This was only the second time Yan Zheyun was meeting the empress dowager and the first since the spring festival banquet. He had straightened up from his kowtow earlier but was still on his knees, and hence, when the entire courtyard rushed to greet this troublesome woman, he had no choice but to fold over once more.
Liu Yao's eyes darted to him briefly before looking back at his mother. He didn't tell Yan Zheyun to rise, which Yan Zheyun had already suspected would be the case; even if Liu Yao had been foolish enough to do so, he would have remained kneeling in a display of supplication, so as to not give the empress dowager any leeway to pick on their relationship.
Not that it was going to stop her, it seemed.
