Chapter 85 - Entering the Palace

The empress’ birthday was coincidentally the day of the Mid-autumn Festival.

Because Old Madam Shen didn’t feel well and there was medicinal fragrance enveloped around her, she didn’t go to the palace to congratulate the empress. This was the first holiday since Shen Ziqiao managed the household. She had Lady Meng give half a day’s break off for the servants in the family. She hosted a banquet in the garden. Not only were there all sorts of games, but they could also obtain prizes from guessing riddles.

This was a blessing for the servants in the family.

Old Madam Shen snorted at Shen Ziqiao’s methods, thinking that she was just finding work for herself. Even more, Madam Zhou said that she acted like a kid. She had no intentions of managing matters, only wanting to play around. She was unhappy with this banquet.

“Relaxing is so that they could work better.” Shen Ziqiao didn’t care about their attitudes at all, still having Lady Meng arrange this enthusiastically.

Right now, the servants were all just quiet. They weren’t too enthusiastic. After all, Old Madam Shen and Second Madam didn’t like it.

However, Shen Xiao and Shen Zikai supported her a lot. They event took out their secret stash of money to help her, making Shen Ziqiao delighted and claiming that they were really her real father and elder brother.

Mid-autumn Festival quickly arrived. All the officials’ madams had to enter the palace and congratulate the empress. Madam Zhou wasn’t summoned, so even if she wanted to enter the palace, she couldn’t. Only Old Madam Shen and Pan Madam were of imperative status.

Pan Madam was dead but even then, Madam Zhou couldn’t be compared to her.

This was the first time Shen Ziqiao entered the palace. She specially went to look for Luo Zhaohua and entered the palace behind Princess Nihong.

Princess Nihong observed Shen Ziqiao up and down.

She wore a shirt with tints of white, green, and pink embroidered with bamboo designs coupled with a tender green pleated skirt. Her hair was brushed into a beautiful bun with a turquoise embedded golden hairpin inserted in it. Her features were exquisite, and she had smooth and fair skin. She was already a beautiful-looking young lady, revealing a cute and exquisite aura.

Princess Nihong nodded in satisfaction. No matter Shen Ziqiao’s personality, she was already lovable.

“The rules in the palace are much more strict than compared to home. You have to think before acting, and you must not walk around or offend other people. There are a lot of influential figures in the palace. There’s nothing wrong with being extra careful…” Princess Nihong earnestly warned Shen Ziqiao and Luo Zhaohua.

Shen Ziqiao listened to her advice and remembered it in her heart.

They quickly got off the horse carriage and arrived at the empress’ Kunde Palace through the celadon sedan chairs.

Kunde Palace was spacious. The two doors opened and the palace maids and eunuchs walked in and out carrying trays. The bustling and cheerful atmosphere immediately caught her eyes.

Shen Ziqiao noticed that the imperial palace was quite similar to the Forbidden City. But with Qi Zheng and Princess Nihong’s advice, she didn’t dare to look around. She could only admire this from the corner of her eyes.

Princess Nihong led her and Luo Zhaohua into the palace.

Luo Zhaohua said softly in Shen Ziqiao’s ears, “Don’t be nervous. You’ve met everyone else besides the empress. Just treat this as a normal banquet.”

Shen Ziqiao returned a quiet faint smile. She’d treat it as going to her boss’ birthday banquet. It was better to stay silent and be on low-profile. Nothing wrong could come from that.

They entered the hall in the palace. Shen Ziqiao saw the woman sitting in the center wearing a bright red golden-silk long dress with her hair pulled up high, revealing her full and smooth forehead. She appeared to be noble and dignified. She had a round and flushed face and she wore a friendly smile.

She was smiling at her.

Shen Ziqiao hurriedly lowered her head, knowing that woman was the empress.

“Your Majesty, I hope you may live a long life and stay happy…” Princess Nihong greeted the empress amiably.

“I’ve been waiting for you. Quickly take a seat.” The empress’ voice was gentle and kind, waving at Princess Nihong for her to sit by her side.

Luo Zhaohua walked over to greet her and respectfully said, “This official’s daughter wishes the empress a blissful and happy life!”

The empress smiled and nodded. She turned around to say to Princess Nihong, “I haven’t seen Zhaohua in a while. She has become more and more beautiful.”

Princess Nihong was being humble and denied her words, but she appeared to be very proud.

“This is Shen Family’s Third Miss?” The empress’ gaze landed on Shen Ziqiao and she observed her with a kind gaze.

Shen Ziqiao kept her head down and walked over to greet her. Her hands were sweating profusely from nervousness. From the corner of her eyes, she only saw a silk mattress under the seat. She said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, I hope that you live a long life and stay forever beautiful. Happy birthday!”

Besides Princess Nihong, the other madams were present too. They had heard things about Shen Ziqiao. Now that they finally saw her and heard her superficial blessings, they covered their mouths and laughed.

The empress smiled and waved her hands at Shen Ziqiao, indicating for her to come amiably. “Come here and let me take a look.”

Shen Ziqiao walked over shyly. She’d never interact with an influential figure like the empress ever before. She was quite nervous.

“You look beautiful.” The empress pulled on Shen Ziqiao’s hands and observed her carefully, revealing a pleased smile.

The empress seemed to really like Shen Ziqiao.

Many looked at each other, not understanding how Third Miss Shen had gotten the empress’ appreciation.

Even Shen Ziqiao found it to be quite bizarre.

Thankfully, the empress didn’t continue to place her attention on her. Shen Ziqiao moved to Luo Zhaohua’s side and asked confusedly, “Am I that lovable?”

Luo Zhaohua rolled her eyes.

Shen Ziqiao wanted to reach over and pinch Luo Zhaohua, but she caught the empress’ gaze inadvertently looking over at them. She quickly stood up straight in shock.

“The crown prince and crown princess are arriving…” The eunuch outside the door hollered.

Oh! The male lead was finally going to appear. She thought that she wasn’t going to be able to see the male lead of the novel in this life, but who knew that she was able to see him today.

Shen Ziqiao looked over to see a noble and elegant young man walking in with an elegant and beautiful woman. The man wore a cyan robe embroidered with dark-colored patterns, making him look gentle. The woman besides him wore a peach-colored brocade silk long dress. The two looked like a great couple together, pleasing to the eyes.

They must be the crown prince and crown princess.

There was no need to confirm how handsome the crown prince was. He was the male lead after all. But the crown princess wasn’t that bad either. She was refreshing to the eyes and had an elegant temperament. She wasn’t any worse than Sheng Peiyin.

However, the crown princess doesn’t seem too well. She looked a bit worried.

Could it be that her relationship with the crown prince had already gone downfall? Shen Ziqiao thought randomly.

“Why didn’t you bring Miao’er over?” The empress asked about her grandson, scolding the crown princess for not bringing him over so that she could take a look.

The crown princess reluctantly smiled. “Mother, Miao’er has a high temperature and the imperial physician said that he can’t get a cold. Therefore, we didn’t bring him over. Mother, please forgive us.”

The empress’ expression became worried and she hurriedly asked, “Is Miao’er okay? Why didn’t a palace maid tell me?”

Her grandson was the eldest grandson, and the empress’ life basically.

When Shen Ziqiao heard this, she knew that they were in a perilous situation.

Imperial grandson! High temperature!

He would suffocate...

She recalled that the crown prince and crown princess’ relationship started going downfall as a result of their son’s death. Sheng Peiyin took this chance to drive a wedge between them. The crown prince ended up being in love with her.

Shen Ziqiao stared at the crown princess, feeling complicated.

This pitiful woman. If Sheng Peiyin wasn’t there, she might not have died.

“Your Majesty, crown prince, the imperial grandson can’t hold on for any longer….”

The empress and the crown princess were just talking about the imperial grandson’s high temperature when they heard the palace maid’s sharp voice.

“What?” The empress’ expression changed and she stood up, panicking.

The crown princess’ face paled, and she swayed back and forth, about to faint. Thankfully, the crown prince caught her in time.

Everyone in the hall and stood up, each worried.

Princess Nihong walked over to hold onto the empress. Saying in a low voice, “Your Majesty, please take care. It’s more important to go check on the imperial grandson right now.”

The empress clenched her teeth and gazed at everyone sternly.

Life in the palace was full of schemes. Who knew how many imperial concubines that had sons were eyeing the position of heir to the throne. Maybe the imperial grandson’s illness was purposely caused by one of them.

“Madams, please stay here.” The empress told Imperial Concubine Xian to take care of the birthday banquet while she went to the east palace with the crown princess.

Princess Nihong followed along too.

Luo Zhaohua pulled on Shen Ziqiao’s hands and followed along. She hurriedly stopped her. “What are you doing?”

“Going to take a look.” Luo Zhaohua said.

“Don’t meddle in other people’s businesses. It’s not suitable for us to go. Let’s just wait here.” Shen Ziqiao knew that this had to do with Sheng Peiyin. She thought that it was better to stay away from them.

Luo Zhaohua glared at her as if saying: you’re telling me that you don’t want to meddle in other people’s businesses when you usually watch shows?

“Xiaohua, we shouldn’t gossip about these things.” Shen Ziqiao knew how risky it was to gossip about the palace matters. She tugged on Luo Zhaohua, not letting her go.

“Zhaohua, Jiao Jiao, come over.” Princess Nihong had walked for a while before looking back to call for them.

Luo Zhaohua tugged Shen Ziqiao firmly and said, “Go, let’s go take a look.”

Shen Ziqiao was pulled to the east palace unwillingly.

The moment they entered, they saw Sheng Peiyin carrying an infant who was covered by the thick blankets tightly and was silently crying. The infant’s cry was weak and quiet, making people’s hearts shatter.

“...He originally recovered, but then got a high temperature again. The imperial physicians could do nothing about it. The imperial grandson refuses to drink milk either. I don’t know what to do.” Sheng Peiyin kneeled in front of the empress, crying pitifully.

She acted as though she cared about the imperial grandson a lot.

“Summon all the imperial physicians over. If they can’t cure my imperial grandson, I’ll have them die with him!” The empress carried him in her arms and started crying.

Even if a divine doctor was summoned here, there was nothing to do. The imperial grandson was one of Sheng Peiyin’s stepping stones. No one could save him.

He was really pitiful.

If he has a fever, how could they make him wear so many clothes? Wouldn’t it be hotter for him?

Kids can only get their fevers reduced by physical means.

She wasn’t a doctor, but she had some nursing knowledge despite only learning it for half a year.

She should not meddle in other people’s businesses! Even if she tried, she might not be able to save the imperial grandson. She was just a cannon fodder. She obviously wouldn’t be as lucky as Sheng Peiyin.

The imperial grandson’s cries beat against Shen Ziqiao’s heart.

“...Is his teeth in the process of growing?” Shen Ziqiao couldn’t help but ask.