kingnovel Chapter 1333 is good.
Chapter 1333 is good.
Inside the flower hall, Shen Zheng recounted to the Empress Dowager the whole story of how she took Cui Jinyin as her disciple.
Outside the flower hall, Ba Lezhan probed cautiously, "Young Yan, this old lady's identity is quite extraordinary, isn't it?"
Fang Ziyan had never actually met the Empress Dowager, but when he was in the capital, he heard Sister Shen say that the old lady who came to Tong'an County at the beginning of the year was the birth mother of the current emperor, the Empress Dowager of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Of course, he wouldn't tell Balezhan the truth, but simply replied vaguely, "Probably."
"Don't say 'should'!" Ba Lezhan hurriedly snatched the peanut from his son. "Little Yan, if you know anything, secretly tell Uncle Ba. Uncle Ba promises that he will never let a second person know!"
Fang Ziyan carefully protected the peanuts and shook his head: "Uncle Ba, please don't ask. Knowing too much won't do you any good."
Ba Lezhan: "?"
Is this something Fang Ziyan would say?
He was still pondering when the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's residence rushed over, her face full of anxiety: "Fatty, stop eating! Quickly help me think of something. What should I say when the... the Old Madam calls me in? What if... what if she really has Vice Commander Wei send me back to the capital? I don't want to leave my teacher..."
Upon hearing this, Ba Lezhan was stunned and almost subconsciously asked, "Miss Cui, what did you just say... 'Madam' what?"
Cui Jinyin turned her head and realized that there was another person squatting opposite Fang Ziyan, completely hidden by potted plants.
She was already very flustered, and when she was asked that question, her heart trembled even more: "W-what, you must have misheard me!"
Did I hear that right?
Ba Lezhan was very certain that he hadn't misheard a single word.
Just now, Miss Cui clearly used the word "too"!
too......
Too what?
An answer that horrified him slowly emerged.
Just then, Granny Chang came over and curtsied, saying, "Miss Cui, Master Ba, the old lady invites you both inside."
Cui Jinyin froze, then nodded stiffly, "My...my daughter is coming..."
Ba Lezhan was also startled. After regaining his senses, he strode after Granny Chang and said, "Granny, please wait!"
Granny Chang stopped and turned around.
He stole a glance at the flower hall, extremely uneasy: "The old...did the old lady summon me in? I...I don't know the old lady's identity yet, and I'm afraid it would be impolite to enter. I hope the nanny can inform me..."
Granny Chang smiled faintly: "Hasn't Lord Ba already guessed it?"
Ba Lezhan stumbled, terrified.
太！
太！
太！
......
Half a quarter of an hour later, in the flower hall.
If we were to say whether Cui Jinyin or Ba Lezhan is more of a quail, it would be difficult to say at this moment.
Cui Jinyin stood behind Shen Zheng, not daring to move, not daring to look up, and not even daring to breathe.
Ba Lezhan knelt on the ground with his legs limp and his buttocks touching his heels. Granny Chang went forward to help him up twice, but she couldn't get him up. The scene became somewhat comical.
“Slight, slight, slight… let, let, let…” Balezhan couldn’t utter a complete sentence.
Shen Zheng pondered for a moment, then thoughtfully translated, "Madam, Lord Ba said, 'This humble subject has been impolite, and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has been made to laugh.'"
Balezhan nodded vigorously, as if he had found a kindred spirit, and said again, "No, no, no..."
Shen Zheng then translated, "I wonder what Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has summoned me for?"
Ba Lezhan nodded vigorously, his gaze towards Shen Zheng filled with gratitude.
This scene made the Empress Dowager burst into laughter.
She asked Shen Zheng, "You're not a mind reader, how can you know so much about what Magistrate Ba is thinking?"
Shen Zheng smiled and said, "I was just as excited when I first met you in the palace. As a fellow county magistrate, it's not hard to guess what you're thinking, Lord Ba."
"You, you." The Empress Dowager's smile deepened as she glanced at the still stiff Cui Jinyin and Ba Lezhan, her tone becoming more amiable: "Don't be so reserved. I've come here intending to stay in Tong'an County for a while. If you're both so tense every day, how can others not guess my identity?"
After following Shen Zheng for several months, Cui Jinyin had also developed some skills in reading people's expressions and moods.
She asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, may my daughter... continue to stay by my teacher's side?"
The Empress Dowager stared at her for a moment, then nodded: "You've become much more likable since leaving the Cui family. Fine, let you stay. If I send you back, my ears will be nagging you until they're calloused."
Cui Jinyin was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! I will certainly serve my teacher well!"
The Empress Dowager nodded, then looked down at Ba Lezhan: "Magistrate Ba."
"Puff-"
Ba Lezhan's knees, which had just straightened, bent down again.
He bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty, please give me your orders..."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Granny Chang, who immediately stepped forward and helped Ba Lezhan up, saying, "Lord Ba, the Empress Dowager's identity should not be known to others."
Ba Lezhan slowly rose, his knees trembling: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will never reveal your identity to anyone, including my family. If I reveal even the slightest thing... I will leave it to the court to decide my fate!"
The Empress Dowager nodded, and after a moment of silence, she said, "If someone speculates about the royal family, how will you respond?"
Ba Lezhan thought quickly.
It cannot be denied immediately, as this would arouse suspicion.
The best way is...
“Lead them to guess!” Ba Lezhan’s beady eyes darted around. “This humble official believes that you must be a relative of some high-ranking official, holding an imperial title!”
Shen Zheng secretly gave a thumbs up.
In critical moments, Xiao Ba's brain is still sharp enough.
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction: "Good, you may leave."
Ba Lezhan felt like he was floating.
After being escorted out of the flower hall by Granny Chang, he couldn't help but find Fang Ziyan, his mouth stretching to the back of his ears: "Little Ziyan, the old lady... praised me!"
Fang Ziyan paused in his peanut-eating motion, his face full of disbelief: "What did I say to praise you?"
Ba Lezhan said, "The old lady said that I am quite good!"
......
At the exact hour of You (5-7 PM), Wei Jing personally arrived at the flower hall and announced from outside, "Lord Shen, the auspicious time is almost here..."
Inside the hall, the Empress Dowager stood up upon hearing this, "Let's go, young witness."
Shen Zheng smiled and followed the Empress Dowager out of the flower hall with Yu Shizhang.
Wei Jing maintained his bowing posture until they came out, then immediately said, "I greet the Old Madam, Lord Shen, and the Earl..."
The Empress Dowager glanced at him and smiled, "The groom? He looks quite dashing, not bad."
Ba Lezhan's heart broke upon hearing this.
It seems the Empress Dowager also finds Wei Jing quite agreeable...
The group followed Wei Jing to the main hall.
Red ribbons fluttered in the air, joyful music filled the air, and a festive atmosphere permeated the entire courtyard.
The Empress Dowager's smile deepened as she gazed at the orange-red sky and said, "It's been quite a few years since I've had a wedding banquet with young people. Not bad."
Ba Lezhan's lips stiffened.
Why is it "not bad" again...?
When Wei's parents arrived, they invited them to sit at the main table and said to Shen Zheng, "The wedding ceremony will begin soon. Please follow me into the main hall, Lord Shen."
Shen Zheng straightened her clothes and walked towards the main hall.
Before long, the wedding officiant's clear and melodious voice rang out from the courtyard, each word distinct: "The auspicious hour has arrived—the newlyweds enter the hall, and the wedding ceremony begins!"