Song Wanwan was very satisfied with Tinghe's reaction. This was how those snobs in the palace should be treated.
After serving a noble person for a long time, I actually thought of myself as a noble person.
Tinghe respectfully led the two of them to the side hall of Zhaohua Palace. When they entered, Concubine Xian was already sitting in the main seat.
The two of them bowed to the virtuous concubine. Su Zhilan was more polite in her bowing, but Song Wanwan was more perfunctory.
"Give Princess Anping and Miss Song a seat." Concubine Xian said gently.
Su Zhilan glanced around a few times, but didn't see the young lady from the Leng family. Didn't she say she was coming to see her aunt when she was at the palace gate?
Upon hearing the virtuous concubine offer a seat, Su Zhilan and Song Wanwan expressed their gratitude together.
After sitting down, Su Zhilan looked up at Concubine Xian. A woman in her thirties, her skin remained fair, and not a single wrinkle could be seen around the corners of her eyes. Compared to the younger concubines in the palace, she wasn't as gorgeous, but she possessed a unique charm.
The virtuous concubine then instructed Ting He, "Serve tea to the two young ladies, and bring two bowls of the rose cheese freshly made this morning."
After giving the order, he smiled and explained to Song Wanwan and Su Zhilan, "The rose cheese in my palace can nourish your skin. You can have a bowl of it. If you like it, I'll have someone write down the recipe and you can ask my subordinates to make it when you go back."
Song Wanwan and Su Zhilan didn't say much, just thanked them politely.
Su Zhilan wondered in her heart why the virtuous concubine summoned her.
Song Wanwan was extremely alert, not daring to be distracted at all. It seemed as if protecting Su Zhilan was her responsibility today.
Soon, the palace servants served tea and brought in rose cheese. But Su Zhilan and Song Wanwan did not touch anything. They did not dare to eat the food in the Xianfei Palace.
The virtuous concubine did not try to persuade him much, but simply said casually: "Today, I invite the Princess of Anping County to come here. There is nothing else to do, just to talk about personal matters."
"This palace and the late queen are like sisters. Prince Gong and you are like our own children."
Anyone who believes such empty talk in the palace is a fool.
Su Zhilan bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Another quarter of an hour passed, and after the virtuous concubine finished her polite words, she ordered someone to bring the brocade box beside her, then stood up and walked to the two of them.
Seeing this, Song Wanwan and Su Zhilan stood up in confusion.
The virtuous concubine smiled gently and appropriately, and looked at the two of them as if they were her own younger generation.
Afterwards, Concubine Xian took out an exquisite bracelet and put it on Song Wanwan's hand.
"Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is my New Year's gift to you."
Song Wanwan did not refuse and bowed to thank the virtuous concubine for the reward.
When she got close to Su Zhilan, Concubine Xian took out a gilded phoenix-head hairpin with an emerald in its center.
"The year I entered the palace, the late Queen was still the Princess. This was the reward she gave me when I served her tea and changed her words."
Su Zhilan quickly took two steps back and said, "Your Majesty, this is too valuable."
The virtuous concubine did not allow her to refuse and helped her put it on her head.
"This hairpin is perfect for you."
After the New Year gifts were delivered, Concubine Xian said, "I will not keep you any longer. The banquet is about to begin, and I must change my clothes."
Su Zhilan and Song Wanwan left Zhaohua Palace full of doubts.
Outside Zhaohua Palace, Su Zhilan asked in confusion, "Sister Wanwan, what do you think the virtuous concubine is planning? She's not going to drug the jewelry I gave her as a reward, is she?"
Song Wanwan looked at the bracelet on her hand, then carefully looked at the phoenix-head hairpin on Su Zhilan's head, and even smelled it, but found nothing unusual.
After putting the hairpin back on Su Zhilan, Song Wanwan said, "Wear it for now while you're in the palace. When you get back, just throw it in your dressing box."
If they don't wear the things that the Empress Xianfei has just given them, they are afraid that the Empress Xianfei will ask about them at the banquet.
In Zhaohua Palace, Song Wanwan and Su Zhilan left the yard, and Leng Zichan also came out from behind.
"Aunt, you are too kind. If it were me, I would teach them a lesson and teach the Song and Su families a lesson."
Leng Zichan spoke in a coquettish tone, stood behind Concubine Xian and began to massage her shoulders.
The third young lady of the Leng family is the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch of the Leng family. Her father, Leng Shuo, is a second-rank Left Censor-in-Chief. In recent years, he has temporarily stayed away from the power center of the capital due to mourning.
A few months ago, after the Leng family's mourning period ended, Leng Shuo returned to the Censorate. However, it would take time for him to gain full power.
Leng Zichan's marriage was also delayed due to mourning. Later, Concubine Xian arranged a marriage with the Rong family, but unexpectedly, Song Hongshen also interfered with the marriage.
Of course, Leng Zichan hoped that this marriage would be over, because the person she loved was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
The virtuous concubine did not pay attention to Leng Zichan's words, but squinted her eyes and thought about the banquet for a while.
Years ago, the emperor received a military report from Fujian, saying that the construction of the warship was going smoothly and was about to be tested.
King Xuanwu Zhang Pan also wrote a letter to praise Su Zhilan, saying that the combination of weapons and warships designed by Su Zhilan greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of the southeastern navy.
At that time, the emperor told her that Song Hongshen's marriage was a good one. Such a virtuous wife was also a blessing for the royal family.
So she specially rewarded Su Zhilan today, also for the emperor to see.
The emperor's heart was now solely focused on Song Hongshen, and he wasn't as attentive to her and her son as before. She didn't seek to win his heart, but only to prevent the emperor from finding fault with her.
In response to Leng Zichan's words, Concubine Xian simply said perfunctorily, "You have to find the right opportunity to teach someone a lesson."
Ting He, the senior palace maid beside Concubine Xian, also echoed, "Your Majesty is of such high status that she would not embarrass a junior. If word of today's incident reaches Qianyang Palace, His Majesty will also praise Your Majesty for her gentleness and virtue."
Listen to the words and listen to the tone. Leng Zichan's heart moved when she heard this. What does her aunt mean?
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