Chapter 709: 331 See Through (Two Updates)_4 Chapter 709: 331 See Through (Two Updates)_4 Xiao Liulang’s eyes were deep and calm, like an unfathomable abyss under the moonlit night.
Empress Dowager Jing had moved to the nunnery before Xiao Liulang was born. This was his first time seeing her.
The reason he could confirm that she was indeed the woman he thought she was, there was no second woman in the entire Imperial Palace who dressed as she did.
Xiao Liulang gave a bow, then turned and left the Huaqing Palace.
Eunuch Wei came over with a smile on his face, holding the jade ornament,.”Empress Dowager, your jade ornament has been found. It was picked up by Xiao Xiuzhuan in the Imperial Garden.”
Empress Dowager Jing looked at Xiao Liulang’s retreating figure and murmured, “Xiao, Xiuzhuan?”
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Xiao Liulang first attended his duties at the Hanlin Academy for half a day. When his duties were over, he didn’t immediately return to Bishui Alley, but paid a visit to the Minghui Hall at the Guozijian.
“Alright, you can leave now.” The old ritual server spared Zheng Siye from his punishment.
Zheng Siye felt as if he received a royal pardon. No matter how much he resented Xiao Liulang in the past, in this moment he was looking forward to his arrival. After all, only when Xiao Liulang came, the old ritual server didn’t have time to punish him.
Upon entering the room, a guard closed the door of the Minghui Hall behind Xiao Liulang.
“Sit.” The old ritual server said.
Xiao Liulang sat down across the old ritual server. Between them was a low table, stacked with some of the excellent essays written by the students of the Guozijian.
The old ritual server put down the essay he was halfway through grading and looked at Xiao Liulang, “What happened?”
He rarely showed up without a reason.
Xiao Liulang shared what happened with the jade ornament. The old ritual server’s face became serious, “You suspect Empress Dowager Jing?”
As a mentor and student, there is a certain unspeakable understanding between them. Xiao Liulang hadn’t mentioned any suspicions towards Empress Dowager Jing, he just shared the details about the jade ornament incident.
But who was the old ritual server?
He was the eternal green tea white lotus. Don’t pretend to be innocent in front of your disciple.
Xiao Liulang asked, “How do you see Empress Dowager Jing?”
“Naturally, she is a good person.” The old ritual server answered without hesitation. However, his past judgments might not be accurate. Just like how he strongly believed that Zhuang Jinse was a villain, but later found out that Zhuang Jinse was not that evil. Perhaps he thought Empress Dowager Jing was a kind person, but she may not be as kind as he saw her.
——He absolutely refused to admit that he was biased towards Zhuang Jinse!
“Just remember, we can see someone’s face but not their heart.” After experiencing the Zhuang Jinse incident, the old ritual server has deeply understood this saying.
“How is her relationship with the Empress Dowager?” Xiao Liulang asked.
The old ritual server chuckled slightly, “They used to be very close. She was Zhuang Jinse’s only friend in the palace. The person Zhuang Jinse trusted the most was her. I remember one time I schemed against Zhuang Jinse and got her into trouble. Zhuang Jinse almost killed me! Zhuang Jinse wasn’t as mad at me even when I played a part in sending her to the Cold Palace. Zhuang Jinse has no children, and she cared for Empress Dowager Jing’s children as if they were her own…they are the current Ning An princess and his majesty. Empress Dowager Jing’s family had also been supported by Zhuang Jinse.”
Upon saying this, the old ritual server heaved a sigh,”Later, the late emperor passed away, and His Majesty ascended the throne. Empress Dowager Jing moved to the nunnery and became a nun, and their contact began to decrease.”
Xiao Liulang questioningly asked, “Why did she move to the nunnery? Did she really choose to go on her own?”
The old ritual master shook his head, “No, it was Zhuang Jinse’s decree.”
Xiao Liulang thoughtfully said, “His Majesty must have disagreed——”
The old sacrificial wine nodded, “You’re right. His Majesty did disagree. But Zhuang Jinse had the final say. His Majesty, with all his efforts over the years, barely matched Zhuang Jinse. The young and inexperienced His Majesty was no match for Zhuang Jinse when he first ascended the throne. It was this that led to the breaking of ties between His Majesty and Zhuang Jinse.”