Chapter 52 What to Worry About

Inside the Wanshou Palace, Empress Dowager Xue stood in front of the lotus pond where goldfish were kept, casually stirring the water with a fan.

"Just after serving in the bedroom once, you've been given a title?"

Nanny Xia nodded, "Yes, I think His Majesty was not really tired of Concubine Xin when he was angry twice before. Now it seems that His Majesty really cares about her, otherwise why would he visit Qixiang Palace three times."

The Queen Mother chuckled softly, "It's only been once, what can you tell? Zhao Chongyi used to be so eager to be favored every night, but now, how long has it been since Your Majesty visited her palace?"

Nanny Xia calculated carefully and said, "It's been a full ten days."

"After not seeing her for ten days, she has a new love. I'm afraid the emperor has forgotten her. I thought she could restrain Su Qingrong, but now it seems that's just a pipe dream."

Nanny Xia immediately said, "Lady Liang's injuries have healed. If the Empress Dowager is worried about Concubine Xin becoming the only one in power, she will be of use."

Empress Dowager Xue handed the wet fan to Nanny Xia, "No matter whether Su Qingrong will become the only one in power, I will send Concubine Liang to the dragon bed sooner or later."

He also instructed: "Send some donkey hide gelatin and jade face cream to her so that she can take good care of her face. The sun is very strong these days, so remind her not to go out and stay in the palace."

Nanny Xia agreed.

**

In Zhaohua Palace, Jiang Yingli sat at the table and Zheng Baolin sat opposite her.

"I asked you to come here today because I heard you're an excellent embroiderer. I'd like to learn how to do a cloud pattern with a needlepoint needlepoint. I always mess up my stitches when I'm finishing, and I've been practicing for a long time but can't quite get it right."

Jiang Yingli showed Zheng Lan'er a fan she had embroidered.

Zheng Lan'er took it with both hands, lowered her eyes to hide the joy in her eyes, and looked at it carefully.

I never thought that she would be useful one day.

"Your Highness's finishing touches are indeed a bit messy, but they are easily corrected. For example, here, tightening the thread will prevent the embroidery from being uneven."

Zheng Lan'er carefully pointed out the areas that needed correction, then smiled again, looking at Jiang Yingli, "Your Majesty is smart. I'll help you embroider a few stitches, and you'll understand the trick."

Jiang Yingli also smiled and nodded, "Okay."

She walked over and sat next to Zheng Lan'er. After looking at her for a while, Jiang Yingli finally figured out the problem.

Jiang Yingli joyfully held her hand and said, "I know how to do it. It's really thanks to you that I have this. Otherwise, I would have to make do with a flawed purse again."

Zheng Lan'er smiled and shook her head slightly, "It's just some humble crafts. I'm a little more familiar with it than others. I'm glad I can help Her Majesty."

Seeing that she began to lower her head again, Jiang Yingli couldn't help but think of her threading the needle just now, her slender hands were quick and flexible, and her expression was very calm.

The latter is more radiant and more endearing.

"That's your strength. You're the best embroiderer in the palace."

Zheng Lan'er's eyes lit up slightly, "Then I will also embroider a purse for the queen."

Jiang Yingli readily agreed, "Okay, since I have nothing to do today, you can stay in my palace this afternoon and embroider together."

Zheng Lan'er nodded in agreement.

Jiang Yingli patted her hands and said, "Just call me sister from now on."

Zheng Lan'er nodded happily.

She looked at the three small embroidered faces in front of Jiang Yingli and asked, "Sister, are you going to embroider sachets for the family?"

"Well, the mid-year palace banquet is approaching, and family members can enter the palace. I will make a sachet for my father, mother, and brother."

The two of them sat in Zhaohua Palace, chatting and embroidering sachets, completely unaware that it was getting dark outside.

Zheng Lan'er looked up, felt that she was being rude, and quickly stood up to leave.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yingli didn't even raise her head and said, "There's nothing else to do. Please sit for a while and let's finish embroidering this."

Qiuxia saw Jiang Yingli concentrating on threading the needle with a normal expression, and she knew that she must have guessed that His Majesty would stay in Qixiang Palace again tonight.

Zheng Lan'er glanced at the sky and realized something. She sat down again, smiled, and said:

"If you're bored, you can always ask me to keep you company. I have nothing to do in the palace anyway."

Jiang Yingli looked up at her and smiled.

In Qixiang Palace, Su Qingrong took paper and pen and spread them on the table.

Xiao Chenglan's eyes fell on her, and after a quick look, he took the ink pen and sketched a few times on the paper. In an instant, the outline of a graceful woman appeared on the paper.

"Your Majesty's painting skills are truly amazing. I dare not show off my ugliness to you."

Xiao Chenglan smiled faintly, "It's okay, I promised to paint for you tonight."

Su Qingrong was overjoyed again and looked at the emperor in front of her with great anticipation.

Unexpectedly, just when Xiao Chenglan was about to write again, Fu Wanquan came in hurriedly from outside.

Xiao Chenglan looked displeased, "Why are you so flustered?"

Fu Wanquan leaned in and whispered, and Xiao Chenglan's face darkened.

He looked at Su Qingrong.

"My beloved, there is an urgent letter from Changqing Palace that I need to deal with. I have spoken out of turn tonight and cannot paint for you."

Before Su Qingrong could recover from the sweet atmosphere, the emperor in front of her had already put down his pen and strode out of the hall with a group of people.

"Your Majesty!" Su Qingrong reacted and hurriedly chased after him, only to see a dragon robe getting farther and farther away.

Su Qingrong shook her sleeves angrily.

It's really abominable! Who is still quiet at night?

Those political affairs could be handled during the day, but they had to disturb her and His Majesty's solitude at night.

After returning to the palace, the room that was filled with poetry and love suddenly became deserted.

Su Qingrong felt as if her heart was hanging in the air.

She was so unwilling to accept this. She had just resolved the misunderstanding with His Majesty last night, and today was only their second day together, and His Majesty was distracted by political affairs.

The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she became. Su Qingrong didn't sleep well all night.

Fortunately, when she stood up, Lan Xiang told her with a smile that His Majesty had sent her a special message saying that he would accompany her to finish the unfinished painting of the beauty tonight.

Su Qingrong finally felt a little relieved from the tightness in her chest.

Unexpectedly, she waited until late at night, but did not see any trace of His Majesty.

When Fu Wanquan arrived, what he saw was broken vases all over the floor of Qixiang Palace.

"My lady, it's hot, be careful not to get angry."

When Su Qingrong saw that it was Fu Wanquan, she quickly put away her crazy expression and walked forward and bowed slightly.

"Eunuch Fu, but His Majesty is coming?"

Fu Wanquan shook his head. "My lady, His Majesty is truly overwhelmed with work today. He was worried that you would be sad if you waited too long, so he sent me here to personally persuade you to go to bed. He also said that he would be busy for a while, so please don't wait."

Su Qingrong looked at Fu Wanquan, and the loss in her heart was not only not relieved, but even worse.

His Majesty sent Eunuch Fu to come personally, which shows that His Majesty is also very concerned about her. So, what is the matter that prevents her from meeting His Majesty?

She had just expressed her feelings to His Majesty, but they had to separate abruptly. She couldn't bear the pain of missing him!

Su Qingrong looked at Fu Wanquan and smiled. "I wonder if you could give me some advice on what has been worrying His Majesty these past two days?"

Fu Wanquan's face showed an embarrassment. "Oh, my lady, it's not that I'm not telling you on purpose. It's just that I can't talk nonsense about government affairs."

Su Qingrong paced back and forth, her eyes rolling around, as if she was making some decision.

After a moment, she looked at Lan Xiang and said, "Go and bring me that small box with a red background and gold decoration from the storeroom."

Lan Xiang's pupils trembled.

This thing was brought from the Su family, so she naturally knew what it was. This thing was given to the young lady by the family to be used to smooth out relationships everywhere, and there was no need to use it tonight.

"My lady..."

Su Qingrong glanced at her sideways, "Don't you understand?"

Lan Xiang pursed her lips and had to go get the box.