Huo Qinghe did not go directly to the Chuigong Hall. It was still early, and there was nothing for her to do there.
She first walked around the Chuigong Hall, naturally, intentionally avoiding the Cining Palace.
Because of its proximity to the Imperial Garden, there are still waterside corridors in front of and behind the Chuigong Hall, with the sound of flowing water, making walking through them quite pleasant.
However, Huo Qinghe did not expect that someone else would come and leave in the same way as her.
"Greetings, Your Excellency." Huo Qinghe raised her hand in greeting.
Consort Xie was carrying a basket. She had a very gentle appearance. When she saw Huo Qinghe, a smile appeared on her fair face, but she did not show her teeth: "Beauty Huo, what a coincidence."
The area is shaded by lush greenery, with clusters of hibiscus flowers, though many petals have fallen at this time.
Consort Xie revealed the basket on her forearm: "I was thinking about how it's a pity to see the fallen flowers in spring, and I'm sorry to have made Consort Huo laugh at me."
There were already some fallen flowers in the basket.
Huo Qinghe glanced at it once and then looked away, smiling shyly: "I'm afraid I'll disturb Consort Xie."
Consort Xie, who was bending down to pick up fallen flowers, laughed when she heard the voice: "How could that be? With such a beautiful woman in front of you, it's always pleasing to the eye."
Consort Xie's words unconsciously made people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze, and Huo Qinghe smiled shyly again.
Therefore, Huo Qinghe did not leave. It was not appropriate for her to stand there, so she also bent down and picked up some fallen flowers.
Huo Qinghe wasn't very interested in the hibiscus flowers, but she did notice the locust tree next to her.
Consort Xie quickly noticed this and soon invited Huo Qinghe to pick locust flowers.
She could pick some locust flowers to take home and make locust flower tea, but since she didn't have a spare basket, Huo Qinghe didn't say anything and just spent the time there.
As noon approached, Consort Xie said she would put the basket back, and the two parted ways.
Consort Xie's residence was near the Imperial Garden, so she wouldn't be late getting there or back.
Huo Qinghe went to the Chuigong Hall first. When she arrived, there were already some people inside.
For example, Consort Ming and Consort Cao, who have already conceived, one has been pregnant for more than five months and the other for three months. They are sitting together and chatting happily.
There was also Consort Zhuang speaking to an unfamiliar palace concubine, but judging from her clothes and the nail guards she was wearing, she was at least a fifth-rank official.
Also, Meng Meiren was often talking to two other rookies.
At this moment, Consort Fu is the only one left alone. After Huo Qinghe arrived, she was also the only one left alone.
She quickly sat down, her mind racing with images of the concubines who hadn't yet arrived.
Consort Xie returned quickly and sat in the seat in front of Huo Qinghe, smiling at her as she sat down.
Following closely behind were Huo Yiyun and Lu Xiaoyi, while Consort Chi was the last to arrive.
I heard that Empress Xue has been feeling a bit cold these past few days and will not be showing up at the luncheon.
Everyone had arrived, but just like the first time a new concubine paid her respects to Empress Xue, Consort Zhou was once again the one who arrived late.
However, this time Consort Zhou arrived with Empress Dowager Zhou, and she saw her helping Consort Zhou into the Chuigong Hall with an air of arrogance.
Empress Xue was not present, so Empress Dowager Zhou was helped to sit at the head of the table by Consort Zhou. After sitting down, she adjusted the emerald green and gold phoenix hairpin with pearls at her temple.
"No need for formalities. It's almost spring and it's rare that there's no rain today. It's a pity the Empress is unwell, otherwise it would be more lively today."
Consort Zhou still appeared masked, but she seemed much more lively at this moment: "With you here, we concubines are already very happy."
Seeing that Consort Zhou had helped Empress Dowager Zhou to her seat but showed no intention of getting down, Consort Chi, sitting below, twitched the corner of her mouth but remained silent.
She's used to it; she's not stupid enough to be the one to stick her neck out.
Sure enough, Empress Dowager Zhou jokingly scolded Consort Zhou for her sweet talk, and soon ordered Zhu Yu, who was by her side, to add a seat next to her, saying that it was to let Consort Zhou serve her.
The Emperor did not come, and the Empress also claimed to be ill.
The luncheon was actually quite uninteresting; even the song and dance performances were rather uninspiring.
The sound of Consort Zhou praising Empress Dowager Zhou in a coquettish voice made people feel even more disgusted.
Seeing that Empress Dowager Zhou was about to bring up the new contestants, Huo Qinghe quickly toasted Consort Xie and then left the Chuigong Hall under the pretext of changing clothes.
Huo Qinghe's alcohol tolerance was indeed not very high; after just two or three glasses of fruit wine, she was already feeling a little dizzy.
She never had the chance to drink alcohol while at home, and she herself was unaware that her alcohol tolerance was so low.
Huo Qinghe had no idea what she would do after getting drunk, so she took the opportunity to change her clothes and came out first.
The Empress Dowager and Consort Zhou's刁难 (difficulties/challenges) were secondary; she was just afraid that Consort Zhou would lose control after drinking.
Huo Qinghe pretended to change her clothes first, but she didn't rush back.
She stood in the corridor outside the side hall, enjoying the breeze. Wang Mama was also feeling unwell, so Huo Qinghe let her go to the toilet first.
There are green locust trees serving on both sides.
Huo Qinghe calculated the time, and when she was more awake, she prepared to go back.
Suddenly, the master and servant, who had just turned around, heard a "plop" sound.
It sounded like a large stone thrown into water, somewhat muffled.
The sound of the water flowing gently to the left and right seemed particularly jarring.
Green Locust instinctively grabbed his wife and stood a little further in front of her.
Huo Qinghe instinctively looked in the direction of the sound, but the next second she was pushed from behind and fell forward uncontrollably.
"My wife!"
Green Locust, standing in front, suddenly felt her hand go empty. When she turned around, Huo Qinghe had already collapsed on the veranda behind her.
Below is a pool of water; I don't know how deep it is.
Green Locust's pupils contracted sharply, terrified by the sudden turn of events, yet he still stepped forward to try and grab his wife.
There was another "plop".
Huo Qinghe and Lv Huai had just been standing at the corner, and when she finally fell into the water, she only caught a glimpse of a sliver of emerald green clothing.
Huo Qinghe could swim, so she didn't rush to call for help and calmly conserved her strength.
After falling into the water, she realized that the water was not shallow and the current was constant. As Huo Qinghe struggled, she seemed to have grabbed onto something.
The warm, soft touch was felt even through the fabric of the clothes.
Is it a person?
Huo Qinghe instinctively grabbed the person.
It shouldn't be a dead person... right?
By this time, Green Locust, who was under the eaves, had also reacted and called out. She first called Granny Wang, and then called the palace maids.
She can't swim herself, and when she called out, the girl was so anxious she was running around in circles.
Fortunately, Granny Wang knew how to swim, and there happened to be a small boat nearby, so Huo Qinghe was quickly rescued.
Similarly, the commotion here also alerted everyone inside the Chuigong Hall.
Huo Yiyun practically ran over, and somehow found a cloak, which she personally draped over Huo Qinghe.
She only noticed that there was another person lying next to Huo Qinghe when she bent down.
She exclaimed "Eh!"
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