Since many things had already changed, even if Zhao Shen could remember the exact date the Empress went into labor, she should still make early preparations.
The Empress came from a family of scholars and had been married to the Emperor since their youth; the relationship between the two was very good.
The only regret was that they had never had a child.
The Empress Dowager was quite dissatisfied with this and frequently made things difficult for the Empress.
In the original timeline, the Empress had been startled while in the Empress Dowager’s palace, which led to her difficult labor.
Because of this, a rift formed between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
Although the Empress Dowager knew something was suspicious about the incident, she couldn’t bring herself to explain things to her son and daughter-in-law. Later, their relationship became increasingly strained.
Ji Yunshu recalled that when the original owner of her body was in the Palace, she had relied on the Empress Dowager’s favor to act quite disrespectfully toward the Empress, which made her feel a bit pressured.
Unfortunately, Zhao Shen could not accompany her to the inner palace.
Understanding her thoughts, Zhao Shen nodded and said, “Of course. It would be good for you to go and properly persuade the Empress Dowager.”
It would be best to keep the Empress Dowager too busy to cause any trouble.
Zhao Shen didn’t know if the Empress’s accident truly had anything to do with the Empress Dowager, but it was a fact that the Empress’s body was damaged this time and she could never conceive again.
Once the two had reached an agreement, Ji Yunshu no longer had the mind to worry about Zhao Heng’s marriage. The next day, she entered the Palace to see the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was delighted to hear she had arrived. She pulled her by the hand and complained, “You little heartless thing, it took you this long to remember to visit me?”
“Oh, things have been a bit busy lately. Yesterday, I even went to Princess Chang’s birthday banquet.”
Ji Yunshu felt a bit guilty as she spoke.
After her mother passed away, she had been taken into the Palace by the Empress Dowager and had lived there for about ten years.
The Empress Dowager treated her perhaps even better than she treated the Emperor.
Only a few days after she had married out, the Empress Dowager was still mindful enough to send her favorite cherries out of the Palace.
It was clear that she was truly thinking of her at all times.
However, she was not the original Ji Yunshu after all, and she always felt an inexplicable sense of awe and trepidation toward the Palace.
If she could avoid entering the Palace, she didn’t want to come in at all.
The Empress Dowager huffed, “Don’t think I don’t know. You just find the Palace too restrictive and don’t want to come, do you?”
Ji Yunshu hugged her arm and acted spoiled. “How could that be? I’ve come prepared this time to stay with my Aunt for a few days before leaving. When the time comes, don’t find me annoying and try to chase me away.”
The Empress Dowager studied her seriously for a long while before asking, “You didn’t have a fight with Shizi Zhao, did you?”
Ji Yunshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “What are you saying? As someone with such a good temper, how could I fight with my husband?”
Seeing her rosy complexion and relaxed expression, the Empress Dowager felt reassured that she truly didn’t look like someone who had quarreled. “It’s good as long as nothing is wrong. If something does happen, don’t hide it. Although your father and brother aren’t in the capital, it’s not like you have no one in your maiden family. Your Aunt can at least still stand up for you.”
A warm current surged through Ji Yunshu’s heart. She really loved this kind of unreasonable favoritism.
“Rest assured, Shizi is very good to me. He won’t fight with me.”
The Empress Dowager nodded. “Looking at you, you don’t seem like you’ve been wronged. However, I heard that Yue mocked you yesterday. Now that you’re married, you’ve become more respectable than before; you didn’t cause a scene with her.”
By this time, ice basins had already been placed in the Empress Dowager’s hall. While it was sweltering outside, the hall was very cool and refreshing.
Ji Yunshu nibbled on a fresh peach and said nonchalantly, “It was just a few idle words, nothing worth making a scene over. But she’s reached the age to discuss marriage and is still so brainless. I don’t know what she’ll do in the future.”
The Empress Dowager caught the meaning in her words and said with great surprise, “In the past, you two would fight every time you met. I was very worried about what you would do in the future. Now it seems that when the time comes, things naturally improve.”
Ji Yunshu didn’t say anything.
An exceptional situation like hers wasn’t something everyone would encounter.
The Empress Dowager also changed the subject. “It’s enough that you come to the Palace to see me often. After all, you are a married woman now. I heard that your residence is about to host another happy event?”
“Aunt’s information is so well-informed,” Ji Yunshu sighed.
No outsiders knew about what happened at the Princess Manor yesterday.
Although the two families had agreed on the marriage, to avoid people overthinking things, Madam Yao had decided to wait a few days before visiting to formally propose.
But regardless, the marriage was set in stone.
Ji Yunshu was suddenly curious about how Zhao Heng and Yao Ruolan would fare this time.
The Empress Dowager brushed off her praise. “That was the Princess Manor; who knows how many people are watching it. How could it truly be airtight? In the future, you will also have to manage your own household. You should learn the necessary methods early. Don’t just focus on living your life behind closed doors, knowing nothing of what happens in the capital.”
“I know. Shizi has taught me a lot lately,” Ji Yunshu said very sincerely.
The Empress Dowager nodded. “It seems your insistence on choosing him was a correct decision.”
The two chatted for a long time. Once the Empress Dowager had a general understanding of her married life and knew she was indeed doing well, she felt at ease.
After lunch, she tried to send her away, but Ji Yunshu stubbornly insisted, “Aunt doesn’t love me anymore now that I’m married. What’s wrong with me staying for a few days?”
The Empress Dowager had no choice but to have people tidy up the side hall where she used to live.
Once Ji Yunshu went for her afternoon nap, the Empress Dowager called Mama Li, who had entered the Palace with her, and asked, “Why did the girl suddenly think of staying in the Palace? Has she been wronged?”
Mama Li quickly replied, “The young miss said she hadn’t seen you for a long time and missed you. Everything is fine at the residence. Shizi is very good to the young miss; she hasn’t suffered any grievances.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “How is Madam Yao? Has she made things difficult for her?”
Mama Li shook her head. “That Madam Yao is a clever one. She has been extremely good to the young miss lately. She even urged the young miss several times to take care of her health and said she doesn’t need to give morning and evening greetings. If there’s anything good to eat or play with, she sends it to Qionghua Courtyard.”
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was silent for a moment before saying, “Madam Yao is not simple, and A Shu lacks calculation. Keep a good eye on her; don’t let her fall into someone else’s trap.”
Mama Li responded, “This servant understands.”
After Mama Li withdrew, Mama Wen, who served by the Empress Dowager’s side, stepped forward and smiled. “You worry too much. The young miss said everything is fine, so what is there to be uneasy about?”
The Empress Dowager rubbed her forehead. “Don’t you feel she has become much more sensible than before? People don’t grow up for no reason.”
Mama Wen actually felt it more clearly than the Empress Dowager. Ji Yunshu had been protected too well by the Empress Dowager in the past. Although her personality was arrogant and willful, she was actually somewhat innocent and ignorant of the world.
This time, her entry into the Palace showed a clear transformation.
Especially when talking to the Empress Dowager, she only reported the good news and not the bad. It was no wonder the Empress Dowager was worried.
“Everyone grows up eventually. There’s nothing bad about the young miss being like this. Haven’t you also sent people to keep an eye on the Marquis’s residence? There really isn’t anything wrong.”
The Empress Dowager nodded. “Perhaps I’m overthinking it.”
When Ji Yunshu woke up, she happened to hear a commotion in the Empress Dowager’s main hall.
She heard the Empress Dowager say angrily, “You are the Empress of the Middle Palace; you should be magnanimous and generous. What does it look like, monopolizing the Emperor while being so heavily pregnant?”
It turned out the Empress had come to give her greetings.
It seemed that at this time, the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Empress was already very tense.
Thinking of this, Ji Yunshu hurried into the main hall.
She saw the Empress standing there, her large belly supported as she trembled slightly.
Ji Yunshu was frightened to the core.
When she rose after greeting the Empress, she found the Empress Dowager’s face was set sternly, not showing a hint of the warmth she used when speaking to her.
However, at least the Empress Dowager didn’t scold the Empress further in her presence. Instead, she said in a heavy voice, “Your body is heavy, go back for now.”
The Empress took her leave and walked out, supported by a palace maid’s hand.
As the Empress turned around, Ji Yunshu saw her expression twist for a fleeting second. Her fingers gripping the palace maid’s hand were so forceful they were almost digging into the maid’s arm.
In a flash of realization, Ji Yunshu understood what was happening and hurriedly shouted, “Wait a moment!”