Chapter 38 The Madam's Behavior
Anko felt slightly embarrassed as her master gently scolded her.
Bai Yuxin also felt that she had spoken too harshly, after all, Hongdou had followed her all the way from her mother's home into the palace.
"Just now, the Imperial Concubine sent someone to bring me a plate of honey-cinnamon sugar cakes. I don't like sweets, so you can take it."
Hongdou is young after all and still has a childish nature. When she heard that there would be snacks, she became happy again.
She picked up a piece of candied biscuit from the plate and ate it while saying, "No matter what, the Imperial Concubine treats the master very well. Before entering the palace, I always heard people say that the Imperial Concubine was very powerful and liked to exclude and bully the concubines. If the emperor looked at anyone for a moment, she would suppress them. She was also not good to the palace servants, beating and scolding them at the slightest provocation. Later, the imperial decree came down that the master was to live in Changchun Palace, and I was so worried. But when I came in today, I found that the Imperial Concubine was so kind and amiable."
"Don't trust all those rumors." Bai Yuxin sat down on a round, wenge-wood stool nearby and said softly, "Your Majesty has been a noble concubine for so many years, always deeply favored by the Emperor. How could there not be some jealous people? Besides, Your Majesty holds a high position, in charge of the harem, and in charge of so many concubines and palace maids. With such high power and authority, she naturally carries more authority. It's not surprising that those concubines and palace maids who made mistakes and were punished by Your Majesty would have some complaints."
Hongdou tilted her head slightly and looked at her master, "My lady, you truly respect the Imperial Concubine."
Bai Yuxin lowered her eyes and smiled lightly, her face calm. "I can't really explain it. When I saw the Empress today, I just wanted to get closer to her. It's like there's some kind of connection between us."
"However, the Emperor is the only man in the palace, and I heard that the Imperial Concubine is very much in love with the Emperor. If the young lady becomes favored in the future, wouldn't it be awkward?"
"That's fine. I have no intention of competing for favor. My willingness to enter the palace has already given face to the Bai family. They can't expect anything else."
Bai Yu said coldly.
Meng Yan was accompanying Doukou in writing in the inner hall. Although Doukou was young, she was very patient. She took the pen and sat obediently at the desk, writing stroke by stroke.
She leaned against a lake green goose feather pillow on the kang, looking at the account book, occasionally glancing at the child, with a faint smile on her lips.
The sun after the rain shone in from the window lattice and fell on her, making her smooth and delicate face like white porcelain gleam with a slight luster.
On the table stood a pot of fresh Daphne osmanthus flowers, just delivered from the flower shop, emitting a pleasant fragrance, creating a peaceful scene.
Yunxiang came over quietly and whispered what she had just heard outside Le Zhixuan.
After saying that, he looked at her face carefully again.
I see.
After hearing Yunxiang's words, this was the first thought that popped into Meng Yan's mind.
It seems that Bai Yuxin was not willing to enter the palace, and it is unknown what conflicts she had with her family.
That was probably why she remained unknown in the palace in her previous life.
When she first met her today, Meng Yan felt that this girl was thoughtful and steady in her behavior. Although her appearance was not outstanding, with her temperament, it would not be difficult for her to make achievements in the palace.
Even if she didn't want to bother with the emperor, or took refuge with a powerful concubine, or showed her filial piety to the empress dowager or the imperial concubine, she wouldn't be squeezed to the point where even her winter charcoal allowance was withheld as in her previous life.
"From what I can see, this Bai promised to be a hassle-free person. But judging from the tone of her words, it seems that she has absolutely no regard for the Emperor, but I don't know if she's sincere."
Seeing that Meng Yan didn't say anything, Yunxiang couldn't help but say another sentence.
After all, there are new people in Changchun Palace, and the master has changed his temperament recently and has become much more lenient towards others, so they, the servants, cannot help but pay attention.
The Meipin before, who relied on the Empress's protection, actually had ulterior motives and wanted to slander the Empress in front of the Emperor.
There cannot be another Meipin in Changchun Palace.
Meng Yan came back to her senses, glanced at Yunxiang, and smiled softly, "It's not surprising that she has no interest in the emperor. Everyone has their own aspirations, and entering the palace doesn't mean you have to compete for favor."
As for Lu Haozhi, if you strip off his identity as an emperor, he is just a two-legged man. There are many of them everywhere, and not everyone will love him.
"Besides, judging by her behavior and speech, I think she is a decent girl. She wouldn't have any shady thoughts."
There was no logic to it. Meng Yan just liked Bai Yuxin and had a hunch that she would not do anything to hurt herself.
Yunxiang was a little puzzled, and asked tentatively, "Then, Your Majesty, are you planning to support her?"
In the palace, there have always been high-ranking concubines who have supported and won over the newly arrived ladies as their arms, so as to consolidate their favor when they are inconvenient to serve or have offended the emperor.
Although the Imperial Concubine had disdained such behavior in the past, her temperament has changed recently, so it is not surprising that she suddenly had such thoughts.
As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Yan raised her eyes and stared at her straightly. Her eyes were cold, like the frost in early winter. Yunxiang lowered her head and felt a chill in her heart.
"You are really looking down on me." After a long while, Meng Yan slowly said, "If I want to show my favor, do I need to ask someone else to do it for me?"
Yunxiang hurriedly said, "I said the wrong thing, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Meng Yan looked at Yunxiang and said word by word, "You are smart and clever, and you are thinking about me, so I am naturally happy. But don't be too clever and do things beyond your status, otherwise don't blame me for not loving you."
Yunxiang fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowed repeatedly, "I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Meng Yan sat up straight, the sun casting a shadow on her face, making it impossible to see her expression.
After a while, she sighed, "Forget it, get up. I have no intention of punishing you. I know that my recent behavior is very different from the past, which has caused you to be at a loss and speculate. Just remember that I, Meng Yan, have not changed. I am still the eldest daughter of the Yiyang Marquis's Mansion. I disdain to do such dirty and despicable things as pimping."
The so-called Ma Bailiu is what people in the community call a pimp, a middleman, someone who takes money from people and arranges improper relationships between men and women.
In her previous life, Meng Yan often cursed Liang Chengbi and Lin Yanrong behind their backs for being each other's slaves.
Whether they want to consolidate favor or compete for favor, they all rely on their own abilities and compete to send their good sisters away, which is really the behavior of a brothel owner.
No matter how miserable her life was in the book, she never had this thought.
Bai Yuxin had always lived in seclusion and was not favored in her previous life. Meng Yan herself couldn't say whether there would be any changes in this life.
But whether she has the idea of vying for favor or not is entirely up to her own wishes, and Meng Yan will not and is unwilling to interfere.
Yunxiang was scolded so much that she just kept silent and broke out in a cold sweat.
How could she forget that the Imperial Concubine is the daughter of the Marquis of Yiyang, and has always been proud and aloof. How could she have such an idea?
As they were talking, they heard someone outside. The palace servant who was guarding the gate came in and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has rewarded you with a pot of red-crowned red ink and white ink."
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