"She injured Lady Fu first, and according to palace rules, neither the Empress nor I can forgive her. I understand your plea for her. The Empress Dowager's birthday is coming up soon, and that day is a big occasion. I will grant her the privilege of being confined to her quarters for reflection that day. Let her come to the Chui Gong Hall to celebrate."
Huo Qinghe's face lit up with even more joy: "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanhui waved his hand: "Alright, I haven't finished looking at the lotus yet. Now that you have the Hundred-Seed Lotus, I'll have you go there to check on how well you're taking care of it when I have time."
Huo Qinghe turned her head to look at the Emperor: "I'm afraid I'm not very good at those things. Your Majesty has given me a difficult problem."
Pei Yuanhui finally noticed the earrings Huo Qinghe was wearing today.
He raised his hand and fiddled with the broken beads under his earring.
"The color of this ruby really suits you."
When he saw Huo Qinghe's empty earrings that day, he thought of the ruby, and now it seems that it was indeed the perfect match.
Upon hearing the sound, Huo Qinghe touched her other earlobe.
"Upon learning that His Majesty had summoned me, I specially wore these earrings."
This fulfilled Huo Qinghe's words that day: she would only wear these earrings to show the Emperor when she met him.
She spoke in a sweet, obedient tone, as if she were showing off a treasure.
But this was clearly a gift from the Emperor to Huo Qinghe, and Pei Yuanhui couldn't help but find it amusing.
"You're the only one who would wear the gifts I bestowed upon you and fawn over me. Since you say you can't raise a good one, I'll have someone pick a capable one from the Imperial Household Department and send him to you when I have time."
This person can not only take care of Huo Qinghe's lotus flowers, but also relay messages between the emperor and Huo Qinghe in the future.
Huo Qinghe understood, and her flattery continued: "Your Majesty's considerations are indeed thorough."
Pei Yuanhui glanced at her: "It's not time for a meal yet. I think your cold is completely cured this time. Go find the book from last time on the shelf."
Huo Qinghe happily agreed, sensing the casualness in the official's words, and she was finally able to relax.
In the end, the trip was worthwhile.
The book Huo Qinghe had been reading from last time was placed back in the same spot where she had taken it last time. Huo Qinghe noticed this and silently made a note of it.
As Huo Qinghe walked over with the book in her hand, the earring hanging from her earlobe swayed slightly, its delicate curve seemingly able to pierce into one's heart.
Pei Yuanhui noticed the touch of rouge on Huo Qinghe's ear.
It wasn't because of any makeup mistakes, but because the ruby bestowed by the emperor was so large that Huo Qinghe no longer felt any pain after wearing it for a while.
She had only truly felt the pain in her earlobes when she first put on these earrings in Yanliang Pavilion.
It must be said that the Imperial Household Department did a really good job, and these earrings were indeed the most gorgeous and dazzling pair Huo Qinghe had ever seen in her life.
To please the emperor, one always has to pay a price, doesn't one?
Granny Wang had originally told her there was a way to hide the red marks, but Huo Qinghe didn't use it.
Although one might notice its flaws after looking at it for a while, aside from its beauty, the emperor's affection for it is equally important.
Huo Qinghe had dinner with the Emperor in the Funing Palace, and she also visited General Tan.
Compared to last time, General Tan seems to have gotten a bit rounder, looking even more like a snowball.
In winter, it would be truly difficult to tell them apart.
After dinner, Huo Qinghe still went to the West Warm Pavilion to take a bath, but it seemed different from the last time she went there.
"Where is Granny taking me? This doesn't seem to be the place where I usually bathe."
The old nanny simply smiled and said, "This is His Majesty's will. Please come with me, my lady."
Huo Qinghe's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but she smiled and didn't ask any further questions: "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Granny."
Huo Qinghe felt that she had gone quite far from the West Warm Pavilion as she walked with the nanny, but she gradually heard the sound of flowing water.
"What is this?" Huo Qinghe finally asked.
"Replying to my lady. This is the hot spring behind the West Warm Pavilion. It is a warm spring drawn from the mountains outside the palace. It is most comfortable to soak in during the winter."
But... it's summer now.
Huo Qinghe was taken aback. She was helped into the hot spring by the nanny, but when she turned around, the nanny was no longer there.
Mist rises from the clear pond and lingers for a long time.
Huo Qinghe noticed the nightgowns that had been prepared on the side, and she raised her hand.
Barefoot, I stepped onto the white jade steps, accompanied by the gurgling sound of water; my bare feet blended seamlessly with the white jade steps.
The old woman said it was a hot spring, and it was indeed true.
As soon as Huo Qinghe stepped into the hot spring, her whole body felt warm.
It's easy to tell from the old woman's tone that the government rarely allows people to set foot in this hot spring. But why would the government invite her here for no reason?
Huo Qinghe enjoyed the hot spring, but couldn't help but think deeper into the matter.
She has a nature that requires getting to the bottom of everything, otherwise she can't help feeling uneasy.
When the sound of the beaded curtain was heard, Huo Qinghe had already been soaking in the hot spring for a while.
When Pei Yuanhui entered, he was greeted by a warm breeze. As he walked further in, he saw a butterfly-shaped back stained with rouge, and a slender, white, and delicate neck, which made the pair of ruby earrings on her ears look incredibly beautiful.
Her long, black hair fell silently over her rounded shoulders, instantly concealing her beautiful shoulder blades, a gesture that was both alluring and shy, adding to her captivating charm.
The beauty in the water clearly heard the sound of the beaded curtain; her black hair swayed with the sound of the water, and also with the beauty's helplessness.
The beauty turned her head, her beautiful eyes sweeping across her like autumn waters, like pear blossoms glistening with rain and clouds, her dark eyelashes half-concealing her watery eyes, captivating the soul.
"Your Majesty." Huo Qinghe's voice was almost blended into the sound of water.
Pei Yuanhui approached and said, "I thought you were recovering from your cold, so you should take a soak in the hot spring to warm yourself up."
So that's the reason, Huo Qinghe understood.
"Your Majesty's mercy is my greatest gratitude."
"You have indeed bestowed upon me a moment of boundless spring beauty."
That has a slightly flirtatious tone.
Huo Qinghe lowered her eyes in embarrassment, and the earrings on her earlobes swayed incessantly, just like the trembling strings of her own heart.
Tonight, this is a unique spectacle reserved only for the officials.
The earrings, originally a gift from the emperor, were eventually taken away by the emperor and thrown onto the shore of the warm pool as if they were nothing to lose.
The sound of flowing water blended into the sobs of Huo Qinghe, along with the low panting of the official.
The emperor eventually carried Huo Qinghe out of the warm spring, and there was a couch nearby, clearly for her to rest.
He called for water three times throughout the night until he stopped.
The next day, Huo Qinghe got up rather late. She had served the emperor several times, but last night was definitely the most absurd one.
When she got up, the Emperor was already gone. As she was helped to the dressing table, Huo Qinghe couldn't help but blush when she saw the pair of ruby earrings.
It is indeed an item made by the Imperial Household Department. Even with the Emperor's great strength last night, it did not show any damage.
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