Chapter 116 The Queen Wants to See Her
Song Lingyi was surprised and delighted: "Really?"
"nature."
Xiao Mingyi smiled faintly, tapped the table with his fingers, and his eyes moved, his expression became gentle and calm, not as cold and serious as before.
"Are you hungry?"
"Ah?" The topic changed so quickly that Song Lingyi was a little confused.
"You have slept in the carriage for a long time. It is already noon. I have ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare wine and food. I will send you out of the palace after the meal." The man's voice was deep and no emotion could be heard.
"I'm not hungry."
As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach began to growl, which seemed particularly abrupt in the silent hall. Song Lingyi's cheeks turned red and she cursed her stomach inwardly for being so uncooperative.
"Don't be polite, we're just having a meal, nothing else." Xiao Mingyi's brows were relaxed, and he looked gentle and easy-going like a modest gentleman.
Before Song Lingyi could think of an excuse to refuse, the man had already ordered the meal to be served. The carved wooden door behind them then opened wide, and dozens of palace maids filed in, carrying exquisite food boxes.
Just as Song Lingyi was stunned, Feng Tong came to her side unconsciously and reminded her softly: "Miss Song, please follow me."
Feng Tong led people to the side hall. Compared with the magnificent and solemn main hall, the side hall was where the prince lived and worked, and it was even tidier and more deserted.
As usual, Feng Tong led the guests to the Huanghuali square table with a dragon head near the window, pulled out the Huanghuali armchair, and said, "Please sit down."
The table was full of delicious dishes, which made Song Lingyi so greedy that she wanted to inhale them all.
Xiao Mingyi sat down and pointed at the dishes in front of her. He said softly, "These are Huaizhou dishes. Try them and see if they are authentic."
Song Lingyi looked in the direction of his finger and saw fish and soup.
She hadn't been in Huaizhou City for long, so she couldn't tell whether the food was authentic or not, but it was all delicious, especially the soup, whose name she didn't know. It was clear and fragrant, fresh and tender but not greasy.
After finishing a bowl, my stomach felt full and warm, and I exclaimed from the bottom of my heart, "It's delicious."
Xiao Mingyi caught a glimpse of the soup stains at the corners of her mouth, his eyes darkening as he picked up a silk handkerchief and wiped them away for her. "Since it suits your taste, eat more."
Song Lingyi's hand holding the ivory chopsticks froze, and the look she gave him was particularly strange.
Did this guy have a mental problem because of her criticism? Why does he speak and act like a different person?
The meal lasted for two quarters of an hour. During this time, Xiao Mingyi did as he said. He did not do anything to her, nor did he force her. He even arranged for the eunuchs to escort her out of the palace.
Even after getting into the carriage, Song Lingyi still felt a little dizzy and incredulous.
Xiao Mingyi actually let her go just like that?
The red walls and green tiles kept receding from sight. The carriage suddenly stopped halfway.
From outside the curtain came the sound of a eunuch talking respectfully with someone, as if an important figure was blocking the way.
Song Lingyi frowned and lifted the curtain to look outside.
In front of the carriage, there were five or six palace maids standing, led by a woman wearing a purple palace dress with a round collar and narrow sleeves. She had a pretty face and a fierce aura between her eyebrows.
The young eunuch called her "sister" and asked her to make way.
But the maid didn't take him seriously. She put her hand on the eunuch's chest and pushed him away, smiling and bowing: "Miss, how are you? I am Yun Cui, a maid from Yongning Palace. I am here by the Queen Mother's order to invite you to Yongning Palace for a chat."
Song Lingyi was stunned immediately.
Why did Queen Shen want to see her? Could it be that she misunderstood her relationship with Xiao Mingyi?
"girl!"
Yun Cui loudly pulled Song Lingyi back to her senses, and turned sideways as if to invite her to go to the North Palace.
"..." Song Lingyi pursed her lips and slowly shifted her gaze towards the eunuch, signaling him to find a solution quickly.
Dealing with a prince is tiring enough, and he also has to deal with Queen Shen, whom he has never met. If he makes a mistake, Queen Shen will not be as easy to deal with as the prince.
"Sister Yuncui, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has ordered us to escort Miss Song out of the palace. Please don't make things difficult for me." said the eunuch.
Yun Cui suppressed her smile, her eyes sharp: "The Queen wants to see someone, how dare you stop her."
"But this is the cousin of the Duke's Mansion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
"So what? The Empress said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince secretly brought people into the palace, and the Duke's Mansion may not know about it. The Empress asked her to stay and talk for a while without alarming the Duke's Mansion. Please move aside." Yun Cui said indifferently.
The eunuch had no choice but to step aside and dare not stop him.
Yun Cui looked at Song Lingyi again and said with a faint smile, "The carriage cannot enter the North Palace. Please dismount and follow me on foot."
After hesitating for two breaths, Song Lingyi bent down and got off the carriage, gave the eunuch a look for help, and then followed Yun Cui to the North Palace.
As soon as the palace maids from Yongning Palace left, the eunuch ran to the East Palace without hesitation.
…
Beigong was heavily guarded and no one spoke along the way.
Song Lingyi glanced at the back of Yun Cui's head, her heart in turmoil.
It’s all Xiao Mingyi’s fault. Not only did he bring her into the palace for no apparent reason, but he also failed to keep the news secret. I don’t know what Queen Shen will say when she sees her.
While I was daydreaming, I had already arrived outside the gate of Yongning Palace.
Song Lingyi stopped and looked at the golden plaque with flying dragons and phoenixes, feeling inexplicably frightened.
Yun Cui in front turned around and urged, "Miss, please follow me."
After calming herself down a bit, Song Lingyi walked through the palace gate. The courtyard was spacious and palace maids were bustling around. Even in the winter when all the trees were withered, the flowers and trees planted in the courtyard were growing lushly, adding a bit of vitality to the magnificent Yongning Palace.
She didn't dare to look around and followed Yun Cui straight into the main hall. There was a charcoal basin with red radish burning in the hall, and the air was filled with fragrance and warmth.
Maybe it was because she was nervous or something, but as soon as she entered the main hall, the thick cloak on her body immediately covered her whole body with a thin layer of sweat.
Fortunately, Yun Cui was quick-witted and signaled Song Lingyi to take off her thick cloak and hang it on a pearwood stand nearby.
The hall was quiet.
Empress Shen, dressed in gorgeous clothes and a pearl crown, sat in the Mingtang, slowly and methodically pruning the plum blossoms that the palace maid had just picked. The maid standing beside her pointed at the branches of the plum blossoms and whispered something. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone walking around the openwork plum blossom screen and whispered:
"Empress, someone is coming."
Song Lingyi took a deep breath, recalled the etiquette and rules taught by her nanny, and knelt in the most standard posture, saying, "Your servant, Song Lingyi, pays homage to Her Majesty the Empress."
Queen Shen slowly raised her eyes and looked at the visitor silently. She curved her eyebrows and said, "No need to be polite, just sit down." Then she handed the trimmed plum blossom vase to the palace maid. Every move she made was noble and elegant.
"Thank you, Queen."
The palace maid helped Song Lingyi to stand up and sit on the chair at the side.
Seeing through the girl's nervousness, Queen Shen smiled warmly but with dignity: "Miss Song, there is no need to be restrained. I invited you here just to talk to you."
Song Lingyi lowered her eyes: "I wonder what the Queen wants to talk about?"
"Just chat..." Queen Shen slowly fiddled with the white jade beads in her hand, her eyes penetrating like fire. "When did you and the Crown Prince meet?"
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