Because Jin Yang had to serve the Emperor and couldn't leave, the task of going to Yanxi Palace to invite Consort Zhou was given to Miao Xi.
Consort Zhou was only somewhat polite to Jin Yang or Jin Yang's apprentice.
It would probably be of little use to send other people.
When Miao Xi arrived at Yanxi Palace, Huo Qinghe had already been kneeling on the prayer mat in the corridor for more than a quarter of an hour. She was also calculating the time in her mind and was preparing to pretend to faint.
Huo Qinghe wasn't stupid; she wasn't afraid of losing face at all, but she couldn't let herself suffer.
Back in the Huo family, Huo Qinghe was often tortured and forced to kneel by her stepmother. She knew exactly when to collapse and in what position to fall. In this respect, Huo Qinghe was definitely experienced.
Before Huo Qinghe could fall, she received a signal from Wang Mama beside her.
She stopped abruptly, though the chanting paused slightly for two seconds.
After a few breaths, the sounds of palace servants curtsying and Wang Mama's voice could be heard: "Eunuch Miao Xi."
Is it Miao Xi, who serves the emperor?
Huo Qinghe did not expect that the Emperor knew about it and came to ask Miao Xi to support her. She did not think she had that much influence, but if Miao Xi could see Consort Zhou tormenting people, it meant that Miao Xi's master, Jin Yang, would also know, and then the Emperor might also find out.
Miao Xixian bowed respectfully to Huo Qinghe. He had been warned by his master before coming here. He cleared his throat and asked, "Why is Madam Huo kneeling here?"
He only asked this one question, as if he were asking the little eunuch who was leading the way. Before the little eunuch could rack his brains for an answer, Miao Xi did not ask any further questions and went straight to the inner hall.
Consort Zhou, who was playing cat's cradle with Yuzhi in the inner palace, heard the commotion and called Yuzhi out to see what was happening.
It wasn't until Miao Xi was led into the inner hall by Yu Zhi that Zhou Hengping belatedly realized that Xiao Huo was still kneeling outside.
Consort Zhou frowned slightly, not entirely pleased, but still maintained a polite demeanor towards Miao Xi: "Why have you come, Eunuch? Has His Majesty given any instructions? How is His Majesty's health?"
As she spoke, she thought of the Emperor's anger in the Funing Palace earlier, and her expression immediately stiffened.
The fact that the official has named Miao Xilai at this moment doesn't seem like a good thing at all.
Miao Xi shook his head sheepishly: "This servant does not know His Majesty's meaning. It is just that His Majesty asked this servant to invite the lady to the Funing Palace, so His Majesty must want to see the lady and has something to say to her."
Even looking at him like that, Consort Zhou still felt uneasy. She tugged at the flower rope in her hand, then tossed it aside.
"Since His Majesty has invited us, let's go."
She stood up gracefully, and Yuzhi quickly stepped forward to help her up, giving her a questioning look.
Consort Zhou glanced at her, her expression unspoken.
Yu Zhi helped Consort Zhou out of the main hall. As they walked out, Yu Zhi withdrew her hand and stopped. Immediately afterward, another Yu Lan stepped forward.
She first bowed to Huo Qinghe: "Madam Huo, His Majesty summoned our lady, but he could not hear your chanting. You should go back and rest."
Huo Qinghe watched Consort Zhou leave. She first handed the scriptures in her hand to Granny Wang, and then stood up: "In that case, I will go back first."
Granny Wang handed the scriptures to Yuzhi with a light touch: "Miss, go and serve Madam Zhou."
The maids in Yanliang Pavilion already knew how Consort Zhou tormented people, and had already ordered hot water and medicinal wine to be prepared.
However, the maids didn't expect Huo Qinghe to return so early. Luyi couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Has Consort Zhou changed her ways?"
Upon learning from Granny Wang that the Emperor had sent someone to summon Consort Zhou, Lüyi couldn't help but say maliciously, "Consort Zhou is always tormenting people, yet she's still so subservient to the Emperor. I really hope the Emperor can see through Consort Zhou's true colors and teach her a lesson..."
Green Locust silently massaged her wife's knees. In just a quarter of an hour, they had already turned somewhat bruised. Her wife was fair-skinned, and the sight of them was heartbreaking.
“Tomorrow, my lady has to go to the Funing Palace to attend to her illness. How can she go like this…” It was Luyi who spoke. She couldn’t get a word in edgewise, so she spoke up in a rare, sullen tone.
Upon hearing this, Huo Qinghe glanced at her again: "Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
I just don't know why the Emperor would want to see Consort Zhou today.
At noon, Consort Zhou clearly angered the Emperor, so... nothing good is expected of her.
Perhaps Green Locust's words will come true.
However, her conversation with the Emperor in the Funing Palace today served as a reminder to Huo Qinghe. She straightened her expression and said, "I can't keep the dress I wore last night. I'm afraid that Consort Zhou might have accidentally discovered something, and perhaps others have also noticed. None of you should serve me for the next two days. Let Granny Wang serve me first. We'll talk about it in a couple of days."
The maids all knew about their mistress's visit to the Funing Palace last night, and they nodded hurriedly upon hearing this.
This is indeed a very important matter.
...
When Consort Zhou arrived at Funing Palace, she did not see the Emperor at all. She only heard that the Emperor had summoned several senior ministers to speak with him, so he was not free to see her.
Consort Xie and Consort Fu were tending to the medicine in the side hall, while Consort Zhou was sent to peel lotus seeds.
"The imperial physician said that it would be best for His Majesty to eat some lotus seed soup to clear away the heat. His Majesty knows that His Majesty has been taking good care of His Majesty these past two days, but other things can be done by others, and it is not good to make His Majesty work too hard. I don't know if peeling these lotus seeds will make His Majesty work hard. But these lotus seeds that His Majesty peeled by his own hands can show His Majesty's sincerity."
Whether it was Zhou Hengping's imagination or not, she felt that Miao Xi's tone and words were very familiar.
The words "sincerely caring for the sick" and "sincere and earnest" were thrown at Zhou Hengping, making it difficult for her to utter a single word of refusal.
Consort Zhou forced a smile, unable to express her bitterness: "I would be more than willing to do anything for Your Majesty."
Compared to peeling lotus seeds, chanting scriptures is much easier.
Moreover, what was left for Consort Zhou was an extremely low embroidered stool, so she could only lean forward to peel lotus seeds. Her height was not particularly short to begin with, and after sitting for a while, her knees and calves became a little sore and uncomfortable.
Consort Xie and Consort Fu, who were in the side hall, naturally heard about it very quickly, and Consort Fu rarely spoke up.
"It's rare for Madam Zhou to do these things. I think she does them better than we do."
Consort Xie glanced at Madam Fu again, clearly sensing the malice in Madam Fu's tone, and turned her gaze slightly to the side.
"Madam Zhou has quite the perseverance."
She just got her clothes dirty and came out, and now she's back again.
Consort Xie and Consort Fu were unaware that the Emperor had sent someone to invite Consort Zhou; they assumed that Consort Zhou had come of her own accord.
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