Chapter 7: Died at the age of 19
The little girl blinked her big dark eyes and asked this question timidly, which made the Eighth Princess feel so soft-hearted that she quickly hugged her and shook her, "Nonsense, mother really likes Xiaojiu."
Ji Jinyou didn't quite believe it. If the Royal Concubine really liked her, why would she suddenly leave with a cold face without even looking at her?
The little girl tilted her head and frowned, obviously still worried.
The Eighth Princess said again, "Mother has something urgent to do. She will be back later and will invite Xiaojiu to dinner."
When the mother learned about Concubine Sun's affairs, she would definitely thank Xiaojiu.
The Seventh Princess pinched the little girl's chubby cheeks and nodded: "Yes, Xiaojiu is so popular, who wouldn't like her?"
Given their status, there was no need to tell lies to please a little kid who was not favored by His Majesty. Ji Jinyou believed it and smiled happily: "Youyou also likes the Queen."
When the chubby girl smiled, her little milk teeth were exposed, which made people feel good, and the seven or eight princesses also smiled.
The two smiled and looked at each other, then walked out in tacit understanding: "The sun is not that strong yet, let's go for a walk outside."
Ji Jinyou just wanted everyone in the harem to see that she had a good relationship with the seven or eight princesses, so that they would naturally be willing to go out with them.
Afraid that they would be too tired to carry her, she considerately suggested: "Youyou walk by yourself."
The little girl was chubby and soft, and she felt very comfortable in her arms. The Eighth Princess didn’t feel like she had had enough, so she immediately refused: “I’ll hold you, Eighth Sister.”
Ji Jinyou raised her little hand, patted her round belly, and reminded her very seriously and kindly, "Youyou, fat." Don't say your arms are sore from hugging her later.
"Xiaojiu knows she is fat." Princesses seven and eight were amused and rubbed the little girl's face.
The two of them did not bring any palace maids with them. They hurried along holding Ji Jinyou in their arms. After a while, they arrived at the small path that led to the Empress' Palace.
From a distance, I saw a woman in purple kneeling on the side of the road. Beside her was a palace maid kneeling. I couldn't tell what they were saying. It looked like she was trying to help her up, but she was pushed away by the woman in purple several times, so she finally gave up.
Ji Jinyou was curious: [Oh, that must be Sun Cairen.]
The system was somewhat excited: [It is her. Just wait and see. The old emperor will be here soon. ]
Princess Seven or Eight listened in silence, thinking, that may not be the case.
They turned along the path, entered the nearby garden, and came to a pavilion.
The Seventh Princess sat on a wooden chair, holding her waist and panting: "Xiaojiu, Sister Seven is tired from walking. Let's sit here and rest for a while."
Ji Jinyou got down from the Eighth Princess's arms, climbed onto the wooden chair, patted the Seventh Princess on the back, and helped her calm down.
[Everyone, Seventh Sister is in really bad health. She can't even walk as well as I can.]
The system actively explains: [The Seventh Princess didn't like sports and was addicted to reading storybooks. She stayed up late every day and sometimes got her days and nights mixed up. Two years later, her eyesight became bad and her body completely collapsed. She died at the age of nineteen.]
Died at such a young age? Ji Jinyou was shocked: [Staying up late is really harmful. I have to find a chance to persuade Seventh Sister to go to bed early. I like her very much and don’t want her to die so early.]
The Eighth Princess and the Seventh Princess were also shocked. They just came out to see the gossip scene, but they didn't expect to hear such important news.
After the fight between the two noble ladies Yuefang and the falling of a palace maiden from the tree in the Yu Garden, the two princesses believed what Ji Jinyou and the system said without a doubt.
Knowing her own date and cause of death in advance, the Seventh Princess silently thanked Shang Cang for letting her meet Xiao Jiu.
She held the little girl who kept rubbing her back on her lap, put her cheek close to hers, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Xiaojiu."
Ji Jinyou thought it was the Seventh Princess thanking her for patting her on the back, and smiled with her eyes squinted: "Youyou, you're not tired."
The Eighth Princess stood in front of the Seventh Princess, stared at her, and said silently: "You are not allowed to read storybooks anymore."
The Seventh Princess stared back. The storybook was her life. She could read less, but not reading it was impossible.
The two were just competing silently when they heard a voice coming from the path: "Hey, in such a hot day, who is this girl? Why are you kneeling here?"
When they heard the Royal Consort's voice, the three of them turned their heads to look over there, but their view was blocked by a row of hibiscus flowers beside the path, making it difficult to see clearly.
"Seventh sister, it looks like mother. Let's go and take a look." The Eighth Princess pretended to be surprised and said in a low voice. Then she picked up Ji Jinyou from the Seventh Princess' arms and walked towards the path.
There was something interesting to watch, so the Seventh Princess stopped breathing and just started to follow.
The two of them took Xiaojiu and tiptoed behind the hibiscus bushes, looking out through the gaps between the branches.
Ji Jinyou originally thought that the two were going out to greet the Imperial Concubine, but he didn't expect them to be sneaking around behind a tree and peeking.
Then thinking back to the scene of the two of them leaning against the door in front of the Jade Palace yesterday, Ji Jinyou understood that the two princesses were planning to watch the fun again.
Coincidentally, she also liked to watch, so she also poked her little head out to look.
Sun Cairen, who was kneeling on the ground, was very disappointed when he saw that the person coming was the imperial concubine, not the emperor.
But she didn't dare to show it, and cried before she spoke: "My Lady Imperial Concubine, I was born in a humble family, and I was fortunate to be loved by Your Majesty, so I had the opportunity to serve Your Majesty and all the sisters. It was my own fault that I didn't know the rules and offended the two sisters, Noble Fang and Noble Yue. I really don't blame them."
Ji Jinyou was greatly impressed. No wonder Concubine Sun was able to bring down the Imperial Concubine. It turned out that she was quite scheming.
The Imperial Concubine had only asked one question, but she responded with this long sentence, which not only implicitly mentioned the Emperor's favor for her, but also, as a weak person, took the opportunity to accuse Concubine Fang and Concubine Yue.
The Imperial Concubine sneered in her heart, but her face was amiable: "Poor sister, you were just favored last night, and I'm afraid you are still not feeling well, so you can't stand kneeling like this. I already know your grievances, and I will definitely ask the Empress to help you. You should go back and rest first."
Although she has asked the Queen to talk to His Majesty about the matter, who knows if he can stop it? After all, His Majesty is the type who likes novelty and hates old things. Once he hears that this little bitch has been wronged, he might abandon the Queen and run over. So, it is better to let her leave as soon as possible.
Seeing that Sun Cairen didn't move, the imperial concubine ordered the nanny behind her: "Hurry up and help Sun Cairen up. I'm afraid her legs are numb from kneeling."
The two maids agreed and hurried forward to help Sun Cairen.
Sun Cairen hadn't waited for the emperor yet, so she was naturally unwilling to get up. Thinking that the young eunuch from her hometown who helped her deliver the letter should have seen the emperor by now, she tried to struggle, twisted her body, and avoided the hands of the two maids.
Then she kowtowed in deep regret: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have done something wrong, and I should kneel for a while longer so that I can learn my lesson."
The Imperial Concubine stared down at Concubine Sun who was kowtowing, and smiled more kindly, "Since you are so sincere in admitting your mistakes, then go back to your own palace and find a cool place to kneel until you have knelt enough."
The maids who followed the Imperial Concubine had also been with her in the fight. When they heard what their master said, they immediately used Qiao Jiner to pull up Concubine Sun, and carried her away, one on each side.
Sun Cairen felt bad and thought that the emperor might be nearby, so she deliberately said loudly: "I will follow the instructions of the Royal Concubine."
The Imperial Concubine smiled and waved her hand: "Sun Cairen is so sensible. When the Empress returns from His Majesty, I will definitely praise you to her."
Upon hearing this, Sun Cairen was stunned. Has your Majesty been held back by the Queen? No wonder you haven't come yet.
Seeing her unwilling look, Ji Jinyou sighed: [Sun Cairen is the same, why bother to confront the Royal Concubine. ]
System: [Her little tricks worked in front of the old emperor, so she thought she was smart, but she didn't know that they were all left over from the Royal Concubine.]
Ji Jinyou: [He is also a fool. ]
System: [Yes, otherwise he wouldn't have been used by others to harm the Royal Concubine, and eventually killed by her.]
Hearing this bizarre conversation, Sun Cairen turned around abruptly with horror in his eyes, and looked around for the person who was talking, but he did not see any child, nor any man, not even a eunuch.
All the palace maids and nannies looked normal, except for the Imperial Concubine, who looked at her with a meaningful smile on her face.
That smiling look is like looking at prey?
Sun Cairen felt a chill down his spine.
Also, who was the man who was speaking, and how did he know what would happen next?
She was used by someone to harm the Imperial Concubine, and then she was killed by the Imperial Concubine? Is this true or false?
Sun Cairen was shocked and frightened, with all kinds of doubts in his mind. He wanted to ask what was going on, but he didn't know who to ask.
Seeing that Concubine Sun kept looking back, the two maids were afraid that their queen would be unhappy, so they hurriedly carried her away.
Seeing Sun Cairen being carried away with her neck twisted like an idiot, the Imperial Concubine smiled and shook her head, "Tsk, how pitiful."
Ji Jinyou couldn't help but sigh.
Without getting angry or impatient, she dealt with her opponent with a smile. No wonder the system used "the strongest combat power in the harem" to describe the Imperial Concubine.
When Sun Cairen was no longer in sight, the Imperial Concubine turned around and looked at the two adults and one child hiding behind the bushes. She scolded them coldly, "Why don't you come out? Are you, young girls who have not yet married, supposed to hear these dirty things?"
After being caught, the Eighth Princess walked out holding Little Nine, giggling, "Mother, we were just taking Little Nine out to play, and we accidentally walked in here, we really didn't mean to peek."
The Seventh Princess also laughed and took up Little Nine's chubby little hand that looked like a steamed bun to show it to the Imperial Consort: "Look, Mother, Little Nine has grown so fat. Rupin said that the Imperial Physician told us to make sure Little Nine moves more."
Ji Jinyou: "..."
It's really unfair to let her take the blame and expose her shortcomings.
"Stop smiling at me." The Royal Concubine gave him two cold looks.
Then she reached out her hand to the chubby baby in Xiao Ba's arms and smiled kindly: "Xiao Jiu, come here, mother."
This brilliant smile was similar to the one she showed to Sun Cairen just now. Ji Jinyou felt frightened and hesitated for a moment.
But on second thought, if she could cling to the Royal Concubine, maybe the plot could be turned around faster.
So, after a brief thought, Ji Jinyou stretched out her two chubby arms, threw herself into the Royal Concubine's arms, leaned her little head on her shoulder affectionately, and took the initiative to attack: "Youyou likes the queen."
The old emperor was fond of beautiful women and had many concubines in his harem. He was also strong and thriving, which led to him having many children.
The emperor was handsome, his concubines were all beautiful, and their children were also very beautiful. They all looked cute when they were young.
But the Imperial Concubine only liked her and the Empress' children. She was too lazy to even look at the children born to other concubines, let alone hold them.
Although Xiaojiu was born extremely adorable, the Royal Concubine held her not because she loved the child so much, but simply because she was grateful for what happened today and wanted to explore the strangeness of this child further.
But when a pink and tender little chubby ball stuck to her and said softly that he liked her, the imperial concubine's heart melted uncontrollably.
Especially when she saw those two troublesome things making faces at her, she felt that the well-behaved baby in her hands was so adorable.
She held the little girl in one hand and stroked her chubby fist with the other, smiling happily from the bottom of her heart: "Go, tell Rupin that I will take Xiaojiu with me today and send her back later."
The palace maid agreed and went to Miaoyunxuan to deliver the letter.
The Imperial Concubine walked forward holding Xiaojiu in her arms, coaxing the child with her voice, "Xiaojiu, would you like to go eat cakes with your mother?"
The thin voice made Ji Jinyou shudder: "..."
Hey, here comes another clamp spirit.
But it seemed that her proactive attack worked, and the Royal Concubine's smile became sincere.
The group returned to the Imperial Concubine's Hibiscus Palace. After the maids brought tea and snacks, the Imperial Concubine sent all the servants away and put the little girl on the couch. "Xiaojiu, take whatever you want to eat."
Then he looked at Princess Seven or Eight with a cold face and said, "You two, follow me in."
The two of them agreed and followed the Royal Concubine into the inner room.
Ji Jinyou lay on the table, looking up: [Everyone, the Royal Concubine seems to be angry, are the sisters going to be scolded? ]
System Tucao: [It’s normal to scold them, these two don’t look like princesses at all. 】
Ji Jinyou thought so too, and asked again: [It's strange, didn't you say that His Majesty was going to hug Sun Cairen? Why didn't he come, but the Royal Concubine came instead. ]
System: [Sorry, Youzi, I can only see the original plot, I don’t know why the direction has deviated. ]
The system had already said the word "I don't know" so many times that Ji Jinyou was used to hearing it. [Okay.]
In the inner room, the Royal Consort and seven or eight princesses were lying on the screen, listening attentively to the conversation between the kid and the bucket.
After the sound died down, the Imperial Concubine pulled the two of them inside, away from the door, and asked in a low voice: "Xiaojiu, what's going on? Who is that man? And who is Yuan Saw Qing?"