Lingyun brought hot tea and smiled at her master, "My Lady, Peirong is not a bad person, she just likes to show off her words. Please don't take it to heart."

Fu Qianyu took a sip of tea and, as if deliberately letting the outsiders hear, snorted coldly, "You, Peirong, even Xiangyue, Baozhan, and Cuixi followed me all the way here. Over the past few years, she has grown older and her temperament has become increasingly unstable. Who gave her the courage to talk about the master now?"

The master and servant spoke in voices that were neither too loud nor too soft, but just loud enough for people outside to hear.

At that time, Peirong was kneeling in the corridor, crying in grievance. Baozan and Xiangyue were watching from the side. Although they were worried, they did not dare to step forward. They could only scold the other palace maids and eunuchs who were watching and send them away.

"What are you all standing there for? Have you finished your work?"

Baozhan lost her temper at everyone, and they quickly dispersed. Xiangyue frowned and said nothing. Baozhan couldn't help but ask, "Sister, what's wrong with the Queen today? Why is she so angry? Should we go and beg the Queen? It's so cold, and if she really kneels down like this, how can Aunt Peirong bear it?"

Although Xiang Yue was worried, she also understood that her mistress wouldn't get angry for no reason. She stopped Bao Zan and said, "Don't go. Her Majesty will make the decision. Let's go to the kitchen and make a pot of ginger soup. It would be bad if Sister Peirong really caught a cold."

As a result, Peirong actually knelt on the cold bluestone bricks for a full hour before Fu Qianyu exempted her from punishment.

In the dead of night, Peirong was trembling all over on the bed even though she was wrapped in a quilt.

After drinking a dose of strong ginger soup, she finally felt better. Xiang Yue handed her a hand warmer, but Pei Rong complained in her ear, "I'm the head maid of Fengyi Palace after all. The Empress punished me in front of everyone. How am I supposed to manage the maids in the future?"

Xiang Yue and Bao Zan didn't dare to speak, but Ling Yun, who came in from outside, heard these words clearly. She said with a cold face: "Don't blame the Queen for punishing you today. Listen to what you said yourself, is it in accordance with the rules?"

Peirong's eyes were red, and she fell silent immediately. Lingyun came in and said to Xiangyue and Baozan, "Cuixi is on night duty tonight. You two should go to bed. I want to talk to Peirong."

The two nodded and turned to leave. The moment the door was closed, Peirong wiped her tears, took out an onion from the quilt, and said, "It's really spicy. No, no, sister, please wring a handkerchief for me. I can't stop crying."

Lingyun put down what she was holding, wrung out a hot towel from the basin, and walked over to carefully wipe Peirong's eyes. She smiled and said, "The master was worried that you had caught a cold, but now it seems that the master was worried too much."

Peirong chuckled twice, enjoying Lingyun's care with a clear conscience, and said sweetly, "I'm not stupid. I knew I had to put on a show today, so I wore two more coats than usual and even stuffed a hand warmer in my arms. I didn't get cold at all."

After washing her face, Peirong finally calmed down. Lingyun handed her the dried apricots given by her master, "Here, my master knows you like them, so she asked me to bring them to you."

Peirong was delighted, "The Queen still loves me."

As he spoke, he stuffed a piece of dried apricot into his mouth and said vaguely: "Sister, can this really pull out the person behind this?"

Lingyun reached out and patted Peirong on the head, smiling and saying, "Our master has a plan in mind. Have you ever seen her miscalculate?"

Peirong ate another piece and nodded: "That's right."

"Okay, it's getting late, you should go to bed quickly. The New Year is only ten days away, and there are still many things to do."

——

A dreamless night.

The next morning, Baozhan and Xiangyue were still helping Fu Xiyu to wash and dress when Lingyun came in quietly to report that Peirong was ill and asked them to ask the imperial physician to come and see her.

There were other people in the room at this time. Fu Qianyu looked at Lingyun in the mirror and was a little worried: "Is the illness serious?"

"I had a high fever last night and talked nonsense all night. My lady, Peirong didn't mean to contradict you, so please don't blame her anymore."

Fu Qianyu sighed deeply, "I know she's doing this for my own good, but if you listen to what she said, wouldn't others think I'm jealous if it gets out?"

Xiang Yue also advised: "My Lady, you don't know my sister's temper. Besides, we are all family in this house, who would spread it out?"

"The more this happens, the more we must be careful with our words and actions."

Fu Qianyu took a deep breath and said softly, "Go ask Doctor Qin to come and see Peirong. I'll go see her after dinner."

Lingyun's face was filled with joy: "Yes, I thank the Queen for her grace on Peirong's behalf."

After breakfast, Fu Qianyu came to the ear room to visit Peirong. At that time, Qin Zhaochuan had already checked her pulse and said it was just a common cold and she would be fine after a few days of rest.

Peirong's face was red due to fever. When she saw Fu Qianyu coming in, she struggled to get up with her arms.

Fu Qianyu reached out and held the man down. After all, he had been with her for many years, so she felt reluctant to let him go. She softened her tone and said, "Alright, alright. Just lie down and talk."

Peirong's eyes were red as she choked with sobs, "My Lady, I know I said the wrong thing, but I did it for your own good."

Fu Qianyu reached out and tucked the corner of the quilt for Peirong. The little bit of pity she had felt for Peirong when she saw how sick she was disappeared. She said patiently, "It's for my own good. Tell me, how is it for my own good?"

Peirong sobbed, "Your Majesty, although you are now the Empress, Consort Shu is, after all, the Emperor's cousin. Although she cannot be canonized as a Noble Consort at present, the Emperor can find any excuse to promote her in the future. Now she is instigating the Empress Dowager to support those newcomers. It is obvious that she wants to establish her own confidants. Your Majesty, if you are not on guard, you will only be in trouble in the future. Think about the Su family in the past. Isn't that the best example?"

Lingyun, who was standing nearby, suddenly paled when she heard these outrageous words. She knelt down and pleaded for Peirong: "Your Majesty, Peirong, Peirong was confused due to illness. She did not mean to say these outrageous words. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Fu Qianyu didn't say anything, but just looked at Peirong quietly, "You see things more clearly than I do now."

Peirong struggled, "My Lady, every word I say comes from the bottom of my heart..."

Before she could finish her words, a cold light flashed in Fu Qianyu's eyes: "You are becoming more and more capable now, and you are here to be my master."

"Your Majesty..."

"Since you have such great abilities, why are you still staying with me? I'll have someone from the Shanggong Bureau take you there. Fengyi Palace is too small to accommodate a giant like you."

Fu Qianyu turned to leave, but Lingyun grabbed her wrist and begged, "Your Majesty, Peirong is just sick and confused. If you want to send her away, she really won't be able to survive."

The room was in a complete mess. The palace servants outside were curious but didn't dare to go forward to check. Just as everyone was watching the show, a young eunuch quietly slipped out through the back door...