Chapter 178 Not Suitable for You
Xiao Jingfan put down the book, looked around, and fixed his gaze on one spot: "How come this sign has already been turned over?"
The chief eunuch was startled and knelt hurriedly: "I have failed in my duty, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Xiao Jingfan stared at him for a moment, until the head eunuch couldn't help but tremble, then he looked away, and pointed at the sign in the air with his fingertips, "Since it's already turned over, let's take her."
Hearing this, Zhou Yuande stepped forward, picked up the sign and turned it over, the three words "Zhu Meiren" caught his eye.
*
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The imperial sedan stopped at the gate of Funing Palace. Zhu Hanyu, who had been waiting there upon hearing the news, bowed gracefully, "May your majesty be well and safe."
"Get up." Xiao Jingfan got off the imperial sedan chair and paused at the pearl comb in her hair.
Zhu Hanyu stood up and accompanied him to Qiu Shui Zhai.
"Serve the meal!"
Palace maids carrying trays came in one after another, and the table was soon filled with steaming dishes.
"I personally went to the kitchen and cooked two home-cooked dishes. Please try them, Your Majesty." Zhu Hanyu used silver chopsticks to pick up a piece of stir-fried bamboo fungus and put it into Xiao Jingfan's bowl.
Xiao Jingfan glanced at it but didn't move his chopsticks.
"Zhou Yuande is here to serve the dishes. Please sit down and eat."
Zhu Hanyu's smile faltered slightly, and she lowered her head and said softly, "Your Majesty rarely comes here, and I, a concubine, would like to do my best to serve Your Majesty. So, I will come."
Xiao Jingfan glanced at her and said nothing more.
Zhu Hanyu served him food attentively. As her sleeves fluttered, a delicate scent of jasmine drifted to Xiao Jingfan's nose.
He put down his chopsticks and looked at the woman beside him: "I heard the Queen say that you love red plum the most, why do you use jasmine powder?"
"Yesterday I read a poem in a book praising jasmine," Zhu Hanyu intoned slowly, "its purity surpasses that of snow, its fragrance half stained with dust. Why should I recite the chrysanthemum? I have the best time to myself."
Her eyes flickered, and she smiled softly, "I enjoyed reading this very much. Today, on a whim, I used this jasmine powder. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"It's not suitable for you." Xiao Jingfan stood up, "You continue eating, I'm leaving."
"Your Majesty." Zhu Hanyu called out in surprise. Why did he leave when they hadn't finished their meal yet?
Xiao Jingfan is tall and has long legs, and walks very fast.
Zhu Hanyu was unwilling to miss this precious opportunity, so he raised his foot to chase after him, but Caizhu grabbed his arm.
Caizhu shook her head at her and whispered, "Have you forgotten the Queen's teachings?" The result of chasing after her would only be worse.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Hanyu stamped his feet in frustration and hurriedly ordered the eunuch at the door, "Follow us and see where His Majesty is going."
The young eunuch hurried out, but before he reached the door, he heard a voice, "Go to Maohua Palace!"
"Maohua Palace?" After hearing the eunuch's report, Zhu Hanyu clenched her handkerchief, feeling annoyed.
It would be fine if he had something to do, but he actually went to Maohua Palace. Is he dissatisfied with her?
She ordered the others to leave and stayed behind to collect pearls.
Caizhu gently rubbed her shoulders and said, "The night is still long. You haven't eaten anything yet. I'll ask someone to heat up the food and vegetables. Please have some."
"How can I be in the mood to eat right now!" Zhu Hanyu tugged at her handkerchief and said gloomily, "Please give me some advice. Why did His Majesty leave without even finishing his meal? But did I say something wrong?"
Caizhu thought for a moment and shook her head: "In my opinion, it has nothing to do with what you said, Master. Your Majesty may not like the jasmine powder you used."
Zhu Hanyu frowned, "But the people at the Imperial Pharmacy only said that Your Majesty doesn't like the scent of tuberose, they didn't say that he doesn't like the scent of jasmine either."
"Perhaps that servant forgot," Caizhu said, "Since His Majesty said that jasmine powder is not suitable for you, you don't have to use it in the future."
Zhu Hanyu slammed the table in frustration, "If I had known I would have used my favorite plum fragrance."
Unfortunately, knowing it earlier is priceless.
Zhu Hanyu didn't mention how regretful she was. Then, looking over at Maohua Palace, Consort Chun was having dinner. Upon receiving the news that the emperor was coming to Maohua Palace, she asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, didn't you turn over Concubine Zhu's name tonight?"
The head maid Qingyi said, "What the people in the Jingshifang said is correct."
"Send someone to find out what happened."
"only."
Chun Zhaoyi picked up her chopsticks and continued eating. Qingyi asked, "Your Majesty, won't you go to the door to greet His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty, you may have come to Maohua Palace to visit Concubine Gao at Youlan Residence," said Concubine Chun. "After all, Concubine Gao is pregnant with the royal heir. Your Majesty may not say it, but he must be worried about her. I am not in a rush, so why not take the initiative to offer Your Majesty a way out?"
Qingyi looked at her and said, "Your Majesty is virtuous, but what if His Majesty doesn't go to Youlan Residence and comes to you? His Majesty may not have eaten yet."
"If your Majesty hasn't eaten by this time, he won't." Consort Chun thought for a moment and ordered, "Tell the kitchen to prepare a honey, longan, and jujube kernel soup. Your Majesty has been toiled in the previous reign, and this soup will soothe your mind and help you sleep better at night."
Qingyi accepted the order and was about to go to the small kitchen to give instructions, but Chun Zhaoyi stopped her, "Wait."
Qingyi turned around and came back.
Consort Chun said, "Make some more radish cakes. If Your Majesty goes to Youlan Residence, send the soup and radish cakes along with them. Just say that Concubine Gao ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare them."
Qingyi felt strange: "It's clearly the Queen's intention, why would she give it to Youlanju for nothing?"
"Just do as I tell you," said Consort Chun. "I'll teach you later."
"Yes." Qingyi bowed and walked out.
At the same time, Youlanju also received the news that the emperor was coming to Maohua Palace.
"Master, His Majesty must be here to visit you." The head maid Zi Su happily rolled up the bed curtains. "Please change your clothes quickly."
"No need to bother." Concubine Gao sighed, caressing her swollen belly. "Your Majesty dislikes me and doesn't want to see me again, so why would you come to Youlan Residence to see me?"
Zi Su advised, "Don't let your imagination run wild. You are pregnant with the heir to the throne. Even for the sake of the little prince, why would His Majesty not want to see you?"
"Be careful with your words!" Concubine Gao's brows furrowed. "Even the imperial physician dares not say for sure whether it's a boy or a girl. Don't mention the word 'prince'. If others hear it, who knows what will happen."
"I just wanted to ask for your permission. I won't say it again in the future." Zi Su knelt down. "You are a double-bodied person, please don't get angry."
Gaopin leaned against the soft pillow and sighed, "Things are different now. Knowing that I deliberately concealed my pregnancy, the Queen has treated me much worse than before. Everyone in the palace flatters the powerful and bullies the weak. I don't know what will happen before the child is born."
"But my master, you had no choice." Zi Su spoke up for Concubine Gao. "You were forced to be caught between the two of them, constantly trying to please them. You had to swallow all the hardship and humiliation you endured. Those people only saw your glory, but who could understand your difficulties?"
"Alright, let's not talk about the past anymore." Gaopin stroked her belly and interrupted her chattering, "From now on, everyone in Youlanju must be careful with their words and actions, and don't let anyone get hold of us."
Zi Su: "This servant will follow your Majesty's instructions."
"Get up." Gaopin lay back down again. "This light hurts my eyes. Turn off all the lights."
"Yes." Zi Su stood up and covered the person on the bed with a quilt. She raised her hand to lower the bed curtain, blew out all the oil lamps, and then tiptoed out.
Even though Concubine Gao said the emperor would not come, she still ran to the door of Youlanju and looked out, hoping that the emperor's carriage would come this way.
She thought, since the master had written so many letters of repentance and submitted them, His Majesty should probably consider the master a little because of their past friendship, right?
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