She didn’t know how many times she had looked at it before.

In her heart, she knew that every time the mother and daughter brought their embroidery into the palace, it was all for her precious Night Pearl!

She had hinted openly and covertly countless times, yet she just couldn’t bring herself to give it to them.

One must know that the Night Pearl was the first gift given to her by the late emperor!

She couldn’t even bear to take it out and display it in her own chamber.

Instead, she kept it in the warehouse, and whenever she thought of it, she would have someone take it out to look at and play with.

Of course, most of the time after she had played with it enough, she would think of the late emperor’s frivolity, the suffering she endured, and the humiliation of the late emperor dying on a woman’s belly!

So the freshly taken out Night Pearl would be cast into the Cold Palace, left in the warehouse to be neglected for a while, and then taken out again!

Now, this mother and daughter were bringing their embroidery into the palace once more, this time with a screen embroidered with peacocks.

What this meant was already self-evident.

"Madam! Can this peacock screen still catch your eye?

This was specially embroidered by Ning’Er to honor you!"

The Lady of the Duke lavishly praised her daughter’s embroidery, and after receiving three "good" words from the Empress Dowager, she started to play her trump card.

Xiao Ning’Er was not young this year, and she had to either secure the position of Empress or get the Night Pearl!

"Is that so?

Ning’Er is truly considerate! Having such a good niece like you is my good fortune!"

The Empress Dowager smiled so widely that her eyes were almost invisible.

This was her brother’s daughter, and it was only right that she doted on her more, but what the girl wanted was something she couldn’t give.

The Night Pearl was not only a gift from the late emperor but also a gift from Emperor Taizong to the late Empress Dowager, who was the late emperor’s mother.

After the late Empress Dowager passed, the Night Pearl was passed to the late emperor when he was still the crown prince, and after she became the Empress, the late emperor gave it to her.

Later, it was unclear how this notion emerged in the palace that whomever the Empress Dowager gave the Night Pearl to was the future Empress in her heart!

And Xiao Ning’Er’s intentions were so obvious, the Empress Dowager, not being blind, naturally could see it!

"Indeed!

Our Ning’Er also said that having you as her aunt was her fortune, so these days she has been either embroidering this peacock screen for you or staying up late to copy scriptures for your blessing!"

The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but giggle upon hearing this. She patted Xiao Ning’Er’s hand and said, "Ning’Er is so thoughtful! I’ll have someone go to the warehouse later to pick out two good things for you!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning’Er was delighted and immediately knelt down.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager, Aunt!"

"Oh! That’s a good thing, madam, you don’t know. This child is so stubborn, always likes to embroider flowers and grass.

She also likes to stay up at night copying scriptures. I always tell her that if she keeps doing this, she will damage her eyes.

She just doesn’t listen. You say, how dim is the candlelight! It harms her eyes!"

The Empress Dowager worked hard to keep the smile on her face, but she didn’t respond. Every year they came, more directly each time, almost just short of saying, "Madam! Please give me that Night Pearl already!"

"Ning’Er! This is your fault; how can you not listen to your mother?

Embroidering flowers or reading and writing under a night lamp is so detrimental to your eyes!

From now on, don’t do that anymore. Protecting your eyes is important, understand?"

Once the Empress Dowager spoke, the Lady of the Duke choked, and Xiao Ning’Er was dumbfounded.

Forcing a smile upon her lips, Xiao Ning’Er said.

"Aunt! Ning’Er just wants to express her love and respect for you!

Ning’Er’s eyes are actually fine. Ning’Er heard there’s a kind of pearl that can glow at night and illuminate a room like daytime. Ning’Er wishes to find such a treasure, so she can embroider flowers and copy scriptures at night without any trouble!"

The Empress Dowager’s smile instantly froze.

Oh dear, previous years were all about subtle hints, this year she really just outright asked!

Thinking carefully about her wording, the Empress Dowager said, "From now on, don’t embroider or copy scriptures at night. Protecting your eyes is important, and this is my decree. If you disobey, I won’t be lenient!"

The Empress Dowager’s face turned serious as she spoke with a stern tone!

Xiao Ning’Er’s face turned pale, and sweat began to form on her forehead!

She knew she had angered the Empress Dowager and quickly looked toward the Lady of the Duke.

The Lady of the Duke was also taken aback, knowing that getting on the Empress Dowager’s bad side was no joke.

However, not getting that Night Pearl ignited her anger, and she immediately turned to shout angrily at someone outside.

"Who’s wandering around outside, making everyone dizzy, presenting poor manners in front of the Empress Dowager?"

Alarmed by the Lady of the Duke’s shout, Nanny Xiao rushed in and knelt down with a thud.