With Shen Qingwan serving him, Fu Yuheng was no longer angry and started to deal with the memorials one by one.
When he finished reviewing the memorials, it was already late. He rubbed his shoulders which were sore from working at his desk. Shen Qingwan saw this and took a step forward to rub his shoulders.
At this time, Sun Ning came in and said, "Your Majesty, it's time to eat."
Fu Yuheng had just finished reviewing the last memorial. He put it away and motioned Sun Ning to take it away, saying, "Let's go to Hehuan Palace. I'm going to have dinner at Concubine Xian's palace today."
Sun Ning agreed, but Shen Qingwan was not happy. Anyone with ulterior motives would definitely be able to see the clues of today's events, and Fu Yuheng wanted to go to her bedroom tonight. Wasn't it obvious that he wanted to make her life difficult
Fu Yuheng glanced sideways and saw Shen Qingwan's indifferent expression. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why, you don't look happy when I go to your palace?"
"How could that be? I was just worried because the emperor hasn't visited other sisters' palaces for a long time." Shen Qingwan smiled quickly. She had made up her mind that no matter what, she would let Fu Yuheng go to someone else's palace today.
Shen Qingwan frowned slightly: "Besides, I feel a little unwell today, I am afraid I can't serve the emperor."
Fu Yuheng didn't say anything, but just stared at her for a while. In the silence, Shen Qingwan almost couldn't hold back the smile on her face. Fortunately, he just stared at her for a while, then turned his head and stopped embarrassing her: "Well, then I'll go see the queen today."
Shen Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief. If Fu Yuheng insisted on coming, she would be helpless. Fortunately, he had a change of heart and did not make things difficult for her.
"Then I'll take my leave first." Shen Qingwan bowed.
Fu Yuheng nodded, and she turned and left.
Lianyun had been waiting in the outer hall, and finally waited for Shen Qingwan to come out. She immediately went forward to support her. Shen Qingwan nodded to Sun Ning who had just returned from handing in the memorial, and then walked out of the hall with Lianyun.
As soon as she left the imperial study, Shen Qingwan's tense nerves relaxed, her legs went weak, and she almost fell, but fortunately Lianyun supported her.
"My queen, what's wrong with you?" Lianyun asked worriedly.
Shen Qingwan shook her head and said nothing. She looked back at the imperial study before turning around and getting on the sedan chair.
Her conversation with Fu Yuheng today seemed ordinary, but in fact, there were undercurrents. If she had not been able to smooth things over at the beginning, she would have been engulfed by his rage, and her family might have been implicated.
In the harem, she represents the Shen family. If she takes a wrong step, the Shen family will be implicated.
She closed her eyes and suppressed the fear in them. No matter what she faced, she had to deal with it skillfully without making any mistakes, and of course she couldn't let anyone see her fear.
... ...
Shoukang Palace.
The air was filled with sandalwood incense and the sound of wooden fish echoed in the empty palace. The empress dowager, dressed in a plain robe, was kneeling on a cushion, muttering to herself.
Nanny Kang lifted the curtain and entered the hall. She walked to the Queen Mother and said with embarrassment, "Your Majesty, there is news from the Emperor."
The Queen Mother opened her eyes, stopped reciting the sutra, and asked, "Has the Emperor calmed down?"
"Yes, I have reviewed all the memorials." said Nanny Kang.
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "That's good. I was worried that he would not approve the memorials. But which minister advised the Emperor?"
Nanny Kang's eyes turned slightly, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "No minister has come to see the emperor."
"Oh?" The Queen Mother turned to look at Madam Kang, her expression hesitant, "Then the Emperor has calmed down?"
"Yes... Concubine Xian went to the imperial study." Nanny Kang finally said what she had been hesitating for a long time.
When the Queen Mother heard this, anger appeared on her usually stern face: "You said the virtuous concubine has gone?"
"I went to ask, and Eunuch Sun said it was his idea to let Concubine Xian persuade the Emperor. Sure enough, the Emperor was no longer angry, and with Concubine Xian's help, he finished reviewing the memorial." Nanny Kang knew that she could not hide it from the Empress Dowager, so she just told her everything.
The Queen Mother took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the outer hall, saying as she walked, "What a virtuous concubine. I gave her some advice not long ago and thought she was very smart. I didn't expect her to be so stupid today."
Nanny Kang helped her sit down. The more the Queen Mother thought about it, the angrier she became. She didn't even drink the cup of tea in her hand, but put it heavily on the table and said to Nanny Kang, "Go and call Consort Xian. I want to see how brave she is!"
When Nanny Kang saw the Empress Dowager's expression, she knew that she was really angry. She was secretly worried about Concubine Xian, but she could only obey the order and go.
When Nanny Kang hurried to Hehuan Palace, Shen Qingwan was having a meal. Hearing that Nanny Kang was coming, she quickly put down her bamboo chopsticks and stood up to greet her.
When Shen Qingwan saw Nanny Kang's expression, she had a bad feeling in her heart, and she asked, "What's the matter, Nanny?"
"Mrs. Xianfei, the Empress Dowager has summoned you to Shoukang Palace," Nanny Kang said anxiously, "You should stop eating and follow me quickly."
Lianyun asked, "Mammy, you are so anxious that I don't know what to do."
"Although the Queen Mother rarely goes out, she still knows about the major events in and outside the palace. The Queen Mother is very concerned about the emperor's rage at the court this morning," said Nanny Kang helplessly. "The Queen Mother sent me to ask about the situation just now, and I learned that the Queen Mother was angry because you went to the Imperial Study to accompany the emperor to review memorials. Concubine Xian, you are also confused. Why did you let Sun Ning do whatever he wanted?"
When Shen Qingwan heard this, she tried hard to suppress her panic. She didn't say much and went with Nanny Kang.
By the time she arrived at Shoukang Palace, Shen Qingwan had completely forgotten the hustle and bustle she had just experienced. Since this had already happened, she could only deal with it as it came. If the empress dowager was going to make trouble, she could only endure it. She would just get scolded and she would just endure it.
I just hope Fu Yuheng won't take action against her because of the Queen Mother's attitude.
"Your servant pays homage to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother live a thousand years." Shen Qingwan bowed deeply. The Queen Mother sat back in the main seat, looking down at her, with no intention of asking her to get up.
After a long silence, the Queen Mother said quietly, "Xian Fei, do you know why I asked you to come here?"
"I know." Shen Qingwan didn't mean to play dumb, and admitted generously, "The Queen Mother summoned me here, perhaps because I went to the Imperial Study to persuade the Emperor."
The Queen Mother sneered: "You know it very well, but have you learned the palace rules before entering the palace?"
"I have learned it, and I have kept it in mind." Shen Qingwan's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the Queen Mother was going to make trouble.
"The most important rule in the palace is to obey women's virtues and not interfere in government affairs," the Queen Mother said, her tone more serious, "Xianfei, do you know?!"
"I know." Shen Qingwan closed her eyes.
"I think you are so bold that I know you will do it again," the Queen Mother became even more angry. "This time you interfered in politics. Will you rule behind the scenes next time?"
Shen Qingwan immediately said: "I dare not."
Shen Qingwan knew that she had already gone to the imperial study and had accompanied Fu Yuheng in reviewing memorials. She could not escape the charge of interfering in government affairs, so she did not argue and knelt in front of the Empress Dowager while she scolded her for half an hour.