The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Chapter 337 Mother and Daughter Reunited

In Chengqian Palace, all the palace maids were called out by the nanny beside the Empress.

Inside the main hall, the Empress looked down at her nail guards and slowly spoke, "You mean, the Noble Consort first handed Shen Yu'an over to the palace today, and then secretly sent someone to invite Wan Yue, but didn't invite you?"

Zhao Ruhui nodded.

"Your Majesty, they are definitely hiding something from me."

After speaking, she looked at the Empress somewhat nervously, "Your Majesty, do you think Consort Shen will doubt my identity?"

Before the Empress could speak, Zhao Ruhui knelt on the ground in fear and begged, "Your Majesty, you must help me! I have done everything according to your orders."

The Empress frowned and glanced at her impatiently. "What nonsense are you spouting? When did I give you any orders? What did I tell you to do?"

Zhao Ruhui was taken aback, and then she heard the Empress continue, "Don't worry, I've already taken care of things at the border. As long as you don't do anything foolish to anger the Emperor, I guarantee you'll never be discovered in your lifetime."

"And you did a great job today. You must report to Shen Shuhua immediately if there is any movement on her side."

"Go to Yuehua Palace right now and keep an eye on Shen Shuhua to see what she's up to."

"Don't worry, I am the person in this palace who least wants your identity to be exposed. Remember, if you dare to ruin my plans, I will definitely not let you off."

"Yes." Zhao Ruhui trembled with fear. After hearing the Empress's words, she repeatedly assured her that she would not act impulsively again.

After leaving Chengqian Palace, she went to Yuehua Palace.

The sun had turned orange.

"Mother, I've come to have dinner with you." Zhao Ruhui walked up to Shen Shuhua as if nothing had happened and affectionately took Shen Shuhua's hand.

Shen Shuhua calmly withdrew her hand from hers.

"Ming'er, your mother has no appetite and just told the kitchen not to prepare dinner."

"Mother, are you still feeling unwell? Have you called the imperial physician to come and see you? Or should I go and fetch the imperial physician for you now!" After saying that, she got up and was about to go and fetch the imperial physician.

Shen Shuhua waved her hand, "I've already seen it. It's just an old problem. It'll be fine after a period of rest."

"Your mother will not keep you tonight. After you leave, your mother will retire for the night."

"After you get back, have dinner and get some rest. You've had a hard time on the road these past few days."

Zhao Ruhui sensed something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Shen Shuhua's complexion did indeed look sickly.

After saying goodbye to Shen Shuhua, she left with her maids.

As she reached the door, she still felt something was amiss, so she turned to the palace maid and said, "I suddenly remembered that Sister Wanyue invited me to her palace today."

"You all go back first. I'll take a walk along this road and go play with Wanyue for a while."

The palace maids hesitated, but Zhao Ruhui bluntly ordered them all to leave.

She lingered at the entrance of Yuehua Palace for a while, and then, taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, quietly slipped inside.

She stood in the shadows, staring at the main hall.

It was completely dark.

Zhao Ruhui was bitten by mosquitoes several times, but she didn't dare to make a sound.

She regretted it a little; wouldn't it have been better to go back to the palace to rest instead of suffering like this?

Just as she was about to slip away quietly, she heard a commotion coming from the main hall.

A person covered by a black cloak walked out of the main hall, followed by none other than Granny Cao.

When that person turned around, wasn't that the Imperial Concubine?

It's so late, where are the two of them going dressed like that?

A cold smile appeared on her face; she knew something was wrong.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, she quietly followed the two people all the way to the palace gate.

After witnessing the two walk out of the palace gate, she quickly headed towards Chengqian Palace.

"Knock knock knock."

"Open the door, open the door quickly! I have something important to tell Her Majesty the Empress."

The Empress's Chengqian Palace was already locked, and she knocked on the door anxiously.

"Her Majesty is already asleep. If there is anything, please come again tomorrow."

Upon hearing the voice of the Empress's maidservant, Zhao Ruhui quickly said, "Maidservant, it's me. I have something important to report. Please open the door."

The old woman recognized Zhao Ruhui's voice and hesitated.

"Who's making noise outside?"

The Empress had already been awakened, so she had no choice but to go in and report.

After Zhao Ruhui entered, she quickly told the Empress what she had seen.

The Empress was overjoyed upon hearing this.

It's so late, and that bitch Shen Shuhua sneaked out of the palace. If the Emperor finds out, he will definitely punish her severely.

A smile curved her lips as a plan came to mind.

After leaving the palace, Shen Shuhua went straight to the Shen residence.

Shen Cao has been invited to the Shen residence for dinner today.

After dinner, Shen Cao stayed to keep Old Mrs. Shen company for a while.

After Old Mrs. Shen fell asleep, Shen Yu'an led her to the study.

She said someone wanted to see her in a little while.

She looked at Wanyue beside her and asked, "Why are you still here so late?"

Wanyue stuck out her tongue. "I've already told my mother that I won't be returning to the palace tonight."

Shen Cao squinted, "Why do I feel like you know who I'm going to see?"

Wanyue smiled and shook her head, then turned away to avoid eye contact with Shen Cao.

About half an hour later, after drinking several cups of tea, Shen Cao became a little anxious.

"Not here yet?"

Shen Yu'an looked towards the door, and suddenly his face lit up with joy, "They're here."

Shen Cao also looked towards the door and saw a black figure gradually approaching.

The newcomer was wearing a black cloak, and the hood covered his face, so Shen Cao could not see his face.

After the man walked in, he stood in the middle of the room.

Shen Yu'an walked to the door and instructed the servant to guard the door and not let anyone approach.

After closing the door, he walked over to the person and stood there.

The man then put his hat down.

Shen Cao finally saw what the person who came looked like.

It is the Imperial Concubine.

The moment Shen Cao saw her, she immediately understood; she knew.

Immediately afterwards, a sour feeling filled my chest.

Before this, she hadn't thought anything of it.

However, when she saw Shen Shuhua secretly leave the palace and stand in front of her.

She felt inexplicably wronged.

She endured it for a long time, telling herself it was nothing, but the feeling of grievance still came crashing down like a tide.

She reached up and touched her cheek; she didn't realize that tears were already streaming down her face.

"My child, it's your mother!"

Shen Shuhua opened her arms and hugged Shen Cao.

……

At the same time, at the entrance of the Emperor's palace, the Empress spoke anxiously, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have something important to report!"

"I have heard that the Imperial Concubine is very ill, and I fear that her old ailment has relapsed!"