Running to the Palace, Zhou Jie went directly to find Han Luoxue.
"Little Sister Xuě'er, where are the two little ones?"
It was still broad daylight. Han Luoxue looked at Zhou Jie, who had run in breathlessly: "I'll pick them up later. In broad daylight, they're definitely with the Empress Dowager!"
Zhou Jie felt a little disappointed. She had come all this way, thinking she could see the two little ones.
"Sister Zhou, it's almost time. Why don't you accompany me, and we'll pick her up together? By the way, why did you come to the Palace at this time? Did something happen outside?"
Zhou Jie's eyes lit up. Suddenly remembering her purpose for coming, she grabbed Han Luoxue's arm and waved to the servants around them: "All of you, leave. I want to talk to Her Majesty the Empress!"
Seeing her secretive appearance, Han Luoxue was also a little curious.
"What is it? So mysterious. Don't tell me you've found a man you like and want me to arrange an Imperial Marriage? Actually, it's not impossible. I'm very easy to talk to. As long as the man doesn't have a wife, I have no problem with it!"
Zhou Jie rolled her eyes: "I haven't found anyone I like!"
"Little Sister Xuě'er, do you know what's wrong with my brother? After he came home today, he locked himself in his study and hasn't come out. I went to the study to find him, but he wouldn't let me in! My mother also went, but he wouldn't let her in either!"
Zhou Jie was extremely curious. This was the first time her older brother had acted so strangely.
Hearing this, Han Luoxue chuckled: "Zhou Yuan locked himself up?"
Remembering when Zhou Yuan left, his face was stern. People who didn't know better might have thought he didn't care about Princess Yao Xiang at all.
Actually, even he probably doesn't understand what's going on right now.
It's just that…
"Yes, after returning home today, he locked himself in his study and wouldn't see anyone. It's the first time I've seen my brother with this expression! Little Sister Xuě'er, do you know what happened at the Imperial Court today? I don't know what's wrong with my brother!"
"Why don't you go ask the Emperor?"
Zhou Jie said expectantly.
Before, she had a headache seeing Ouyang Zhen. Now, she dared not approach him proactively!
"Your mother knows too?"
Zhou Jie nodded.
Han Luoxue thought that the matter couldn't be kept hidden. She sighed and told her about Princess Yao Xiang.
Zhou Jie was stunned: "Little Sister Xuě'er, is that true?"
"My brother and Princess Yao Xiang this afternoon...?"
Zhou Jie knew Princess Yao Xiang, although they weren't very familiar. The princess was truly beautiful, and she had a pleasant fragrance. She was truly one in a million.
But Princess Yao Xiang came here for a political marriage with the Emperor.
The Emperor of Xi Yao Kingdom was hoping for his daughter to enter the Palace.
But she didn't expect that old man to be so cruel! No matter what, Princess Yao Xiang was his biological daughter. How could he be willing to poison his own daughter with such a disgusting drug!
Fortunately, it was her brother who encountered this. If it were someone else, say, some man in their forties or fifties, just imagining the scene made Zhou Jie shudder!
"Little Sister Xuě'er, do you mean my brother and Princess Yao Xiang have…"
Besides shock, Zhou Jie felt more indignation.
Her brother, a lifelong bachelor, the kind who would probably never marry, had suddenly bloomed?
The key is that before, her brother was there to protect her.
Now, if her brother really marries the princess, she would bear all the brunt!
Thinking of her mother and grandmother, Zhou Jie felt her future wouldn't be pleasant.
No! In a few days, Little Sister Xuě'er is going to Xi Yao Kingdom. No matter what, she has to go with her!
"Yes, I also find it unbelievable! Before, I wondered what kind of woman Zhou Yuan would marry, but I never expected…"
"But don't tell anyone about this for now. The matter with Xi Yao Kingdom hasn't been fully resolved yet. Let's keep it a secret for now…"
Han Luoxue's expression became more serious, and Zhou Jie nodded.
That old man is very vicious. He was cruel enough to poison his daughter, who knows what other evil schemes he has up his sleeve!
She must keep her mouth shut. After the matter is resolved, it won't be too late for her to gossip.
It's best not to tell even her family about this. With her brother in front to protect her, she can still have a few good days.
"I understand!"
When Zhou Jie left, her steps were heavier. When she returned home, her mother was waiting for her.
"Tell me, what news did you find out?" Madam Zhou's expression turned cold, and her eyes sharpened as she looked at Zhou Jie.
Zhou Jie… Wow! Did her mother have 20/20 vision or was she a fortune teller? She could even guess this!
"I… I promised my sister-in-law that I wouldn't say anything!"
Zhou Jie covered her mouth. She had just promised to keep it a secret. Wouldn't it be slapping her own face if she told her mother now?
"Not telling?" Madam Zhou sneered, stepped forward, grabbed Zhou Jie's ear, and twisted it hard. Zhou Jie cried out in pain.
"Ouch, Mother! Please let go! I'll tell you now!"
"But Her Majesty the Empress said not to make this public yet. You must keep it a secret!"
Madam Zhou snorted coldly, her grip loosening slightly: "Enough nonsense! Tell me quickly!"
Zhou Jie pouted aggrievedly and recounted what she had heard from Han Luoxue. Then she saw her mother's eyes widen, her mouth opening wide enough to fit a duck egg.
Zhou Jie suddenly remembered her own shocked expression. It seemed less shocking than her mother's.
She quietly took two steps back. After a while, her mother finally came to her senses: "You… you… are you telling the truth?"
Zhou Jie nodded, her expression serious: "I didn't expect Big Brother to be with Princess Yao Xiang…"
Madam Zhou sighed: "Forget it, no matter who it is, as long as he's willing to get married!"
Although this matter was kept secret from the outside world, Yun Niang still found out.
"To think that Princess Yao Xiang is actually together with Zhou Yuan!"
Yun Niang sighed, "But that princess seems quite good. If she can settle down and live with Zhou Yuan, it'll be good in the future!"
In the past, Yun Niang had been somewhat wary of Princess Yao Xiang. This was because Princess Yao Xiang's target might have been the Emperor, but now that it's Zhou Yuan, her heart is at ease.
It's not that Princess Yao Xiang is bad. It's just that the Emperor was her daughter's husband.
Yun Niang didn't want Han Luoxue to encounter any messy things. Actually, she didn't have any ill will towards Princess Yao Xiang in the beginning.
"Yes!" Han Luoxue was still uneasy. She felt that the Zhou family and the Old Madam weren't the kind of people who valued social status.
Princess Yao Xiang, although she is from Xi Yao Kingdom, there shouldn't be any problems, right?
"Alright, don't overthink it. Actually, their attitude…"
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