Huo Qinghe looked in the direction the official was referring to, and her face quickly revealed just the right amount of surprise and amazement.
"Is this an unusual lotus? I am truly honored by Your Majesty's favor; this is the first time I have ever seen a purple lotus."
She looked at the official with bright eyes, and her lips widened slightly in surprise as she spoke, dazzlingly beautiful.
Pei Yuanhui's gaze, which had been fixed on the purple lotus, gradually shifted to Huo Qinghe's face as she spoke.
No one dislikes being praised by others, especially since the Emperor summoned Huo Qinghe with the intention of sharing her prized possession.
The purple lotus, with flowers resembling magnolias but purple in color, can be considered a rare variety of lotus.
Besides the agapanthus and the purple lotus in front of her, there were other rare lotus varieties, all of which Huo Qinghe had never seen before.
The entire inner hall of Funing Palace was arranged in a half-circle, and Huo Qinghe followed the Emperor to admire half of it, her expression of amazement never ceasing.
After the emperor took his seat, Huo Qinghe said, "All the lotus flowers in this hall are beautiful, but the Hundred-Child Lotus is the largest and most dazzling."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanhui assumed that Huo Qinghe also liked the auspicious meaning of the lotus flower. He hummed in agreement and waved his hand dismissively.
"Tomorrow I will have Jinyang send that Hundred-Seed Lotus to your palace. You can go back and admire it at your leisure."
The official was referring to tomorrow, which meant that Huo Qinghe would be staying overnight. Huo Qinghe silently bowed and thanked him.
"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your kindness. However, I heard that this lotus came from Suzhou, a long journey, and it is rare to find one that blooms so beautifully. How could I possibly take away something that belongs to someone else?"
Pei Yuanhui looked at Huo Qinghe but did not answer her question first.
"The Hundred-Seed Lotus has come from afar, are you... implying that I have mobilized a large force?"
The emperor's temperament is the most difficult to fathom, and the emperor's words clearly indicate that he is angry.
Huo Qinghe quickly bowed her head and knelt down: "That's not what I meant. Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, and the world is at peace. The hundred-seed lotus sent from Suzhou is a testament to the local people's concern for Your Majesty. Whether it's me, the people of the four borders, or anyone else, everyone's thoughts and concerns are only for Your Majesty."
She didn't mean to apologize; instead, she said a string of nonsensical things.
But as wise as Pei Yuanhui was, he understood immediately.
"Are you pleading for Consort Yi?"
Yes, from the moment Huo Qinghe mentioned the lotus, she had already figured out how to subtly plead for Huo Yiyun.
While Huo Yiyun was under house arrest, she completely forgot about pleading for Huo Yiyun before the emperor.
Pleading for mercy is one thing, the reason for pleading is another, and letting her beloved elder sister know that she is pleading for Huo Yiyun is yet another matter entirely.
Upon hearing the official's question, Huo Qinghe deliberately remained silent for a few breaths.
"Does Your Majesty wish to hear the truth or a lie?"
"What are you kneeling for? Do you still dare to speak falsehoods in front of me? However, I would like to hear your truth and your falsehoods."
Having understood the Emperor's meaning, Huo Qinghe obediently stood up.
"Consort Yi is my elder sister. Although I should have put those things aside after entering the palace, the matter that day was caused by me. I have been very uneasy lately. Besides, Consort Yi is just outspoken. That day, it was just because she had a disagreement with Noble Lady Fu. In fact, it was all because Consort Yi had His Majesty in her heart."
As she spoke, her dark eyelashes trembled, as if she wanted to look up but dared not.
Pei Yuanhui stared at her: "It sounds like the truth."
Huo Qinghe paused again.
"And another thing... if I may be so bold as to say something offensive, I am all alone in this palace. Everyone in the palace considers me and Consort Yi as one. If Consort Yi is doing well, I think I can be doing well too."
That sounds a bit silly.
Pei Yuanhui gave another soft "hmm": "That sounds like the truth."
When Huo Qinghe raised her head again, tears that she couldn't hold back were dripping from her lowered eyelashes, falling straight onto her sleeves, and wetting the back of her hands as well.
When she looked up, the emperor could naturally see her tear stains.
At this moment, Huo Qinghe's reddened eyes truly resembled plum blossoms.
"I didn't hear any sobs in your voice, you're quite good at hiding it, aren't you? Come before me." Pei Yuanhui's voice sounded somewhat amused and exasperated.
Huo Qinghe chuckled upon hearing this.
"Your Majesty is mocking me." Now we could finally hear the sob in her voice; her muffled tone sounded pitiful.
Huo Qinghe's last sentence was indeed from the bottom of her heart, but it also made Pei Yuanhui think deeply.
Huo Qinghe's current loneliness and dependence on Huo Yiyun to survive in the palace is all because Huo Yiyun begged to let Xiao Huo enter the palace.
As soon as this thought popped into his mind, Pei Yuanhui actually felt a tiny bit of pity for Xiao Huo in front of him.
As Huo Qinghe approached, Pei Yuanhui slowly extended his hand towards her.
With their hands clasped together, their soft, delicate fingers softened Pei Yuanhui's expression.
"Who said you were helpless? Am I not your support? You really were being offensive." He said, flicking Huo Qinghe's forehead lightly.
Huo Qinghe let out a soft "Ah!" after receiving a tap on the forehead.
"His Majesty!"
This sounded like a complaint against the butler's sudden attack.
Pei Yuanhui, however, was pleased to hear this: "Stop crying? I understand what you mean. From now on, if you suffer any injustice, have someone come to me and tell me. I will stand up for you. Hmm?"
As they spoke, Huo Qinghe was pulled into the Emperor's arms, and the rise and fall of the Emperor's chest as he spoke seemed to be transmitted along with her.
Huo Qinghe was somewhat at a loss: "This concubine dares not. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, and this concubine dares not disturb you with such a trivial matter."
The Emperor's words were a confirmation because Huo Yiyun was unable to protect Huo Qinghe while under house arrest.
Of course, Huo Qinghe never wanted Huo Yiyun's protection. She wasn't stupid; in this palace, only the Emperor's protection was truly useful.
However, Huo Qinghe naturally could not agree immediately. The emperor had given her a definite answer, but he did not expect her to take it as gospel.
Moreover, as Huo Qinghe said, the so-called "making decisions" might not be useful if she came to the emperor for help when the emperor was preoccupied with national affairs.
But since the Emperor said those words to her today, Huo Qinghe's trip wasn't a complete loss.
"I may not be able to attend to everything in the inner palace. The Empress is in poor health, and Consort Chi is in charge of the affairs of the six palaces. If you need anything, just have someone inform Jin Yang, who is by my side. I allow your people to go to him. From now on, you are not allowed to say that you are helpless and alone."
Huo Qinghe wanted to get up to express her gratitude, but Pei Yuanhui stopped her.
"Alright, sit with me for a while."
Mentioning Huo Yiyun inevitably brings to mind those painful memories from the past.
Huo Qinghe sat in the official's lap, as if they were of one mind.
"That Consort Yi..."
Pei Yuanhui's hand, which was holding Huo Qinghe's knuckles, tightened slightly.
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