After marrying a sickly and powerful official, Jiaojiao cries every day

The heavy rain was pouring down so fast that it made the umbrellas bang loudly.

After hearing this, Wen Ranyan raised her eyebrows and asked, "The Empress Dowager of the previous Emperor is looking for me?"

Si Jin brushed off the moisture on her body and nodded, "It's her."

"What does she want to see me for?" Wen Ranyan held an oil-paper umbrella and walked leisurely, not in any hurry to meet the empress dowager.

Sijin shook her head: "I don't know."

Wen Ranyan looked at the falling rain, the splashing rain soaked the fabric of her left shoulder, her eyes were as bright and clear as if washed, and her smile was overflowing.

The empress dowager was the biological mother of the late emperor. When Helian Xiao was in power, she had already ignored the trivial affairs of the harem for many years and had never even shown up at palace banquets. She only worshipped Buddha, admired flowers, played with birds and listened to operas in Shou'an Palace where she lived.

Because she knew that with her son sitting on the throne, she would not have to worry about any trivial matters and could enjoy wealth and glory and live out her life in peace.

But at this moment, the imperial power was overthrown and someone was plotting to usurp the throne. Even though her life was safe, she was still afraid and wanted to do something to demonstrate her power as the empress dowager and hide her panic.

The summons today might be to use the Queen Mother's power to punish her.

Si Jin held up her skirt and led the way: "Madam, the road is slippery in the rain, be careful of your steps."

"Yeah." Wen Ranyan held an umbrella and followed her slowly.

The wind blew the rain, and the scattered skirt brushed against the pearl lamp niche on one side. When the two walked through the corridor, the heavy rain had stopped and Shou'an Palace was in sight.

Wen Ranyan put away her umbrella, looked at the plaque hanging high above the palace gate, and smiled gently and long.

But the Queen Mother is only Helian Xiao's biological mother, not Feng Qiwu's. It was a favor for her to spare her life. Now that she cannot distinguish the priorities and cannot put herself in the right position, I don't know if she will end up making things worse.

Sijin helped Wen Ranyan into the gate of Shou'an Palace, but no one came out to greet them.

The maids who were cleaning the palace were all doing their own things. Even those who had nothing to do would just walk past in a hurry without saying a word or even giving them a glance.

Wen Ranyan became even more certain that the empress dowager really wanted to warn her.

Still trying to intimidate her.

"If the master doesn't kill her, she will really think she is the queen mother and act arrogantly." Sijin's voice was neither too loud nor too low, and she spoke lightly and reprimanded without any hesitation.

She was Feng Qiwu's subordinate, and did as she pleased just like her master, so she didn't take the powerless empress dowager seriously.

Wen Ranyan let her vent and walked towards the main hall on her own. Her pace was leisurely and calm, as if she treated this place as a back garden where she could play around.

If no one came to greet her, she would just walk over there by herself, but she would not be stupid enough to stand there in the sun waiting for someone to call her.

But before he had taken a few steps, a palace maid came to stop him.

"Madam, please stay. You are not allowed to enter until the Queen Mother summons you."

"After all, I come from a humble background. Not only do I have a low standard, I can't even learn the rules."

They were the senior palace maids in the Empress Dowager's Palace, so they naturally looked down on Wen Ranyan, who was born a concubine, and their eyes were full of contempt.

Wen Ranyan easily brushed away the palace maid who was blocking her way, and said without mercy, "We have made such a big fuss, but there is no sound in the palace. Maybe the old man has suddenly become ill. We must go and take a look, so that there will not be another dead soul in the palace, which will pollute this magnificent palace."

She was as light as a swallow, and several difficult palace maids could not trap her at all.

But before he had taken a few steps, Wen Ranyan turned sideways and smiled: "Also, if you can't look at people, you don't need eyes."

Seeing her rude words and disrespect for superiors and inferiors, several senior palace maids were about to scold her.

Suddenly, I felt a pain in both my eyes and when I covered my eyes, blood gushed out, it was horrible.

"what--"

In a moment, shrill screams circled in the sky, scaring away the birds on the branches.

Eyes, eyes...!

They are completely invisible, ahhh!

Wen Ranyan put away the poisonous silk, and smiled amid the screams. She walked gracefully, and her scattered skirt was like the mist from the fairyland left in the human world, hazy and enchanting.

Is she in too good of a temper recently, so that everyone wants to bully her?

"Madam is so majestic." Si Jin ran to her side and followed her closely, her eyes shining brightly, unable to conceal her joy and admiration.

Wen Ranyan walked slowly to the main hall, but found that the empress dowager was not inside. She only saw palace servants carrying several boxes and cages into the hall.

There were several boxes and crates, all looked heavy, and I wondered what was inside.

Before Wen Ranyan could take a closer look, a well-dressed nanny came towards her. She had a smile on her face and looked respectful, and it was impossible to find any fault with her.

"Madam is looking forward to seeing you. Please follow me. The Queen Mother is listening to a play on the stage in the backyard."

Wen Ranyan retracted her gaze and said with an interested smile: "Lead the way."

Perhaps the commotion here disturbed the Queen Mother, and she realized that she was not someone to be trifled with, and was afraid that the situation would become difficult to resolve, so she sent a nanny to greet her with a smile and kindly lead the way for her.

There was a stage in Shou'an Palace. The recent rainstorm had just passed, but the fresh moisture in the air had not dissipated, and the sound of opera singing lingered in Wen Ranyan's ears.

"Empress Dowager, the lady is here." The nanny whispered with a smile in the Empress Dowager's ear.

The Queen Mother was concentrating on listening to the opera. When she heard the voice, she turned her head and looked up and down at Wen Ranyan with her bright eyes. After a long while, she spoke in a friendly manner.

"He is such a wonderful person, no wonder His Majesty likes him. Please sit down."

Wen Ranyan took a seat in response, looking around.

The empress dowager was wearing Shu brocade, which was a tribute of yellow satin and embroidered with weeping peonies. Her every move exuded royal demeanor and elegance. Although she was now over 50 years old, her face showed no signs of aging, which showed how well she had taken care of herself.

Wen Ranyan calmly withdrew his gaze and looked towards the stage again, and found that a good show was being performed on the stage.

The unique singing style of Yiya Yiya, with the unique charm of opera, sang the song of the evil concubine bringing disaster to the country exquisitely and with ups and downs. Finally, the song ended with the evil concubine being given a cup of poisoned wine.

It's really gratifying.

The Queen Mother closed her eyes and listened intently. When she had time, she spoke in an ambiguous tone: "Wen, how do you think of the play I prepared today?"

Wen Ranyan casually ate the candied fruit and said slowly: "It's particularly fascinating."

Hearing this, the Queen Mother could not help but frown. This play was carefully prepared by her, and her original intention was to satirize people. If it were someone else, they would have been ashamed and timid.

But the person in front of me is still relaxed and calm. Is it because he is of low status and does not understand the deeper meaning?

Or pretend to be calm and put on a forced smile?

The Queen Mother slowly opened her eyes, smiling kindly and with dignity, "As your Majesty's woman, you must put your Majesty first in everything. You must not be arrogant, narrow-minded, jealous, or have evil thoughts. You should persuade your Majesty more when necessary, and you must not act recklessly, causing unrest in the country and chilling the hearts of the court officials."

"Wen, do you admit your guilt?" The Queen Mother suddenly turned her head and looked at her.

Her voice was not loud, but it was filled with anger that was hard to conceal. Her accusatory words shocked the actors on the stage.