Chapter 18: 018 A Tiny Conspiracy 2

Inside He'an Palace.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager was resting on a soft couch, a smile having crept onto her cheeks at some unknown point.

"Empress Dowager, I haven't seen you smile in a long time!" Yu'er, the maid currently massaging the Empress Dowager's legs, couldn't help but ask upon seeing her smile. "I wonder what happy thing has happened to Your Majesty?"

"Indeed!" The Empress Dowager stared at Yu'er. This Yu'er was a good maid; she had entered the palace to serve her at the age of seven and had remained so until now. With a slight smile, she said, "It has been a long time since my heart has felt any joy!"

"Is it because of Consort Liu?" Yu'er stopped her movements, walked to the front of the couch, and began to gently knead the Empress Dowager's shoulders, her lips pursed. "I can tell that Your Majesty likes Consort Liu very much."

The Empress Dowager froze, then laughed. "Yes! I didn't see her at first. But once I did, I grew fond of that girl!" Recalling what Liu Qian'er had said to her yesterday, she truly was a sensible girl. However, she hadn't even known when Qian'er had left He'an Palace last night, because she had slept a peaceful sleep. Ever since the late Emperor passed away, she had not had a single night of truly restful sleep!

"Consort Xi arrives!" A sharp announcement drifted in slowly. Dressed dazzlingly, Li Xi entered the Empress Dowager's sleeping quarters with small, dainty steps. Standing before the couch, she leaned her body slightly, performed a gentle bow, and said tenderly, "This servant offers greetings to Mother Empress!"

"Rise," the Empress Dowager nodded slightly, asking with a voice as calm as water, "It is so early; what business does Xi'er have?"

"Mother Empress!" Li Xi pouted, swaying her hips as she stepped forward, looking pitiful and helpless. "Xi'er wants to go out of the palace!"

Hearing this, a surge of anger rose within the Empress Dowager. Usually, her sons were the ones lingering outside the palace; now, even her concubines were beginning to become restless.

"Leave the palace?" The Empress Dowager's expression soured as she rebuked, "How can a consort think of leaving the palace whenever she pleases? What kind of decorum is that?"

Li Xi was blooming with joy in her heart, yet her face maintained an air of pitiable distress. Controlling her emotions, she squeezed out two tears and said, "Mother Empress... Xi'er only wants to go out to find the Emperor. The Emperor has already been outside the palace for quite some time!" Her purpose in doing this was to test and provoke the Empress Dowager, and she hadn't expected to actually succeed.

"I shall send people out to search for him!" Seeing Li Xi's pitiful appearance, the Empress Dowager's heart softened. She gently patted Li Xi's shoulder and said, "This truly makes things difficult for you!"

"But..." Li Xi feigned mystery and continued, "But younger sister, she..."

Hearing the mention of "younger sister," the Empress Dowager naturally understood who she meant. She asked anxiously, "What happened to Qian'er?"

"Sister... sister has gone out of the palace!" Seeing the Empress Dowager's anxious expression, Li Xi felt an itch in her teeth from anger, and the hatred in her heart deepened further.

The Empress Dowager laughed heartily. "How could that be? Qian'er is likely already on her way to He'an Palace!" Calculating the time, it should have been about the time it takes to burn an incense stick since little Dezi went to Yilan Palace; she should be arriving soon.

Just as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, little Dezi ran in, panting heavily.

"This servant..." Just as little Dezi was about to say something, his gaze fell upon Li Xi, so he obediently shut his mouth again.

The Empress Dowager shot a glance at little Dezi, then looked behind him.

She felt a slight worry in her heart; she didn't see any sign of Qian'er. Could it be true, as Li Xi said, that Qian'er had left the palace?

"If you have something to say, say it!" The smile had long since vanished from the Empress Dowager's face.

"Consort Liu..." Little Dezi paused for a moment before continuing, "Consort Liu is not in Yilan Palace!"

"Have you searched the imperial palace?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Searched, but could not find her!" little Dezi answered word by word.

"Go to the Prime Minister's manor immediately. Qian'er must have returned there!" The Empress Dowager gave an awkward smile. If Qian'er could leave the palace, it was because she had granted her the command token; one could not blame Qian'er, as it was only natural to return to her maiden home. It was just a matter of how to explain this to Xi'er?

"Mother Empress!" Li Xi squeezed out more tears, saying aggrievedly, "Xi'er has not seen her parents for almost a year. I beg Mother Empress to also grant permission for Xi'er to return to the General's manor!"

"Since Xi'er misses home, I shall send someone to escort you back to the General's manor another day," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.

Li Xi thought that being able to leave the palace wasn't a bad thing; she was nearly bored to death staying in the imperial palace all day. At this thought, she quickly compromised. "Xi'er will follow Mother Empress's arrangements. Xi'er thanks Mother Empress!"