"Everyone in the Marquis' Mansion, even the fire-stoker girl, must have a clean background. Since you are here, you must leave with a clean background."
At this time, Madam Zhao brought in a bowl of medicine. The thick brown soup had a strong bitter taste.
"Drink this, and you can leave the house. No one will bother you."
Xiangqin naturally knew the purpose of this bowl of medicine. In fact, she had received a patron in a brothel and had drunk this medicine before.
Everyone has their own destiny, so there was no need for her to dwell on it. The medicine was brought all the way from the kitchen, just warm. Although it was bitter and hard to swallow, Xiangqin drank it all in one gulp.
Nanny Zhao had ordered people to pack up the clothes she had worn, and at the same time, according to Hong Yingrong's instructions, she stuffed a silver note into Xiangqin's hand.
"This is given to you by the old lady. Don't talk nonsense when you go out. This is also a protection for you to avoid causing trouble." Zhao Ma Ma warned.
Xiangqin smiled self-deprecatingly and unfolded the banknotes in her hand. It was a full two hundred taels. The madam of Tianxianglou was unaware of this money, but it was her private savings.
"Please rest assured, madam. For our industry, the most important thing is that people can survive!" she said calmly.
Xiangqin stood up and looked around. The maids standing at the door looked disdainful and dismissive, but she was already used to such looks.
Her thoughts drifted back to the distant past, when she was only six or seven years old, watching the children in the village being picked away one by one, until she was the only one left.
Then, a woman with red rouge and a red flower on her head appeared and asked her if she wanted to have meat for every meal and silk dresses to wear. She nodded and set foot on this journey.
After leaving the Marquis' Mansion, Xiangqin tightened her open clothes and carefully hid the banknotes close to her body.
At this time, everyone in Tianxiang Tower must still be fast asleep. This time is just right for her to go back without anyone noticing.
When night falls and the lights come on, perhaps a new patron will be attracted to her and fall for her.
…
Inside the Anhua Hall in the imperial city, rows of eternal lamps burned quietly, emitting a soft and deep light, as if mourning for the lives that had passed away, and enveloping the entire hall in a sad and solemn atmosphere.
Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing gently placed her right hand on the eunuch Chang Bao's arm, and leisurely flicked the rosary with her left hand. She slowly walked into the hall. Her steps were steady and calm, showing her majesty.
Xue Huichun and Master Zhixin were sitting quietly on cushions, reciting scriptures. When they heard the palace maid announce the arrival of the empress dowager, they immediately stood up and saluted.
"No need to be so polite."
Lu Fengqing said this calmly, but when she looked at Xue Huichun, her eyes showed obvious fondness.
Hong Yingrong's two daughters both made her happy.
Even as the honorable empress dowager, she had to admit that she was indeed no match for Hong Yingrong in this regard, and this was where she willingly admitted defeat.
"After seven days of chanting sutras and passing away, you will leave the palace. I am really reluctant to let you go." Lu Fengqing said softly, taking Xue Huichun's hand, and walked towards the side hall together, sitting down side by side on the high couch.
"If the Empress Dowager doesn't mind me being bored, you can summon me into the palace to accompany you at any time." Xue Huichun responded gently.
Lu Fengqing smiled softly, "If that's the case, your mother would probably be the first one to disagree and would definitely come to me to ask for the person."
She gently stroked the back of Xue Huichun's hand, a trace of regret flashing in her eyes, "You went to the palace to recite scriptures this time, and you suffered a lot. It was hard work for you."
Xue Huichun saw that Lu Fengqing's face was no longer as sorrowful as it had been a few days ago, so she softly comforted her, "This humble servant doesn't feel hardship. I only hope to do my best to pray that Concubine Liu and her son will soon ascend to heaven."
Lu Fengqing heard this and smiled with satisfaction. "Good boy, you are sensible. The concubines in the palace are either deliberately flattering me or are too cautious. It's really boring."
As she spoke, she seemed to recall something and asked, "By the way, how is your mother these days? I haven't seen her for a while, and I miss her a little."
Xue Huichun quickly replied, "My dear Queen Mother, mother is doing well these days. Everyone in the Marquis' Mansion is waiting for the announcement of the results of my third brother's spring examination."
Speaking of this, Lu Fengqing couldn't help but smile: "Let's not talk about anything else, just talking about this son-in-law selection, the whole capital will be very lively at that time."
"So what does your mother plan to do?" she asked Xue Huichun curiously.
Xue Huichun had a shy smile on her face. Her marriage to Jiang Lun had not been made public yet, so it was not a good time to announce it now.
Seeing her shy expression, Lu Fengqing stopped asking questions and lovingly instructed, "Leave it to your mother. If there's good news, please report it to me promptly so that I can add to your dowry."
"Thank you, Queen Mother, for your care..."
As he was speaking, Eunuch Chang Bao came in and announced, "Empress Dowager, Princess Xianning is outside seeking an audience and wishes to pay her respects to you."
Ever since the ladies of the royal family entered the palace to pay tribute to Concubine Liu, Li Yunting came to Anhua Hall to burn incense every day. After that, she wanted to meet the empress dowager, but Lu Fengqing always declined with various reasons.
"I am safe and sound, why do I need her to come and pay her respects? Her actions have been spreading all over the capital recently. She doesn't care about her own dignity, but the royal family still has face to save." There was a hint of displeasure in Lu Fengqing's tone.
Upon hearing this, Xue Huichun decided to avoid suspicion. She blinked obediently, stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, I still have a volume of the Three Yuan Treasure Repentance that I haven't finished copying. I would like to take my leave first. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"Good boy, you go first. When I'm free, I'll call you to talk." Lu Fengqing let go of Xue Huichun's hand and said with a smile.
Xue Huichun stood up and bowed, then walked out of the side hall. Unexpectedly, she met Xianning Princess Li Yunting head-on, and they had a narrow encounter.
Both of them were wearing silver satin dresses, but their styles were very different. Xue Huichun wore a Taoist robe with passionflower pattern, which made her look elegant and refined, while Li Yunting wore a long skirt with a phoenix tail that dragged on the ground, which showed her luxury.
At this moment, the two of them were like pearls competing for beauty, each with their own merits, making it difficult to tell who was better.
"Princess Xianning, may you be blessed with good health." Xue Huichun bowed gracefully and greeted.
Li Yunting hesitated for a moment, as if considering how to address him, before she spoke, "Xue... no, it should be Ronghua County Lady. Excuse me. The Empress Dowager dotes on you, and I dare not embarrass you in front of Eunuch Chang."
Hearing this, Xue Huichun looked up and followed Li Yunting's gaze behind her. She happened to see Eunuch Chang Bao standing at the door of the side hall. With a half-smile on his face, he reminded her, "Princess, don't keep the Queen Mother waiting for too long!"
Li Yunting curled her lips and walked towards the side hall with an arrogant look. Chang Baoru changed his expression and nodded respectfully to Xue Huichun, then took three steps back and turned around to follow her in.
Xue Huichun breathed a sigh of relief, not wanting to cause any trouble, and prepared to return to the main hall.
However, just as she took two steps, she heard Li Yunting's pleading cry.
"Please, Queen Mother, help Ting'er. I want to divorce Zhang Xianzhi!"
Immediately afterwards, a loud noise of a teacup smashing to pieces echoed in the palace, startling the palace maids and Xue Huichun, making the originally quiet atmosphere in the palace suddenly tense.
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