Chapter 21 Dispute...
"Is the Empress really seriously ill?" Mao Gen asked in a low voice after returning to Cuiyu Pavilion.
Licorice was unsure: "I'm feeling a little unwell, but I should be alright, right?"
Since everyone is willing to see this nobody, there shouldn't be any major problems, right? However, the Queen hadn't spoken just now, and her attire had become much simpler.
"...The Queen is not ill." Xiao Li looked around and whispered.
Not sick?
Both of them looked puzzled.
Oguri lowered his voice even further: "Lu Cai has a friend who works at the palace gate. Yesterday, he saw the High Priest enter the palace."
High Priest!
Mao Gen was struck dumb, instantly understanding: "The Empress must have taken the Pregnancy Fruit!"
Gan Cao grew up in the laundry department and wasn't as sensitive to this matter as the two women from the imperial bedchamber, but she understood completely when she heard the words "pregnancy fruit".
This reminded him of His Majesty's question from last night: Did he want a child?
A child, a relative you gave birth to, a child with whom you are truly connected by blood.
He bit his lip to suppress the thoughts that were spreading wildly in his heart like vines.
He was His Majesty's man, and everything depended on His Majesty's will. He must not harbor any unrealistic thoughts before His Majesty bestows any favors upon him, he constantly reminded himself.
Oguri looked on with envy: "The Queen is going to have her own child..."
"The palace maids should be moving soon. Go and see which palace they've chosen." Gan Cao waved to the two of them with her eyes closed.
The two young palace servants immediately fell silent. They looked at each other for a moment, then bowed and quietly withdrew.
The room fell silent, as quiet as a desolate wilderness.
He gently stroked the smooth palace dress on his body, and looked at the white jade porcelain vase with orchids painted on the table, and the colorful embroidery of butterflies among flowers on the wall...
Finally, he took off his palace attire and began his daily training ahead of schedule.
The matter of having offspring is entirely up to His Majesty's will. All he can do now is to improve his physique to please His Majesty even more.
...
The figure inside the palace tent was already trembling, yet still struggling to hold on.
Cui, the eunuch, always encouraged him with his words: "Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others."
The good physique I've developed through hard work will please His Majesty, and that's the most worthwhile thing of all.
After a long while, he collapsed on the couch, exhausted, and stopped exercising.
"Master, Consort Peng has chosen Lotus Fragrance Garden, Consort Mingxiang has chosen Jiahe Garden, and Consort Zhuyun and Consort Baiping are vying for Songfeng Pavilion." Maogen, who had been waiting outside the door, came in as he reported, while massaging Gancao.
Gan Cao became interested: "With so many palaces, why are they fighting over them?"
"Because His Majesty once praised the integrity of pine and cypress trees," Xiao Li said softly, explaining the reason for the dispute between the two sides.
His Majesty praised him?
At that moment, Gan Cao regretted choosing Cuiyuxuan.
“But there are so many pine and cypress trees in the world. Only rare and precious flowers can attract people’s attention.” Xiao Li said while helping Mao Gen.
Indeed, the palace has so many beautiful sights, and the few pine and cypress trees in the small courtyard are hardly attractive. He was just too concerned to think straight.
Licorice lay down again, letting Imperata cylindrica massage him to relieve his fatigue.
"Give some money to the servants in the Imperial Kitchen so they can send some hot water over at this time every day." After intense exercise, it's inevitable to sweat, so a bath is necessary for proper care.
After receiving the order, Oguri immediately went to make the arrangements.
After a shower, he underwent another thorough pampering. The firm yet smooth feel of his chest, waist, and abdomen made him feel that all the hard work was worth it.
Looking at his master, who was so fair he seemed to glow, Mao Gen couldn't help but lower his head while serving him: even though he saw him every day, he was still so striking.
After he was dressed, the two young palace maids breathed a sigh of relief and then helped him wipe his black hair and scent his clothes.
"Young Master Cainan, are you there?"
Before their hair was completely dry, the group heard the voice of a male officer from the Shanggong Bureau outside.
Gancao half-tied her hair with a jade hairpin and gestured for Xiaoli to open the door.
Despite his seemingly unremarkable attire, the male official lowered his head in embarrassment upon seeing him, his bowing motion slowing slightly: "This humble official greets Your Highness, may Your Highness be well."
Gan Cao walked over and gently offered a helping hand: "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
"I apologize for bothering you, but the main reason is," the male official paused, somewhat embarrassed, "that Consort Zhuyun and Consort Baiping have had a dispute, and it's not appropriate to bother the Empress with this matter, so I would like to ask you to go and mediate."
Should he try to persuade him?
His rank was slightly higher than theirs, but the two of them were still resentful. If they really went, it would only add fuel to the fire.
But it's not right for this to just continue like this.
They were all assigned to Anle Palace; if they caused trouble, they might be implicated.
“Let’s go take a look.” Gan Cao didn’t hesitate for long.
The male official quickly led the way, and Xiao Li and Mao Gen followed.
The area outside Songfeng Garden was bustling with activity. Before the group even got close, they could hear the sounds of arguing and people trying to break up a fight inside.
"I clearly saw it first, why should I give it to that bitch!" Zhu Yun said angrily.
Bai Ping retorted, "We clearly saw it at the same time, and it was His Majesty whom I served first..."
"Don't stop me, I'm going to tear this little hussy apart today!"
As Gan Cao approached, he saw Zhu Yun frantically trying to pounce on him, and Piao Peng and Ming Xiang desperately trying to hold him back.
"You guys are really brave..." he couldn't help but exclaim.
She had noticed him arrive and frowned, asking, "What do you mean?"
Although Zhu Yun's eyes were blazing with anger, she remained silent for a moment.
"The Empress is feeling a bit unwell, but the palace rules still apply." Gan Cao smiled wryly. Although he had been promoted to a true concubine, he dared not become arrogant at all. The thirty lashes His Majesty had given him were enough to keep him constantly in mind.
Palace rules.
The men who came from the palace guards were all taken aback.
They were already imperial servants; would they be stripped naked and beaten again? The men were filled with apprehension.
Zhu Yun was also a little scared, but she still stubbornly insisted, "It's not like I started this trouble!"
"If it wasn't you, then who was it?" Bai Ping retorted.
Gan Cao glanced at the two of them: "When two cats fight, you're concerned about which one started it?"
Bai Ping's face flushed red and then turned pale.
"I'm a cat, so what are you?!" Zhu Yun was stunned for a moment, then completely exploded.
Licorice said coldly, "There's no difference, so I'm afraid of being implicated."
The room fell silent.
The men in the changing rooms felt as if their faces had been peeled off. They had originally had a clear understanding of themselves, but in the face of everyone's flattery these past few days, they couldn't help but get a little carried away.
Hearing these words, I felt ashamed and a chill ran down my spine.
The palace servants all kept their heads down, afraid of attracting the attention of the young ladies: if the palace maids and dressers were like cats, then they were just ants.
"Then tell me, what should we do? I clearly saw it first, I definitely won't let it go." After a long while, Zhu Yun finally spoke.
Gan Cao breathed a sigh of relief: "How about this, you draw lots, and the one who draws will give the one who doesn't draw a sum of money. You can decide on the amount in advance."
Those who are selected will stay at Songfeng Garden, while those who are not selected will receive silver.
The two had to admit that, even if they didn't want to, it was the best solution.
In the end, Bai Ping drew Songfeng Garden, while Zhu Yun, having received the silver, could only choose the other Magnolia Garden.
Only then did the palace servants of the Six Palaces relax and get busy again.
The young masters were gossiping about each other, which was somewhat interesting if they were just listening from the sidelines; but if something unexpected happened while they were in the middle of it, they would definitely be caught in the crossfire. At this moment, they couldn't help but feel a bit grateful to Gan Cao.
Gan Cao didn't know what the young palace men were thinking, but he knew that some of the palace maids were definitely going to hate him.
Although what I just said was the truth, it was still a bit harsh.
But he had to say it.
After all, they are going to live in Anle Palace for a long time. If they cause trouble every now and then, how will His Majesty and Empress view him?
Let him hate it if he wants. They are all palace servants who live off the Emperor's favor. Judging others by his own standards, he felt that even without this incident, others wouldn't be very friendly to him.
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