Chapter 202: Has Mother Empress Woken Up?
“This matter is not as easy as we think. We still need to bide our time and watch.”
Yushui naturally could not think of that layer. Although she felt it strange in her heart, she did not say anything more.
As the two were walking, a figure emerged from the distant garden.
Their eyes met, and Ruanxi was surprised.
“Greetings, Crown Princess.”
“Grand Tutor, no need for formalities.” Ruanxi had always maintained a distant expression toward Jiang Kui.
She knew very well in her heart that her identity might fool others, but the one before her eyes was not easy to deal with.
Following the principle that saying more leads to more mistakes, Ruanxi merely nodded slightly before planning to go around.
But Jiang Kui stopped her. “Crown Princess, you seem to avoid me. I wonder if I have done something wrong to displease you?”
Ruanxi paused her steps. In the instant their eyes met, Jiang Kui’s gaze flickered slightly. He still could not see her fate.
Could it be that there was something wrong with his eyes?
Jiang Kui lightly glanced at the palace maid by her side.
Yushui met his terrifying gaze and quickly lowered her head in fright.
But she did not know that at this moment, Jiang Kui saw her fate clearly.
It was just a fate slightly better than an ordinary person’s, but it was still a born servant’s fate.
“How could that be? I think Grand Tutor has some misunderstanding about me.” Ruanxi was neither angry nor impatient.
“Although Grand Tutor is a favorite before His Majesty, he is ultimately an outsider. He should avoid suspicion. Moreover, with Grand Tutor handling state affairs tirelessly, and I having no important matters to discuss with Grand Tutor, I naturally dare not waste Grand Tutor’s time.”
What sharp eloquence, leaving him unable to find fault.
Although he did not know if the person before him was really Ruanxi, Jiang Kui already had plans in his heart.
“Crown Princess is right. It is I who is narrow-minded.”
Even as Grand Tutor, he was ultimately just a minister. How dare he refer to himself as ‘I’ before her?
It seemed in his eyes, he did not take her, the Crown Princess, seriously at all.
Ruanxi lowered her gaze, hiding the anger in her eyes. “Grand Tutor handles state affairs tirelessly. How could he be narrow-minded.”
She did not want to continue entangling with him, so she said, “Empress is seriously ill now. I still need to see her. Farewell, Grand Tutor.”
Without waiting for Jiang Kui’s reaction, Ruanxi left early.
Jiang Kui watched her back, his brows furrowing tightly.
If the person before him was really Ruanxi, then she was truly too formidable.
To actually escape his eyes.
Jiang Kui’s expression grew increasingly grave. Forget it. He was just a little short, and he would succeed.
He would endure a bit longer. Once that matter succeeded, no matter if she was Ruanxi or not, she would have to die.
**
When Ruanxi arrived, Empress had already woken up, but she still could not speak temporarily.
Seeing this, Ruanxi was somewhat surprised.
“Mother Empress is awake?” She said to the palace maid, “Has the Imperial Physician been called to check?”
“He has. The Imperial Physician said that Empress’s condition is the aftereffect of the poison, but it is temporary. As long as she takes medicine on time, she will surely recover after some time.”
Ruanxi nodded and looked at Empress again. “Mother Empress, did you hear? The Imperial Physician told you to rest well and take medicine on time.”
Empress could not speak, but she knew very well in her heart.
The first thing she did upon waking was to realize that the medicine that day was poisoned.
She wanted to find Wan Bi, but Wan Bi had already disappeared.
The palace maid told her everything that had happened in these past few days.
But she knew very well in her heart that Wan Bi had followed her for so many years and would absolutely not do anything to harm her.
She must have been wronged.
And the one who truly poisoned her was clearly the woman before her eyes.
But Empress could not speak now and could not express these matters clearly.
Forget it. Even if she made a fuss now, it probably would not yield any results.
She would recuperate well. When her throat could speak, she would make her pay.
“Mother Empress, it is time for your medicine.”
Ruanxi watched the palace servant bring the medicine. She took the bowl and walked toward Empress. “Mother Empress, your daughter-in-law will serve you.”
Seeing Ruanxi, Empress looked as if she had seen something terrifying. Her eyes widened in horror, and her mouth kept trying to open, but she could not make any sound.
As Ruanxi drew closer, Empress could only look toward the palace maid Liu Ye on the side.
Although Liu Ye was not as clever as Wan Bi, she had been by Empress’s side for many years and could tell she did not want Ruanxi to approach.
She stepped forward to block Ruanxi. “Crown Princess, let me serve Empress.”
With that, she reached out to snatch her bowl.
Empress breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruanxi was also happy to be relieved. “Then thank you, Aunt Liu Ye.”
Liu Ye nodded.
After Empress finished drinking, she did not want to stay here any longer and said indifferently, “Since Mother Empress is fine, please take care of her, Aunt Liu Ye. If there is anything, I am in the side hall and can be found anytime.”
With that, she turned and walked out.
Seeing Ruanxi leave, Empress grabbed Liu Ye’s hand, wanting to speak, but no matter how she tried, she could not make any sound.
Moreover, she was originally weak from illness and soon felt tired, falling asleep.
Liu Ye did not mind, thinking she wanted to ask where Wan Bi had gone.
Ruanxi slept beautifully. By the time the sky had darkened, after eating, she leisurely went to Hall of Mental Cultivation to pay respects to Emperor Qin.
Halfway there, she saw a figure in black clothing flash by and quickly disappear.
And that person’s direction seemed to be toward the depths of the Imperial Palace.
Ruanxi stopped her steps and looked thoughtfully at the back that had just vanished.
“Crown Princess, what is it?” Yushui asked.
“You go to Hall of Mental Cultivation first. If anyone asks, say I am caring for Empress and will arrive later.”
With that, she walked directly in the opposite direction.
Yushui anxiously called after her from behind. “Crown Princess, where are you going?”
This was the Imperial Palace, full of dangers.
“I will be fine. Do not worry.”
Ruanxi walked on without looking back.
Before, she had been in the open, others in the dark.
Now that she had entered the palace, this was an opportunity. She had to uncover all those lurking in the shadows.
Although Yushui was worried about her, she knew she could only go to Hall of Mental Cultivation first and find her later.
Ruanxi followed that figure to the depths of the palace.
Faint moonlight sprinkled on the palace walls, vaguely illuminating the dark path ahead.
Following along the way, she found it becoming increasingly desolate and quiet.
It looked like the Cold Palace.
By the surrounding moonlight, she saw weeds everywhere, with a palace standing ahead.
Thinking of the figure she had seen earlier, if she guessed correctly, it should be Jiang Rui.
Ruanxi’s brows furrowed tightly. What was Jiang Rui doing here in the middle of the night?
