Peirong was ill for seven whole days before she fully recovered. By then, the palace had already started preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner three days later.
Taking advantage of Fu Qianyu's free time in the afternoon, Lingyun thought about it and decided to pull Peirong to the inner hall.
"Your Highness, I was sick and confused that day. I know I was wrong. Please don't chase me away."
Fu Qianyu remained silent, while Lingyun smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, Peirong has always been like this. You don't know that the last time you said you wanted to drive her away, she was so scared that she couldn't sleep well."
As she spoke, she winked at Peirong, who knelt beside Fu Qianyu's knees, took her hand, and said coquettishly, "Miss, I really know I was wrong."
The word "Miss" brought back the old days when she was still at home. Fu Qianyu couldn't bear it after all, and deliberately said with a stern face: "Do you really know you are wrong?"
Peirong nodded quickly: "I understand. I will be careful with my words and actions in the future and will never speak nonsense again."
Fu Xiyu smiled helplessly at the sight, but she still reached out and pulled the person up. "You've always been like this. I'll be so happy when you can be as steady as Lingyun."
As they were talking, a palace maid came in to report that someone from the Shanggong Bureau had arrived and that there was something wrong with the arrangements for the New Year's Eve dinner, and they wanted to ask the Queen for instructions.
Fu Qianyu sat up straight and told someone to come in. She then instructed Peirong, "By the way, Hui Jieyu also caught a cold a few days ago. They were afraid that the illness would spread to the princess, so they sent her to Jingyang Palace. The kitchen made some fish cakes today. You can send some over. Duanshu loves it."
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Peirong was very happy to have received her new job. She hurriedly carried the food box to Jingyang Palace. Taohong, the new maid who came to serve in Fengyi Palace, also went with her.
They chattered all the way, making Peirong very happy. Talking about what happened in the past few days, Taohong sighed, "Sister, you don't know, but these past few days, whenever someone from the Shang Palace Bureau came, it was Sister Lingyun who accompanied the Empress. Even when the Empress was not around, she only talked to Lingyun. I really feel sorry for you."
Peirong said with a cold face: "Why are you feeling wronged for me?"
Taohong leaned closer and said, "Sister, you've been taking medicine these past few days. I once saw Sister Lingyun mix hot water into your medicine."
Hearing this, Peirong immediately stopped and asked with a stern face: "Are you telling the truth?"
Tao Hong nodded and said in a low voice, "There were times when I couldn't see clearly, but last night I saw it clearly, it was indeed so."
Peirong was furious and gritted her teeth, "Is she trying to take advantage of my illness to please the Empress?"
"Speaking of which, you are also the Empress's dowry, and you are always thinking about the Empress. Why should you be inferior to her?"
Peirong took a deep breath and snorted coldly: "I can't believe you're actually on my side?"
Tao Hong was stunned: "I'm not taking sides with anyone, I just think that my sister is smart. It would be a shame if she can't be valued by the Queen."
Peirong turned her head to look at Taohong. Taohong felt uneasy when she looked at her. Then she saw the person opposite her laughing, and she felt relieved.
"Let's go. The Queen has ordered us to deliver food to Princess Duanshu. We must not delay the meal."
That evening, Zhao Yuancheng went to Jingyang Palace to visit Concubine Lian and her son. When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, a dark shadow quietly walked out of the ear room of Fengyi Palace.
Inside Changxin Palace, Concubine Shu was half-lying on the couch wrapped in a blanket, looking weary. She asked the visitor through the screen, "Are you sure there's something fishy going on between master and servant?"
"If it's not 100%, it's at least 50-60. Taohong said a lot, saying Peirong looked very bad at the time. I think if we can do it a few more times, it will be done."
Concubine Shu smiled lazily, raised her hand and motioned Mo Xiang to take the purse, and said with a smile: "Well done, go back and tell Tao Hong that when this matter is completed, I will agree to let her leave the palace and marry her cousin, but if this matter goes wrong in the slightest, she will not be able to survive."
The young eunuch accepted the reward and thanked her profusely, saying, "Yes, I will give Taohong proper instructions. Your Majesty, don't worry. That girl is very clever and will definitely help you get what you want."
Concubine Shu yawned and said, "Well, go back. Be careful and don't let anyone see you."
"Well, I'll take my leave."
For the next three days, the palace was peaceful.
On the day of the New Year's Eve dinner, Yuqing Palace was also bustling with activity. The Empress Dowager had never liked these occasions and rarely came out to have fun with everyone.
As soon as the emperor raised his glass and delivered his New Year's greetings, the dinner officially began.
Today's dinner was organized by Fu Xiyu and Lian Fei. Zhao Yuancheng held up his wine glass and smiled at their hard work.
Concubine Shu was not willing to be outdone. She looked at the emperor coquettishly and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress has indeed worked hard to organize tonight's dinner, but the best is yet to come."
Zhao Yuancheng didn't know what happened in Ci'an Palace that day. When he heard Concubine Shu say this, he looked at her with anticipation, "Oh? What's going on?"
Concubine Shu deliberately kept the secret, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. You'll see it soon."
As they were speaking, half of the candles in Yuqing Palace were extinguished by the palace servants.
A woman came in gracefully holding a jade harp. Although she was wearing a veil, it could not hide her beauty, especially her eyes, which were extremely beautiful.
The red teardrop mole at the corner of her eye adds a touch of charm to her.
At first, Fu Xiyu didn't recognize who it was, but when she saw the mole, she knew it immediately. No wonder Concubine Shu proposed that the concubines in the harem perform on New Year's Eve in Ci'an Palace.
It turns out that he wanted to put her in a high position.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and sighed suddenly.
Amid the melodious sound of the piano, Zhao Yuancheng's eyes gradually became dazed. Perhaps he had already figured out who the person in front of him looked like.
Ping Jieyu was an expert in playing the zither, and her performance of the piece "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" was lingering and touching.
But today is the New Year's Eve dinner after all, and all the relatives are here. Although "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" is good, it is somewhat inappropriate and too petty.
Sure enough, when she turned around and saw that the empress dowager had a slightly unhappy look on her face, Fu Qianyu said nothing, but just quietly admired it with the emperor.
The song ends.
Zhao Yuancheng only came back to his senses after Zhu Yu reminded him. He forced a smile and said, "The phoenix seeks the phoenix, and the frost is swaying under the willows of Zhangtai. What a beautiful performance."
Ping Jieyu stood up to thank her, but Shu Fei smiled and said, "It is indeed good, but I wonder who is the beauty who can play such a heavenly music? I would like to see her for myself."
As she spoke, Concubine Ping slowly took off her veil. When everyone saw her face, they were stunned, especially Zhao Yuancheng.
The surprise in his eyes was even stronger, and there was also a hint of sadness.
Hui Jieyu exclaimed: "She, why does she look so much like the old one..."
She didn't continue to say the rest of the words. Lian Fei also felt sympathetic, but when she looked up and saw Fu Qianyu's calm and composed look, her heart suddenly calmed down.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Qian pays respect to His Majesty."
The Queen Mother asked coldly, "Qian? What is your relationship with the deposed Qian?"
Concubine Ping lowered her head and said quietly, "The deposed Concubine Qian is my cousin."
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