Wu Qing left with a bag full of fresh pastries, and did not forget to give the imperial concubine a big smile.

Wu Qing: [It's strange, why is the Imperial Concubine so nice to me? She even said that she would return Jinxiu to me. Um... Jinxiu said before that everyone in the palace thought I was the Queen's person, so I guess the Imperial Concubine wants to recruit me! ]

Wu Qing: [In the original book, the imperial concubine is very good at disciplining her servants. No wonder she didn't get angry even when I got close to her and used my ultimate skill. It's all because I'm too good. I guess I have to do more to commit suicide next time!]

Wu Qing returned to the side hall happily, and as expected, saw Jinxiu waiting there.

When the master and servant met, they immediately got together and started chatting.

Jinxiu anxiously touched Wu Qing and breathed a sigh of relief when she found that her limbs were intact.

She was afraid that Wu Qing had suffered some injustice from the Imperial Concubine.

Wu Qing scratched her head, "Ah? No, the Imperial Concubine was so nice that she let me have breakfast with her. Look." She took out the fragrant chestnut cake from her arms, "It's delicious. I brought two pieces for you too."

beautiful:?

Jinxiu was puzzled: "My lady, didn't you offend the Imperial Concubine yesterday?"

The pig head painting that Wu agreed to was delivered by Jinxiu herself.

Dining at the same table with the imperial concubine was a rare honor in the palace. As a concubine, Wu Qingyuan was only supposed to wait on the side, and there was no chance for her to sit on an equal footing with the imperial concubine and eat with her.

Wu Qing chewed the chestnut cake and spread his hands, saying, "Maybe I am more pleasing to her eyes?"

Whose favor? The most cruel person in the palace?

Jinxiu looked at the innocent and outspoken young lady and fell into deep thought.

Is this chestnut cake of Concubine Guifei really non-toxic?

Forget it, even if you are poisoned to death, you should just go back to heaven as soon as possible.

…

The other side of Linhua Palace.

Concubine Lin walked back and forth in the palace to digest her food.

It takes time for a woman to maintain her beauty. Even if she is naturally beautiful, she still needs to know how to maintain her beauty.

The imperial concubine isolated herself from the others and asked Qingfang in a low voice, "Did you find someone to investigate last night?"

Qingfang: "I asked Jinxiu's old acquaintance and found out the truth, but..." She paused and spoke hesitantly, "Your Majesty, this is ridiculous. Jinxiu actually said that Wu Da Ying was a fairy from heaven who came down to save her from the calamity."

Concubine Lin was speechless for a rare moment: "..."

Is this a fairy who eats like a pig? Does the Queen Mother know? Does the Jade Emperor know?

"She is a palace maid, she doesn't have the guts to say that." Concubine Lin commented, "This is a capital crime."

Your Majesty is the Emperor, and who is Wu Da Ying? How dare she claim to be a fairy who has descended to earth?

Qingfang said: "The person I found also felt strange, but when he asked Jinxiu, Jinxiu said that Wu promised that she was not afraid of people questioning her identity."

Concubine Lin asked: "Why?"

Qingfang replied: "Jinxiu said that her young lady came to the human world to transcend calamity, and that her merits and virtues have been fulfilled. After her death, she will return to heaven. Therefore, her young lady is not only not afraid of death, but she is wholeheartedly seeking death."

Concubine Lin suddenly understood, and the confusing clues finally came together into a clear thread.

No wonder.

No wonder Wu Da Ying was so eager to die that he dared to draw a pig's head for her.

No wonder Wu promised to know the secret that she had been secretly poisoned by Doctor Guo while she was still in her mother's womb.

No wonder she saw such an incredible scene last night!

Qingfang looked at Concubine Lin's expression and realized something was wrong. Her Majesty didn't seem to be doubting, but rather - convinced?

Qingfang asked tentatively, "Madam, you don't really believe what she said, do you?"

Concubine Lin was unconsciously turning her armor, as if she was thinking about something.

Seeing Concubine Lin's reaction, Qingfang was anxious and quickly advised: "Your Majesty, don't believe her nonsense. How could such a thing be possible in the world? Even if there is, it must be a demon."

Concubine Lin burst out laughing, "Demon?"

She walked to the edge of the flowers, gently touched the petals, and said meaningfully: "Compared to her, I am more like a demon who has done all kinds of evil."

She couldn't just take this lightly. Qingfang bowed her head deeply and remained silent.

Concubine Lin thought for a moment and said, "Send someone home quickly to check on Wu Da Ying's background. Find out her preferences and personality. How could someone who has been unknown in the palace for a year suddenly change her personality?"

She had never heard Wu Da Ying's voice before.

…

In the afternoon, Concubine Lin summoned Wu Qing again.

Concubine Lin was sitting on the couch, with two cups of fragrant tea on the small table. She had changed out of the purple dress with gold and butterflies that she had worn that morning, and replaced it with a set of luxurious black gold cloud embroidered shirt.

And Wu Qing was still wearing her plain white palace dress.

Concubine Lin frowned and asked her, "Why are you still wearing this old dress? I remember that you were wearing the same dress when I saw you yesterday. If I remember correctly, this should be the white cloud satin that was popular in the capital a few years ago, right?"

White cloud satin is not expensive, and it is thin and light, so it is very cool to wear in summer. But it is already autumn, why is Wu Ying still wearing this?

How did Jinxiu do things? How could she neglect her master like this?

Wu Qing lowered his head and tugged at his clothes.

Wu Qing: [This outfit is pretty nice, what’s wrong with it? I can’t wear it normally, so of course I have to wear it for a few more days now.]

Concubine Lin was stunned.

Any single gold hairpin on her head could buy ten pieces of white cloud satin, but Wu Da Ying actually said that even wearing white cloud satin was a luxury for her?

"Zijuan, take Wu Ying to change her clothes." Concubine Lin said with disdain, "I don't want to see this shabby dress. Well... she is young, pick her something bright and colorful."

When Wu Qing returned to Linhua Palace, she had changed her appearance and was dressed up completely from head to toe.

She had a coral hairpin in her hair and was wearing a brand new maroon pleated moon-skirt. She looked playful and cute, which perfectly matched her age of sixteen or seventeen years old.

Wu Qing is very strange: [It’s so cute! I didn’t wear anything like this when I was a kid, I wore school uniform every day. 】

Although she didn't know what a school uniform was, when Concubine Lin heard that Wu Da Ying had never worn such clothes, she felt even more sorry for her.

She waved and called Wu Cheng to come over and taste the new tea.

Wu Qing sat opposite her, lifted the lid of the teapot, blew on it, and took a sip.

Wu Qing: [It smells so good! What kind of tea is this? ]

Concubine Lin pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "If you like, I have a lot of scented teas here, I'll give you a pack."

Wu Qing nodded repeatedly.

Wu Qing sighed: [This is much better than the milk tea I had this morning. ]

"There is no such thing in the Queen's palace. This tea was specially brought to me by my family. If you are interested, feel free to ask me for it." Concubine Lin reminded.

Wu Qing: […Hmm? What does this mean? I understand. The imperial concubine is hinting to me that the Lin family is much more capable than the Liu family. She is showing off to me! ]

Originally, Concubine Lin just wanted to show Wu Qing that choosing me was far wiser than choosing the Queen: "..."

For the first time, she felt that winning over a concubine was such a difficult task.