The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 131 The Empress Dowager Returns to the Palace (1)

The next day.

The palace was unusually busy today, with palace servants coming and going in a hurry.

Yongfu Palace.

"Princess, look." Afang helped Jing Anle put on her gorgeous princess dress and led her to the bronze mirror.

At this moment, Jing Anle wore a phoenix-winged double happiness hairpin crown, a gold thread eight-treasure beaded ring, and a black cloud brocade robe. She was both beautiful and solemn, making her appear even more noble and grand.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Jing Anle was momentarily stunned. On her wedding day in her previous life, she had dressed like this. Jing Anle tried to move her neck, which felt very heavy. She murmured, "It's been a long time since I've dressed like this."

Looking at Jing Anle in the mirror, Afang assumed she was tired and said, "The Empress Dowager has returned to the palace today; it must have been hard for the princess to suffer."

Jing Anle's lips curled slightly. "Today's show is about to begin. What does it matter if I'm a little tired?" Then she turned to Afang and said, "Let's go."

Today is the fifth day of the eighth lunar month, an auspicious day for the Empress Dowager's return from Tanfo Temple. The entire palace is ready to welcome her, and the most pleased person right now is the Empress Dowager's niece, Consort Chen.

Consort Chen's residence.

Cai Xing, the personal maid, helped Consort Chen put on the last Ruyi hairpin, and Consort Chen's beautiful appearance was reflected in the mirror.

"Your Majesty looks absolutely radiant today!" Cai Xing couldn't help but exclaim.

Consort Chen stood up, adjusted her hair with her right hand, and said with satisfaction, "Your mouth is as sweet as honey."

"This servant speaks the truth. Your Majesty is undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in the harem today."

Seeing Consort Chen's smile, Cai Xing praised her even more, making Consort Chen laugh heartily. Her aunt was coming back, how could she not be happy? She wanted Consort Lin and Consort Li to have to be mindful of her mood from now on, so that she could become the mistress of the harem in the future.

……

Outside Zhangtai Palace.

As the sun rose, civil and military officials, concubines, and palace maids stood outside the imposing Zhangtai Palace.

"On the fifth day of the eighth lunar month, an auspicious day, we respectfully welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace!" A loud voice resounded throughout the entire palace.

After the drumbeats ended, the horns sounded.

Slowly, the palace attendants approached. The procession wasn't long, and soon, a large sedan chair carried by eight men slowly came into Jing Anle's view. She, along with Jing Fengyao, Jing Fengyu, Jing Rou, and even princes from other countries, stood to the lower right of Emperor Jing, so Xiao Heng could see Jing Anle clearly.

This was the first time Xiao Heng had seen Jing Anle dressed like this, so dignified and beautiful. He unconsciously curled the corners of his mouth. Indeed, she looked good no matter how she dressed.

When the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, she was traditionally carried in a sedan chair by eighteen bearers. However, this Empress Dowager, who was practicing meditation at Tanfo Temple, decreed that there was no need for extravagance and that only an eight-bearer sedan chair would suffice.

Jing Anle watched the approaching sedan chair from afar, her face calm but inwardly she couldn't help but scoff, thinking that this Empress Dowager was always good at putting on a show.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Empress Dowager Chen Huaping could hardly contain her excitement, but she maintained a calm and composed demeanor. After all, she was an old fox who had lived for decades, so she was naturally different.

She looked down and straightened her sleeves, thinking to herself: This black peony robe is really old. If it weren't for wanting to gain a reputation for diligence and thrift, she wouldn't wear it like this.

After the late emperor's death, she requested to leave the palace for a period of quiet contemplation. The temple was cold and desolate, nothing compared to the bustling and luxurious palace. Now that she has returned to the palace, she is here to enjoy a life of comfort.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the Empress Dowager's sedan chair, especially Jing Rou, who was dressed in her finest attire today. She wore the magnificent robes of Princess Jinluo, a ruby ​​crown on her head, and a gold necklace hanging in front of her dress, looking both grand and noble.

Jing Rou wore a proper smile, showing no sign of having cried the day before. Princess Qing, who was not far away, was very pleased with what she saw.

Princess Qing was about to look away when she noticed that Qi Zhi, who was standing behind Jing Fengyao, was looking at Jing Rou with a smile on his face. She understood what was going on, but her face remained calm.

"Fifty steps left," Jing Anle thought to himself. "Fifty steps left, the sedan chair should be on the steps by now. Why is there still no reaction?"

Jing Anle was still wondering when he suddenly heard the sound of the sedan chair being lowered with a clang.

"what!"

"Queen Mother."

"Send it to the doctor quickly!"

The crowd suddenly became noisy. Jing Anle had only been stunned for a moment when he heard a commotion. He looked up and saw that the Empress Dowager's sedan chair had overturned on the ground.

Emperor Jing's expression immediately changed, and he quickly descended the steps, followed closely by the concubines, who were assisted by palace servants. Jing Anle was delighted, thinking that Mu Ping had indeed done a good job, but she still followed along.

The ministers below the stage were extremely anxious and were all looking around.

Xie Shikai, who had just taken office, was also among the officials, but she dared not speak or look too much. She only dared to lower her head and gently scold her son Xie Bailing beside her, "Don't say anything more!"

Xie Bailing smiled and obediently replied, "Yes." His tone trailed off, full of indifference and mockery, but Xie Shikai didn't catch it at all.

When the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, all officials of rank and their sons were allowed to attend, and Xie Bailing naturally wanted to come. After all, it was a rare opportunity for people from Dayun Kingdom to enter and leave the Jing Kingdom's palace openly and legitimately, and secondly, he naturally wanted to see the high and mighty princess.

The Empress Dowager herself did not expect that on her first day back in the palace, she would fall straight off the sedan chair. Her head hit the ground hard, and she felt dizzy. This frightened her personal maid, Su Rong, who called out to her while trying to help her up.

"Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager, please wake up!"

"Mother Empress? Mother Empress!"

"Aunt, Aunt! Please don't frighten your niece!" Consort Chen was also quite frightened upon seeing this and cried out anxiously.

She seemed to hear shouts in her ears. The Empress Dowager was conscious, but she did not want to open her eyes. In front of so many people, she would rather pretend to faint than lose face.

When Emperor Jing stepped down, the Empress Dowager was still unconscious. The palace servants who carried the sedan chair were all terrified and knelt on the ground, trembling. Emperor Jing glanced at them and said sternly, "Drag them all away and await their fate."

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me..."

The sedan bearers quickly begged for mercy and were then dragged away by the Imperial Guards.

"Empress Dowager!" It was Prince Qing who spoke. He suddenly appeared, picked up the Empress Dowager, and strode into the Zhangtai Palace, leaving Emperor Jing watching their backs.

Seeing this, Jing Anle walked to Emperor Jing's side and gently called out, "Father."

Emperor Jing slowly composed himself, smiled at Jing Anle, but after a moment his expression changed, and he said sternly, "Chu Nian!"

Chu Nian quickly replied, "Your subject is here."

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I want to see who dares to commit crimes under my very nose!"

"Yes."