As soon as Liang Yunshan left, Luo Meixiang’s expression darkened.

She sat down to think for a moment, then called out loudly: “Ai Ye, Ku Ju!”

Ai Ye and Ku Ju had been waiting just outside the door and hurried in.

“Ai Ye, what exactly happened just now?”

Ai Ye dropped to her knees with a “thud.” “Madam, the tea I poured the second time was clearly warm, absolutely not hot enough to burn.”

Luo Meixiang trusted her confidant and didn’t blame her. “I know that. Then why did tea that wasn’t hot at all become so scalding I couldn’t hold it when it reached my hands?”

Ku Ju and Ai Ye looked at each other uncertainly.

Finally, Ai Ye said: “Madam, this servant has heard a rumor, though I don’t know if it’s true or false.”

“Which one?”

“Earlier you instructed this servant to pay attention to every move at the Qin residence. This servant did hear a rumor that… the Qin residence is haunted.”

“How so?”

“Could the First Madam’s boldness be related to that rumor?”

Luo Meixiang’s eyes darkened and began to flicker.

…

When Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying reached the entrance, the steward in charge of carriages was personally waiting. “First Master, First Madam, the carriage is ready just outside the main gate. Please follow this servant.”

The Marquis of Pingxi’s carriage was incomparable to the Qin residence’s carriages.

Luxurious, stable, comfortable, and fast.

Lu Ye had already prepared delicious food and was waiting by the carriage, discreetly slipping some to Ziteng and Hong Juan.

Once in the carriage, Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying ate some food.

From here to the imperial palace wasn’t too far.

They had just finished eating and tidied their appearance when they could already see the red walls and green tiles of the palace.

Yangxin Hall.

Emperor Delong was reviewing memorials. Hearing they had arrived, he didn’t look up. “Come in.”

Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying entered and kowtowed three times.

Emperor Delong had been very busy lately. He casually said a few words about marital harmony and building their careers together, then they thanked him for his grace and prepared to withdraw.

Suddenly, Emperor Delong remembered something and called to Zhao Quansheng: “I remember the Empress said she wanted to meet Seventh Miss, Madam Liang… mm, you take her to see her.”

Zhao Quansheng acknowledged and made a gesture of invitation. “Madam Liang, please come with this servant.”

Qin Shuying smiled slightly. “Thank you, Eunuch Zhao.”

“No need to thank me. Guard Liang, you can rest in the front.”

Liang Zhe nodded. “Thank you for your trouble, sir.”

From Yangxin Hall to the Empress’s Fengyi Palace wasn’t very far, but walking there still took about two cups of tea’s time.

Zhao Quansheng and Qin Shuying walked one after the other until they reached outside Fengyi Palace.

Zhao Quansheng had Qin Shuying wait outside while he went in first to announce her arrival.

Standing in the sunlight, Qin Shuying felt very strange. The magnificent and grand Fengyi Palace surprisingly had very few people coming and going.

Soon after, the Empress sent word for Qin Shuying to have an audience.

Qin Shuying felt somewhat apprehensive.

What kind of person was Empress Wen exactly?

She hadn’t seen outsiders for decades, held the phoenix seal in her hands, yet didn’t manage any palace affairs.

Everyone in court knew of Noble Consort De, Lianpin, and Kangpin, but very few people mentioned Empress Wen.

She had once heard Xu Shi gossip that even Lady Lianpin had never seen her.

Every time the imperial consorts had audiences with Empress Wen, there was always a layer of gauze or a screen between them, and no one could see her true appearance.

She walked inside. In the gorgeous and lofty palace hall, there were surprisingly only two palace maids of considerable age serving.

Deep in the hall, an extremely wide screen stood in the very center.

A woman’s silhouette sat behind the screen, making it impossible to see her features.

A nanny stood outside the screen. “Madam Liang, Her Majesty the Empress is here.”

Qin Shuying knelt down and kowtowed several times. “This subject’s wife greets Her Majesty the Empress. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live.”

“No need for excessive courtesy, please rise.” Behind the screen, Empress Wen’s voice was gentle and seemed warm. “Tell me, how did you and Guard Liang come to know each other?”

Qin Shuying was startled, then recited the public version of their story.

Initially she had seen Liang Zhe fighting with Luo Huan at Princess Yongjia’s residence, later at Guangbin Tower she learned he was involved in a murder case and spoke a few words out of righteous indignation.

Later, later came the imperial decree of marriage.

“So you’re saying your first meeting was at Princess Yongjia’s… residence?”

“In response to Your Majesty, it was at the Princess Imperial’s residence.”

“Then why did you go there?”

Qin Shuying explained the reason – the Princess Imperial held flower-pinning banquets almost every year.

“Was that place… nice?”

Qin Shuying was puzzled. What did this mean?

The nanny beside the Empress prompted: “For instance, were the buildings large? Beautiful? What kinds of things were there? Was that… Princess Yongjia happy or not?”

Qin Shuying was even more puzzled, but without thinking she began describing the layout, scenery, and delicacies of Princess Yongjia’s residence.

Empress Wen seemed to listen very attentively without interrupting her.

After Qin Shuying finished speaking, she realized she had said everything.

Then she added: “Your Majesty, this subject’s wife has been honored by the Princess Imperial’s regard and often reads books at her residence. The Princess Imperial has a kind nature and a magnanimous heart.”

This matter was no longer a secret anyway.

However, Qin Shuying chose not to mention going to play in the back mountains with Princess Yongjia.

Behind the screen, there was no sound for a long time.

After a while, Empress Wen asked again: “Then, Madam Liang, after your marriage decree, did you meet again?”

Qin Shuying felt embarrassed and thought for a moment before saying: “We met twice.”

“What did you talk about?”

Qin Shuying made up a lie, saying they had accidentally encountered each other on the street, then casually walked around and bought some snacks.

Empress Wen fell silent again for a moment.

Then she said: “Madam Liang, I find your conversation amusing. How about this – when you have leisure time in the future, come keep me company for conversation.”

Qin Shuying naturally had to agree.

“Today I am weary. Nanny, please see Madam Liang out. Since Madam Liang and Guard Liang are loving spouses, I won’t keep you for dinner. You may return now. Nanny, go to the marquis residence afterward to bestow rewards.”

The nanny acknowledged and came over to show the way: “Madam Liang, please follow this servant.”

Qin Shuying followed her out and saw Zhao Quansheng standing outside waiting.

“Nanny Yao, this servant will take charge of Madam Liang now.”

Nanny Yao appeared to be nearly fifty years old, well-maintained, with an outstanding temperament. She smiled warmly: “Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zhao.”

Zhao Quansheng nodded and gestured for Qin Shuying to follow him.

He brought her to where Liang Zhe was, then returned to report back.

Once in the carriage, Liang Zhe said: “Shuying, why were you gone so long?”

Qin Shuying breathed a sigh of relief. For some reason, she felt as if she had fallen into an enormous mystery.

She recounted everything that had happened in Empress Wen’s palace.

Liang Zhe listened in complete bewilderment. “Why is Her Majesty asking about these things between us two?”

“I don’t know either. Ziyu, have you ever seen Her Majesty the Empress?”