青春期撞上更年期第1部

Shao Wanru turned her watery eyes. Then she reached out and picked up another pastry for Princess Yuyan, saying, “Have a few more pieces if you like them.”

The palace maid had quickly taken away the pastry on the table. Looking at the pastry before her and Shao Wanru, Princess Yuyan wanted to put down the chopsticks but couldn’t. She only managed a wry smile and said, “Well, it’s not…”

“Don’t you like this one? How about this one? It’s the reward from Imperial Grandmother. I hope you will like it!” Shao Wanru picked up a slightly different piece with a warm smile.

Princess Yuyan anxiously stared at the dessert. But facing Shao Wanru’s smiling face, she had to answer, “Thanks to Her Majesty!”

She picked up the piece with her chopsticks and carefully took a bite — she only ate a part about the size of a grain of rice.

Then she put down her chopsticks and wiped her lips gently with a handkerchief. “It’s indeed tasty!”

“Doesn’t you like it?” Shao Wanru asked in surprise, cocking her eyebrows.

Princess Yuyan shook her head and looked a little embarrassed. “These pastries are different from those in the Xu State. I… I haven’t gotten used to them.”

“Then you don’t have to force yourself to eat them!” The Empress Dowager said carelessly and asked with concern, “How does Commandery Prince Qing treat you?”

Princess Yuyan married into the Kingdom of Dongcang as a symbol of peace between the two countries. Out of public and private reasons, the Empress Dowager must ask about it.

“Er… He is good to me!” Princess Yuyan lowered her head and twisted her handkerchief with a little grievance. She said he was nice to her, but she didn’t look well at all.

“What’s wrong? Is he not kind to you?” The Empress Dowager became unhappy. “When he enters the Palace next time, I will talk to him about it.”

“Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with him. It’s…” Princess Yuyan wanted to say something, the rims of her eyes red. “It’s not anyone’s problem. I feel homesick!”

She didn’t complain directly but just hinted about her disappointing life. Never had she acted rudely and arrogantly. In this way, Princess Yuyan appeared much more obedient and pitiful.

This was the attitude that the elders liked most.

It seemed not all her subordinates were impulsive.

Shao Wanru remained calm, her mouth slightly twisting in a sneer. Without joining in their conversation, she just listened quietly to them.

The Empress Dowager did not pay much attention to the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion. After asking a few routine questions and comforting Princess Yuyan with a few words, she turned to talk to Shao Wanru.

Again, it was Princess Yuyan who sat quietly to accompany them.

However, Princess Yuyan was quite restless. Sometimes, she looked at the pastries on the table with a frown and seemed to be thinking about something. Sometimes, she started observing the maids serving the Empress Dowager. Shao Wanru always had a feeling that she was scrutinizing something.

In addition, she didn’t look well.

“What do you think of it, Princess Yuyan?” It happened that Empress Dowager started talking about Ruiping Great Elder Princess. With a smile, Shao Wanru gave Princess Yuyan a chance to speak.

However, Princess Yuyan didn’t pay attention to them and their words. She didn’t react to Shao Wanru’s question in time.

A Nanny behind her stepped forward and gently pushed her. Only then did she suddenly realize what had happened. When she turned around, she saw Empress Dowager and Shao Wanru looking at her. Hurriedly, she explained, “I just remembered some things in the mansion… and was absent-minded for a while. Your Majesty, please forgive me.”

“Are you tired? If so, you can go back first!” The Empress Dowager asked with her eyes on Princess Yuyan.

“Your Majesty, I… I will leave first!” Princess Yuyan stood up and said, following the advice readily.

“Nanny Wei, see Princess Yuyan off!” The Empress Dowager nodded and ordered.

Nanny Wei answered with a smile and led the way, followed by Princess Yuyan.

After they left, Shao Wanru held the Empress Dowager’s hand and said, “Imperial Grandmother, are these pastries made by a new chef?”

“Yes?” The Empress Dowager nodded and said in confusion.

“Ask someone to check these pastries and whether the newcomer has anything to do with the Xu State!” Shao Wanru spoke in a low, strained voice.

Princess Yuyan had a strange look on her face, especially after she saw the dessert. When Princess Yuyan picked up one for the first time, Shao Wanru saw her open her mouth. It would be a small bite, but Shao Wanru didn’t expect her to eat a part as small as a rice grain. Later, when Shao Wanru talked to Empress Dowager, Princess Yuyan secretly observed these pastries.

Obviously, Princess Yuyan knew something and was searching for something, but Shao Wanru was not entirely sure.

Since she had done so, there must be something fishy. The Empress Dowager was in poor health and needed to be taken good care of.

Seeing Shao Wanru’s serious look, the Empress Dowager nodded at once. She turned to a palace maid standing aside and gave a hint with her eyes. After that, the palace maid came forward and took the pastries away.

“Imperial Grandmother, did you think I was not seriously injured?” Shao Wanru asked.

“I heard in the beginning that it was just a little scratch. Nothing serious!” Though the Empress Dowager felt it was a strange question, she still explained. Patting Shao Wanru’s hand that was holding hers, she kindly appeased her, “It’s okay. It’s all right now!”

“Who told you this?” Shao Wanru asked.

The Empress Dowager frowned. Thinking for a while, she answered, “Nanny Wei. Pushan Nun also said so.”

Her heart leaped with alarm, and Shao Wanru asked, “How could Pushan Nun see you?”

“I had been in poor health. Nanny Wei told me Pushan Nun was good at asking for effective Buddha power. Therefore, I occasionally would ask Pushan Nun to come over and chant scriptures!” The Empress Dowager said.

No wonder she saw Pushan Nun’s disciple in the Empress Dowager’s place.

The Empress Dowager, with a prominent noble status, was in poor health. It was very common for her to ask Pushan Nun to preach a sermon or chant scriptures.

“Were there any other nuns in the Buddha hall?” Shao Wanru asked. It was Shao Yanru who recommended Pushan Nun to enter the Palace. But she was curious why Pushan Nun had been living in the Palace the whole time.

Shao Wanru didn’t know much about Pushan Nun. This nun seemed to be always perfectly proper in her behavior.

She had been like this in the Yuhui Nunnery and the Palace now.

“There was one, but she was in poor health and suddenly fell ill. Pushan Nun happened to enter the Palace, so I asked her to stay at the Palace and take charge of the affairs of the Buddha Hall. We’ll settle things when the former one gets better.”

The Empress Dowager explained.

Since Pushan Nun entered the Palace, the former abbot of the Buddha Hall was sent out of the Palace because of illness. Since she had been managing the Buddha Hall, she certainly wouldn’t leave.

“Are you feeling any better since she is here?” Shao Wanru asked while reaching out to feel the Empress Dowager’s pulse. “May I take your pulse?”

Now she increasingly regarded the Empress Dowager as an ordinary and respectable elder.

“Of course. Pushan Nun knows well how to get Buddha power. Since she chanted scriptures for me, I indeed felt much better. During that period, my illness occurred occasionally. Since she came to help me from time to time, I recovered quickly.” The Empress Dowager nodded and said with a benign smile.

Shao Wanru lowered her head and quietly felt her pulse, her watery eyes turning a little serious.

Her pulse seemed very stable. Though it was not very vigorous, there was nothing wrong with it. After all, she was an aged lady. But after careful diagnosis, Shao Wanru always felt her pulse a little stagnant.

“Let’s see the other hand.” Shao Wanru put down the Empress Dowager’s hand.

The Empress Dowager nodded and casually stretched out the other hand to let Shao Wanru check on her. She looked very peaceful with a bright smile. The Empress Dowager didn’t care what Shao Wanru could find. She was just pleased to see her being so devoted to her.

The Empress Dowager only had two sons. Though she adopted another one later, none of her sons could be as considerate as a girl. She was very pleased to see Shao Wanru being so sensitive and caring.

Shao Wanru put down the Empress Dowager’s hand and smiled. “My medical skills are not good enough, but I have a master. Could I ask her to examine you?”

She still felt suspicious and wanted Mingqiu Nun to have a look.

“Of course, you can do that. But don’t be anxious. I’m fine recently. You should be careful, and don’t worry too much!” The Empress Dowager reminded her in a soft voice.

“I know. Thank you, Imperial Grandmother.” Shao Wanru raised her head with a bright smile on her pink and tender face, her long eyelashes fluttering. She appeared very lovable and gentle.

The Empress Dowager had grown quite fond of her. In her eyes, her striking appearance was a perfect match for Chen’er. It was very pleasing to see the young couple standing together. The Empress Dowager felt happy whenever she thought of such a beautiful couple.

After talking for a while, Shao Wanru took leave of the Empress Dowager and said she would bring Mingqiu Nun here tomorrow. The Empress Dowager agreed to her requests with a nod.

At the Palace gate, she met Nanny Wei, who came back in a hurry.

At the sight of Shao Wanru, Nanny Wei hurried forward to bow with a surprised look. Obviously, she didn’t expect Shao Wanru to leave so soon.

“Did you send Princess Yuyan to the Palace gate?” Shao Wanru spoke in a careless way.

“After I accompanied her here, I went to check the ginseng soup. It’s time for Her Majesty to have it!” Nanny Wei had already prepared for this and answered with a smile.

Shao Wanru looked at Nanny Wei, smiling, but didn’t ask any more questions. She just nodded at her and walked away with two servant girls. Meanwhile, Nanny Wei stood behind her to see her off with a smile.

When Shao Wanru was out of sight, her face crumpled, and her eye corners suddenly fell. Clouds of gloom settled over her. She clicked her tongue hard. Thinking of what Princess Yuyan had said, she looked sullen.

Nanny Wei didn’t like Shao Wanru or Princess Yuyan. Her nephew said Princess Mo, who married into the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion, was his backer and niece. Without a doubt, she would help Princess Mo.

As for how Wei Dahai got his niece, Nanny Wei didn’t care. It was good that he had one! Moreover, his niece would be Commandery Prince Qing’s legal wife…