Although she was not the Crown Princess, she was also a concubine, and her rank was two ranks higher than that of a Consort. Even though she did not like Xu Liangyuan, she still had to remind the young lady that she needed to send a gift.
Shen Chuwei said without even thinking: "Send a basket of strawberries to Concubine Xu."
"My lady, you just want to give me strawberries?" Chunxi felt a little embarrassed.
"One basket of strawberries is enough. If there is any more, there will be none left." Shen Chuwei said that she wanted more.
"...Okay!" Chunxi took a pair of scissors and went to the greenhouse to pick strawberries.
There was a greenhouse built in the strawberry field in the backyard. This was the first time Chunxi saw it.
After Shen Chuwei's explanation, she realized that strawberries cannot grow in winter because the temperature is low.
Chunxi picked a basket of flowers and sent it to Yixiang Palace.
At this moment, Yixiang Hall was bustling with people coming to give gifts. Each of them held an exquisite brocade box in their hands, and it was obvious at first glance that it was a valuable item.
Chunxi was holding a basket of strawberries, which seemed a little pale in comparison. Fortunately, when she came out, in order to show the festive atmosphere, the basket was covered with red satin, so no one knew what she was giving.
Li Liangdi walked in and saw Chunxi at the first sight. She glanced at the thing in her arms, but she couldn't tell what it was because it was covered with a red cloth.
"Isn't this Chunxi from Xiyun Pavilion? Is she here to give a gift as well?"
She looked around again, but didn't see Shen Chuwei. She asked curiously, "Why are you alone? Why didn't Shen Liangdi come?"
Chunxi bowed and said, "Replying to Li Liangdi, my mistress is not feeling well, so she didn't come."
"This is such a coincidence. Concubine Xu was promoted and Didi Shen felt uncomfortable." Li Liangdi deliberately raised her voice so that everyone present could hear it.
After hearing this, Chunxi knew that Li Liangdi said this on purpose to make everyone misunderstand that her mistress was uncomfortable because Xu Liangyuan became a concubine.
"My young lady is overjoyed about Concubine Xu's promotion, but His Highness came yesterday." Chunxi did not finish the rest of the sentence, and everyone understood what she meant.
When Li Liang Di heard that His Highness was staying at Xiyun Pavilion again, the smile on her face disappeared. Wasn't he just relying on His Highness's favor? And he was putting on airs?
She stared at the thing in Chunxi's arms for a while, and suddenly raised the corners of her lips, "Chunxi, what is that thing in your arms? It looks so big, it must be very valuable, right?"
Chunxi felt a little guilty, "Of course it's not as valuable as Li Liangdi's gift."
"Chunxi is too modest. Let's open it and let everyone see whether it is true or not." Li Liangdi glanced at the people present and said, "Sisters, tell me whether it is true or not?"
"Chunxi, uncover it and let us all open our eyes."
"I'm also curious about what gift Shen Liangdi will give?"
"It should be very valuable, right? Chunxi looks so tired holding it."
Chunxi was somewhat overwhelmed by the interrogation of so many people. If she had known, she should have come later. These women seemed to be cannibalistic.
She hugged the basket of strawberries tightly in her arms and replied carefully: "I'm sorry to make you laugh at me, but the gift my lady sent is not expensive, but the sentiment behind it is small."
The more Chunxi didn't let them see it, the more Li Liangdi became curious about what was inside. It was probably something not presentable, so she didn't dare to take it out for everyone to see.
"Just uncover it and you'll know." Li Liangdi took advantage of Chunxi's inattention and grabbed the red cloth and lifted it up, revealing a basket of red fruits.
Everyone stared at the basket of fruit for a while. Although they were curious about what kind of fruit it was, they couldn't help but laugh because the gift was just a basket of strawberries.
Chunxi wanted to protect it but failed. Listening to their mocking laughter, she felt a little embarrassed.
Li Liang Di held up her handkerchief to cover her mouth and laughed: "Shen Liang Di is still a Liang Di after all, why did she send a basket of fruit? This fruit looks weird, can it be eaten?"
"Of course she can eat it. My young lady likes it very much, so I gave it to Concubine Xu." Chunxi deliberately emphasized her tone.
Concubine Xu was busy when she heard the noise in the yard. She walked out to take a look and saw a group of people chatting together, laughing so hard that they were bent over.
She walked over with her handkerchief waving in curiosity, "What are you all laughing at?"
Naturally, someone made way for her. Being a concubine was not an ordinary status.
When Li Liang Di saw Concubine Xu coming, she covered her mouth and smiled, "Concubine Xu, look at the gift that Shen Liang Di gave you. I've never seen anything so shabby."
Concubine Xu turned her head to look at Chunxi who was standing in the crowd, and recognized at a glance that she was holding a basket of strawberries in her arms.
She had seen Shen Chuwei's look when she ate strawberries. Since she had never tasted them, she could only hear Shen Chuwei's description, so she was very greedy.
Now a basket of strawberries appeared in front of her, and she was a little excited.
Chunxi held the strawberry in her arms and bowed, "Concubine Xu, this is a gift from my mistress to you. It's a small gift but it carries a lot of sentiment. I hope Concubine Xu won't despise it."
Concubine Xu waved her handkerchief and said happily, "Don't mind. These strawberries are really good and fresh."
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Then he told the maid to bring the strawberries over.
Li Liangdi thought that Concubine Xu would be angry. After all, Concubine Xu loved to criticize people so much. How could she not criticize people when they sent her such a shabby gift to please her?
But she was not angry but looked happy? Not only Li Liangdi felt strange, but others were also curious about Concubine Xu's unusual reaction.
Chunxi was relieved when she saw that Concubine Xu liked it: "These are freshly picked, they are indeed very fresh."
Concubine Xu said, "Go back and tell Concubine Shen Liang that I like her gift very much."
"Then I will go back and report." Chunxi bowed and turned to leave.
Li Liang Di glanced at the basket of fruit and asked, "Concubine Xu, what kind of fruit is this?"
Concubine Xu turned her head to look at the strawberry and said with some pride: "Strawberry, you can't find it anywhere else."
Li Liang Di didn't believe it: "How is this possible? It's just fruit. If Xiyun Pavilion has it, there must be other places as well."
Concubine Xu raised her eyebrows and looked at Li Liang Di, "Then go find me a basket."
Li Liang Di paused after hearing this, and said indifferently: "Since Concubine Xu likes it so much, I will send a basket tomorrow."
Concubine Xu stroked her temples and said, "I'll wait. Li Liang Di, please don't let me down."
Li Liangdi snorted in her heart, isn't it just fruit? If Shen Chuwei can have it, then of course she can have it too.
After Chunxi returned, he recounted in vivid detail what had just happened, with a look of excitement on his face.
"You don't know how ugly Li Liang Di's face was at that time. Concubine Xu likes strawberries very much."
"Of course. Strawberries are so delicious, who wouldn't like them?" Shen Chuwei picked up one and handed it to Chunxi.
Chunxi smiled and took the strawberry in her hand and took a bite. It was really delicious.
It was a rare sunny day.
Chunxi took out the quilt to dry in the sun, and then she saw Li Liangdi coming to her house. She frowned. What was she doing here?
(End of this chapter)