PNB Chapter 274: Are these the rules the Empress Dowager taught you?
Chapter 274: Are these the rules the Empress Dowager taught you?
About half an hour later, the two got up to tidy up.
After the palace maid brought the water, she stood aside, and Yinshuang combed Su Mowan's hair according to yesterday's hairstyle.
Although Yinshuang doesn't usually do this kind of work, her skills are not much worse than Qinghe's, and she restored yesterday's hairstyle in no time.
This time, Su Mowan didn't put on any makeup; it was better to be plain and simple when meeting the Empress Dowager.
Just as she was about to ask Yinshuang to help Murong Jing tidy up, she turned around and found that Murong Jing had already tied up his hair and was waiting for her.
Su Mowan looked at him in surprise. Did he usually come by himself?
Murong Jing noticed her staring at him and raised an eyebrow, saying, "What's wrong? Let's go when you're done."
Seeing that the time and place were inappropriate, Su Mowan didn't ask any questions. She obediently got up and followed behind her out of Pingyang Palace, heading towards the palace where the Empress Dowager lived.
The Empress Dowager's residence was a bit remote, located in the very north corner of the entire palace. It took about ten minutes to finally arrive at a secluded palace.
When Su Mowan saw that Murong Jing had stopped, she looked up and recognized the three large characters 'Gaoyang Palace' painted on it.
Two palace maids stood on either side of the palace entrance. Upon seeing Murong Jing and Su Mowan, they quickly bowed. After bowing, one of the maids hurriedly ran inside to relay the message.
It was clear that Murong Jing hadn't been here for a long time. Su Mowan glanced at the somewhat deserted palace and wanted to ask something, but then she held back.
A moment later, the sound of palace maids rushing out could be heard.
This time, another palace maid who seemed to have some status was also with him. As soon as the palace maid saw Murong Jing, her eyes lit up slightly, and then she quickly lowered her head and said respectfully, "Your Highness, please come inside."
Her eyes flashed very quickly, but Su Mowan still caught her. Su Mowan glanced at the palace maid and thought that she was nothing special, daring to ignore her like that.
A palace servant hurriedly opened the door to its widest extent. Su Mowan was about to step inside when Murong Jing grabbed her hand.
Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, he heard Murong Jing say coldly, "Is it the Empress Dowager who taught you these rules? Or do you simply not understand them?"
The palace maid hesitated for a moment, then immediately knelt down and presented the offering. "This servant is ignorant of the rules, please forgive my anger, Your Highness!"
Su Mowan was a little confused by the sudden conversation, not knowing what was wrong. She turned to look at Murong Jing in surprise, asking with her eyes what was going on.
Just then, the palace maid bowed her head in her direction and said, "This servant deserves to die, please forgive me, Your Highness!"
"..."
So Murong Jing's inexplicable rage was because this palace maid hadn't greeted her.
Su Mowan didn't mind at all, since she didn't know the palace maid and the palace maid had never seen her before.
They probably didn't even know whether she was 'Consort Su' or 'Consort Shen', so they were so frightened that they simply called her 'Your Highness'.
In particular, Murong Jing's chilling aura made the palace maid appear somewhat pitiful.
However, Murong Jing didn't seem to have any particular reaction to the title of 'Princess Consort'.
Su Mowan smiled magnanimously and asked the palace maid to get up and lead the way.
Su Mowan's hand was released, and then she saw Murong Jing give her a cool glance before looking away unhappily, gesturing for Feng Yue to walk inside.
Murong Jing's gaze just now carried a hint of disappointment, and Su Mowan awkwardly touched her nose before following Yinshuang inside.
Gaoyang Palace was indeed very deserted. As I walked in, I only saw a few palace maids and not a single eunuch in sight.
In terms of layout alone, Gaoyang Palace is much grander than Jingyang Palace. However, due to the Empress Dowager's vegetarianism and Buddhist practices, it is not deliberately decorated, so it does not look as luxurious as Jingyang Palace.
But in Su Mowan's view, its strength lies in its grandeur.
The Gaoyang Palace has several halls and pavilions of varying sizes. The group, led by the palace maid, walked through three corridors and headed towards the very back.
Su Mowan glanced around and felt that Gaoyang Palace exuded an aura of desolation, devoid of human presence and life.
Even if the Empress Dowager is devoted to Buddhism, does Emperor Moyao not care about this matter?
Despite her doubts, Su Mowan followed closely beside Murong Jing, and soon they arrived in front of a small hall.
Two young palace maids were waiting in front of the hall, and they both bowed in greeting.
Su Mowan glanced at Murong Jing and realized that this guy was treating her differently.
Just now, when she was outside the gate of Gaoyang Palace, the palace maid did not greet her, and Murong Jing was even angry about it.
At this moment, neither of the two palace maids greeted her. Why did Murong Jing not react at all?
Thinking of this, Su Mowan looked at the palace maid who had been attacked by Murong Jing earlier.
The palace maid had her eyes lowered, but her lips were tightly pursed, and her fingers were slightly twisted.
Su Mowan's lips curled into a smile; she was indeed feeling resentful. Perhaps, it wasn't just a matter of resentment.
This time, there was no need to announce their arrival; the two palace maids simply invited them inside.
Feng Yue and Yin Shuang were left outside. Su Mowan instinctively went to push Murong Jing's wheelchair, but was stopped by a look from Murong Jing.
So Su Mowan had no choice but to let the palace maid who had led the way take over.
The palace maid kept her eyes straight ahead, displaying professionalism and clearly knowing the rules.
It was only about twenty meters away before we arrived at the Buddhist hall where the Empress Dowager was.
This surprised Su Mowan a bit. The Buddhist hall was clearly not something that had been set up casually; it was obviously very well-made.
The Empress Dowager actually went to such great lengths to set up a Buddhist hall in the palace; I wonder what Emperor Moyao was thinking.
Another palace maid stood in front of the Buddhist hall, and she whispered inside, "His Highness Prince Qin has arrived."
Then, Su Mowan heard a kind yet authoritative voice coming from inside. "Please let them in."
These words relieved Su Mowan. The Empress Dowager had referred to 'they,' not 'he.'
If it's the latter, it means the Empress Dowager doesn't like her, and Su Mowan won't follow Murong Jing inside.
The palace maid pushing the wheelchair let go, and the palace maid standing in front of the Buddhist hall was about to come over to take it when Murong Jing raised his hand to stop her.
Knowing it was time for Su Mowan to step in, she quickly pushed the person inside.
If His Highness the Prince of Qin knew what the Empress Dowager would say later, he would definitely regret letting Su Mowan push the matter away.
A faint fragrance permeated the Buddhist hall. Su Mowan carefully discerned it and felt it resembled sandalwood.
A quick glance revealed a simply dressed old woman sitting upright on a prayer mat, a long string of prayer beads hanging from her hand, her fingers constantly fiddling with them.
Upon seeing the two enter, the Empress Dowager paused in her hand, which was fiddled with the prayer beads. Then she smiled kindly and said, "In front of the Buddha, you two shouldn't sit. Stand up."
"..."
Su Mowan nodded, indicating that she had no objection. Murong Jing certainly wouldn't have any objections either, since he was already sitting down.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager's words were actually only directed at Su Mowan.
Before Su Mowan could finish her internal monologue, she heard the Empress Dowager say in a deep voice, "Didn't you say you were pregnant? Why are you being pushed around like this? Jing'er, this is wrong of you. Is this how your father raised you?"
"..."
His Highness the King of Qin, who intended to show off his affection, remained silent, which was a miscalculation.