Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 21 Summoned by the Queen Mother
Jiang Lanye said in a low voice, "I don't mind."

She slept inside, while Jiang Lanye slept outside.

The two were separated by a rolled-up soft blanket, and covered with two quilts.

Even so, Song Yi hadn't slept in the same bed with anyone for a long time, and she was the kind of person who liked to have the bed to herself, so being confined like this was actually quite uncomfortable.

Jiang Lanye was even more intense.

After dark, the palace was unusually quiet, and the palace maids and eunuchs on night watch outside dared not make a sound.

Therefore, their breathing was exceptionally clear to each other.

Song Yi faced the wall and sighed silently.

I should have distanced myself from him, but things only went wrong.

How could someone like Jiang Lanye, with his temperament, agree to let her sleep on the dragon bed?
Both of them lay awake in the darkness, each lost in their own thoughts, pondering wildly for half the night. Eventually, sleepiness prevailed, and their eyes gradually became sore. Song Yi fell asleep first.

Her unique fragrance wafted over, lingering around his nose.

Jiang Lanye looked at Song Yi with a deep gaze and then closed his eyes.

Jiang Lanye was woken up by a leg pressing down on him.

Song Yi's left leg was not injured. At first, she was pressed down by the blanket in the middle, with the sole of her foot touching Jiang Lanye's calf.

Jiang Lanye is a light sleeper and is easily awakened.

He vaguely sensed something, then suddenly opened his eyes and instinctively bent his knees—

His actions then woke Song Yi, who mumbled a few unintelligible words and then lifted her leg, pressing it against Jiang Lanye's knee.

Jiang Lanye: "."

He stood frozen like a log, slowly turning his head to stare at Song Yi's profile with an indescribable expression.

Song Yi was fast asleep, perhaps because something was supporting her under her legs, making the position comfortable. After a moment, she suddenly turned over and subconsciously rolled over to Jiang Lanye's side.

Unfortunately, something was blocking her way, and she couldn't roll over in the end. She just hugged the blanket and slept soundly.

Jiang Lan sighed in the night.

His legs are trapped, and he certainly won't be able to turn over tonight.

What is the meaning of the word?
Anyway, there's something blocking the way, so she can't get through.

Jiang Lanye felt relieved and went to sleep.

early morning.

From outside, Eunuch Cao called softly in a high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty, it's time to rise—"

Jiang Lanye frowned, feeling as if he were possessed by a ghost in the latter half of the night. No matter how he moved, he couldn't escape the eerie atmosphere, and he even felt like he couldn't breathe.

He opened his sleepy eyes and vaguely saw a head resting on his chest.

No one knows what methods Song Yi used, but she didn't seem to mind the blanket being uncomfortable, and she managed to squeeze past and get next to Jiang Lanye.

She not only squeezed in, but also pressed her left leg completely against his lower body, rested her head on his upper body, and held him tightly with her arms.

Jiang Lanye's face was expressionless. When she turned her head again, she realized that she was only a pitifully small distance away from falling off the bed. If she turned over, she would definitely be woken up by the fall.

The "ghost" on his body, however, was completely unaware and was sleeping soundly, drooling.

Jiang Lanye could no longer bear it and shouted through gritted teeth, "Song Yi."

In this situation, he was actually able to fall asleep, although he didn't sleep very well, but at least he didn't have nightmares.

Song Yi frowned slightly, raised her arm weakly, as if searching for the source of the sound.

Jiang Lanye continued, "Get up."

His voice was cold; anyone who heard it would know that he was extremely displeased at that moment.

But Song Yi only found him noisy. After confirming his location, she slapped her hand onto his thin lips and covered his mouth.

He pulled Song Yi's hand away, sat up, and then lifted her up.

Suddenly, Song Yi, whose collar was being pulled, looked bewildered. When she saw Jiang Lanye's cold face, she felt a sense of warmth and familiarity: "Your Majesty, you're awake."

Jiang Lanye abruptly released her grip. She let out a short cry and asked with a hint of resentment, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Lanye smiled faintly: "From now on, you are not allowed to sit on this dragon bed again."

Song Yi shrank back and muttered under her breath, "Why?"

Jiang Lanye stood up with a stern face, and the palace maids who were waiting outside immediately filed in.

He was being served by others with a cold expression. Several palace maids dared not look around. They had been standing outside and had clearly heard Song Cai Nu's short cry.

Unexpectedly, at this time, the two of them still...
After Jiang Lanye finished washing up, he turned around and looked at Song Yi, saying, "After I finish the morning court session, you must tidy up the imperial bed and do not stay on it."

Song Yi nodded repeatedly.

After he left, Song Yi immediately lay back down and pulled the blanket over herself.

Anyway, Jiang Lanye would be away from court for more than an hour, so she could sleep a little longer.

Unfortunately, her idea could not be realized.

No sooner had Jiang Lanye left than a palace maid suddenly appeared and said to Xichun outside the hall, "The Empress Dowager requests Consort Song to go to Yongfu Palace."

Xichun was taken aback, then quickly pushed open the door and entered, saying, "Lady Cai, the Empress Dowager wishes to see you!"

Song Yi frowned and murmured, "Empress Dowager."

She vaguely remembered that Jiang Lanye's mother had passed away before he ascended the throne, and the current Empress Dowager was the virtuous concubine who was favored by the late emperor.

Consort Xian had no imperial heirs. Jiang Lanye was under her care before he ascended the throne, and now she is the Empress Dowager.

Jiang Lanye had told her this on his own initiative, though he had only mentioned it briefly.

Suddenly, a palace maid outside called out again, "The Empress Dowager said that if it is inconvenient for you to walk, there will be a palanquin outside. You should hurry up and set off, so as not to keep the Empress Dowager waiting anxiously."

Song Yi immediately said, "Help me change my clothes."

She casually put on a dress, simply tied her hair up with a hairpin, tightened her veil, and helped Xichun limp out.

She boarded the palanquin and swayed all the way to Yongfu Palace.

The gates of Yongfu Palace were tightly closed.

As the palanquin landed, Song Yi stared coldly at the palace gate, not understanding the Empress Dowager's intentions.

Why did they both want to see her and then close the palace gates when she arrived? Was it to give her a hard time?
The palace maid who had spoken earlier spoke again.

"Lady, the Empress Dowager has just gotten up. Please stand up and wait."

She had a knee injury, making it difficult for her to stand.

This was clearly an order from the Empress Dowager.

Three years ago, she had only met the Empress Dowager twice sporadically and had only a slight impression of her.

She got up as instructed, and the eunuchs hurriedly carried the palanquin away.

Xi Chun supported her, somewhat uneasy: "Cai Nu."

Song Yi patted the back of her hand to reassure her.

At that moment, the sun had just peeked out, and its dazzling light shone directly on Song Yi, making her ears turn red.

Song Yi stood there patiently for a long time, until sweat began to bead on his forehead, before the palace gates finally opened from the inside.

Aunt Danruo glanced at her a few times and said perfunctorily, "Greetings, Lady Cai."

Song Yi asked directly, "Has the Empress Dowager already gotten up?"

"Cai Nu, please go inside."

Song Yi limped forward, making it extremely difficult for him.

Inside the room, the Empress Dowager sat in a chair. Seeing Song Yi about to enter, she asked in a cold voice, "Is she that palace maid from the laundry department?"

The palace maid standing nearby replied, "Yes."

The Empress Dowager scoffed and said, "She's walking so slowly, bring her in."

(End of this chapter)