Chapter 33: Her Empress Has Become More Foolish

Commandery Princess Shuanghua shot her a look as Granny Zhao announced her entrance, “Your Majesty, Her Majesty, the Empress, is here to pay her respects.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand. “Let her in.”

Su Nuan walked in confidently and acted as if she did not hear anything. Then, she greeted them politely.

The Empress Dowager was delighted to see the adorable little Empress.

Su Nuan bowed and said, “Greetings, Mother. May you be blessed with good health and fortune.”

“Rise, quickly. Granny Zhao, bring a chair out for the Empress.”

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Granny Zhao nodded, and one of the palace maids brought a stool for her. Su Nuan sat down and smiled at Commandery Princess Shuanghua, who got angry at the sight of Su Nuan. She thought that the girl was provoking her.

After Su Nuan sat down, she continued sweetly, “Mother, I think you look much better than before. Your skin is fair and flushed. If I walk out of the palace with Mother, people may mistake you for my older sister.”

The Empress Dowager was pleased to hear that. Although the young girl only visited her once every half a month, she never forgot to demonstrate her filial piety. She had eaten the gelatinous cake from Su Nuan every day, and everyone who saw her recently praised her for her good complexion and youthful appearance.

She was even happier now that she heard Su Nuan’s sincere praise.

“The Empress is considerate. I’ve been eating this recently and my complexion is indeed getting better,” she said.

Commandery Princess Shuanghua was enraged as she watched the two singing the same tune.

She secretly cursed at Su Nuan, believing her to be a bootlicker. Since Su Nuan had stolen her limelight, she quickly said, “Aunt, I missed you a lot during this past month, so I made a painting for you.”

The Empress Dowager’s attention was drawn to Commandery Princess Shuanghua again. She smiled. “Oh? Is that so? I’ll have to take a good look then.”

Su Nuan knew that Commandery Princess Shuanghua had set off a talent competition between them.

She watched as Commandery Princess Shuanghua glanced at her maidservants, who immediately retrieved a rolled-up scroll from a box.

When the two maidservants unrolled it, Su Nuan almost burst out laughing.

How is that the Empress Dowager?

The Empress Dowager had a slender figure, but the woman in the painting was voluptuous. Her peach blossom eyes and small mouth were worlds apart from the Empress Dowager’s appearance. If it wasn’t for the fact that her clothes revealed her identity, no one would be able to tell who she was.

As expected, the expression on Empress Dowager’s face changed as well. But, it was barely noticeable.

She returned to her usual composed self and said, “Hua’er’s painting skills have improved. Granny Zhao, please keep it for me.”

The Empress Dowager had a headache.

So this is what Commandery Princess Shuanghua thinks I look like?

Commandery Princess Shuanghua glared at Su Nuan after hearing the Empress Dowager’s praise. In her eyes, Su Nuan was just a little fool who only knew how to eat and sleep.

Just then, another palace servant came in and knelt. “Your Majesty, the Regent requests an audience.”

Su Nuan’s heart immediately began pounding.

The Regent had wanted to kill her the last time. He was different from the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was a woman, after all. Su Nuan could get away with things by praising her and acting cute, but that wasn’t the case with the Regent.

The book hadn’t described the Regent much. It had only mentioned that he was extremely cunning, brave, and skillful in battle. During the biggest battle between the tyrant, Feng Junyi, and the original male protagonist, the Regent was the one who led his troops to fight against the male protagonist.

However, upon receiving the news of the Empress Dowager’s death, the Regent retreated and rushed back to Shang Nation overnight. He then consumed poison and committed suicide after seeing her corpse.

She was still trying to recall the plot when a gust of wind flew past her nose with a hint of sandalwood.

The Regent walked forward and overlapped his hands before his chest. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

After that, he glanced at Su Nuan. Just a glance made Su Nuan shudder uncontrollably.

She sensed that the Regent still wanted to kill her.

The Empress Dowager said, “Arise. Granny Zhao, bring him a seat.”

Even though they seemed to be behaving normally, Su Nuan was influenced by the original book and felt that they were having an affair.

Commandery Princess Shuanghua probably didn’t know anything and only cared about hating her. Su Nuan walked up politely and said, “Mother, if there’s nothing else, I will take my leave first. His Majesty has requested for me to go to school with all the princes and princesses tomorrow. I have to make some preparations in advance.”

The Empress Dowager was stunned. She then said, “That’s right, the women of Yun Nation are illiterate. As the Empress, you should still study a little. Go on.”

But Commandery Princess Shuanghua wasn’t going to let this matter rest. She had endured acting like a good girl so far, but now she couldn’t take it anymore. She objected, “Aunt, how can she study with Cousin and the others? Aunt, Hua’er wants to join too!”

Commandery Princess Shuanghua pursed her lips. It didn’t seem like she would give up until she was allowed to go too.

The Empress Dowager felt like she was going to get a headache.

I know I spoil Commandery Princess Shuanghua, but she’s still my brother’s biological daughter.

“Hua’er, don’t worry. I will tell the Emperor about this. I have something to discuss with the Regent. Both of you may leave,” she said.

Commandery Princess Shuanghua had no choice but to give up when she heard this.

As soon as they walked out of the palace, Commandery Princess Shuanghua couldn’t hold herself back any longer.

She said coldly, “Some people are so annoying, fawning over the Empress Dowager all the time. But so what? They’re just a plaything that was sent over.”

Su Nuan looked at her with a confused expression and asked, “Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?”

“You’re the one talking nonsense here!”

Commandery Princess Shuanghua blurted without hesitation. She immediately realized that she had been tricked.

Commandery Princess Shuanghua was exasperated, but when she looked at Su Nuan, she felt that the little idiot didn’t seem to have done it on purpose.

Whether she meant to do it or not, provoking me was a mistake.

She sneered and said, “Heh, why am I talking to an idiot like you? Forget it, forget it. It won’t be long before I also attend school at the Imperial library. When the time comes, I’ll watch how you embarrass yourself like a little idiot.”

Zhen Zhu was unhappy to hear this. She didn’t know why the Empress had become even more foolish after marrying into Shang Nation, but she would never allow anyone to insult her Empress.

She immediately said, “Your Highness, please watch your words. My Empress is still the Mother of the nation.”

As soon as Zhen Zhu finished speaking, Commandery Princess Shuanghua slapped her across the face, and Zhen Zhu fell to the ground.

“Zhen Zhu!”

Su Nuan rushed to help Zhen Zhu up, but Commandery Princess Shuanghua pulled out the whip hanging on her waist.

The palace maid next to her saw this and quickly stopped her. “Your Highness, you can’t do that! She’s the Empress.”

“Get lost!”

Commandery Princess Shuanghua had been suppressing her anger for a long time. She finally had the opportunity to vent.

She ruthlessly pushed the palace maid away. The maid slipped and fell—her head hit the steps, and blood immediately gushed out.

Commandery Princess Shuanghua didn’t spare her a glance. She continued to rush towards Su Nuan and Zhen Zhu with her whip.