"Greetings, Consort Zhao, may Your Highness live a thousand years." Xia Ju smiled and bowed with perfect timing, remaining neither humble nor arrogant even in the face of Consort Zhao's cold gaze.
"Get up. I wonder what Her Highness the Consort has to do for you, the head maid of Zhaoyang Palace, to make this trip in person?" Consort Zhao leaned back on the soft couch, picked up a piece of hibiscus cake, put it in her mouth and chewed it gently, glancing sideways at Xia Ju.
"The Imperial Concubine said that Consort Zhao is the head of Chengqian Palace, and there are many things to do in the palace, so it is inevitable that some things will be overlooked. Noble Lady Rou has been ill for more than three months and still has not improved. The Imperial Concubine specially sent Xia Ju to take a look, so that the Imperial Concubine will not have a problem explaining when the Emperor mentions it."
Consort Zhao's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. This meant that he was not doing a good job as the head consort, neglecting to care for someone in the palace who had been ill for three months. Therefore, the Noble Consort couldn't help but remind him.
Yes, he did it on purpose, not wanting Su Yun to recover so as not to distract the Emperor. So he deliberately ordered the imperial physician to reduce the dosage of medicine, causing Su Yun's illness to fluctuate, dragging on for more than three months.
He thought he had gotten away with it undetected, but it turns out the Imperial Concubine knew everything. Sending someone now is clearly a signal to him to stop and not go too far.
"Alright, I understand. I will take good care of Consort Rou." Consort Zhao waved her hand impatiently. Why did the Noble Consort always come out to ruin his plans? She knew exactly what he was thinking.
Every time he was questioned, it felt like punching cotton, leaving him utterly powerless. This greatly troubled him, who was always straightforward and unwilling to beat around the bush.
Anyway, he didn't take Su Yun seriously; there would be plenty of opportunities to deal with him later. Making him sick for more than three months was a small punishment, to teach him a lesson so he wouldn't dare to be disobedient again.
"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine specially instructed me to bring some jewelry and pastries for Her Highness Zhao, saying that they are things that Your Highness likes, and please accept them with a smile."
Xia Ju's smile softened. The Empress was right; Consort Zhao was indeed easy to please. She looked intimidating, but she was actually a gentle mule.
"Take it!" Consort Zhao waved her hand, her face indifferent, though she was barely satisfied with Wuyou's sweet talk.
When Bilan returned to Caili Pavilion, the imperial physician had already arrived. Su Yun had taken the medicine and fallen into a deep sleep. Xiao Die was carefully attending to him, and when she saw Bilan, her face showed surprise and admiration.
Xiao Die lowered her voice, but still couldn't hide the surprise in her tone, "Bi Lan, you're back! You're amazing! You actually managed to get the Imperial Concubine to help you."
"Her Highness the Consort is a kind person, so of course she will help. I only said a few words. Xiao Die, you take good care of the young mistress first. I'll go back and rest for a while." Bi Lan waved her hand, still unable to hide the arrogant expression on her face, yawned, and swayed away.
Logically, since everyone was a palace maid, Xiaodie shouldn't have been ordered to obey Bilan's orders; everyone was equal. But Bilan was pleasing to the eye and quick-witted, and had always been favored by Su Yun. Whenever there was something good, Su Yun would always give it to Bilan first, and Xiaodie was used to this treatment and had no complaints.
Occasionally, Bilan would pass the work to Xiaodie, and he would accept it with a smile, never complaining.
Back in her room, Bilan didn't fall asleep. Instead, she sat up against the headboard, hugging her knees, her mind replaying the events that had occurred at Zhaoyang Palace.
The fragrance of fruits and melons in Chaoyang Palace is exceptionally sweet and refreshing, making one feel as if they are in a sea of fruits and melons, and even the air they breathe is exceptionally sweet.
The renowned Consort Xian, dressed in a light blue palace gown, exuded an air of noble elegance. Her skin was smooth and fair, and while her features were delicate, they were not particularly striking. The magnificent gown did not conceal her beauty. This beauty was not derived from her appearance, but rather from an innate elegance and nobility that made people overlook her physical features. She possessed a charm that had been refined over time.
Bilan, who had always been by Su Yun's side, knew that Su Yun was very beautiful, but she felt ashamed of her beauty in front of the Imperial Concubine.
"Consort Rou has been ill for more than three months and has not served the Emperor. The Emperor has already forgotten about her. Why should I offend Consort Zhao for her sake? You must know very well how cold and fickle people are in this palace. I have seen too much of the ups and downs and no longer want to get involved."
Wuyou's soft voice drifted over, slow and leisurely, seemingly indifferent.
"Your Highness, our mistress is exceptionally beautiful. She was praised by the Emperor during the imperial concubine selection and is sure to be favored in the future. Your help will surely make her never forget you."
Bilan knelt humbly on the ground, her voice a mixture of pleading and sobbing, it was unclear how much of it was for Su Yun and how much for herself.
He entered the Su family at the age of five and served Su Yun as her personal maid. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they grew up together. Over the years, they had developed a bond. Moreover, he was a smart man; Su Yun's fate was inextricably linked to his. If his master was unkind, how could he, the servant, fare any better? The cold treatment he had received recently spoke volumes.
"Since Consort Rou is looking forward to your arrival, it means that she is willing to pledge allegiance to me, so I will accept her pledge of allegiance."
Su Yun has been silent for too long, and can't keep it suppressed forever, lest it rebound when things hit rock bottom. It's time to let it out for a spin.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Bilan cried tears of joy, finally free from hardship.
Resting her chin gently on her knees, Bi Lan felt a surge of ambition. She had been in the palace for some time now, and every concubine she had seen was radiant and beautiful, living in luxury and exquisite possessions, leaving her dazzled by the choices.
He originally thought that the Vice Minister's residence was prestigious enough, but after entering the palace, he realized that the treatment there was nothing special.
She was clearly a young lady from the Vice Minister's mansion, but because her mother was the daughter of a disgraced official who had been exiled, she could not see the light of day and could only serve as a lowly maidservant to her elder sister, thus falling into a lowly status.
Both were daughters of high-ranking officials, yet she was relegated to the lowest of jobs, without even a proper title. Even after entering the palace, she remained a lowly maid, constantly mocked and ridiculed because of Su Yun's lack of favor with the emperor.
He also longed to be as high and mighty as the Imperial Concubine and Consort Zhao, looking down upon everyone and being pampered and meticulously served by all. Although he couldn't compare to Su Yun's unparalleled beauty, he was still quite handsome and charming. Even Chu Wan, a girl from a small county town, could become a favored concubine and become Consort Qian in just three months. If he dressed up properly, he would certainly be no less beautiful than her and could naturally become a favored concubine as well.
Most women in the world want to become the emperor's woman, so it's not unreasonable for him to think that way. Moreover, if he were to gain the emperor's favor, he could also help Su Yun. Wouldn't it be wonderful for the sisters to join forces?
With this thought, Bilan's hesitation and guilt vanished instantly. She put on her shoes, sat in front of the bronze mirror, looked at her delicate features, and a charming smile appeared on her lips.
He smoothed the stray hairs at his temples, applied makeup in front of the mirror, and smiled slightly. "What Su Yun can do, I can do too. One day, I will make the Su family acknowledge my identity with dignity."
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