After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

The Empress Dowager's expression softened.

Having lived in the deep palace for decades, even with her old wounds reopened, she had already composed herself, and her dignified and kind expression returned to her face, flawless.

Her gaze swept between Xiao Mingyue and Shen Yan, then she asked in a deep voice, "What brings you here today?"

Xiao Mingyue coolly lifted her eyelids and confidently reached out to ask for it.

"Please, Mother, return the wedding gifts that Father left for me."

The Empress Dowager stopped turning her prayer beads, slowly raised her eyelids, and her gaze sharpened.

Those jade pendants.

The late emperor personally handed it to her when he was seriously ill, saying, "I bestow it upon her on the day of Mingyue's wedding, as a token of my affection as her father."

The item doesn't look particularly special; its quality isn't top-notch, and the patterns don't resemble those of a famous carver.

She's kept it for years, had people look at it several times, but none of them could say what special background it had.

However, Xiao Mingyue married three times, and each time her husbands died young. Each time, she used various excuses to keep the gifts from her.

Now, the fourth imperial son-in-law is sitting right in front of her, lively and energetic, and Xiao Mingyue has come to ask for him in person.

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, twirled the prayer beads between her fingers twice, and looked bewildered.

"I'm getting old, and my memory isn't what it used to be. What are you talking about...?"

Seeing the Empress Dowager's feigned ignorance, Xiao Mingyue couldn't help but sneer.

"Is Mother planning to renege on her promise?"

Xiao Mingyue stood up, seemingly genuinely offering advice to the Empress Dowager.

"If Your Majesty really can't remember, I can ask the Imperial Diarist to check the records from that year."

When the Emperor instructed him on this matter, the chief eunuch Wu Dequan was present. Although he has now retired from the palace, he is still alive.

"If Your Majesty requires, I can send someone to invite him to the palace to testify in person."

The Empress Dowager's face turned very ugly in an instant.

Should I go and look up the daily records?

Wouldn't that make others doubt the reason for the late emperor's death?

Empress Wang's side was keeping a close eye on the movements in Cining Palace, and Consort Shu's family was no pushover either.

If word gets out at this time, those people might use it as an excuse to accuse her of mistreating the late emperor's bloodline and disregarding his last wishes.

They even directly targeted Consort Liang and the Zhao family.

The Empress Dowager gave Xiao Mingyue a deep look, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Are you here to pressure me?"

Xiao Mingyue shook her head, her demeanor composed.

"Your subject has only come to reclaim what is rightfully yours. If Your Majesty returns it readily, this matter will end here. Once I leave the Cining Palace, I will not utter a single word more."

She smiled slightly, "After all, we're family."

The words, spoken by her, were clearly gentle, yet they sent chills down one's spine.

Finally, the Empress Dowager put down her prayer beads.

"Granny Zhao."

The old nanny who had been waiting behind the screen came out silently, head bowed, awaiting instructions.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes briefly. "Go to the storeroom and fetch that ebony box."

Granny Zhao acknowledged and left.

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes again, her gaze towards Xiao Mingyue filled with resentment and gloom.

"I'm just getting old, and I've forgotten some things over time. Why are you speaking so aggressively, child?"

Her tone carried a hint of grievance, as if she were a loving mother who had been misunderstood.

"Would I possibly covet what your father left you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yan, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. His Highness did not mean any disrespect to you."

The Empress Dowager shifted her gaze, scrutinizing the prince consort who had been silent since earlier.

"Your Highness had a very deep affection for the late Emperor and cherishes his relics very much. It is understandable that she is a little too eager to talk about the past. I hope Your Majesty can understand her filial piety in missing her father."

After he finished speaking, he added another sentence.

"Children who want to keep their father's things are simply reminiscing about him when they see them."

The Empress Dowager looked at his gentle and refined face, her gaze deepening slightly.

This wasn't the first time Shen Yan had contradicted her.

Despite being an uneducated scholar with no official rank, he possessed considerable courage and integrity, standing up to protect his wife even in this difficult situation.

After a long pause, she tugged at the corner of her mouth, her tone carrying a profound meaning.

"You've certainly found a good husband."

Xiao Mingyue, however, seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in her words. She turned her head to look at Shen Yan, her eyebrows slightly raised, and a genuine smile appeared on her lips.

"That's natural."

She turned back to look at the Empress Dowager, "A husband chosen by oneself is always a hundred times better than one forced upon one by others."

The Empress Dowager's expression changed.

These words were merely a sarcastic remark directed at her for trying to force Wang Changhe upon her, only to humiliate herself in the process.

Furthermore, she wanted to say that Xiao Mingyue always acted according to her own wishes.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Granny Zhao returned carrying a palm-sized ebony box, which she presented with both hands.

Xiao Mingyue took it, opened the box, and glanced inside.

Inside lay a pair of jade pendants, their color warm and lustrous, their patterns simple and unadorned, though at first glance they were not particularly outstanding.

But the moment Xiao Mingyue's fingertips touched the jade surface, a fleeting emotion flashed across her eyes.

The item her father left her has finally returned to her hands.

The Empress Dowager's voice was cold, and her eyes were slightly closed, as if she did not want to look at them again.

"Take your things and leave."

Xiao Mingyue closed the box lid and stood up to bow.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now."

The Empress Dowager did not open her eyes again, but waved her hand, her voice weary.

"Go."

The two walked out hand in hand.

The moment you step out of the palace gate, the sunlight outside floods in, dazzling your eyes.

The heavy vermilion gates of the Cining Palace closed silently behind them.

After walking a long way until the eaves of Cining Palace completely disappeared from view, Shen Yan spoke softly.

"How are you?"

Xiao Mingyue didn't stop walking; she turned her head to look at him.

Sunlight fell on her face, revealing a rare softness in her usually sharp eyes.

"Yes," she said, holding his hand tightly, a slight smile playing on her lips, "I got it back."

Looking at her smile, Shen Yan felt a surge of mixed emotions, both bittersweet and warm, and his throat bobbed.

In the end, he didn't say anything, but instead held her hand even tighter.

He didn't know what those jade pendants meant to her.

But he knew that his wife, who had just been alone in the Cining Palace, calmly and powerfully recounting the past year's events in the cold rain and wind, needed someone by her side at this moment.

Even if you don't have to do anything, just quietly keep me company.