After paying her respects, Madam Geng returned directly to Quyuan Fenghe Lane. She had gotten up early to travel and was quite tired. She was resting with her eyes closed in her bedroom.
Qiu Yun, who had come with her to the Yuanmingyuan, was massaging Geng Shi's shoulders. As she massaged Geng Shi's shoulders, Qiu Yun exclaimed, "Your Majesty, the Yuanmingyuan is absolutely beautiful. I have never seen such a beautiful place before."
Upon hearing Qiu Yun's words, Madam Geng chuckled and said, "This is the royal garden. You, a commoner, have naturally never seen it before. Even I rarely get to come here. This time, it's the Empress's birthday, so I was able to come."
Hearing Geng's explanation, Qiu Yun's eyes flickered slightly, and she couldn't help but say, "They are all the Emperor's concubines, so why is there such a big difference? The Empress Dowager can accompany the Emperor to the Yuanmingyuan to recuperate, so why can't you, Your Highness? The Emperor is too biased."
Upon hearing Qiu Yun's outrageous words, Madam Geng frowned and immediately reprimanded Qiu Yun, "You are too audacious. Do you have a death wish? How dare you talk about the Emperor?"
Upon hearing Geng's reprimand, Qiu Yun, who was standing behind her, was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness. She then explained, "This servant just saw that Your Highness seemed unhappy and felt that it was unfair to Your Highness, so I couldn't help but say something that showed my lack of manners."
Qiu Yun quietly looked up and, seeing that Geng Shi had no reaction, continued, "This servant knows she was wrong. This servant will never be so rebellious again."
Seeing Qiu Yun pleading for mercy like this, Geng felt a little reluctant. After all, Geng liked this girl and found her to be clever and pleasing to her, so she didn't want to punish her too much.
Madam Geng glanced at Qiu Yun, who was still kneeling on the ground kowtowing and admitting her mistake, and slowly said, "Get up. Royal matters are not for someone like you to comment on casually. Walls have ears. If your rebellious remarks were to be spread by someone with ulterior motives, I would not be able to spare you just because I want to."
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. I know I was wrong." Qiu Yun slowly stood up, bowing her head, her voice slightly choked with emotion.
Upon hearing this, Madam Geng did not go down, but warned her again, "Remember, you must never say such things, otherwise you won't be able to save ten lives."
Qiu Yun nodded in agreement.
"Let's not mention it again. Continue massaging my shoulders," Geng said, glancing at Qiu Yun and pointing to her own shoulders.
"Yes," Qiu Yun said, getting up from the ground.
Then Geng Shi closed her eyes to rest. Geng Shi's sullen mood was not because of Qiu Yun's favoritism. Having been with the Fourth Prince for so many years, Geng Shi always knew in her heart who the Fourth Prince truly loved. If she had wanted to compete for him when she was young, she would never have gotten him. Not only her, but Song Shi and Wu Shi also never got him.
Now, she is over thirty years old. Her greatest support is not her family or the Fourth Master, but Hongzhou. Having raised Hongzhou for so many years, she regards him as her own son.
In fact, Lady Geng was always worried about Hongzhou, not because of the Yuanmingyuan Garden as Qiu Yun claimed.
However, if she lost Hongzhou, she truly didn't know what to do. Although she did like Qiuyun, she naturally couldn't share those feelings with her.
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