Huo Qinghe returned to Yanliang Pavilion and immediately collapsed onto the bed for a short rest.
However, she didn't sleep for long before she was disturbed.
Huo Qinghe was so sleepy that her eyes were almost closed, and her voice was languid: "Who's here? I'm sleepy right now."
Green Locust entered with great difficulty: "Madam. Consort Cao from Zhongcui Palace has arrived."
Judging from Madam Cao's imposing manner, she clearly came with ill intentions.
Huo Qinghe was too lazy to even move her knees at this moment. She raised her hand and patted her face: "Alright, come in. Madam Cao is pregnant, why are you out walking around? Yanxi Palace is so remote."
Indeed, Huo Qinghe has had virtually no contact with Consort Cao in the two months since she entered the palace.
Cao Pin's arrival at this time clearly indicates ill intent.
"I heard that the imperial physician said that pregnant women should move around more to avoid difficult childbirth. But why did Madam Cao end up here?" Green Locust was also completely puzzled.
As the weather gradually warmed up at the end of May, Consort Cao, who was pregnant, was even more sensitive to the heat. She carried a round fan along the way as she left Zhongcui Palace.
When he entered Yanliang Pavilion, the round fan in his hand shook like a rattle drum. With a slight movement of his two fingers, the fan spun out a blur.
As Huo Qinghe walked out, she suddenly remembered something, but Madam Cao was already not far away, so Huo Qinghe couldn't give any more instructions and could only put the matter aside for the time being.
"Madam Cao." Huo Qinghe cleared her throat and greeted her.
Consort Cao looked down at Huo Qinghe, or more accurately, stared at Huo Qinghe's empty earlobes.
Huo Qinghe had just returned from Funing Palace. She hadn't worn her earrings when she went to the West Warm Pavilion last night, so it was naturally inappropriate for her to take them from Funing Palace this morning.
Upon returning to Yanliang Pavilion, she immediately fell asleep, leaving no time for grooming or dressing up.
So at this moment, Huo Qinghe's earlobes were just as empty as when she met the Emperor last night.
Consort Cao's mood didn't improve much upon seeing this. She let out a light snort and said sarcastically without any attempt to hide it, "Consort Huo is quite beautiful. Even without much makeup, she can still captivate people's eyes."
That's a bit sarcastic.
Huo Qinghe lowered her eyes, showing no sign of annoyance, and her lips uttered only humble words.
"Madam Cao, you flatter me. I am of humble appearance, and too much adornment would only make me look vulgar. I really dare not wear any more decorations."
Consort Cao supported her lower back; her pregnancy was still in its early stages, so there was hardly any noticeable movement.
"You do have some self-awareness. Get up. I heard the Emperor rewarded you with a pair of earrings; let me take a look too."
Nowadays, the most straightforward people in the harem are Consort Zhou, Consort Cao, Noble Consort Chi, and Huo Yiyun.
But each of these individuals has something to rely on to dare to do so.
The biggest advantage that Consort Cao had in front of her was the unborn child in her womb.
Upon hearing this, Huo Qinghe stood up and asked, "Madam Cao is joking. What may seem like a novelty to me is nothing more than a trinket to you. I wonder which maidservant has been so careless as to spread such a small reward around."
As Huo Qinghe spoke, she coldly glanced at the maids standing beside her.
The Emperor just bestowed those ruby earrings upon her last night, and Huo Qinghe herself hadn't even had a chance to examine them closely yet. How could it have reached Consort Cao's ears so quickly?
Consort Cao understood the veiled meaning in Huo Qinghe's words: "Whether it's rare or not, I want to see it. What, does Lady Huo refuse?"
Having said all that, Huo Qinghe sighed inwardly, "I'm just afraid I won't offend your eyes, my lady."
She waved her hand, signaling Wang Mama to go to the storeroom and find the ruby earring.
When Granny Wang returned, she was carrying a red lacquered box inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
Huo Qinghe personally took it and placed it on the table.
She opened the box without saying a word.
The sky was perfectly clear at that moment, and looking up into the light, the scene was naturally vibrant and dazzling.
The bright and beautiful colors resembled the radiance above the head of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy.
Besides the ruby, the pair of ruby earrings also featured pearls set in a round gold setting...
Both Zhu Shi and Zhu Ting, who were behind Consort Cao, paused in their breathing, and their expressions became cautious.
Huo Qinghe had already seen it yesterday, so she wasn't as shocked when she saw it again. She only glanced at the pair of red treasures and focused more on the changes in Consort Cao's expression.
Consort Cao recognized her at a glance; she was a former servant of the Prince's residence and would not easily mistake her.
It goes without saying that a ruby of this quality is extremely rare in the world.
Consort Cao didn't quite believe that there could be another ruby like this in the world.
But the rubies on the earrings in front of her were smaller than she remembered.
However, judging from the quality of the ruby, it is definitely not scrap material.
Therefore, it can only mean that the emperor ordered the ruby on the top of the hat to be cut into the pair of earrings in front of us.
Such extravagance left Consort Cao speechless.
She had previously said that Xiao Huo was easily swayed, but who wouldn't be tempted by such a pair of ruby earrings?
Why did the emperor have to bestow such a gift—the ruby on the top of the hat?
Is that something that can be easily given away?
Consort Cao was furious and forgot all about being jealous of Xiao Huo. She gritted her teeth and really wanted to curse the Emperor as "incompetent."
It's one thing for the officials to be absurd in their daily lives, but how could they even give you such an item as a reward?
It's better to keep it.
Consort Cao was so angry that she couldn't speak for a while.
In the end, the government really is willing to spend money.
Consort Cao was so angry that she almost dropped the fan in her hand, but when she turned around, the fan still hit Zhu Ting behind her.
"Walk."
The emperor has already given her the gifts; how could she possibly snatch them back?
Last night, the Emperor only sent Jinyang to Cao Pin, who was already in a bad mood, and now her anger was amplified.
At this moment, all I wanted to do was go to the Funing Palace to confront the Emperor.
She has plenty of time to deal with Xiao Huo.
Consort Cao came and went quickly, like a gust of wind.
Huo Qinghe paused for a moment, then propped herself up on her hands and sat down. "Put those things away. Granny Wang, go and investigate what's wrong with these earrings?"
She has already realized something.
"You all stay here, I have something to ask you." Huo Qinghe poured herself a cup of tea.
Upon hearing this, the maids and two eunuchs silently stopped what they were doing.
Huo Qinghe closed her eyes slightly, not looking at anyone.
“Aside from Miao Xi, who came to deliver the goods, and the people from the Imperial Court, only you two were involved yesterday. I believe you wouldn’t do anything to betray your master.”
"However... if you haven't betrayed your Lord, you need to produce proof."
Huo Qinghe had already ruled out the possibility that the message came from the Emperor.
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