The Empress was slightly taken aback, and then she laughed, "Please let Eunuch An come in!"
Eunuch An had served by the side of the Empress Dowager for many years, and in the palace, his relationships were complex and intertwined; moreover, he was very vengeful and could not easily be offended.
When Eunuch An entered the grand hall, he paid his respects to the Empress, "Empress, may you be forever safe, this slave was ordered to deliver a gift to the Fourth Miss!"
"Mama Ma, please take Eunuch An over!"
Mama Ma and Eunuch An had some acquaintance with each other, and they spoke softly along the way, agreeing on the difficulties of the Empress Dowager.
They also complimented Eunuch An on his hard work.
In fact, they had Eunuch An beaming with happiness, incessantly expressing his modesty.
When they arrived at the side hall.
Shaoyao came out to greet them, and seeing Eunuch An, she quickly performed a curtsey and said, "Greetings, Eunuch An, greetings, Mama Ma!"
"Shaoyao, Eunuch An has come on behalf of the Empress Dowager to deliver a gift to the Fourth Miss, please ask the Fourth Miss to come out and receive the reward," said Mama Ma with a gentle voice.
Shaoyao entered the small hall with a curtsey and saw Yun Jinnian grinding medicinal herbs, she whispered, "Fourth Miss, the Empress Dowager has bestowed a gift upon you, and Eunuch An has brought it over, please go and receive your reward!"
"You said the Empress Dowager bestowed a gift on me?"
Yun Jinnian was baffled, "Why?"
Even if a reward was to be given, shouldn’t it be after the Emperor had been cured?
"The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted, Fourth Miss, please follow this servant quickly, so as not to keep Eunuch An waiting!"
She stood up and walked out of the small hall, and when she saw Eunuch An, Yun Jinnian frowned slightly.
In this Imperial Palace, there were still many people she knew.
For example, the Eunuch An in front of her; although he was extremely petty and vengeful, when she initially entered the palace as Empress, the Empress Dowager had passed away, and Eunuch An’s days were not very pleasant. He had secretly wanted to align with her, but at that time she was muddle-headed, pitifully stupid, and pushed away someone who could have planted chess pieces throughout the Imperial Palace.
Although Zhu Yan later tried to win him over, he had refused her, and in the end, he died by Zhu Yan’s hand.
Collecting her thoughts, Yun Jinnian greeted Eunuch An with a slight bow, "Eunuch An!"
Eunuch An also scrutinized Yun Jinnian carefully, his eyes lighting up immediately.
His family had the skill of fortune-telling by facial features, nothing particularly outstanding, but enough to discern one’s fortunes.
And before him, Yun Jinnian, the Fourth Miss, was enveloped in an aura of prosperity, not quite a phoenix yet resembling one, and thinking back to when he had seen the Empress, her phoenix aura had waned.
Could it be that the Empress was going to encounter trouble?
And that this Yun Jinnian, the Fourth Miss, would eventually preside over the Eastern Palace?
"Fourth Miss, you needn’t be too formal, this slave cannot bear such a courtesy, I am ordered to bring a gift for you, the Fourth Miss, all the items are here; please accept them first. The Empress Dowager said that when the Emperor recovers, there will be an additional reward!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Jinnian was about to kneel to express her gratitude.
Eunuch An hurriedly said, "The Empress Dowager instructed me on my way here, saying that it suffices for the Fourth Miss to curtsey without needing to perform the full formalities!"
Such a manner of bestowal was very rare indeed.
Yun Jinnian understood the Empress Dowager’s intentions.
It was nothing more than wanting her to earnestly solve the Emperor’s poisoning.
"Yes, this servant thanks the Empress Dowager for the reward!" said Yun Jinnian, bowing slightly.
With his task completed, Eunuch An smiled, waiting for Yun Jinnian to reward him.
However, it seemed Yun Jinnian didn’t quite understand and was a bit perplexed, yet she bore no grudge—an innocent child indeed, unaware of such matters.
Especially since this Fourth Miss was to have great fortune in the future, as the Empress Dowager’s health declined year by year, he too needed to find his place in this palace!
"Then, this slave will take his leave first!"
However, Yun Jinnian suddenly spoke, "Eunuch An..."