Huo Qinghe had already witnessed Jinzhan's sharp tongue before entering the palace. She had always been patient and indulgent, but one must be prepared to bear the consequences of one's actions.
Jinzhan's arrogance and conceit over the past few days are, in truth, nothing more than the fruit of her own actions.
Although using Consort Zhou to deal with Jinzhan might earn her a reputation for lax discipline, reputation is clearly not that important to Huo Qinghe now.
Throughout the palace, the first person people thought of when they saw her was her elder sister, Huo Yiyun.
Perhaps the government is the same way...
Thinking of this, Huo Qinghe fell into deep thought.
Green Locust left early but returned rather late. In between, Huo Yiyun from Xianfu Palace sent someone to ask what had happened in the Imperial Garden that day. No one knows how she knew that Huo Qinghe had gone to the Imperial Garden, but Huo Qinghe brushed her off with some excuse.
After all, the Imperial Garden is so large, it's not impossible not to run into someone. Given her timid nature, it's understandable that she would avoid any noise like the plague.
When Green Locust returned, she was followed by several eunuchs. The eunuchs all had happy faces, and judging from their clothes, they should be people from the Imperial Household Department.
Empress Xue sent Wang Mama over this morning, what's the purpose of this?
Huo Qinghe stood up and looked at Lvhuai, whose lips were also stretched to the horizon: "Who are these people?"
Green Locust stepped aside and explained, "Madam, these are the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department."
The people from the Imperial Household Department? Those are the ones responsible for summoning the emperor for his pleasure?
Huo Qinghe already had a guess in her mind, but she still had to ask knowingly, "What brings you here, Father-in-law?"
The head eunuch bowed and offered his congratulations: "Great news, Consort Huo! His Majesty has chosen you today, and the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage will come to fetch you at the appointed time."
Hearing the eunuch express his thoughts, Huo Qinghe felt a sense of tension, as if "this day has finally come."
"Thank you very much, sirs. It's kind of you to make the trip to deliver this message. Please have some tea." Huo Qinghe nodded politely.
The eunuchs naturally dared not agree, but instead added with smiles that a matron would come to serve them.
Wang, standing to the side, skillfully stepped forward and stuffed the purse into the purse.
After the eunuch saw the person off, the maids and Wang Shi all smiled and congratulated Huo Qinghe.
Huo Qinghe kept Granny Wang with her this time, because there were some things she naturally had to ask Granny Wang, who was experienced and had been around for a long time.
It was almost time for dinner, and Green Willow and the others suppressed their joy as they went to the imperial kitchen to fetch their meal.
Huo Qinghe did not inform Huo Yiyun in advance, but waited until after dinner and a quick wash before asking Lvhuai to go to Xianfu Palace to inform her.
The night enveloped the palace like a giant beast. Only when Huo Qinghe sat in the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage did she realize that the so-called sound was actually coming from the wheels of the carriage, one sound after another echoing across the palace road.
Huo Qinghe suddenly opened her eyes when they stopped in front of the Funing Palace.
They've arrived.
"Madam Huo." An old nanny called to Huo Qinghe from outside. Huo Qinghe was alone at the moment.
She didn't respond, but simply lifted the curtain and got off the carriage.
The night wind was a bit chilly, causing her black hair to sway. She didn't bother to fix it, and as she got off the carriage, she gave a slight nod to the nanny waiting beside her.
The old nanny didn't say much. After bowing respectfully, she helped Huo Qinghe inside, with a young eunuch carrying a hexagonal palace lantern to light the way.
"His Majesty is still reviewing memorials in the Funing Palace. This servant will first assist Lady Huo to take a bath. This way, please, Lady Huo."
Huo Qinghe responded softly with an "okay".
Seeing this, the old nanny said gently, "Don't be afraid, madam. With your looks, there's really nothing to be afraid of."
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Huo Qinghe again by the light of the palace lanterns. Just her delicate and graceful figure, not to mention her cherry lips and deer eyes, truly made one's heart melt at first sight.
She truly possessed stunning beauty, with cloud-like hair and a face as beautiful as a flower and as lovely as the moon.
After taking another bath, Huo Qinghe changed into a moon-white nightgown. She was helped into the West Warm Pavilion. She heard the nanny's instructions again, but she was still a little embarrassed.
She suppressed her emotions and sat quietly by the bedside, waiting.
After a while, she shifted and leaned closer to the jade pillow.
In this way, whenever she looks up, the candlelight hanging not far away will illuminate her face.
Huo Qinghe didn't know when the Emperor would arrive, so she dared not slack off for a moment. Her only pastime was counting the antiques on the display shelf next to the screen over and over again.
About a quarter of an hour later, or perhaps more, Huo Qinghe heard a series of light, rhythmic footsteps. She didn't know if they were palace maids or eunuchs, as she didn't hear any announcements. She simply stood up instinctively when the door to the outer chamber was pushed open.
She bowed respectfully, waiting for the official's arrival.
The manner of bowing at this moment was just like the day Pei Yuanhui first met Huo Qinghe at Xianfu Palace.
This time, the loose nightgown failed to accentuate her waist, but her snow-white chin remained sharp, and her cherry lips opened and closed repeatedly when she greeted the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you good health and longevity."
Pei Yuanhui raised his hand and casually called out.
Jin Yang, who was behind him, also made a gesture, and after serving a cup of warm tea, he led the palace maids away.
Pei Yuanhui sat down, lifting his robe. He first took a sip of tea, the teacup held up in mid-air.
Huo Qinghe tactfully accepted the gift and stood respectfully to the side.
As she took the teacup, their fingertips touched for a fleeting moment, and she immediately lowered her head shyly, like a waterbird hunting its prey.
Pei Yuanhui rested one hand on his knee, making a loose fist: "Your hands are so cold? What, do you want to warm them up?"
He looked straight at Huo Qinghe as he spoke, his temples were dark, his face was bright, and there was a section of his neck that was white.
It's as if they're trying to see through it all.
Huo Qinghe naturally said she dared not, and took small steps to put down the teacup. When she returned to the official, she heard him ask her to sit down.
She paused, then sat down beside the official like a startled rabbit.
A short laugh escaped the official's throat: "Little Huo?"
This was not the first time the emperor had addressed Huo Qinghe as "Little Huo".
She lowered her eyes, her gaze calm, but her voice was timid: "This concubine is not Young Master Huo..."
Having probably not expected Huo Qinghe to retort, the Emperor said "Oh," as if intrigued: "If not Little Huo, then who are you?"
As he spoke, he casually tugged at the porcelain-white beaded earring on Huo Qinghe's ear.
Since she wasn't dressed up for the occasion, the nanny simply added a pair of small earrings to her ears.
Now they've caught the attention of the authorities.
It doesn't hurt; it's just a slight itch, like teasing a kitten.
Huo Qinghe shuddered: "I am Huo Er, not Xiao Huo."
Pei Yuanhui glanced sideways, stopped teasing, and suddenly burst into laughter.
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