As the eunuch shouted "The Queen has arrived!" the Queen walked slowly and gracefully into the main hall holding the hand of the head palace maid Rong Xin.
The queen had a solemn expression on her face, with gorgeous makeup on, which made her look radiant. Her gorgeous bright red palace dress made her look graceful and luxurious, with no sign of illness at all.
Everyone in the hall was overwhelmed by her aura and instantly fell silent. They bowed respectfully and said, "Your concubine greets Her Majesty the Queen."
The Queen slowly walked to the phoenix chair at the head of the table, waved her sleeves and calmly sat down, then said with a soft parting of her red lips, "Everyone, get up."
The concubines then stood up and sat down, but for a moment no one dared to speak casually.
The Queen raised her phoenix eyes slightly, and glanced at the concubines sitting in the hall with their heads bowed. Suddenly, her face softened and she said:
"During this time, the Imperial Concubine has been ill, and the affairs of the harem have been managed by Concubine Yi. Concubine Yi is experienced and has managed the affairs in an orderly manner. She is comparable to me."
Ning Yuxi was suddenly called out, but she was not at all panicked. During the time when the queen was ill, the emperor handed over the affairs of the harem to her again.
There was no way. Now that there was no imperial concubine, the next highest rank below the empress was the concubine. Of the four concubines, only she and Concubine Jing were left. And Concubine Jing never cared about these matters. Ning Yuxi couldn't refuse this responsibility even if she wanted to.
Now that the Queen has recovered from her illness, the first thing she wants to do is to take back her power. Isn't this just causing trouble?
Fortunately, Ning Yuxi is not greedy for power now. She prefers the day when she can possess this right legitimately.
Ning Yuxi hurriedly replied in a panic: "Your Majesty, you are joking. How can I compare with you? I am grateful to the Emperor and the Empress for not abandoning me.
I am only following your old ways, and can only guarantee that nothing goes wrong. How can I compare to you, Your Majesty? You are really putting me through so much trouble."
Hearing this, the Queen's smile deepened. "Concubine Yi, you are too modest. I have been so grateful to you for helping me share these things during this period. I should thank you very much."
Ning Yuxi's eyelids twitched. "It is my duty to help Her Majesty share her worries. How can I dare to accept Her Majesty's thanks?"
The smile on the queen's face never changed, as if it was engraved on her face: "Look at Concubine Yi's mouth, she really knows how to talk."
As she spoke, the queen picked up the tea beside her and took a sip.
Ning Yuxi didn't want to play Tai Chi with the Queen anymore, so she said, "Now that the Queen is well again, it's truly a joyous occasion for all of us. It's only right that the management of the harem be returned to the Queen."
But the Queen said, "What are you talking about, Concubine Yi? You have managed the harem in perfect order during this period. Even the Emperor has praised you. If that's the case, then you should continue to help me share the burden."
Ning Yuxi just wanted to say, haha, I don’t believe you at all. If you really thought so, why did you say those words in the beginning?
Although she thought so in her heart, she still had to be respectful on the surface. Ning Yuxi said hurriedly with a panicked and helpless look on her face: "Oh, Queen, please feel sorry for me. I am not as good as you in managing such a big matter as the harem.
I've been so careful every day, afraid of making any mistakes. You see, I've lost weight these days because of all this. Your Majesty, please think of it as a sign of pity for me, and don't let me take care of these important matters."
The Queen came to take back the power to manage the harem, but she also wanted to show that it was not her real intention. Since that was the case, Ning Yuxi had to satisfy her, otherwise she didn't know how many troubles were waiting for her. She was a person who feared trouble.
Anyway, she has to give up this right, no one cares. So how she gives it is not very important.
As expected, after Ning Yuxi's self-deprecating and flattering remarks, the Queen took over the power of managing the harem with a very helpless look. However, Ning Yuxi was very sharp-eyed and could still see a look of satisfaction under her helplessness.
She curled her lips silently in her heart, and while the Queen's attention was diverted elsewhere, Ning Yuxi exchanged glances with Concubine Xian who was sitting opposite her.
To outsiders, it seemed like a very ordinary exchange of glances, but only Ning Yuxi and Concubine Xian knew that beneath that ordinary glance there were a lot of eye rolls hidden.
The queen was satisfied to take back her power and began to act like a dignified and virtuous queen again.
She first looked at Concubine Lian, who was pregnant with a big belly, very kindly and said, "Concubine Lian, this pregnancy is already more than seven months old, right? When it is eight months old, you don't need to come to pay your respects to me. I will also send someone to bring your mother into the palace to accompany you.
I've also asked the Imperial Household Department to find a few suitable midwives. Just focus on your delivery and let me know if you need anything."
Concubine Lian's face was filled with emotion: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
"Yes." The Queen smiled and nodded, then looked at the contented Lanpin beside her: "And Lanpin, you just came out of confinement not long ago. Although you are out of confinement, you still have to take care of your own body, as well as the Sixth Prince.
"It's been almost two years since a royal heir was born in the palace, so we need to pay more attention to the Sixth Prince. I've also asked the Imperial Household Department to find two wet nurses for the Sixth Prince. We can't treat him badly."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Lan's face was naturally filled with joy. She didn't care whether it was right for a concubine's child to have four or five wet nurses or not. She only thought that her child should receive the best treatment.
Looking at Lanpin's complacent expression, the Queen's eyes were filled with a meaningful smile.
She then asked about the health of the others until she heard a suppressed cough. Then she looked at Concubine Xin, whose face was flushed, and said in surprise, "Oh, Concubine Xin, what's wrong? I heard from the Imperial Hospital that you caught a cold a few days ago. Are you still not well?"
When Concubine Xin heard the Queen mention her, although she was worried that her fate was caused by someone framing the Queen, she did not dare to show it openly. She quickly suppressed the itch in her throat and said:
"Your Majesty, it's me who is weak. I caught a cold these days and haven't recovered yet. I'm sorry to have caused you to worry."
The queen said with a serious face: "A cold can be serious or minor. If you don't take good care of it, it can become a big problem. You can't take it lightly. You cough badly. I have the best Tianshan Snow Lotus.
Cough-relieving and lung-moistening medicine is the most effective. I'll have it delivered to you later. You don't have to come to pay your respects to me every day these days. Taking care of your health is the most important thing."
Concubine Xin looked up in surprise, and when she saw the Queen's face full of worry, her heart was suddenly shocked.
As soon as she returned to her palace after the meeting, the Queen's Tianshan Snow Lotus was delivered to her, and Concubine Xin felt a little sour in her nose.
Thinking about the setbacks she had encountered during this period, and now suddenly knowing that someone cared about her, she felt that this timely help was truly heartwarming.
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