Chapter 84 This is as if they're afraid she won't notice something's wrong.
The few tears that had been used to feign pitifulness at the corners of her eyes had long since dried, leaving only a faint watermark that was barely visible.
Consort Jing continued, "And that Second Princess, you know why I was confined to my quarters. I don't even know who framed me yet, and now you're adding fuel to the fire. What kind of situation do you want to put me in? You saw it today, didn't you? How much His Majesty dotes on the Second Princess, he treats her like the apple of his eye! Tell me, how did you manage to provoke her as well?"
Consort Yue could no longer hear what Consort Jing said next.
All that remains in my mind is that delicate and gentle face.
"Xie Yunsheng..."
Consort Yue bit her lip, her eyes filled with resentment.
It was already difficult for her to enter the palace. With no background or status, she relied on currying favor with Consort Jing, and after so many years she only became a minor concubine, and was not even favored by the emperor.
Without finding a powerful backer, how can she live a better life and complete her mission?
It's unbelievable that Xie Yunsheng, a child, could be so cunning. If she had just behaved and been affectionate towards me, wouldn't all this have been avoided?
She didn't intend to do anything; she just wanted to use Xie Yunsheng's favor to make things a little easier for herself!
She's been a concubine for so long, how could His Majesty be so heartless and ungrateful?
The resentment of being banished to the Cold Palace had consumed Consort Yue. At this moment, she almost forgot that it was she who had harbored evil intentions, and only blamed others.
Even though she had no feelings for Xie Yuxiao, she felt intense jealousy and resentment because of Xie Yuxiao's doting on Xie Yunsheng.
"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been banished to the cold palace!"
Consort Yue's maid also complained, "It's all your fault! Why didn't you discuss it with me beforehand? You acted rashly, and now look what's happened! Once we're in the Cold Palace, it'll be hard to get out. How are we supposed to send messages again? I told you to hold back, but you insisted on doing it this way!"
Consort Yue was a concubine, yet she dared not speak back to a palace maid. If others saw this, they would surely find it strange.
Consort Yue ignored the palace maids' complaints and silently murmured Xie Yunsheng's name: "It's all your fault! Why did His Majesty trust you so much? I will make you pay the price!"
*
Two days later, the New Year's Day palace banquet was held.
Although Consort Jing was confined to her quarters and Consort Yue was banished to the Cold Palace, Xie Yuxiao probably felt guilty about making Consort Jing temporarily bear the blame for plotting against the princess, so he still allowed the two to perform a dance at the New Year's Day palace banquet.
Because Lady Meng spoke on behalf of Sheng Sheng and Xie Yunqi that day, Sheng Sheng had already included Lady Meng in his list of good friends.
This morning, the palace was making final preparations for tonight's banquet.
The people of Changyin Pavilion were no exception. The female official led the musicians and dancers in several rehearsals to ensure that there would be no mistakes.
It was past 5 PM, and the palace banquet was about to begin at 7 PM. The female official was with the people from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau to confirm whether the costumes of the ladies who were to perform were correct.
This was Sheng Sheng's first time attending a palace banquet like this, and she was incredibly curious. She couldn't suppress her childlike playfulness, and with Xie Yunchuan's permission, she wandered around the area early in the morning, finding everything new and exciting. Yan Hu was also by her side, protecting her every step of the way.
Arriving early isn't always a good thing; the scene was a bit chaotic, with people setting up the palace, confirming seating arrangements, and moving musical instruments...
Palace servants came and went, all busy at work.
People come and go, and some collisions between them are inevitable.
Just then, a young palace maid rushed in carrying wine prepared for each table, and accidentally bumped into Sheng Sheng.
The young palace maid turned pale with fright and knelt down, begging for mercy: "Princess, spare me! Princess, spare me! I didn't mean to, I was in such a hurry I didn't see you..."
Sheng Sheng patted his wet sleeves and comforted her, "It's okay, we're busy here, and my wandering around here is just causing you trouble."
The young palace maid was taken aback, not expecting her to be so easy to talk to. Not only did she not blame her, but she even said that she was the one who was blocking their work.
The young palace maid lowered her head, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes: "Princess, thank you. Your clothes are wet. Shall I take you to change?"
Zijuan carefully examined the wet parts of Shengsheng's body and said, "No need, I'll take the princess back to Yuqing Palace to change."
Only half of her sleeve was wet, and Sheng Sheng was wearing several layers of clothing underneath, so it wasn't a big deal. Besides, the Second Prince had instructed that she could only wander around with the princess for a short while before returning to the palace to come with him, and now it was time to go back to the palace.
The young palace maid looked up at Sheng Sheng with some anxiety, then knelt down again and said, "It's cold outside, and the princess might catch a cold if it gets too late. Let me take you to change into something else!"
Yan Hu leaned closer to the little palace maid, sniffed carefully, and smelled a strong stench of money.
"She smelled of silver."
Sheng Sheng listened and found it somewhat strange.
Normally, only senior palace maids serving their masters would carry silver or similar items with them for the purpose of tipping. But this junior palace maid was just a handyman, so why would she need to carry silver on her?
"Okay, I am feeling a bit unwell. Please take me there."
The young palace maid breathed a sigh of relief and got up to lead the way.
Zijuan was puzzled, and she quietly hinted to her by putting her index finger to her lips.
Zijuan understood and quietly followed behind Shengsheng.
Sheng Sheng followed the young palace maid, and after leaving the Jinyi Hall where the palace banquet was held, they turned a corner and passed through a place that resembled a "backstage area".
This is the place where the Mongolian female official was busy.
Upon seeing the familiar Mongolian lady-in-waiting, she lifted her skirt and ran up to greet her: "Mongolian lady-in-waiting~"
The young palace maid who was leading the way was startled. She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before stopping to wait for her.
Upon seeing her, the Mongolian official quickly bowed and said, "Your subject greets the Second Princess."
"Lady Meng, what are you busy with?"
"Oh, I was just checking with Lady Zhao from the Imperial Clothing Bureau to make sure the clothes for the noble ladies' performance were correct." Lady Meng pointed to the lady opposite her and said, "Princess, look, this is the dress your eldest sister—the eldest princess—will wear when she plays the pipa later."
"Eldest sister?"
Am I going to meet the legendary older sister tonight?
Sheng Sheng was very much looking forward to it. She had heard that the eldest princess, Xie Yunjia, was willful and capricious, and that the Empress Dowager had taken her to a temple to practice asceticism, saying that it was to help her calm down and change her temperament.
So even after all this time, Sheng Sheng has only heard of this elder sister and has never met her.
He kept opening his mouth as if he wanted to continue chatting with her, and the little palace maid couldn't help but urge, "Princess, shall we go change our clothes first?"
She blinked, trying not to chuckle.
This young lady is being way too obvious. Is she afraid that the girl won't notice something's wrong?
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