The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 353 Going to see the Empress Dowager

The night was as dark as ink.

Jing Anle held the fallen white jade chess piece between her fingers, her gaze deep and unfathomable, a cold light surging within her eyes. She placed the piece back on the chessboard, slowly brushed her sleeves, and said in a voice as calm as a deep pool, "Prepare the sedan chair. We're going to Cixi Palace to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."

Mu Ping was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes, Princess."

The night at Cining Palace is even more tranquil than elsewhere.

The palace lanterns hung high, casting a dim, yellowish glow that stretched the shadows of the upturned eaves long, falling onto the blue brick ground like jagged claw marks.

As soon as Jing Anle stepped into the main hall, she sensed that something was amiss.

The Empress Dowager sat on a throne covered with bright yellow cushions, her face ashen, the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand creaking as she twisted them.

Consort Chen, standing to the side, lowered her eyes and twisted her handkerchief between her fingers. She appeared meek and submissive, but her eyes would occasionally glance at the Empress Dowager with a hint of schadenfreude.

Yes, she already disliked Princess Qing, let alone Jing Rou.

"Anle greets the Empress Dowager." Jing Anle curtsied, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, breaking the silence in the hall with just the right amount of respect.

The Empress Dowager raised her eyes, her gaze indifferent. "No need for formalities."

Jing Anle felt a slight chill in her heart, but her face remained calm and composed. She slowly stood up, lowered her eyes, and said, "Grandmother, you must take care of your health."

“Princess Rou has already lost her child, which is already unfortunate. Now Aunt Yongping is also unconscious. If the Empress Dowager falls ill as well, it will really worry Father and Uncle.”

The news of Jingrou's miscarriage was supposed to be secretly sent to the palace, but even Jing Anle learned of it without making any inquiries. This shows that someone deliberately spread the news, and who else could it be but Emperor Jing?

The Empress Dowager, already annoyed, slammed her Buddhist prayer beads onto the table upon hearing this. The beads scattered all over the floor with a crisp sound. "This is utterly outrageous!"

The Empress Dowager was no longer pretending; her rage terrified everyone in Cixi Palace. Jing Anle also feigned fear and said worriedly, "Grandmother, please calm down!"

Consort Chen spoke at the opportune moment, her posture humble, yet every word pierced the heart, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. In the end, it was all those reckless bandits who caused this mess. They were so greedy and audacious that they dared to take advantage of the Prince Su's wedding to steal, but they never intended to harm Princess Rou..."

She didn't dare finish her sentence. Seeing the Empress Dowager's expression change halfway through, she quickly changed her words, "It's just that I'm sorry for you, Your Majesty. Please don't upset yourself."

Bandits? Jing Anle stood aside, watching coldly. So this is how the news of Jing Rou's miscarriage got back to the palace? This Prince Qing will really make up anything to save face.

Looking at the Empress Dowager's face, which was both pale and bluish, she probably wasn't faking it. But the Empress Dowager wasn't particularly distressed about Jing Rou. It was just that Jing Rou had miscarried and couldn't return to Qi Kingdom for a while, which delayed her and Prince Qing's plans. How could she not be angry?

At this moment, the Empress Dowager was consumed by rage and restless, making this the perfect opportunity.

She composed herself, stepped forward, and said with genuine concern, "Grandmother, please don't be angry."

“Anger is bad for your health. Your health is the most important thing right now. The most urgent thing is to let Princess Rou rest and recuperate, rather than adding to her anger.”

Consort Chen couldn't stand Jing Anle's pretentious act, so she stepped forward and said, "When I came here, I heard that you have been sleeping lightly and easily agitated lately, so I specially asked the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a bowl of calming soup, thinking that it might help you calm your mind."

A palace maid brought forward a gilded lacquered bowl. The medicine in the bowl was still steaming, and the aroma of the medicine was mixed with a faint honey fragrance. There was nothing unusual about it.

The Empress Dowager was already in a bad mood. She waved her hand and said impatiently, "Leave it alone."

Jing Anle stepped forward herself, took the lacquered bowl from the palace maid, and walked slowly to the Empress Dowager. She gently advised, "Grandmother, please drink some. If you get sick from anger, your uncle will be too busy worrying about Princess Rou and you too!"

Her voice was gentle, yet her words struck a chord with the Empress Dowager.

At that very moment, Jing Anle's hand, which was hanging in her sleeve, moved quietly. A speck of white powder between her fingertips fell silently into the boiling medicine, and dissolved completely in an instant.

She held the bowl and presented it to the Empress Dowager, her eyes filled with pure and kind concern.

The Empress Dowager looked at the bowl she was handed over, hesitated for a moment. She didn't like Jing Anle to begin with, and she really couldn't drink it now. She rubbed her temples and said, "Put it down. This medicine is still hot. I'll rest for a while before I drink it."

"Then I will listen to my grandmother." After saying that, Jing Anle placed the medicine on the tray held by the palace servant.

Jing Anle curled her lips slightly. She knew all along that the Empress Dowager would not drink the medicine she offered, and when the matter came to light, it would have absolutely nothing to do with her.

Upon seeing this, Consort Chen stepped forward, about to say a few words, when she heard a report from outside that Consort Chen had arrived.

"Consort Chen?" Jing Anle asked in confusion, glancing at the Empress Dowager and Consort Chen. Consort Chen's expression was clearly off, but the Empress Dowager beckoned for someone to come in.

A moment later, a lovely, innocent girl in green dress walked gracefully in. Her hair was simply styled, and although she was not a beauty that could topple kingdoms, she exuded a lively and refreshing charm that was out of place in the deep palace.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager, Consort Chen, and Princess Anle." Consort Chen bowed gracefully, as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Hmm." The Empress Dowager's tone was indifferent, but her expression had improved considerably.

Almost instantly, Jing Anle immediately determined that this Consort Chen must be from the Empress Dowager's family, and her purpose was naturally to seduce Emperor Jing.

She immediately understood; if that was the case, then…