Chapter 210 Xinlan Palace
"So, I don't owe you anything now." Just when Liu Yuetang was stunned, Rong Yue's voice as cool as water came to her ears again.
The smile on Liu Yuetang's lips grew wider: "Sister has never owed me anything."
Rong Yue smiled knowingly, looked back at the endless sky, her eyebrows and eyes were stained with a layer of fine light and shadow.
"Actually, these peaceful days are quite nice right now. I don't have to worry about gains and losses, or engage in intrigue, or flatter anyone. I can just be myself and be Rongyue."
Ever since she lost her child, she no longer schemed to gain the emperor's favor as she did before.
Although the days without grace are no longer as affluent as before, I am still free.
Liu Yuetang was also happy to see Rong Yue's disillusioned look.
Just as Concubine Ning said, this is probably the best state for a woman.
By the time the sedan chair slowly arrived at Shoukang Palace, it was already the end of the noon hour.
In the hall, the empress dowager was sitting on a phoenix couch, half leaning against a soft woven gold cushion, reading a book.
"Empress Dowager, Concubine Xi is here to pay her respects to you."
Hearing the word "Xi Fei", the Queen Mother frowned in disgust.
"Knowing that I don't like her, why is she here?"
Nanny Zhu said, "Concubine Xi's pregnancy is now stable, and she has resumed her morning and evening visits. I believe she has come from Weiyang Palace to pay her respects to you."
The Queen Mother's expression eased slightly, and she said in a deep voice, "She is quite good at pretending to be well behaved. No wonder the Emperor now favors her more than Concubine Zhao."
It was easy for her to find fault with someone as stubborn as Concubine Zhao.
It's just that it's hard to find fault with people like Liu Yuetang who have done a lot of work to save face in public and punish them.
"Then, should I call in Concubine Xi?"
"No need." The Queen Mother rejected it outright.
"Seeing her will only make me more upset. Go to the storehouse and pick out some supplements for pregnant women. She is weak and finally got pregnant with my grandson. We must not let anything unexpected happen to her."
Seeing that although the Queen Mother did not like Concubine Xi, she was very fond of the royal heir in Concubine Xi's belly, Nanny Zhu couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, I'll go right away."
After saying that, Nanny Zhu picked out a lot of supplements and a pair of Suzhou embroidery pillows from the warehouse.
She walked over to Liu Yuetang and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is currently worshipping Buddha and has no time to see you. The Queen Mother has specially asked me to bring you some pregnancy-supporting items, hoping that you will safely give birth to an heir."
Liu Yuetang nodded slightly: "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your kindness."
"I am a little late. Next time I will come earlier to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
Nanny Zhu smiled kindly, "It's good that your Majesty has this intention. Many things don't depend on these etiquettes. The Empress Dowager has always loved the emperor's grandson. If your Majesty can give birth to an heir smoothly, it will be the greatest filial piety to the Empress Dowager."
"Yes, Madam, please express my gratitude to the Queen Mother on my behalf. I will return to the palace now."
Nanny Zhu knelt and saluted: "This servant will respectfully send Her Majesty Xi off."
As soon as the sedan chair was lifted up, Liu Yuetang saw a green figure walking quickly towards him.
When the person came closer, I found that it was Ningpin's personal maid. She bowed and said, "Your servant greets Her Majesty Xifei."
"Our queen invites Concubine Xi to Xinlan Palace for a chat. I wonder if Concubine Xi would appreciate the honor."
Liu Yuetang asked, "What is it that Concubine Ning wants to talk to me about?"
The palace maid whispered, "She will know when she goes there."
Liu Yuetang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll go right away."
The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief: "Then I will go ahead. Your Majesty is still waiting for me to serve you."
Afterwards, the palace maids set off for Xinlan Palace.
When the palace servant saw Liu Yuetang, he hurried forward respectfully and said, "Your servant greets Her Majesty Concubine Xi."
"Our queen is waiting in the courtyard. I will bring her in right away."
Liu Yuetang raised her hand to adjust the hairpins on her temples, and was helped over the threshold by Wanqiu.
When she raised her eyes, she was stunned and amazed by the beautiful scenery she saw.
In the courtyard, the whole garden is full of picturesque scenery, with crabapples, peonies, roses and chrysanthemums competing for beauty.
A Xiangfei bamboo swing hangs in the air among the slanting branches of an old locust tree, and a wicker chair wrapped with crabapple blossoms casts shadows all over the ground in the sunlight.
Concubine Ning was sitting on a jade table drinking tea. White mist rose from the teacup and dissipated quietly in front of Concubine Ning.
Liu Yuetang sighed, it was rare to find such a warm place in the deep palace.
As she got closer, Liu Yuetang discovered that the flowers in the courtyard were actually elephant flowers.
Just as Liu Yuetang was looking at the flowers, Concubine Ning stepped forward to greet her: "Your Highness greets Concubine Xi."
"These flowers are actually elephant flowers?"
Concubine Ning nodded calmly. "Yuan'er has loved flowers since she was a child, but she is weak and gets rashes every time she touches flowers. So the Emperor ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare some fresh and dried elephant flowers for her."
Liu Yuetang looked at the layout of the courtyard, which was all based on children's preferences. This shows that Concubine Ning really loves the eldest princess.
Just as what was said in the palace, she put all her thoughts on the eldest princess.
"Your Majesty, you are pregnant and shouldn't stand for long. Please sit down and have a cup of tea."
Liu Yuetang nodded and sat down. Concubine Ning personally poured more tea. "I specially ordered the palace maid to make this red date and wolfberry tea. Your Majesty, drink it while it's hot."
Seeing her enthusiasm, Liu Yuetang couldn't refuse. She picked up the teacup with her bare hands and slowly brought it to her lips. When she covered it with her sleeve, she poured some tea on her handkerchief. Then she calmly put down the teacup and looked at Ningpin: "Ningpin, do you have anything to say to me?"
Concubine Ning didn't know whether it was good or bad, so she couldn't drink the tea casually.
Ningpin's eyes flickered with apology. "Originally, I should have personally gone to the palace to pay my respects to Her Majesty, but I have been in the palace for many years and have never set foot in the palaces of the concubines. To avoid suspicion from others, I have no choice but to trouble Her Majesty to come. After all, this matter concerns both Her Majesty and my family..."
"My mother's home?" Liu Yuetang was confused and frowned slightly.
Concubine Ning nodded slightly, a hint of sadness suddenly covering her brows. "To be honest, sister, an unsigned letter suddenly appeared in the courtyard last night. It said that my father was corrupt and accepted bribes from merchants..."
She paused, looking at the suspicious Liu Yuetang. "And the people who offered the bribe in the note are... your mother and sister."
"What?" Liu Yuetang was shocked, with panic in her eyes.
After a moment, she looked at Concubine Ning suspiciously: "Is what Concubine Ning said true?"
Ningpin could understand her surprised reaction. When she first saw the letter, she was also very frightened.
She asked the palace maid to pass the note to Liu Yuetang: "Your Majesty, please take a look and you will understand."
Liu Yuetang unfolded the note. The moment her eyes passed over the handwriting, her fingertips suddenly tightened. After a while, she raised her eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "That person wants to use my sister to get rid of the Liu family?"
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