Emperor Jingming was thinking that the Empress Dowager was getting old, and by spring, she might forget…

The Empress Dowager gave Emperor Jingming a deep look, shattering his pleasant fantasy: “There have been many incidents lately. I want to go to the Dafu Temple to pray for peace and harmony in the coming year. Wouldn’t it be too late to go in spring?”

“But it’s freezing outside. I’m worried about you leaving the palace…” Emperor Jingming struggled.

The Empress Dowager smiled: “Dafu Temple is within the city and is a royal temple. What is there to worry about? I know the Emperor has encountered many troublesome matters recently. This time, I’m going to pray for the Emperor.”

Emperor Jingming was moved: “Mother, I can’t bear to see you travel in such weather.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression turned serious: “How can going to Dafu Temple to offer incense be called traveling? Your Majesty, don’t try to dissuade me. I won’t be at ease if I don’t go.”

Emperor Jingming rarely said no to the Empress Dowager. Seeing her insistence, he had to agree.

“Then I’ll order Han Ran to accompany you.”

“Why make such a fuss? I plan to go quietly, with fewer people.”

“As you wish.” Emperor Jingming said this, but inwardly decided to have people secretly escort her.

The Empress Dowager finally smiled: “It’s the end of the year, and government offices will be closing. Your Majesty shouldn’t spend all day cooped up in the study reading memorials. There’s no end to the incoming memorials. Set them aside for a while and relax for a few days.”

Pan Hai, standing behind Emperor Jingming, silently lowered his head.

Spending all day in the study reading memorials…

Emperor Jingming glanced at Pan Hai and coughed: “I understand, Mother. I won’t let myself get too tired.”

“If Your Majesty knows to balance work and rest, I can be at ease.” The Empress Dowager turned the prayer beads in her hand, remembering Princess Rongyang’s mention of Prince Yan’s wife’s disrespect, but still didn’t say a word to Emperor Jingming about it.

The Empress Dowager’s ability to earn Emperor Jingming’s sincere respect and filial piety was certainly related to her discretion.

For many years, the Empress Dowager had rarely mentioned court affairs to Emperor Jingming. For example, regarding the current situation with the Crown Prince being deposed and the position of heir apparent vacant, the Empress Dowager hadn’t said a single word.

Therefore, if the Empress Dowager were to speak ill of someone, it would carry great weight with Emperor Jingming.

Stopping the rotation of her prayer beads, the Empress Dowager smiled: “Your Majesty, go attend to your duties. I’m feeling a bit tired.”

After Emperor Jingming left, the Empress Dowager leaned against the warming brazier and closed her eyes.

An old maid placed a soft pillow behind the Empress Dowager’s back.

Soon, a maid came in to report: “Your Majesty, Princess Rongyang has arrived.”

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes: “Let her in.”

Moments later, the brocade cotton curtain was lifted by a palace maid, and Princess Rongyang, dressed in red, gracefully entered.

Noticing Princess Rongyang’s slightly reddened eyes, the Empress Dowager asked: “What’s the matter?”

Princess Rongyang approached and knelt by the Empress Dowager’s knee: “Mother, I dreamed of Mingyue…”

“You dreamed of Mingyue?” The Empress Dowager’s first reaction was to frown.

Even if she had once truly loved that granddaughter who had killed her newlywed husband and fled, any remaining affection was now almost non-existent.

Princess Rongyang’s eyes glistened with tears: “I dreamed that Mingyue was bleeding from seven orifices, her death extremely tragic… Mother, something must have happened to Mingyue!”

The Empress Dowager felt chills down her spine and said: “Don’t overthink it.”

“Mother, there’s a connection between mother and daughter. My feelings can’t be wrong. Mingyue didn’t run away; she must have been harmed…”

The Empress Dowager still cared for her only adopted daughter. Seeing her like this, she sighed: “Alright, I plan to go to Dafu Temple to offer incense tomorrow. If you’re uneasy, come with me.”

A flash of joy appeared in Princess Rongyang’s eyes, and she quickly agreed.

The next day was good weather.

The winter sun was unusually bright, melting the snow piled in the corners of walls, and icicles on tree branches dripped water.

Princess Rongyang waited early outside and left the palace with the Empress Dowager for Dafu Temple.

The Empress Dowager didn’t want to make a big show, so she shared a carriage with Princess Rongyang. They brought few palace servants, and the carriage bore no royal insignia.

On the way to Dafu Temple, the carriage was blocked by people watching some commotion ahead.

“What’s going on?” the Empress Dowager asked with a frown.

Princess Rongyang lifted the curtain and gave some instructions to the palace servants standing by the carriage.

The servant nodded, ran into the crowd to inquire, and soon returned to report: “There’s a young man who won’t let go of a young woman, insisting that she go with him…”

“Is no one intervening?” Princess Rongyang asked.

The servant hesitated for a moment.

The Empress Dowager, with a calm expression and closed eyes, showed little interest in listening.

Wealthy young troublemakers harassing innocent women was a common occurrence. If she were to be curious and concerned about every such incident, it would be too exhausting.

Having been in the palace for many years, the Empress Dowager had developed a thick skin.

However, Princess Rongyang was more curious than the Empress Dowager: “Is there something you can’t say?”

The servant said: “That man claims to be a relative of Prince Yan’s wife. He says if anyone dares to interfere, he’ll make them pay dearly.”

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes: “A relative of Prince Yan’s wife?”

With a preexisting unfavorable impression of Jiang Si, coupled with Princess Rongyang’s occasional insinuations, the Empress Dowager naturally had no fondness for Jiang Si and even disliked her.

However, she was patient and didn’t intend to speak ill of her to Emperor Jingming over trivial matters. But if there was an opportunity to teach Prince Yan’s wife a lesson, she would be willing.

Suddenly, there was a commotion, and someone shouted: “Someone’s dead!”

Many people surged forward, while others ran back, creating a chaotic scene.

The guard driving the carriage immediately backed it up.

The Empress Dowager’s face darkened completely: “Go see what’s happening. If someone has died, what are the Five Districts Command doing, eating for free?”

Just as she said this, a team of officials hurriedly arrived. The lead official shouted from afar: “Everyone makes way! Where is the villain who harassed the innocent woman?”

As soon as the officials arrived, the spectators instantly parted to the sides, revealing the scene inside.

The scene was quite gruesome.

A young man in his early twenties was staring blankly at something. Following his gaze, a slender woman was lying face down by the wall.

The woman’s face was turned to one side, her forehead caved in, with blood flowing profusely, blurring her features.

The onlookers were shocked, angry, and gossiping. Their innate curiosity seemed to root their feet to the ground, standing firmly without moving.

The lead official was stunned for a moment, then became furious: “Men, arrest this murderer!”

Wasn’t it supposed to be just harassment of an innocent woman? How did it turn into a murder? How are we supposed to have a peaceful New Year now?

As two officials came forward to grab his shoulders, the young man immediately struggled: “Let go of me! I didn’t kill her, why are you arresting me?”

“You may not have killed her, but you drove her to death!” Someone in the crowd finally shouted.

The onlookers immediately agreed.

The young man wiped his face: “I was just asking her for directions. I didn’t force her to do anything. Officer, you might not know, but I’m Prince Yan’s wife’s uncle.”