Chapter 201: Flower Viewing Banquet Prepared for Rou
After everything was ready, Nian Shilan felt calmer than ever before, and she remained composed even when facing the queen.
"Why hasn't Concubine Hua said a word today? Is she feeling unwell?"
When the concubines in the harem came to Jingren Palace to pay their respects to the Queen, the Queen's gaze lingered on Nian Shilan for a moment.
For some reason, she always felt that Nian Shilan was a little strange today, but she couldn't tell what was wrong.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am in good health. Perhaps it was because I had to come to pay my respects to the Queen today that I couldn't sleep well last night, fearing that I would be late for departure. So, I accidentally went to bed much later."
Nian Shilan sat sideways on the chair. Although she was talking to the queen, her eyes were carefully examining the armor on her hands, as if something on it attracted her attention.
Zhen Huan, who was sitting next to her, heard what Nian Shilan said and restrained herself for a long time before she couldn't help laughing.
Sister Hua is really a talent. How can she look so cute even when she looks so angry that she is about to kill me?
However, what seemed cute to Zhen Huan was a complete provocation to the Queen.
"Really? Then it's my fault. Do you need to invite a doctor to come and see you? It would be terrible if I hurt you."
No matter how angry the queen was, she still had a virtuous smile on her face, which really made people admire her patience.
"Thank you for your kindness, Queen. There is no need to mobilize such a large force."
Jianqiu, who was standing next to the queen, was even more indignant at Nian Shilan's disrespectful behavior towards the queen.
Even if she was favored by the Emperor, she was still a Noble Consort two ranks lower than the Empress. She was so disrespectful to the Empress in public. The decision she made was indeed correct.
At this time, Jianqiu was even more determined in her heart. The humiliation suffered by the empress was the result of their being useless slaves. She must seek justice for the empress.
The Queen was already accustomed to Nian Shilan's behavior. She shifted her gaze away from Nian Shilan and looked at the concubines with a very gentle look.
"The Emperor can only be at ease when the six palaces live in harmony. My sisters must always be united. There hasn't been any good news from our harem for a while, so I ask you all to work hard, especially you, Concubine Zhao. You are currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, so having children for the Emperor as soon as possible is your top priority."
"Yes, I will remember the Queen's teachings."
Yana accepted the Queen's admonition with a kind smile. In her mind, these words were just for listening and she never really took them to heart.
"It's been a while since we, sisters, have sat together and chatted like this. It must have been a while since the last time."
"That's right. Speaking of which, the scenery in the imperial garden in the palace is quite nice."
After the Queen finished her lecture, Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing casually chatted about this topic.
"Indeed, the flowers in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom right now. If you sisters like, you can go there for a walk."
Although the Queen knew that Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing were secretly close to Nian Shilan, in order to show the harmony in the harem, she would still respond to their words in a friendly manner on the surface.
"Since the Queen has such intentions, how can we refuse her kindness? I see that the weather has been very good these days, so why not invite the Emperor to join us sisters in touring the Imperial Gardens."
Just as the queen finished speaking, Nian Shilan finally spoke again, and this time she directly held the queen there.
She had just said that all the concubines should go to the Imperial Garden to appreciate the flowers, so it would be inappropriate to reject Nian Shilan's suggestion at this time.
“This palace…”
"What does Shilan want to invite me to do?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, why are you here?"
The queen was the first to notice the emperor. She stopped hesitating and quickly stood up to salute the emperor before she finished what she had just said.
Nian Shilan turned around and saw the emperor, then looked in the direction of Zhen Huan, who shook her head slightly at her.
It seemed as if he wanted to tell her that she didn't know why the emperor appeared here at this time.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed with good health."
The concubines followed suit and stood up to salute the emperor.
"My beloved concubines, please stand up and sit down."
The emperor walked to the seat next to the queen and sat down, not forgetting to ask the question he had just asked.
"What were you talking about just now? I heard you said you wanted to invite me to join you?"
"Your Majesty, just now the sisters thought that since the flowers in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom at this time of year, we would like to invite Your Majesty to go with us to enjoy the flowers. I just don't know if Your Majesty is free. I was thinking of asking Your Majesty later, but I didn't expect Your Majesty to come here by chance."
The queen looked at the emperor with a smile on her face, and was very surprised that he suddenly came to her Jingren Palace.
In recent years, the emperor has only maintained superficial respect for her. In the past, he would come to Jingren Palace to sit for a while on the first and fifteenth day of every month. In recent days, there have been several times when he even did not come at all, citing busy official business as an excuse.
"Okay, it just so happens that there aren't too many state affairs these days, and I haven't had a moment of relaxation like this in a while. So, I'll have to trouble the Queen to take care of this flower viewing banquet, and you'll be in charge."
"Yes, I obey your command."
Naturally, no one had any other objections to the emperor's arrangement and expressed their agreement, especially Nian Shilan and Zhen Huan, who were even more satisfied.
Since the emperor is also participating, it is naturally better. I just don’t know whether Rou Yingying will take this opportunity. However, based on their understanding of her, Rou Yingying will definitely not miss it this time.
Yiku Palace and Yongshou Palace have always been heavily guarded, so it was impossible for her to find an opportunity to take action. Now that there is such a heaven-sent match, there is no way she would let it go.
And just as Nian Shilan and others had expected, Rou Da Ying's expression became very strange when she learned that the palace was going to hold a flower-viewing banquet.
She had finally waited, and the opportunity for revenge had finally arrived.
Nian Shilan, Zhen Huan, I will now return to you all the pain you have inflicted on me.
Rou Da Ying seemed to be possessed and kept laughing in the house. Ling'er, who was asked by her to guard outside the house, was so scared that she hugged herself tightly, fearing that Rou Da Ying would rush out and beat and scold her.
However, when Ling'er saw Rou agreed to do so, a ray of light flashed in her heart. It seemed that Concubine Xi and the others were preparing to take action. In this way, the day when she would be able to escape from the sea of suffering was not far away.
"Ling'er, Ling'er!"
"You silly girl, can't you hear me calling you? Come in."
"Here I come, my lord."
Not long after, the room finally quieted down, but Rou agreed and called her in again. Ling'er was already extremely nervous at this time.
"Ling'er, go get me a set of clothes that you don't usually wear."
Rou agreed to sit there, her tone was calmer than ever before, but the look she gave towards the corner of the room was extremely terrifying.
"My clothes? My lady, my clothes are all very rough. How about I go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and ask if I can get some new clothes?"
Ling'er didn't know what she was going to do.
"Why are you talking so much nonsense? Just take it when I tell you to. I think I haven't disciplined you properly these days, and you've forgotten that I'm your master."
"Please forgive me, my lord. I will go right away."
Ling'er no longer dared to raise any other opinions and quickly ran out to get a new set of clothes from her room.
Although the palace would distribute clothes to the maids every season, everyone in the palace knew that the maid from Chuxiu Palace had been completely disliked by the emperor, and Ling'er was also treated harshly in her daily life.
The set in her hand was something she had begged for many times before, and she had never been willing to wear it, but now Rou was going to take it away.
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