C164

Empress Dowager Wei wiped away the wriggling tears on her face and said solemnly, "I hope that doing so won't harm you."

Shen Xi Jun anxiously said: "No! It's definitely not! "

Empress Dowager Wei smiled but didn't say anything in response to her words. After leaving Shen Xijun for lunch, she got someone to send her out.

Empress Dowager Wei rested for two hours every afternoon, and this day was no exception. After Yin Qiu served the empress dowager with a change of clothes, she couldn't help but ask, "Empress Dowager, did you really decide to give up the marriage between Prince Rui and Zong Ji?"

Empress Dowager Wei cast her a sidelong glance and said indifferently, "Why? You don't agree?"

"This servant dares not." Yin Qiu lowered her head and replied, "I am only worried that I will regret it in the future because of Zong Ji's marriage."

Empress Dowager Wei extended her hand to slowly caress the soft, seemingly devoid of anything, and said indifferently, "You and This Dowager have already advised her to do so, but she insisted on taking this path. Even if she regrets it in the future, it's still her own business."

Yin Qiu hid behind the blanket and whispered, "This servant understands, but in the end …" "It's a pity."

"There's nothing to feel sorry for." After a pause, Empress Dowager Wei said indifferently, "This is just the right opportunity for This Dowager to try your luck with your son."

"King Rui?" Yin Qiu's eyebrows twitched as she asked in puzzlement, "What's wrong with him?"

"King Xin, King Rong, and King An are all rebellious individuals, but... Those who refuse to take things seriously, are they really the only ones here? "

Yin Qiu's eyebrows twitched. She said in a low voice, "Prince Rui and his mother have always been well-behaved. They shouldn't be like Xin Wang and the others."

"Knowing people's faces and not knowing their hearts, it's always better to be careful." At this point, Empress Dowager Wei frowned. "Besides, so many things have happened recently. This Dowager's heart isn't always at peace."

Yin Qiu nodded and then thought of another matter. "Empress Dowager, is the matter of Princess Xuanji really done just like that?"

Empress Dowager Wei let out a faint sigh. "The emperor has already agreed to envoy Xi Chu. If I were to give him another marriage, wouldn't that be discrediting him?"

"That's true." After speaking, Yin Qiu reprimanded him lightly, "This Emperor Chu is indeed bold. His strength is far inferior to my Great Zhou. How dare he threaten His Majesty?"

"Although Xiao Ruo Ao isn't strong, he knows how to borrow power. With a monarch like him in the West Chu, it would be hard for him not to rise to prominence. However, this matter has made one thing certain for This Dowager."

Yin Qiu removed the water jade glass armor on her finger while asking, "What's the matter?"

Empress Dowager Wei slowly said, "Xizhi Zhisheng, and Xunji … It's not a big deal. "

Yin Qiu understood, "Indeed, if Princess Xuanji really is a world-shocking talent, then the messenger sent by the Chu Emperor will not give up. Since she is untalented, it doesn't matter whether she is in our hands or not."

"That's the truth." Empress Dowager Wei's hands gradually calmed down, her eyes closed. Before she took a rest, she urged, "Remember to send the good luck to Zheng Fei, then head to the Ministry of Rites and the imperial overseer and ask them to come see me tomorrow morning."

Yin Qiu replied, then said, "Chen Imperial Concubine is the birth mother of King Rui, do you want this servant to tell her?"

Empress Dowager Wei thought for a moment before nodding. "That's fine too. We'll do as you say."

"Yes." Yin Qiu gently closed the curtain and walked to the long table next to the window, breathing evenly. She added a spoonful of snow-white white sandalwood that was like a snowflake drifting down from outside the hall into the mismatched gold mountain furnace, and the smoke that was originally a little faint once again became denser, wisps upon wisps, like an invisible net, enveloping every corner of the hall.

Snow, falling wantonly, a vast expanse of whiteness, became the only color in the world, snowflakes like spring day in the wind of the willow catkins.

Shen Xijun was in an exceptionally good mood after receiving Empress Dowager Wei's approval. From time to time, she would extend her hand out of the umbrella rafters, catch the falling snowflakes, and blow them out with great force, causing them to fall back into the boundless snow.

The maid saw that her hands were red from the cold: "Be careful not to freeze."

"I'm fine." Shen Xijun casually replied. When she once again blew the snow out of her palm, a crisp voice entered her ears, "Big Sister Shen."

Shen Xijun's gaze pierced through the swirling snow and saw a petite figure. She said in astonishment, "Pingqing?"

Zhao Pingqing stepped forward and bent down on her knees. "Pingqing greets Sister Shen."

"Sister, no need to be so polite." A hint of obscure surprise flashed through Zhao Pingqing's eyes. Although she and Shen Xijun were rather good friends, the latter had an esteemed status and received the favor of the empress dowager. This was not good for her, and this was the first time she was being amiable like this.

Zhao Pingqing was young, but her thoughts were not shallow. "Is Sister Shen here to pay respects to the empress dowager?" he asked calmly.

Shen Xijun nodded and said, "Yes, I just received a prescription to cure cough, so I'm here to inform Aunt."

Zhao Pingqing fawned on her. "Big sister is so filial and kind to the empress dowager. No wonder the empress dowager dotes on big sister and treats you like her own flesh."

These words made Shen Xijun enjoy it. The smile on her face grew even wider as she asked, "Then why did you enter the palace?"

"Empress Dowager Zheng has a dragon embryo, so I came with mother to visit. Mother is still talking to the Empress right now, and I heard that the Plum Blossom is blooming very well. I wanted to go take a look, but coincidentally met big sister." With that, she continued, "Elder sister, if you're not in a hurry to leave the Li Palace, why don't we go take a look together? I heard that this year's gardeners have brought many rare species, including Bessita Evening Water and Pure White Pavilion."

Shen Xijun said in surprise, "I've heard of these two kinds of plum blossoms before. It's just that the soil in the Jinling City isn't suitable for them to grow. So I've never seen them before."

The so-called Biceros Evening Water and Pure White Pavilion were all types of plum blossoms. They were extremely rare, and they only grew in certain places, and in extremely small amounts. As for the pure white pavilion, the flowers had the same name as well as pure white flowers, and the petals had the same layer upon layer overlapping each other in a very delicate and pretty manner.

"Since elder sister is interested, then let's go together and enjoy the plum in the snow. Don't have any interest." Under Zhao Pingqing's invitation, Shen Xijun agreed and headed to the forest.

After walking for a while, Zhao Pingqing smiled, "You seem to be in a good mood today."

Shen Xijun's lips curved up into a smile as she sucked in a deep breath of cold air, "That's right. In these 18 years, my mood has never been as good as it is today."

Zhao Pingqing was surprised. She smiled and said, "It seems there is a good thing. Can you tell me about it?"

"Empress Dowager …" Two red clouds flew up on Shen Xijun's fair face, "We have already agreed to give her a marriage!"