Cuiping Nunnery
When the Empress Dowager asked why she had come, the Old Madam sighed softly.
“For the past few nights, I haven’t been sleeping well. Every time I close my eyes, I dream of Cuiping Nunnery.”
“Perhaps the Bodhisattva truly guided you here so that we could meet.”
The Empress Dowager was clearly delighted that the Old Madam had come at this time.
“After lunch, I should offer another stick of incense to thank the Bodhisattva.”
The Old Madam nodded in agreement.
“I should do the same. We should thank the Bodhisattva for allowing us to meet here. Later, we’ll offer incense together.”
“I should also thank the Bodhisattva for letting me see the Old Madam again.”
Nanny Yan smiled as she joined in the conversation.
“Good, good. Then we’ll all thank the Bodhisattva together.”
The Empress Dowager looked to be in very good spirits.
“You must stay here for lunch today. Although it’s only vegetarian food, it’s quite delicious.”
The Old Madam gladly agreed.
As long as she ate together with the Empress Dowager…
At least this meal would be safe.
While the Empress Dowager and the Old Madam talked, Lin Suisui quietly observed everyone else in the room.
Whenever the Empress Dowager traveled, she was always accompanied by many attendants.
Besides Nanny Yan, there were also two younger nannies in their thirties or forties.
They also appeared to be trusted servants who had served the Empress Dowager for many years.
Apart from greeting the Old Madam when she arrived, the two women stood silently to one side, saying nothing and keeping their eyes lowered.
Lin Suisui became certain of one thing.
The person who poisoned the Empress Dowager had to be one of these three women.
The Empress Dowager’s status was so high that ordinary people could never get close to her.
They had discussed this the previous day.
There were only a few ways someone could poison the Empress Dowager.
The poison could be put into her food.
Or into her tea.
The meals and tea delivered by Cuiping Nunnery were naturally safe.
Only the attendants serving the Empress Dowager personally had the chance to tamper with them.
There was another possible method.
Someone could knock the Empress Dowager unconscious and make sure she never woke up again.
However, knocking her unconscious without leaving any marks—and even fooling the imperial physicians—
Only highly trained secret guards might be able to do that.
These elderly nannies certainly could not.
Lin Suisui still believed poisoning her food or drink was the most likely method.
It was the easiest and most effective.
The imperial family possessed rare poisons that even the imperial physicians could not detect.
Even if the physicians suspected poisoning, without solid proof, none of them would dare say so.
It was time for lunch.
Perhaps because the Empress Dowager had guests, Cuiping Nunnery had prepared an especially generous meal.
The table was completely covered with vegetarian dishes.
“Sister Ying, it’s been so many years since we last shared a meal.”
The Empress Dowager held the Old Madam’s hand.
The two old friends smiled at each other before sitting down together.
Nanny Yan stepped forward to serve them food, but the Old Madam stopped her.
“Nanny Tao, the three of us grew up together. You’ve stayed by Yan’er’s side all these years. It hasn’t been easy.”
“Old Madam…”
Nanny Yan’s eyes immediately turned red.
Before entering the palace, her name had been Nanny Tao.
After entering the palace, she had taken the name Nanny Yan.
So many years had passed that even she had almost forgotten her childhood name.
Yet the Old Madam still remembered it.
“You’ve stayed with Yan’er through so many hardships over the years. It truly hasn’t been easy.”
the Old Madam said with emotion.
“These are simply my duties. Her Majesty has always treated me well. I… I haven’t suffered.”
Nanny Yan’s voice trembled with emotion.
“That’s enough. It’s the New Year. Let’s not say things that make us cry.”
The Empress Dowager smiled gently as she took Nanny Yan’s hand.
“Today there is no Empress Dowager and no servant. There are only three childhood friends. Sit down and eat with us.”
“Your Majesty, that wouldn’t be proper.”
Nanny Yan hurriedly refused.
“I’ll remain standing and serve you.”
The Old Madam was much more straightforward.
She stood up, gently pushed Nanny Yan into a chair, and said,
“No serving today. The three of us will eat together.”
Nanny Yan still looked uncomfortable.
She sat only on the edge of the chair.
That was palace etiquette.
Even when a master allowed a servant to sit, the servant could only sit on half the seat.
The Old Madam did not mind.
The three of them chatted happily while eating, sharing stories from their childhood.
The meal lasted quite a while.
According to the Empress Dowager’s daily routine, she normally took a nap after lunch.
The Old Madam knew this habit well.
So after the meal, she stood to leave.
“I’m so happy you came today, Sister. I’m too excited to sleep anyway.”
Perhaps because the room was warm, the Empress Dowager’s cheeks were rosy, and she looked full of energy.
“Sister Ying, it’s stuffy inside. Let’s go for a walk. We can also help our digestion.”
The Old Madam happily agreed.
“That sounds wonderful. I wanted to take a walk too.”
“Everyone else can stay here. Only Nanny Yan… and your little maid may come with us.”
Besides the servants inside the room, several palace attendants were also standing outside under the covered walkway.
Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, none of them dared follow.
The Empress Dowager linked arms with the Old Madam as they walked slowly together, chatting all the way.
Lin Suisui and Nanny Yan followed several steps behind, just as the Empress Dowager had instructed.
Cuiping Nunnery covered a large area.
There were many courtyards of different sizes.
Besides the buildings, there were also many scenic spots throughout the grounds.
Although it was winter and all the flowers and plants had withered away, the rocks and green bamboo still gave the place a quiet natural beauty.
The Old Madam and the Empress Dowager stopped beside a huge stone.
The stone was called Mirror Stone.
It was famous throughout the nunnery.
It was enormous and almost perfectly round, standing upright like a giant bronze mirror.
As soon as the two women stepped in front of it, Lin Suisui could no longer see them.
“Nanny, our Old Madam wants to have a private conversation with the Empress Dowager. We shouldn’t disturb them.”
Walking behind Nanny Yan, Lin Suisui suddenly spoke.
Nanny Yan turned around in surprise and looked at the thin little girl before her.
She was so skinny that her large black eyes seemed to dominate her face.
Yet her expression was unusually calm.
When she spoke, she did not sound like she was making a suggestion.
She sounded as if she were giving an order.
In that instant, Nanny Yan understood.
Although the Empress Dowager had not paid much attention to the girl before…
She herself had been a little surprised to see her.
Given the Old Madam’s status, she would never normally bring such a lowly maid with her.
Now it was obvious.
This little girl remained calm, confident, and respectful without being timid.
She was clearly no ordinary servant girl.