Chapter 252 World Ten (Twenty-three)
In Zhilan Hall, Baoshan held a lustrous jade-green pole. From its end dangled a snow-white ball of down, a woven mass of soft goose feathers. Baoshan placed the jade pole before Moyu's eyes, and the goose feathers trembled gently. Moyu lay still on the soft couch, not even the whiskers on his face twitching. Despite the raccoon cat's indifference, Baoshan didn't find it distasteful. Instead, he held the ball of down closer to Moyu.
It was not until the snow-white goose feathers touched the tip of Mo Yu's nose that it raised its eyes, suddenly stretched out its claws, and pressed the ball of fluff under its claws.
Baoshan held Moyu in his arms and placed her on his knees. At first, Moyu tried to struggle, but Chu Boyu came to Zhilan Palace frequently, always bringing his beloved pet with him.
Mo Yu thought Chu Boyu was ridiculous, assuming that his beloved and his concubine could live in harmony. Little did he know how cruel this delicate, pitiful woman was. Mo Yu refused to let Bao Shan hold it. But once Bao Shan saw Mo Yu's reluctance, she kindly put it down. But when she turned to Chu Boyu, she looked so fragile and pitiful, her face pale and her eyelashes drooping.
Baoshan said timidly, "Your Majesty, Moyu doesn't like me... I heard that civet cats have peculiar habits. If they stay with people they dislike, they will feel depressed. Your Majesty, for the sake of the civet cat, please don't let it stay in Zhilan Palace."
Baoshan's words showed weakness, which made people feel pity for her.
But Mo Yu watched coldly, thinking that Bao Shan was just retreating to advance. It had hoped that Chu Boyu could see through Bao Shan's disguise, but when it turned around, it saw Chu Boyu frowning, holding Bao Shan's waist with one hand, and handing Mo Yu to Bao Shan's arms with the other hand, comforting Bao Shan softly.
"Mo Yu wouldn't be like that, don't think too much about it."
Bao Shan raised her eyes slightly, a glint flickering in them: "Really, Mo Yu doesn't hate me?"
Chu Boyu nodded, and his broad palm stroked the soft flesh on Mo Yu's neck.
Because his most vulnerable part was clamped, all the hair on Mo Yu's body became extremely stiff.
When the treasure fan stroked the black jade again, it did not become docile, but it also did not resist as before.
Now Mo Yu has become accustomed to the touch of the treasure fan.
Compared with Chu Boyu, Bao Shan's palm is small and soft, and the strength of stroking is just right, and it always touches the most comfortable part of Mo Yu.
Although Mo Yu felt that Bao Shan had ulterior motives, Chu Boyu looked willing and happy to do so.
Even though it didn't want to see its master being bewitched by a woman again, it could only try not to care about the relationship between Chu Boyu and Baoshan.
Upon hearing that Yinhua came to pay a visit, Baoshan hurriedly called on the palace maid to welcome Yinhua into the palace.
Yinhua's outfit today is very unusual. She has curved eyebrows, rouge on her face, and her lips are bright red and moist.
When Baoshan saw Yinhua, she immediately frowned and said softly, "Who put on your makeup? It's too heavy."
With that, Baoshan pulled Yinhua to sit down. With a soft handkerchief dipped in clean water, she gently wiped away the powder on Yinhua's face, leaving only a hint of crimson. After Baoshan kneaded it, it gradually blended with the rosy color of her cheeks. Baoshan held up the diamond-shaped mirror for Yinhua to examine closely. Yinhua's rouge had been so thick earlier that it obscured her natural beauty.
Now the two spots of rouge on her cheeks show her shy peach pink, which highlights Yinhua's liveliness and cuteness.
After looking at herself in the diamond-shaped mirror, Yinhua thought to herself that she was indeed much better than the heavily made-up palace maids.
But Yinhua saw Baoshan's clear eyes, and saw that she was dressed like this, without any doubt at all, so she couldn't help but sigh softly: "Do you find it strange that I'm dressed like this?"
Baoshan shook her head, a faint smile on her lips as she said, "It's normal for women to love beauty, and Yinhua is no exception. There's nothing strange about her suddenly dressing herself up.
But these rouges are not very good, I'll ask the palace maids to pack some black ink and powder for you."
Yinhua said no, and asked Baoshan to send everyone away. Baoshan did not ask why, but did as Yinhua said.
Yinhua looked around and saw that all the palace servants had left, leaving only a pitch-black civet cat on the couch.
Yinhua guessed that this was Chu Boyu's beloved pet Moyu, so she just curled her lips and didn't say anything in the end.
Yinhua then had Empress Dowager Zhong transfer her to the inner palace, and ordered the senior palace maid to test her, intending to make Yinhua jealous and turn against Baoshan, and tell her everything about the fight for Chu Boyu.
Baoshan lowered her long eyelashes and remained silent for a long time.
When she raised her eyes again, Bao Shan's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, and she asked softly, "But what did I do wrong to make the Queen Mother treat me like this..."
Yinhua consoled him, "The Queen Mother's thoughts are beyond your and my comprehension.
But no matter what the Queen Mother thinks, it's not your fault.
You usually only spend time with His Majesty, and your heart is always with His Majesty, and you have never done anything that oversteps the mark.
If the Queen Mother gets angry with you for no reason, you can only blame it on her capricious mood.
I pretended to obey the Empress Dowager's orders today, thinking to myself, "If I weren't there, Empress Dowager Zhong would probably choose another palace maid to do this." If that were the case, I'd rather let her do it. I'll stay in Zhilan Palace for a while, and then quietly leave after Your Majesty arrives.
Then I will just complain to the Queen Mother's maidservant, saying that Your Majesty despises me and that I am disheartened and will not think about these things anymore."
Baoshan looked like he was already in a panic, and he didn't care what Yinhua said.
When the palace maid brought Yinhua to the side hall to rest, Baoshan stroked Moyu's soft fur, and a dark color appeared in his eyes.
Baoshan had a lot of thoughts in her mind. She thought that although Yinhua had some survival skills, she could not figure out Empress Dowager Zhong's thoughts.
If what Yinhua said was really done today, and she was released back, she would lie to the head palace maid.
There are many palace maids in Zhilan Palace, and there must be someone who reported to Empress Dowager Zhong privately.
When Yinhua's lies are exposed, Empress Dowager Zhong will naturally feel fooled, and Yinhua's life will probably not be easy in the future.
Bao Shan has been planning and scheming for many years, and every word and action is calculated, so how can she please people and gain their love?
Including the friendship with Yinhua, it was also Baoshan's intention.
With the help of Yinhua, Baoshan was quite familiar with everything in the palace, even though she could not move around freely in the palace because she was in the Jiaofangsi.
But Baoshan knew very well that even with blood ties, there was betrayal.
If Yinhua was really deceived by Empress Dowager Zhong's words and took advantage of her, Baoshan would feel sad.
After all, after so many years of affection, whether true or false, there is always some true love left.
But Yinhua remained unmoved. She treated him as sincerely as before. Baoshan, upon hearing the news, suddenly felt relieved.
As expected, she still couldn't bear to lose Yinhua.
Baoshan had no intention of letting Yinhua return to Empress Dowager Zhong's side.
Perhaps today is a good time for Baoshan to bring Yinhua to Zhilan Palace.
When Chu Boyu arrived, Baoshan was rescuing a ball of goose feathers from Moyu's claws. He said, "My dear little raccoon cat, your claws are too sharp. You've torn the goose feathers."
Chu Boyu paused slightly, and Baoshan seemed to sense something and turned around gently.
When she saw that it was Chu Boyu, Baoshan's beautiful eyes flashed slightly, and she stood up gently and ran towards Chu Boyu.
One of her embroidered shoes fell off because she was walking so fast.
When Baoshan came in front of Chu Boyu, he was wearing a shoe on one foot and only a snow-white cloth sock on the other.
Chu Boyu took advantage of the situation and put his arm around her waist, tucking Bao Shan's messy hair behind her ears. He said in a gentle voice, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Chu Boyu was already handsome, and when he was looked at with such gentle eyes, he vaguely felt that Chu Boyu had given his whole heart to him.
But Baoshan knew very well that Chu Boyu did not have that. If a person's love was ten points, Chu Boyu would treat her with six points of love.
Just because Chu Boyu was the emperor, this six points of favor seemed like ten points of love.
This favor started with beauty and was indulged in the body, but it lacked a bit of loyalty and constancy.
Baoshan's eyebrows arched slightly, and her voice was soft: "Because I saw His Majesty."
Chu Boyu's eyes sank slightly, then he leaned over, picked up the treasure fan by the waist, and placed it on the couch.
The two of them fooled around for a while, and Baoshan leaned weakly against Chu Boyu's chest, listening to Chu Boyu talk about how many decisions he had made in the court today.
Ever since Chu Boyu disregarded Empress Dowager Zhong's wishes and named Bao Shan Lan Zhaoyuan, he gradually began to make his own decisions, which was somewhat difficult at first.
However, Chu Boyu had long been versed in the art of ruling and was intelligent. In the past, he was hesitant and did not dare to make a decision because of his mild temperament.
Now, Chu Boyu has gradually adapted and started to feel like a fish in water.
Bao Shan listened quietly, waiting for Chu Boyu to finish. Then she looked up at him with reverence and said in a soft and gentle voice, "Although I don't understand what you are saying, I feel that Your Majesty is brave and courageous."
Upon hearing this, Chu Boyu retracted his arms from Baoshan's waist and kissed her hair.
Chu Boyu liked to talk to Baoshan. Sometimes, Chu Boyu didn't want others to come up with any surprising solutions to help him solve his problems.
Finding solutions and solving problems are the tasks of many ministers in the court.
What Chu Boyu wanted was someone to listen to him quietly and tell him how happy he was.
Baoshan is this person.
No matter how insignificant the things Chu Boyu did, once they fell into Baoshan's ears, they became huge problems and were all resolved by His Majesty.
The moist and trembling lips kissed by Chu Boyu would speak softly.
"Your Majesty is truly amazing."
"Your Majesty is truly wise."
"With Your Majesty by my side, I have nothing to fear."
Chu Boyu admitted in his heart that he was not like an emperor, but more like an ordinary person who liked to hear these sweet words as sweet as honey.
Moreover, every time Chu Boyu heard Baoshan's words, he would become more decisive when he went to the court the next day to handle government affairs.
The two of them were affectionate for a long time. Bao Shan frowned and said, "I have something to ask of Your Majesty."
Ever since Bao Shan entered Zhilan Palace, Chu Boyu hadn't seen her look so worried. He asked, "What's the matter?"
Baoshan spoke softly, "Your Majesty, do you know that I have a good friend named Yinhua who is on duty outside the Queen Mother's Palace?"
Chu Boyu frowned, thought for a long time, and then replied, "I seem to have an impression."
Baoshan continued, "Duty in the outer hall is truly arduous. Yinhua is young, yet she has to endure the scorching sun and cold wind outside the hall.
In winter, when ice and snow blew under the eaves, even though Yinhua felt cold, she could not put her hands in her wide sleeves to keep warm due to the rules.
I have pondered this matter and cannot bear it, so I request Your Majesty to transfer Yinhua to the inner palace to serve."
Baoshan did not mention at all that Yinhua had already been transferred to the inner palace by Empress Dowager Zhong.
She didn't say anything, but wanted to take Yinhua to Zhilan Palace.
But Chu Boyu thought about it for a long time. He was no longer the Chu Boyu who just believed what others said. He had his own plans and thoughts in his mind.
The transfer of a palace maid was not a big deal for Chu Boyu.
But Chu Boyu saw that Baoshan was weak in nature, and he didn't even dare to ask for mercy for his friend. He simply transferred Yinhua to the inner hall.
Chu Boyu felt pity for Bao Shan's cautious behavior. He said, "The inner and outer halls are both far away from Zhilan Hall. It would be better to transfer her directly to Zhilan Hall so that you can see her every day.
Under your watch, no one will bully her."
Bao Shan's voice trembled, but the soft hand holding Chu Boyu's arm tightened slightly, showing her joy at the moment: "Is it really possible?"
Chu Boyu nodded: "Of course."
The chief eunuch immediately received Chu Boyu's order and went to Empress Dowager Zhong's palace.
Upon learning that Chu Boyu had asked for the palace maid Yinhua, Empress Dowager Zhong thought that Yinhua's plan had succeeded. Although she was puzzled, she wondered how Chu Boyu could be so easily deceived.
But Empress Dowager Zhong still agreed and sent the silver flowers to the eunuch.
Until the head maid came forward with lowered eyebrows and reported: "Your Majesty asked for Yinhua not because he had any intentions, but to send her to Zhilan Palace to serve."
At this time, Empress Dowager Zhong had no idea what was happening.
She was actually fooled by the seemingly harmless Zhao Yuan.
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