It was already midnight when Zongzheng Wei returned to the palace.
The Empress Dowager was waiting for him in Chengde Hall.
Zongzheng Wei smiled. "It's so late, why isn't Mother resting yet?"
The Empress Dowager said, "I heard that you left the palace again. Is there someone outside the palace who made you linger?"
Zongzheng Wei smiled but said nothing.
The Empress Dowager looked at the picture book beside her. "Time is tight. This is the list of concubines. Your Majesty, come and choose first."
Zongzheng Hui said, "Mother, forget about the consort selection."
The Empress Dowager frowned. "Why? Could it be that the rumors are true? Someone saw you accompanying the head of the Cheng family to the lake and lantern party. Could it be that you…"
She would not agree to her son marrying Cheng Sang as his consort!
