Chapter 2637: The Regent and the Empress
Seeing the empress dowager rush out excitedly, only to regain her majestic poise upon seeing their family of three, Sang Qien instinctively released Zu An’s hand. Her womanly instincts told her that Ah Zu and the empress dowager had to have something between them.
She and Dandan had shared their guesses, but because of how sensitive the empress dowager’s identity was, they hadn’t dared to investigate. Even so, at that instant, she confirmed their relationship—there was no need for concrete proof.
She had spent many years living in the capital and understood how powerful the empress dowager was. She didn’t want to get on the empress dowager’s bad side, lest she implicate her daughter.
Zu An could never have known that Sang Qien would have thought this far in an instant. Upon seeing Liu Ning, he smiled and said, “Paying respects to the empress dowager.”
He greeted her like a friend, showing no inclination to bow. The surrounding officials didn’t think that there was anything inappropriate about his behavior either.
“You’re finally back.” Upon seeing Zu An’s warm smile, Liu Ning’s spirits lifted a little.
“The recent situation must have tired you out.” Zu An thought about the kings’ uprising and figured that Liu Ning and Bi Linglong had to have their hands full dealing with the situation.
The empress dowager’s eyes flickered. “Indeed, but now that you’re back, I’m sure my fatigue will be dispelled.”
It had been three years. She felt as if there was a flame inside her that urgently needed to be vented. Most empress dowagers who were widowed in their prime reared boy toys and lovers. She was no maiden herself, but the two men in her life had been truly top tier. After the time she'd spent with Zu An, no one else could catch her fancy anymore.
She'd thought that she would go insane in the last three years. It was almost a relief that the kings’ rebellion had distracted her, or else she wouldn’t have known how to spend the long days without him.
The officials frowned. Is it just me or does her tone sound off? We must be thinking too much of it, right? There’s no way the empress dowager is flirting in broad daylight.
Only Zu An knew that was indeed what she meant. His heart quivered. What a temptress.