Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 579 - 295: Exclusion_1

Chapter 579: Chapter 295: Exclusion_1

On the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Pan Yue, Qian Yixiu, Mingming, Jingjing, and Monkey Sister, all appropriately dressed, accompanied by Qian Manjiang, carried their tributes and went to the Palace.

The Empress Dowager had been unwell recently, and Pan Yue’s request for an audience had been denied. It was only yesterday that news came from the Palace that the Empress Dowager was feeling better and asked them to visit early today. She specifically instructed that Monkey Brother and Monkey Sister should be brought along, as she wanted to see them.

Monkey Brother had not returned from the estate with White Wolf and Dashan, so only Monkey Sister was taken this time. Monkey Sister’s temperament was much gentler, and she was more responsive to commands. Unlike Monkey Brother, who had grown more irritable with age and was quick to take offense. The unruly children in the Palace were the kind who could not be provoked yet loved to stir up trouble, and Qian Yixiu feared they might agitate Monkey Brother. If he were to injure anyone, it would be trouble for her own family.

Before leaving the house, Qian Yixiu repeatedly stressed to Monkey Sister that she must behave properly. Without her command, no injuring behavior was allowed; otherwise, she would be sent back to Xishi Mountain. Monkey Sister nodded in agreement and even raised her left front limb as if to swear. She did not want to leave her master and Monkey Brother, nor did she want to go back to Xishi Mountain alone.

Outside Cining Palace, Auntie Qing whispered to Pan Yue and Qian Yixiu that the little prince and princesses were all greeting the Empress Dowager.

She was reminding them to be cautious around those young nobles. Qian Yixiu gently tugged at Monkey Sister’s ear, reminding her to remember her instructions.

Qian Manjiang brought them as far as here before stopping, watching his wife and children enter Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Fu was in a side hall, reclining on a lounger, her face radiating kindness as she spoke with several children. Eight of them, ranging from five to their teens, sat by her side—three girls and five boys. Zhu Sujin was also there; he had returned from the estate yesterday, and he was the oldest and tallest among these children. The boys wore apricot yellow three-dragon python robes and seven-bead gold dragon crowns on their heads. The girls’ clothes were distinctively styled, but all without exception featured phoenix embroidery, and they wore small phoenix hairpins on their heads.

As soon as Empress Dowager Fu saw this family arrive, her face bloomed into a smile.

After Pan Yue and the others performed their courtesies, Empress Dowager Fu first hugged and affectionately kissed Mingming and Jingjing before calling Pan Yue to sit next to her.

She then beckoned Qian Yixiu over to her side, took her hand, and said, "Poor thing, to have suffered such grievances. Remember, you are your great-grandmother’s most beloved great-granddaughter; you should not let those biased ones bully you. If you need to be tough, be tough, and don’t fear causing trouble—I am here to support you. Zi Yang is just too honest, that’s why he was bullied."

She then addressed the two little ones, "Mingming and Jingjing, remember this as well, only you can bully others; nobody can bully you."

As the elderly lady spoke, she became slightly breathless, but her words carried great authority.

Qian Yixiu replied with a smile, "Thank you, Great Grand Empress Dowager, with your words, your great-granddaughter can now act like a crab."

"A crab? What do you mean?" asked the Empress Dowager, puzzled.

Qian Yixiu smiled and said, "Walk sideways."

The Empress Dowager burst into hearty laughter at this remark. She said to Grand Eunuch Cui standing behind her, "This girl is more forthright than both Zi Yang and Yueyue."

Eunuch Cui chuckled and said, "Miss Qian’s forthrightness is like that of the Empress Dowager in her younger days, even her poetic temperament."

Eunuch Cui had always served the Empress Dowager closely.

Empress Dowager Fu nodded with a smile, "That’s right, when I was a young lady, I too enjoyed writing poetry and playing the zither..."

While Empress Dowager Fu spoke with Qian Yixiu, Pan Yue called Zhu Sujin to her side to speak with him.

On the other side, the young imperial grandchildren had already surrounded Monkey Sister, utterly fascinated. A few of the more daring ones pinched here and pulled there.

Today, Monkey Sister was wearing a half-sleeve aqua-colored dress with a large aqua-colored bow tied in the hair at the top of her head. She detested these bratty children who manhandled her, but remembering her master’s instructions, she endured it.

After finishing her conversation with Qian Yixiu, Empress Dowager Fu called over Monkey Sister and asked, "Didn’t you say there were two monkeys? Why has only one come?"

Qian Yixiu replied with a smile, "This is Monkey Sister, Monkey Brother went to the estate a couple of days ago and hasn’t returned yet."

Monkey Sister, crafty as she was, saw the Empress Dowager’s attention turn to her and quickly broke through the encirclement to kowtow a few times before stretching out her hand to ask for a reward.

This behavior amused everyone greatly, and Empress Dowager Fu laughed heartily, "No wonder people always say monkeys are clever, Monkey, you truly are astute. Quick, give a reward."