After His Majesty was reborn, the poor little girl in his previous life was spoiled to death

Wu Shilu hurriedly reminded him, "Your Majesty, you haven't had your meal yet. Would you like to have some food?"

Emperor Zhaoyuan was just having his hat tied when he heard this and said, "I guess Ciqing Palace hasn't set up dinner yet. Since there is no court today, I will accompany my mother to dinner."

Wu Shilu looked at the sky and knew that the emperor was talking nonsense. The Empress Dowager was sincere in worshipping Buddha and had morning prayers before the morning hour every day. She must have had her meal by now.

But you are the emperor, so whatever you say goes!

He glanced at Ping An and saw that the sly guy had a nervous look on his face. He had not been honest in answering before and had left a question on purpose, waiting for His Majesty to ask. But His Majesty did not buy into his tricks and did not even ask which lady it was.

Wu Shilu coughed lightly and said, "I don't know which lady is so valued by the Empress Dowager?"

Emperor Zhao Yuan glanced at him with a smile but didn't say anything.

Ping An gave Chief Steward Wu a grateful look and said respectfully, "It is the old lady Shen Zhu from the Xinyuan Marquis's residence."

Wu Shilu was shocked at this time. He never expected that the emperor had braved the rain to visit Miss Ning last night, and only a few hours later, the old lady from the Xinyuan Marquis's Mansion actually came to visit.

Could it be that His Majesty had guessed it just now? That's why he was willing to go to Ciqing Palace to meet someone so early in the morning.

Ciqing Palace is in the west, quite far from the Yuchen Palace where the emperor lives. Your Majesty still has a long way to go. Wu Shilu was worried that the emperor had caught a cold last night, so he asked with concern: "Your Majesty, it's very cold today, would you like to put on another cloak?"

Emperor Zhao Yuan chuckled and said, "No need. How can it be so cold?" Last night he was soaked all over and stood in Ning'er Corridor for quarter of an hour in the cold wind, but he didn't feel anything.

Emperor Zhaoyuan went to Ciqing Palace in a sedan chair.

Although the wind and rain have stopped for a while today, the air is still filled with thick moisture. Although the palace servants got up before dawn to clean up, there are still many branches and leaves broken by the strong wind scattered in the palace, which makes it look quite desolate.

Outside the Ciqing Palace there is a magnificent nine-dragon screen wall, with overlapping glazed bricks surrounding a low wall decorated with lanterns. The outer eaves and corridors are painted with dragon and phoenix paintings and imperial seals, all decorated with solid gold.

This place is most magnificent and glorious, even more so than the Yuchen Palace.

Emperor Zhaoyuan's palanquin did not stop, but passed through the heavy gate and stopped in front of the East Warm Pavilion. Someone had already rushed in to announce the news, and the eunuchs and maids in Ciqing Palace knelt in the courtyard.

As soon as Wu Shilu helped the emperor get off the sedan chair, Le Zhu, the head maid who served the empress dowager, came out and knelt down to greet her: "Your Majesty, I wish you the best of health."

Emperor Zhaoyuan said with a smile: "Madam, please get up. I heard that the Queen Mother has not eaten yet, so I wanted to have dinner with the Queen Mother."

Le Zhu had been in the palace for many years. When he heard the emperor's words, his heart was as clear as a mirror. He smiled and flattered: "That's right, the old lady doesn't have much appetite in the morning. With the emperor's company, she will definitely be able to eat well."

The group entered the warm room in a mighty procession, and saw a graceful woman in palace dress, wearing a cloud dragon headband inlaid with gold, gems and pearls, sitting in front of a large kang by the window.

Looking closely, although her skin was kept extremely fair and tender, there were fine lines around her eyebrows.

Because it was an ordinary night out, she did not wear much makeup. She only wore a double-phoenix dragon crown and a dark blue silk shirt embroidered with golden cloud and dragon patterns, looking dignified and majestic.

She is the empress dowager, the wife of the late Emperor Tianqing and the current queen mother.

The Queen Mother has now reached the age of knowing her destiny, and the solemnity of her youth has mostly turned into kindness. Seeing Emperor Zhaoyuan coming in, she smiled and said, "The Emperor is here."

Chu Huan bowed slightly and gave her a half-salute: "Your son greets you, the Queen Mother."

Le Zhu hurriedly said respectfully, "Your Majesty is a filial son. He has been thinking about visiting the Empress since early morning and has not even had time to eat."

The Empress Dowager took over the conversation very naturally: "In that case, serve the meal. I will eat with the Emperor."

Wu Shilu was busy waiting for the emperor to take his seat, and he also did the work of a eunuch serving meals himself.

Contrary to the popular rumors about a loving mother and a filial son, this most noble mother and son in the world were not very close when they were together in private.

Perhaps it was because Chu Huan was too precocious, or perhaps it was because he ascended the throne at a young age, the Queen Mother had always been too strict and not friendly to him since he was a child.

When Chu Huan took power, and the incident with Grand Tutor Ming happened, she was somewhat afraid of her son. As time went by, the gap between mother and son inevitably deepened.

But fortunately, Chu Huan was a very smart person, and he did an impeccable job in getting along with her and taking care of her. The Queen Mother naturally accepted her kindness, and she was able to save face.

The Queen Mother tilted her head towards Wu Shilu and said, "Bring one to your master."

She smiled and looked at Emperor Zhao Yuan: "Recently, the spring air is coming, and I always feel a little dry. This is the golden fish maw that Annan sent from thousands of miles away, with the best blood swallows, and it is simmered on the charcoal fire for several hours to make a milk soup. Eating it at this time is the best for nourishing yin and replenishing qi."

Chu Huan lowered his head and took a bite. It was dense, smooth, and mellow. He smiled and said, "It's really good. My son also thinks it tastes good."

He put down the spoon and asked casually, "I heard from Ping An that there were guests at Ciqing Palace today. Why didn't you show up?"

The Queen Mother said, "Don't disturb the Emperor for such trivial matters. Since she is a foreign minister and a female relative, she shouldn't be in front of the Emperor. But she and I are old sisters who have known each other for decades. We have had some friendship since we were in the boudoir."

"Now seeing her kneeling on the ground in tears at her age, I couldn't bear it. So I let her go this time."

Emperor Zhaoyuan smiled warmly, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. What are you talking about? The Marquis of Xinyuan has been loyal for generations, and even I respect the old Marquis Shen. It's rare for Madam Shen to enter the palace, so it's only right for me to meet her."

The Queen Mother nodded: "In this case, I thank Your Majesty for your generosity on behalf of the Zhu family."

The two of them finished their meal, and the palace servants came forward to clear the dining table. She said to Le Zhu, "Go to the side room and invite Old Madam Shen to come over."

Actually, this is the first time that the wife of Marquis Xinyuan, Zhu, has met the emperor alone since the emperor ascended the throne.

Although women from outside the royal family had the opportunity to enter the palace to pay homage during the Qianqiu Festival and the New Year's Eve banquet, they could only stand among the crowd and kowtow to Emperor Zhaoyuan from a distance, not even daring to raise their heads the entire time, so naturally they had no chance to see the emperor's face.

Sweat oozed from Madam Zhu's palms. When ladies from outside the imperial court entered the palace, they naturally had to wear heavy makeup and beautiful clothes. She wore a five-pheasant crown on her head, a wide-sleeved crimson shirt, a jacket embroidered with gold cloud and phoenix patterns, and a shawl with jade pendants, not a single strand of her clothing was out of place.

Wearing a heavy crown and robes, she knelt down and kowtowed respectfully to the Emperor.

Madam Zhu, with a desperate mentality, said in a painful voice: "I know I am guilty of asking for an audience rashly. I am willing to die in the hope of Your Majesty's mercy!"

A young man's low laugh came from above: "Old Madam, your words are really too kind. Why do you have to do this?"

Emperor Zhao Yuan looked at Old Madam Zhu kneeling on the ground, and suddenly a thought flashed through his mind: Could it be that Ning'er had also kneeled before this old woman?

After a moment, he said, "Old Madam, please stand up. Wu Shilu, please take a seat."

Zhu got up tremblingly, and the maid beside her came forward and lent a hand to help her up.

The emperor asked, "Since you have requested to see me, what do you want to report?"

Madam Zhu had just sat down when she knelt down again, crying and saying, "Your Majesty, please save Chongyan. He was stabbed in Daonan and was wounded in the back and abdomen. His life or death is just a matter of seconds!"

The floor of the eastern warm room of Ciqing Palace was covered with Tibetan carpets with tufted gold and silver thread lotus patterns. They were so soft and thick that people would not feel any pain even if they knelt on the ground.

But what responded to her was a long silence.