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It wasn’t just Princess Ning"an who was confused by this sudden change, even Eunuch Qin, who had just come back with a plate of fresh fruits, stood frozen in place.
What was going on?
How did the mother and daughter fall out all of a sudden?
To be precise, it was Empress Dowager Zhuang who turned against Princess Ning"an.
It was worth noting that Princess Ning"an grew up under the care of Empress Dowager Zhuang, and she was practically like her own daughter.
Princess Ning"an seemed to have been struck by lightning as she looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang in disbelief, her eyes showing a mix of confusion, astonishment, fear… and other various emotions.
As her emotions gradually gathered, and something seemed about to emerge from her mind, tears fell from her eyes first, "Imperial mother, this humble daughter doesn"t know what wrong she’s done to anger you like this?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at her coldly, "You don"t know? Are you truly unaware or pretending to be?"
Princess Ning"an"s eyes flickered slightly.
Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn"t contain her anger, "Aijia asks you, did you secretly pay respects to your birth mother?"
Princess Ning"an opened her mouth, and her flickering gaze slowly settled.
She slowly relaxed her body, and a moment later, she stood up, took a step back, and knelt in front of Empress Dowager Zhuang with her head bowed, "Please forgive this humble daughter, imperial mother."
Empress Dowager Zhuang clenched her fists, looking at her disappointedly, "So, you admit it?"
Princess Ning"an admitted in a low voice, "This humble daughter did indeed go to the nunnery, and also... pay respects to my birth mother there."
Eunuch Qin sighed inwardly. He was also aware of this matter. On the night Princess Ning"an returned to the palace, she secretly visited the nunnery where Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing used to live, spending half an hour inside before coming out.
Regardless, Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was Princess Ning"an"s birth mother, so it was reasonable for her to pay respects.
Didn"t Empress Dowager Zhuang know about it early on?
And she said nothing at that time?
Why suddenly bring up old grievances today?
Empress Dowager Zhuang"s body seemed to tremble lightly as if suppressing anger, "If Aijia hadn"t heard about it by chance last night, you would still be calling out ‘imperial mother’ while not forgetting Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing! Do you really not know how much Aijia despises her?"
Princess Ning"an knocked her head on the ground, her hands folded on the cold floor and her forehead devoutly against her hands, "This humble daughter acknowledges the wrongdoing. Please, imperial mother, calm your anger."
Eunuch Qin was even more puzzled. Didn’t Empress Dowager Zhuang already know about it the night Princess Ning"an went to the nunnery? Why was she acting like she just found out?
Empress Dowager Zhuang"s tone was icy, "Since you want to recognize that wicked woman as your mother, then don"t recognize Aijia as your imperial mother!"
With that, she left in a huff!
Eunuch Qin didn"t dare to stop her. Only after she had walked far away did he enter the bedchamber, placing the plate of fruits on the table and helping Princess Ning"an up with the other hand.
Princess Ning"an looked at Eunuch Qin, her eyes full of confusion and guilt, "Eunuch Qin..."
"Sigh." Eunuch Qin sighed again, "So much has happened, and the princess still can"t see how deeply Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing has hurt Empress Dowager Zhuang. She caused Empress Dowager Zhuang to turn against His Majesty and took away the only princess Empress Dowager Zhuang truly loves. As Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing"s own flesh and blood, it"s understandable that the princess can"t hate her. But going to pay respects and worship her... aren"t the princess throwing Empress Dowager Zhuang"s heart into turmoil?"
Princess Ning"an blamed herself, "Eunuch Qin, I know I was wrong."
Eunuch Qin said, "Forget it. Empress Dowager Zhuang is angry because she cares too much about you. If it were someone else paying respects to Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, Empress Dowager Zhuang probably wouldn"t care. You know Empress Dowager Zhuang"s temperament. Those who don"t matter can never hurt her."
Princess Ning"an asked, "What should I do to make imperial mother forgive me?"
Eunuch Qin paused and said, "Now that Empress Dowager Zhuang is angry, the princess should stay away for the time being. When Empress Dowager Zhuang"s anger subsides, then think of a way to seek her forgiveness."
Princess Ning"an lowered her head, "It seems that"s the only way now. I can"t show filial piety to imperial mother for the time being. Eunuch Qin, please take care of imperial mother for me."
Eunuch Qin smiled, "This servant will, princess. Please rest a.s.sured."
Princess Ning"an whispered, "Then I"ll take my leave now."
"This servant will see the princess off."
"No need, Eunuch Qin. Just go and attend to imperial mother."
"...Yes." Eunuch Qin reluctantly agreed.
Watching Princess Ning"an gradually move away, Eunuch Qin suddenly spoke, "Princess."
"Is there anything else, Eunuch Qin?" Princess Ning"an turned to look at Eunuch Qin.
Eunuch Qin spoke with emphasis, "Empress Dowager Zhuang deliberately used Young Miss Gu to upset the princess. Princess, please don"t take it to heart."
Princess Ning"an was stunned, "Is that so? I thought... Imperial mother was really preparing those things for Physician Gu?"
Eunuch Qin smiled, "As the one who personally serves Empress Dowager Zhuang, how could this servant not know who those things are for?"
Princess Ning"an showed a knowing smile, like the return of spring, "Eunuch Qin, thank you."
Eunuch Qin smiled and bowed, "Safe travels, princess."
Princess Ning"an left Renshou Palace.
Eunuch Qin"s smile faded, "How would I know who those things are for?"
But how to not earn hatred points for JiaoJiao, he knew that!
Eunuch Qin went to the study.
Empress Dowager Zhuang sat calmly on a chair, with the Grand Princess Protector’s token and the purple-gold phoenix crown in front of her.
"Empress Dowager." Eunuch Qin honestly recounted his conversation with Princess Ning"an, leaving out no details, "This old servant doesn"t know if what I said is right."
Having served Empress Dowager Zhuang for so many years, Eunuch Qin wasn"t always informed in advance about everything. As a reliable confidant, he must not drag down his master under any circ.u.mstances.
What should be said, what should not be said, and how to handle things afterwards, he dealt with it clearly and straightforwardly.
In particular, he did an excellent job in smoothing over the resentment towards Gu Jiao.
Between Empress Dowager Zhuang and Eunuch Qin, there was a tacit understanding of a master and servant. She knew that the sword she stabbed, Eunuch Qin could pull and sheathe back into the scabbard.
Eunuch Qin asked, puzzled, "But Your Majesty, why did you do this?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang calmly said, "When it"s time for you to know, Aijia will tell you."
Eunuch Qin agreed, "...Yes."
As the saying went, do not speculate on the intentions of the monarch. However, the cruel reality was that if one couldn’t guess their master"s mind, survival in the deep palace might be impossible.
Eunuch Qin thought carefully.
Was it because she didn"t trust him enough that Empress Dowager Zhuang didn"t tell him, or was it because she herself didn"t want to bring up certain things?
He felt it was the latter.Raz P."s Thoughts
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