Shen Nianshu sat on the soft couch in front of the carved window, playing with a delicate jade cup in her hand, but her eyes drifted into the distance. She opened her red lips lightly and her voice flowed like a clear spring, " Caiwei , please go out of the palace and find Mr. Qin."

Caiwei immediately knelt down and saluted, then turned around and walked lightly to the door. Her figure looked particularly slender in the afterglow of the setting sun, and every step seemed to carry the silence and solemnity of the palace.

After passing through the exquisite palace gates, Caiwei arrived outside the palace wall. The hustle and bustle of the street was in sharp contrast to the tranquility of the palace. She shuttled through the crowd, looking for Mr. Qin's residence with a determined look.

Finally, she stopped in front of an ancient courtyard. She knocked on the door gently, and accompanied by a melodious sound of piano, the door slowly opened, revealing the kind and profound face of Mr. Qin.

Mr. Qin narrowed his eyes and looked at Caiwei standing in front of the door , as if he was recalling something. He slowly said, "Miss, who are you?"

Caiwei bowed slightly and answered respectfully, "I am Caiwei , the personal maidservant of Concubine Shu . "

The expression on Mr. Qin's face suddenly became solemn. He shook his head and said lightly, "Go away. Court officials cannot have any contact with the harem. This is the rule."

Caiwei's heart tightened when she heard this, but she did not give up and continued, "Mr. Qin, the queen has something important to discuss with you. This matter concerns the overall situation of the court. Please read this letter first."

Mr. Qin was silent for a moment, looked at Caiwei's face, and finally sighed, "Forget it."

Caiwei took out a sealed letter from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.

Mr. Qin took the letter and looked at it, as if he was looking for some kind of hint or mark. He slowly opened the envelope, took out the letter, and read it word by word. As he read more, his brows gradually furrowed, and his expression became more solemn.

The afterglow of the setting sun shines through the window lattice onto Mr. Qin's desk, casting a golden halo on his contemplative figure.

The sound of the piano in the room gradually became low, as if to add to the tense atmosphere. Caiwei stood quietly by the side, not daring to make a sound to disturb them, and could only hold her breath and wait.

Finally, Mr. Qin put down the letter and looked up at Caiwei, with a complex emotion in his eyes. He spoke slowly, with a hint of firmness in his voice, "Go back and tell Concubine Shu that I know about this matter and will do my best to help. But there is an insurmountable gap between the harem and the court. I hope Your Majesty will act with caution."

As soon as Mr. Qin finished speaking , a warm feeling surged in Caiwei's heart.

She bowed deeply, with a bit of excitement in her voice, "Thank you, Mr. Qin. I will tell you the truth."

The afterglow of the setting sun gradually faded away, and the hustle and bustle on the streets began to slowly subside. Caiwei turned around and prepared to return to the solemn and silent palace.

Although her steps were light, her heart was filled with a heavy sense of responsibility. She knew that what she brought back was not only Mr. Qin's answer, but also an important trust for the overall situation of the imperial court.

The palace wall gradually became clearer in sight, and Caiwei quickened her pace. When she passed through the palace gates and returned to the familiar palace, the sunset had completely set and was replaced by starlight.

She gently pushed open the palace door and saw Shen Nianshu still sitting in front of the window, with a faint look of expectation in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, this slave is back." Caiwei said softly, her voice echoing in the empty palace, carrying a bit of fatigue from the journey.

Shen Nianshu turned her head when she heard the sound, a trace of eagerness flashed in her eyes. She stood up, faced Caiwei, and asked with concern, "How is it? What did Mr. Qin say?"

Caiwei panted slightly, but her eyes shone with determination. She took out the letter that had been read by Mr. Qin from her sleeve and presented it with both hands, "Madam, Mr. Qin has read the letter. He said that he would try his best to help, but also reminded the lady that there is a relationship between the harem and the court. Need to maintain a sense of proportion.”

Shen Nianshu took the letter and gently rubbed the paper with her fingers, as if feeling Mr. Qin's thoughts. A relieved smile appeared on her face, "Okay, I understand. It's a great kindness for Mr. Qin to help."

Shen Nianshu noticed that in addition to fatigue, there was also a hint of uneasiness on Caiwei's face. She couldn't help but asked softly, "What's wrong? You seem to have something to say."

Caiwei raised her head and met Shen Nianshu's concerned gaze. Her heart warmed, but she was a little hesitant. She bit her lower lip and finally plucked up the courage to say, "My Lady, I really feel something during this trip. The world outside is completely different from that in the palace, people's hearts are complicated, and things in the court are even more treacherous . I 'm worried. The empress is in danger, and she is even more afraid of being implicated."

When Shen Nianshu heard this, she frowned slightly. She patted the back of Caiwei's hand and said comfortingly, "I understand your concerns. But this matter is related to national affairs, and I cannot sit idly by and ignore it. Mr. Qin is highly respected, Since he is willing to help, we must trust him. As for the risks, I will handle them carefully to prevent you from being implicated."

"It's time to have some connections of my own."

As the night grew darker, the lights in the palace swayed, reflecting Shen Nianshu's resolute face. She turned and looked at the starry sky outside the window, as if looking for some answer.

Caiwei stood aside, feeling uneasy. She looked at Shen Nianshu's back, hesitated for a moment, and finally plucked up the courage to ask, "Mother, are you... aren't you afraid?"

Shen Nianshu tilted her head slightly, her eyes showing determination and calmness. She smiled faintly, and there was an unquestionable determination in her voice, "Afraid? I have never been afraid before."

Shen Nianshu turned around, her eyes shining with determination and trust. She gently patted Caiwei on the shoulder and said, "I am naturally relieved."

Caiwei heard this, a warm current surged in her heart, and her eyes turned slightly red. She raised her head to look at Shen Nianshu, and her voice was slightly choked, "Mother, do you really trust me to leave such a big thing to a slave?"

Shen Nianshu smiled slightly, her eyes full of encouragement and trust, "If you do things safely, I will naturally feel relieved. This matter is of great importance, and I won't worry if it is left to others. You go ahead and prepare, be sure to act carefully, and don't let others notice. Moreover, in my heart, you and Pearl are both my relatives."

"This slave is determined to go through fire and water for the sake of my queen, and I will do whatever I can to do so."

"Okay, okay, get up quickly and don't kneel down all the time."

Caiwei took a deep breath and nodded.

Shen Nianshu looked at her retreating back, silently praying that everything would go well.

Time flies so fast, and it’s spring in a blink of an eye...