"Could it be Namuzhong?" Hailanzhu muttered to herself.
In her mind, Namuzhong was not a good person, so it was not unreasonable for her to consider him the prime suspect.
Fortunately, her change was the right one; otherwise, if Zhang Liang had discovered it, he would have used even more schemes against her.
After thinking for a moment, she ordered the eunuchs to catch a few white mice and secretly feed them with the dishes on the table.
Seeing that the white mouse was unharmed, she couldn't help but wonder: Was I just overthinking things?
However, she did not give up, but placed it in a hidden corner intending to continue feeding it.
Just as she had hidden the white mouse, she heard the eunuch announce Yunxian's arrival. She quickly sat back down in the main seat and waited for her.
Yunxian remains the same; in order to make herself look younger, she always applies many layers of powder.
"This concubine greets Your Highness Consort Chen. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace." She bowed respectfully, showing that Hailanzhu's previous training had been effective.
"No need for formalities, please sit."
Upon hearing Hailanzhu's gesture, Yunxian lowered her eyes, slowly stood up, and sat in the spot Hailanzhu indicated.
"Why didn't His Majesty have lunch at Guanju Palace today?" Yunxian asked cautiously, looking around.
Isn't this a rhetorical question? Even the lowest-ranking palace servants know why. Yunxian's question is simply an attempt to annoy Hailanzhu.
Hailanzhu didn't take it to heart and said with a faint smile, "Sister, you've been in the Cold Palace for too long and you're a bit ignorant. How come you didn't even know that another younger sister had been added to the family?"
Yunxian's face immediately showed displeasure, but it quickly faded. "Of course I know, but I believe His Majesty loves you the most. How can the new sister compare?"
Hailanzhu glanced at Yunxian and said, "It is true that I am favored by the Emperor, but he is the Emperor and has three palaces and six courtyards. He should be able to give his favor to everyone. How can I monopolize it?"
His words left Yunxian speechless.
Hailanzhu could easily see through her little scheme; she simply wanted to incite jealousy and make enemies of the new concubine.
Moreover, this new concubine is Yan Zha Qiurong's eldest niece.
“Sister is right, it was I who was narrow-minded.” But Yunxian was an indestructible cockroach, and she continued, “I heard that this Yanzha is only fourteen years old, and her beauty is beyond description.”
"Then I must congratulate His Majesty on the acquisition of his beautiful wife," Hailanzhu said, raising an eyebrow.
Yunxian's breathing became rapid, but she still had a gentle expression. "Yanzha's advantage is her youth. If my sister were the same age as her and entered the palace at the same time, she would definitely be even more beautiful than her."
Her words, seemingly a compliment, were actually a mockery of Hailanzhu for being old and past her prime.
"Have you seen her before, sister?" Hailanzhu asked.
Yunxian shook her head. "I only heard it from others."
Hailanzhu glanced at her disdainfully, "Seeing is believing, sister. Why do you believe everything you hear?"
“Uh…” Yunxian remained speechless.
Upon seeing this, Hailanzhu suddenly laughed.
Yunxian asked, puzzled, "Is something making you happy, little sister?"
Hailanzhu nodded and said, "It's quite a coincidence. I am fourteen years older than Yanzha, so it wouldn't be strange if I were her mother. And you are also fourteen years older than me, so you could be her grandmother."
After saying that, he laughed even louder, which made Yunxian grit her teeth in anger.
It was a classic case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead; he intended to mock Hailanzhu, but instead she mocked him instead.
Although Yunxian's face turned pale and then red, she never said a harsh word, which Hailanzhu truly admired.
Seeing that she couldn't gain any advantage over Hailanzhu, she could only back down and said, "I have other important matters to attend to in the palace, so I will take my leave."
"kindness!"
Hailanzhu nodded, coldly watching her slinking away.
After she walked away, Qingluan prepared the dishes and returned to the palace.
"Why did the deposed concubine suddenly come to the palace today?" Qingluan asked while setting out the dishes.
Hailanzhu replied, "Her legs are hers, so it's not appropriate for me to cut them off." She said this in a joking tone.
Qingluan understood and smiled in response, "It seems the deposed concubine has suffered another loss this time."
How do you know?
Qingluan pursed her lips. "Just now outside the palace, I saw from afar that the deposed concubine's face was extremely ugly, as if I owed her a hundred taels of gold."
Hailanzhu was overjoyed, "Isn't it like a donkey's face, all long and drawn out?"
“Yes.” Qingluan nodded vigorously, agreeing with Hailanzhu’s description.
Inside the hall, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air…
"It's past noon, Your Highness, please have your meal," Qingluan urged.
Hailanzhu's stomach had been rumbling for a while, but for some reason she just couldn't eat.
"What's wrong? I didn't put any honey in it," Qingluan explained.
Hailanzhu shook her head helplessly, "I know, but I just can't eat, and I feel nauseous."
"Disgusting?" Qingluan frowned. "Does Your Highness mean disgusting?"
After Qingluan's reminder, Hailanzhu suddenly realized and stammered, "Am I... pregnant?"
Qingluan was so excited she didn't know what to do. After calming down, she quickly left to fetch the imperial physician.
Before long, the imperial physician arrived in a hurry. After carefully examining the pulse, he repeatedly offered his congratulations.
As she had expected, she was already a month pregnant.
During this time, she also instructed the imperial physicians not to reveal this happy event, as she wanted to tell Huang Taiji in person.
The imperial physician naturally agreed.
After the imperial physician left, Qingluan could no longer hide her smile and hurriedly went to congratulate Huang Taiji.
"Wait!" Hailanzhu stopped her.
"What's wrong?" Qingluan asked, looking back at Hailanzhu with a puzzled expression.
Hailanzhu slowly walked in front of her. "The Emperor is currently with Yanzha. Are you going there to make me an enemy of Yanzha?"
She managed to evade Yunxian's provocation, but she can't let this incident lead her to Yunxian's whims.
Upon hearing this, Qingluan belatedly realized, "It was my fault, I almost ruined Master's plans."
“I know you are genuinely happy for me. Your intentions are good, and I will not blame you,” Hailanzhu said, speaking from her perspective.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Qingluan curtsied, then added, "The food is getting cold; Your Highness must not go without eating now."
To ensure her unborn child received proper nutrition, Hailanzhu endured the churning in her stomach and ate some food.
After clearing away the dishes, Hailanzhu started to feel sleepy again.
Seeing this, Qingluan quickly changed to a softer bed and helped Hailanzhu to sleep.
She slept for two hours, during which time she was unaware of an event that had occurred in the palace.
When she woke up, it was already late afternoon. The sun was hanging over the western mountains, and the evening glow filled the sky, turning the whole earth a crimson color.
She stretched and looked around, instinctively glancing to see if Huang Taiji was there.
It wasn't that she was looking forward to Huang Taiji's arrival, but rather that Huang Taiji would usually come to Guanju Palace for a late-night snack at this time of day.
This time was an exception; Huang Taiji did not come. Hailanzhu assumed he would stay late at the home of the newly arrived concubines and did not think much of it.
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