Chapter 17 First Encounter with Consort Rong
Huang Yinghe said, "Your Highness originally intended to personally deliver the items to Jinxiu Palace, but he did not expect that before he could go, Her Highness came to Yuqing Palace first."
"I went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to deliver soup to His Majesty today, and I made an extra portion for Chuan'er, thinking I'd check on him while I was there." Consort Rong glanced into the Yuqing Palace. "It seems Chuan'er isn't in the palace?"
Huang Ying respectfully replied, "Your Highness, His Highness instructed before going to his morning lessons that he had an appointment with His Highness the Crown Prince and that there was no need to prepare dinner."
“I see.” Consort Rong nodded. “Lvping, give the soup to Huangying. I’m tired, let’s go back to the palace.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hearing that Consort Rong was going back to the palace, Huang Ying finally felt relieved.
Although the princess is currently in a side hall, who knows what trouble might arise that might cause the two of them to run into each other.
As Lüping took the food box from the palace maid and was about to hand it to Huangying, Consort Rong suddenly said, "Wait, let's go in and take a look. While we're at it, let's take that calming incense back to the palace. We don't need to make Chuan'er go there."
After saying this, Consort Rong had already started walking towards Yuqing Palace.
Huang Ying's brow twitched, and her heart, which had finally calmed down, jumped again.
However, she couldn't come up with any other reason: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Huang Ying followed behind Consort Rong. Seeing that she seemed a little uneasy, Lü Ping said worriedly in a low voice, "Huang Ying, what's wrong? You look pale."
Huang Ying shook her head: "Sister Lü Ping, I'm fine. I guess I've just been tired these past few days."
Lü Ping nodded knowingly: "That's true. His Highness doesn't like too many people in the palace. It is indeed a bit tiring for you to manage the affairs of Yuqing Palace all by yourself."
"How could that be? It is my duty to share Your Highness's burdens."
The two were both head palace maids and had a good relationship. They whispered a few words to each other. Huang Ying, concerned about the sounds coming from the side hall, said, "Your Highness, this servant will go to the side hall to fetch you some calming incense."
"Hmm." Consort Rong paced around the hall. "Lüping, go and deliver the soup to the small kitchen in Yuqing Palace. I'll look around here."
"yes."
Out of the corner of her eye, Huang Ying saw Consort Rong pick up a calligraphy scroll by Xie Yunchuan and examine it carefully. She looked at it very intently and probably wouldn't notice anything else for the time being. She then ran off to the side hall with small, quick steps.
Upon entering the side hall, one could see that the little dumpling had somehow ended up lying on the floor, hugging Yan Hu and chattering away.
"Princess, why are you lying on the ground?"
Huang Ying quickly helped Sheng Sheng up. Sheng Sheng patted her skirt, revealing two dimples: "Sister Huang Ying, the ground isn't dirty."
The palace servants would clean the area every morning and evening, so it wasn't dirty. However, Huang Ying was worried that she would catch a cold while lying on the ground.
Huang Ying didn't have time to say anything else; she had to go get the calming incense for Consort Rong.
"Fortunately, Physician Li prescribed a calming formula for the princess beforehand, otherwise I really don't know where to conjure up calming incense." Huang Ying took out the calming incense, patted her chest and said, "Oh dear, but I still feel uneasy. I have to wait for Consort Rong to return to the palace."
Huang Ying was getting something over there, while Sheng Sheng sat obediently on a low stool watching her.
Yan Hu's ears twitched, and he sat up straight, looking like he was eavesdropping intently.
“I heard it! She said she’s going to the Brocade Palace later!”
Sheng Sheng asked curiously, "Where is the Brocade Palace?"
"Jinxiu Palace is Rong..." Yan Hu paused, thought for a moment, and felt that it shouldn't be its place to say this, "Uh, it's just a place. The point isn't that, the point is that Huang Ying is going out later!"
"Oh..." Sheng blinked, her curiosity about the Brocade Palace piqued, and she became somewhat absent-minded.
Yan Hu circled around her, saying, "Since Huang Ying isn't in the palace, we can sneak out! Jinxiu Palace is quite a distance from Yuqing Palace. Judging by Huang Ying's pace, a round trip would take at least half an hour. We can use that time to quietly go out and play!"
"Let's go out and play!"
Upon hearing those three words, Sheng Sheng's eyes lit up immediately, and the curiosity she had just felt vanished instantly.
"Didn't you always want to go to the bamboo forest to find that hostage? I'll take you there!"
Yan Hu sat down in front of her, proudly raising his head as if he had won a battle.
Sheng Sheng rushed over and hugged it, exclaiming, "Yan Hu, Yan Hu, you're so smart, you're the best!"
Yan Hu remained silent, only wagging his tail like a propeller.
The two little ones whispered to each other, and when the oriole came over, they sat quietly in a row in perfect unison.
Sure enough, Yan Hu hadn't misheard. Huang Ying took the calming incense and said to Sheng Sheng, "Princess, I have to go out for a while. I'll be back soon. Will you wait for me in the palace?"
"Brother isn't coming home today, and Sister Huangying isn't going to have dinner with Shengsheng either?"
The little dumpling hugged Huang Ying's waist, rested its head on her body, looked up at her with its little face pouting slightly, looking so aggrieved.
Huang Ying's heart melted, and she assured her, "This servant will be back within an hour, Your Highness. Don't worry, this servant will definitely come back to have dinner with Your Highness."
"good!"
Sheng Sheng immediately broke into a smile, her adorable appearance prompting Huang Ying to give her a long explanation before she finally left the house with peace of mind.
Huang Ying quickly returned to the main hall, where Consort Rong had already read through all the articles on Xie Yunchuan's desk and looked very satisfied.
"Your Majesty, this servant will take it back to the palace for you."
"Um."
Consort Rong didn't think much of it, tidied up the things on her desk, and stepped out of the main hall.
Huang Ying followed behind, thinking: I'll follow the Imperial Concubine back to the palace with my own eyes, and I can finally rest assured.
The side halls are located on either side of the main hall, and Sheng Sheng has always lived in the east side hall.
At this moment, the two little ones are hiding behind the palace gate, quietly observing Huang Ying's movements. As soon as Huang Ying goes out, the two little ones can immediately slip out through the back door.
The two little ones only poked their heads out, their little heads stacked one on top of the other.
Consort Rong walked at the front, dressed in a purple palace dress, elegant and dignified, still as beautiful as a flower despite being over thirty.
Sheng Sheng's gaze was immediately drawn to this beautiful aunt, and her eyes followed Consort Rong.
"Wow, what a beautiful auntie."
Sheng Sheng stared at her intently, his heart pounding for some reason, and he inexplicably grew to like this aunt.
"But why does this aunt seem a little unhappy?"
Although Consort Rong's expression was calm, a faint sadness was evident in her eyes.
Just like the "Uncle Tree God" she met that night, Sheng Sheng really wanted to smooth away the sorrow between her brows with her little hands.
Sheng Sheng's eyes were filled with Consort Rong, while Yan Hu's eyes were filled with Huang Ying. Seeing that the procession was about to leave the gates of Yuqing Palace, Yan Hu was even more excited than Sheng Sheng: "Let's go out quickly! Sheng Sheng, let's go!"
Sheng Sheng stared blankly at Consort Rong, not hearing anything for a moment.
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