"At that time, Consort Yi was still under house arrest." Huo Qinghe did not use a question.
Huo Yiyun's three-month confinement was neither long nor short.
Green Locust said, "It's really unfair to my wife."
Seeing the group of girls serving her, Huo Qinghe chuckled and raised her hand, "You're all standing here, it must be getting a bit stuffy. Those of you on duty today can stay, the rest of you can go do your own thing."
She knew that her move was not very clever. Not only would feigning illness make the emperor think she was timid and incapable of handling things, but it would also inevitably lead to the entire harem looking down on her.
But there will always be an opportunity to explain to the authorities.
The consorts in the harem didn't really care about their disdain; the important thing was to make her good elder sister lower her guard.
The two maids and Granny Wang all left, leaving only Green Cloud and Green Willow on duty that day.
"Bring me the books from my shelf. I've neglected them these past few days," Huo Qinghe said, gesturing vaguely.
"Go and find some needles and thread, and go to the Imperial Hospital to get some calming herbs; I need them."
Huo Qinghe was sick for two days, but she is feeling better now, and it's time to get back to work on the things that were delayed.
The two maids responded and left.
Huo Qinghe took medicine for another three days, and by the fourth day of the sixth lunar month, her cold was finally fully cured.
There were not many changes in the inner palace over the past three days, presumably because the emperor was busy with the war in the north. Since he had summoned Consort Fu, he had not entered the inner palace again.
Since no one summoned her, it was impossible to tell whether the ailing Huo Qinghe had been rejected by the emperor.
Therefore, Huo Qinghe's living expenses and clothing remained the same as before.
Indeed, how much can change in three days?
Huo Qinghe was indeed ill, but the palace women knew about the Emperor's earlier gifts to her.
The people from the Imperial Household Department wouldn't dare to be too disrespectful, at least for the time being.
Having just recovered from a serious illness, Huo Qinghe has finished what she had been working on these past few days.
"My lady has such skillful hands. This is the first time I've ever seen such an exquisite sachet in all my years of service in the palace." Green Cloud was always the sweetest of girls.
Huo Qinghe rarely embroidered anything after entering the palace, but her embroidery skills were excellent.
Back when she was in the mansion, she often took her embroidery out to exchange for silver; otherwise, relying on the mistress's whims, she and her younger brother would have had a hard time surviving.
Green Locust nudged Green Cloud's arm, clearly thinking of her mistress's background: "Your embroidery is excellent, His Majesty will surely like it. The weather is fine today, why don't you go for a walk? Letting the sun shine on you will help dispel your illness."
Huo Qinghe ignored the intricacies of the conversation: "I heard that His Majesty often accompanies the eldest princess to fly kites in the Imperial Garden?"
Unexpectedly, his wife would be so direct. After a moment of surprise, Green Locust nodded quickly.
"The eldest princess is at an age where she loves to play, and His Majesty and the Empress dote on her. These past two days, His Majesty has been accompanying the eldest princess to fly kites in the Imperial Garden after noon."
This is why the maids were urging their mistresses to go to the Imperial Garden.
Huo Qinghe smiled and said, "Since you all know this news, there must have been quite a few concubines who went to the Imperial Garden these past two days, right?"
Green Cloud pursed her lips: "That's right. Lady Zhou went there quite frequently before. But I heard that His Majesty doesn't like to be disturbed, so even if Lady Zhou goes, she only runs into a wall. But, my lady, we can wait outside the Imperial Garden. We'll run into His Majesty eventually."
Upon hearing this, Huo Qinghe raised her hand to her cheek and pondered for two seconds.
The two maids stood by, eagerly awaiting, their eyes filled with amazement as they looked at their mistress.
Huo Qinghe had just recovered from a serious illness. Her jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her once snow-white chin appear almost transparent in comparison. As she rested her chin on her hand, a slender, pale wrist was revealed. As if lost in thought, her beautiful doe-like eyes flickered slightly, the brightness in them seemingly capable of captivating anyone's soul.
Both girls were slightly taken aback.
He didn't even hear what his own wife was saying.
Huo Qinghe wasn't annoyed, and patiently repeated, "Go find a flower basket, let's go pick flowers behind the Chuigong Hall."
Green Cloud exclaimed, "Hey, Madam, are you going to the Chuigong Hall? Aren't we going to the Imperial Garden?"
Green Locust was also a little confused, but she obediently went to find the flower basket.
Huo Qinghe didn't explain further: "The Emperor is probably already tired of going to the Imperial Garden. Let's go to the Chuigong Hall first."
As she spoke, she lowered her head and put the sachet on her waist, then carefully put another embroidered item into her sleeve and put it away.
Seeing this, Lüyun didn't ask any more questions and quickly stood up to find an oil-paper umbrella: "The sun will be strong after noon, so please dry your clothes carefully, my lady."
Huo Qinghe hummed in agreement: "It's still early, help me get ready first."
Given Huo Qinghe's appearance, she naturally didn't need to dress up too much. The important thing was to feign illness. A proper sick look would evoke pity, but it couldn't be too ugly.
Huo Qinghe lay in bed for two or three days, and had little strength when she got out of bed.
It was still early, so Huo Qinghe wasn't in a hurry. She first wiped her hands with scented soap and didn't let Luyun and Luhuai interfere.
Huo Qinghe didn't eat much for lunch at noon.
It seemed that the capital city was getting hot in June this year. Huo Qinghe was afraid of sweating, so she went to the Chuigong Hall when the sky was still overcast.
Because Huo Qinghe intentionally avoided the Imperial Garden, she didn't encounter many people along the way.
"Judging from the kite, I think His Majesty is still flying a kite with the eldest princess." Green Cloud kept staring at the sky.
Huo Qinghe also saw it. She gave a soft "hmm" and soon walked to the place where she had met Consort Xie at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet.
The locust flowers are still in full bloom, as are the hibiscus and hollyhocks, while the marigolds bloom among them but are not particularly noticeable.
Huo Qinghe had two maids pick some locust flowers, and also had them pick some marigolds.
She didn't seem to be in a hurry, and the two girls gradually became less anxious as well.
Huo Qinghe brought a flower basket, Lü Huai also brought a basket, and Lü Yun brought a sun umbrella.
Therefore, the sound of the kite landing on the oil-paper umbrella was exceptionally clear.
It's the sound of cardboard hitting cardboard.
Huo Qinghe had good hearing and immediately turned around upon hearing the sound.
Neither of the two maids made any rash moves upon seeing this, and Green Cloud even looked up and glanced upwards.
There was no sign of a kite in the distance overhead.
“Look at that dragon seal, it looks like His Majesty’s…” Green Locust hesitated before speaking.
Green Cloud said nonchalantly, "Of course. It must be the eldest princess's kite that broke its string and fell here. The Chui Gong Hall is close to the back mountain of the Imperial Garden..."
Green Locust patiently explained, "What I mean is, judging from that coiled dragon seal, this kite was probably made by His Majesty himself for the eldest princess."
She truly is a princess showered with love and affection.
As the two maids were talking, Huo Qinghe had already stepped forward and picked up the kite.
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