Chapter 410: Three Years Later

—Three years later.

"Hey, why are you running? The ground is slippery, be careful not to slip!"

"It's snowing. Aunt Dongru sent someone to fetch a hand warmer for the Queen. Shouldn't we hurry?"

The young palace maid was in such a hurry that she didn't even bother to brush the snowflakes off her clothes. However, the palace servant behind her suddenly changed his expression upon hearing this and reached out to grab her: "What are you saying!"

The young palace maid was immediately stunned into silence. "Did I...did I say something wrong?"

"At best you'll be kicked out, at worst you'll lose your head. Do you think I've said anything wrong?"

The palace servants had been working in Qinghua Palace for several years, and considering that this young palace maid with a childish face had just entered the palace and didn't know any of the rules, they could only patiently give her instructions.

"To outsiders, the woman in Qinghua Palace appears to have the status of a queen, but in reality, she does not like to be addressed as such in private."

The young palace maid couldn't help but swallow hard, recalling the scene of the woman caressing plum blossoms in the snow, her eyes captivating and her smile enchanting. "She looks so beautiful, yet she's so difficult to please."

"That's not true. This one has a good temper. It's His Majesty who gets really angry."

The palace servant lowered his voice, speaking somewhat mysteriously: "If one offends the king, this person can still plead for leniency."

But if you displease this person, then no one can save you.

"What should we do then?" The little palace maid was so frightened that she almost lost half her soul. She hurriedly grabbed her collar and asked anxiously.

"Just call her Princess." The palace servant patted her shoulder and pointed in a direction: "Alright, go quickly."

The young palace maid obediently took her umbrella and hurried back to the pavilion in the middle of the lake. She saw that warm curtains had been hung around the pavilion to keep out the wind and snow, and inside, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense. A beautiful woman was nestled softly on a chaise longue.

The beauty had skin as smooth as cream and eyebrows as dark as ink. She wore a bright red brocade jacket with gold-embroidered butterflies and flowers, and a snow-white cloak over it. She held a book in her hand and looked at it intently. The mutton-fat jade pendant tied at her waist was of excellent color.

A beauty that lasts a thousand years may never be more stunning, but a lovely woman is always pleasing to the eye.

No wonder that ever since she entered the palace, people have often said that the king treats this queen in a very special way.

Seeing the young palace maid staring intently, Dongru walked up to her, took the oil-paper umbrella, and cleared her throat. It was this voice that immediately brought her back to her senses: "Step aside and serve."

"yes."

Knowing they had been impolite, the palace maids immediately lowered their heads and waited on either side of the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Although the two of them kept their voices very low, Yuan Siyin still put down her storybook and softly called out to Dongru, "Didn't you say he was coming over today?"

"Yes, that's how the message was relayed." Dongru quickly replied, "Perhaps something has held them back. Princess, please wait a moment, I'll send someone to inquire."

Yuan Siyin glanced thoughtfully at the oil-paper umbrella in her hand, then shook her head. "Never mind, I'll go find him."

As she spoke, she stood up, her slender, fair fingers adjusting her crane-feather cloak, and then habitually coughed twice, pressing her lips to her mouth.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

A gentle and pleasant voice suddenly entered their ears. When the two turned around, all the palace servants outside the pavilion were kneeling in the snow: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Everyone, you may leave. Dongru can stay here."

Nalan Jue was pushed into the pavilion in the middle of the lake by his attendants. He casually brushed the snowflakes, which were like goose feathers, off his clothes and then looked at Yuan Siyin with a faint smile: "Did you take your medicine today?"

"It's the same line every time, I'm getting tired of hearing it."

Despite her blunt words, Yuan Siyin was actually just as calm and collected as Nalan Jue, appearing to have no sharp edges whatsoever.

"It's good if you don't get tired of taking the medicine."