Chapter 86 He was too lazy to think about other women's thoughts
After the selection, Empress Dowager Jiang left the palace and went to Mount Tai to burn incense and pray for blessings, and has not returned since.
Late last month, the palace received news that the Empress Dowager had finished burning incense and was on her way back to the capital.
Lu Haozhi had been busy for days and had forgotten about this matter. He only remembered it after Rong An mentioned it.
Lu Hao didn't know whether to be happy or sad for a moment. Empress Dowager Jiang had liked Meng Yan in the past, and it was largely due to the Empress Dowager's mediation that she was made a concubine.
However, after she entered the palace, the empress dowager complained about her being the only one favored by her for many years, not to mention that she had no children in all these years.
In addition, Meng Yan's temper was too straightforward. The Queen Mother taught her to be virtuous and generous, but she often talked back, which often led to a bad ending.
The incident when Meng Yan intercepted the concubines who were sleeping with her in bed made the Queen Mother very angry. After punishing her, she never had a good face when she saw her again.
When the Empress Dowager left the palace this time, there were even rumors in the court that she was driven away by the Imperial Concubine.
Now that the Queen Mother is about to return, it is unclear whether the situation will turn around.
Lu Haozhi pondered over his worries and asked thoughtfully, "How long will it take for the Queen Mother to arrive in the capital?"
Rong An replied, "Your Majesty, considering the travel time, it will only take about four or five days."
Lu Haozhi nodded slightly, "Tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs to carefully clean up Shoukang Palace in the next few days. In addition, hold a family banquet to celebrate the Queen Mother's return."
Rong An hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, these servants know everything."
Lu Haozhi looked at the account on the desk again. He wondered how much the income from a small embroidery job could be worth, but it was rare for someone to have such thought.
Thinking of how Shen had just begged Rong'an to report to her, she seemed to have something to ask for, but before she could say a few words after coming in, she heard Concubine Meng asking for an audience, and she was frightened and hurriedly took her leave.
Well, he was too lazy to think about what these women were thinking.
Lu Haozhi casually handed the account book to Rong An and started looking at the documents again.
Meng Yan came out of the Yangxin Palace and did not return to the Baohua Palace. Instead, she ordered the ceremonial guard to return to the Changchun Palace.
Her brother was about to enter the palace, and she wanted to make some preparations, at least to ask the kitchen to make a few of his favorite side dishes and snacks.
It is not appropriate for foreign officials to stay in the harem for a long time, but Meng Changyuan can dine with her this time, which is a special honor given to her by the emperor.
Along the way, Ruizhu, who was following, was very taciturn, walking silently with her head down, and did not comment on Shen's attempt to win favor just now.
Meng Yan looked down at her and revealed a satisfied smile. After these days of conditioning, her subordinates have become much calmer and no longer as frivolous and domineering as before.
If she had her old temper, she would have gone back and had someone seal up a hundred taels of silver and send it to the palace where Shen agreed to marry and throw it in front of her. Thinking about it now, she found it ridiculous.
After returning to Changchun Palace, she went to the inner room to change clothes. When Bai Yuxin heard the news, she brought Doukou to see her.
It had been a while since the two of them met and talked like this, and they were very happy to see each other. Doukou also gathered around her, resting her head on her lap, and listened quietly to the two adults talking.
"Thank you so much, sister, for the little felt you made me the other day. The cushions in Baohua Hall are very hard, and my knees are about to get calluses from kneeling for so long. Also, sister, you asked someone to send me some Luo Han Guo pear paste candy. My throat gets really dry after chanting for so long, and holding a piece of it in my mouth is the most comfortable thing to moisten my throat."
Meng Yan touched Doukou's little head and smiled gently and charmingly.
Bai Yuxin smiled faintly, "Sister, you're being polite again. Actually, what do you have? It's just that I'm really incompetent and can't help much, so I can only do these little things."
Although she knew that Meng Yan's words were just greetings, she still felt sweet in her heart when she heard them.
Meng Yan sighed slightly, "I'm afraid you've suffered a lot in my absence these few days. No one has come to cause trouble, right? If so, please tell me. After the matter of Baohua Palace is over, I will never forgive them!"
She has made many enemies in the palace, and others dare not act rashly in front of her, but whether she will make things difficult for Bai Yuxin behind her back is something that can be guessed with eyes closed.
Bai Yuxin shook her head and smiled gently, "It's been peaceful these past few days. My sister is just helping Doukou learn to read in Changchun Palace, and no one dares to act recklessly in Changchun Palace."
In fact, during the two days Meng Yan was away, several people who had been at odds with Changchun Palace, or simply jealous of her, came to Changchun Palace and asked to see her by name. Most of these people were of higher status than her, so they relied on their status to speak harshly to her, even making things difficult for her and bullying her.
Bai Yuxin didn't care about these things at first, but she was staying in Changchun Palace. Since Sister Yan had entrusted Changchun Palace to her, she had to guard the gates and not let Concubine Meng's momentum down. She exchanged sharp words with those people, and drove them away one by one.
Before leaving, those people gnashed their teeth, wishing they could chew her to pieces, and cursed her for being a mere fox relying on the power of others and being willing to be Concubine Meng's lackey.
She didn't care how they insulted her, but Sister Yan had been the only one favored by the emperor over the years, and she was afraid that the resentment she had to endure in the six palaces was far greater than this.
Bai Yuxin strictly disciplined the palace maids and eunuchs serving her and forbade them to reveal these things to Meng Yan.
Although she didn't know why Sister Yan suddenly went to Baohua Temple to chant scriptures and pray, she thought it must be something extremely important, and she couldn't hold her sister back.
Therefore, Meng Yan was able to keep quiet in Baohua Palace and did not hear anything.
The two chatted for a while, and Meng Yan talked about her brother's visit to the palace tomorrow, and said with a smile, "Yuxin, think about what else you can bring with you."
Bai Yuxin had helped her pack a lot of things during this period of time. When she heard the news, she still felt homesick and felt a little sad. But seeing Meng Yan's overjoyed look, she was also sincerely happy for her and tried her best to think about it.
"I've heard that the southwest is humid and full of snakes and insects. Although I've prepared a lot of anti-worm medicine, men are always careless. I thought it would be practical to make something for the general to wear, filled with medicine."
Meng Yan thought this was a good idea, but she also had some reservations. "My brother never likes wearing these sachets and purses. He says they are women's things. Even if I force them on him, he will definitely not use them."
Bai Yuxin pursed her lips and smiled, "Don't worry, sister. I'll take care of this matter. I'll send the things over tomorrow. I guarantee the general will be able to use them."
Although Meng Yan didn't know what she was going to do, seeing that she looked confident, and since she was not an expert in this field, she just smiled.
As they were sitting and talking, Yunxiang came in and reported, "Your Majesty, Shen promised to see you at the palace gate."
Shen Zhaohui?
Meng Yan instantly remembered the situation when she met her at the gate of the Yangxin Palace just now, and couldn't help but wonder, what was she doing here?
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