Speaking of this, the expression on Shi Manzi's face became extremely gentle, and her eyes shone with crystal light, just like the brilliance Lin Wanwan glimpsed from the depths of her eyes when they first met.
Lin Wanwan looked at her quietly, but her heart suddenly sank, and a deep sense of guilt surged out, making her feel mixed emotions.
If one day, Shi Manzi knew all of her and Su Jin's plans, would she stand as firmly on their side as she did today and say these words?
When she thought of this, a complex look suddenly flashed across Lin Wanwan's eyes. She couldn't help but think about how Su Jin would feel when facing Luo Huaizhou over the years, whether it would be as heavy and torturous as she was now.
A friend of life and death, a friend of irreversibility, a friend of adversity, a friend of morality... In the end, she and Su Jin owed this friendship to them.
Seeing that Lin Wanwan was silent, Shi Manzi thought she was worried about him, so she couldn't help but comfort her: "Don't worry, the Queen Mother treats me quite well. Besides..."
She glanced around, then lowered her voice and whispered to Lin Wanwan: "Now the Queen Mother is busy recruiting all parties to compete with the left. At this time, she needs to rely on my father's influence, so naturally she will not treat me do what."
When Lin Wanwan heard this, her eyes moved slightly, and then she looked deeply at Shi Manzi.
She originally thought that Shi Manzi was raised in a boudoir, influenced and restrained by the "Four Books for Women", and had never cared about the affairs of the court. However, she did not expect that Shi Manzi could see the undercurrents in the court so thoroughly. It turned out that she knew , the Queen Mother asked Luo Huaizhou to marry her in order to gain the support of her father's power.
However, Shi Manzi told her these words without hesitation just because she wanted to put her mind at ease. What kind of trust is this...
Suddenly, several indescribable complex emotions surged in Lin Wanwan's eyes. Shi Manzi's warm palms covered her hands, gradually dispelling the chill on her body. The corners of Lin Wanwan's pale lips slowly raised a shallow arc, and she nodded lightly towards her.
While the two were talking, the eunuch in charge had already passed through the porch, walked up to them, and said with a polite smile: "Miss Shi, the Queen Mother has invited you."
After speaking, he bowed slightly towards Shi Manzi and raised his hand to make a "please" gesture.
Shi Manzi nodded slightly, glanced at Lin Wanwan with concern, then looked at the eunuch in charge, with a hint of probing in her tone: "That night..."
"Miss Shi, the Queen Mother said that there is no rule without rules. Only with respect can you know how to behave. The crime of disrespect should serve as a warning to others and must not go unpunished. I hope Miss Shi will not make things difficult for the slaves again."
Before Shi Manzi could finish her words, the eunuch in charge stopped her and blocked her next words.
Her expression condensed and she was about to say something when she heard Lin Wanwan call her softly.
Shi Manzi turned around in response, and saw Lin Wanwan shaking her head at her, signaling her not to waste any more words, and comforting her: "Don't worry, I just suffered some superficial injuries, and my body can still bear it."
"But..." Shi Manzi couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. When she thought of the bloody stain on Lin Wanwan's back, her heart suddenly tightened, and her eyebrows were full of worry.
When Lin Wanwan saw this, she leaned closer to her ear with some difficulty and whispered: "Anyway, I won't be beaten a few times, so let them finish the beating. If they don't finish the beating, the Queen Mother will not let it go. Then I just took it." Those sticks will be in vain."
Seeing that the two people were whispering to each other but there was still no movement, the smile on the eunuch's face could not help but fade, and he urged: "Miss Shi, please don't keep the Queen Mother waiting for a long time. Please do it!"
Hearing this, Shi Manzi looked sideways at Lin Wanwan and saw her slightly nodding towards him, her expression firm and calm.
Shi Manzi pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and finally stood up.
"Please, father-in-law, please speak further."
Shi Manzi called the eunuch in charge aside, looked at him with a deep look, and then said warmly: "My father-in-law doesn't know. In fact, this girl is also a close friend of Prince Lu, but she has never been in good health. If she is like before, Do your best to implement it, if anything happens and Prince Lu comes back to hold him accountable, I'm afraid you won't be able to explain it."
The eunuch in charge was startled when he heard this. He really didn't know that this woman had such a relationship with Prince Lu, so he hurriedly clarified: "I'm a slave who talks lightly, but only acts according to orders..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw Shi Manzi stuffing a jade pendant of excellent quality into his hand. He smiled and said, "So I hope my father-in-law can take care of it. Prince Lu and I will definitely talk about it." My father-in-law’s kindness today will be engraved in my heart, and I will thank you deeply in the future.”
The eunuch in charge showed hesitation, rubbed the jade pendant in his hand, considered it for a moment, and then said: "Since Miss Shi has spoken, I should do my best."
"Then it's time for you, father-in-law."
After Shi Manzi thanked the eunuch in charge, she couldn't help but glance at Lin Wanwan. After seeing the understanding look in her eyes, she walked towards the inner hall.
Lin Wanwan looked at Shi Manzi's back with a happy smile in her eyes. It seemed that the daughter of the Minister of Civil Affairs had grown up a lot during these days and was no longer the timid and cautious person she was when they first met. A woman.
This is what she should be like.
"Father, Miss Shi's cloak is still on this girl. Do you want to take it off before executing her?"
"What cloak? We didn't see any cloaks in our house. Maybe the wind and snow were too heavy and you misjudged your vision. Why don't you hurry up and execute the execution?" The eunuch in charge raised his eyes and glanced at several palace officials, and said sternly, "The Queen Mother I am talking to Miss Shi in the inner hall, please remember that the movement can be as small as possible, but don't disturb the nobles, and watch your heads!"
Several palace officials immediately understood and quickly said yes.
…
In front of the Buddhist niche enshrined in the inner hall, incense is lingering, and the Queen Mother is sitting on a mat, closing her eyes and chanting sutras. She looked calm and slowly moved the rosary beads in her hand, looking calm and peaceful.
"My daughter, Shi Manzi, pays homage to the Queen Mother."
Shi Manzi bowed to the Queen Mother dignifiedly and elegantly.
Hearing the sound, the Queen Mother slowly opened her eyes. After seeing Shi Manzi, a kind smile suddenly appeared on her face, "Manzi is here, please sit down and talk."
Shi Manzi responded, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, when the Queen Mother was about to get up, she immediately stepped forward and helped Pei Rong to help the Queen Mother up, and then sat down on the couch with her.
The Queen Mother couldn't help but have a look of admiration in her eyes. After the maid finished serving the tea, she said, "It's very windy and snowy today, and it's just dawn. Why are you here in the palace?"
Shi Manzi's eyes darkened, and she couldn't help but feel a little more worried and anxious. "When I heard that something happened to Prince Lu, I was anxious to come to the palace to see if I could be of any help."
"You are serious." The Queen Mother nodded slightly, with a look of worry on her eyebrows, and then sighed softly: "It's just that the gangsters are treacherous. No trace of Zhou'er has been found yet, but don't worry, the emperor has sent out the imperial army. I’m going to look for it, I believe there will be news soon.”
