Chapter 301: Chapter 278: The Phoenix’s Ailment
Shang Ruyi hurriedly accepted the letter, tore it open and looked. As expected, it was a letter from Shen Wuzheng, and she immediately let out a long sigh of relief: "At last, there’s news from them."
Tushere also happily came up: "Miss, how are Master and Madam, and the Young Master?"
Chang Wan and Wo Xue, seeing it was Shen Family matters, voluntarily stepped out and closed the door. The room only left them, one master and one servant, and Shang Ruyi unfolded the letter and began to read it seriously. The letter was not long, merely a single sheet of paper, evidently written in haste.
Yet despite this, the writing on the letter remained graceful and elegant, the strokes conveyed a sense of liveliness, making one feel delighted upon reading it.
However, as Shang Ruyi looked at the letter, her expression showing moments of joy, then faint worry, upon finishing it she fell into contemplation.
Tushere was a bit anxious, gently tugging at her sleeve: "Miss, what did the Young Master say in the letter?"
After a moment of silence, Shang Ruyi slowly said: "He said they’ve already received the Emperor’s special pardon decree, preparing to set off from Lingnan, so we need not worry."
Then, thinking again, she murmured: "Now, they should already be on the road."
Tushere immediately smiled: "Ah, that’s wonderful!"
"Yes, indeed, it’s wonderful."
Although Shang Ruyi said this, the increasingly heavy expression on her face completely contradicted her words. Tushere, amidst her joy, also noticed Shang Ruyi’s off emotions and asked: "Miss, isn’t it good that Master and Madam are finally able to leave Lingnan? The Young Master also told you not to worry, why do you seem more worried?"
Shang Ruyi said: "Being able to leave Lingnan is certainly good news. But now, the road is not peaceful."
Upon hearing this, Tushere suddenly drooped her face: "Indeed, rebels are everywhere outside, battles are being fought everywhere. It would be nice if they could return to the Eastern Capital sooner—oh dear, the Eastern Capital isn’t peaceful either now."
"..."
Shang Ruyi furrowed her brows even tighter.
After a while, she murmured: "There are only three of them, the journey is indeed quite dangerous."
Tushere said: "Miss, do you have any plans?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi pondered again, carefully folded the letter along the original creases and put it away, then said: "Let’s discuss this matter later."
Just as her words fell, Chang Wan knocked on the door from outside, with a hint of urgency in her voice: "Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi said: "What is it?"
Chang Wan opened the door, saying: "Young Madam, Eunuch Lu has come again."
"Eunuch Lu?"
As soon as she heard it was the eunuch by Empress Jiang’s side, Shang Ruyi instinctively felt something, quickly tidied her clothes and went to the parlor, where Eunuch Lu greeted her with clasped hands: "Madam, sorry to disturb."
Shang Ruyi hastily returned the greeting, saying: "I don’t know what commands you have coming today, Eunuch?"
Eunuch Lu smiled and said: "Naturally it’s Empress, she’s summoned Madam to the palace for a meeting."
"Empress?"
Shang Ruyi’s heart stirred slightly—having said that, Empress Jiang used to be very close to her, frequently sending people to bring her into the palace, but since the battle of Xingluo Granary, they have hardly met. Last time Eunuch Lu came, she thought foolishly that it was her who was summoned, but it was Yu Wenye that was summoned instead.
Originally, in Shang Ruyi’s eyes, this Empress was gentle and vague, but now she understood that the gentleness and vagueness was because a mist surrounded her.
This mist made it hard for Shang Ruyi to see her clearly.
Despite this, Shang Ruyi still asked with a smile: "I wonder what urgent matter does the Empress have to summon me into the palace?"
Eunuch Lu glanced at her before sighing and said: "The Empress is feeling unwell, she summoned Madam into the palace just to talk and ease her mind."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi was shocked: "Empress is ill? Since when?"
Eunuch Lu sighed: "Since—shortly after the decree was issued by Your Majesty. The Empress has been worrying day and night, neglecting her health and caught some cold."
At this time, ill?
Shang Ruyi’s brows furrowed deeply, she thought and immediately said: "Okay, I’ll immediately accompany Eunuch into the palace."
After saying this, she turned back to Tushere and the others and instructed: "Stay well at home, wait for my return."
The maidservants had to agree.
Shang Ruyi followed Eunuch Lu out of Yuwen Mansion, as before, rode a carriage to Xuanren Gate, she was already familiar with the route, without the unease of entering the palace for the first time, just now, entering the palace again, there was a different kind of trepidation in her heart.
That is Chu Yang...
Previously, almost every time Empress Jiang met her, Chu Yang would take the opportunity to take her away, but this time—
Eunuch Lu seemed to either have noticed her concern or had been instructed by the Empress earlier, as he chatted casually while walking: "In recent days, Your Majesty is not attending court or seeing outsiders, just resting over at Warm Dock, enjoying some singing and dancing in leisure times, probably too busy with other things to care."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately understood.
Thinking, she forced a smile: "Your Majesty handles myriad affairs, indeed should have time to rest well."
Eunuch Lu then ceased speaking, only led her forward, until they arrived at Zuocang Palace. The number of people shuttling through here was several times more than usual, Shang Ruyi watched those little eunuchs walking with heads down carrying boxes out, from afar it looked like the hustling scene of ants before the rain.
She couldn’t help but say: "Eunuch, why is it so busy here?"
Eunuch Lu turned to glance.
With a faint smile, he replied: "Your Majesty is going on a tour to Jiangdu, the things here... naturally need to be taken along."
"...Oh."
Shang Ruyi’s heart sank again, she pursed her lips and asked no more.
For just a regular tour, like the previous one to the Northern Border, did not see Chu Yang moving Zuocang Palace’s belongings, yet this time, going to Jiangdu no doubt required taking these belongings, clearly—
Her heart sank further, silently following Eunuch Lu forward.
Before long, they finally arrived at the Eastern Palace where Empress Jiang resided.
Here it was quieter than usual, and upon entering the main hall, Shang Ruyi smelled a faint medicinal scent in the air, clearly indicating the presence of a patient.
She slightly furrowed her eyebrows, walked lighter with more caution, following Eunuch Lu inward.
Usually, Empress Jiang met her in the outer hall, but this time Eunuch Lu led her all the way inside, into the inner hall.
As soon as she entered, she heard a strange man’s voice inside, lazy, even with a touch of indifference—
"Empress, you’re ill too untimely."
"...?!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s eyebrows immediately furrowed tightly.
What person dares to speak to the Empress like this!