Consort Fu's voice was somewhat shrill, similar to Consort Zhou's. However, when she deliberately lowered her voice, it sounded a bit like a bird's chirp, not the pleasant kind of chirp.
"I respectfully wish Your Majesty good health. I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and fear I may have disturbed Your Majesty." Consort Fu's voice was hoarse, and she feigned a shy demeanor, speaking in a strained voice that was hardly pleasant to the ear.
Banana trees were planted by the water outside the hexagonal pavilion, which perfectly concealed Huo Qinghe's figure. After hearing Consort Fu's voice, she raised her hand to signal Wang Shi to stand behind her.
Not far from the pavilion, along the stone path, was the emperor's carriage. The woman bowing to him in a charming manner must be Consort Fu.
With the banana trees providing shade, the large crowd not far away couldn't see Huo Qinghe, and she couldn't see the distant figures very clearly either.
Wang was barely daring to breathe; they were truly in a dilemma, trapped in this pavilion...
If the Emperor and Consort Fu suddenly decide to come to this pavilion, that would be terrible.
Huo Qinghe couldn't hear the Emperor's voice clearly; she only heard Consort Fu's incessant, earth-shattering cries.
Given the initial rank bestowed upon Consort Fu, the Emperor's neglect of her is truly perplexing.
Huo Qinghe leaned forward tentatively, showing no embarrassment whatsoever at peeking.
Consort Fu was certainly not ugly, but she was crying so hard that her makeup was ruined, and her loud crying made it difficult to evoke any pity.
Moreover, at this moment, Consort Fu's inner thoughts were both noisy and chaotic.
Pei Yuanhui had no interest in listening. He lazily raised his hand and said, "I remember that Grand Chancellor Fu is from Lingnan?"
When Consort Fu heard the Emperor mention her grandfather, she naturally showed an expression of pride: "Yes, my grandfather was from Lingnan. I also grew up in Lingnan when I was young."
Pei Yuanhui said "Oh," then changed the subject: "Lingnan is a poor and remote place, but the scenery in the Imperial Garden is beautiful. Please enjoy it here, Your Highness. You must come every day from now on, okay?"
"His Majesty!"
When Consort Fu spoke, she shed her pretense, her tone rising considerably and becoming even more jarring.
Huo Qinghe was startled. She instinctively grabbed a pillar at the corner of the pavilion, but thankfully, nothing happened.
Was this... a failed attempt to curry favor? Huo Qinghe felt a chill run down her spine.
She was pondering silently when she suddenly heard the official's cold voice again.
Who's there?
Huo Qinghe and Wang Shi did not make any noise. She looked up and carefully discerned that the chief eunuch around the emperor was clearly coming from the direction of the pavilion and her.
Even though Huo Qinghe was usually very calm, she couldn't help but feel a little flustered at this moment. She tried her best to calm down and managed to come up with the best solution, but going out at this time would inevitably offend Consort Fu.
"Never mind, it's just the koi in the pond that are moving. Consort Fu, you shall feed the fish here every day until the Dragon Boat Festival."
The emperor spoke again, but his gaze fell on the reflection of the banana leaves by the pond.
Jin Yang stopped midway and obediently turned back to the Emperor.
For a moment, neither the Emperor nor Consort Fu made a move.
Huo Qinghe in the pavilion didn't move. Oh, she did move; she sat directly on the stone table in the pavilion.
She had already realized that it was her shadow that had just been cast into the water.
Even the most meticulous plans can have flaws.
"What are you still kneeling for, Consort Fu?" Pei Yuanhui looked down at Consort Fu, his eyes cold and indifferent.
Consort Fu was now caught in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward. She dared not make a move and said, "This concubine is foolish and dull."
"I'm talking about you, you're an eyesore."
Pei Yuanhui lowered his eyes, his tone as if he were joking.
Upon hearing this, Consort Fu's face turned deathly pale. She finally understood why her grandfather had told her before she entered the palace that the Emperor was unpredictable and capricious.
She dared not delay, her shoulders almost touching the ground: "Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave."
"Disappointing." Pei Yuanhui raised his hand, seemingly annoyed by the sun: "Go back and have your meal."
It's rare for me to finish reviewing memorials and come to the Imperial Garden to see the fish, but everyone has ruined my mood.
Before Pei Yuanhui took a step, he suddenly turned back and glanced at the Green Pond.
When the official turned around, Huo Qinghe's heart tightened. She didn't move, but as the wind blew her skirt, she calmly raised her hand to press it down.
The stirred spring water seemed to be leveled out as well.
After the imperial procession had gone far away, Huo Qinghe sat for a while longer, waiting for about a quarter of an hour before leaving the Imperial Garden.
Along the way, Huo Qinghe asked Granny Wang, "Granny, tell me about the Emperor?"
Speaking of this, Lady Wang naturally knew more than Huo Qinghe: "Yes. The Emperor has been on the throne for five years. In the first year, he was so grief-stricken by the late Emperor that he did not hold a grand selection. He only held the grand selection in the second year of Zhengde and this year. However, the new candidates were all chosen by Empress Xue and Consort Chi. The Emperor loves his people like his own children and is busy with state affairs. The concubines in the harem are mostly neglected, and his offspring are somewhat fewer than those of the late Emperor. Our Emperor, to be honest, is someone whose joy and anger can be decided in an instant."
Even Wang could only give a general idea; the emperor's heart was far beyond their comprehension.
However, we can get a glimpse of this from the events involving Consort Fu and Consort Zhou today.
Despite being the granddaughter of the Grand Chancellor and the niece of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor could still treat her with amusement and act arbitrarily.
How to win the emperor's favor and gain his approval is what she needs to think about next.
Huo Yiyun was reluctant to reveal why she was allowed to enter the palace. Was it because she was afraid of serving the emperor?
I'm afraid that's not the case.
Huo Qinghe returned to Yanxi Palace with a belly full of doubts. As she passed the main hall, she heard another loud noise of pots and pans being smashed.
Green Locust and Green Willow were already waiting in front of Yanliang Pavilion.
"My lady is finally back! We were so afraid something had happened to her..."
Huo Qinghe nodded to let Luyi and the others set the table, then asked, "What's wrong?"
Green Locust, that girl, is quite well-informed: "Madam just came out of Xianfu Palace, so she probably doesn't know yet. Consort Fu ran into His Majesty in the Imperial Garden, but angered him and received a good scolding. I heard, I heard that Consort Fu went back to Chengqian Palace crying."
As she spoke, her voice unconsciously lowered.
Huo Qinghe witnessed it firsthand, so she didn't react much when Lvhuai mentioned it.
Her first thought was how the news had reached the six palaces so quickly; it would take Huo Qinghe at least half an hour to get from the Imperial Garden back to Yanxi Palace.
This imperial harem is truly... a place where hidden talents abound.
Although Huo Qinghe had not been summoned by the emperor for half a month after entering the palace, she had the Consort Yi as her elder sister, so the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Household Department did not dare to treat her too poorly.
After lunch, Huo Qinghe called Lu Huai over again, as there was still one matter to be resolved.
"Go to the Censorate. You don't need to do anything yet, just find out how Jinzhan is doing now."
The words "my wife is kind-hearted" were almost on Green Locust's lips when, a second later, Huo Qinghe said, "If she is still alright, then we should find a way to make her unable to speak." She took out two silver notes.
This was naturally not hers, but was given to her by her stepmother before she entered the palace.
“Make sure it’s handled cleanly,” Huo Qinghe said, looking at her.
Green Locust was stunned by that look, and quickly lowered her head in agreement.
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