Chapter Seven, Empress Dowager Dayan

Lan Dan stood with her mouth agape, even her breathing had paused, as she stared in shock at the girl on the other side of the window

Although the Taici Hall has been roughly renovated, the grandeur of the palace is by no means lacking. The number of palace maids and eunuchs is comparable to that of the Zhaoyang Hall during the reign of her father, the former emperor

The more Lan Dan looked, the more alarmed she became; she recognized most of these women! They were all the wives and family members of the trusted officials who were highly valued by the Emperor.

"Alright," he stepped back a little, leaning on the soft couch in the center, "I am really tired and need to sleep for a while. You better not take this opportunity to hit me," he playfully poked her with his finger, "otherwise, I will make you feel it." Saying this, he gave a wicked smile.

The Empress asked with both affection and reproach: "Have you gone to see her?"

The Empress let out a cold hum, enjoying the massage from the young girl, and fell silent.

Suddenly, she heard the soft sound of the warm curtain falling, footsteps, and low laughter coming from outside. Only then did Lan Dan realize that the ear room she was in was connected to the side hall, separated by just a window, and the sounds were particularly clear. Lan Dan lightened her steps and quietly moved to the window by the kang, where she could vaguely see the people in the side hall. The heavy snow and overcast sky made the side hall light up with several lamps, bright and warm, contrasting with the dark and dim room where Lan Dan was, which allowed her to hide better and see the situation in the side hall more clearly.

Lan Dan struck his hand away with her right hand, causing the scarf to fall as well. Her originally styled hanging flower bun was also disheveled by his touch, her jet-black hair cascading at her temples, exuding a charming and languid allure. Her appearance was already exceedingly beautiful, and the slightly disordered look added an enchanting and captivating charm. Shen Tu Rui gazed at her delicate face, which had become even more porcelain-like due to the cold, his eyes inevitably drawn to her increasingly rosy cherry lips. In a moment of impulsiveness, he reached out to caress the nape of her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her deeply. Shen Tu Rui gazed at her delicate face, which had become even more porcelain-like due to the cold, his eyes inevitably drawn to her increasingly rosy cherry lips. In a moment of impulsiveness, he reached out to caress the nape of her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her deeply.

Lan Dan sat gracefully by the window, allowing the palace maid to comb her hair. Outside, heavy snow was falling, and the palace walls, under such a bright white backdrop, still appeared as an old dark red, indicating that the Tai Ci Palace had yet to undergo significant repairs. She vaguely remembered that the Duke of An's residence had a lady, but after her husband's passing, she had secluded herself, not even entering the palace to pay her respects during the annual festivals. If it were not for her particular interest in the Shen Tu family, she probably would not have recalled the existence of such a person.

She is accustomed to starting with the most acute sensations, immediately forcing herself to calm down, compelling herself not to overthink the conclusion

Lan Dan walked a few steps with him, suddenly recalling something, and angrily shook off his hand

Shentu Rui smiled slightly and said, "Don't say you haven't agreed yet; even if you do, with your foolish demeanor, I must train you well before sending you off. Otherwise, if someone sees through you at a glance, wouldn't I be making things worse for myself?" Seeing Lan Dan about to get angry, he reached out and pulled her, "Alright—don't overthink it. You won't see Shentu Cheng today, let's go." He then smiled coldly, "The excitement in this imperial city is far more splendid than when your father was here. All the puzzles you can't figure out in your mind have answers there." He reached out and pulled her again, "Alright—don't overthink it. You won't see Shentu Cheng today, let's go." He smiled coldly again, "The excitement in this imperial city is far more splendid than when your father was here. All the puzzles you can't figure out in your mind have answers there."

Lan Dan was both angry and embarrassed, looking at his nonchalant demeanor, she didn't even know how to scold him

The widow of the Duke of Anguo, who had lived a secluded life in the previous dynasty, unexpectedly let out a powerful snort, "He dares!"

Lan Dan recognized them; they were the wives of the Grand Minister of Revenue and the Grand Minister of Agriculture! In the past, they also adorned themselves in splendid attire and heavy makeup to pay their respects to the Empress Mother, speaking to her with utmost reverence and caution. Now that the imperial city has a new master, they remain unchanged, while the former royal family has fallen into disgrace and obscurity; yet they still come to pay homage to the new ruler, resplendent and opulent as ever.

Shentu Rui smiled bitterly with worry, "You really shouldn't be overly cautious when it's unnecessary! He has long harbored resentment towards me. How can I use you as a pawn and still personally escort you into the palace? I am just afraid that he won't be on guard against you, right?"

The palace maid opened the curtain again, and a young maiden entered. Ignoring the palace maid who followed her and tried to stop her, she ran a few steps and affectionately and playfully sat beside the Empress Dowager, beginning to knead her shoulders.

The young girl let out a sweet laugh and pleaded, "You cannot blame me for this; today is a special day, and I must pay my respects."

This situation is nothing short of extreme irony for Lan Dan

Lan Dan wanted to spit on him fiercely, but he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. She glared at him with all her might, wishing she could carve out a piece of his flesh.

A layer of snow also settled on Lan Dan's head, quickly melting and making her hair damp, with snowmelt trickling down her forehead. She raised her hand to wipe it away, but today she was wearing a thin fur coat, with a lining of woven silk, adorned with floral patterns, which did not absorb water well.

Lan Dan listened, her heart stirred, and she glanced again at the faintly discernible carriages amidst the thick falling snow

The Shentu Rui before me is so different from the one I used to know, as if he has suddenly emerged from the shadows, shining brightly. He lies asleep with his eyes closed, his eyelashes dampened by the snow, heavy and no longer curled, lying long against his lower eyelid like a row of soul-calling banners that captivate the heart. His features are deep-set, especially his nose and brow bone, which are strikingly prominent, unlike the typical people of Damin. When he turns his face to the side, the arc formed by his forehead and nose is simply breathtakingly beautiful. This three-dimensional handsomeness seems familiar to me; Shentu Cheng has a similar look, with features as sharply defined and handsome as if carved from stone, resembling the style of the northern desert envoys that I have carefully observed. However, the people of the northern desert are more rugged and lack the refinement of these two brothers.

Ah! She let out a startled cry, not knowing when someone had stood by the kang.

Her lips were cool and soft, trembling gently, whether from anger or fear, she did not know. She had likely never kissed anyone before and did not know how to resist his intrusion, foolishly allowing him to conquer her.

The royal carriage did not follow the procession for the audience, but instead turned towards the west of the palace city, entering the Taici Palace through the Xihua Gate. When Landan got off the carriage, she felt a bit dazed; when her father was present, there was no Empress Dowager in the palace, and the area around the Taici Palace was rather desolate, as she had hardly visited it a few times. Now, however, there were numerous palace maids and eunuchs, and the palace was adorned with lanterns, flowers, and birds.

A beautifully adorned woman sat gracefully in the central position, receiving the visit of two noble ladies. Although her features were not entirely visible through the window curtains, her black hair and fair skin, along with her delicate face, suggested that she was not very old.

Shentu Rui keenly noticed that she had stiffened, realizing that she had come back to her senses. He immediately tilted his head to dodge and reached out just in time to catch the heavy slap she swung at him.

Lan Dan finally regained her composure, gasping for breath, her hand pressed against her chest, still feeling discomfort, as if she could not draw the air into her lungs no matter how hard she tried

Shentu Ruila entered a small chamber behind the Taici Hall, summoned two palace maids to assist her with her grooming and dressing, and then she herself seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

The rear hall was indeed warm, and Lan Dan struggled to unfasten her cloak, folding it slightly before placing it at the end of the kang to dry.

Lan Dan displayed an expression of disbelief, as her scheming was too shallow; this cold demeanor lacked any power and instead appeared somewhat endearing

The curtains of the royal carriage were tightly drawn, and Lan Dan made no attempt to lift them to look outside. The direction in which the carriage was headed was towards her former home, the Square City, from which she had found it exceedingly difficult to escape. Since childhood, she had been sensitive, as a child without a mother and without support; even as a princess, this feeling of being unanchored had always accompanied her. As she gradually grew older, however, she became more open-hearted, for she understood that in order to live less painfully in the heavily fortified and starkly divided imperial city, she could not afford to think too much.

Shentu Rui is very persuasive, and indeed, there are too many puzzles in her heart that must be explored for answers. In fact, even if he does not speak, she understands that many things are already fated, as if they have long been predetermined, and she cannot escape them at all

Shentu Rui clicked his tongue, took a handkerchief from a small cabinet, and wiped it messily over her head, saying, "Use this! You don't mind wasting things; this brocade robe is worth half a month's salary for me"

Lan Dan was breathing heavily, and her expression was still out of control. She did not appear particularly angry or sorrowful; rather, her flushed complexion evoked sympathy. She struggled to shake off his grip, attempting to pull her wrist back, and he did not resist, loosening his hold and allowing her to break free.

The two ladies exchanged a few words before taking their leave from the palace. The maidservant then ushered in two more, and this process continued in a cycle, resulting in no fewer than thirty individuals in a short while

Shentu Rui was still slightly out of breath and insincerely apologized, saying: "If you had let me vent my frustrations a bit earlier, today would not have been possible"

If they are still alive, it means their husbands are still alive. Then who are the ones that died in the mass grave

The young girl was quite perceptive and mockingly said, "Your Highness, you have no idea, it's quite amusing! Those noble ladies don't know how to address her properly, and some sycophant has come up with the term 'noble lord.' A group of women awkwardly calling her 'noble lord' is just hilarious." Then, she became somewhat worried and tentatively asked, "Your Highness, do you think the Emperor really won't make her a consort... or even an empress?"

The warm stove was inside the carriage, and the accompanying guards lowered the curtains, causing the heat to gather in the carriage, making it warm.

The two noble ladies completed the grand ceremony and sat casually on the embroidered stool opposite the Empress Dowager, exchanging a few pleasantries with smiles.

The palace maids finished arranging everything for her and respectfully invited her to sit in the inner hall. One of the girls, who was more lively, smiled and said: "The inner hall is warmer; we wouldn't want you to catch a chill here, or else His Highness, the Prince of Yan, might get upset and angry."

"I am not going!" She glared coldly at Shen Tu Rui, "This is also your plan, isn't it? To drop the bait, lure me into the game, and then try to place me next to Shen Tu Cheng, to kill him at the right moment?"

This is also the reason why she can still live so peacefully; at this moment, if it were someone else, would they be able to sit there in a daze, not casting a glance at the road home?

Shentu Rui was aware of her limited mobility, and with great consideration, he picked her up without stepping on the footstool. Relying on his height and long legs, he took a single stride up, and the carriage hardly swayed at all; only the golden bell at the corner of the roof jingled with a clear and pleasant sound. The carriage, designed by the duke, was exceptionally spacious. Shentu Rui placed her on the soft bench at the side and, with the curtain of the carriage opened, brushed off the snow that had fallen on her head.

He smiled slightly, and instead became more assertive: "I was also unintentional, you know what you look like now, after all, I am a normal man, I can't resist."

By the time they descended from the city wall, the carriage of the Prince of Yan had been waiting for quite some time

I do not know who this "her" is that makes Empress Dowager Dayan so disdainful yet helpless

This seemingly unremarkable woman has now become the Empress Dowager of a nation

Lan Dan did not wish to say much either. Following them, she stepped out and walked a few paces along the eaves corridor until she reached the back door of the Tai Ci Hall. The palace maids led her into the ear chamber of the inner hall, served her tea, and then withdrew.

After the last two noble ladies exited, the new Empress Dowager let out a weary hum, and her shoulders slightly slumped.