Chapter 36: One man's meat is another man's poison

After seeing Zhou Yuande and his party off, Chu Liuzheng moved his things back into the house with a nervous mood.

She didn't find the answer in the system, so after much thought, she decided to put these things up for display.

She couldn't control the spread of the news, so she could only temporarily refrain from wearing these imperial gifts to dazzle certain people.

It would be great if I could sell these things for silver.

Caiyue sat up from the bed, looked at the good things on the tray, her eyes gradually dimmed, and her hands clenched quietly under the quilt.

"I really envy my sister, you are so smart and clever, unlike me, I can't do anything well, even grinding ink will only make His Majesty dislike me."

Her eyelashes drooped, and because she was still ill, her voice was hoarse than usual and no longer clear.

Chu Liuzheng seemed to hear the sound of "hatred value +1+1+1" in his ears when he heard these sour words.

She thought for a moment, then picked up a box of perfume and handed it over. "Your Majesty doesn't like perfumes with strong scents. This one has a light scent. Would you like to try it?"

Caiyue froze, her whole body tense, her gaze fixed on the silver powder box, "Sister, are you going to mock me for being wishful thinking too?"

【also? 】

[Is this girl being too stubborn? Moxiang and Yuzhui were both sincerely trying to persuade her, so could it be that she took their words as sarcasm?]

"I don't have the time for that." Chu Liuzheng pulled up her hand that was outside the quilt and stuffed the perfume powder into her hand. "Your life is your own. You only live once. If you really can't let go of that thought, I advise you to find out the person's preferences first, and don't make such a simple mistake as perfume powder again."

Caiyue pinched the incense powder and suddenly grabbed her hand. "Please help me, sister. When I become..."

"I refuse." Before she could finish her words, Chu Liuzheng pulled her hand away, "I don't like to get involved in these things."

Caiyue looked up at her and said, "Sister, have you really never thought about this? With your character and appearance, it's not impossible. Why don't you try your best? Even if not for yourself, then for your family. Don't you think about them?"

"One man's meat is another man's poison." Chu Liuzheng smiled with a crooked eye. "My family doesn't want me to compete for supremacy. They're all waiting for me to leave the palace and reunite with them."

"But……"

"Have a good rest." Chu Liuzheng raised his hand and pressed Caiyue's shoulder, stopping her from continuing. "A dose of typhoid medicine costs two qian of silver. Since we live in the same room, I won't charge you for the nursing care. Remember to pay me back for the medicine."

Caiyue: “…”

*

Wenhua Hall.

"His Majesty."

"She's back." Xiao Jingfan raised his eyes. "How did she react when she received the things?"

Zhou Yuande smiled and said, "Miss Liu Zheng is very happy."

Just be happy.

Xiao Jingfan lowered his head and instructed as he reviewed the memorials, "Send two boxes of perfume powder every month from now on."

——That woman has made a lot of contributions these days. It is not convenient to reward her openly for the time being. I can only remember her and reward her with some small gifts.

Zhou Yuande glanced at him, wondering why the emperor didn't just take her into the harem if he had taken a fancy to her?

"Zhou Yuande."

Zhou Yuande was startled, thinking he had been caught peeping, and hurriedly bowed and said, "Your servant is here."

Throwing the approved memorial aside, Xiao Jingfan said, "Announce the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Revenue to see you."

"only."

*

The news that Emperor Shunguang specially asked the imperial pharmacy to prepare perfume powder as a reward for a young palace maid spread like wildfire throughout the harem within an hour.

Many things were broken in the palaces.

In the small garden of Changchun Palace, Empress Zhong cut off a chrysanthemum and handed it to Qiu Sui, who was standing beside her. "It's been very dry these past few days. Ask the Imperial Hospital to send some chrysanthemum tea to each palace to help cool down your body."

Qiu Sui smiled and bowed: "Yes."

Empress Zhong washed her hands in a jade basin, then dried them with the handkerchief Qiu Sui offered her. She then asked, "My mother's birthday is in a few days. How are the preparations for the banquet going?"

"The Empress has personally ordered this, so how could the Imperial Household Department not do its best?" Qiu Sui said, "I've checked, and everything is almost ready."

"That's good," said Empress Zhong. "Emissaries from Annan, Xixia, Goryeo, and other countries have come to celebrate your birthday. We must not be disrespectful. Keep a close eye on them. Anyone who dares to act cunningly will be imprisoned by the Ministry of Punishment."

"only!"

…

Huaqing Palace.

Concubine Rong waved her hand and overturned the tray, and the dried chrysanthemums in the box immediately scattered all over the floor.

"Your Majesty, calm down." Xiang Lu turned her head to look at the kneeling eunuch and scolded him softly, "Get down quickly!"

The young eunuch didn't bother to pack up and hurried out of the hall.

Xianglu called two young palace maids to clean the floor, helped Concubine Rong to sit on the chaise longue on the other side, and turned around to serve her a cup of honey tea.

"Your Majesty, please drink some honey tea and calm down. There's no need to get angry with that clueless servant."

Concubine Rong took it and snorted coldly, "The Queen is so generous, she never forgets to show off her virtue. I don't believe she won't be angry when she hears that news!"

"My lady, she is but a little maid. You need not take it to heart."

Xianglu massaged her legs and persuaded her softly.

"Your Majesty is just looking for something new. Think about Concubine Wen. How much did Your Majesty dote on her back then? He sent good things to Xuexiang Garden like water, and visited her every now and then. But now he has forgotten about her, hasn't he?"

"That's true." Concubine Rong lowered her head and drank a sip of honey tea, feeling a little relieved. "Your Majesty, haven't you been to Xuexiang Garden for half a year?"

"How can it be just half a year? It's been almost a year." Xianglu observed her expression and flattered her, "Your Majesty is truly devoted to the Empress. He sends all the good things to our Huaqing Palace. How can those little goblins who come along along the way compare to the affection between you and Your Majesty?"

Recalling the tenderness and sweetness she experienced when she first entered the Seventh Prince's Mansion, Concubine Rong couldn't help but smile.

Seeing her smile, Xianglu breathed a sigh of relief and asked softly, "My Lady, are you still going to have someone investigate that palace maid?"

"Investigate." The smile on Concubine Rong's face faded. "I want to see which little devil is so seductive."

…

"Bang!"

The nice gilded and enamel vase fell to the ground and turned into a pile of broken porcelain pieces.

"Wanyi, that was given to you by the Empress Dowager. You can't smash it."

Chunlian rushed forward and hugged Xu Rushuang's waist, while reaching out to grab the jade ruyi and admonishing:

"Calm down! If His Majesty knew you smashed the things the Queen Mother gave you, even I wouldn't be able to protect you!"

"Ever since we moved to Huayin Temple, I've been doing what he said, chanting Buddha's name every day and copying scriptures until my hands are swollen. Has he ever come to see me?" Xu Rushuang was very unwilling.

When I pamper her, I think everything about her is good, but when I let her go, I don't hesitate at all.

She just added a few drops of oleander juice to the bitch Dou's beauty cream, and it didn't mean to kill that bitch. Your Majesty is too partial!

Chunlian snatched the jade ruyi and her heart finally settled down.

He turned around and put it in a box, then asked someone to take it out and put it away in the warehouse.

"Perhaps His Majesty is busy with the previous court and is not free for the moment." Chunlian persuaded Xu Rushuang while helping her sit down. "Although His Majesty hasn't come to our Huayin Palace these days, he hasn't been to Huaqing Palace either, right?"

Hearing this, Xu Rushuang's complaints lessened, but she still couldn't help but mutter, "But your Majesty went to Maohua Palace and was seduced by Yan's bowl of chicken soup."

(End of this chapter)