"Auntie, what were you all talking about just now?" Lin Jingzhu sat beside the Empress, her long-standing investigative instincts acutely sensing sothing unusual.
The body was tense, breathing slightly rapid, with a faint blush on her face and lips glistening and moist...
Could it be freshly applied rouge?
Putting on makeup so late at night, Auntie really is too vain.
"Nothing much. After all, with such a major incident, I need to understand the causes and effects to formulate a better strategy," the Empress answered calmly.
Lin Jingzhu smiled upon hearing this, "Auntie, have you decided to help Mr. Chen?"
"I always stand by what is right, not familial ties. If it is truly as Chen Mo claims, and if Chu Heng has committed a grave cri, I will definitely get to the bottom of this," the Empress said with her eyes slightly downcast. "However, Prince Yu is still a mber of the Imperial Family, not so easy to deal with. So people in the Six Ministries might also take this opportunity to cause trouble..."
"Chen Mo, stay in the palace for the ti being. Only erge once the storm has completely subsided."
"I’ll follow your arrangents, Your Highness."
Chen Mo nodded, not making a fuss.
After all, the matters of the Governnt are being handled by Li Yuan, so he was happy to enjoy a few days of leisure. Moreover, as a Personal rit Guard and Yulin Lang General, being on duty in the palace was not inappropriate.
"Alright, it’s late. Everyone should get so rest," the Empress pulled the bell beside the small couch, producing a crisp sound, "Soone co."
Soon, two Palace Attendants entered with short steps.
"What orders does Your Highness have?"
"Escort Mr. Chen to rest in the East Warm Pavilion."
"Yes."
A Palace Servant extended her hand, "Please, Mr. Chen, this way."
"I shall take my leave first."
Chen Mo bowed in farewell, then followed the young Palace Servant out of the inner hall.
"Zhu’er, you will sleep in Ningde Palace tonight," the Empress said.
Lin Jingzhu questioned with so confusion, "Auntie, aren’t you coming with ?"
Normally, when entering the palace, they would share a bed. The Empress had restless sleep habits, often causing her to wake up stifled in the middle of the night...
The Empress replied calmly, "I still have so affairs to attend to. You don’t have to wait for ... Moreover, the situation is a bit complicated this ti, and you’ve also been involved. It’s best to act cautiously for now."
"Yes, understood."
Lin Jingzhu didn’t think much of it, nodding, "Auntie, don’t stay up too late either, or else it’s bad for your skin. No amount of rouge would help then."
?
The Empress was puzzled.
Who put on rouge?
It was only after Lin Jingzhu left that she let out a breath.
Recalling when Chen Mo addressed her as his "darling," her cheeks once again blushed as she rolled around on the small couch hugging a pillow.
"Ugh, so embarrassing..."
After calming down, she suddenly realized sothing.
"Wait a minute..."
"Where did my book go?"
...
...
On the other side, Chen Mo followed the Palace Servant to the door of the bedchamber.
The Palace Servant pushed open the door and, turning to the side, said, "Please enter, sir. If you need anything, feel free to call ."
Chen Mo nodded and said, "Thank you, Jin Shu."
The young Palace Servant suddenly lifted her delicate face, her clear eyes a bit surprised, "Sir, you still rember ?"
"Of course I rember," Chen Mo said with a smile, "When I was recovering in the palace back then, you took very good care of ."
During that ti, several Palace Servants attended to his daily needs, and each ti he bathed, Jin Shu was the most diligent...
Jin Shu’s face was slightly flushed, "It was rely my duty as a servant."
As a maid in the palace, from the day she entered she had never left the Inner Court. Surrounded by more won than n, soone like Chen Mo, handso and amusing, naturally left a deep impression.
"Co inside and let’s talk."
Chen Mo pulled Jin Shu into the room and closed the door firmly.
With the night deep, being alone in a room with a man made Jin Shu sowhat uneasy.
Her fingers twined together, she stamred, "Mr. Chen, without Her Highness’s permission, I cannot simply warm your bed..."
"..."
Chen Mo chuckled, "Who asked you to warm the bed? I just have a few questions for you."
Only then did Jin Shu’s heart find ease, though there was a faint sense of disappointnt, "What does sir wish to ask? Feel free to speak."
"It’s actually nothing major," Chen Mo said casually, "The last ti I entered the palace, I passed by the Cangzhen Gate on the East Inner Court road and saw a little boy..."
"Cangzhen Gate?"
Jin Shu furrowed her brows, "That’s the way to Linqing Palace. The boy Mr. Chen saw must have been the Crown Prince."
Chen Mo asked curiously, "I’ve entered the palace many tis, but this is the first ti seeing the Crown Prince... Does he rarely go out?"
"Not rarely, almost never," Jin Shu lowered her voice, "To my knowledge, since the Crown Prince was conferred, he hasn’t left the vicinity of Linqing Palace."
The confernt of a Crown Prince can occur through Lin Xuan or an Inner Ceremony.
The Lin Xuan ceremony is usually held in the Taiji Palace, where the Secretary bestows the Crown Prince’s tokens and seals, followed by an appearance at the Golden Throne Hall before ministers, marking an extravagant affair.
Conversely, the Inner Ceremony is much more low-key, requiring only the Crown Prince to pay respects to the emperor and the Empress, without public appearance.
Given the Crown Prince’s young age, opting for an Inner Ceremony is reasonable.
Yet, having never left Linqing Palace seems excessively protective.
"Still, as the Crown Prince’s mother, the Empress would at least co by to ask for his well-being, wouldn’t she?" Chen Mo inquired.
Jin Shu shook her head, "I entered the palace at thirteen, and it’s been five years now. Not just the Crown Prince, even His Majesty hasn’t co by once. Mr. Chen is the first..."
At this point, she paused, realizing her words might have been inappropriate, and did not dare to speak further.
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