Chapter 164: Drugging
After waiting for Xiao Heng's answer for a long time, Concubine Zhao frowned uneasily. Perhaps she realized the stiff expression of the man in front of her, so she slowly opened her eyes and called out softly, "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Heng turned his head to look, and his eyes, which used to be cold and clear, were now covered with mist, which made people feel particularly pity.
"You're awake, Jiaojiao."
Concubine Zhao looked at Xiao Heng deeply and said, "I thought the emperor would not come."
Xiao Heng stroked her hand and asked, "When have you ever been sick? I have never come to visit you."
Concubine Zhao bit her lip and immediately wanted to ask Xiao Heng why he took Liu Yuetang to Fengyi Palace, but she swallowed the words back.
She asked instead, "Then Your Majesty, why didn't you take me to Fengyi Palace today?"
Xiao Heng patiently explained, "You've always been in poor health, and it rained today. I was afraid you'd catch a cold if you went out, so I didn't come to look for you."
Concubine Zhao looked at her doubtfully, a trace of sadness inexplicably welling up in her heart: "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Okay, don't think too much. Your birthday is in ten days. I plan to hold a banquet in Chunxi Palace to celebrate your birthday."
In the past, Xiao Heng had also proposed to hold a banquet for Concubine Zhao, but Concubine Zhao flatly refused.
Because she didn't want to see people she didn't want to see at her birthday party and just go through the motions.
But now Concubine Zhao agreed immediately: "Okay!"
A faint smile played on her lips.
It's time for her to compete for favor, otherwise those people in the six palaces might forget who is the most favored woman in the harem.
This will prevent some people from being arrogant in front of you again and again.
When the nanny beside her heard about the banquet, she was suddenly stunned. A gleam of light flashed in her eyes, and she already had a plan in mind.
Soon it was the day of Concubine Zhao’s birthday banquet, the first day of July.
Zhongcui Palace, Yufu Hall.
Su Nanqing wore a blush double butterfly flowing cloud gauze dress that trailed on the ground. Her hair was tied up high in a flowing cloud bun. Her pearls and jades swayed lightly as she walked lightly, showing her gentle temperament.
She supported her waist with one hand and placed the other hand on Step on Snow's Hand as she slowly stood up.
Taxue said distressedly: "My dear, why don't you just not go."
Su Nanqing frowned and said, "This is the first time the Emperor has held a birthday banquet for a concubine since I entered the palace. Rongpin went today even though she just came out of confinement. If I don't go, people will definitely say that I'm arrogant because of my favor."
"Besides, the maidservant beside Concubine Zhao personally came to invite me to the banquet. If I use the imperial heir as an excuse, I'm afraid I'll offend her."
Taxue sighed softly: "My Lady, you are too rule-abiding. You act cautiously in everything you do, fearing to offend others."
Su Nanqing stroked her bulging belly. "I'm just a talented woman, and she's second only to the Emperor, Consort Zhao. How could I possibly offend her? In the eyes of the Emperor and the Empress, my greatest strength is my peaceful nature and my dedication to my duties. If I can't even do this, I'll have no status in the palace."
Lan quickly brought the cooled pregnancy-maintaining medicine to Su Nanqing and said, "Qingqing, drink the medicine before you leave."
Su Nanqing took the bowl of medicine and drank it in one gulp. Only after Lan put the prepared candied fruit into her mouth did her brows relax slightly.
The candied fruit is eight parts sweet and two parts sour, and has a very soft and sweet taste.
Su Nanqing smiled sweetly: "The preserves made by my aunt are still the most delicious."
Lan raised her hand to straighten her clothes, her kind smile was like a blooming chrysanthemum, and the fine lines on her face were filled with love.
"You can't eat many of the things at the banquet, and you won't be full. Auntie has prepared your favorite chestnut flour cake for you when you come back."
Speaking of chestnut flour cake, Su Nanqing recalled the days when she and her aunt peeled chestnuts, mashed them into paste, and made them into cakes at home.
No matter how difficult it was at that time, as long as I wanted to eat something, my aunt would find a way to make it for me.
She still remembered one time when she was less than six years old. She wanted to eat some cakes in her mistress's room, so her aunt took a piece for herself. However, her mistress found out and punished her by pinching her fingers.
As a result, my aunt didn't touch her favorite needlework for several years.
Thinking of this, Su Nanqing couldn't help but feel sad.
Fortunately, I am now the lady of the palace and I am pregnant. The prosperity of the entire family depends on me.
The mistress would not dare to bully my aunt anymore, and my father would treat my aunt well.
Those hard days are finally over.
Su Nanqing nodded heavily, her eyes red as she smiled: "Okay! When my daughter comes back, she will eat the chestnut flour cake made by my aunt."
As she spoke, she took Taxue to Chunxi Palace.
At the banquet, Concubine Zhao stunned everyone with her dazzling blue brocade dress.
She always dressed in a cool and elegant style. Under her red dress, she looked like a rhododendron under the clouds, delicate and charming, yet unattainable.
She sat on Xiao Heng's left, raised her glass and faced him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for hosting a banquet to celebrate my birthday. I offer a toast to Your Majesty."
Xiao Heng raised his glass with a smile, drank it all in one gulp and said, "I have a gift for Jiaojiao."
Although his voice was low, it reached the ears of Mingpin, Chupin and Liu Yuetang who were sitting in front of him.
Hearing such an intimate address, Mingpin's face immediately darkened and she picked up the wine glass and drank it angrily.
As Xiao Heng clapped his hands, the palace maid slowly presented a piece of beautiful jade.
The jade has a fine texture and a lustrous color, and it is obvious that it is an extremely rare jade.
Concubine Ning looked at it intently and asked in surprise, "Is this the Heshi Bi?"
"Not bad!" Xiao Heng nodded.
Concubine Chu said sourly, "This jade is a rare treasure in the world. It is only because of the blessing of Concubine Zhao that we have the honor to see it."
She paused slightly, looked at Liu Yuetang, raised her eyebrows and said, "Isn't that right, Sister Xipin?"
Liu Yuetang was slightly stunned and looked up at Xiao Heng and Concubine Zhao who were sitting upstairs.
I don’t know if it was an illusion, but Xiao Heng suddenly dodged when his gaze met my own.
"Your Highness and I are naturally benefiting from the help of Concubine Zhao."
The concubines' bitter words and taunts were treated by Concubine Zhao as if they were just musical instruments that disturbed her ears, and she made no reply. With eyes filled with delight, she caressed the pure and flawless Heshi Bi in her hand.
Outside, the weather suddenly changed, the clouds became low and the sky became gloomy.
Madam Kong looked at the palace servants serving the dishes and coughed softly, "Be careful, don't spill anything and disturb the masters."
When the last palace maid walked to Madam Kong's side, she slowed down her pace a little. She stopped only after making sure that no one in front of her looked back.
Nanny Kong looked at the bird's nest porridge on the tray. There were six cans in total, one for each master.
She glanced around and saw that no one was around, but she still pretended to remind him, "This blood swallow is the best this year, present it well."
As she spoke, she lightly pressed her fingertips, and red powder fell and sprinkled into the smallest bowl of wolfberry.
As if she was extremely satisfied with the blood swallow, Madam Kong nodded and said, "Well, go ahead~"
The palace maid nodded and walked forward slowly carrying the tray.
The eunuch Liang Shan whispered, "Madam, I don't understand why you didn't just put the poison in Xipin's bowl. Wouldn't that help the Empress get rid of her enemies?"
Madam Kong stepped aside and said, "The poisoning is too obvious. If it is exposed, it will definitely implicate the Empress. Besides, Concubine Xi has always been cautious. Why don't we take action against the people around her?"
"Although safflower pollen could harm the fetus and cause Concubine Su to give birth prematurely, it wouldn't happen immediately. After she returns to the palace, everything from the banquet will be cleared away. Who could possibly find out?"
Liang Shan suddenly understood and nodded slowly: "Old people are wise! Madam is smart."
Madam Kong curled her lips in a sad way.
Didn’t Concubine Xi want to raise the royal heir in Concubine Su’s womb so that she could be on equal footing with the Empress?
How could she help Concubine Xi gain favor, snatch the Empress's favor, and still have the royal heir and status?
What the Empress doesn't have, Concubine Xi can't have either.
Whatever the Empress has, Concubine Xi cannot have!
Ever since she saw the Empress crying uncontrollably in her arms, she decided that she must protect the Empress and not let anyone threaten her in the slightest.
Just as he was lost in thought, a creaking sound was heard.
Madam Kong and Xia Ying's faces were filled with fear.
"who!"
Nanny Kong winked at Liang Shan and walked forward.
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