Granny Wei stood up and said to Gao Xiyue and the others, "Let's go back."
Because of Lanqin's reprimand, Gao Xiyue and the others had no interest in discussing who was right and who was wrong. After returning home, the three of them had different thoughts.
Neither Zeng Xiwen nor Gao Xiyue spoke of it along the way. Zeng Xiwen was dejected, feeling that she had probably offended Consort Xi. She had originally wanted to enter the palace, but now her chances were over.
Gao Xiyue originally wanted to be betrothed to a prince, but seeing that Consort Xi also seemed to dislike her, she was also a little unhappy.
Seeing that the two women were both sullen, Su Lufu tried to cheer them up.
Su Lufu said to Gao Xiyue and Zeng Xiwen, "Don't be upset. There's always a way out. Besides, Consort Xi didn't kick us out, which means we still have hope, right?"
Gao Xiyue seemed to understand after hearing what she said, and she said, "Yes, we still have hope."
Zeng Xiwen glared at them and said, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been reprimanded by the Imperial Concubine. Let me tell you, if I don't become an Imperial Concubine, none of you will have a good time!"
Gao Xiyue said, "Don't try to frame us. If you hadn't torn Su Lufu's clothes first, we wouldn't be in this situation today."
Su Lu tugged at Gao Xiyue's sleeve, "Xiyue, stop talking. We're all in a bad situation right now, so let's not fight each other anymore. Didn't the Imperial Concubine say that if we do it again, she won't let us off the hook?"
“Besides, we almost got her kicked out. We all came here carrying the expectations of our families, so we should all put ourselves in her shoes,” Su Lufu said.
Gao Xiyue thought about it and felt that Su Lufu was right. Then Gao Xiyue said to Zeng Xiwen, "I shouldn't have treated you like that. I almost caused you to be kicked out. I'm sorry."
Zeng Xiwen listened to her apology and said nothing more. The unpleasantness between the three of them seemed to be over, and Zeng Xiwen was no longer as arrogant and disdainful as before. After all, they were all concubines living in the same room, and their relationship gradually improved.
The final selection will be held in two days. If they can pass the second selection, Gao Xiyue and the others will do everything they can to win the attention and favor of Consort Xi, in order to secure a place in the palace.
Lanqin silently got up and went to the palace gate, gazing at the peony flowers that the Imperial Household Department had just sent this morning. They were the finest flowers in the world, with eighteen flowers blooming on a single plant. The petals were layered and stacked to form a hexagonal tower-shaped crown, and each flower was a different color. The red ones were completely red, and the pink ones were completely pink. They bloomed and withered together, which was extremely beautiful.
Such a precious plant could only be cultivated by the Imperial Household Department with great care, and was presented as a tribute to the most favored concubines in the palace, including Lanqin; the other concubines could only look on with envy.
Seeing that Lanqin remained silent for a long time, Baoqin guessed that she must be preoccupied, so she asked, "Your Highness, what are you thinking about?"
Lanqin began, “The flowers are similar year after year, but the people are different year after year. No matter how beautiful the flowers are, they will wither after a while. People are the same. Youth is gone and never returns. The new year’s talent show has begun. Looking at these young faces, I am reminded of myself back then.”
Baoqin said, "So much time has passed without us realizing it. We were just children back then, but now even the Empress's children are married."
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