When Huo Qinghe came out of Funing Palace, Lvhuai was already waiting outside. Miao Xi had originally told her to sit and wait in the side room, but now that the Emperor had seen Huo Qinghe's favor, he was a little more polite to Lvhuai.
However, Green Locust did not dare to be presumptuous. After all, they were in front of the emperor, and their words and actions represented their mistress's dignity. Naturally, they could not lose face for their mistress.
So she waited under the eaves. As soon as Huo Qinghe came out, Lvhuai rushed up to her and helped her up.
Miao Xi had already received instructions from his master, and he quickly smiled and said, "The sedan chair is ready. This servant will escort you."
Huo Qinghe nodded slightly in thanks.
Miao Xi naturally said he dared not.
As they were walking out, they spotted a bright and beautiful figure in the distance, walking slowly towards the direction of Funing Palace.
Green Locust quickly stepped forward to block their wives, and Miao Xi quickened his pace, secretly cursing his bad luck.
Why is this person here so early today?
"Madam Zhou, His Majesty has just finished court. I'm afraid he won't have time to see you," Miao Xi said with a smile.
As Consort Zhou approached, Huo Qinghe and her maid, Lü Huai, naturally recognized her. They neither dodged nor flinched, but instead bowed respectfully to Consort Zhou.
When Zhou Hengping saw Huo Qinghe, she frowned slightly in confusion.
The news that the Emperor abandoned Xiao Huo last night to go see that vile Consort Cao has already spread far and wide, but why is Xiao Huo still in Funing Palace at this time?
Was it the emperor who made her stay?
As soon as such a thought entered her mind, Consort Zhou couldn't help but feel acid reflux.
But right now, things like Xiao Huo don't matter; what matters is the Zhou family's reputation.
Zhou Hengping rarely nodded to Huo Qinghe, but it was only a slight nod with the tip of her chin; she still maintained her airs.
She didn't smile; her lips were pressed into a harsh, straight line.
"Since Your Majesty has just finished court, you need someone to serve you breakfast. I came from Cining Palace and I also have something to say to Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Huo Qinghe couldn't help but twitch her lips.
She said to Miao Xi, "Father-in-law, please keep Lady Zhou company for now. I'll take my leave. This concubine will take her leave."
After she finished speaking, she gave a slight curtsy to Consort Zhou.
Consort Zhou watched her walk away out of the corner of her eye, but in the end, she couldn't help but close her eyes again.
Things are really different now.
Miao Xi then continued, "Madam Zhou, His Majesty has already had breakfast. You said you had something to say to His Majesty, so this servant will go in and deliver the message. Please wait a moment."
In the past, when Consort Zhou came to Funing Palace, there was no need for such announcements, but now it has become like this...
Consort Zhou couldn't bring herself to smile, but her aunt's instructions were right in front of her, so she forced a smile and said, "Alright, go and announce it. I'll wait here."
...
Huo Qinghe took a sedan chair back. The ride wasn't too bumpy, but Huo Qinghe still felt a little drowsy.
She rarely stopped thinking about Consort Zhou and the Zhou family. The Zhou family was already at its last gasp and should have withdrawn long ago. In the end, the Zhou family brought this situation upon themselves.
The Zhou family is finished; only Empress Dowager Zhou and Consort Zhou remain, but it all depends on whether the Emperor will consider their remaining affection.
This is a good thing for Huo Qinghe, since Consort Zhou is her superior. If Consort Zhou has a hard time, then Huo Qinghe's life will be easier.
This also shows that in the imperial harem, having a prestigious family background is not necessarily a good thing.
Once you enter the palace, you should have long forgotten about your family background and put your clan aside.
Huo Qinghe disregarded shame; she wanted to live.
When Huo Qinghe arrived at Yanxi Palace, she still felt a little dizzy as she got out of the sedan chair.
I slept quite well last night, probably because I had dinner and talked with the officials this morning.
Upon returning to Yanliang Pavilion, Huo Qinghe overheard something about Consort Xie sending Dong'e donkey-hide gelatin. She instructed Luyi to register it and store it in the warehouse, and then went inside to sleep.
Huo Qinghe slept soundly. It was only because Green Locust and the others noticed that it was getting late that they went inside to wake her up.
It was already past noon, and He Yunzhong had already taken lunch from the imperial kitchen and reheated it once.
Huo Qinghe got up groggily for lunch, and only after lunch did she ask, "Has Consort Zhou returned yet?"
These days, the biggest topic of conversation in the palace is Consort Zhou.
Greenheart and the others were packing up their things when Green Cloud heard this and shook her head: "Not yet, there's not a sound from ahead. We haven't dared to go out and inquire yet."
Things that happen in front of the emperor are naturally not so easy to inquire about.
Huo Qinghe understood: "No need to ask. You all go and rest. I'm very sleepy, I'm going to take another nap."
Green Cloud replied, "Please rest well, my lady."
She didn't think that her wife slept too much; her wife was already suffering from serving the officials.
She helped Huo Qinghe to sleep, but when she was about to leave, she was stopped by Granny Wang.
"Is my wife sleeping peacefully?" she asked.
Green Cloud nodded: "Yes, my wife looks a little tired too."
Granny Wang found it rather strange, since her mistress was always diligent in reading and playing the pipa, and she seemed to be sleeping more these past two days.
As a senior member of the palace, she couldn't help but wonder if anyone was jealous of the favor shown to the ladies and might try to sabotage things.
She then added a few more words of advice: "Take good care of your wife's health. It's about time for her to have her pulse checked."
Green Cloud nodded: "I've calculated the days, and it's about time. I'll go to the Imperial Hospital to invite him myself tomorrow."
Only then did Granny Wang feel a little relieved.
Huo Qinghe has indeed been sleeping quite a bit these past two days, and she's also been having dinner late.
I only heard that Consort Zhou returned late, and she fell asleep again after reading only two pages of her book at night.
The next day, when Lüyun invited the imperial physician, she got up. After taking her pulse, Physician Xia said there was nothing wrong, just that she was a little sleepy because of the cool weather. He also said that Huo Qinghe had recovered well after falling into the water last time and was now in good health, so there was nothing seriously wrong.
However, some appetite-stimulating medicine was still prescribed for Huo Qinghe, as her appetite had indeed been poor these past two days.
After He Yunzhong saw the imperial physician off, Huo Qinghe suddenly felt a craving for spicy food, as she felt her mouth was rather tasteless.
"Go ask the imperial kitchen if they have hot and sour soup, or eight-treasure chili sauce. Anything else will do, I'm craving those things right now anyway."
She ordered dishes that had appeared on her table before, so the imperial kitchen could naturally prepare them.
Huo Qinghe ate her fill at lunch, but she felt sleepy afterward, so she went back to her room to sleep soon after.
The medicine prescribed by the imperial physician was indeed effective; Huo Qinghe's appetite for lunch today was much better, but she was still prone to sleepiness.
She was lazy for two days, and watched Zhou Pin make a fool of herself for two days.
It must be said that Consort Zhou is quite resourceful; she went to the Funing Palace to request an audience with His Majesty for two consecutive days. The Emperor did not see her on the first day, but finally met with Consort Zhou on the evening of the second day. It is unknown what the Emperor said to Consort Zhou.
Or perhaps Consort Zhou said something to the Emperor, and Consort Zhou fell ill after returning to Yanxi Palace.
The Empress Dowager sent someone over, and that was the end of the story.
Everyone understood the situation; it was just a matter of seeing how the Emperor would deal with the Zhou family.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com