The Phoenix Carriage stopped at the entrance of the Imperial Palace.
Eunuch De quickly descended from the carriage behind and stood beside the Phoenix Carriage, "Fourth Miss, we’ve arrived!"
Shi Jiayu and Ru Yue got off the Phoenix Carriage first.
They respectfully helped Yun Jinnian alight from the Phoenix Carriage and enter through the Palace gates, where a sedan chair awaited on the side.
"Fourth Miss, please!" Eunuch De said respectfully, waiting for Yun Jinnian to get on the sedan chair before following by its side.
This time, Shi Jiayu, Ru Yue, Hemei, and Henuan could only walk beside the sedan chair. Although the sun was not very strong, the noon heat in September was still somewhat hot.
They quickly broke into a sweat.
Along the way, Palace Maids and eunuchs paid their respects with great reverence.
The group could also sense the solemnity and majesty of the Imperial Palace. Upon arriving at the Empress’s Weiyang Palace, an old matron dressed in satin immediately greeted them, "This old servant pays her respects to Fourth Miss Yun!"
Yun Jinnian hurriedly performed a curtsy, "I pay my respects to the Matron!"
"Fourth Miss is too polite. Everyone in the Palace simply calls this old servant Mama Ma!" Mama Ma said, giving Yun Jinnian a friendly smile.
"Mm!" Mama Ma nodded, her smile brimming as she led Yun Jinnian into the main hall of Weiyang Palace.
Inside the main hall, the Empress was holding scissors to arrange a pot of flowers. When she saw Yun Jinnian come in, she smiled, "Jinnian has come. Take a look at this; I am not certain how to trim these flowers. Come and give me some advice!"
Yun Jinnian curtseyed again and approached the Empress’s side with a gentle smile, examining the plant for a moment before saying, "Empress, this flower is already quite beautiful; there’s no need for further trimming. But if you insist on trimming, then remove this one blossom."
Yun Jinnian’s slender hand pointed out.
The Empress heeded the suggestion and, after a brief moment of thought, took the scissors and snipped away the blossom, examining the results carefully. She smiled and said, "With that one gone, the whole pot of flowers seems more spirited. I will have it sent to your quarters later. Take it with you when you leave the Palace to enjoy and tend to!"
"Thank you for the gracious gift, Empress!" Yun Jinnian curtseyed once more.
The Empress chuckled, "You, my dear, know your manners far better than Mimi does. That girl acts so wildly. Every visit she makes to the Palace ends up giving me a headache!"
While the Empress spoke, her eyes revealed an unabashed fondness.
She did not have children of her own and doted on Dai Hanmi as if she were her own daughter. Dai Hanmi chirped away happily like a magpie, which the Empress found delightful.
"Mimi is a joyful person; I really like her!"
The Empress smiled, pulling Yun Jinnian to sit down beside her, studying her closely, "You seem to be in better health than before. Have you fully recovered?"
"Yes, I’m completely well now!"
"That’s good to hear. The side palace has been prepared for you. Mimi also stays there when she visits. I’m sure she will be coming to the Palace in a few days, too. Then you two can stay together and keep each other company!"
"Yes!" Yun Jinnian quickly responded.
She was thrilled at the thought of living with Dai Hanmi.
"You were summoned to the Palace in such a rush, please be understanding. The Emperor..." The Empress paused, finding it improper to say that the Prince Consort’s wife had sent a woman to the Emperor, and that he couldn’t control himself last night, doting on the woman to the point of wild indulgence, tormenting her to the brink of death with her bitter pleas for mercy, which the Emperor callously ignored until she passed out. In the end, it was Eunuch Hai who pushed two Palace Maids into the dragon bed, which finally allowed the Emperor to vent his needs. Right now, he’s lying on the dragon bed, utterly exhausted.
Though she held great contempt inside, it didn’t show on her face at all. She spoke gently, "You should go freshen up; I will take you to the Emperor later to detoxify him!"