The Queen Mother of a country can summon anyone into the palace. The Queen Mother of Prince Runan said this just to remind the Queen Mother not to forget her meritorious minister.
The Queen Mother looked at her and smiled meaningfully. After a moment's silence, she said, "Then please take the trouble to bring her to the palace to see me."
What the Queen Mother wanted was for the Queen Mother to say, "Your Highness is willing to serve you."
"We have presented several pieces of tribute satin as tribute, and the colors look good, so I will give you two pieces to take back and make two sets of clothes." The empress dowager said frankly and generously.
"Thank you, Her Majesty, for the reward." The Queen Mother of Runan raised the corners of her lips.
She had no shortage of two rolls of tribute satin; what she wanted was to please the Empress Dowager.
After leaving the palace, the Queen Mother of Runan went to the Zhuang family without any hesitation.
When Wu heard the announcement, she hurried to the second gate to greet them. When she saw the Dowager Consort of Runan getting off the carriage, she was stunned for a moment and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please slow down."
The Queen Mother of Runan came to the Zhuang family to take Jiang Changning to the palace so that she could be brought to the palace tomorrow.
Mrs. Zhuang disagreed, "This is too much trouble for the queen. Let me take Ning girl to the palace gate tomorrow and wait for the queen."
The reason why Jiang Changning was not allowed to go to the palace was not because they were afraid that the Queen Mother of Runan would use a substitute.
But he was afraid that the Queen Mother of Runan would keep the person in the palace and abandon the banker.
How could Old Madam Zhuang fulfill her wish? The Princess Dowager of Runan glanced at Old Madam Zhuang and thought she was really an old fox.
There was a gleam of light in Old Mrs. Zhuang's turbid eyes. They were the same.
The Queen Mother of Runan King did not give up so easily. She smiled and looked at Jiang Changning, "Miss Jiang, this palace is the most rule-abiding place. This is your first time in the palace, and I'm afraid you don't even have the right clothes. My daughter Huizhu is about the same size as you, so you can wear her clothes when you enter the palace."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Changning is just a commoner girl without any rank. How can I wear the clothes of a princess?" That was why Jiang Changning was unwilling to go to the Prince of Runan's Palace.
The Zhuang family’s huge mansion made it difficult for her to move around and enter and exit.
The situation would be even worse if she went to live in the palace. She would be unfamiliar with the place and what would she do if she was detained by the Prince of Runan's Palace
"We have never treated our cousin badly. We have prepared all the new clothes for the four seasons and festivals. It won't be disrespectful for our cousin to wear new clothes into the palace." Mrs. Wu interrupted.
Jiang Changning continued, "It's not like the Queen Mother hasn't seen me wearing ordinary clothes before."
After hearing this, the Queen Mother of Runan could not continue. "Then we will meet outside the palace gate at the beginning of the morning."
Old Lady Zhuang, along with her family members, respectfully saw off the Princess Dowager of Runan.
Turning around, Old Madam Zhuang pulled Jiang Changning aside and said, "What the Dowager Consort of Runan said is correct. This palace is the place where rules are most respected. You have never been to the palace before. If you accidentally offend someone noble, it could be fatal."
"Madam, I don't want to enter the palace anymore." Jiang Changning said with a frightened look on his face.
"Silly child, you can't just choose not to enter this palace." Old Madam Zhuang patted her hands and said, "Don't be afraid, your great aunt is here for you. She will always protect you."
Jiang Changning snuggled into Old Lady Zhuang's arms, her thick eyelashes drooping slightly, concealing the calmness in her eyes.
The next day, at the hour of Mao, Jiang Changning followed Old Lady Zhuang in a carriage to the palace.
Jiang Changning wore a pink stand-up collar, double-breasted shirt inside, a crimson embroidered long gown outside, a dark red pleated skirt underneath, and a simple bun.
She has a beautiful appearance and a dignified temperament.
Old Madam Zhuang put on her makeup according to her rank. It was obvious that she didn't just want to see Jiang Changning off to the palace gate, but was preparing to accompany Jiang Changning into the palace.
The Queen Mother of Runan had also expected this. When she saw Mrs. Zhuang's outfit, there was no trace of surprise in her eyes.
After handing over the sign, the three entered the palace, while the maids and coachmen stayed outside the palace gate waiting.
The Queen Mother of Runan and Old Lady Zhuang could take a sedan chair to go to Fushou Palace, but Jiang Changning could only walk.
The journey was a bit far, and the Queen Mother of Runan said very considerately: "Ning girl, come and sit with me."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. But I'd better not squeeze you." Jiang Changning declined politely. She was not used to being too close to people she was not familiar with.
"It's so spacious, there's no room for me to squeeze in." The Queen Mother of Runan Prince forcibly pulled Jiang Changning onto the sedan chair.
Jiang Changning couldn't refuse, so he had to sit awkwardly next to the Queen Mother of Runan Prince.
When they arrived at Fushou Palace, Gao Yanyun, a female official beside the Queen Mother, was already waiting at the palace gate. When she saw the two sedan chairs approaching, she went to greet them and said, "Miss Jiang, you are so beautiful."
Jiang Changning smiled and lowered his head, pretending to be shy.
Gao Yanyun led the three people in. Jiang Changning raised his eyes slightly and saw a beautiful middle-aged woman in bright yellow clothes sitting on the throne.
The Queen Mother is over forty years old, but she is in great shape and looks like she is in her early thirties.
Jiang Changning just glanced at her, then lowered his head and knelt obediently on the royal blue cushion embroidered with gold thread to greet the empress dowager.
She has no rank, so she has to be treated with great courtesy.
Women of first or second rank like the Princess Dowager of Runan and Old Lady Zhuang can be treated with ordinary courtesy.
Only when meeting the emperor during festivals and holidays is it necessary to perform grand ceremony.
"Yanyun, hurry up and help the man up." said the Queen Mother.
Gao Yanyun stepped forward and held Jiang Changning's arm, "Miss Jiang, get up."
The Queen Mother waved her hand, "Come, come to me."
Jiang Changning walked to the Queen Mother, who held her hand and looked her up and down, "Little Ning'er, long time no see."
"It's been six years, but the Queen Mother is still as charming as ever." Jiang Changning spoke the truth.
In the past, the Empress Dowager was the most favored among the six palaces for her beauty, and this year she is getting older and more charming.
"Don't stand, sit down and talk." The Queen Mother raised her chin slightly, "Please take a seat."
The Queen Mother of Runan and Old Lady Zhuang smiled widely, thanked the emperor and sat down.
"If Xiao Ning'er hadn't come to our rescue, the Emperor and I would have been in danger of losing our lives," the Queen Mother said with emotion.
"Your Majesty and His Majesty are blessed by heaven. I am just trying to help in a small way." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
The Queen Mother said sternly, "In this world, there are many people who add icing on the cake, but few who help in times of need. In such a dangerous situation, you are still willing to help mother and son, which is the most precious thing."
"At that time, I didn't think about whether it was dangerous or not. It was just that the queen was so beautiful and I didn't want her to suffer." Jiang Changning smiled embarrassedly.
The Dowager Consort of Runan froze in expression, and Old Madam Zhuang's face changed slightly. Why did this girl say such nonsense
The Queen Mother hated people mentioning the fact that she used her beauty to serve the emperor in the past, and Jiang Changning's words violated taboo.
Old Madam Zhuang was already thinking about how to clear herself of the issue if the Empress Dowager questioned her.
She regretted it very much and accompanied Jiang Changning into the palace.
The Princess Dowager of Prince Runan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the Queen Mother's smile had not diminished. The Queen Mother was quite tolerant towards this girl. It seemed that she had made the right move.
"What an honest child." The Queen Mother smiled. "I will never forget those days on the boat. After the Emperor ascended the throne, I ordered people to offer a reward for the golden lock. Girl, didn't you hear the news?"
(End of this chapter)