Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "How could that be? Your Majesty is joking."
The Queen Mother waved to Ji Lingxue and said, "Xue'er, come over here."
Ji Lingxue walked to the Queen Mother obediently. The Queen Mother took her hand and asked with concern, "Where did you go just now? Aunt Zhao came back and said you were missing. I have been worried about you. There are many walls around the palace, and I was afraid you would get lost and not be able to get out for three days."
What the Queen Mother said was true. The palace was deep, with thick walls and high tiles, a complex terrain and complicated rules. If one was not careful, one could bump into some noble lady or concubine, and if one made a mistake, one would be punished.
Ji Lingxue said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I just went to the toilet." All the excuses she made to avoid explaining were to use the toilet. If she was caught lying, she would say she was lost.
The Queen Mother smiled with relief, pushed the tea in front of Ji Lingxue and said, "Look at you, you must be thirsty after a busy day, drink some water."
Ji Lingxue picked up the teacup and brought it to her lips. In just one breath, she already knew the secret in the tea.
Ji Lingxue lowered her head and drank the tea in the cup in one gulp. The next moment, she raised her hand to support her forehead and said weakly, "My head... hurts..."
The Queen Mother's eyes sparkled, and she asked with concern, "Xue'er girl, are you okay?"
"I..." Ji Lingxue wanted to say something, but her body shook weakly and she fell down.
Xiao Yimo, who was sitting nearby, raised his hand to support Ji Lingxue. She leaned on his shoulder, breathing deeply.
Xiao Yimo looked up at the Queen Mother, asking with his eyes what she meant.
The Queen Mother avoided his gaze and winked at Madam Zhao, saying, "Princess Chen, please go to the side hall next door to rest."
Nanny Zhao nodded, turned around, picked up Ji Lingxue and left.
Xiao Yimo touched his nose and said, "Mother, I remember that there are still memorials in the imperial study that have not been reviewed yet, so I will leave now."
On the other side, Xiao Yichen looked up and down at the tough man in the robe and snorted, "Why is General Ding wandering around the palace? Are you now the general of the imperial guards?"
Ding Sifang smiled. Xiao Yichen's status was higher than his. In a place like the palace with the most spies, it would be difficult for him to confront him head-on.
"Your Majesty, you are joking. The Imperial Palace Guards have always been under the command of the Emperor. I came to the palace today just to visit an old friend."
Xiao Yichen nodded, "Oh, how could I have forgotten that General Ding's sister is now Zhaoyi."
Ding Sifang bowed and didn't want to talk more. "If Prince Chen has nothing important to say, this general will leave first." But he was puzzled about the fool just now. If he was a fool, why did he run away when he saw Xiao Yichen
Xiao Yichen nodded, and when Ding Sifang passed by him, he continued, "General Ding will lead his troops north in the near future. I hope the general will treat the 20,000 troops I left in the northwest well."
During his years in the northwest, he had become close friends with the generals and soldiers. He knew that he would not be able to keep the 20,000 troops after returning to Beijing. He only hoped that their next superior would be nicer to them.
Ding Sifang paused and turned around to see Xiao Yichen had already turned around and walked away, his back looking somewhat lonely.
It was a quarter of an hour later when Xiao Yichen returned to the Empress Dowager's palace. The Empress Dowager was lying on a low couch to rest, and Nanny Zhao was massaging her arms carefully.
Seeing Xiao Yichen coming in, Nanny Zhao lowered her head and whispered something in the empress dowager's ear. The empress dowager opened her sharp eyes and slowly sat up.
Queen Mother: "Chen'er, you are here!"
Xiao Yichen said, "I heard that my son's princess has been found. She is here with the Queen Mother?"
The Queen Mother nodded. "Xue'er is a playful girl, so I let her rest in the side hall. It's getting late now, and the palace gates have long been closed. Why don't you stay here with me for the night?"
Xiao Yichen nodded, indicating that he had no objection.
The Queen Mother continued, "Chen'er, I heard that you recently took a maid as a concubine?"
Xiao Yichen expressed helplessness about the fact that his mother in the palace knew about his family affairs, because he had never had the right to decide who would sleep with him.
Xiao Yichen said: "I am just a concubine, a temporary interest. Mother, don't worry. I will take care of the affairs of the inner house."
The Queen Mother sighed and said, "Alas, you and Xue'er have been married for more than a year. I saw that you were always unhappy before. Do you blame me for the random matchmaking?"
Xiao Yichen lowered his head. A year ago, he did resent his mother for making him marry Ji Lingxue, a fool. It was simply humiliating him. He knew that Xiao Yimo was afraid of him, so he was also responsible for arranging his marriage with Ji Lingxue. His only way of resistance was to marry Ji Yuqing. He had been using Ji Yuqing's jealousy and possessiveness to get rid of Ji Lingxue. If his silly concubine died, his sense of shame would disappear.
But now he was a little hesitant about this plan, and he couldn't bear to see Ji Lingxue get into trouble. He didn't know what was wrong with him and was always worried about her safety.
Xiao Yichen looked up and said, "No, Ji Lingxue is... fine."
The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction and waved her hand, saying, "I'm sleepy, you should go down and have some rest too." I hope you will be satisfied with the "surprise" I'm giving you.
The empress dowager did not say the second half of the sentence. She just looked at Xiao Yichen meaningfully and closed her eyes.
Xiao Yichen lowered his head and retreated without seeing the empress dowager's eyes.
(End of this chapter)