Chapter 375: Chapter 375

"Your Majesty, are you threatening this old woman?"

Inside the traveling palace, with no one else around, An Ning didn't stand on ceremony. She casually set down the book she had been reading halfway through and lifted her gaze with a light smile to look at the new emperor sitting opposite her.

In the afternoon, warm sunlight streamed through the window. In the porcelain-white jade vase, several branches of red plum blossoms appeared particularly striking at this moment, seemingly overflowing with boundless vibrant life, yet at the same time exuding an extraordinary sense of tranquility.

When Yinreng spoke again, his voice inexplicably softened: "Your Majesty Mother, you worry too much. Not to mention that Father Emperor passed away suddenly without leaving behind a posthumous edict or even a verbal decree. Even if there were such things, they would have been completely destroyed immediately."

"Rather than being used as bargaining chips to threaten you."

He pushed the freshly shelled pine nuts toward her and then continued: "Your Majesty Mother, I will never forget your righteous assistance before. The reason I boldly mention this matter today is merely to tell you that some people are not worth your excessive concern. There is still a long time ahead, and it's certainly not worth you having to restrain yourself..."

Finally, seeing that she didn't seem surprised, he smiled again: "But now it appears that Your Majesty Mother is exceptionally intelligent and likely already knew about this. It seems I've made an unnecessary move today!"

She ignored that last part.

Observing the new emperor before her, dressed in a bamboo-green casual robe with jade ornaments at his waist, clearly deliberately dressed up to appear even more refined like jade while maintaining every bit of his noble dignity and majestic presence.

She couldn't help but think with interest that if Emperor Kangxi knew from beyond the grave how his treasured son had turned out, he would surely be particularly pleased!

As her gaze swept over his face, An Ning found herself thinking with amusement, when she heard the person opposite continue speaking.

As if lost in some memory: "I vaguely remember when we traveled south to Yangzhou in earlier years, you stood on the ship's edge wearing a Daoist robe, your every movement so free and unrestrained."

Even after so many years, Yinreng still remembered that scene—more unforgettable than the first time he saw Consort Mother Chen at the banquet, who seemed like "a person from heaven."

For a moment, Yinreng had even suspected she might ride the wind and leave at any second.

So light and transparent like ice and snow, untouched by worldly dust.

During countless restless and depressed nights afterward, whenever he remembered it, it always inexplicably calmed him somewhat.

Staring fixedly at the person before him, Yinreng suddenly smiled: "I thought to myself, someone like you shouldn't be willing to be constrained by worldly conventions..."

The imperial family really are first-class speakers.

With her pale hands trimming the plum blossom branches, An Ning only smiled faintly without speaking. Yinreng opposite her wasn't surprised either, sitting quietly nearby. Soon palace servants brought memorials.

Perhaps to fulfill what he had said that day, that very afternoon, palace servants delivered various clothes and accessories for disguise, accompanied by a team of imperial guards.

The new chief eunuch also bowed respectfully with a smile: "Your Majesty Empress Dowager, this is specially ordered by His Majesty. He said you've been too restrained in the palace recently and it's time to go out and have some fun, to properly relax."

"I've heard there's even a temple fair nearby right now!"

Finally, he added with a smile: "Your Majesty Empress Dowager, rest assured, these guards were carefully selected by His Majesty. Not only are they highly skilled in martial arts, but they're also extremely tight-lipped and won't reveal anything."

"Oh, and His Majesty also instructed that if you find it boring to play alone and want to summon someone, this servant will immediately go fetch them."

Fetch someone? Tsk, let's skip that last part.

Being able to go out alone and enjoy herself was already quite good—why create additional complications?

After all, she was the Empress Dowager of a nation. An Ning wasn't about to let herself go to that extent!

In such an era, having enjoyed such immense honor and wealth, she couldn't expect to pay no price at all!

After happily taking people out to play for several days, the next evening when An Ning stepped into the pool again, she unsurprisingly felt the water gently rippling behind her...

The hot spring was warm under the sun, warm jade producing mist.

When An Ning woke again, it was already noon the next day.

Outside, heavy snow was falling, but inside the traveling palace, it remained as warm as spring. In the corner, the purple-gold charcoal brazier crackled with popping sounds.

The soft couch near the window and the floor were both covered with layers of snow-white, fine wool carpets, warm enough to walk on barefoot without feeling cold.

"Does Your Majesty Mother find my service satisfactory?"

In the afternoon, while An Ning was leaning on the couch quietly reading, she suddenly heard the voice from opposite her. Instinctively, her mind fell into certain memories as she subconsciously evaluated:

Hmm... he's quite wild, his ability isn't bad either, quite enjoyable, but...

Remembering his slightly reddened eyes from yesterday, it seemed she had overestimated this person's mental state earlier.

Facing the clearly expectant gaze from the person opposite, after some thought, An Ning slightly lifted her gaze, letting it linger on his face for several seconds before finally lightly smiling and uttering a few words:

"Quite passionate, but... somewhat rigid."

The first part was acceptable, but ri... rigid...

Seeming stunned for a moment, Yinreng suddenly laughed, his voice clear and resonant. It was as if all the depression accumulated in his chest since being deposed as crown prince had instantly vanished.

Reaching out to place the shelled shrimp in her bowl, the person opposite soon smiled apologetically: "It's my fault for not serving Your Majesty Mother properly. But A-Ning, rest assured, if there's anything unsatisfactory, just say it directly. I will definitely make proper improvements."

Then he added with burning eyes: "I hope Your Majesty Mother won't hesitate to instruct me in the future!"

The heavy snow had just cleared, and spring suddenly turned warm. As usual, when the entourage returned to the palace, two months had already passed.

In Cining Palace, aside from the palace records and Phoenix Seal being delivered to her hands again, everything seemed unchanged from before.

An Ning continued beautifully serving as Empress Dowager, waking naturally every day, routinely burning incense, playing the qin, or reading books. Occasionally she would summon her sister or nephew to the palace for chats, and in her leisure time, she'd enjoy the palace gossip. Only on the first day of each month would she receive the Empress and various consorts who came to pay respects, listening to their various attempts to flatter and amuse.

Due to the earlier events during the first deposition of the crown prince, the central palace's status was precarious. Naturally, there were consorts in the palace who wanted to advance, and knowing the Emperor valued the Empress Dowager, they were particularly diligent, afraid of being insufficiently attentive. While usually quite entertaining, there were also occasional subtle verbal battles.

But these had nothing to do with An Ning. As an elder and the Empress Dowager, even if the palace turned into a dogfight, it wouldn't affect her—at most she'd just watch the show for amusement.

Compared to Kangxi, the new Emperor Yinreng was clearly more impatient with the palace's confinement. Though he had palace quarters, he actually spent most of his time in the suburban Changchun Garden or traveling palaces.

For filial piety's sake, he naturally had to bring along his Empress Dowager Mother. Not only was it comfortable and relaxing, but it was also very convenient for occasional disguised outings.

As the new emperor, Yinreng still came daily to pay respects, but considering An Ning's schedule, he usually arrived around noon.

Living so comfortably, An Ning nearly forgot about the earlier matters completely.

Until this day, when Xiangzhu came to report that several grand imperial consorts from Renshou Palace were requesting an audience.