pillow bird spring

Cui Lingyi's ears turned slightly red from the comments, and the surrounding concubines covered their mouths and laughed.

Cui Lingyi looked at the Empress Dowager with a coquettish expression: "Your Majesty..."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand: "Please invite General Xiao in."

"Yes," the eunuch replied, turning around quickly.

Cui Lingyi was still a little embarrassed, but her lowered eyes held a deeper meaning.

Based on her understanding of Xiao Yin, she knew that he rarely visited her during the years she had been with the Empress Dowager.

After all, it's a place where women are.

Xiao Yin only came when she begged him or when the Empress Dowager summoned him.

And now-

Cui Lingyi's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Shen Yinshuang's direction.

She became increasingly composed.

But the next moment, Cui Lingyi took the initiative to walk towards Shen Yingshuang.

He seemed unconcerned that Xiao Yin would come.

When Shen Yinshuang heard that Xiao Yin was coming, her heart raced a little, but she quickly calmed down.

So what if they come?

They came only to look for Cui Lingyi.

How did Xiao Yin know where he was?

Shen Yinshuang felt a sense of irony just thinking about it.

Cui Lingyi was already walking towards Shen Yinshuang.

She placed her hand in front of Shen Yinshuang: "Miss Shen, let me help you up."

Shen Yinshuang wanted to refuse, but she had no way to refuse.

If you refuse, it's because you didn't provide the quantity.

I don't refuse, but I don't know what's going to happen.

Almost at the same time, Xiao Yin also walked in.

Xiao Yin ignored Shen Yingshuang and instead respectfully greeted the Empress Dowager: "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"Rise, General Xiao is here with me, no need for formalities." The Empress Dowager did like Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin nodded, and then stood up neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Cui Lingyi had already helped Shen Yinshuang up, as if she were putting on a show for Xiao Yin.

She sighed, lamenting Shen Yinshuang's lack of ambition.

"Miss Shen, didn't I tell Zhi Zi to call you? Why are you still so slow? The speed of a carriage should be faster than walking." Cui Lingyi said hypocritically.

"I've been praising you to Her Majesty, saying you're a descendant of the Liu family and the best embroiderer. I've shown Her Majesty your embroidery skills. She likes them very much and is even thinking of having you make a garment."

"This is an honor that countless embroiderers would kill for. And you actually made the Empress wait?"

Cui Lingyi's tone sounded both regretful and reproachful.

But in front of Xiao Yin, he completely absolved himself of any responsibility.

Xiao Yin remained silent.

Shen Yinshuang knew very well that Cui Lingyi was doing it on purpose.

She had Zhizi inform her, but she didn't say anything.

Moreover, this notification is likely delayed.

If you're really willing, you'll come ahead of time.

It's unlikely that Shen Yinshuang would be killed now.

Shen Yinshuang seemed to have suffered a silent loss, and the more she explained, the more confused she became.

Cui Lingyi calmly helped Shen Yinshuang to her feet.

Shen Yinshuang could feel the force in Cui Lingyi's hand. She winced in pain but could not speak.

The Empress Dowager was even more displeased upon seeing this.

This time, however, the Empress Dowager did not speak, but Xiao Yin's voice came faintly.

"Shen Yinshuang, why did things escalate to this point?" Xiao Yin asked in a deep voice.

"You're the person I recommended to Lingyi. I at least thought you knew your own limitations and wouldn't act recklessly. Now you're making me uncomfortable?" Xiao Yin's voice deepened.

In front of outsiders, he was questioning Shen Yinshuang.

But anyone with a discerning eye could see that Xiao Yin was giving Shen Yinshuang a chance to explain.

Shen Yinshuang certainly understood.

She paused for a moment before speaking, "Reporting to the General, I only know that Miss Zhi asked me to go find Miss Cui. As for the rest, I am not aware of what happened."

Xiao Yin's thin lips moved slightly.

The Empress Dowager sneered, "Shen Yingshuang, weren't you in the same carriage as Lingyi? How come Lingyi has arrived, but you haven't?"

Through the Empress Dowager's words, Shen Yinshuang had already pieced together the whole story.

No wonder I've been traveling these past two days.

She rested and recuperated in the last carriage, and Cui Lingyi did not cause her any trouble.

Because Xiao Yin got involved.

Also because Cui Lingyi was waiting for this moment.

The Empress Dowager's knife is definitely more effective than Xiao Yin's.

Therefore, Shen Yinshuang had no intention of continuing to explain.

She slowly knelt down again, and Xiao Yin saw this, his brows furrowing instantly.

His hands were also clenched into fists, but Xiao Yin didn't say a word the whole time.

Xiao Yin also knew that if he said anything more, it would cause Shen Yingshuang more trouble.

He lowered his eyes, realizing even more clearly that he shouldn't have cared about Shen Yinshuang's life or death in the first place.

But he couldn't control his impulse.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please punish me." Shen Yinshuang knelt down and admitted her mistake.

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly and did not let Shen Yinshuang get up.

Shen Yinshuang naturally could not get up.

Xiao Yin's brows furrowed even more.

Cui Lingyi seemed quite innocent as well, and had already taken the initiative to walk towards the direction of the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Miss Shen has been raised in the western suburbs for many years. How could someone from such a place know the rules of the palace? It's just a case of ignorance is no excuse. Please don't be angry. I'll find a nanny to teach Miss Shen the rules, and this kind of thing won't happen again."

Cui Lingyi's words were appropriate and reasonable.

"Lingyi's considerations are indeed very thorough." The Empress Dowager smiled as she looked at Cui Lingyi, and then she turned to Xiao Yin, "Xiao Yin, marrying Lingyi is your good fortune. This girl insisted on following you to the frontier back then, which shows her deep affection and loyalty."

"Your Majesty knows, and will certainly treat Lingyi well," Xiao Yin replied.

Shen Yinshuang was still kneeling, which made her look like a sharp blade.

It cut her heart piece by piece, causing her excruciating pain.

"That's good." The Empress Dowager nodded. "Guards, take her away from me. She's an eyesore."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, clearly having lost patience.

The eunuch immediately stepped forward and took Shen Yinshuang away.

Shen Yinshuang remained silent.

But she also guessed that having the nanny teach her manners was Cui Lingyi's ultimate goal.

To use someone else to do one's dirty work.

Xiao Yin watched Shen Yingshuang leave out of the corner of his eye, but did not speak immediately.

Cui Lingyi had already walked back to Xiao Yin's side with a coquettish air, standing obediently.

The Empress Dowager, however, looked at the woman before her with increasing satisfaction.

"Xiao Yin, you and Lingyi are a perfect match, so after you get married, have many children. The daughters will surely be as beautiful as Lingyi, and the sons as handsome as you. What a wonderful thing that would be! If General Xiao could know this in the afterlife, he would be happy too," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.

"Your Majesty..." Cui Lingyi said angrily.

Shen Yinshuang paused for a moment, but only for a second.

She calmly continued walking forward.

Xiao Yin's voice came from beside my ear: "Yes."

His words were very calm, revealing no emotion in Xiao Yin's voice.

However, under such circumstances, it seems as if Xiao Yin has made a promise.

Shen Yinshuang couldn't help but think of her unborn child.

Her sorrow became even more pronounced, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Her slender hands unconsciously rested on her already flat stomach.

But Shen Yinshuang did not cry.

She smiled faintly, but it was more sorrowful than crying.

It continued until Shen Yinshuang walked out.

But what Shen Yinshuang didn't know was that Xiao Yin's gaze was always fixed on her.

Until Shen Yinshuang's figure disappeared from sight.

Xiao Yin calmly withdrew his gaze.

The palace was still bustling with activity.

……