When Huo Qinghe approached, Empress Xue waved her hand and refused, saying, "I have servants to attend to me, why would I need you to serve me? Kong Qing, please take a seat."
Kong Qing personally moved a shorter embroidered stool, and Huo Qinghe declined for a moment before sitting down.
Empress Xue first addressed Kong Qing, saying, "Look at you, what a beautiful woman! Your sister really went to great lengths to bring you to the palace. I have no younger sister, and I have always envied those who have sisters to keep them company. How have you been these past few days in the palace?"
Huo Qinghe didn't quite understand what Empress Xue meant by the first half of her sentence, so she just lowered her head and said obediently, "Everything is fine. The Imperial Household Department has been serving us diligently. Everything is taken care of and everything is fine."
Empress Xue nodded in satisfaction and said in a gentle tone, "I was unwell recently, and Consort Chi arranged all these things. It's good that nothing went wrong. You have such a good temperament... Your sister was just like you when she first entered the Prince's residence."
No, that's not true.
Huo Qinghe quickly replied, "I dare not say that, Madam Yi is naturally perfect in every way."
Empress Xue paused slightly upon hearing this, then looked up at her and said, "Speaking of sisters, my health is not good, and I only have one eldest princess. I have always hoped to have another child to keep me company. However, your sister has served the Emperor for many years since he was a prince, but it is a pity that she has not conceived for many years. Now that you have entered the palace, if there is any good news in the future, your sister will have more fun."
Empress Xue's words had many hidden meanings.
In a flash, Huo Qinghe understood Empress Xue's unspoken meaning, but she naturally could not reveal it at all. She stood up with feigned fear and said, "This concubine is unfortunate and dares not hope for more. Now that I have entered the palace, I will naturally put Your Majesty and Your Highness first and not think about anything else."
Today, Empress Xue kept referring to her sister, which was really unpleasant to hear.
Most other people would probably have lost their temper, but you can't see that in Huo Qinghe.
Empress Xue couldn't help but tap her knee with her lowered hand, wondering if the young Huo in front of her was faking it or genuinely timid.
"Look at you, why are you standing up when you're supposed to be speaking properly? Sit down quickly. Look at you, so respectful." As she spoke, Empress Xue suddenly coughed twice.
She has said everything she needed to say today, so this cough is naturally a signal to send the guest off.
Kong Qing quickly stepped forward to help Empress Xue up: "Your Majesty, please have breakfast first, as you will need to take your medicine later."
Seeing this, Huo Qinghe sat down but then stood up again: "This concubine is not going to disturb Your Majesty's meal..."
Empress Xue shook her head helplessly: "My health is such that I can't even talk to you much. Kong Qing, see Consort Huo out."
When Huo Qinghe was escorted out of Kunning Palace, Green Locust was carrying many gifts from Empress Xue. These were the Empress's rewards for a newcomer being summoned to the Emperor's bedchamber for the first time, but it seemed that the gifts were not the same.
Huo Qinghe seemed somewhat absent-minded after leaving Kunning Palace.
So Green Locust, carrying the things, had to repeat himself twice: "My lady? Shall we go back to Yanliang Pavilion first or to Xianfu Palace?"
Huo Qinghe subconsciously repeated "Xianfu Palace".
Green Locust, carrying her things, repeated, "Wife?"
Huo Qinghe finally came to her senses: "You take back the things that Her Majesty the Empress has bestowed upon you first, and I will go to Xianfu Palace by myself."
Green Locust was naturally a little uneasy after hearing this, and she was about to say a few more words of advice when Huo Qinghe suddenly changed her mind.
Originally, she thought that bringing the Empress's gifts to Xianfu Palace would prevent Huo Yiyun from thinking that she was showing off. However, the fact that she didn't bring the gifts made it seem like she had thought things through.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the Empress's reward, it was also a good opportunity to test Huo Yiyun's attitude.
Who knows if Empress Xue's words today weren't meant to sow discord?
However, Huo Yiyun had indeed served the Emperor for seven or eight years since he was a prince, but her belly showed no signs of pregnancy. Now that she was being summoned to the palace, it was said to be to compete for the Emperor's favor, but perhaps the real reason was to use her pregnancy to have a child?
Surrogacy...
In the early spring, Huo Qinghe felt a chill creep up from the top of her head to her whole body.
Regardless, she had already come to believe it to a great extent.
When Huo Qinghe returned to Xianfu Palace, her expression had returned to normal.
Cuiqiao had been waiting for Huo Qinghe at the entrance of Xianfu Palace for a long time. Upon seeing Huo Qinghe from afar, she came up to her and said, "Knowing that you would be busy paying your respects to Empress Xue, we asked the Imperial Kitchen to prepare something light and easy on the stomach. We've been waiting for you."
While she was greeting Huo Qinghe, she also glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. It seemed that she had gained something from Huo Qinghe after receiving the Emperor's favor, but Cuiqiao couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Huo Qinghe was welcomed into Xianfu Palace, where Huo Yiyun was having breakfast, though she didn't seem to be eating much.
Huo Qinghe greeted her, saying, "May Lady Yi be blessed with good fortune."
Huo Yiyun sat there upright. She had gotten up very early today. Although she didn't need to pay her respects or anything, she had taken great care in dressing up.
She looked down at Huo Qinghe, who was bowing not far away, and managed to force a smile.
Although she was smiling, it didn't look genuine, perhaps because her eyebrows were drawn too thin or her lips were too red.
This time, Huo Qinghe bowed for quite a while. She didn't dare to move, but her legs soon began to tremble slightly.
Huo Yiyun saw this, raised her chin, and changed the subject, saying, "Look, you're more fortunate than Consort Fu. Have you gone to see Her Majesty the Empress?"
That's asking a question you already know the answer to.
Huo Yiyun showed no intention of waking her, so Huo Qinghe tried her best to maintain her original posture: "Yes, Your Majesty gave me a few instructions."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yiyun frowned, but finally calmly called Huo Qinghe to stand up: "Look at me, I forgot you still need to bow. Come here quickly. Cuiqiao, bring a bowl of rock sugar bird's nest soup. I specially asked the imperial kitchen to make it to nourish you."
Huo Qinghe thanked her, but waited for Huo Yiyun to start eating before she began.
Huo Yiyun had no appetite at the moment: "Was everything alright last night?"
Huo Qinghe hadn't expected Huo Yiyun to actually ask that. Her eyes widened in genuine surprise and shock: "Sister..."
She then revealed just the right amount of shyness.
Huo Yiyun was currently staring at the bowl of rock sugar bird's nest in front of Huo Qinghe: "Have something to eat first. Is there anything we sisters can't talk about?"
Huo Qinghe ate two bites as instructed, her voice weaker: "Last night, last night the Emperor called me Little Huo, but didn't say anything else, though he didn't stay long..."
"How many times did you call for water?" Huo Yiyun pressed.
She asked very detailed questions, but her expression was anything but pleasant; it was as if she were disgusted or something else entirely.
Huo Qinghe had to pretend she didn't see it.
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