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Chapter 784
When the Empress Dowager heard that the Empress had left, her mood did not improve. She snorted coldly. She felt that the Empress did not have the intention to come and pay her respects. She was just putting on a show for the Emperor.
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"Empress Dowager, Old An Wang Fei asks for an audience." Jin Ping said in a low voice by the Empress Dowager's ear.
"Why is she here again?" The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow. Thinking of the niece that Old An Wang Fei mentioned, she nodded and said, "Invite Old An Wang Fei in."
Today, Princess An brought her niece to the palace. She was very confident that as long as the Empress Dowager saw her niece, she would definitely like her niece. At that time, if her niece could enter the palace, she would have more chances to see the Emperor. So what if the Empress was beautiful? Would her niece be bad?
"Aunt, I heard that the current Empress is peerless in beauty, but before entering the palace, it was said that she was extremely jealous. Will she allow me to enter the palace?" Liu Zhihua asked in a small voice.
"Zhihua, you don't understand. There is no woman who doesn't have jealousy. The Emperor is handsome, which woman doesn't like him? The Empress is young and naturally more doted on. But she was born in a border town and is a country bumpkin who has never seen the world. If there is no one to compare with her, she naturally can't see it. Once there is a comparison, the Emperor will not like her." Old An Wang Fei had already forgotten the lesson of being humiliated by the Empress. She just felt that her niece was incomparable and the Emperor would definitely like her if he saw her.
Liu Zhihua revealed an embarrassed expression. She had never seen the Emperor but knew of the Emperor's heroic past. In this world, the only person that was worthy of her was the Emperor.
"Be more obedient in front of the Empress Dowager. She doesn't like the Empress. If you can obtain the Empress Dowager's love, it will only be good for you." Old An Wang Fei reminded in a low voice.
"Aunt, I will remember." Liu Zhihua nodded and said.
The aunt and niece saw the Palace of Peace and Tranquility in front of them and tactfully did not speak.
Jin Ping came out to lead them in. Seeing Jin Ping beside Old An Wang Fei, she couldn't help but look a few more times.
Who was this girl? She was so beautiful. Other than the Empress, no one in the palace was as beautiful as this girl.
Liu Zhihua raised her head and smiled at Jin Ping. She lowered her head and followed behind Old An wangfei into the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful.
The Empress Dowager was already waiting for them in the main hall. She saw Old Princess An coming in with a young girl. Her eyes landed on Liu Zhihua.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed." Old Princess Consort An curtsied.
"You may rise," the Empress Dowager said lightly. "Grant him a seat."
Old Princess An smiled and thanked her. "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Liu Zhihua kept her head down as she stood beside Old Princess An. Even so, just by looking at her side profile, one could tell that she was a beauty.
"I was just wondering when you would come to the palace," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"This concubine actually wanted to enter the palace for a long time, but I was afraid that you would be too busy after returning to the palace." Old Princess An said with a smile. She looked at Liu Zhihua. "Empress Dowager, this is the niece that chenqie mentioned to you before. Her nickname is Zhihua."
Liu Zhihua stepped forward and bowed. "Zhihua greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed."
The Empress Dowager listened to her clear and sweet voice and a satisfied smile flashed in her eyes. "Raise your head and let aijia see."
"Yes." Liu Zhihua shyly raised her head, her face slightly red. Her dark eyes looked at the Empress Dowager.
"She really is a beauty." The Empress Dowager nodded. She was very satisfied with Liu Zhihua's appearance. If she wanted to stay in the palace, she couldn't be too far off from the Empress. Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't like her. Even though Liu Zhihua couldn't compare to Lu Yaoyao in terms of beauty, she was much better than Lu Yaoyao in terms of birth.
Liu Zhihua blushed. "The Empress Dowager is too kind."
Old Princess An looked at Liu Zhihua with a smile and said to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, chenqie's niece is good in everything, but she gets shy easily."
"How is it bad to be shy?" The Empress Dowager said with a smile. "I heard from your aunt that you grew up by your grandmother's side."
Liu Zhihua said, "Replying to Empress Dowager, chenqie has been by grandmother's side since young."
Old Princess An said, "This child is chenqie's youngest brother's child, and she was born at an old age. Chenqie's old mother dotes on her very much."
The Empress Dowager looked at Old Princess An. "Aijia remembers that Old Matriarch Liu was a famous talented woman. Even the great scholars of the State of Qi admired her. She watched you grow up. You must be very talented."
Liu Zhihua said humbly, "Chenqie hasn't even learned half of what grandmother did."
Old Princess An smiled. "Empress Dowager, ever since Zhihua knew that she had to enter the palace to pay her respects to you, she specially wrote a copy of Buddhist scripture, thinking that she could express her feelings for you today."
It wasn't a secret that the Empress Dowager liked to worship Buddha. Liu Zhihua didn't know the Empress Dowager's other hobbies, but copying Buddhist scriptures was the most reliable.
"Is that so?" The Empress Dowager's smile deepened. She had a good impression of Liu Zhihua. At least she looked soft. She wouldn't be someone hard to control in the future.
Liu Zhihua handed over the two copies of Buddhist scriptures she had written.
Jin Ping took them from her hands and gave them to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager took a few glances and secretly sighed in admiration. She was indeed the granddaughter of Old Matriarch Liu. Not many young women in the capital could compare with her calligraphy.
Old Princess An smiled and said, "This child has embarrassed herself in front of the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager said, "Aijia feels that she is very good. How is this embarrassing?"
Liu Zhihua shyly lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
Old Princess An knew that the matter was almost done. As long as the Empress Dowager was satisfied, her niece would definitely be chosen.
"Jin Ping, take Miss Liu out for a walk. The palace has beautiful scenery. Miss Liu should go take a look." The Empress Dowager said lightly.
Liu Zhihua knew that the Empress Dowager must have something to say to Old Princess An. She smiled and said, "I've long heard that the palace has beautiful scenery. Being able to see it today is really this chenqie's good fortune."
The Empress Dowager said, "There will be many opportunities in the future."
Old Princess An smiled upon hearing this.
After Liu Zhihua left, the Empress Dowager asked, "Old Princess An, is your niece this year's beauty?"
Old Princess An replied, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, Zhihua is this year's beauty. She will enter the palace for the selection next month."
The Empress Dowager nodded lightly. "There are too few concubines in the palace. It is indeed appropriate to choose from among the beauties."
"Empress Dowager, this chenqie can't guarantee anything else, but this chenqie's niece is the most obedient and filial," Old Princess An said.
"Obedience and filial piety are the most important." The Empress Dowager thought of how she was angered by Lu Yaoyao yesterday. She didn't believe that the Emperor would really dote on her for a lifetime.
Old Princess An smiled and said, "That's right."
The Empress Dowager looked at her lightly. "Aijia knows about this niece of yours. I like her, but it is still the Emperor's selection. It still depends on the Emperor's wishes. Being able to make the Emperor like her is a skill."
"This chenqie will tell Zhihua." Old Princess An nodded tactfully.
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