Du Xiaoli brought Xia Yuan and Ying Ge to the Empress palace. On the way there, palace maids and eunuchs greeted her when they saw them.

Greetings to Princess Anle. A higher-rank palace maid greeted Du Xiaoli.

Please inform the Empress, Anle has come to greet her. Du Xiaoli said to the palace maid.

Princess please wait a moment. This slave will go and inform the Empress. After the palace maid curtsied, she turned around to go into the main hall. Soon, she came back out and gestured to Du Xiaoli, saying, Empress invites Princess to enter.

Thank you.

Du Xiaolis group of three entered the main hall and saw the Empress playing with Crown Prince Han Luheng. Han Luheng was only about four years old, and was playing on the Empress lap.

Greetings to the Empress. Du Xiaoli led Xia Yuan and the other girl to kneel.

Hurry and be at ease. Take a seat. The Empress let Han Luheng down, straightening her clothes. This Empress was just discussing with those maids when you would enter the palace! I didnt expect you to arrive so early.

Du Xiaoli sat to the side, smiling as she said. Anle doesnt understand much and doesnt know what to do during this marriage send-off, so I thought itd be best to enter the palace earlier and make use of this time to ask for advice.

This is also true, however this Empress also doesnt know too much about this. Later, this Empress will have some of the old palace maids go speak with you, the Empress said.

Thank you Empress. Du Xiaoli smiled.

Last time, the matter of the Academy Compet.i.tion truly troubled you. This Empress has always been curious about the compet.i.tion. Its a pity those maids are such fools. Today, since were free, why dont you tell the Empress about it? The Empress said.

Okay, which part of the compet.i.tion does the Empress want to hear about? Du Xiaoli asked.

This Empress doesn't know what part of the compet.i.tion is more interesting. Why dont you choose something interesting to talk about? The Empress said. Someone, take the Crown Prince back to rest.

Yes, Empress. A nanny came forward, greeted them, and took the Crown Prince away.

Du Xiaoli looked at the Crown Prince, her gaze flickering slightly as she smiled at him.

As Han Luheng pa.s.sed by Du Xiaoli, his gaze was somewhat lifeless, and he had little reaction to her smile.

About two hours later, Du Xiaoli left the Empress palace and was preparing to go to Han Mingxiangs palace when Eunuch Sha came out from the side.

This servant greets Princess Anle. Eunuch Sha came in front of Du Xiaoli.

Does Eunuch Sha need something? Du Xiaoli queried.

Princess, the Emperor summons you. Eunuch Sha replied.

Eunuch Sha, lead the way.

Du Xiaoli walked for a distance, before glancing back.

This palaces atmosphere was too strange. Soldiers heavily surrounded the outside of the Empress palace, as if the Empress was being imprisoned. And if she hadnt come to greet the Empress, how would the Emperor know where she was?

Could it be that the Empress had made some kind of mistake, forcing her under house arrest?

However, having seen the Empress, she didnt seem like she was under house arrest. She had also been able to enter the palace without hindrance, so it seemed the Empress wasnt forbidden contact from the outside world either.

How bizarre!

Eunuch Sha, how does the Emperor know that Im here with the Empress? Du Xiaoli asked, unable to contain the question in her heart.

Eunuch Sha smiled, saying, In this palace, there is nothing the Emperor doesnt know.

Du Xiaoli felt that Eunuch Shas words carried some hidden meaning, but it wouldnt be good to inquire further.

After walking for some time, Eunuch Sha brough Du Xiaoli to the Imperial Study and told her to wait a while. He entered first to inform of her arrival, before coming out and leading Du Xiaoli in.

Anle greets the Emperor. Du Xiaoli curtsied to the Emperor.

The Emperor was reviewing reports. Hearing Du Xiaolis voice, he didnt raise his head, only telling her to be at ease before going silent. After he finished looking at the report in his hands, he looked up at Du Xiaoli and asked with a smile, You visited the Empress?

Yes. Xiaoli is staying in the palace, thus went to greet the Empress. Du Xiaoli said, silently adding, basically reporting for duty.

Mm. The Empress runs matters of the harem, if you enter the palace you do have to inform her. Han Mingze said. What did you talk about?

Not much. The Empress just asked this younger sister to describe some interesting things from the Academy Compet.i.tion. She listened quite happily, and also spoke of some funny matters that happened outside, Du Xiaoli answered.

Nothing else? Han Mingze asked.

Responding to the Emperor, that was all, nothing else. Du Xiaoli responded.

The Emperors att.i.tude was also so strange, who knew if he was concerned about the Empress or if he was

Hearing Du Xiaolis words, Han Mingze softly

hmm

-ed, before changing the topic, What do you think of Changles marriage?

What?!

there wasnt a single person in the entire Imperial Study other than the two of them, not even Eunuch Shan was there!

MoonWhisperer, skyrise's Thoughts

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