A Quiet Homecoming

Meanwhile.

Chen Yao sat in her seat, staring blankly at the sweet steamed milk custard the Empress Dowager had sent over. For a moment, she was at a loss.

She instinctively lifted her gaze toward the upper dais and, sure enough, saw the Empress Dowager beaming down at her with a gentle, reassuring smile.

A sudden warmth flooded Chen Yao's heart. All the elders in her family had passed away, and besides Sister Yunxiu, no one else had ever cared for her like this.

She silently offered thanks in her heart, then raised her hand to accept the sweet steamed milk custard offered by the palace maid.

But just then, the young palace maid sent to deliver the refreshments stumbled inexplicably, lurching forward, and the dish in her hands tipped over.

A full bowl of sweet steamed milk custard spilled all over Chen Yao. Milky white wet marks quickly soaked through the fabric of her clothes, spreading a large stain across her clean ruqun skirt.

Chen Yao's eyes widened, and she froze on the spot.

The young palace maid before her had already turned pale with fright. She dropped to her knees, trembling, and pleaded repeatedly, "This servant deserves death! This servant deserves death!"

Chen Yao snapped back to her senses quickly. Looking at the little maid kowtowing on the ground, she noticed the girl was only twelve or thirteen years old. Her heart softened in the end.

She let out a light sigh and said gently, "Rise. Do be more careful next time."

"Th-thank you, Madam Shen." The palace maid scrambled to her feet, still trembling.

A large red welt had already formed on her forehead. After standing, she kept her head lowered and stood stiffly in place, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Shen Yunxiu leaned in slightly, dabbing at the wet stains on Chen Yao with an embroidered handkerchief. At the same time, she studied the young palace maid, a hint of thoughtfulness flickering in her eyes.

"Madam Shen, there is a changing room in the side hall. This servant can take you there to change into fresh clothes. The palace has prepared some spare garments there for emergencies." Seeming to sense the sharpness of Shen Yunxiu's gaze, the young maid grew even more flustered, clearly weighing her words carefully before making the cautious suggestion.

Chen Yao rarely attended palace banquets, so she knew nothing of this arrangement. She instinctively turned her head toward Shen Yunxiu seated beside her, her long lashes fluttering slightly, uncertain what to do.

Shen Yunxiu, reminded by her, suddenly remembered this detail. After all, when the palace hosted a banquet, they planned for every contingency, and setting up a changing area in the side hall to handle accidents was common practice.

"I'll accompany you," she said, setting down her handkerchief and reaching for Chen Yao's small hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

She only hoped she was overthinking things—that what had just happened was truly an accident and not a deliberate trap.

Unaware of the worry weighing on Shen Yunxiu's mind, Chen Yao felt a surge of relief just knowing that Yunxiu would come with her. She nodded obediently. "Alright."

From his seat at the head of the hall, Xiao Mingting naturally took in the entire scene.

He watched quietly as Chen Yao and Shen Yunxiu rose together and, led by the little palace maid, walked out of the hall side by side. His dark eyes narrowed slightly.

After a long moment, he lowered his gaze once more, staring heavily at the pink wine in his white jade goblet. Finally, he raised it and drank it down in one go.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Shielded by the cup, no one could see the emotion in his eyes at that moment.

The next second, Xiao Mingting rose directly from the dragon throne. To Eunuch De, who instinctively moved to follow, he said coolly, "Don't follow."

Eunuch De halted mid-step and stood in place, bowing in acknowledgment. "Yes, Your Majesty."

With the emperor gone, the Empress Dowager also seemed to have settled a matter close to her heart. She rose slowly, leaning on Mama Cui's arm, and said with a soft sigh, "I am a little weary as well. Let us return to Shou'an Palace."

The emperor and the Empress Dowager leaving in succession took much of the stiffness from the banquet. The civil and military officials and their families present grew more relaxed, raising their cups and toasting one another freely.

Seeing that Shen Yunxiu had gone off with her wife, Yuan Fuju, who had originally come looking for him, felt even less inclined to stay.

Seated at the far end of the banquet, no one bothered him. He simply picked up his own wine jug, poured himself cup after cup in a sullen mood, and tipped each one back.

But the wine served at palace banquets was a low-alcohol fruit brew, its sweetness overpowering any hint of liquor. So even after drinking all that, he felt no hint of drunkenness.

Still, after drinking too much in a short time, Yuan Fuju soon felt a heaviness in his belly and a pressing need to relieve himself.

He set the wine cup aside, brushed off his robes, and rose to leave the hall as well.

*

Soon, Chen Yao and the others were led to the changing room in the side hall.

Seeing that Shen Yunxiu had followed along, the young palace maid guiding them tactfully gave a slight bow. "This servant will take her leave now."

Then she retreated quietly.

Shen Yunxiu reached up and gently patted the young woman's head, smiling warmly. "Yao Yao, rest easy and change inside. I'll keep watch outside the door. No need to worry."

Chen Yao blinked lightly, then nodded with reassurance. "Mm."

Shen Yunxiu walked out, closing the door behind her.

She did not stand directly by the door. Though they were husband and wife, they were not in the Shen residence. Keeping a gentleman's distance, she stepped a few paces away and stood waiting before a tall pillar carved with coiling dragons.

But before long, she spotted Yuan Fuju beneath the corridor not far off, walking unsteadily with one hand pressed to his forehead, his steps as unsteady as if he were treading on cotton.

Shen Yunxiu frowned. From a distance, she saw him stagger forward every few steps, as if he might lose his footing and collapse at any moment.

She glanced back at the changing room—the door was still tightly shut. It would take a woman some time to change and tidy herself up.

It wasn't too far away. She hesitated for a moment, then saw Yuan Fuju stumble as if tripping over something, pitching forward straight toward the ground.

Shen Yunxiu's heart leapt with alarm. Without further thought, she hurried over toward the corridor.