The Empress Dowager (2)

Chu Ning glanced at them. She kneeled and bowed according to the required custom, giving them a proper greeting.

However, they did not seem to notice her and continued to chatter amongst themselves. The Empress Dowager did not indicate that she could stand.

Chu Ning waited patiently and thought about why Qi Chenxiang was here now. She believed that the Empress Dowager deliberately arranged for her to be here.

After some time, the maid returned to the room again and announced that the Emperor had arrived. Qi Chenxiang seemed to finally realize that Chu Ning was there. She widened her eyes in surprise and said, “Aunt, the Crown Princess is here. I think she has been kneeling for some time.”

The Empress Dowager turned to look at her and gave a calm wave, indicating that she could stand. “I am old so I can’t hear and see very well. I didn’t hear your greeting just now. You can stand up now. The floor is cold.”

Behind her, firm footsteps were coming from behind the screen. Chu Ning stood up slowly. The moment the footsteps circled past the screen and entered the inner room, her legs seemed to suddenly give way from pain, and she fell to her side.

The maids were shocked but before they could help her up, Chu Ning felt a familiar and distinctive warm hand on her shoulder, grabbing her firmly.

“Be careful,” A calm and rugged voice followed. He then moved his hand away and behaved as if nothing unusual happened.

Chu Ning quickly turned to him and looked up into his sharp eyes. She said with a weak but nervous voice, “Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I was kneeling for a long time just now and my knees are sore. My legs gave way suddenly, and I bumped into you.”

The Empress Dowager did not show any reaction to what she said, but beside her, Qi Chenxiang’s expression stiffened a little.

Xiao Kezhi looked at Chu Ning expressionlessly. His deep eyes traveled from her bright eyes to her red lips. His Adam’s apple trembled imperceptibly.

Chu Ning had applied rouge on her lips carefully. It made her much more beautiful and attractive than during the late Emperor’s mourning period. The red rouge also made her lips seem more alluring.

He turned his gaze away slowly and said with a deep voice, “It’s alright. You should get up and take a seat.”

After Chu Ning and Xiao Kezhi were seated, Qi Chenxiang came to him and bowed with poise and grace.

Xiao Kezhi grunted flatly and indicated for her to stand. The Empress Dowager then pulled her to sit beside her with a smile. Qi Chenxiang was now sitting between the Empress Dowager and Xiao Kezhi.

“Kezhi, what do you think of my niece?”

The Empress Dowager said ‘Kezhi’ with such natural warmth as if she was his mother. Chu Ning couldn’t help feeling impressed.

Chu Ning looked at Qi Chenxiang and finally understood why the Empress Dowager called her here. It was to let the East Palace know that the Qi family is planning to marry their daughter to the new Emperor.

The Empress Dowager probably decided to do this after seeing how shrewd Xiao Kezhi was and after hearing that Xiao Yu was granted the river dredging work.

The Qi family were not direct relations of the new Emperor. As the new Emperor was unpredictable, they could only take precaution and stabilize the Qi family’s status in the imperial court. This was the best course of action for now. If they could strengthen their position through marriage, that would be most desirable.

If the new Emperor and the Qi family strengthen their relationship, it would alarm the Crown Prince.

However, no one knew what Xiao Kezhi would do yet.

Chu Ning couldn’t help looking at him.

He seemed as if he did not catch what the Empress Dowager meant and glanced at Qi Chenxiang expressionlessly. He then answered flatly, “Since she is your niece, she’s definitely wonderful and praiseworthy.”

To Chu Ning, what Xiao Kezhi said sounded like a compliment, but to Qi Chenxiang, it sounded strange.

Qi Chenxiang grew up as the youngest daughter of the Qi family, so she had always been favored and received numerous praises and compliments since young. She had never met someone who treated her as indifferently as Xiao Kezhi.

She felt a challenge to her pride and was secretly indignant.

She thought that the new Emperor seemed heroic and handsome as everyone said. He also appeared imposing and rather cold.

Since she had been taught well, she was able to maintain a cheerful smile without a hint of displeasure.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager did not seem to mind his attitude and said with a smile, “She is a good child. Just now, she told me that she is going to present a dance at my birthday banquet.”

Qi Chenxiang looked down shyly and said, “I hope that I won’t embarrass you with my awkward movements.”

“You definitely won’t. Your mother told me that you practiced hard and danced very well.” The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Kezhi and said, “Kezhi, will you come and watch her during my birthday banquet? Then you can determine whether she danced well.”

Xiao Kezhi did not reply to her request but asked instead, “You called me here today. What is the matter?”

There was a hint of displeasure on the Empress Dowager’s expression.

Her smile seemed to contain a snare as she pointed at Chu Ning and said, “The Crown Prince has weak health so I asked her here to inquire about it. I heard that you are sending him to Huazhou to oversee the river dredging work. Isn’t this too tiring for him?”

Xiao Kezhi smiled coldly and looked at the Empress Dowager with a challenging gaze. Then he turned to Chu Ning and asked, “How is the Crown Prince’s health?”

Chu Ning blinked and answered gently, “His Highness’s health has mostly recovered.”

“That’s good.” Xiao Kezhi turned to the Empress Dowager and said, “I have my arrangements on the matters of the kingdom. There’s no need to trouble yourself about them.

After that, he did not wait for her to reply and left the room.

No one dared to talk back to the Empress Dowager for many years, so for a moment, she was shocked and furious.

She retracted her smile and her expression returned to the usual sternness. She did not speak to Chu Ning anymore. She gestured to someone to present her a little gift and indicated for her to leave.

Chu Ning bowed, left the Palace of Hundred Blessing, and headed towards the Dragon Door.

However, as she was nearing the Linyan Pavilion, she noticed a figure standing below the steps that kept looking up from time to time. It was Liu Kang.

The moment he saw her, he rushed forward and smiled, “Your Highness, it is still early. Are you returning to the Palace of Eternal Spring?”