Chapter 3 Going the other way Aunt, you, you, why? ...
The little palace maid glanced at Yun Qiao with some resentment, but after hearing what her aunt said, she could only grit her teeth and follow.
Zhao Changning returned to his residence as the sky turned pale and the snowstorm finally stopped.
She has made it this far and is favored by the emperor. The size of her living quarters is no different from that of a concubine. She is also served by two eunuchs and two palace maids. Her living quarters are more comfortable than those of ordinary concubines of lower rank.
"Is the ginseng soup ready?"
Seeing her exhausted face, Xiaoshun nodded quickly, "Aunt, the ginseng soup has been prepared a long time ago, and the hot water is also ready, just waiting for you to come back."
Zhao Changning nodded and went straight to the bathing room.
She took off her clothes and got into the bathtub. Two eunuchs carried hot water outside, and two palace maids carried hot water into the bathing room and added it into the bathtub bucket by bucket.
She waved her hand tiredly, "Add ginseng soup."
Xiao Shun hurriedly and carefully brought over the copper kettle and poured the entire pot of ginseng soup into the bathtub.
Yes, ginseng soup is just what Zhao Changning uses for bathing, but if you talk about how luxurious she is, it is nothing compared to other people in the palace.
When she came before the emperor, the palace maid who brought her said she was a Jurchen. She also said that there were some places in their area that were rich in ginseng, and that the women who washed the ginseng had hands as tender as those of young girls even though they were over sixty years old.
Zhao Changning slowly raised her hands. She had been living a life of luxury over the past few years. Her hands were as smooth as fat, and as white and straight as scallions. It was no wonder that the emperor liked them; she liked them too.
In fact, at the beginning she was just dreaming of climbing up to survive, so she just soaked her hands, thinking that there would always be something outstanding. Later, she really climbed up, and got a lot, but had no place to spend it. She didn't like to collect the dirty things of those people below, and she couldn't develop other hobbies, so she simply bought ginseng to take a bath.
If you think about it carefully, she has almost no desires and is really a boring person. No wonder she is lazy.
Over the years, in the eyes of those below her, her reputation was neither good nor bad. Compared to those corrupt officials, she was already very clean.
By the time he finished washing and getting ready, it was almost early morning. Zhao Changning had been tense for a long time, and suddenly relaxed, feeling a little uncomfortable.
At this time in the past, she would serve the emperor breakfast, and then the emperor would take Hu Gouer to court.
Outside the palace, she was no match for the men with boys. She never expected that after entering the palace, she would end up like this. A man who was neither male nor female could read memorials, but she couldn't even touch him.
God is so blind.
"Aunt, I brought back breakfast. This morning we have crab meat dumplings, poria porridge and a basket of mutton steamed buns." Xiao Shun shouted happily.
Zhao Changning had no appetite this morning and only picked up two buns, two steamed buns, and a bowl of porridge. "You guys can share the rest."
Xiao Shun and the others pursed their lips and excitedly took the food down to eat. These things were rarely available to them on ordinary days.
Before I finished eating, Yunsheng came over. He looked unhappy and worried. As soon as he came in, he knelt on the ground, tears in his eyes, and said nothing.
Zhao Changning didn't say anything either. He drank his porridge slowly without even looking at him.
Yunsheng gritted his teeth and banged his already bruised head against the bluestone slab again, bleeding profusely.
Zhao Changning sneered, "Don't dirty the floor."
Yunsheng couldn't kowtow any further and burst into tears, "Auntie, please, please be a good person and do it to the end, please..."
"Good man?" Zhao Changning's face grew colder.
She was a good person for once, but what did she get?
Yunsheng didn't dare cry out loud, he could only wipe his tears and sob, "Aunt, I wanted to tell you, but they stopped me, saying that Eunuch Hu would definitely gain power and that if I offended him, I would die a more miserable death. But Aunt, you, you... you gave up on Yunpei immediately, and everyone..."
With a "clang" sound of broken porcelain, the soft and fragrant Poria cocos porridge scattered all over the floor, steaming, and the broken porcelain splashed and scratched Yunsheng's face.
Zhao Changning sneered, "So, you're not afraid of offending me?"
She stood up, her eyes gleaming with ferocity as she spoke word by word, "So, you're more afraid of Hu Gou'er?"
Yunsheng trembled, but his silence said it all.
Zhao Changning smiled coldly, pursed his lips, and anger surged in his heart. He thought that he had experienced everything and didn't want to pass it on to everyone else, so that everyone could live a better life and fewer people would die. But the result was the opposite of what he thought?
What a good Hu Gouer, what a good Yun Qiao.
She held the tung blossom hairpin in her hand and examined it carefully, then threw it on the ground with disdain and said coldly, "I saved Yun Pei, but do your words still count?"
Yunsheng's eyes suddenly brightened. He crawled over to pick up the hairpin and hid it in his arms as if it were a treasure.
"Aunt, it's a deal, it's a deal. From now on, I'll do whatever you tell me to do. Aunt, I'm sorry for what happened this time..."
Zhao Changning snorted coldly, "Go away."
Yunsheng looked up pitifully, "Aunt, Yunpei..."
"Get lost." Zhao Changning knew that the girl had been badly beaten and needed medicine. "Someone will send medicine over later. Whether she can survive depends on her own fate."
Yunsheng went out with gratitude.
After Zhao Changning gave his instructions, he went straight to the imperial kitchen at noon without hesitation.
The palace maids and eunuchs were also raised by their parents. On the birthdays of many of them, those who were close to them could pay for a meal together, and even the emperor would not say anything.
In previous years, there were banquets for her birthday, but she didn't like to come. She just showed up, collected some food and had a glass of wine.
This year, it was the first time that the birthday girl sat down to eat a meal.
Xiao Shun was extremely angry when he learned that Yun Qiao had betrayed him.
"Aunt, I never thought she would be such an ungrateful person. If I had known this would happen, I would have let her be beaten to death..."
Zhao Changning smiled and looked at Xiaoshun, "It was you who was eager to deliver the medicine back then."
Xiao Shun was so angry that he beat his feet and stamped his chest, regretting that he had not recognized the person at the time.
Zhao Changning smiled as he looked at the large table of dishes. In the middle was a steamed pork with eight treasures, eight cold dishes, and eight hot dishes. It was full and it was indeed a big expense.
But there were fewer people coming today, and she couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth, revealing a sarcastic smile.
I really didn't expect that Hu Gou'er was really good at fooling people.
When the people who came saw that Zhao Changning actually sat down and didn't look like he was going to leave, they looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
After a long while, someone finally spoke.
One of the eunuchs bowed awkwardly and said, "Aunt, I'm too busy today, so I won't eat. But I'll pool my gifts with the others, please take a look."
The men and women around them began to congratulate like parrots, "I wish Auntie a long life and happiness as vast as the East Sea..."
Zhao Changning took the sandalwood box and opened it. It turned out to be a plump ginseng with many long roots. It was indeed valuable.
She smiled and said, "Since you are busy, go ahead."
After hearing this, several people breathed a sigh of relief as if they had received an imperial decree, and they left one after another, pulling each other.
The rest of the people also knelt down and kowtowed, said a few words of birthday wishes, and began to refuse.
Zhao Changning was impatient to see them being hypocritical. These people always followed whoever had power, so he simply waved his hand and let them go.
Xiao Shun was stunned and gnashed his teeth in anger. "Aunt, these people used to want to call you mother when they saw you, but because of this thing, they have become fence-sitters. Damn fence-sitters..."
Zhao Changning pulled her to sit down, "Alright, eat quickly. Take whatever you don't finish back. These things are not cheap, with abalone and shark fin. Ordinary people can hardly eat them in their lifetime."
Xiao Shun swallowed his saliva and sat down, carefully observing his aunt's expression. "Aunt, why aren't you angry?"
Zhao Changning chuckled, "Since they are fence-sitters, then just let them go back."
Xiao Shun wanted to ask how to do it, but she knew that her aunt would not answer, so she started to eat obediently. Today's meal was the best one she had had since entering the palace. It was indeed right to follow her aunt.
At noon, Zhao Changning took Xiaoshun back home.
Zhao Changning thought that the emperor would have to rest at noon and someone would probably come to call her, so she changed her clothes and waited.
Unfortunately, no one came even after waiting until noon.
Zhao Changning's hands and feet were cold. He sat silently in the armchair, motionless, looking at the thick layer of white snow outside the window, with an eerie calmness in his heart.
It turns out that she is not without desires and her heart is as calm as water, but no one dares to stand up and shake her.
She felt a little tired, and suddenly said, "Xiao Shun, tell me, what would happen if I simply let Yun Qiao serve the emperor and I didn't go?"
Xiao Shun held the cake in his hand, his face covered in pastry crumbs. He said naively, "Aunt, I don't know either, but how impressive is it to serve the Emperor?"
She tilted her head. "What about the past? What about those who no longer serve the Emperor? How are they doing?"
Zhao Changning suddenly got goose bumps all over his body when he heard her childish words, and his mind suddenly became clear.
Yes, there are many examples. When she thinks of those dead "predecessors", she feels a chill in her heart.
In fact, she understood it all in her heart.
I just don’t know what I want. I feel confused every day and am filled with exhaustion.
After nightfall, Zhao Changning was still waiting, but still no one came.
She even recalled what the emperor said in the morning. He said she was young and innocent. Even though he was so old that his skin was wrinkled, he could still see a strange light flashing in his cloudy eyes.
What was the emperor, who knew everything, thinking at that time?
Xiao Shun came in with a lunch box and said softly, "Auntie, eat. Don't starve. You're already thin enough. If you lose any more weight, the wind will blow you away."
Zhao Changning looked at the hot dish in front of him. The aroma was wafting in the air, but he knew he wouldn't be able to eat it if he died.
She suddenly said, "Tell Xiaowei to watch. If she sees Yunqiao, ask her to come see me. Also, go get Yunsheng."
She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat slowly.
At this time, as long as the emperor was in good spirits, he would listen to the opera troupe and would not need much service.
Zhao Changning was certain that Yun Qiao, who loved to be high-profile, would definitely come over.
The candlelight was as small as a bean, illuminating the small and shabby room in the cold night. The wind was blowing fiercely outside, and the wind at this time was still cold enough to cut people.
Yun Qiao arrived very quickly as expected.
She was weather-beaten all over, with a victorious smile on her face, just like Hu Gou'er. She knelt down slightly, called her "Auntie", and then sat down boldly.
"Aunt, the emperor has been served by me these past two days. Everything is fine. Don't worry. Please rest assured that the emperor has been served very well by me. I would like to thank you for your cultivation."
Zhao Changning looked at her hard-to-conceal pride and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He had raised her well over the years and had nurtured her heart.
She smiled faintly and said to Xiao Shun beside her: "Go see if Yunsheng is here?"
Xiao Shun immediately said, "Yes, aunt."
"Is it worth it for something without roots?" Zhao Changning picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. "You really are not afraid of me at all."
Before Yun Qiao could speak, Yun Sheng's voice came from outside.
"Aunt," Yunsheng panted a little, holding the door frame with guilt, "Aunt, I'm sorry, I'm late..."
Zhao Changning smiled and pointed to another cup of tea. He said calmly, "It's not too late. Come and serve Yun Qiao a cup of tea. Maybe you will follow her in the future."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qiao immediately revealed a proud look, as if he had everything under control.
Zhao Changning narrowed his eyes and said playfully, "If it's poisonous, would you dare drink it?"
Yun Qiao immediately sneered and said in a delicate voice, "Aunt, you are not that kind of person."
Zhao Changning was stunned. What kind of person is she?
She doesn't even know it herself.
Yun Sheng didn't understand why, but he still obediently served the tea to Yun Qiao respectfully...
"Tea, please."
Eunuch Hu handed the tea bowl to the emperor who was listening to the opera with his eyes closed, and suddenly his heart trembled.
He was so scared that he looked around, but there was nothing.
After serving the emperor tea, he walked out with small steps, and asked suspiciously, "Where's Yun Qiao?"
The young palace maid bowed her head and said respectfully, "I was just called out."
"Who called him out?" Hu Gou'er had a bad feeling in his heart.
The little palace maid was confused and said, "It seems to be Xiaowei beside my aunt."
"Oh no, this idiot." Hu Gou'er closed his eyes in anger. He wanted to go find someone, but when he saw the emperor move, he had to grit his teeth and go in to serve.
He ordered the palace maid, "Go to Zhao Changning immediately and ask Yun Qiao to come back and serve the emperor."
It's already this late, and instead of consolidating his own work, he's showing off. This idiot, his brain is as useless as ever.
At this time, Yun Qiao was kneeling on the ground in a mess, blood was constantly flowing from the corner of his mouth, and confusion and anger were flashing in his eyes.
"Auntie, you, you, why?"
The author has something to say:
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I originally wanted to write about a "villain" who would fight and live just like men for her life, money and power.
If you like it, please add it to your collection. Love you guys! [猫头]
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