Zhang Da Ying has not been in good shape recently.
Perhaps influenced by Concubine Jin's punishment, he couldn't help but tremble at the slightest noise. He would either knock over a bowl of water or drop his knife, making it impossible to finish a dish.
Wei Shuyi observed for a long time and was sure that this was her first reaction and not a pretense, so he also tried to comfort her.
"This is Lin'an Palace, not Chengqian Palace. The Imperial Concubine's subordinates won't barge in without reason, don't worry."
"Yes, thank you for the reminder, my dear sister."
Not only that, she also gave up arguing with Consort Xin: in the past, they could argue for half a day over ingredients or even a sharper knife. Now she just calmly lowered her head to cook, her mind heavy.
"Sister Yi isn't a wicked person who'd casually slap anyone in the face. You don't have to be so cautious. Look, you put salt in there again, thinking it was sugar, didn't you?"
Xin Xuanshi also reminded him, but there was no improvement.
Zhang Da Ying seemed to be frightened. The scars on his face had faded, but the haze in his heart could not be dispelled.
But it’s okay this way. Learning to shut up appropriately is also a way of survival.
"My lady, she broke another bowl and refused to let us pick it up. She just squatted there picking up the pieces for a long time without saying a word. I felt sorry for her."
Jing'an took the opportunity of serving tea to go to the courtyard to find Wei Shuyi and mention this matter.
"That day, she was punished for being too harsh on the servants. If she had been too polite, the people in the Yanxi Palace might have acted over her head."
"What should I do then?"
"It's easy to change a country, but difficult to change one's nature. The more she endures humiliation, the more it means she has hidden plans in her heart." Wei Shuyi ordered, "If any servants behave improperly, you will warn them. The rest of the time, follow her wishes."
"yes."
Those who are personally promoted by Qu Yuexi will not be abandoned just because they are punished.
She wanted to see clearly what the two concubines in the Yanx Palace were planning together.
——
Just as the personal maid had reminded her before, Concubine Wen would come to Yonghe Palace again after hitting a wall.
This time, I will still look for Concubine Xu in the East Side Hall first.
She specifically chose to go there early in the morning in order to avoid the other person's dance practice time.
Mu Tao didn't understand: "My lady, it's unreasonable for you to condescend to come here. In order to accommodate her schedule, you have to reduce your sleep time, which is also..."
"Concubine Xu relies on the Emperor's favor and is arrogant. If I don't show some sincerity, how could she easily open that door?" Concubine Wen didn't care about being humble at the moment. "No matter what, we have to meet this person first, then we can discuss other things. The girl next door is a bit stubborn, I hope she can be flexible."
"Huayan, who is here?"
Concubine Xu happened to be admiring the flowers in the courtyard, and when she turned around she saw the sedan chair.
"My lady, this is Consort Wen, the pregnant lady from the Yanxi Palace. You must go and greet her."
"oh……"
The beauty knelt perfunctorily and shouted as loudly as she could: "This concubine pays her respects to the noble lady Wen. May the noble lady be blessed."
Then, without waiting for the other party's response, he stood up leisurely, further showing the provocation in his eyes.
"I'm so lucky to have come here by chance. When I came here earlier, I heard that my sister was practicing dancing, but I didn't get to see her in person. What a pity."
"Is there such a thing?!" Concubine Xu pretended to be surprised and ushered the person into the main hall. "Then please come in, my noble lord. I will personally serve you and express my apologies."
"Serve? You're too kind, sister."
"It's just adding fine wine and fruit to your honorable mention. It's nothing serious."
She moved very quickly, as if she had already prepared the kitchen.
Noblewoman Wen glanced calmly at the pale yellow wine on her left hand and said, "Sister, I am pregnant and should not drink alcohol. If there is tea..."
"I made a mistake in my haste, Your Excellency, and I beg your forgiveness!" Concubine Xu waved a white velvet fan, sending gusts of fragrant air wafting over her. "Every time the Emperor comes, he loves to share this cup of wine with me. I'm used to it. As for tea, there's none in the East Wing Hall. Huayan, go borrow some from Concubine Zhen, so Your Excellency won't get thirsty!"
"Yes, I will arrange it right away."
Noble Lady Wen was the youngest legitimate daughter of the Qu family. From top to bottom, everyone cared for her and treated her with great courtesy. Had she ever been stabbed in the back by a lowly concubine's daughter?
Even her eldest sister, who was promoted to a noble concubine, did not dare to break up with her!
However, the Concubine Xu in front of him dared to do so.
What she relies on is nothing more than the favor that Xie Yanci has bestowed upon her many times in recent days.
"Before I entered the palace, my dancing skills were renowned in the capital. They could tell at a glance that my sister had a fine figure, well-suited to the kind of dances that came from the Western Regions. No wonder the Emperor was so captivated by her. After all, people are always curious about things they've never seen before." Concubine Wen smiled, her lips concealed. "I still remember the first time I tasted berries, I treasured them like treasures, wishing I could enjoy them as a proper meal every day. Now, they're piled up with all those other fruits, and their novelty has faded."
Lady Xu heard the hidden meaning and leaned against the armrest of the chair opposite her. Her clothes slipped down, revealing the alluring beauty on her shoulders.
She is like a nine-tailed fox that transforms into a human form. She does all kinds of vulgar things, but one can only feel her charm and mystery, and not her vulgarity.
Noble Lady Wen and Mu Tao looked away one after another. The palace servants in the main hall seemed to have gotten used to this scene and their expressions did not change.
"Your Excellency is right! But after all, fruits and vegetables are inanimate objects, unlike living people. Once you're captivated by one, you'll be obsessed for the rest of your life! Otherwise, what facts would support those heartbreaking stories in the storybooks?"
Lady Xu's voice was very different from the elegant voices of others. It was as if she couldn't catch her breath, so every few words she spoke were accompanied by a gasp, which was clearly teasing.
For the first time, Lady Wen felt uneasy.
After a few hurried words, he left with his servants, using the excuse of going to see Zhen Changzai.
"My lady, what kind of incense does she use in her palace? I've been wanting to sneeze for a while now, and I've been holding it in until now. Are you okay?"
"Ridiculous!" Concubine Wen walked to a deserted spot and her face darkened. "How is her behavior any different from those top flower girls in the capital? How could the Emperor actually value such a woman?!"
Mu Tao quickly comforted her: "My lady, you know very well that the ladies in the palace are all women with clean backgrounds and who don't use seductive tricks. Concubine Xu is the first one. The emperor may just find it new, so..."
"Impossible! The Emperor is not a lecherous and incompetent ruler. Just because she has no rules and is good at pleasing men, he should honor her?"
"But the emperor is still a man after all, no exception."
When she heard a stranger speaking, Concubine Wen immediately stopped talking nervously and looked around hurriedly, fearing that someone would catch her in the act!
Fortunately, the woman who walked out from behind the tree full of flowers was Zhen Changzai.
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