The Promotion Record of a Crown Princess

73- 79: A Qualified Empress

When "my illness" recovered, I went to visit the Grand Empress Dowager. The amicable Grand Empress Dowager beckoned me forward, and patted my back, "You have grown quite thin these past few days. You need to take care of yourself."

I lowered my head in submission and slightly nodded.

The Grand Empress Dowager then said, "The war is going on in Yunxi and the Emperor is still young. You know how careless he could be with his body when he was busy. Your Majesty should pay more attention to his wellbeing."

I again nodded, but deep down, I knew that he would be fine. With Jiang shi inside the Da Ming Palace, he would be taken good care of. But I didn't dare say this out loud. If the Grand Empress Dowager should find out that the vixen who screwed up Zhao wang was now at Qi Sheng's side, she would probably go to Da Ming Palace herself to rid the Emperor of the bad influence.

Only this time, the way she would go about doing that would be much more severe.

The old lady kept nagging for a long time before she released me so that I could go visit the Empress Dowager. But before I went there, the Grand Empress Dowager smiled and said, "The other day, the Empress Dowager mentioned about your cousin. She said that she heard the girl is not only pretty, but also a woman of good character, and she wanted her to marry Lord Ninth. When you go there today, she is bound to ask after that girl. Don't be modest and just tell her the truth. I also wanted to see Lord Ninth marrying a good woman."

I understood her insinuation and nodded submissively, "Will do."

When I reached the palace of the Empress Dowager, she asked about Zhang Ling's daughter as expected. But instead of consulting me on this matter, she said it in such way that suggested she had already made up her mind and she also told me that she had ordered the girl to be brought here. She hoped that when the girl reached the court, I would accompany her as her elder sister. 

The whole thing was going exactly the way Qi Sheng had planned it.

Thought a bit disappointed by how Bathroom Lord had given up on me, I immediately shook off that feeling and thought that it was only natural for a young man to make a mistake by trying to cut his loss.

But the problem was how to fix this mistake!

By the time I went back to Xing Sheng Palace, I found that Lv Li was already waiting there.

After the initial shock, my first instinct was to have people send her away. It was pretty bold for her to just show up here like this!

But Lv Li simply kneeled down to do me a courtesy and said, "Long live Your Majesty."

I noticed the slight difference in the way she greeted me and realized that she was greeting me in a way how a lady would greet the Empress. Judging by this, I reckoned she had already accepted her status as Zhao wang's lady. So, I smiled and asked, "Why are you here?"

Lv Li, with lowered head, groaned, "The Emperor summoned Zhao wang and I wanted to come along, because I have been missing Your Majesty."

Her voice was stable, but I could clearly see that tears were streaking down her face and onto the ground near her feet, forming a small wet spot.

I sighed, trying to take out a handkerchief for her to wipe the tears, but I just couldn't find it. So, I stretched my hands to Xie Yi for the handkerchief and gave it to Lv Li, "Why are you crying? Do I look like I am not well?"

Upon hearing that, Lv Li suddenly burst out crying while using the handkerchief to muffle her voice.

Not knowing how to stop her, I wanted to wait it out. But a good while had passed and there was no sign of her letting up, and so I suddenly turned my head to the direction of the palace entrance and yelled, "Your Majesty!"