Green Cloud's attempt to flatter backfired spectacularly. She quickly realized her wife's background and immediately felt annoyed and embarrassed, trying to salvage the situation: "I wonder what Madam Zhou is up to today, calling you over for no reason..."
But they didn't say anything in the end.
Neither Granny Wang nor Green Locust spoke. They had been standing far away and naturally couldn't hear what their masters were saying. But neither of them were stupid, so they didn't ask. Now that Green Cloud had brought it up, they didn't bother to chime in.
Huo Qinghe glanced at Lüyun and said, "Why are you making wild guesses about Madam Zhou's thoughts? Alright, I'm a little tired, you may all leave."
On the surface, she was saying not to make wild guesses about Madam Zhou's thoughts, but in reality, she was also saying that her thoughts were not to be guessed.
Granny Wang left immediately without delay. Green Locust also had her errands to run, so the two of them bowed and withdrew.
The two servants waiting outside saw that Green Cloud's expression was off when he came out. They exchanged a glance but still obediently waited outside for their master's instructions.
Now that their wives have been summoned to their bedchamber, it's a good start, and they are naturally delighted. They only hope that things will get better and better in the future, and they are all saving their energy to serve them.
But to be honest, Huo Qinghe wasn't the first of the nine new beauties to be summoned. There were Consort Xie and Consort Meng ahead of her, and even those of lower rank were summoned before her. She was summoned at a moderate pace.
If you look closely, there are still four newcomers who have not yet been summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, including Consort Fu.
This was quite a strange thing. Huo Qinghe didn't know the inside story, but seeing that Consort Zhou and Noble Lady Fu had some similarities made her wary.
However, it seems that these two are not the only arrogant and domineering people in the palace.
Huo Qinghe let out a deep breath; the Emperor's thoughts were truly unfathomable.
However, she was summoned by the emperor yesterday, so it is unlikely that it will be her turn today. In the past half month, the emperor has not summoned any of his concubines in succession. According to Green Locust and the others, it seems that this has never happened before.
Right now, she's waiting to see if Green Locust can find a contraceptive that won't harm her body, and for Granny Wang to bring the pipa.
However, instead of receiving those two items, she was greeted by the imperial physician.
The imperial physician arrived after Huo Qinghe's dinner, and didn't attract much attention during the night. Even Zhou Niangzi in the main hall didn't notice him at all.
Huo Qinghe initially thought it was her elder sister Huo Yiyun who had anxiously summoned the imperial physician, but unexpectedly, after Lü Huai welcomed the physician in, she realized that it was the Emperor who had summoned him.
The imperial physician's surname was Xia, and he was said to be a gynecological expert in the Imperial Medical Academy, specializing in women's internal diseases.
Huo Qinghe remained calm as she allowed Imperial Physician Xia to take her pulse while she rested on a small pillow. She did not speak during the pulse-taking process.
Physician Xia looked to be a qualified physician, with a long white beard. After taking the pulse, he bowed tremblingly.
"Madam Huo is in good health, but seems to be a little weak. I imagine her hands and feet are often cold in winter and she sweats a lot in summer, but these are just minor ailments. I will prescribe a few doses of medicine to help her recover."
Huo Qinghe withdrew her hand and asked casually, "It's kind of you, Physician Xia, to come all this way. Am I really alright? Your visit is quite unsettling, and I'm afraid you'll have to put in a lot of effort."
Physician Xia quickly bowed and said, "Madam Huo, you flatter me. It is His Majesty who is concerned about your health and that is why he sent me here. You are fine, so please do not worry too much, or you may fall ill."
Physician Xia's words were tantamount to saying nothing, and Huo Qinghe did not press for details. She simply said, "Thank you for your trouble, Physician Xia," and then had Green Locust escort Physician Xia down to write the prescription.
Last night she didn't seem to show any signs of discomfort in front of the Emperor, so why did the Emperor send the imperial physician for her?
Huo Qinghe was puzzled again.
Physician Xia prescribed the medicine and left quickly. Huo Qinghe was able to decoct the medicine, but after taking a bath in the clean room, she frowned when she saw the bowl of medicine that Lvhuai brought in.
She asked about something else first: "Whom did the Emperor favor today?"
Green Locust steadily placed the dark bowl of medicine down, then shook her head: "My lady, His Majesty is staying at Funing Palace tonight."
In other words, no one was summoned to his bedchamber.
It wasn't particularly surprising; in the past two weeks, the Emperor had only summoned a few new concubines, and had mostly been staying in the Funing Palace.
Huo Qinghe didn't really want to drink, and she didn't touch it for a while.
Seeing this, Lvhuai went out and brought in some pastries, which were part of Huo Qinghe's daily allowance; today it was pea flour cake.
"My lady, when I brought Physician Xia back, I seemed to see Yu Zhi, who was by Lady Zhou's side in the main hall, leaving Yanxi Palace..." Green Locust whispered again.
Yu Zhi was one of Consort Zhou's top maids and was considered one of Consort Zhou's confidantes.
This girl is quite adept at finding out these things.
Huo Qinghe glanced sideways: "What's so strange about that?"
Green Locust continued, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but Yuzhi also went out last night. I came early this morning and overheard the ladies outside the West Warm Pavilion talking about it. Apparently, Madam Zhou wasn't feeling well last night and wanted to see His Majesty. However, she was stopped by Jinyang, who is by His Majesty's side."
Huo Qinghe was completely unaware of this. She had been on tenterhooks in the West Warm Pavilion all night, so she was even less aware of what was happening outside.
However, judging from this, it doesn't seem like Consort Zhou wanted to steal her thunder, but rather that Consort Zhou, who was under house arrest, genuinely wanted to see the Emperor.
Huo Qinghe had never seen how Consort Zhou was when she was favored by the emperor, but seeing Consort Zhou in this state of confinement was enough of a lesson for her.
Since the emperor did not summon any of them, Huo Qinghe endured the bitterness and drank the medicine before settling down to rest.
...
Meanwhile, the Funing Palace remained brightly lit.
A glass lamp was placed in front of Pei Yuanhui, but it was mostly obscured by the stacks of paperwork. He himself was completely unaware of it, while Jin Yang beside him was grinding ink with his head down.
“As soon as spring arrives, the north becomes restless and uneasy. Tomorrow, issue an imperial edict ordering the Deputy Privy Councilor Chi Yuping to mobilize troops, and appoint General Yulin as his deputy. Let’s give the north a good beating.” Pei Yuanhui suddenly dropped the vermilion brush in his hand.
The crimson ink from the vermilion brush was suddenly smeared onto someone's folded document.
After Jin Yang noted it down, he glanced at it cautiously and seemed to see the character "伏" (fu, meaning to lie low). He then lowered his head even further.
"When will the Empress Dowager return to the palace?" Pei Yuanhui seemed to have thought of something, and threw the vermilion brush even further away.
Jin Yang hurriedly retrieved it, not daring to delay: "This morning, the Empress Dowager sent someone to say that the Buddhist worship will be completed before the Dragon Boat Festival. The Empress Dowager also said that there is no need to be too high-profile, and that Lady Zhou can be sent to greet them at that time."
After he said that, the official snorted coldly the next second.
"Consort Zhou is unwell. The Empress Dowager is my mother, and I should personally welcome her back to the palace."
Pei Yuanhui raised his hand and threw the vermilion brush that he had just picked up in Jinyang back out.
Jinyang: ?
Alright, stop standing there. Even if the official throws it a hundred times, he'll still have to pick it up.
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