Lan Shanyang frowned and glanced outside. Sure enough, Hu Qianyu was already approaching with her people.
Lan Shanyang's face quickly darkened. He was about to get angry, but when he saw Qin Kou'er sitting in front of him, his eyes flickered, and he swallowed back what he was about to say.
Hu Qianyu walked up to Lan Shanyang, smiled, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"
Upon seeing the Empress, Qin Kou'er quickly stood up and bowed her head to the side. With a slight lift of her eyelids, she immediately recognized her as Hu Qianyu, Lan Xiuyuan's mother, the Consort Shu.
"Why aren't you staying in the palace? What are you doing here?"
Lan Shanyang's expression was cold, and his voice carried a hint of estrangement and displeasure.
"I knew Your Majesty had come to Yuhua Pavilion, so I came here specifically to ask you. I've picked out a few dates for the imperial concubine selection and would like to show them to Your Majesty so that the Imperial Observatory can calculate which day is most suitable!"
As she spoke, Hu Qianyu took a memorial from the maid and carefully placed it on the table in front of Lan Shanyang.
As she turned back, Hu Qianyu glanced at Qin Kou'er standing to the side. What a beautiful girl! Whose child is she? To be able to receive a private audience with the Emperor.
Lan Shanyang kept staring coldly at Hu Qianyu, so much so that he could see every expression on her face clearly.
Unconsciously, a strange smile crept onto his lips.
Lowering his head, Lan Shanyang picked up the booklet and handed it to Lan Linxue behind him. "Linxue, help me take a look and see which ones are auspicious for you brothers to choose as princesses these days?"
While talking to Lan Linxue, Lan Shanyang kept his eyes fixed on Qin Kou'er.
Qin Kou'er stood to the side with her head down, her expression unchanged, as if she hadn't heard the topic at all.
His calm and composed demeanor even made Lan Shanyang inwardly applaud.
Qin Kou'er truly possesses the same composure as Qin Meiying back then, remaining calm and collected even in the face of a collapsing mountain. With this calm and collected demeanor alone, Qin Kou'er has surpassed those other young ladies from prominent families by countless degrees.
Lan Linxue held the booklet, flipping through it with a cold and expressionless face.
After a long pause, he said coldly, "I think any of these days is fine. Father, please choose. Any day is fine, it doesn't matter!"
As she spoke, Lan Linxue placed the booklet in her hand in front of Lan Shanyang.
Upon hearing Lan Linxue's words, Lan Shanyang immediately became displeased. "Nonsense! How can such a thing be done so casually? I think you're becoming more and more unruly!"
With that, Lan Shanyang picked up the booklet and handed it to Jing Quan with a disgruntled expression: "Send it to the Imperial Observatory and have them carefully calculate which day is auspicious!"
"yes!"
Hearing Lan Shanyang say this, Qin Kou'er couldn't help but sneer inwardly. In the end, didn't he, the emperor, just throw her out without even looking at her? His attitude was quite casual!
After Hu Qianyu finished speaking, she deliberately glanced at Qin Kou'er standing next to her and said with a smile, "I wonder whose daughter this is? She's as beautiful as a fairy!"
Hu Qianyu smiled at Qin Kou'er, her eyes seemingly gentle and kind, but with a hidden barb that made Qin Kou'er feel uncomfortable all over.
Upon hearing Hu Qianyu's words, Qin Kou'er quickly bowed and said softly, "This commoner, Qin Kou'er, greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
"Oh, so you're Qin Kou'er from Jiangnan, the one who dared to speak her mind in court yesterday! What a gentle and proper young lady!"
As she spoke, Hu Qianyu walked over warmly and gently, helped Qin Kou'er up, and looked her over carefully from head to toe with admiration. "Oh my, look at how beautiful this girl is. She's truly beyond compare! The skin of girls raised in the Jiangnan water towns is indeed better than that of girls in the capital. Her skin is as delicate as white porcelain, it's so enviable! Don't you think so, Your Majesty?"
Lan Shanyang watched Hu Qianyu act in front of him, but he didn't expose her act at all. Instead, he nodded and said approvingly, "Looking at it this way, Miss Qin is indeed many times more beautiful than the women in the capital!"
Lan Linxue, who was standing behind Lan Shanyang, froze upon hearing his words.
What does that old man mean? Why is he scrutinizing that girl so closely? What does it matter to him whether her skin is good or bad? Doesn't he know how much jealousy and trouble his words will bring upon him for Kou'er's sake?
Besides, she's his wife. Why should they be the ones to judge her like this? What does it matter to them whether she's beautiful or not?
They are all utterly disrespectful to their elders!
Lan Linxue's face instantly turned very ugly, extremely ugly.
He stared at Qin Kou'er, wanting to rush over instantly, but was stopped by a glance from Qin Kou'er.
Don't mess around; get through this calmly and steadily.
Lan Linxue understood Qin Kou'er's meaning. He glanced down at the back of his father's head and abruptly stopped himself from taking the step.
He really can't afford to panic at this moment.
The old man is using a trick, and he absolutely must not fall for it easily, otherwise all his efforts will be in vain.
Sure enough, after hearing Lan Shanyang praise Qin Kou'er's good skin, Hu Qianyu's smile became a little stiff, and her gaze towards Qin Kou'er changed color.
However, years of life in the palace had long since honed her composure and ability to remain calm in the face of danger.
"Miss Qin, with His Majesty's words, you should be truly content. It's been so many years since His Majesty has praised any woman's beauty; this is quite an honor for you!"
Qin Kou'er quickly smiled and replied respectfully, "It's all because Your Majesty flatters me. I come from the countryside and am rather uncouth. Even though I'm not bad-looking, my manners are quite inappropriate compared to the young ladies of the capital! I just hope Your Majesty doesn't find me reckless!"
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