Jiang Jiaojiao's eyebrows curved into crescent moons as she secretly rejoiced for Xiao Jinjin: "Xiao Jinjin is truly amazing! Her ability to win favor has jumped two levels!"
"Then let's go there quickly."
Jiang Jiaojiao fled as if she were escaping, and then pulled down the curtain to cover herself completely.
The Seventh Prince, Li Yan, kept his gaze following her until she was completely hidden by the curtains. Only then, with Dao Qing's careful assistance, did he board another palanquin carried by four men.
As Dao Qing's gaze swept over Jiang Jiaojiao's six-person palanquin, he muttered to himself, "Hmph, the reason His Majesty bestowed this palanquin upon her is certainly not because he favors her more, but because she is too fat."
Li Yan sat upright on the palanquin, gazing at the palace maids and eunuchs bowing their heads in greeting for the past two years, his thoughts wandering. Since he came of age and moved out of the palace to establish his own residence, he had rarely had the opportunity to step into this magnificent palace, except for unavoidable occasions such as festivals or his father's birthday.
His frail health often became an excuse for him to avoid courtly engagements, and everyone was used to it and did not criticize him too much.
The last time he voluntarily entered the palace was to request his father, the emperor, to grant him a marriage.
But being granted a palanquin to enter the palace like today is a first in his life.
He's probably just lucky to have Jiaojiao.
He looked down at the bulging sachet at his waist, which contained the heart-protecting pills and nourishing pills that she had sent him. The blessings she had brought him were far more than just this little bit.
Qixiang Palace.
Consort Jin, with her exquisite makeup, had a stiff neck and still had to listen to the nanny's incessant instructions.
"Go check again, has Jiaojiao arrived yet?"
Consort Jin interrupted the old woman and continued to send people to guard the palace gates.
Granny Jin was quite helpless. She had followed Consort Jin into the palace and knew her best. Consort Jin had always been indifferent to worldly desires and ambitions. She had finally come to her senses and made some progress, but she still had this problem of not being able to listen to the rules.
Consort Gui is not a noble lady; she must attend all banquets, big and small, in the palace. Breaking the rules is a small matter, but losing favor is a big matter.
In the imperial harem, being out of favor is more painful than never having been favored at all.
After thinking for a moment, Granny Jin felt it was necessary to give a few more words of advice, "Your Highness, you are now a Noble Consort, the head of the palace. You must not treat those above and below you as you used to..."
"Here it comes! Here it comes!"
The young palace maid rushed in.
Consort Jin stood up abruptly, her hair still in the hands of the maid who was combing it, almost being pulled off.
The maid who was combing her hair was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness, trembling all over, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"It's nothing, it's nothing, it's not your fault, it's my fault..."
"Your Majesty—"
Before Consort Jin could finish speaking, she was stopped by Granny Jin, who said, "Your Highness, please be mindful of your status."
That's all.
She scolded the maid who was combing her hair, "Be careful! If you touch her again and hurt Her Highness, you'll regret it!"
"Yes, thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"
The palace maid who was combing her hair was moved to tears and became even more respectful and careful.
Consort Jin rolled her eyes. She was most annoyed by these rules of kneeling and dying. Now that she was a consort, she couldn't even call herself "I" anymore, she had to call herself "this palace".
Little did she know she would be promoted so quickly.
She merely found an opportunity, feigned pitifulness, and begged the Seventh Prince for some reward. How did she manage to catch His Majesty's eye?
Oh, right!
She needs to discuss this with Jiaojiao again. His Majesty's preferences are a bit inexplicable, and they haven't even used any of the ideas they came up with before.
"What are you standing there for? Quickly, invite them in!"
Consort Jin noticed that the young palace maid had finished reporting and was standing with her head down, so she quickly urged her to hurry up.
The young palace maid was startled, her eyes widening in fright. "Please...please come in?"
"What else can I do? Go out and pick him up? My hair isn't even combed yet!"
Consort Jin did want to go out and meet people.
It's just that the nanny's nagging gives me a headache.
The palace maid was so frightened that she ran out quickly, and soon a series of footsteps could be heard outside.
With her hair in the hands of the maid who was combing it, and the matron watching from the side, Consort Jin could only sit still and shout at the person who came, "There is food and drink on the table, please help yourself!"
Has your partner arrived yet?
"I specially had someone stew some top-quality ginseng soup for him, so don't drink it, or you'll get a nosebleed again!"
"This promotion ceremony is too troublesome. I haven't had time to eat anything this morning. I specially prepared some fine peach blossom wine and a secret-recipe roast chicken. We'll have a good drink together after the ceremony!"
Consort Jin shouted excitedly.
But there was no response from Jiang Jiaojiao. Just as he was wondering about it, a deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded from behind him, "Oh? Sounds good."
Consort Jin was so frightened that she stood up straight.
With a sharp tug on her scalp, the maidservant who was combing her hair turned pale and knelt on the ground, unsure of whom to kowtow to and beg for mercy.
Granny Jin was also startled.
She quickly turned around and went out, kneeling down to greet him, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your... Your Highness Consort did not know it was you. I was impolite and beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
"It's all my fault."
Granny Jin knelt down and begged for forgiveness, admitting her mistake.
The palace maids and nannies in the room were so frightened that they all knelt down and begged for forgiveness from His Majesty.
The emperor waved his hand, looking at Consort Jin, who stood ramrod straight with her hair disheveled, and found it amusing.
It's been so long since the palace has seen such a daring concubine.
They even complained that the promotion ceremony was too complicated.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, what brings you here? I..."
"Cough cough..."
Granny Jin risked her life to remind her.
Startled, Consort Jin trembled and quickly changed her words, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I... I thought it was that girl Jiao Jiao who offended Your Majesty."
"oh?"
The Emperor noticed the noblewoman's stiff form of address and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "You even made ginseng soup? Is it for the seventh prince?"
"ah?"
Consort Jin didn't immediately realize that the emperor was referring to "Seventh Prince," which startled her, causing her nanny, Jin, to break out in a cold sweat.
I wanted to offer a reminder, but I was afraid of offending His Majesty.
Fortunately, Consort Jin realized what was happening quickly.
She quickly replied with a smile, "Yes, Your Highness is in poor health. Qixiang Palace is quite a distance from the palace gate. I was worried that Your Highness might be unwell, so I prepared ginseng soup in advance."
"Um."
The emperor nodded with a smile, and then ordered, "Since the Consort is worried, have someone carry a sedan chair to fetch her."
The attending eunuch quickly agreed.
Consort Jin immediately beamed with joy and hurriedly thanked him, “Thank you, Your Majesty. Since you have already bestowed this gift, why not give me an even bigger one? Jiaojiao is quite heavy-set, and I’m afraid the smaller one won’t be able to support her in the sedan chair.”
Granny Jin's mind went blank and she almost died on the spot.
My little darling!
Not only did she offend His Majesty, but she also dared to ask him for a reward! Good heavens! Will her life end today?
"Hahaha……"
The emperor responded with a hearty laugh, "Hahaha...Granted! Remember, the eldest son picks up that girl!"
"Hahaha……"
The emperor laughed so hard his teeth were showing, and he completely forgot his imperial dignity.
It's strange.
He felt much lighter as soon as he entered Qixiang Palace. He had been wondering about this, but now he knew the answer.
The type of master determines the type of servants they raise.
This Consort Jin is truly different from the other concubines.
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