His Majesty And I ✔️

Hidden Skeletons

Chapter 41

Grand Dowager Empress Wu
Rose Flower Palace

"Your Highness, that servant from Hougong has come to see you." The Court Lady disturbed her mistress from the book she was reading.

"Let her in."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Grand Dowager Empress put aside her book and sipped on her tea. It was getting cold so she raised it up for the Court Lady Assistant to replace it. In her readiness to attend to her mistress, the Court Lady Assistant picked the white teapot decorated with red drawings of roses, and refilled the cup.

"This servant greets the Grand Dowager Empress Wu." A maid bowed.

The Grand Dowager Empress nodded. "What is your name?"

"Ni Ni, Your Highness."

"Ni Ni?" The Grand Dowager scrutinised the maid. "Why did Lady Wei not come for her celebration?"

"She told Maid Ai that she was not well to attend."

"What was the problem? Is she pregnant?"

"This servant does not think so."

Li Lian made everyone appear at the celebration of her promotion when she did not plan to attend it. Even Shen Hong was not aware of this because he himself also pitched up.

Surprisingly, when it was announced that Li Lian would not be attending, he did not throw tantrums as usual. He just excused himself.

"Did His Majesty visit her?"

"Yes, Your Highness. They spent time together and laughter could be heard from the inside."

This Li Lian was using such lowly methods to get Shen Hong's attention. Even at the expense of the Grand Dowager looking like a fool, attending a ceremony when the honorable person was not coming.

"They spent a lot of time together, His Majesty was late for his next meeting with the scholars."

"Is that so?" The Grand Dowager smirked. "By how long?"

"Half an hour, Your Highness."

Grand Dowager Empress Wu looked at her court lady. "Have Li Lian ordered to kneel in the garden for an hour for delaying His Majesty from his duty. I must set an example to the other women and have her reminded who leads the Inner Court."

It was disrespectful for Li Lian not to come to the tea party today, but Grand Dowager could not punish her for that because His Majesty was there and did not do it himself. It would be seen as if the Grand Dowager was undermining him if she fussed on the matter. However, ensnaring the emperor from his duty was a rule of the Inner Court that Li Lian broke. This, she could be punish Li Lian for.

"Also have an eunuch standing by her to answer any woman who asks why she is being punished. They must know how I'm serious about discipline in the Inner Court."

"Yes, Your Highness." The Court Lady gave her assistant court lady an eye to indicate that she should leave and attend to the order.

"What else Ni Ni? What have you gathered since the day I planted you in her quarters?"

"Lady Wei normally keeps to herself, she only trusts Dao and Ai when she wishes to share her heart."

"Did you also look around?"

"Yes, and this servant found this." She pulled out a small box of chestnut wood, the size of her small fist.

"What is that?" The Grand Dowager waved for the Court Lady to take the box and open it. Inside was a crushed orange-brown substance, which the Court Lady examined by rubbing in her hands and sniffing.