Resisting the Wind and Splendor

Chu Yueli then looked at Qin Mingyue and smiled, "Sister Mingyue, don't you think so?"

Qin Mingyue was truly unwilling to use her so-called mistakes to enhance this woman's reputation for being virtuous and kind.

But she has no choice now.

The wretch said that if she disobeyed, she would be punished by copying scriptures. Given how much the Empress Dowager cares about Chu Yueli now, she can probably punish her however Chu Yueli wants.

If you were really forced to copy scriptures all day, it would be extremely difficult to escape.

At this moment, no matter how unwilling they were, they could only go along with Chu Yueli's wishes for the time being.

Wait, I still need to find a way to get out of here.

She hurriedly apologized to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Grandmother, I was wrong. I was petty and intolerant, which is why I misunderstood Sister Ali. Grandmother, I sincerely beg for your forgiveness. Please punish me!"

“Yes, Grandmother, please forgive Sister Mingyue,” Chu Yueli said softly.

The Empress Dowager hadn't intended to be angry, after all, A-Li was by her side, and she didn't know if getting angry would frighten A-Li.

She looked at Qin Mingyue and waved her hand: "Since Ali has pleaded for you, I will forgive you this once. In the future, remember not to talk nonsense and hurt the harmony again."

"Thank you, Grandmother." Qin Mingyue then stood up and was about to return to her seat.

The Empress then said, "Aren't you going to thank Ali for pleading for you?"

Qin Mingyue paused, her palms clenching tightly again.

But when he looked back at Chu Yueli, he had already put on a gentle smile: "Thank you, Sister A-Li."

"You're welcome. Just don't misunderstand and get jealous again in the future." Chu Yueli smiled, and before Qin Mingyue could retort, her gaze had already moved away from Qin Mingyue's face.

She looked at the Empress Dowager, seemingly no longer caring about Qin Mingyue: "Grandmother, I still haven't fully grasped what the master meant by saying that one's appearance reflects one's heart, and one's heart shapes one's appearance. Grandmother, what exactly do you mean by that?"

The Empress Dowager was someone who particularly loved scriptures and Zen philosophy. Upon hearing this, she immediately realized that her little Ali had truly been listening attentively to the scriptures, and she was overjoyed as she began to explain it to her.

Everyone else was listening, and no one dared to utter a sound.

The Empress didn't talk much, but Consort Yu chatted enthusiastically, after all, she was also someone who liked to pray and chant scriptures.

Although the concubines were all bored, they all pretended to listen with great interest.

For the next hour or so, everyone listened to the sutras.

It wasn't until evening that An Delu personally came to invite the Empress Dowager to rest, and only then did the Empress Dowager allow everyone to leave Chang Le Palace.

Night is about to fall, and the year-end banquet will soon begin.

On the way back, Chu Yueli said she was tired. The Empress Dowager originally wanted her to rest at Changshou Palace, but Consort Yu said that A-Li was used to her bedroom in Yonghua Palace. The Empress Dowager, concerned for Chu Yueli's health, agreed to let Chu Yueli go back to Yonghua Palace to rest for a while.

The others remained by the Empress Dowager's side.

Qin Mingyue looked up at the sky and, having finally seized an opportunity, asked a young eunuch for information.

After the young eunuch returned, he whispered, "The Emperor is in the Imperial Study with the princes and other officials, but we don't seem to see Prince Jin."

"Is Prince Jin not by the Emperor's side?" Qin Mingyue's heart tightened.

Could it be, as the sect leader said, that Lu Fengjin has been slow to act because she hasn't shown up?

Now that he knows she's been in the palace, is Lu Fengjin really going to take action?

Then she must leave immediately!