Free Web NovelChapter 1249: Chapter 1249: Stirring Up Trouble 2
The Empress Dowager’s face darkened, her expression becoming complex.
Yet she desperately tried to conceal her emotions, forcing a smile as she spoke to the Emperor.
"Does the Emperor not wish to know who the palace maid kneeling on the ground is?"
Zhao Junyao heard this and couldn’t be bothered to look, merely letting out a mocking chuckle.
"The Empress Dowager is truly confused!"
"I, the Emperor of a great nation, am occupied day and night with endless affairs, and can only catch my breath in the evening!"
"When there is such rare leisure, I want to accompany the true Empress for tea and moon viewing!"
"When did it become the Emperor’s concern to deal with palace maid matters?"
"Mother, if you have nothing else, you might as well return to the palace to rest!"
With steady and reasonable words, Zhao Junyao left the Empress Dowager speechless.
Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing felt as if flowers bloomed in her heart, wishing she could stand up and cheer for Zhao Junyao.
Of course, with the Empress Dowager still present, she had to remain composed.
The Empress Dowager found herself at a loss for words, while the palace maid on the ground lowered her head, not daring to speak, the atmosphere tense and rigid.
Zhao Junyao remained calm; Xia Ruqing as well, until finally, the Empress Dowager could no longer bear it.
She no longer bothered to feign any expressions, instead displaying a cold and indifferent demeanor.
"Emperor, you should take a look!"
"Some people, once missed, will be regretted for the rest of your life!"
Zhao Junyao almost laughed out loud.
"What have I missed?"
"Empress Dowager, you are too funny!"
"Simply bringing an unknown woman from outside the palace, I’ve said nothing about."
"But now you insist on presenting her before me!"
"One wonders what the Empress Dowager truly intends?!"
She was cold and heartless, yet he was not one to back down.
With all evidence already in hand, dealing with the Empress Dowager was only a matter of time.
At this moment, he was like a cat with a caught mouse, not eating it immediately, but instead playing with it leisurely.
He would drive the despicable little mouse to desperation until the very end.
His pleasure lay not in the result, but in the process and that final moment—the opponent’s extreme despair and disbelief.
That was the most beautiful scenery, wasn’t it?
Indeed, the Empress Dowager was trembling with rage.
"Zhao Junyao, you!"
"Look again; see who she is?"
Speaking, she commanded the palace maid;
"Raise your head quickly!"
With the Empress Dowager’s angry shout, the maid raised her head.
Zhao Junyao was uninterested in looking, but Xia Ruqing couldn’t suppress her curiosity and glanced over.
This look shocked her greatly.
’Oh my goodness!’
’Even if the Empress Dowager intends for someone to compete for favor, shouldn’t it at least be a young girl to have any competitiveness?’
’This woman’s features are also beautiful, but she is clearly an old woman!’
’Look at the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, tsk tsk! What is she supposed to say?!’
’What on earth is the Empress Dowager doing with this woman? Is there something wrong with her mind?!’
After Xia Ruqing’s internal mocking, she focused on Zhao Junyao’s expression.
Only to find Zhao Junyao reluctantly turning his gaze towards the woman.
Meanwhile, the woman was also looking at him.
As their eyes met.
The woman’s gaze clearly brightened, eyes turning moist, tears seeming to spill at the corners, her face full of grievance and tenderness seemingly ready to drip.
And Zhao Junyao’s expression moved from impatience to surprise, then to incredulity.
"Manman!"
He leaned slightly forward, his face full of astonishment.
"Is it you?!" freēwēbηovel.c૦m
He suddenly stood up.
The palace maid-dressed woman crawled forward a few steps on the ground, unable to hold back her sobs.
"Emperor!"
"Emperor! It’s me!"
"Emperor! It’s your servant!"
Her voice was filled with trembling and fear, tinged with long-endured grievance and... longing.
Zhao Junyao instinctively wanted to move forward another step, but restrained himself.
Nevertheless, the impatience in his eyes was completely replaced by shock and disbelief.
Seeing his expression and actions, Xia Ruqing... well...
She was even more incredulous.
’What on earth is all this?’
’How did the Emperor change his face so quickly?!’
She couldn’t quite figure out what was happening yet!
Judging by the appearance...
This surely seemed like he’d met an old flame!
Look at these two, as if the separated lovers across the Milky Way were finally reunited.
Tsk tsk! Such mutual affection!
Though she muttered this, the feeling in her heart was... freewebnσvel.cøm
’Heavens and earth, why did I have to see this?!’
How was she completely in the dark that Zhao Junyao had an old lover?!
Craziness! Madness!
Her heart felt like a vast prairie ablaze.
And Zhao Junyao ignited it with a large flame, it was all burning.
"What about now? Still claiming not to know?"
Beside them, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but speak with smug joy.
Zhao Junyao suddenly glared at her fiercely.
"Empress Dowager, you..."
"You actually...!"
The Empress Dowager burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
"Is the Emperor not satisfied?"
"Do you know how much effort I put into finding Lady Manman?"
"You absolutely must not be ungrateful!"
"You...!"
Zhao Junyao’s face turned livid with anger, the surrounding atmosphere instantly becoming icy, like an eternal, unfrozen glacier.
He looked down at the face of the woman called Manman, then glared at the Empress Dowager.
"What did you do to her?!"
The Empress Dowager paused before halting her laughter and said.
"See how the Emperor speaks!"
"I simply meant to make amends for past regrets by returning Lady Manman to you!"
"Beyond that, I’ve done nothing else!"
The anger in Zhao Junyao’s eyes gradually extinguished, and he visibly let out a breath of relief.
He turned back to his seat, looked at the woman, and lightly commanded.
"Stand up!"
"Thank you, Emperor!"
The woman’s voice was still sweet and fragile, sounding very pitiful.
The Empress Dowager seized the opportunity to speak again.
"This is much better!"
"It’s good she’s returned!"
She then looked at Xia Ruqing, displaying a false smile as she spoke.
"Let me introduce!"
"This is Lady Manman, the Accountant Woman Official who was at the Imperial Son’s side back then!"
"She accompanied the Imperial Son day and night from the age of sixteen, serving closely, personally selected by him from among noblewomen."
"Unfortunately, later... due to some circumstances, she left the palace regretfully!"
Xia Ruqing clearly saw the pride in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
She also felt the Empress Dowager intentionally emphasizing ’served day and night’ and ’personally selected.’"
Phew...
Deep breaths, stay calm, don’t take the bait!
Before hearing Zhao Junyao’s explanation personally, she mustn’t fall for it.
Thinking carefully, Xia Ruqing wore her usual kind and tolerant smile.
"Empress Dowager, there’s no need for regret!"
"Some relationships are destined by heaven, leaving the palace indicates she lacks the fate and blessing!"
"It has nothing to do with you!"
