Chapter 617: When it comes to sarcasm, Sister Qian is the best
Rong Yue originally thought that the palace had other plans for summoning her and Tang Ning in the name of attending to an illness, and she was on guard against this trip in every possible way, but she didn't expect Fang Qin to say that Emperor An had summoned so many people.
She and Tang Ning looked at each other, both of them a little confused.
Could it be that Emperor An really wanted to find some people with good fate to enter the palace to "ward off evil" for the Empress Dowager because of what the Imperial Astronomical Observatory said?
Fang Qin didn't notice Tang Ning and the others' expressions, and only replied respectfully, "In fact, the palace has summoned more than just these people. I heard that some more will come to the palace later, including the women from the Xuan family. It's just that I'm not on duty in Shoukang Palace, so I don't know the details."
Tang Ning was even more confused. Even the Xuan family came?
The scandal between Madam Xuan and Cui Lin was a huge scandal and was known to the whole world.
The Queen Mother was partial to the Xuan family because there were not many survivors after the Xuan family returned from exile, and she was also taking care of her nephews and nieces. However, in order to help Cui Lin deal with Xiao Yan, Mrs. Xuan took advantage of the Queen Mother and set up a trap with the help of people in the Queen Mother's palace. When the Queen Mother heard about this, she fainted in anger.
Qian Qiyue was amazed by Fang Qin's words, and couldn't help but pull Tang Ning's hand and wink at her.
The Xuan family entered the palace to take care of the sick. Aren’t they afraid that the Queen Mother would be mad to death?
Although Tang Ning didn't hear her, she understood what she wanted to express. The corners of her mouth twitched, and Rong Yue beside her almost couldn't help laughing.
Fangqin led the three of them all the way into the Forbidden Palace. After passing through a long corridor and bypassing the imperial garden, they stopped at the southeast corner of the inner palace.
"The Shoukang Palace is just ahead. Please wait a moment, my three nobles. I will go and report to you."
"Please, Aunt Fangqin."
The gate of Shoukang Palace was wide open. When Fangqin went forward to report, Tang Ning and the others were waiting outside.
Qian Qiyue lowered her voice and said, "Tang Ning, this aunt just said that the women of the Fu family have also arrived. Old Madam Fu is old, and the women of the Fu family are all married. Could it be that someone has entered the palace..."
Tang Ning's expression remained unchanged, and she opened her red lips slightly: "You'll know when you go in."
Fangqin had already made arrangements with someone before, and when she came out, she was accompanied by a palace maid in exquisite clothes.
After Fangqin and Tangning bowed and took their leave, the palace maid bowed to the three of them and said, "I am Cailing, your servant. I greet Madam Rongguo, Princess Xiangning, and Madam Qian. Please follow me."
Tang Ning and the others followed Cai Ling into the lacquered red gate and saw shadowy figures inside.
Shoukang Palace was not as desolate as the outside. The spacious hall was extremely gorgeous, with several plum trees in front of the hall that seemed to be about to bloom.
Square wind chimes were hung beside the upturned eaves, and roses and four-color camellias were placed on the corridor stairs under the eaves. The flowers and leaves did not lose their color despite the cold, and the clusters of flowers did not show the severe cold of winter at all.
There were five or six palace maids standing in front of the hall, and Tang Ning and the others bowed as they passed by.
"Yuejian, you and Shilan wait outside."
"Yes, lady."
Tang Ning gave an order before drawing aside the curtain and entering the side hall. He immediately saw that quite a few people were already sitting inside, talking in groups of three or five in low voices.
Hearing the noise at the door, everyone turned around quietly, but Tang Ning and Rong Yue subconsciously held their breath. It was because the bitter smell of medicine and the smell of burning sandalwood in the hall mixed together, making people feel choked.
"A-choo!"
Qian Qiyue couldn't help but sneeze.
Everyone inside fell silent for a moment, and then someone laughed: "Ms. Qian, it's been a long time since we last met, and you're still full of energy."
Qian Qiyue glanced at the person who spoke: "Not as good as Princess Huan, who is nearly fifty years old but still looks like she is twenty-eight."
Princess Huan, who was less than forty years old and dressed up carefully, looked at the wealthy Princess Huan with a stiff face, while the corner of Prince Ji's concubine's mouth moved.
Those who were around were trying to hold back their laughter with their eyes slightly curved, while those who couldn't help it almost burst out laughing with their shoulders shaking.
Almost all those who could enter the palace were from powerful and influential families in the capital, and they knew something about the past "grudges" between Prince Huan's Mansion and the Qian family.
About two years ago, Princess Huan took a fancy to a girl from the Qian family and wanted to arrange a marriage for her youngest son, but the Qian family had no intention of marrying their daughter into the royal family. In addition, Emperor An was in power at the time, and it was not convenient for Qian Baokun, as the Minister of Revenue, to marry into the prince's mansion. So, Princess Huan mentioned this matter several times at banquets, but Mrs. Qian avoided the topic and did not respond.
Later, when Princess Huan seemed anxious and brought up the matter, Madam Qian directly refused on the grounds that the girls in the Qian family were still young.
This was nothing, as marriage is a matter of mutual consent. However, the youngest son of Prince Huan's Mansion had been spoiled since childhood and had developed a reckless character. He felt humiliated when he knew that the Qian family had rejected the marriage proposal, so he looked for an opportunity to cause trouble for the daughter of the Qian family, and ended up being severely beaten by her.
Not only was his leg broken, but his face was almost disfigured. All the young men who went with him to fight cocks and walk dogs were beaten to the point of crying for their parents.
Later, the matter came to the palace. Before Princess Huan and others could cause trouble for the Qian family, Qian Baokun directly filed a complaint before the emperor, saying that the young master of Prince Huan's mansion colluded with the playboys from those families to plot against his daughter, and even the people from the Censorate followed suit and submitted a memorial.
This incident caused quite a big stir at the time, and many people inside and outside the palace laughed at it.
Those who can play with King Huan's son must have prominent family backgrounds. If it were anyone else, they would have swallowed their anger, but they happened to run into the Qian family who protected their own people.
Not only did Qian Qiyue not get into any trouble in the end, the palace also issued a special decree to appease Qian Baokun. As a result, Prince Huan's Mansion and those families not only could not cause trouble for Qian Qiyue, but also had to bring their own sons who were beaten all over their bodies to apologize. The young master of Prince Huan's Mansion, who was the "mastermind", was even beaten with twenty boards.
Princess Huan started to clash with the Qian family, and she looked down on Qian Qiyue in every way.
After being ridiculed, she immediately turned cold and said, "Ms. Qian is still as ignorant of the rules as before."
Qian Qiyue wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, she smiled, revealing her white teeth: "That's certainly not as good as Mr. Xie's manners."
"I heard that he and Madam Liu from Fengxian Tower are getting married soon. A few days ago, she even went to the South City Embroidery Workshop to personally choose her wedding dress. When Madam Liu enters the palace, Princess, please remember to send me an invitation so that I can give her a generous gift. Thank you, Madam Liu, for eliminating this evil for the people..."
"you!"
Qian Qiyue quickly took a half step back, narrowly avoiding Princess Huan's finger that almost poked her face. Then, as if a little embarrassed for telling the truth, she raised her sleeve to cover her mouth and smiled implicitly in a very pretentious manner.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I should congratulate her and Mr. Xie on their harmonious marriage and long life together."
"I hope that Madam Liu can give birth to a son and give Young Master Xie a big fat boy, so that the princess can enjoy having grandchildren."
Princess Huan: "...Qian Qiyue!!"
Princess Huan was so angry that veins popped out on her forehead, and she wanted to tear Qian Qiyue's face off when she looked at her smiling face.
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