Chapter 68 Fine, I'll go! Who's afraid of who!
Although Consort Qi was excited, she did not forget basic etiquette and first bowed to the Empress.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
The Empress was quite displeased with her impetuous behavior. However, due to the Emperor behind the screen, she could not reprimand her excessively, and only said lightly:
"My dear sister, you're no longer a newcomer to the palace. Why are you rushing around like this? You're being impolite. No need for formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Qi was only focused on seeing the treasure and didn't pay any attention to the Empress's words.
When Qi Min raised her head, the Empress noticed that her complexion was very different from usual.
Why does Consort Qi look so good today?
Didn't you look sallow and pale when you greeted me this morning? Now you're all rosy and radiant, with a completely refreshed complexion?
Before the Empress could even ask her why she had come here,
Consort Qi's eyes quickly scanned the area and immediately spotted the exquisite ornaments placed on the table.
The carvings are lifelike, and the printed colors are vibrant and beautiful, as if it were a real world.
Consort Qi walked over with shining eyes, "This must be Madam Cheng's magical treasure that can sing and dance!"
Seeing that she was about to start, the Empress coughed lightly and asked, "Sister Qi, what brings you here today?"
Qi Min then remembered the important matter of her trip and hurriedly gestured to the maid behind her to bring out an exquisite brocade box.
"Your Majesty, this was sent by my family through a messenger. They said it was a precious gift from a small kingdom in the Western Regions to the king, called lipstick, a wonderful product for beautifying the skin. I have tried it myself, and the effect is indeed remarkable. Your Majesty is the mother of the nation and the head of the harem. I dare not keep this to myself, so I have come to present it to Your Majesty."
The Empress then noticed her radiant lip color.
It is indeed unique and attracts a lot of attention.
After giving birth to the prince, Consort Qi's complexion turned sallow and withered, making her appear ten years older in an instant.
I've heard that the Qi family has been searching for good doctors for her for the past six months.
She looked radiant; she must have gotten these treasures.
You promised not to keep anything for yourself, but all you gave me was lipstick. I bet you hid the face cream a long time ago.
"Sister Qi, you're so thoughtful." The Empress gestured for the palace maid to take the brocade box.
"This is what I should do."
With the important business finished, Consort Qi's gaze returned to the music box.
"I have heard that Prince Cheng and that goddess have a special connection and a close relationship. On the day of Madam's birthday banquet, Prince Cheng knelt before the goddess to pray for his mother's well-being. The goddess, moved by his filial piety, specially bestowed this music box upon Madam Cheng as a birthday gift. Is this true?"
Madam Cheng was taken aback, not expecting the rumors to have spread so far.
"Your Highness, this is a birthday gift from a friend of my son Cheng Fang."
Madam Cheng never mentioned the goddess, only saying that she was Cheng Fang's friend.
Qi Min didn't care; she had already made up her mind. She looked at Madam Cheng expectantly:
"May I have the honor of taking a look, Madam Cheng?"
Since she had said that, how could Madam Cheng dare to say no?
The Empress was displeased; she hadn't even touched it yet!
"This treasure was hard to come by. Sister, you're too reckless; you shouldn't handle it, lest you break it. If you have nothing else to do, sister, you should go back soon. The young prince should be looking for you."
Both the Empress and the Emperor behind the screen hoped that Qi Min could leave as soon as possible. After all, whether Miss Jiang was a goddess or not was still undecided, and it was best not to let too many people know.
The Empress was even more wary, after all, Qi Min was a concubine who had given birth to a prince.
Cheng Fang's connection with the goddess can also provide assistance to the crown prince.
If the Qi family also tries to curry favor with the goddess, it might affect her son's position as crown prince.
Consort Qi's outstretched hand awkwardly froze in mid-air.
She wasn't thinking too much about it; she was purely curious about the treasure. Having finally gotten a chance to see a celestial treasure, how could she just leave?
"I could hear music before I came in, but it's gone now. Did the spell fail?"
Madam Cheng stood there, unsure whether to answer or not.
In terms of stance, she was definitely on the side of the Empress.
But Qi Min was, after all, an imperial concubine, and if she did not answer, she might be accused of disrespect.
"Your Majesty, upon hearing of Your Majesty's arrival, I hastily turned off the switch. Once the switch is turned back on, this thing can sing and dance."
Qi Min was overjoyed. "In that case, I wonder if Madam Cheng could turn on the switch and let me see this singing and dancing treasure?"
Madam Cheng immediately looked up at the Empress, hoping for an explanation.
The Empress knew that if Consort Qi wasn't allowed to see her, she wouldn't give up and leave.
“In that case, Madam Cheng, please open it and let Consort Qi see it.”
"Yes," Madam Cheng replied.
Carefully pick up the music box, find the small black paddle under the base, and gently push it.
The ethereal and beautiful melody flowed out once again, the disc began to rotate at a steady speed, and the painted Tang Dynasty ladies danced lightly, while the musician in the center precisely struck the small drum.
"Wow--!"
Qi Min let out a short gasp, her eyes widening in surprise.
Like most people who see a music box for the first time, they are immersed in a dreamlike world and can't get out.
It's as if you've stepped into a picturesque paradise, surrounded by babbling brooks, watching the petals fall gently, listening to celestial music and dance, and sipping fine wine!
The emperor, however, had no interest in the dance behind the screen.
If Consort Qi doesn't leave, what should the Empress ask next?
Well, it seems I'll have to go ask that kid Cheng Fang myself.
My biggest fear is that Cheng Fang won't tell me everything!
————
Cheng Mansion.
Princess Chaoyang couldn't wait to show Cheng Jiaojiao her newly acquired lip rouge.
"How about it? Isn't it beautiful! I spent ages trying to get my hands on this!"
Cheng Jiaojiao looked at her glossy lips, the peach color glistening with moisture in the sunlight, looking so luscious and tempting. It made one really want to take a bite!
Although she secretly admired and wanted it, she still stubbornly insisted:
"Pshaw, what's this! My sister Jiang's rouge and powder are far superior to these! My sister Jiang's rouge and powder can make someone win the title of most beautiful courtesan!"
"Isn't your sister Jiang selling food? How come she's selling cosmetics now?"
Cheng Jiaojiao thought to herself, "My sister Jiang is a goddess, there's nothing she can't do!"
"My sister Jiang sells everything, even the hardest things she can get her hands on! And she guarantees they're better than anyone else's!"
Pei Xixi, the daughter of Vice Minister Pei who accompanied her, said, "You keep talking about your Sister Jiang, but we've never met her. You didn't make that up, did you?"
Princess Chaoyang chimed in, "That's right, you say your sister Jiang sells everything, but why don't you ever buy anything? You always say how wonderful your sister Jiang is, but you never take us to see her. I think you're just making that up."
Cheng Jiaojiao got anxious, "What do you mean it's made up? Didn't I share the White Rabbit milk candy with you that day? And the lamp and tinderbox, didn't I buy them from Sister Jiang?"
"Aren't lamps and tinderboxes the goddess's possessions? How come they belong to your sister Jiang?"
"That's because my sister Jiang is a goddess!"
Princess Chaoyang and Pei Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance.
"We don't believe it unless you take us to see for ourselves."
"Fine, let's go! Who's afraid of who! I'll take you to Sister Jiang's shop tomorrow!"
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