Huo Yiyun snorted, too lazy to listen anymore, and finally waved her hand to conclude: "Today's events are all the fault of Consort Fu. She ruined the entire banquet. The Emperor didn't even show up in the end... By the way, the Emperor is still in the Funing Palace right now."
Cuiqiao shook her head: "I heard that the Emperor went out of the palace to inspect the people's conditions during the day. He has just returned to the palace and should be in the Funing Palace now."
Huo Yiyun lowered her eyes, her gaze filled with a mixture of melancholy and something else: "Ever since the new concubine entered the palace, the Emperor has only come once for lunch that day, and has never come again."
Besides, she knew better than anyone what the Emperor had come to do that day.
Cuiqiao couldn't help but call out with heartache, "My lady, you are also helpless..."
Huo Yiyun was unwilling to show too much sadness: "Alright. Tell the kitchen to make a bowl of black chicken soup and send it to Funing Palace. It's getting chilly at night, so please take care of yourself, Your Majesty."
Cuiqiao was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood Huo Yiyun's meaning and immediately agreed.
...
Because of the unexpected lunch banquet, coupled with Empress Dowager Zhou's exhaustion and absence in the evening, and Empress Xue's continued claim of illness, the final Dragon Boat Festival banquet was hastily concluded. At this moment, the most lively place should be Consort Chi's Chengqian Palace.
When Cuiqiao personally delivered the black chicken soup, there were still various noises in Chengqian Palace. When she arrived at Funing Palace, she did not see the Emperor. Jinyang simply delivered the black chicken soup inside.
Inside the Funing Palace, the Emperor was playing the pitch-pot game. It was a rare occasion that it was the Dragon Boat Festival. Although there was no morning court session and he was supposed to be off writing, Pei Yuanhui had still reviewed some memorials before leaving the palace during the day. Now, he was returning home having a great time, and his expression showed a hint of joy.
"The Imperial Kitchen sent over some zongzi? Bring them over." Pei Yuanhui raised his hand, his posture suggesting he was an experienced cook.
However, the arrow pierced through the air and finally landed steadily at Jin Yang's feet.
I didn't win again.
Jin Yang didn't dare to move, and didn't even shake the hand holding the black chicken soup.
"Your Majesty, it is black chicken soup sent by Lady Yi of Xianfu Palace."
Pei Yuanhui said "Oh," picked up another arrow from the side, and looked at Jinyang: "I'm not in the palace today, what happened this time?"
Hearing the music and understanding its meaning, Pei Yuanhui knew without a doubt that something had happened.
Jin Yang put down the black chicken soup first, and habitually raised his eyes slightly to reply, otherwise the emperor would accuse him of accepting bribes and harboring evil intentions.
“Yes, at the luncheon…” Jin Yang said succinctly, though his mind was racing.
[It's said that Consort Huo fell into the water while saving Noble Lady Fu. However, Noble Lady Fu hasn't woken up yet, and the situation in Chengqian Palace is still uncertain. There are also rumors that Noble Lady Fu attempted suicide. For a palace concubine to commit suicide is a grave offense.]
[But Consort Huo, who seems so unassuming, is actually so brave and resolute. The water behind the Chui Gong Hall connects to the Imperial Garden, and it's quite deep. Now that she's caught a cold, she's going to suffer terribly.]
Jin Yang's thoughts were a jumbled mess. Pei Yuanhui twirled the arrow in his hand, resisting the urge to throw it at Jin Yang.
"Where is Consort Chi? Why are you bowing your head so low? Do you think I'd eat you?" Pei Yuanhui asked.
Jin Yang thought to himself, "Just as I expected, the Emperor would say this: 'The Imperial Concubine didn't send anyone to say anything, so we don't know what's going on...'"
The Empress is still ill, and Pei Yuanhui, filled with impatience, said: "Go to Chengqian Palace personally and thoroughly investigate today's events. Make sure you get to the bottom of this. I don't want to hear any rumors."
The Fu family of the previous dynasty was the Fu family. Pei Yuanhui did dislike what the Fu family had done over the years, but his dislike for the Fu family was not because of the Fu family's involvement. He simply disliked the Fu family's petty schemes.
Two years ago, perhaps his harem would still consider the influence of his family's lineage from the previous dynasty.
But now that the court is stable, Pei Yuanhui no longer needs to give face to anyone. What do family background and maternal clan matter?
Jin Yang naturally sensed the danger in the Emperor's voice, and he immediately knelt down: "Yes, this servant will go right away."
As soon as he stood up, the official suddenly called him back.
"Why are you in such a hurry again? Little Huo fell into the water? Get some tonics from the storeroom, and call Physician Xia tomorrow to have him properly recuperate Little Huo." The Emperor's orders sounded rather displeased.
Jin Yang naturally knew the reason, and he responded again, this time waiting a moment.
As expected, His Majesty had more instructions waiting for him.
"Bring the black chicken soup down." It looks disgusting.
Jin Yang exclaimed "Eh!" and hurriedly returned to take away the black chicken soup. As he left, he almost stepped on the arrow that the official had missed.
He had only taken a couple of steps with the black chicken soup when he suddenly heard the official stand up.
Fortunately, Jin Yang was carrying a tray; otherwise, his hands would have been burned from all that back and forth.
"Your Majesty?" Jin Yang lowered his head, unable to fathom the Emperor's thoughts.
Pei Yuanhui casually kicked away the arrow blocking his way: "Go to Chengqian Palace."
With the Empress not showing her face, and given Consort Chi's tendency to stir up trouble, Consort Zhou's constant instigation, and Consort Zhuang's strict adherence to rules, who knows how long this commotion will last tonight?
Perfect timing, he'll go check out the excitement too.
Well, that was Pei Yuanhui's real purpose at the end.
It was indeed quite lively. When Pei Yuanhui arrived at Chengqian Palace, it seemed like a fight was about to break out. The atmosphere was so lively that anyone who didn't know better would think it was during the New Year festival.
Eventually, even the remote Yanxi Palace heard about the farce at Chengqian Palace.
Huo Qinghe had just woken up and had dinner when Lvhuai was feeding her medicine. Lvyun then came in and told her what she had heard.
Huo Qinghe didn't say anything, she first endured the bitterness in her mouth, and then told Lüyun to leave first.
"Consort Chi relies on the Emperor, Consort Zhuang has the Empress Xue's trust, and Consort Zhou is the Empress Dowager's eyes and ears. If His Majesty doesn't go to Chengqian Palace, then there will be a three-way power struggle there. Now that His Majesty has gone, we don't know how things will be handled."
Huo Qinghe spoke softly, her voice slow, clearly indicating that she was thinking as she spoke.
She didn't care why Consort Fu fell into the water, but she was certain that she had been pushed in. However, there was no evidence, and with Green Locust and the others' statements, she couldn't afford to alert them.
Looking at it this way, the harem is more treacherous and full of intrigue than anywhere else.
If she hadn't been able to swim, she might have really lost her life today.
Huo Qinghe was fed candied fruit, which finally eased the bitterness in her mouth.
Green Locust supported her: "But it's clear that you've been wronged, yet you have to endure it now."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but feel more and more distressed, and added, "Today, this servant acted on her own initiative."
Huo Qinghe didn't blame her: "It was because you and Granny Wang reacted quickly. You and Granny Wang secretly investigated the matter of me falling into the water. The rest is up to Consort Fu to wake up."
No amount of candied fruit could mask the bitterness in her mouth. She didn't want to say anything more, and her eyes quickly closed.
Seeing this, Green Locust also fell silent. She was still upset about what had happened today, and at this moment she was even more unwilling to leave her wife's side for a moment.
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