Huo Qinghe raised her hand to cover her lips, as if to suppress a cough: "Yes, thank you for your concern, Madam Cao. My cold is almost completely gone."
She was naturally fair-skinned, and although she was feeling better now, she still looked sickly. This made Consort Cao less inclined to talk to her, wondering if Xiao Huo's cold had gotten better or if he might have passed it on to her.
Huo Qinghe quickly took her seat. Consort Xie, who was in front of her, cast a concerned glance at her, which she returned with a smile.
When Huo Qinghe looked up again, she noticed that Consort Fu was staring at her. Consort Fu's gaze was strange, making her feel uneasy.
Huo Qinghe wasn't sure if Consort Fu was still conscious after falling into the water in the Chuigong Hall that day, but now the palace was saying that she fell into the water to save Consort Fu. In the end, she got a good reputation even though she had fallen into the water.
It must be that Consort Fu was unhappy.
Huo Qinghe didn't feel too much guilt. After being pushed into the water that day, she didn't know who was in the water. If she had saved herself on her own, it would have been easy. However, she chose to pull Fu Shi along with her.
Her original intention was to save people, but she had no idea what Fu was thinking.
After all, there have been quite a few rumors circulating in the palace lately.
Huo Qinghe lowered her head and drifted off into thought. A moment later, Empress Xue, sitting at the head of the table, was helped out from behind the screen.
Everyone rose to pay their respects, but Empress Xue weakly said, "No need for formalities."
"Is Consort Zhou's face fully healed? Thankfully, there are no scars left, otherwise it would be heartbreaking." Empress Xue asked Consort Zhou first.
As soon as Empress Xue spoke these words of concern, everyone's gaze turned to Consort Zhou, instinctively landing on her face.
Today, Consort Zhou is finally not showing her face in public. Consort Zhou and Empress Dowager Zhou have somewhat similar eyebrows and eyes, with a natural sharpness in them. She has a thin face with peach-colored makeup, and her lips always have a hint of mockery, but she is still a beautiful woman.
Consort Zhou loved beauty, and Empress Xue's words sounded extremely grating to her ears. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. With the medicine sent by His Majesty and Your Highness, and with the Empress Dowager here, my face will naturally recover completely."
She didn't even try to stand up.
Empress Xue didn't seem to care. She slightly turned her waist and looked down at Consort Ming.
"Now that you and Consort Cao are both pregnant, everything is of utmost importance. It's a pity that my body is not able to handle it... Are you both doing well?" Empress Xue asked in a gentle voice, displaying the dignified demeanor of an empress.
Consort Ming and Consort Cao stood up together to thank Empress Xue.
Consort Youchi attends to every detail, and since the two have been pregnant, there have been no mishaps.
Consort Chi, sitting below, suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She had painstakingly arranged everything, but in the end, all the good reputation went to the Empress. It was always the same. Xue Shi was getting the Empress position too easily.
Consort Chi was too lazy to utter a single word.
After greeting Consort Ming and Consort Cao, Empress Xue quickly inquired about Lady Fu and Huo Qinghe.
"I have already heard about the Dragon Boat Festival, but unfortunately my health is not cooperating. I heard that Consort Fu and Consort Huo are almost fully recovered? I see that Consort Fu's complexion is still not very good. Consort Chi, you are the head of Chengqian Palace, you should pay more attention. It is not only His Majesty who feels sorry for the delicate beauty, but I also feel sad to see her ill."
Consort Chi stood up perfunctorily: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will take good care of Consort Fu."
Empress Xue looked at Consort Fu: "Consort Fu? You seem quite absent-minded. If you're not fully recovered, there's really no need for you to come and pay your respects. If you're not fully recovered, you'll be the one who suffers."
Consort Fu stared blankly at her like a wooden statue for a few seconds before standing up: "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your concern, but my health is much better now. I dare not delay in paying my respects to Your Majesty."
Consort Chi couldn't help but glance sideways upon hearing Consort Fu's voice.
Today, Madam Fu was extremely respectful from beginning to end, almost unlike Madam Fu.
If Consort Chi hadn't been so skeptical of ghosts and spirits, she would have suspected that Consort Fu had been possessed.
Empress Xue didn't react much: "It's kind of you to know your manners and etiquette. Please sit down. Not only Consort Fu, but all the other sisters should do the same. Don't hide anything from me. His Majesty and I will take care of you. Of course, you must not break the rules."
Everyone stood up: "We understand, and will keep it in mind."
All the beauties in the hall stood up in unison. Xue Yinjia smiled faintly and gestured for them to sit down.
Because Empress Xue was unwell, the greeting did not last long. Huo Qinghe was stopped by Huo Yiyun when she came out.
Green Locust glanced back first, then quickly looked away and helped Huo Qinghe up.
Huo Qinghe followed behind Huo Yiyun. Although it was Huo Yiyun who called out to Huo Qinghe, Huo Yiyun did not seem to want to say anything after leaving Kunning Palace.
"Why do you look so pale? Didn't Physician Xia say you've recovered almost completely?" Although she spoke with concern, Huo Yiyun's tone was extremely harsh, and her gaze on Huo Qinghe's face was scrutinizing.
Huo Qinghe covered her mouth again: "When Physician Xia came to take my pulse yesterday, he said that I was still a little chilled after falling into the water. Don't worry, sister, I'm all better now and there's nothing serious."
The more Huo Qinghe said this, the more worried Huo Yiyun became.
She stared at Huo Qinghe's face, then slowly moved her gaze to Huo Qinghe's slender waist, her delicate brows furrowing deeply: "Have you eaten all the tonics that Cuiqiao sent me these past few days?"
Huo Qinghe nodded naturally like a chick pecking at rice: "Yes, yes, I have accepted your kindness every day. The spring clothes that the Imperial Household Department sent a few days ago are already a bit too small."
That's half true and half false.
Right now, on the palace road outside Kunning Palace, Huo Yiyun's ceremonial staff was right beside them, so the two of them couldn't keep talking for long.
Didn't you see the mocking smile that Consort Zhou gave her when she left?
Huo Yiyun pressed her temples: "Your green plaque has already been hung up in the Imperial Household Department? Alright, you can go back now. Don't cause me any more trouble. I haven't settled things with the Fu family yet."
Today is the fifteenth, and His Majesty is either staying at the Funing Palace or the Empress's Kunning Palace. Huo Yiyun is too lazy to ask Huo Qinghe to come to Xianfu Palace to talk to him again.
She wasn't Empress Dowager Zhou, who could so blatantly show favoritism towards Consort Zhou.
Furthermore, Huo Yiyun genuinely disliked seeing Huo Qinghe. She couldn't say she liked this half-sister, so she naturally avoided her whenever possible.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Huo Qinghe timidly took a step back, and finally obediently replied, "Yes."
Huo Yiyun quickly took Cuiqiao's hand and got onto the caizhang.
Huo Qinghe stood there for a while before turning around.
"My lady, just now I saw that Consort Fu seemed to have stayed behind." Green Locust helped Huo Qinghe walk back.
Huo Qinghe noticed it out of the corner of her eye, but it had nothing to do with her.
Her voice still had a slight nasal tone: "Go back. Nothing to do today, go back and rest."
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