She served Huo Qinghe when Huo Yiyun was a concubine in the Prince's residence. At that time, Huo Qinghe was only ten years old and had not fully grown up, so it's no wonder that Cuiqiao was stunned.
Huo Yiyun was undoubtedly a beauty among the concubines in the harem, but Huo Qinghe in front of her was different.
Cuiqiao had to admit that the second young lady in front of her was clearly more beautiful. She withdrew her surprised gaze and said, "It is my duty as a servant."
Consort Zhou, the principal consort of Yanxi Palace, was not in the main hall at the time. Huo Qinghe had paid her respects when she arrived earlier, but she heard that Consort Zhou had been invited to speak with the Empress.
Therefore, Huo Qinghe's journey from Yanxi Palace was much smoother.
On the way, Cuiqiao didn't forget to "remind" her: "Now that you've entered the palace, you'll be able to look after us. Lady Yi has always been thinking of you and your brothers at home."
Huo Qinghe was getting tired of hearing these nagging words, and only when she arrived at Xianfu Palace did she finally get some peace and quiet.
Xianfu Palace was different from Huo Qinghe's Yanliang Pavilion. Cuiqiao led the way, and the palace maids along the corridor all bowed respectfully to Huo Qinghe.
Huo Qinghe observed silently until they reached the outside of the main hall, where Cuiqiao respectfully bowed her head and said, "Madam, Madam Huo has arrived."
"Please come in." Huo Yiyun's voice hadn't changed much; it used to be clear and slightly high-pitched, but after a few years, it had gained a touch of authority.
Upon entering the main hall, one could hear the sound of scissors. Amidst the golden and jade-like surroundings, Huo Yiyun, dressed in a lilac-colored spring outfit, sat gracefully on a small couch in front of a diamond-shaped window. In her hand, she held a pair of exquisitely carved scissors, trimming and shaping a rose.
Hearing the noise, she lazily put down her scissors, the sharp glint in her eyes mingling with a hazy, dreamy look: "Sister's here, lift your head and let me see you."
Huo Qinghe was still the same honest woman I remembered, but she shrugged her shoulders and slowly raised her head.
Huo Yiyun involuntarily sat up straight, her eyes scrutinizing her more deeply, and in addition, there was a hint of amazement that she herself had to admit.
Unlike Huo Yiyun's striking beauty with its sharp edges, Huo Qinghe was like the most translucent and lustrous pale moon on the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Her icy skin and jade-like bones added a touch of coldness to her aloofness. When she looked up at people, she was timid and weak, and even her trembling breaths made people feel sorry for her.
"Big sister." Her soft, gentle voice seeped into one's heart little by little.
Huo Yiyun had seen many beauties in the palace, but Huo Qinghe's delicate and frail body truly deserved the description of... breathtaking beauty.
Huo Yiyun took a few seconds to come to her senses. She didn't move. "Qinghe?" Her tone was uncertain. It should be considered a blessing for Huo Qinghe that she could remember Huo Qinghe's name.
"Come before me." She casually glanced at him, her tone familiar, as if she had returned to the days when she used to boss Huo Qinghe around at home.
Huo Qinghe took three steps forward as instructed, and then weakly called out "Big Sister" again.
It looks like a weak and helpless little animal.
No one noticed the sharpness and ambition that Huo Qinghe tried so hard to conceal when she lowered her eyes.
Huo Yiyun gave a satisfied "hmm," but she didn't invite Huo Qinghe to sit down: "The new concubines' accommodations were arranged by Consort Chi. It's unfair that you're staying in Yanxi Palace."
Cuiqiao, who was standing by, couldn't help but shrug her shoulders upon hearing this.
Huo Yiyun continued, "Consort Zhou, the mistress of Yanxi Palace, is not someone to be trifled with. If you suffer any injustice, just let me know. I will stand up for you. Hmm?"
Huo Qinghe lowered her head and said in a voice barely audible, "Thank you, elder sister." She waited for Huo Yiyun to continue.
“My dear sister, given your background, it will be difficult for you to find a good marriage when you reach marriageable age. I really can't bear to see you suffer like that in the future. Now that you've entered the palace, we sisters can support each other, and your life will be a little better, won't it?”
Huo Yiyun pulled Huo Qinghe's hand into her delicate palm, her words sincere, as if she had put in a lot of effort.
Huo Qinghe also feigned gratitude, suppressing the urge to withdraw her hand: "Big sister, what... what should I do?"
Huo Yiyun quickly released her hand, her tone relaxed: "You've just entered the palace, there's no need to stand out too much, that will only bring you trouble. Just wait patiently for the Emperor to summon you. If anything happens, I'll have Cuiqiao inform you."
She really didn't want Huo Qinghe to gain favor too early, especially after seeing Huo Qinghe's appearance, she dared not do it anymore.
The emperor is capricious; who knows how long Huo Qinghe will remain in favor after gaining his favor?
Let Consort Zhou test Huo Qinghe's temperament first. Once she's had enough of being neglected, let Huo Qinghe know that only her elder sister can protect her in the palace. After that, Huo Qinghe will naturally be obedient to her.
The light from the silver scissors on the table hurt Huo Qinghe's eyes, which saved her from having to pretend to be weak: "Yes, I will follow your orders, elder sister."
Huo Qinghe's reaction today was absolutely satisfactory to Huo Yiyun. She looked Huo Qinghe up and down again: "In the spring, you are at the age of a flower, so you should dress more brightly. Cuiqiao, go to the storeroom and find the fabric that the official gave you the other day, and have your sister take it back."
While Cuiqiao went to find the fabric, Huo Qinghe remained standing to the side, and Huo Yiyun never made her sit down.
Cuiqiao returned quickly, followed by two palace maids carrying fabric.
As soon as she entered, Huo Yiyun remembered something else: "Your rank among the new talents is not the highest. Go back and rest peacefully tonight. You have to pay your respects to the Empress tomorrow, so don't be late. The sun will be strong later in the day, so go back early."
She did not intend to invite Huo Qinghe to stay for lunch.
Huo Qinghe didn't look at the fabrics, thanked them respectfully, and quietly left the main hall.
Cuiqiao saw her out, but didn't take a step.
"Madam Yi needs someone to serve her, so I'll have two maids escort her." It was too much trouble to go back and forth, so Cuiqiao was too lazy to bother.
Huo Qinghe naturally didn't say anything more.
She walked under the covered walkway, followed by two palace maids carrying fabric, and in front of her, a young palace maid silently leading the way.
When Huo Qinghe heard the words "His Majesty has arrived," she was genuinely stunned for a second.
But her instincts kicked in faster; she took two steps back and bowed at the edge of the veranda.
No one knows when the Emperor's entourage arrived at Xianfu Palace. It's only almost noon now. What is the Emperor doing at Xianfu Palace?
The approaching footsteps did not faze Huo Qinghe. She remained surprisingly calm, even tilting her head slightly so that her delicate, fair neck could be seen when she looked down.
Suddenly, everything went dark, and she heard the sound of beads jingling.
She was absolutely certain that the person standing in front of her was the Emperor.
Huo Qinghe remained silent.
Pei Yuanhui glanced at her with interest, and the first thing he noticed was the woman's waist. As she bowed, her waist curved into a beautiful arc, so captivating that it was hard to look away. His gaze moved up to the top of her head, and although he couldn't see her face clearly, he could see the snow-white tip of her chin.
Even without seeing her face, she is breathtakingly beautiful.
He asked directly, his tone casual: "Little Huo?"
This is how the palace servants addressed Huo Qinghe, but now, when spoken by the Emperor, it carries an inexplicable air of romance.
Huo Qinghe carefully considered the Emperor's tone before replying: "Yes, I am Huo, a beauty from Yanliang Pavilion, paying my respects to Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanhui gave an ambiguous "hmm": "She is indeed a beauty."
He couldn't possibly be unaware that the Huo family had sent their youngest daughter to the palace, and he was even the one who decided Huo Qinghe's rank. He was just asking a question he already knew the answer to.
“Raise your head.”
Huo Qinghe paused for two seconds, then looked up as instructed.
The way the Emperor spoke was somewhat similar to Huo Yiyun's tone just now; it's hard to tell who copied whom.
Pei Yuanhui stared directly into Huo Qinghe's clear, almond-shaped eyes, as if trying to discern something from her alluring gaze.
A few breaths later, Huo Yiyun, who had come out after hearing the commotion, broke the silence.
"Your Majesty, I am late."
Pei Yuanhui casually withdrew his gaze, but quickened his movements as he fiddled with the eighteen red agate beads in his hands.
Interesting, there's nothing there.
After a two or three-second eye contact, he failed to read Xiao Huo's thoughts.
This is unprecedented.
That's really interesting.
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