C168

Empress Dowager Wei giggled. "I do want to, but you're the grand imperial concubine after all. How can you always do such arduous things? Even I feel bad about it."

"Serving the empress dowager is your concubine's internal affair. How dare you say it's hard work?" Madame Chen took the Pu'er from the maid and handed it to Empress Dowager Wei.

Empress Dowager Wei took a sip before sighing with emotion. "Although there are many old sisters in the palace, you're the only one who cares about This Dowager."

Madame Chen smiled. "Actually, our sisters have always respected the empress dowager in their hearts. It's just that we don't know how to express it."

Empress Dowager Wei gave a noncommittal smile and took her hand. "I was so engrossed in talking about my son that I forgot to ask my sister. What brings you here today?"

"When the empress dowager didn't mention it, chenqie nearly forgot." Lady Chen beckoned the palace maid who came with her to come forward and took the brocade box. "When the empress dowager told me about the marriage gift yesterday, I was really happy in my heart, even though the internal department would prepare the betrothal gift, I still wanted to prepare it myself. I had prepared it all last night, and like it the most, I wanted to have Dong Mei deliver it to the Pingyang Kingdom once the empress dowager's decree came."

Empress Dowager Wei smiled. "You're even more impatient than This Dowager. Show it to This Dowager."

Madam Chen hurriedly handed over the embroidered box. After she gently opened it, a pair of exquisite cloud pattern hairpins made from purple jade were reflected in her eyes. Yin Qiu also saw them and frowned, "Why do these hairpin servants look so familiar? I think I've seen them before."

Empress Dowager Wei caressed the smooth and wet hairpin and said, "This Dowager remembers that this was bestowed upon Jingfang Temple by the late emperor when he was sixteen years old and established his teething residence." She raised her eyes and looked at Madam Chen. "For all these years, I've never seen you wear it."

Lady Chen smiled. "Purple jade is rare, and chenqie was not wearing it since she was quite young. Now she is giving it to Chang Rong, and having such a fine mind, I'm not sure if Chang Rong likes it, so I came to ask the empress dowager."

"How could she not like the things you reward?" Empress Dowager Wei handed the brocade box back to her. "This pair of hairpins should have been bestowed upon you by the late emperor for your most precious items. The late emperor …" I've treated you badly. "

"It's all in the past now, why else would the empress dowager come? Besides …" Madam Chen raised her head and smiled. "Doesn't chenqie still have the empress dowager's pity?"

"You!" Empress Dowager Wei clapped her hands with a smile. "This Dowager has already told the emperor. Your son must arrange this grand marriage properly. You mustn't be lonely."

"Many thanks, empress dowager." Madam Chen thanked him gratefully. After accompanying Empress Dowager Wei for a while, she left Ning Xi Palace and was supported by palace maids back to Jingfang Pavilion.

Dongfang Wenshui was anxiously waiting for her. When he saw her enter, he hurried over. "Mufei, what did the empress dowager say?"

Mrs. Chen ignored him and walked straight to the middle chair, where she sat down. Dong Mei took the warm stove and placed it in her cold hands. Dongfang Gu realized that he was asking too quickly, so he forced himself to stand aside.

After his hands recovered some warmth, Madam Chen cast him a sidelong glance. "Do you know what happens to those who go against the empress dowager?"

Dongfang Qin's hands under his sleeves tightened slightly as he lowered his head and said, "This son knows that I shouldn't have done this, but I absolutely cannot marry Shen Xijun!"

Madam Chen stared at him for a moment, "You haven't put it down yet?"

A trace of pain flashed through Dongfang Yi's eyes as he lowered his eyes and said, "Regardless of whether I put it down or not, this son will never marry Shen Xijun!"

Madame Chen heaved a long sigh. "Mufei knows that you don't like Shen Xijun. When the empress dowager spoke of him yesterday, I was taken aback, but the empress dowager's heart was firm. This marriage …" She shook her head. "Shou'er, you should listen to the empress dowager's arrangements."

"As long as there is no decree, there is still a chance. Chang Rong is arrogant and willful, and he does whatever he wants. He is definitely not a good match for me."

Madam Chen's gaze lingered on his face, "I'm afraid that no matter how good a woman is, she is not a good match in your eyes. You should know that Your Majesty has already promised Emissary Xi Chu that she won't allow Mu Qianxue to marry him.

Dongfang Zhi tightly pursed his lips. His eyes were as black as ink. "This matter concerns this son's life. I ask that mufei allow this son to decide for himself."

"Mufei will naturally agree, but the empress dowager … "Hai." Lady Chen pulled him up and said faintly, "Mufei knows that marrying ChangRong has wronged you, but this is the empress dowager's intention, so we can't refuse. Fortunately, ChangRong is sincere to you, so after getting married, he'll restrain his temper and not act as he does now …"

"No matter how she changes, this son will never marry her. This son will go to Ning Xi Palace now and ask the empress dowager to take back her orders!"

Back to me!" This time, Mrs. Chen's tone became more serious, and her normally gentle features became somewhat cold. She walked over to the burning charcoal and threw the Su-jin handkerchief into the brazier, and the tiny spark of starlight quickly turned into a greedy tongue of flame. It rolled the handkerchief into the brazier and chewed it in the flames, emitting a smell of burning hair. When the flames subsided, the handkerchief was no longer there, only bits of charred charcoal scattered around the brazier.

"Ning Longevity Palace is just like this charcoal brazier. It looks like there's no wind or waves, and it won't hurt anyone, but once you touch something you shouldn't have, it'll burn your bones to nothing. You're mufei's only child, mufei doesn't want you to get hurt, do you understand?" In the past half year, the Chen family had more or less told him some things, so these words were not too sudden.

After a moment of silence, Dongfang Wenshui spoke in a low voice, "So mufei wants me to be like a puppet and be at the mercy of others. Can't I even make decisions for myself?"

Lady Chen met his gaze and said word by word, "At the very least, before you have the ability to shake off the raging inferno, you can only tolerate it!"

Dongfang Qin took a deep breath and said stubbornly, "I can listen to mufei on any matter, except this one …"

"How's this one? Don't you want to hear it?" Madam Chen said coldly, "Do you think that once the fire breaks out, you will be the only one to be burned? Wrong. Everyone who is related to you will be involved, including Dong Mei, mufei and … Mu Qianxue! "

Dongfang Qing's expression changed drastically as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. That's right, with Empress Dowager Wei's skills, she'd be fine if she didn't make a move. But once she did, how could he let mufei go?

Looking at his pale face, Madam Chen knew that he was aware of the importance of this matter. She said gently, "Qing'er, just treat it as bearing a grudge for mufei's sake, okay? "Maybe Xu Changgrong isn't as bad as you think."

How could she like Shen Xijun, her wife? However, if she was stronger than others, even if she disliked him, she could only accept it. In fact, she even had to pretend to be happy.