Chapter 109 A total of 80,000 schemes

In fact, Sheng Sheng also admires this Empress. She secretly arranged for someone to kill her, yet she could still smile calmly at her as if she had never done those things.

Empress Zheng: "The Second Princess has a very keen sense of smell. Besides the aroma of pea flour cake, she can also smell other scents."

Sheng Sheng said shyly, "Because I was almost bullied last time, and the woman who was pretending to be a doctor didn't smell of medicine at all, that's when I realized something was off about her. Since then, I've really enjoyed researching the scents of aromatherapy."

The hall fell silent.

No one expected that the little dumpling would bring up the assassination attempt herself.

Moreover, the little dumpling showed no fear whatsoever, remaining nonchalant as if it were just a trivial matter.

Empress Zheng's smile froze slightly, and the nail guards on her fingers lowered almost imperceptibly. Caiyun, who had been standing demurely behind Empress Zheng, also looked up at her.

Consort Rong frowned slightly, feeling sorry for her, but in this situation, she didn't know what to say to comfort her.

Sheng Sheng herself seemed completely unconcerned, as if her words were merely to prove her current interest in the fragrance.

With a smile and her eyes crinkling, Sheng Sheng asked innocently, "So, pears can be used to make aromatherapy? I can also smell sandalwood and other scents in the pear aroma."

Zijuan was taken aback and looked at Shengsheng with some confusion.

Didn't Young Master Pei say that before at Jingyue Pavilion?

Empress Zheng quickly composed herself and chuckled, "The Second Princess is indeed exceptionally intelligent; no wonder she remained calm even in yesterday's situation. Oh, I remember when the Second Princess was born, many birds flew to the Brocade Palace, their calls creating a magnificent spectacle. I heard that on the day the Second Princess was assassinated, it was only because the sparrows outside the window swarmed and pecked at the palace maid that she survived. It seems the Second Princess is truly a blessed child."

This seemingly complimentary remark somehow manages to convey something unique.

Especially since not long ago, Sheng Sheng himself mentioned being assassinated.

If Consort Jing were here, she would have jumped up and asked her directly if she was being sarcastic or malicious towards her.

Consort Rong's furrowed brows relaxed, and she gave a forced smile: "Your Majesty flatters me. My voice is still too soft; I don't deserve such high praise."

Empress Zheng chuckled a few times: "It's a good thing that the child is blessed, why does Consort Rong have to be like this? It's pitiful that there are so many unfortunate children in the world, bedridden and starving..."

Empress Zheng looked up and met Consort Rong's sharp gaze.

She never wanted to argue with the Empress, but if the Empress wanted to provoke a conflict with her daughter, she wouldn't mind breaking ties with the Empress.

Kunning Palace fell silent again. The other concubines, who had been able to smile calmly just moments before, could no longer manage a smile.

Everyone in the palace knows that the deceased Third Prince died on his sickbed.

Empress Zheng first praised Sheng Sheng for being blessed, then said that there were many unfortunate children in the world...

The conflict between Consort Rong and the Empress was something none of the other concubines could afford to offend, so they simply stopped thinking about it and pretended not to understand.

Consort Li was the first to react. She sighed deeply, put a handkerchief under her eyes, and said with a touch of melancholy, "Who says it isn't true? Although our Yu Kingdom is becoming stronger day by day, it still can't take care of every single person. Just like the earthquake in Xiyun County a few years ago, do you sisters still remember? I heard that hundreds of thousands of disaster victims lost their homes, their houses were all destroyed, and their children could only wander around with their families..."

Consort Li took Empress Zheng's words as merely literal meaning.

Anyway, it was Empress Zheng who said it, so Consort Li's response was perfectly fine.

The others gradually realized what was happening and sighed in agreement with Consort Li's words.

The ladies present must have a combined total of 80,000 ideas.

Sheng Sheng seemed a little confused.

She simply wanted to ask about the aromatherapy, how did it all end up like this?

We're not giving her a chance to ask any further questions, are we? QAQ

Fortunately, Empress Zheng realized that the topic had been diverted under a pretext, so she didn't press the matter further and said, "I did indeed obtain a special incense recipe called 'Goose Pear Tent Incense.' Speaking of which, this recipe was told to me by... Consort Jing."

Empress Zheng tapped her nail guards lightly on the table and looked at Sheng Sheng.

This glance wasn't tinged with any other emotion; he was simply looking at her, observing her reaction.

If Empress Zheng had shown any other expression, others might have suspected that she was once again trying to pierce the heart of the Jinxiu Palace.

After all, the assassination attempt by the female physician mentioned earlier was carried out by a palace maid from Consort Jing's palace.

Empress Zheng remained indifferent, showing no particular emotion.

The crowd was puzzled and didn't dare to speak.

Sheng Sheng didn't react much. Consort Yue was from the Song Kingdom. Perhaps Consort Yue used this recipe to have Consort Jing present it to the Empress, thus gaining access to Consort Jing's door.

"What a lovely name. So pears really can be used to make incense." Sheng Sheng smiled.

Consort Ning smiled and said, "Of course, Your Majesty praised this fragrance as unique before."

Empress Zheng paused, and a rare genuine smile appeared on her lips; she seemed quite happy.

After this incident, Kunning Palace became peaceful and serene, with the concubines chatting happily with their girlfriends.

Sheng Sheng leaned against Consort Rong's chest and spoke. Empress Zheng watched her with a smile on her face, but she felt uneasy inside.

Perhaps it was because of the repeated mention of Cuilan that Empress Zheng felt a sudden unease.

"Colorful Clouds".

Empress Zheng quietly instructed Caiyun, "Go and get rid of those things."

Caiyun understood and quietly left the main hall.

The concubines chatted happily and didn't pay any special attention to a palace maid, so no one noticed Caiyun's departure.

No one noticed that beneath Empress Zheng's phoenix throne, the small, dark creature also left with Caiyun.

Sheng Sheng's gaze only shifted for a second before she obediently lowered her head again to eat a piece of pea flour cake. Consort Rong smiled and patted her stomach, teasingly asking, "So hungry?"

Sheng Sheng scratched his head sheepishly: "A little bit, just a tiny bit."

Consort Rong smiled helplessly and asked Zijuan to pour her tea to prevent her from choking.

The Empress's bedroom.

Caiyun took small, quick steps and returned to Empress Zheng's palace alone. When the palace maids who were sweeping saw her, they bowed to her respectfully.

Caiyun remained calm, her lips pressed into a straight line: "You may all leave. Her Majesty has instructed that there is no need for sweeping or cleaning today."

"yes."

After the palace maids dispersed, only Caiyun remained. Only then did Caiyun step into the inner hall, where the familiar scent of pear blossoms wafted towards her.

Although the incense burner has been extinguished, the fragrance lingers long after years of use.