Chapter 148 The Royal Concubine Returns to Visit Her Family
The Emperor of Great Chu left Qingyun Palace and went straight to Concubine Lin's Wenying Palace.
But when they were halfway there, he suddenly ordered, "Meng Quande, go back to Longsheng Palace."
If I keep shuttling back and forth in the harem late at night, wouldn't that just cause unrest in the harem? Forget it, let's talk about it tomorrow.
As for Concubine Lin, she naturally received the news that His Majesty was heading to Wenying Palace and then turned back to Longsheng Palace. Of course, she also knew that His Majesty came from Qingyun Palace.
Because of worry, Linpin couldn't sleep well all night.
The one keeping watch tonight was her personal maid. Seeing her like this, she stepped forward to comfort her: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. If His Majesty wanted to punish you, he wouldn't have waited this whole night."
"Besides, since there is no news from the Royal Concubine, it should be alright."
Lin Bin just shook her head and said nothing more, but she was unable to calm down in her heart.
On the surface, everyone thinks that they are on the side of the Imperial Concubine, and the Imperial Concubine will naturally consider her own situation. However, she knows clearly in her heart that the Imperial Concubine actually disdains to engage in these petty actions of forming cliques.
She has always been the type to socialize with whoever she likes.
I guess this is the confidence her parents gave her.
Early the next morning, the Imperial Concubine requested permission to return to the Marquis Dingguo's residence to visit her relatives, and she also went to the Empress Dowager's palace in person.
Seeing them mother and son, the Queen Mother could not help but sigh: "Nowadays, fewer and fewer people come to accompany an old woman like me."
Seeing her like this, Song Qingyan couldn't help laughing: "The Queen Mother has become more childish now. I was worried that the Queen Mother would think we were too noisy, so I didn't dare to disturb her!"
Nanny Su beside the Queen Mother also looked at Song Qingyan with a smile: "Your Highness has really touched the heart of the Queen Mother."
"If you come too often, I'll have a headache," the Queen Mother said, gently stroking her forehead, "but if none of you come, I'll still feel a little lonely."
"Now that it's warmer, let Nanny Su help the Empress Dowager go for a walk outside every day." Song Qingyan gently stroked the Empress Dowager's hand.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." The Queen Mother smiled and looked at Song Qingyan, "You want to go back to Dingguo Marquis Mansion?"
Song Qingyan nodded: "Your Majesty said that my father will be back today. I miss you so much that I haven't seen you for a long time..."
"You should go back," the Queen Mother nodded. "Now that the harem is managed by the Queen, you don't have to worry about it. It's time to go back and have fun. There's no need to tell the Emperor."
The Queen Mother turned to look at Nanny Su and said, "Go to Yu's study and tell her that I want Qingyan to stay at home for two more days."
When Song Qingyan heard this, she looked at the Queen Mother with surprise in her eyes.
Seeing her like this, the Queen Mother patted her hands gently and said, "You have worked hard these years."
"Queen Mother, this is what I should do," Song Qingyan shook her head, then remembered something and looked at the Queen Mother. "Don't worry, Queen Mother. This morning, I sent someone to ask about the Queen Mother. She has recovered now."
The Queen Mother nodded and said, "Someone from the Empress's palace has also come to pay her respects. She said she can't come to pay her respects, as she is afraid that she might pass on her illness to me."
"It's hard for her. She's not feeling well but still thinking about me."
Song Qingyan knew that Shen Ning had always been the gentle and lovely person in front of the Queen Mother, so she just smiled and said, "The Queen Mother has always been filial and obedient."
"You are also a well-mannered child." Hearing Song Qingyan say this, the empress dowager felt even more relieved. She had made the right choice in choosing the empress and the imperial concubine.
When Song Qingyan returned to Qingyun Palace, Jin Xin and Pei Chuyan had already packed their things and were just waiting for their queen to come back before setting off.
"The Queen Mother said that we can stay for two more days. Please bring more changes of clothes!" As soon as Song Qingyan returned to the palace, she hurriedly instructed Jinxin.
Jin Xin was slightly stunned when she heard this.
Normally, concubines were not allowed to stay overnight when they returned home to visit their families, so they got up early and packed everything up, hoping that their queen could spend more time at home with the old master and the mistress. They did not expect that the empress dowager would give them such an honor.
"Let's go, don't just stand there." Jinyu pushed Jinxin beside her, "Is Gaoxing stupid?"
Jin Xin came back to her senses and smiled: "This servant is indeed so happy that she is stupid."
Having said that, he and Jinyu happily went to prepare things.
Song Qingyan looked at Pei Chuyan who was standing beside her and said, "Chuyan, come back with me and stay for a few days."
"I will of course protect Princess Yong'an personally." Pei Chuyan saluted Song Qingyan.
【A little pedantic. 】
Lu Xingwan couldn't help but mutter.
Here, Song Qingyan happily led a group of people out of the palace, but Shen Ning in the Jinxiu Palace was busy with the Queen Mother's birthday banquet.
"Your Majesty, you have just recovered, please take a rest first!" Yunlan stepped forward and massaged the Queen's shoulders.
"No," the Queen said, still not letting go of what she was doing, "It's less than ten days until my mother's birthday banquet. His Majesty has already said that it should be grand, and there are envoys from other countries here, so we can't be careless."
Yunlan nodded: "Don't worry, Madam, everything is almost ready."
Seeing that her queen was in a good mood today, Yunlan thought of Bai Ling's request yesterday. After thinking it over again and again, she finally did not speak.
Your Majesty is very busy now, so she doesn't have the time to take care of these trivial matters. Let's wait until Your Majesty finishes the Queen Mother's birthday banquet.
"I heard that the Royal Concubine has returned to the Marquis Dingguo's Mansion," Yun Lan did not stop moving her hands, nor did she stop talking, "I heard that the Queen Mother even granted her special permission to stay at the mansion for a few more days!"
Shen Ning was speechless after listening to Yunlan's words.
Sometimes I don’t even know whether my choice of the position of queen was right or wrong.
It seemed that choosing her as the empress made the empress dowager and the Emperor of Great Chu feel more apologetic towards Song Qingyan, and many things were more biased towards her.
Forget it. I'm not trying to win favor.
I have longer-term goals.
Because Song Qingyan's decision was made on the spur of the moment, it was already early morning when Lady Dingguo Marquis received the news, so she quickly began to make arrangements.
Marquis Dingguo is not a man who likes to make a fuss. So, there is no need for Song Qingyan to make any special preparations when she returns home.
But now the Song family only has this one daughter left, and the whole family loves and pampers her. Today is her first time returning to her parents' home after being promoted to Imperial Consort, so she must prepare well.
While the wife of Marquis Dingguo was busy with her daughters-in-law, a visiting card from the wife of the Minister of Personnel, Mrs. Lin, was delivered to her.
When the Marquis's wife saw the invitation, she couldn't help but frown: "She is really good at making time."
The second daughter-in-law, Wang, came forward to take a look. Seeing that it was a visiting card from the Lin family, she looked up at her eldest sister-in-law and said, "I think you are here for Zhuo'er's marriage. Anyway, you have already finished the work and the person is already outside the door. We can't chase him away, so why not invite him in?"
"Okay." The marquis's wife nodded and told the gatekeeper to bring the person over.