Chapter 71 Disaster in the Palace
Upon hearing this, although Madam Xiao was reluctant in her heart, she had to agree reluctantly due to Concubine Yao's status and relationship with her, and said with a smile.
"I am deeply honored to receive the kind invitation from the Imperial Concubine."
During the dinner, the Yiku Palace was brightly lit and filled with a wide variety of delicacies, but it could not conceal the subtle atmosphere in the air.
Concubine Yao and Madam Xiao seemed to be chatting and laughing on the surface, but in fact they had their own plans in mind.
It was not until the end of dinner that Mrs. Xiao stood up and bowed.
"Thank you for your hospitality today, Your Majesty. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now. I'll come back another day to pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Yao spoke with a smile on her face.
"Look at me. I've been chatting so happily with Madam Xiao that I've forgotten the time. If I don't let Madam Xiao go back, the palace gates will be locked."
"Cuizhu, escort Madam Xiao out of the palace."
Cuizhu responded and stepped forward, leading Madam Xiao out of the palace gate. When they reached the pond in the palace's imperial garden, they saw a woman feeding fish by the pond.
Cuizhu spoke.
"Madam Xiao, the Emperor has been very fond of Consort Cui recently. I will accompany you to pay your respects."
Since we have already bumped into each other, it would be unreasonable not to pay my respects. Mrs. Xiao nodded when she heard this.
"Then I'll trouble Miss Cuizhu."
Soon Cuizhu took Madam Xiao and walked towards Cui Zhaoyi.
Madam Xiao bowed and spoke respectfully.
"Your Highness greets Consort Cui."
Cui Zhaoyi looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Cuizhu hurriedly explained.
"Empress Zhaoyi, this is Madam Xiao from the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion, and she's also an important guest of our Imperial Concubine. Our Empress had a very pleasant conversation with Madam Xiao, and she's even considering marrying into her family. She's invited her to dinner today. I'm about to escort her out of the palace now, thinking of bringing her back tomorrow to have tea with you."
Listening to Cuizhu's series of explanations, a gleam flashed in Cui Zhaoyi's eyes. The imperial concubine was an important guest.
"It turns out to be Madam Xiao. But why didn't Madam Xiao kneel down when she saluted?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao felt a pang of anxiety. She was a second-rank imperial concubine, while Zhaoyi was only a third-rank one. She did not need to kneel down and pay her respects to her. However, it was getting late, and the important thing was to leave the palace as soon as possible.
"That's what Empress Zhaoyi reminded me of."
Then he knelt down and spoke respectfully.
"Your Highness greets the Empress Zhaoyi."
Seeing this, Cui Zhaoyi raised a smug smile. The imperial concubine's friend was kneeling in front of her, so it meant that the imperial concubine would have to kneel in front of her sooner or later. She was reluctant to ask Madam Xiao to stand up.
Cuizhu has been with the imperial concubine for many years and has seen all kinds of people and things. There are always some people who, having just entered the palace, rely on the emperor's favor and easily lose their own weight and speak with a smile.
"Empress Zhaoyi, Madam Xiao rarely comes to the palace and doesn't know the rules. Your Majesty is feeding the fish. Why not ask Madam Xiao to bring you the bait? It will be your apology."
It was a good suggestion that the imperial concubine's friend serve her like a maid. A hint of amusement flashed in Cui Zhaoyi's eyes, and she seemed quite satisfied with the suggestion.
She smiled softly, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness and arrogance.
"Well, that's a good idea, Madam Xiao. You can serve me the bait for a while."
Although Mrs. Xiao was angry, she remained calm and composed.
She knew very well that it was not appropriate to conflict with Cui Zhaoyi at this moment, otherwise it would only give more handles to those with ulterior motives.
So she slowly stood up, walked to the side, picked up the fish basket and bait, and handed them to Cui Zhaoyi gracefully.
"Empress Zhaoyi, please."
Cui Zhaoyi took the bait and gently threw it into the pond. She watched the fish fighting for the food with a smug smile on her face.
She seemed to enjoy the feeling of being superior to others, especially when she saw that someone of noble status like Madam Xiao had to submit to her.
"Madam Xiao, you are indeed a sensible person. I like dealing with smart people."
There was a hint of provocation and contempt in Cui Zhaoyi's words.
Madam Xiao smiled slightly and didn't take it seriously.
"Your Highness, your compliments are too kind."
I just hope that Concubine Zhaoyi will be more sensible and not delay my leaving the palace.
Cuizhu looked around and whispered to Amber, Madam Xiao's maid.
"Hurry up and go find the Imperial Concubine. Concubine Cui is deeply favored and is used to being arrogant and domineering in the palace. Madam Xiao is afraid that she will be in trouble today."
Upon hearing this, Amber looked at Madam Xiao, who looked aggrieved as she held the bait. Finally, she nodded slightly and headed towards the Yiku Palace.
Today, the Imperial Concubine had a very pleasant conversation with the Madam, and she should not bear to see the Madam being embarrassed.
Seeing Amber walking away, Cuizhu spoke respectfully.
"Empress Zhaoyi, where are the palace servants who serve you?"
Cui Zhaoyi spoke while feeding the fish.
"I asked her to get some more bait."
After making sure that there was no one around, Cuizhu took a step forward.
He pushed Madam Xiao hard.
Mrs. Xiao was caught off guard, lost her balance, and fell towards the pond.
She instinctively reached out and grabbed around, trying to steady herself, but she only grabbed a handful of air and eventually fell into the cold water.
"ah………"
Cuizhu spoke anxiously.
"Mrs. Xiao, someone come quickly..."
Cui Zhaoyi was also panicked when she saw Madam Xiao falling into the water. How could this person fall into the water?
Cuizhu looked at Cui Zhaoyi with anger.
"Empress Zhaoyi, why did you push Madam Xiao into the water?"
"Although it's February, the pool water is icy cold at night. Aren't you trying to kill me?"
Cui Zhaoyi was bewildered.
"I don't have any..."
Xiao family.
Seeing that it was getting dark.
The food on the table was cold, and Xiao Fuguang couldn't help frowning.
"If you don't come back by now, the palace gates will be locked. Did something happen to your mother in the palace?"
Lin Qingwan also became anxious.
"I'm going to pick up my mother!"
Xiao Fushu also spoke.
"I want to go too."
Xiao Fuguang looked at the two of them.
"That's the imperial palace, and when we got there, the gate was already locked. Sister-in-law, you and Fushu stay home. I'll go wait for mother at the gate."
"Liu Yue, go prepare the carriage."
In the palace.
Mrs. Xiao has been rescued, but she fainted after choking on water.
Such a big commotion naturally alarmed the queen.
At this time, Madam Xiao was lying in a side hall of Fengyi Palace.
The queen looked at the imperial physician and spoke.
"Doctor, how is Madam Xiao?"
The imperial physician bowed.
"Your Majesty, Madam Xiao choked on water and was a little frightened, but her life is not in danger. I will prescribe a prescription right away. She will wake up after taking the medicine. However, she has caught a cold, so she will need to pay attention to recuperation in the future."
Upon hearing this, the queen nodded slightly, her expression revealing a hint of solemnity.
"What on earth is going on? How could Madam Xiao fall into the pond for no reason?"
Cui Zhaoyi sat aside with an anxious look on her face.
Cuizhu and Concubine Yao exchanged a look.
Concubine Yao spoke helplessly.
"Your Majesty, I am also responsible for this matter. I simply summoned Madam Xiao to the palace for tea. We enjoyed a pleasant conversation, so I invited her to dinner. Unexpectedly, when she was leaving the palace, she ran into Consort Cui, and a conflict ensued. Consort Cui's temper...she pushed Madam Xiao away."
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