Early the next morning, Bai Susu was dug out of bed by Nanchun.
It was an early autumn morning, and the air was filled with fog. As soon as Bai Susu went out, she felt a damp and cool breeze, which made her wake up all of a sudden.
She wrapped herself in her cloak and walked slowly with the palace maid, thinking, if only she had a sedan chair. It was okay now, but if it were winter, she would have to walk to Changchun Palace early in the morning to pay her respects. Bai Susu felt uncomfortable just thinking about it.
Fortunately, Lady An was by my side, and the two of us chatted and laughed, so the journey didn't seem long at all.
It wasn't too late when they arrived at Changchun Palace, but several concubines had already taken their seats. When they saw Bai Susu, they all cast vague glances at her.
Bai Susu's status was not very high, but she had been in the emperor's favor recently. Even the high-ranking concubines did not make things difficult for her. When they saw her bowing, they all smiled politely and waived the bow.
As for the concubines of lower rank than Bai Susu, they only dared to look at this favored concubine cautiously, and there was no lack of envy and jealousy. Even if they tried to conceal it deliberately, that jealousy could be seen in their eyes.
Bai Susu held a cup of fragrant tea, took a sip, and felt more and more disgusted.
This is also why she doesn't like to pay respects. They say three women make a drama. There are more than thirty women in this harem. They smile on the surface, but in their hearts they want to tear you apart. Who knows what these beauties are thinking behind their faces?
I’m tired. Really tired.
After a while, the eunuchs outside were heard singing: "Empress Hui has arrived—"
Bai Susu's heart trembled, the person who regarded her as the most thorn in his side had arrived.
Bai Susu didn't know that Emperor Xuan Jing had hinted to Concubine Hui that he wanted to take Princess Baohua away. She just felt that Concubine Hui had been much quieter recently.
It seems like I haven't heard from her in a while.
But when I saw her today, she was as flamboyant as ever, wearing a gilded floral brocade palace skirt embroidered with large patches of crabapple, which was very dazzling.
She took Xiu Yun's hand and came over with her hair in a charming manner, but she did not go directly past Bai Susu. Instead, she stopped in front of Bai Susu and looked her up and down with her eyes.
The look in his eyes was filled with a chill that made Bai Susu feel uneasy.
She lowered her eyes, bowed her head, and knelt down to salute Concubine Hui.
After not seeing each other for a few days, Concubine Hui found that Bai Susu had become even more charming and attractive. Her little face was as white and clear as a peeled lychee. Although she only wore light makeup, her almond-shaped eyes and dark eyebrows seemed to be carefully outlined with a brush, and every detail of her was beautiful.
Thinking of the emperor's recent fondness for her, and looking at the spring in her eyes and eyebrows, Concubine Hui wanted to eat her alive.
But he hit a snag with Bai Susu last time, and remembered the emperor's warning.
Concubine Hui finally held back her anger and snorted coldly.
Bai Susu, just wait!
He glared at Bai Susu fiercely before helping Xiu Yun walk to the first seat to the lower right of the Queen and sit down.
As soon as Concubine Hui arrived, the atmosphere in Changchun Palace became even more tense.
Concubine Hui was not a kind person. On the contrary, she was very sarcastic and mean. Everyone was silent and did not dare to talk to her. Only Xi Liangyuan saw the luxurious clothes on Concubine Hui and flattered her a few words.
As more people came, the smell of cosmetics became stronger in the room, and the smoke from the incense burner in Changchun Palace was thick, and I didn't know what kind of incense was burning.
Bai Susu smelled the bitter medicinal scent behind these fragrances again.
She frowned and suppressed the discomfort in her heart.
Finally, the queen who had not been seen for a long time came out.
Everyone saluted the queen together.
The Queen's voice was a little hoarse as she said, "No need to be polite."
Before the queen came out, Bai Susu thought that the queen's illness was a pretext. After all, her sister had made a mistake, and the queen's illness was a gesture of her attitude.
But seeing the queen like this, Bai Susu felt a pang in her heart.
It’s just because the queen’s condition looks so bad.
Although the Queen was wearing gorgeous clothes today and seemed to have put on makeup, the redness on her cheeks was obviously from rouge, not her natural redness.
In addition, she looked much thinner, and her previously tight dresses became much looser and looked empty.
Everyone noticed that the queen was in poor condition and asked her to take care of herself.
Among them, Bai Susu discovered that although Concubine Hui did not speak, she was also paying extra attention to the Queen's condition. She frequently looked at the Queen's face, and that look was naturally not one of concern.
It seems to be a kind of complexity.
Bai Susu felt a little strange when she heard the Queen mention her name.
"Lady Bai."
Bai Susu was stunned. She had been deliberately trying to lower her presence, but unexpectedly the Queen called her first.
She gathered herself, walked to the center, and bowed to the queen: "Your Highness is here."
The Queen lowered her eyes and saw her slender figure. A smile appeared on her lips and she said, "You are a good person. You have been tired from serving the Emperor recently. You must take good care of yourself."
Bai Susu's heart skipped a beat. The Queen's words seemed to show her extra affection for her, but in fact, she was undoubtedly putting her on the fire.
Sure enough, the look he gave her became even hotter.
Bai Susu was a little flustered, and bent down even lower: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Serving the Emperor is my duty, and I don't deserve the hard work."
The queen felt a little annoyed when she saw Bai Susu's fresh and beautiful appearance. It was because she was sick and Bai Susu didn't show any expression.
Bai Susu had been in the emperor's bedchamber for three consecutive days. If she had mentioned her in the emperor's presence, how could the emperor have never come to see her?
It can be seen that he is an ungrateful person who can never be tamed.
She left Bai Susu aside and talked about the renovation of the Cining Palace again.
When everyone saw that the Queen suppressed Concubine Bai for some unknown reason, they all looked at each other. Xi Liangyuan even looked at Bai Susu kneeling on the ground with interest, and she felt quite happy!
Lady An tried several times to plead with the Queen, but the Queen's outburst had no reason to be angry, and for a moment she had no idea what mistake Bai Susu had made.
The Queen didn't seem to have any intention of making things difficult for Bai Susu. After Jing Zhaorong finished reporting on the current status of the Cining Palace renovations, she said as if waking from a dream, "Look at my memory. Why is Noble Bai still kneeling here? Get up quickly."
Bai Susu was then helped up by Nanchun. When Concubine Hui asked her to kneel, she dared not kneel.
But Bai Susu was still a little wary of the Queen.
Her mind was in a mess, and she really didn't know how she had offended the queen.
Fortunately, the queen did not make things difficult for her later.
This visit to the emperor can be said to have gone through without any major incidents.
Bai Susu suffered an inexplicable humiliation and was not in a good mood. In addition, her knees were numb after kneeling for a while, and she walked unsteadily.
"Master..." Nanchun supported her arm and let her lean on him for strength. Seeing Bai Susu like this, her eyes turned red and worry filled her eyes.
Bai Susu took a breath, shook her head and said, "It's okay, just my legs are a little numb."
Unexpectedly, a huge force suddenly hit her. She was already walking unsteadily and immediately fell to the ground.
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