Nan Jiu was taken aback for a moment when he met Xia's smiling eyes, but then he slightly raised the corners of his lips: "Xia... Miss Xia." Even if he wanted to call her Miao Miao, he knew that with the Empress Dowager by their side, he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

  But she smiled at herself so gently, unlike usual, was she ready to accept herself? Perhaps, in fact, she was also that special one for her own sake.

  "The Empress Dowager is biased towards favoring the eldest brother, why doesn't she care about me, her son?" Seeing Nan Yunxuan's embarrassed expression, Nan Yike didn't want to make things unpleasant with the usually close imperial uncle because of Ye Ruxue, so he turned his head and began to act cute in front of the Empress Dowager.

  The Empress Dowager, being of advanced age, loved the feeling of having her children and grandchildren around her. Nan Yi Xie had always been sweet-tongued, able to make her love him a little more. Seeing him act coquettishly like this, she couldn't help but laugh as she glared at him: "Look at you, does this have anything to do with the demeanor of an imperial son? And when has Ah Jia ever been biased? If I really was biased, how could I have dissolved your engagement?" Can't she see through him already? Just from the look of disgust he gave Ye Ru Shuang, it's clear that he must have wanted to dissolve the engagement long ago. Wasn't her actions this time just catering to his wishes?

  Nan Yi didn't show any embarrassment, but instead smiled and said: "The Empress Dowager has always been kind to me, isn't this just a good opportunity for you to laugh more since we haven't seen each other in a while? On the contrary, I don't know what kind of spiritual medicine or elixir the Empress Dowager has taken, but she still looks as beautiful as a flower, which really surprises me!"

  The Empress Dowager was only in her forties, not yet at an age where she no longer cared about her appearance. Being praised by Nan Yi's flattery, she couldn't help but reveal a smile, pointing directly at him and shaking her head: "You, you're still so smooth-tongued! I'm already at this age, how can I still be described as 'beautiful as a flower'?" Although she said so, in her heart, she couldn't help but feel pleased.

  The empress dowager's face lit up with a smile, and Nan Yi Ze hastily raised his hands in a gesture of sincerity: "Your Majesty is wise and discerning! In the imperial court of Xia, who can compare to your noble status? Your demeanor is unmatched by anyone! Moreover, what's wrong with being as beautiful as a flower? I think you, Empress Dowager, are indeed as lovely as a flower. Compared to other women, they seem so... petty!" Seeing the empress dowager's delighted smile, he directly asked Xia Tian Meng, "Meng, don't you agree?"

  Xia Tian Miao smiled and held the empress dowager's arm, her face serious as she echoed: "That's right, looks are easy to age, but what's more important is bearing. Your bearing is unmatched by anyone! Even I, a humble woman, look at you with boundless admiration, hoping to learn from you and benefit from it for the rest of my life!"

  The Empress Dowager heard Xia Tian Meng say this, and she was overjoyed, pulling her hand: "Good, you all have such sweet mouths, how can I not reward you?" She then turned to Zhang Mama who was waiting behind her and said, "Go get the things I've prepared, how could I let you come here empty-handed!"

  Xiatian Meng slightly furrowed her brow and smiled: "If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager says so, isn't it saying that I, 'the girl', and the Second Prince are just trying to please you? This is a grievance! Every word is true, from the bottom of my heart!"

  Nan Yi nodded repeatedly: "That's right!"

  The Empress Dowager listened with pleasure and didn't say anything else, but instead looked at Nan Jiu who had been silent since the ceremony: "How is your body now, Xiao Jiu?" Among her several grandsons, although she said they were all equal, she still had some biases. For example, she loved Nan Li and Nan Yi more, while Nan Jiu was not as deeply valued by her. Not because of anything else, but because Nan Jiu's mother, the favored Consort Liang, was not to her liking. Nan Jiu also rarely spoke, among the three brothers, he was the most silent, so naturally she didn't pay much attention to him either.

  She is still gentle as she is the emperor's daughter after all.

  Nan Jiu slightly stunned, straightened her body and slightly cupped her hands: "Replying to the Empress Dowager, everything is well with your child."

  Although it's only been three days since he was stabbed, thanks to the hospital's full treatment and the emperor's reward of 'medicine', his body hasn't fully recovered, but simple walking is no longer a problem.

  The Empress Dowager heard Nan Jiu say this, and slightly restrained her smile, nodding lightly: "Take good care of your body." In her opinion, Nan Jiu had no problem going to the battlefield to kill enemies, and this time it was just a minor injury. It's just that the Emperor has always valued Old Nine, which is why he rewarded him so lavishly.

  In the summer, Mo looked at Nan Jiu's pale face and saw that he was still weak. He thought about how in the original story, without his own variable, Nan Jiu hadn't been injured before the Wan Shou Festival, and it was only him who had single-handedly foiled Amur's assassination attempt during the palace banquet, protecting Emperor Wei and Empress Dowager. Now that Nan Jiu was seriously injured, he couldn't possibly play that role again, so wouldn't the palace banquet be very unsafe?

  Maybe she should think of another way...

  The night that had never been called up, like frost, glanced at Xia Tian Meng with a smile, and only felt hatred. Why could she be high above and get attention from others, while he had to kneel under her feet in such humiliation? Why?

  She clenched her fists tightly and told herself in her heart: It doesn't matter, Ye Rong, you must rise up! You must return everything others have given to you tenfold or even a hundredfold!

  She won't be inferior to others forever!

  Thinking so, he involuntarily looked at the always-standing Nan Qi, who was still like a warm jade emitting temperature.

  Perhaps she should speed up and find a safe haven for herself.

  Horizontal line——

  After the Empress Dowager finally glanced at Ye Ruoxin, who had been kneeling for so long that her legs were numb, and told her to leave, if it weren't for Nan Yunxuan offering his hand to support her, she probably wouldn't have been able to stand up.

  The empress dowager frowned, displeased: "Sixth Brother, what are you doing?! Zhang Mama, take Ye Sansao out." Even though Ye Ruxue and Xiao Er no longer had a marriage arrangement, she would never allow a woman like Ye Ruxue to marry into the imperial family! She had promised Sixth Brother's mother that she would raise him well, but if he were to marry such a woman, how could she face his mother in the afterlife?

  Nan Yunxuan couldn't help it and also knew that he had no relationship with Ye Ruxue now, so he really couldn't get close to her and could only silently withdraw his hand.

  "Miss Ye San, let's go." Zhang Ya grabbed Ye Ruoxue's arm with both hands and directly pulled her out.

  Ye Feng felt a sharp pain in her arm and couldn't help but glare at Zhang Niangniang. This dead woman actually dared to treat her like this! She was just a dog kept by the Empress Dowager, after all! Once she gained power, she would definitely make Zhang Niangniang wish she were dead!

  Zhang's eyes caught a glimpse of Ye Ruxue's sinister gaze, but she pretended not to see it. In her opinion, Ye Ruxue only had the ability to harbor hatred in his heart.

  At the entrance, he saw Qing Luan who had been waiting there all along, and directly pushed Ye Ruoxin over to her. With a fake smile on his face but not in his eyes, he said, "Goodbye, Miss Ye." Without even looking at her again, he turned around and left.

  Qing Luan hastily supported Ye Ruxue, seeing her own young lady in such a weak state, and then seeing Zhang Yiniang's completely unceremonious behavior, she knew that the Empress Dowager must be dissatisfied with her own young lady, only she was really foolish and didn't know why.

  "Miss..." Qing Luan muttered to herself, not knowing what to say. She couldn't understand why Miss, who was no longer foolish, seemed even more clueless about human relationships than before! In the past, although Miss's brain wasn't clear, she at least knew when to keep quiet in certain situations, and the few times she entered the palace were completely well-behaved and silent. But now that Miss's brain was clear, she kept doing things that were 'mixed up'...

  Ye Ru Shuang didn't know about Qing Luan's entanglement, she just furrowed her brow and coldly gazed at the already deserted gate, saying: "You're relying on others for support! This young lady will definitely make her regret it!" But this 'her' was unclear whether it referred to Zhang Mama or also included the Empress Dowager.

  Qing Lian's face turned slightly pale, but she still remained silent.

  Miss, speaking like this at the gate of Cining Palace, doesn't she know what it means to be careful? It's just that Miss has always disliked her interfering in her affairs, so it's better not to provoke Miss' displeasure.

  "Miss, shall we go find the older sisters?"

  "Where did they go?" Ye Feng's eyebrows slightly raised.

  Qing Luan slightly pursed her lips and replied: "It's at Princess Yu'e's place in Cuilin Building..." Princess Yu'e was the king's consort's own elder sister, and when the king's consort was still alive, they had a very close relationship. However, after the king's consort passed away, the young lady became foolish, and Princess Yu'e hadn't seen her for a long time. It seemed that now she might be closer to the older sisters than the young lady. Nevertheless, since Princess Yu'e was also related by blood to the young lady, if the young lady really went to stay with her and spent more time together, Princess Yu'e should still treat the young lady well.

  Lady Moon is not particularly favored in the harem, but at least she is one of the nine consorts. It's good that Miss has a 'close' relationship with her for the future.

  Ye Feng heard the words, but just coldly snorted: "Don't know. Forget it, let's just wait here at the 'gate'." Rather than going with Ye Zi Su and the others to curry favor with a concubine, it was better to wait for Nan Xi here. Her time was limited, and at least today after canceling the engagement with Nan Yi Xie and returning home, she would definitely not be met with a good face, while Nan Xi was now her only reliable protective shield!

  Qing Luan opened his mouth, wanting to say something but remained silent instead.

  She knew Miss's character, once she made up her mind about something good, she wouldn't tolerate others' opposition. Even if she tried to persuade Miss now, no matter how much, she couldn't make Miss go see Princess Yueliang, on the contrary, it might even seem unnecessary.

  She slightly lowered her head, looking at the smooth and hurried bluestone on the ground, and she inexplicably felt tired.

  Perhaps in the past, the young lady was silly and naive but innocent, while now... she always inexplicably gives people a chill.

  It's like... a long sword that has already left its scabbard.

  Sharpness is revealed

  Horizontal line——

  "Big brother, you go first!"

  Nan Yunxuan had just walked out of the temple gate when he saw Nan Yike and wanted to go up and say a few words, but then heard Nan Yike bid farewell to Nan Que and turn around to leave.

  He looked at Nan Yi Xun's back and sighed slightly, why did he know that Xiao Er would be unhappy but still insisted on being so stubborn with Ye Ru Shuang.

  Didn't he always think of women as clothes before?