Demoted from wife to concubine? Reborn, the mistress of a noble family plots another high-status mar

Chapter 196

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to invite the eldest daughter to Funing Palace."

Any disturbance in the palace would alarm the Empress Dowager.

Murong Yu's face was cold and sullen, clearly displeased. "Who went to the inner palace to tell about what happened in the Imperial Study!"

"I encountered the Imperial Concubine when I arrived," Yun Xiyue quickly explained, fearing she might be implicated.

"If the Empress Dowager doesn't come to me today, she will tomorrow."

Murong Yu glanced at her and said, "I will come to pick you up in a while."

Yun Xiyue wanted to say no, but that would only make the Empress Dowager more dissatisfied with her.

However, this man was the emperor, and the empress dowager's actions clearly displeased him. Even though she was his mother, as the emperor, he was used to others obeying him, not disobeying him.

Yun Xiyue thought about it but dared not say it aloud.

When leaving the Imperial Study, he encountered Prime Minister Pei and Pei Shang.

The father and son were clearly surprised to see her, not knowing when she had arrived at the Imperial Study.

Prime Minister Pei went in first.

Pei Shang came over. "Did the Emperor summon you about the 30,000 warhorses?"

In his eyes, Yun Xiyue would never take the initiative to seek out the Emperor, and she could not enter the palace without being summoned.

Yun Xiyue said, "Hmm...you and the Prime Minister are also here for this matter?"

"Yes!"

"Then why don't you go in?"

Pei Shang smiled and said, "I just accompanied my father to the palace because I had nothing else to do, and I wanted to be the first to know the news when he came out."

"It's like I'm just my father's follower. Unless the emperor summons me, I don't need to go in."

"Do you want to leave the palace, or..."

Yun Xiyue had a headache. "The Empress Dowager summons me."

Upon seeing a young palace maid in front of him, Pei Shang understood.

“I’ll go with you! It’s been so long since I’ve seen my aunt. It’s a rare opportunity to visit the palace, so I should go and pay my respects to her.”

Yun Xiyue didn't want to go with him. Pei was the eldest son of the Pei family and the Empress Dowager's nephew, a prodigy. If she got close to him, the Empress Dowager would definitely retaliate against her.

But Pei Shang wanted to pay his respects to his aunt, and she couldn't stop him.

The two arrived at Funing Palace together.

Consort Pei was somewhat surprised to see her brother. "Brother, what brings you to the palace?"

"I entered the palace with my father and haven't come to pay my respects to my aunt in a long time. So I came here specifically."

"Shang'er, come here quickly." The Empress Dowager was delighted to see her nephew, her kind eyes filled with joy. She beckoned to him, "No need for formalities. Come closer so I can see you. It's been years since I last saw you. I heard you've returned from your studies abroad, and I've been wondering when you can come to the palace!"

"It was my fault for not coming to pay my respects to my aunt immediately." Pei Shang, dressed in a crimson official robe that accentuated his fair skin and handsome features, spoke in a gentle and humble voice, making him truly endearing.

The Empress Dowager looked at him with a smile on her face, "You've grown up. They say girls change a lot as they grow up, and boys do too! Look, Shang'er is so handsome. I wonder which girl will be lucky enough to marry him."

Pei Shang was neither humble nor arrogant. She never addressed the Empress Dowager as "Empress Dowager" but always called her "Aunt." She was sweet-talking but never deliberately flattered or fawned.

He recounted some amusing anecdotes from his study tour, which brought laughter to the Empress Dowager and Consort Pei.

I completely forgot that I needed to ask Yunxi Yue something.

She was left standing around.