respectful and courteous.
It was my first time meeting Feng Yan, but this young girl was neither humble nor arrogant, nor flustered; she was quite a promising talent!
The Empress nodded again and smiled, "Come here, let me take a good look at you. How much do you resemble Xinlan?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Mu Xin Nuan glanced at her mother and saw her nod. She then took a few steps forward and went down the steps of the phoenix throne.
"Come, good child, come up here. I am getting old, and I have often heard Jing'er talk about how wonderful you are. Today, I have finally seen it for myself!"
Mu Xin Nuan then realized that Duanmu Jing was the Empress's youngest daughter and the most favored by her. No wonder the Empress had such a deep interest in her.
"Your Majesty flatters me. The princess simply feels that I am about the same age as her and we can talk about things in the same direction."
"Listen to that voice, so melodious and clear, and those words are so pleasing to the ear! Xinlan, you've raised a wonderful daughter! She's even more endearing than you were back then."
"Your Majesty, please stop praising her. If you keep praising her, she'll really start to get carried away."
The Empress held Mu Xin Nuan's hand, and the slightly cold nail guard touched the back of her hand. Mu Xin Nuan felt that the coldness of that thing had penetrated into her bones! For some reason, she suddenly remembered the moment when she was pierced by a thousand arrows in her previous life, and her body trembled.
"What's wrong? Child, did I frighten you?"
The Empress paused for a moment, assuming that the child was just being overly reserved and cautious because it was the first time he had met her.
"Your Majesty, you have a kind face and a gentle demeanor. How could I be frightened? It's just that I was overwhelmed with emotion when I first saw you, and that's why I lost my composure. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
The Empress chuckled softly, then turned to look at Lady Li. "How about that? I told you she was eloquent and quick-witted, wasn't she? Compared to you back then, she's far superior!"
Li's smile was somewhat awkward. "Your Majesty still remembers my rude words from back then? It makes me feel quite ashamed."
"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess, Princess Jing, and His Highness the Eldest Grandson are all waiting outside the palace, saying they have come to pay their respects to you."
"Let them in! If you say the Crown Princess is here to pay her respects, I would believe you. But that girl Jing is probably here because she heard you were here and wants to go play with you."
Mu Xin Nuan smiled slightly, "Princess Jing is gentle and elegant, innocent and lively, and kind-hearted. I admire her very much."
"Alright! Stop flattering her. If she were half as sensible as you, I wouldn't have this headache."
As they were talking, the three of them came in. Duanmu Jing walked a little faster, almost running while lifting her skirt.
"Mother is speaking ill of me behind my back again! I'm going to report this to Father."
"You little devil, do you think your father doesn't know how mischievous you are?" the Empress scolded, then released Mu Xin Nuan's hand.
Knowing that the Empress wanted to get close to Duanmu Jing, Mu Xin Nuan quickly curtsied and slowly withdrew.
Sure enough, Duanmu Jing went straight to the Phoenix Throne and asked, "Mother, what were you talking about me just now? Did you tell Anuan some embarrassing stories about me again?"
"So you know you have some shameful secrets?" The Empress glanced at her with a smile, then raised her right hand. "Alright, you don't need to stand on ceremony anymore. There are no outsiders here, so please sit down."
These words were originally the Empress's way of showing consideration for Li Shi and Mu Xin Nuan, implying that they no longer needed to bow to the Crown Princess and Prince Changsun. However, upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan's heart skipped a beat. Why would the Empress say such a thing for no reason? No outsiders? Weren't they, mother and daughter, outsiders?
Or is the Empress's words clearly implying something?
Lady Li came from a military family and was not naturally so perceptive. She never imagined that the Empress's words might have a deeper meaning.
Instead, the Crown Princess smiled at Mu Xin Nuan and said, "Isn't this Mu Xin Nuan? It's only been a few years since I last saw you, and you've grown into such a beautiful young woman?"
"Thank you for your praise, Crown Princess."
"What I said is true, why thank me? Speaking of which, Ah Chen, didn't you meet Miss Mu before?"
Today, Duanmu Chen wore a purple python robe and a purple jade crown. With his thick eyebrows and big eyes, he looked exceptionally energetic.
"Indeed, I wonder if Miss Mu still remembers? It's been more than three years."
Mu Xin Nuan dared not look at him any longer. This man, on the surface, looked gentle and refined, but his eyes and aura gave people a feeling that was not so kind!
"Your Highness, I was blind and I beg your forgiveness."