Transmigrated into a seven-year-old child, my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens.

Liuyang Palace

Liuyang Palace was the temporary palace where Empress Dowager Uliana lived. It was luxurious and magnificent, with small bridges and flowing water, pavilions and towers in the garden, and countless unknown flowers and plants blooming in a riot of colors, making it a very beautiful place.

The lotus flowers in the pond are in full bloom, and the pink lotus flowers are covered with dewdrops, which is very beautiful.

Besides koi, there was also a pair of mandarin ducks in the lotus pond. The two mandarin ducks swam side by side in the water, occasionally diving into the water to chase each other, which looked very joyful.

Early in the morning, Empress Dowager Ulena sat in a pavilion by the lotus pond, staring blankly at the pair of mandarin ducks in the pond.

Empress Dowager Ulena was in her forties, with jet-black hair styled in a cloud-moth bun, adorned with a pearl hairpin reaching her ears. She had fair skin, red lips, and white teeth, making her look much younger than her actual age.

But beneath those delicately painted eyebrows were a pair of sharp eyes, exuding an imposing aura that made people hesitant to approach. The Empress Dowager's brows sometimes relaxed, sometimes furrowed, seemingly uninterested in appreciating the beautiful scenery before her.

It was clear that the Empress Dowager was not in a good mood today. The two palace maids stood to the side with their heads down, not daring to breathe loudly, for fear that the Empress Dowager would use this as an excuse to make a fuss.

Just then, a middle-aged woman dressed as a nanny came out of the palace. This was Rong Momo, the Empress Dowager's personal maid.

Rong Momo approached with a respectful expression and said cautiously, "Empress Dowager, it's getting late, you should have your breakfast."

The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze and glanced at Rong Momo: "I'm not hungry."

Rong Momo persisted: "Your Majesty, breakfast is especially important. Please eat something! I've noticed you haven't had much of an appetite these past few days, and it breaks my heart to see you like this. How about I have Physician He come and take a look at you?"

The Empress Dowager raised her hand, frowning, "No need, I know what's going on myself!"

"But~"

The Empress Dowager coldly said, "I said no, so no. How dare you! You dare to disobey even my words!"

Granny Rong stood trembling with fear, her hands hanging limply at her sides: "This servant dares not!"

The Empress Dowager looked around, waved to the palace maids on either side of her, and said slowly, "You two may leave."

"Yes~"

The two palace maids quickly retreated, and only after walking a few meters away did they breathe a sigh of relief.

The Empress Dowager seemed to be in a bad mood today; I wonder who has upset her this time.

The Empress Dowager suddenly looked at Rong Momo, her expression uncertain: "Suqing, how long has Eunuch Gao been away from the palace?"

Suqing is Rong Momo's name. Rong Momo has been serving the Empress Dowager ever since she entered the palace. She is extremely loyal to the Empress Dowager and can be considered the Empress Dowager's confidante.

The Empress Dowager trusted Rong Momo very much and usually called her by her first name.

After a moment's thought, Rong Momo said, "Empress Dowager, Eunuch Gao left the palace at the beginning of the year, which means it's been almost half a year."

The Empress Dowager muttered to herself, her eyes somewhat dazed: "Yes, it's been almost half a year, how come they've disappeared without a trace!"

When Gao Lian'an left the palace, she instructed him to write to her wherever he went. She only received two letters in total, and then there was no further news.

It had been almost four months since she had heard from him, and the Empress Dowager felt a vague sense of unease.

Rong Momo comforted the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Gao is a lucky man; he'll be alright. Perhaps he's dealing with something right now."

Even as she said this, Rong Momo herself wasn't entirely sure. This Eunuch Gao had been out of the palace for half a year, and there had been no news of him since. Who knew if something might have really happened to him? Of course, she dared not say it aloud.

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly: "Suqing, do you think something might have gone wrong? We mustn't let word of that leak out!"

Rong Momo's heart jumped, and she looked around nervously before quickly interrupting the Empress Dowager: "No, Your Majesty, so many years have passed, and everyone who knew about this is dead. Everything will be alright. This matter must not be mentioned again!"

Rong Momo didn't want to mention this matter at all. Just thinking about it made her feel like the head on her neck wasn't her own.

These days, living in constant fear is terrifying. More than 20 years have finally passed, and I thought everything had finally settled down. I've only been able to relax for two years.

But now that this matter has suddenly been brought up again, Rong Momo doesn't even dare to think about it.

Suddenly, Rong Momo remembered something terrifying. She had just said that everyone who knew about this matter was dead, but she herself knew about it too.

Thinking of this, Rong Momo glanced guiltily at the Empress Dowager, only to find that the Empress Dowager was looking at her thoughtfully.

Immediately, Rong Momo's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly: "Empress Dowager, this servant has absolutely no ill intentions towards you. Rest assured, that matter will remain a secret in my heart. If this servant reveals even half a word, I will surely die a horrible death."

Hearing her say that, the Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly.

Seeing Rong Momo sweating profusely and kneeling on the ground trembling, the Empress Dowager's lips curled up, and a fleeting smile flashed in her eyes.

He said indifferently, "Get up! Look how scared you are! We were master and servant, don't you know who I am? I doubt you have the guts!"

Just then, a palace maid hurried in and was taken aback to see Rong Momo kneeling on the ground.

Rong Momo was the oldest maidservant in the Empress Dowager's service and was deeply trusted by her. Why did she seem so frightened today?

It seems the Empress Dowager is indeed in a bad mood today, and even Rong Momo was not spared, causing the palace maids to panic.

Rong Mama quickly stood up, her legs still trembling. Seeing the palace maid standing there in a daze, Rong Mama immediately scolded, "Yuzhu, how dare you! Who let you in?"

The palace maid named Yuzhu then realized what was happening and hurriedly said in a panic, "Your Majesty, the Governor requests an audience!"

"Chen Jing?" The Empress Dowager was somewhat puzzled. Why couldn't he tell the Emperor during the morning court session, and instead had to come here to talk to her?

The Empress Dowager was immediately displeased: "Tell him that I will not see anyone today."

The Empress Dowager's reply was exactly what Yu Zhu had expected. Yu Zhu paused for a moment, then continued, "Empress Dowager, the Governor said that this matter is of utmost importance and that he must see you in person today no matter what."

"He said it was because of Eunuch Gao, but he didn't say the specifics. He only said that there were some things he had to tell you personally." The palace maid relayed the governor's words to the Empress Dowager without missing a single one.

"Oh?"

The Empress Dowager immediately perked up; it seemed she absolutely had to see Chen Jing today.

"Let him in!"

She wanted to see just what Chen Jing knew!

Standing at the gate of Liuyang Palace, Chen Jing was filled with unease, wondering what he should say when he met the Empress Dowager.

Yao Miao is simply insane. In order to get revenge, she didn't hesitate to drag him down with her, putting herself in a dilemma now.

Just then, a palace maid came out: "Your Excellency, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."

Chen Jing wiped the sweat from his brow. "Fine! Either way, it's a cut. I'm already here."