After Ruan Jiqing was gone, Yutao rose to her feet, her face ashen. She walked to Wen Wan's side and called out, "Niangniang."
She felt nothing but disgust for the palace attendants who had been left behind. She worried that spies might be among them — and even more, she worried that the Emperor now harbored resentment against the Empress.
A flicker of frustration passed through Wen Wan's eyes. Ruan Jiqing's interruption had made it impossible for the moment to shake off the accusation she had hoped to dispel.