After all, Consort Chi doesn't need to be a certain number of months pregnant to see her family; it's just a matter of the Emperor's word.
The Empress's words not only aroused the jealousy and hatred of Consort Chi, but also subtly suppressed Consort Cao's arrogance.
With just a few words, one can't help but admire her; this is truly the Empress.
Consort Chi was not present at the moment, but Consort Cao was still afraid of her. She wasn't stupid, so she didn't dare to speak ill of Consort Chi behind her back.
What's more, this is happening when everyone is here.
Consort Cao was indeed arrogant, but she also knew that she was relying on the child in her womb, so she naturally dared not challenge Consort Chi.
After Empress Xue finished speaking, Consort Cao's mouth seemed to be sealed shut, and she showed no intention of saying anything at all.
Empress Xue naturally didn't intend to hold a grudge.
"Alright. When you are pregnant, you will naturally have time to see your families. Your Majesty and I both hope that the harem will have many children. With more children, our palace will be more lively in the future."
Consort Zhuang was the first to speak, as usual: "Your Majesty the Empress is right. Now that Princess Fuqing has been born, the palace is much more lively. It will be even more lively during the New Year when Consort Cao's child is born."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yinjia nodded slightly: "However, apart from Consort Cao, you don't need to worry. You are all blessed people, and it's only a matter of time before you get pregnant."
Everyone stood up again to thank them.
After the Empress's reprimand, Consort Cao became much more obedient, and the luncheon was more relaxed today.
Huo Qinghe drank two fewer cups of wine than she had on the Empress Dowager's birthday last time.
After several rounds of drinks, the imperial kitchen staff brought in mooncakes at the appointed time.
Consort Cao had been holding back for so long, but in the end she couldn't help but speak up.
"The sky is clear right now, so it's not as fitting as eating mooncakes at night."
Before she could finish speaking, Empress Xue, sitting at the head of the table, glanced at her casually.
"Alright. Since Consort Cao doesn't feel like eating right now, then you should eat more at the banquet tonight, so that His Majesty can see your good appetite."
This was naturally another instance of the ever-kind-hearted Consort Zhuang stepping in to smooth things over and say polite words.
However, she has always been more protective of the Empress, so her words naturally leaned more towards the Empress.
After the luncheon at Chuigong Hall ended, Huo Qinghe returned to Yanxi Palace with Lvhuai by her side.
At this time of year, Huo Qinghe would have been at home waiting for her younger brother to return from the Imperial Academy. She would secretly exchange her embroidery for mooncakes, keep them warm in her bosom, and wait for her brother to come back. Then she would listen to him recite poems about appreciating the moon and eat mooncakes together.
But not this year.
Huo Qinghe let out a long sigh. The maids assumed she was homesick and tried to cheer her up.
Huo Qinghe still gave him face and smiled. When the banquet started, Huo Qinghe changed into a lotus root pink summer dress with intertwined acacia leaves. This color would not be too eye-catching at the banquet, but it was also very suitable for the festive mood.
With officials present, the evening banquet was indeed more lively than the lunch banquet.
Consort Cao spoke even more at this time. The Empress Dowager preferred quiet at night and did not show up, but considering that Consort Zhou was young, she still sent Consort Zhou to join everyone in the fun.
Consort Zhou wasn't afraid of Consort Cao at all, which made the night even more lively.
After listening for a while, Huo Qinghe quietly left from the side hall under the pretext of changing her clothes.
As she got up, Consort Meng whispered some words of advice, still worried.
"It's getting darker at night. Last time you fell into the water behind the Chuigong Hall. This time, those around you should be more careful."
Huo Qinghe smiled gratefully before getting up and leaving.
She changed her clothes and walked to the place where she had met Lu Xiaoyi last time. She lingered for a while. The corridor was lit by palace lanterns, and today she had Green Locust and Green Cloud with her, so she wasn't afraid of anything happening.
Huo Qinghe descended the steps and suddenly heard the sound of pebbles hitting the ground.
One sound, then two sounds.
Huo Qinghe's brow furrowed slightly. She raised her hand and said, "You all stay here and guard the place. I'm going to check on the flowers."
The two maids couldn't help but shake their heads: "Madam... this is not appropriate. What if something happens..."
Huo Qinghe waved her hand and looked at the two of them seriously: "Alright. It's a dead end ahead, what could possibly happen? You two just wait here."
Her gaze stunned everyone, and the two maids immediately froze.
Huo Qinghe then got up and walked deeper into the path.
She had only taken two steps when someone gently grabbed her wrist.
Before even seeing him, Huo Qinghe relaxed: "Why are you here? Did you come to the palace with Father? You should have left by now. Hurry up and get out of the palace. Let your sister see if you've lost weight?"
The sound of the pebbles was a signal that Huo Qinghe and her younger brother Huo Jinghe only recognized.
She lowered her voice, held Huo Jinghe's hand, and her eyes were full of genuine concern, without a trace of pretense.
This is what she has when she takes off her disguise.
“Sister. No, I came in with the Imperial Priest. I followed him into the palace disguised as a servant. The Imperial Priest is old, and the Emperor graciously allowed the imperial physician to take my pulse, so I secretly slipped out. I know the banquet in the inner palace is in the Chui Gong Hall, and I missed you, sister. I secretly left two mooncakes at noon, but they're a bit cold now.”
Huo Qinghe glanced at Huo Jinghe's expression by the moonlight: "Okay, let's eat together."
Her voice inevitably carried a sob.
Huo Jinghe immediately panicked.
"It's not appropriate to talk here. I'm fine. Let me take a good look at you. Are you alright while I'm gone?" Huo Qinghe accepted the mooncake that Jinghe hurriedly handed her.
It had cooled down by then and had become somewhat hard.
She opened her mouth and took a bite: "Delicious, everything Jinghe brought is delicious."
Huo Qinghe ate half of her food and then squeezed Huo Jinghe's arm.
Originally, I just wanted to see if my younger brother was strong enough, but I never expected it would elicit a painful scream from him.
"What's wrong? What happened to your hand?" Huo Qinghe reached out and rolled up Jinghe's sleeve.
By the moonlight, they could indeed see the burns on Huo Jinghe's arm.
"Who did this? You're someone who can read and write." Huo Qinghe didn't even dare to touch it. Looking at the old and new wounds, her hands trembled slightly.
Huo Jing and Na Na, he was handsome, and now he was even more anxious, his face turning red.
"Sister, it's nothing. I just accidentally got scalded by hot water at the Imperial Academy. Sister, it's alright..."
Under Huo Qinghe's watchful gaze, Huo Jinghe finally told the truth.
"Yes, Jingzhi asked me to hold the hot tea..."
Huo Qinghe let go of her hand, her nails, which she had carefully nurtured since entering the palace, digging into her flesh.
Huo Jingzhi is Huo Yiyun's younger brother.
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