Nanny Xiao anxiously paced back and forth in the private room. Steward Liu, who had brought her to the Zhiwei Restaurant, had yet to return since he left earlier. Nearly two hours had passed. Not a single mber of the Ji family, including Old Madam Ji, had co. This made her worry and wonder.
As Nanny Xiao nervously moved about, the sudden patter of footsteps outside froze her in place! She hurriedly opened the door of the private room. The first thing she saw was Old Madam Ji in the lead. Following closely behind, Xie Pan’Er was carrying Xiaosuisui, accompanied by the Ji family’s two young mistresses and several n she had never seen before.
Nanny Xiao’s gaze lingered on one man wearing a black gauze veil. A man with a black gauze veil covering his face... that description seed sowhat familiar! Nanny Xiao tried hard to recall but couldn’t rember anything specific. Just then, Old Madam Ji had already approached and greeted her.
"Nanny Xiao! What brings you here?" Old Madam Ji asked. "Is it a decree from the Empress Dowager?"
"Oh dear, Old Madam, Your Highness! You’re back at last. Let’s go to the Palace right away! The Empress Dowager asked to co out of the Palace and fetch the Princess for a few days’ stay. I’ve been out here for quite so ti. If we don’t return soon, the Empress Dowager will beco anxious!"
Upon hearing Nanny Xiao’s words, Old Madam Ji paused in surprise. During the Double Ninth Festival, the Empress Dowager had indeed ntioned asking Xiaosuisui to stay in the Palace for a short while.
"So soon! Suisui hasn’t yet properly learned the Palace etiquette. Nanny, you see..."
"Oh, my dear Old Madam, please stop making excuses. The Empress Dowager is in a rather bad mood today, which is why she sent to fetch the Princess. The Princess is our Empress Dowager’s source of joy. Please don’t make things difficult for this old servant."
Nanny Xiao could easily tell that Old Madam Ji was hoping she would diate and prevent the Princess from entering the Palace today. Therefore, she tactfully revealed so information.
Old Madam Ji understood the implication and said, "We’ve been out for quite a while, and the Princess hasn’t had lunch yet. Nanny, please wait a mont. We’ll accompany you to the Palace after the Princess has eaten!"
After saying this, Old Madam Ji instructed the staff at Zhiwei Restaurant to set up a separate table for Nanny Xiao in the adjacent private room. She personally kept Nanny Xiao company and shared a al and drinks with her.
"Nanny! Suisui is still so young. During her short stay in the Palace, we’ll have to trouble you to look after her!" Old Madam Ji raised her wine cup and toasted Nanny Xiao.
Nanny Xiao raised her wine cup and drained it in one gulp. "Old Madam, you’re too kind. It’s nothing at all!"
Being treated with such high regard by Old Madam Ji outside the Palace, Nanny Xiao felt quite apprehensive. As a long-serving attendant by the Empress Dowager’s side, she had seen much of the world’s fickleness. She knew she was receiving such courteous treatnt from Old Madam Ji only because the Princess was about to enter the Palace.
"To be honest with you, Old Madam, this old servant ca to fetch the Princess today because of this morning’s Celestial Dao’s warning!"
Old Madam Ji was startled. Today’s Celestial Dao’s warning? Wasn’t that caused by Nanny Zhang insisting Xiaosuisui learn the full prostration ritual? Could the Palace already know about this?
"Old Madam, because of today’s Celestial Dao’s warning, the great phoenix in the Palace beca very agitated and restless. It circled above Cining Palace for a long ti, screeching incessantly!"
Hearing this, Old Madam Ji’s breath caught in her throat, and her hands began to tremble slightly. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, after she left the Palace, she heard that the phoenix’s appearance was due to a casual remark the little girl made when comnting on Li Yanyan’s performance!
"Nanny, why are you telling this?" Old Madam Ji did her best to suppress the surprised and worried expression on her face, carefully trying to probe Nanny Xiao’s intentions.
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