The young eunuch from Cining Palace, seeing Xie Pan’Er and Princess Shunhe leave, hastily made an inviting gesture. "National Master, this way please. The Empress Dowager is waiting for you!" Only then did the National Master turn and head towards the Main Hall of Cining Palace. "This subject greets the Empress Dowager!" The First Grade National Master had long been exempted from the kowtow. This was a mark of respect granted by the nation to such an enlightened master! "National Master, please have a seat!" The Empress Dowager signaled for a Palace Maid to pour tea for the National Master before she spoke. "I presume the National Master is here to clarify the Divine Phoenix’s unusual state of agitation?" The National Master nodded. "Not only that, but I am also here regarding the abnormal occurrences in the Main Worship Hall during the Double Ninth Festival." "Abnormalities at the Main Worship Hall?" the Empress Dowager asked. "Why does the National Master suddenly inquire about this? Wasn’t it said that this matter is related to the two young Misses from the Xie Family who possess the Phoenix Destiny?" The Empress Dowager suddenly grew worried. Could the National Master have already discerned Suisui’s abnormalities? "Regarding that matter, I initially thought the same," the National Master said. "However, I have now made a different discovery!" "A different discovery?" The Empress Dowager began to feel a little anxious. "Empress Dowager, do not be alarmed. This discovery is not yet entirely certain." The Empress Dowager tried hard to conceal her anxiety and quickly asked, "May I know what the National Master has discovered?" "To make a judgment on what I have discovered, I must ask the Empress Dowager a few questions. Would the Empress Dowager please tell me truthfully: during the Double Ninth Festival, when the Celestial Thunder struck, who exactly was in the Main Worship Hall?" Alert bells rang loudly in the Empress Dowager’s mind. Was the National Master suspecting Suisui? The Double Ninth Festival was so long ago; why would the National Master suddenly ask about this now? "May the Empress Dowager please answer truthfully!" the National Master urged. The Empress Dowager sighed and answered, "Only I, Chang Rongshun, and Princess Shunhe were there!" "May I ask what you and the Princess were doing at that time?" What were we doing at that time? The Empress Dowager pondered. Of course, I can’t tell him everything. So, she replied, "At that time, I was offering incense to our Ancestors. Suisui was standing by my side, waiting. Just as the incense was placed into the burner, a bolt of Celestial Thunder suddenly descended from the sky and struck the ancestral tablets!" This explanation had been concocted beforehand with the Emperor. It was flawless. "Empress Dowager, are you truly concealing nothing about the incident at the Main Worship Hall?" The National Master did not look at the Empress Dowager with suspicion but instead gently swirled the tea leaves in his cup. The Empress Dowager affirmed without hesitation, "Nothing!" The National Master then fell silent. He slowly finished his tea and then stood up. "This subject has not yet investigated this matter thoroughly. I shall take my leave for now and will inform the Empress Dowager once I have made a discovery." The Empress Dowager did not insist on the National Master staying and allowed him to depart. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱 Xiaosuisui sat directly on the bed and, pouting, asked Xie Pan’Er, "Pretty sister, why did you cover my mouth just now?" Xie Pan’Er looked around to ensure no one was nearby before speaking to her. "Suisui! The phoenix is a Divine Bird; it is noble and sacred. How could it be ridden so casually? Riding the Divine Phoenix through the Palace like that was far too conspicuous." Xie Pan’Er still remembered the expressions of astonishment and excitement on the faces of the Palace Maids and eunuchs in the Imperial Palace at that time. While most were surprised and excited, a small few were filled with jealousy and anger! "Oh! But I thought the Divine Phoenix was very happy!" Suisui exclaimed. "You could feel that the Divine Phoenix was happy?" This surprised Xie Pan’Er. Xiaosuisui nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, I could feel it! Pretty sister, couldn’t you?"