After I had left Liang Yiran's courtyard, and before I could get to the front gates of the Palace, a servant intercepted me.
"The Empress is demanding your presence," she said, her head held high and her hand out like I was supposed to bow to her… or tip her. Either way, it wasn't happening.
I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Maids like that were a dime a dozen here, and the only ones worse were the eunuchs.
I knew the Empress personally, and I liked her. I really couldn't see her demanding anything from me—let alone saying it like that. I was more than willing to bet the servant was trying to create tension between me and my mother-in-law.
I smiled slowly. "Lead the way."
The servant stiffened, clearly hoping for something more dramatic, and scurried ahead.
