"Sister, you're too kind. Such fine fabric is perfect for making new clothes; it's a real shame to use it for bedding."
As Consort Zhen spoke, she gestured to Pearl to take a bracelet that Emperor Yuanwu had given her when she entered the palace and placed it in Zuo Qianrou's hand: "I heard that you were the first lady chosen by the Emperor, and you are destined to be favored in the future."
Zuo Qianrou lowered her eyes somewhat shyly: "Consort Zhen is the most favored concubine in the palace. I am fortunate to live in the same palace as you. I ask for nothing more than to live peacefully under your protection."
Consort Zhen looked her up and down, and for a moment, she was reminded of herself when she first entered the palace.
She too timidly carried her belongings and deliberately tried to ingratiate herself when she went to Consort Shu's palace.
Because she knew the reason she had entered the palace, she was afraid that Consort Shu would hold a grudge against her for it.
He mustered up his courage and said a lot of things he wouldn't normally say.
"My dear sister, you must be tired from your journey to the palace today. You must still need to pay your respects to the ladies of the various palaces. If there is nothing else, you may leave now."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zuo Qianrou bowed.
I just came out of Consort Zhen's palace.
The Empress and Consort Shu arrived one after the other.
"Greetings to Consort Zuo, may Consort Zuo be blessed." Bin'er called to the servants and sent in the things that Consort Shu had prepared.
"Auntie, you're too kind. My father and Consort Shu's father are old friends. I was just about to visit Consort Shu with some gifts," Zuo Qianrou said humbly.
"The Noble Consort Shu is also ready to greet Your Highness at any time, but..." Bin'er paused, then turned her head and said, "There are distinctions of rank in the palace, shouldn't Your Highness go and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager first?"
Zuo Qianrou's eyes lit up, and she bowed to Bin'er: "Thank you for your guidance, Aunt. I've remembered it all."
Bin'er nodded: "Then this servant will take her leave first. Your Highness, please rest. I still need to deliver things to the other newly arrived concubines."
Zuo Qianrou escorted Bin'er all the way to the palace gate before returning to her own palace.
"Heh." Pearl sneered, "What exactly does this Bin'er mean? Who is she referring to indirectly? Heh, the fact that Consort Zuo came to our palace to sit down first is breaking the rules of this palace?"
Consort Zhen didn't speak, but stared at Bin'er's departing figure, her eyes trembling slightly.
"Your Highness, do you think what Bin'er said just now was intentional? Did she say it herself, or did Consort Shu teach her to say it?" Pearl asked, puzzled.
Consort Zhen shook her head.
Just then, Xiuqiu woke up and ran over, jumping onto Consort Zhen.
She gently rubbed Xiuqiu's head: "If only people could be like this dog. People say dogs look down on people, but this one is loyal."
"Yes, this dog must have recognized who its owner is, and it would never betray its owner," Pearl remarked, her eyes trembling slightly.
The threshold of Qiluan Garden is almost worn down by the newly arrived palace ladies.
Consort Shu didn't even have time to drink some water and rest.
News then spread that the Xia king was to take the Xia crown prince on a diplomatic mission to the Yuan kingdom.
We have arrived in the capital today.
They were resting at the Yuan Dynasty's post station at this time.
Lu Zhaofeng led his guards to the post station to protect the safety of King Xia and the Crown Prince of Xia. Accompanying them were the Crown Princess of Xia and one of King Xia's concubines, Han.
"This King Xia is really interesting. Why did he bring a concubine instead of his queen when he went on a diplomatic mission to another country?" Ji Xiuyuan took out a bag of melon seeds from the post station and moved closer to Lu Zhaofeng.
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