Qian Shengyan smiled and said, "This child has been spoiled by me, please forgive him, sister."
“How could that be?” Lady Guo sighed. “I truly adore the princess’s temperament.”
If she had a daughter, she would probably spoil her even more than Consort Xi, wishing she could give her everything wonderful.
But she estimated that she would never have children in this lifetime.
A pang of pain shot through Guo's heart as she couldn't help but think of Consort Xiang, still kneeling on the floor of the main hall. She had once thought they were all the same, pitiful women wasting their lives in the palace, but…
Perhaps Consort Xiang is even more pitiful than her, perhaps Consort Xiang really will die, but now Guo feels that she should care more about herself and less about others.
She let out a long sigh of relief and squatted down to play with Hongshan. Little Hongshan had a particularly sunny smile, and he loved to laugh. Every time she played with him, Guo felt that she could become a little more sunny herself.
How much sunlight this Forbidden City, shrouded in high walls, must lack!
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The sudden announcement startled everyone. Qian Shengyan had just stood up when Qingxue rushed over and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has gone to the main hall."
Why did they have to come at this time of year?
Moreover, at this time of day, Yinzhen should still be reviewing the memorials received today, so why did he suddenly come over?
Qian Shengyan and Madam Guo exchanged a glance, then Qian Shengyan said to Hongshan, "Let's wait for your sister to come over, then we'll go and pay our respects to your father together."
"Yes," Hongshan replied obediently.
Qian Shengyan helped Guo Shi to her feet, and the two walked out together. Guo Shi was still saying, "Your Majesty, if the Emperor blames me, I am willing to bear the full responsibility..."
“No need.” Qian Shengyan smiled. “After all, someone being punished in Yongshou Palace must be related to me.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at the main hall. Qian Shengyan entered and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty."
"Hmm, went to Hongshan's place?" Yinzhen greeted Qian Shengyan calmly, as if he hadn't seen the living person kneeling in the room.
Guo bit her lip and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty, this concubine..."
“Consort Guo has been out for quite some time. With His Majesty here, I won’t keep you for a meal.” Qian Shengyan interrupted her directly. Guo wanted to say something, but Qian Shengyan pushed her away and said, “Go back and rest.”
Guo was pushed and stumbled, then was helped out of the palace by her maid. She looked back in a panic and saw Qian Shengyan kneeling through the crowd.
In an instant, Guo almost burst into tears.
"Your Majesty..." Qian Shengyan had just knelt down and hadn't even said two words when Consort Xiang suddenly shouted, "It was this servant's disrespect that angered Your Majesty. This servant is willing to accept punishment!"
"Alright, you are a Noble Consort and also assist in managing the six palaces. It's normal for you to punish a lowly concubine. Get up," Yinzhen said gently.
Qian Shengyan pursed her lips, but still managed to stand up with Qingxue's help. She glanced at Consort Xiang and said coldly, "For the sake of the Emperor, I will spare you for now. Go back."
"Yes, Your Majesty, and Consort Xi." After kowtowing, Consort Xiang struggled to her feet without assistance and left, trying to maintain a normal walking posture.
As Xiang Changzai brushed past Qian Shengyan, she whispered something to Qian Shengyan, who frowned slightly before relaxing her brow.
The two brushed past each other for only a few seconds, and Yinzhen didn't even notice. Besides, he had come with a reason: "Yanyan, did you see my thumb ring?"
"A thumb ring?" Qian Shengyan was taken aback, then followed Yinzhen into the inner room. "I've never seen one before. Is it the green one?"
"Yes, I think I picked it in your palace last time." Yinzhen wasn't too sure either; he had just had a sudden urge to wear it but couldn't find it.
Qian Shengyan simply called Qingxue and Lvliu in, as they were usually the only ones who cleaned her room.
"This servant has never seen it," Qingxue said, and Lüliu said the same thing.
Yinzhen let it go, but Qian Shengyan felt embarrassed. She also remembered that Yinzhen had touched her face before, and she thought the ring was too cold, so Yinzhen took it off.
What happens next?
Qian Shengyan really doesn't remember anything at all.
But after searching for a long time, the whole room couldn't find anything. Yinzhen thought he had misremembered and let it go.
"I still have a jade thumb ring in my treasury. Why don't you wear it for now, Your Majesty?" Qian Shengyan thought for a moment, then sighed, "It was bestowed upon me by the late Emperor."
"Oh?" Yinzhen became interested, but he quickly remembered, "Is it because of the potatoes you planted?" After he finished speaking, he sighed, "Speaking of which, Gansu suffered another drought last year, and it was thanks to the potatoes that a large-scale famine was avoided. I should reward you."
"Then Your Majesty, please grant me the honor of wearing the thumb ring I gave you," Qian Shengyan said with a smile. Meanwhile, Qingxue had already cleverly run to the storeroom and retrieved the jade thumb ring that Qian Shengyan had mentioned.
Yinzhen smiled and took the bag, then tried it on: "The size is just right, so I'll take advantage of you."
"Oh, I really thought it was a wonderful gift from the late Emperor. Judging by the size, it was clearly prepared for Your Majesty." Qian Shengyan sighed insincerely, which made Yinzhen even happier.
But Yinzhen only came over in a hurry to find the thumb ring. He had not yet finished reviewing the memorials for the day. He chatted with Qian Shengyan for a few words, and after seeing Fuerguochun and Hongshan, he returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As soon as he left, the smile on Qian Shengyan's face faded.
She sat on the tatami mat, tapped her fingers lightly on the small table, and then turned to look at the window.
This small table is right next to the window. When the weather is nice, she likes to open the window. If Yinzhen's thumb ring really falls on this small table, anyone passing by in the corridor can reach in and grab it and take it away.
Who is it?
Only Qingxue and the four green ones could get close to this small table. Green Willow and Green Smoke served inside the house, while Green Cloud and Green Water, though in the outer room and under the corridor, were not completely forbidden from entering.
But these people have been with her for at least ten years, from the Prince's Mansion to the Imperial Harem, without the slightest mistake. The four green-clad women are all under Qingxue's supervision, so she has never had to worry about them too much.
"Master?" Qingxue leaned closer and asked cautiously.
Qian Shengyan shook her head and sighed, "These are truly troublesome times lately."
Before the first month of the lunar calendar was even over, so many things had already happened to her. It was clear that once Yinzhen had secured his position, the evil spirits and monsters in the harem were starting to plot their schemes.
Let's go then.
Qian Shengyan stretched her limbs, preparing to start with her own palace.
Qian Shengyan believed she understood Yinzhen quite well. She had studied historical materials about him and had shared a bed with him for over ten years. Qian Shengyan knew that if Yinzhen wanted to wear that thumb ring, he wouldn't come directly to Yongshou Palace. He probably had already searched for a long time in Yangxin Hall without finding it before coming to her.
Could it be someone from her palace who took the Emperor's thumb ring?
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