After a few brief words, the Empress Dowager had Fanghua take Ji Qingyuan to settle into the palace that had been prepared for her.
'Why haven't they arranged a palace for me?'
Ji Qingwu asked, "Empress Dowager, where will I be staying?"
The Empress Dowager said, "Qingwu, sit down first. We can discuss where you'll be staying later. For now, I'd like to have a little chat with you."
Observing the Empress Dowager's expression, Shixi led the other maids out of the room.
'I have a bad feeling about this "later,"' Ji Qingwu thought. 'And it seems the "chat" the Empress Dowager wants to have now is the kind of "family talk" that outsiders shouldn't hear.'
The moment the hall doors closed, the Empress Dowager spoke. "Qingwu, there's no need to hide what's going on between you and the Emperor from me any longer."
Ji Qingwu immediately nodded in terror. "So the Empress Dowager knew all along."
The Empress Dowager's eyes and tone conveyed an air of confident certainty.
