The court situation stabilized in a bizarre way. Although Jun Fuying still guarded against Lu Yu, he was extraordinarily indulgent toward Qian Xingzhi, protecting her openly and covertly. Soon, all targeted actions against Qian Xingzhi vanished. Correspondingly, Qian Xingzhi did take the blame for Jun Fuying on many matters. Whether it was dealing with ministers harboring different intentions or maneuvering between factions to shift the situation, Qian Xingzhi and Jun Fuying had a far more harmonious relationship than expected.
"Lord Qian, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."
In the first year of Suhe, on the Empress Dowager's birthday, Wen Chunyi finally summoned Qian Xingzhi. Pondering over it, it was an old grudge. Qian Xingzhi didn't know Wen Chunyi's purpose in seeing her, but she wasn't too worried. Times had changed; she was no longer like a startled bird at the slightest sign of trouble.
"Lord Qian, though a woman, has risen rapidly, which impresses me greatly," Wen Chunyi said.
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