Chapter 399 Madam Gu, please don’t disappoint the Emperor and me.
"Madam Gu has arrived." Concubine Shu stood up with a smile and took a few steps forward to greet her. Her voice was gentle, "My sister is not well now, so I shouldn't bother you to come in person. However, it's not good to miss my sister at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in the first year of the new emperor's reign."
Chu Ruohan knelt and saluted: "Your Highness, you are so kind. How dare I not come when Your Highness invites me so kindly? Besides, it is my great honor to share in the joy of this palace."
Concubine Shu took her hand affectionately and led her to a seat with a wide view and relatively quiet.
"Hurry up and sit down. You are a double now, so you must not overwork yourself."
She then instructed the palace maid beside her, "Change Madam Gu's food to warm milk and nourishing soup, and choose snacks that are easy to digest."
The palace maid responded respectfully.
Concubine Shu exchanged a few pleasantries with Chu Ruohan, her gaze lingering on her bulging belly for a moment, the smile on her face growing gentler. She clapped her hands gently.
Outside the palace gate, two palace maids led two slim young women in slowly.
The two women were both in their twenties, with beautiful faces. One had a charming look between her eyebrows, while the other looked gentle and lovely.
They stepped forward and bowed to Concubine Shu and Chu Ruohan.
Concubine Shu took Chu Ruohan's hand and said earnestly, "Sister, you are getting heavier and heavier, and it is inconvenient for you to go about your daily life. The general who defends the country works hard for the country, and he can't be without someone to serve him attentively."
"I am also thinking of my sister and the general. I have specially selected these two girls with dignified and gentle personalities to help you share some of the burden."
Chu Ruohan picked up the warm milk that the palace maid had just changed, her fingertips paused slightly, then she took a sip as if nothing had happened, and did not answer immediately.
The atmosphere in the hall was a little subtle for a moment.
Upon hearing this, Song Ruyan, who was behind her, immediately frowned and showed a bit of indignation on her face.
What does this mean? It's obvious that they are trying to get people into the General's Mansion!
She subconsciously wanted to speak, but Yuling beside her quickly pulled her sleeve.
Song Ruyan tilted her head. Yuling shook her head almost imperceptibly and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear: "This is the palace. Don't you want your head anymore? Don't cause trouble for the Madam!"
Song Ruyan took a deep breath and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, but her eyes were filled with dissatisfaction with Concubine Shu's behavior.
Why didn't she send a few concubines to her own man? It's really absurd!
When Concubine Shu saw Chu Ruohan remained silent and just drank her tea, the smile on her face faded a little, and she felt a little unhappy in her heart.
She brought up this matter in front of so many ladies today with the intention of showing kindness and establishing her authority.
In the past few days, she also sent some "sensible" women to the residences of several important officials in the capital. Which of those ladies did not express their gratitude profusely and accept them happily?
But Chu Ruohan actually dared to disrespect her like this.
Concubine Shu sat up straight, her tone becoming more serious. "This palace also has good intentions. The ladies of the other lords in the capital are grateful to know about this arrangement."
Chu Ruohan then slowly put down the milk cup in her hand and looked up at Concubine Shu with a calm expression, "Concubine Shu, does the Emperor know about this matter?"
Concubine Shu was slightly startled, then straightened her back. "This is naturally something the Emperor and I have discussed. The Emperor is very busy with affairs of state, and he is very sympathetic to General Gu's hard work in serving the country. Madam Gu, please don't let the Emperor and I down!"
Chu Ruohan understood. It seemed that the new emperor did not completely trust Gu Junze after all.
The woman sent here was called a waitress, but in reality, she was probably there to monitor him. She gently lowered her eyelids, hiding the complex emotions that flashed through her eyes.
After a moment, she raised her eyes again, a faint smile spreading across her face, her tone still calm: "Since it is the emperor and the queen's good intention, I accept the order and thank you."
Seeing that she had finally agreed, Concubine Shu's expression brightened slightly, and she nodded with satisfaction, "That's very good. Don't worry, my sister. These two girls have been carefully trained by me, and they will definitely take good care of the general."
At this moment, a young eunuch walked in quickly from outside the hall and bowed to announce, "Your Highness, the auspicious time has arrived and the palace banquet is about to begin."
"Alright, alright," Concubine Shu immediately regained her graceful smile upon hearing this and stood up. "Let's go quickly so we don't miss the time."
The maid beside her hurried forward and carefully supported her. Concubine Shu took the lead and walked towards the banquet hall outside the palace.
Yuling also stepped forward and whispered to Chu Ruohan, "Madam, it's time for us to go over too." She helped Chu Ruohan stand up slowly.
Song Ruyan followed behind Chu Ruohan and finally couldn't help but lower her voice and muttered softly, "This is really outrageous! What kind of thing is this? Sending two people here for no reason to cause trouble!"
Her voice was filled with indignation.
Chu Ruohan didn't look back, but just gently patted Yuling's hand, signaling them to follow.
No matter what the road ahead is, we must take one step at a time.
Gu Junze's face had become so gloomy that water could drip out of it since the moment he stepped into Zhaoyang Palace.
He sat upright in his seat, his back as straight as a pine tree, but his whole body emanated a forbidding chill.
Those officials who originally wanted to come forward to chat or toast him would tactfully step back after just one look at him, for fear of accidentally offending the great general.
His long, bony fingers unconsciously stroked the wine glass. The wine in the glass did not touch his lips, but his eyes would glance at Chu Ruohan beside him from time to time.
She looked very good today, her face was like a lotus, her lips were rosy, and she was whispering something to Yuling with her head tilted to the side, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.
She had already tasted most of the exquisite snacks on the table in front of her. Now she picked up a cup of warm milk and sipped it, completely unaware that there was a gaze next to her that almost burned through her.
Good, very good!
Gu Junze clenched his teeth slightly, and a nameless anger grew stronger in his chest.
Before the banquet today, Concubine Shu forced two "smart and well-behaved" women on him in the name of reward, under the pretext of taking care of his daily life in the mansion.
And his good wife actually agreed with a smile!
Is she really that generous? Or does she not care at all if there are other women around him?
When he thought of Chu Ruohan's calm expression at that time, which even had a hint of "it's natural", Gu Junze felt that the anger in his heart was even more blocked.
Chu Ruohan naturally felt the burning gaze and the strong low pressure emanating from his body.
Her fingers holding the milk cup paused imperceptibly, then she continued to taste it as if nothing had happened...
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