The Emperor made no attempt to disguise his favoritism toward the Countess of Shengping, leaving everyone greatly surprised.
What was more astonishing was that on the Duanwu festival, when the Emperor was expected to dine with the Empress Dowager and the Empress, he exchanged only a few words with the Empress Dowager before rising and departing.
This was undoubtedly a slight to both the Empress Dowager and Empress!
Princess Huijia glanced at the silent Countess of Shengping, having an outrageous suspicion that today’s lack of consideration for the Empress Dowager by the Emperor seemed somehow related to the Countess of Shengping.
But, was that possible?
Even if the Emperor valued the Yan Family, valued Yeyang, there was no need for him to compromise the Empress Dowager’s dignity for a mere Countess of Shengping.
Did the Emperor leave because of Daohua?
Of course!
Seeing Daohua with tears welling up in her eyes the moment she set eyes on him, the Emperor instinctively understood the emotions in her gaze.
She was grieving for her mother’s injustice, for the unfairness her mother had suffered!
Just the thought of his mother, whom he hadn’t been able to see one last time, robbed the Emperor of any desire to indulge the Empress Dowager with insincere flattery.
The Emperor’s departure immediately deflated the liveliness of the banquet considerably.
In previous years during Duanwu, the most anticipated part was watching the officials from different regions present their gifts, with the prospect of pleasing the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress and possibly receiving a reward. free𝑤ebnovel.com
The gifts from various regions were naturally rare treasures, but now, with the Emperor’s departure, this part of the event was naturally canceled.
The guests dined absentmindedly, and near the end of the banquet, Eunuch An approached again.
"This humble one offers greetings to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and all the Madams."
The Empress inquired with a smile, "Does the Emperor have any instructions?"
Eunuch An replied with a smile, "The Emperor has summoned the Countess of Shengping."
Upon hearing these words, everyone’s gaze shifted once more to Daohua.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Daohua, speaking faintly, "Since the Emperor has summoned you, Countess of Shengping, you may follow Eunuch An."
Daohua consoled the worried-looking Old Madam Yan and Lady Li with her eyes, then stood up, bowed to the Empress Dowager and Empress, and followed Eunuch An out of the hall.
The onlookers watched Daohua’s departing figure with varied expressions.
...
Walking along the palace’s corridors, Daohua had already snapped out of her melancholy concerning her grandmother. She occasionally glanced at Eunuch An beside her.
Noticing Daohua looking his way, Eunuch An immediately showed a kind smile.
He was the master’s apprentice, the one who had observed mourning for the Old Madam. Despite his humble origins, his place in the Emperor’s heart was no small matter.
Remembering how she had once brazenly encouraged the Emperor to go down to the fields to farm, Daohua felt somewhat uneasy, "Head Eunuch An... no, Eunuch An, what does the Emperor want with me?"
Eunuch An smiled and said, "You will find out once you are there."
Daohua was at a loss for words, as this answer was as good as none. She didn’t feel it was right to ask anything more and silently followed Eunuch An to the Qianqing Palace.
After seeing Daohua enter the grand hall, Eunuch An grasped the longevity lock around his neck for encouragement, which was somewhat amusing.
As Daohua stepped into the grand hall, she saw the Emperor standing with his hands behind his back, silently gazing at a portrait.
Approaching further, Daohua could see clearly that it was the collaborative portrait drawn by Xiao Yeyang for her grandmother, her master, and her great-grandmother.
When the Grand Princess learned about it, her smile was quite forced. Today, she had intended to please the Empress Dowager by deliberately humiliating the Countess of Shengping, but His Majesty’s reaction was entirely beyond her expectations.
Xiao Yeyang received the news earlier on and had been waiting outside the Qianqing Palace. Upon seeing Daohua come out, he hurried over and carefully scrutinized her complexion. Noting that there were still traces of redness around her eyes, his expression darkened immediately.
Daohua, "I’m fine. I was just spoken to in a way that was neither painful nor itchy."
Xiao Yeyang’s lips were tightly pursed as he noted the Grand Princess and the ladies from the Ma Family who had made things difficult for Daohua. He couldn’t directly deal with these people, but their family members... best not make any mistakes!
"Let’s go. I’ll take you out of the palace."
Daohua, "My mother and grandmother are still with the Empress Dowager."
Xiao Yeyang glanced at the sky, "It’s getting late now; they should be dispersing soon. Let’s wait for them at the palace gate."
Not wanting to face the Empress Dowager’s mood, Daohua nodded and walked with Xiao Yeyang towards the palace gate.
From atop the palace wall, Luo Honghao watched the pair walking side by side, his eyes narrowing slightly.
As soon as he heard that the Countess of Shengping had been slighted, Xiao Yeyang had immediately gone to see the Emperor. The urgency of his actions suggested he was far from heartless towards the Countess of Shengping.
If that was the case, would he still keep an Oiran as a mistress?
Remembering that members of the Dong Family had been arrested, and how his grandfather and father had sternly told him to let his brother’s death go, he felt an unbearable sense of frustration.
Dong Yuanyao had not been captured, and not a single member of the Dong Family had died. How could he let it go?
It didn’t take long for Daohua and Xiao Yeyang to see wives of noble families leaving the palace one after another.
Their gazes swept over the two and then landed on the Emperor’s reward.
"Isn’t the Emperor’s reward a bit too generous?"
"It’s his way of telling everyone that he is very pleased with the Countess of Shengping as his niece-in-law."
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