Seeing that she knew what was good for her, Qingci snorted and turned to leave.
Bai Lian'er picked up the perfume powder, pondered for a moment, and then sprinkled it on her body.
Thinking of those cold, sinister eyes, tinged with a hint of mockery, Bai Lian'er couldn't help but shiver. The thought of achieving something with such a pure and noble person made her willing to die for it.
Halfway through the banquet, the Empress Dowager, disliking crowds, returned to the palace early.
A moment later, Bai Lian'er returned, carrying a faint fragrance. Gu Nanjiao frowned and touched her nose with a handkerchief.
After Cui'er returned, Gu Nanjiao raised her hand and said, "I'm getting a little tired from sitting. Cui'er, help me walk around a bit!"
Seeing the empty seats, Bai Lian'er was delighted. She picked up the snacks on the table, took light steps, and slowly stepped into the men's area.
Today, Bai Lian'er, though dressed in the same maid outfit as Cui'er and Guo'er, had her hair loose and was letting her hair fall loose, giving her a delicate and frail look reminiscent of a courtesan, making her even more charming.
She carried a plate of pastries, moved with graceful steps, and lowered her head to reveal her slender, fair neck. Her charming appearance made the young noblemen present whistle.
"Oh, whose maid is this? She's so alluring."
"You're so lucky with women! You're so lucky with women!"
A charming young maidservant approached Lu Yanzhao, her face flushed with shyness. She placed the pastries on the table and said in a melodious voice, "My lord, Madam asked me to bring you a plate of pastries. Please have a taste."
A faint aroma wafted over, and Lu Yanzhao's cold eyes narrowed slightly. Suddenly, he smiled, casually picked up a piece of pastry, put it in his mouth, and praised, "Not bad!"
Bai Lian'er was delighted and eagerly poured a cup of tea for Lu Yanzhao, saying, "My lord, please have some tea. Don't choke on the pastries."
Lu Yanzhao stared intently at Bai Lian'er for a while, then reached out to take the cup of tea. Unexpectedly, Bai Lian'er cried out "Aiya!" and spilled the tea on Lu Yanzhao's clothes.
"It's all because I'm clumsy, please punish me, sir." Bai Lian'er knelt on the ground, her face full of anxiety.
"Punishment isn't necessary. I'll go change my clothes!" Lu Yanzhao stood up, dusted off the water from his clothes, and strode away.
Bai Lian'er was overjoyed and got up to follow.
Cui'er helped Gu Nanjiao stroll around the Imperial Garden, where they happened to run into Chu Luoxun.
When the two met, their eyes exchanged nothing but calculation and probing.
After exchanging a few polite words, Gu Nanjiao got up to take her leave. As she turned to leave, a piece of paper fell out of her sleeve.
Chu Luoxun narrowed his eyes and gestured for his subordinate to pick it up and take a look.
When Chu Luoxun saw the design of the musket on the paper, his eyes lit up. Unable to contain his excitement, he quickly left the palace.
Feeling guilty, Chu Luoxun deliberately rode in a carriage. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the carriage, he smelled a strange fragrance and then lost consciousness.
After Gu Nanjiao returned, Zhou Wan slowly got up, and Qingci quickly helped her up.
"I heard the Imperial Garden is full of green chrysanthemums, shall we go and admire them?"
The royal relatives, noblewomen, and concubines were getting tired of sitting, so they immediately agreed to Zhou Wan's suggestion.
They walked and stopped frequently, with Zhou Wan constantly leading everyone onto side paths. One of the concubines realized what was happening and asked in confusion, "Isn't this the way to the Imperial Garden?"
Zhou Wan smiled and said, "I heard that this path has a beautiful environment and stunning scenery. If we pass by here, we can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, but also discover some interesting things."
"Oh, what's interesting?"
"The Crown Prince said there's a pond by the path where two mandarin ducks often play and frolic. It's fun and interesting!"
Upon hearing this, everyone became interested and followed Zhou Wan.
Gu Nanjiao stood still, her expression indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Zhou Wan affectionately took her hand and said, "Sister, come with me to see some fun and interesting things. It'll be good for the baby in your belly!"
"Let's go!" Gu Nanjiao broke free from her hand, glanced at Zhou Wan with a half-smile, and walked past her ahead.
Where no one could see, a glint of malice flashed in Zhou Wan's eyes, gone in an instant!
What are you so smug about? Just wait until you're not laughing anymore!
When they reached the side hall, Zhou Wan rubbed her lower back and frowned, saying, "Perhaps it's because of the pregnancy, but my back aches after just a few steps. Qingci, quickly help me to the side hall to rest for a while."
Everyone looked at Zhou Wan, then at Gu Nanjiao, and couldn't help but feel contempt: They were both pregnant, so why was she being so dramatic?
After all, Zhou Wan was the Crown Prince's concubine, and no one dared to offend her. They could only say with concern, "Your Highness is pregnant and it's hard work. And you're carrying the eldest grandson of the Emperor, so you are naturally very precious. Why don't you go to the side hall to rest for a while?"
Zhou Wan said with a guilty expression, "It's all my fault for being so weak, which has delayed everyone from seeing the flowers."
While saying this, he gestured to Qingci to open the door to the side hall.
Qingci arrived at the side hall first and heard the flushed, panting sounds coming from inside. She was overjoyed and gave Zhou Wan a wink.
Zhou Wanxin understood and led the ladies and concubines forward.
Qingci pushed open the door and covered her mouth, screaming in terror, "There are people inside! They're...doing something shameful!"
This shout caused a huge uproar in the crowd, leaving everyone stunned and unable to recover for a long time, while Zhou Wan raised a smug smile.
As the door was opened, the unpleasant sounds coming from inside grew closer, causing several ladies to change their expressions and cover their daughters' ears.
Consort De, being the highest-ranking among them, immediately turned cold: "Truly shameless, daring to commit filthy acts in the harem."
"Guards! Pull the adulterous couple inside away from me!"
After Consort Yue fell from power, the power to manage the six palaces fell into the hands of Consort De, but she was not interested in power and rarely appeared in public.
The banquet was held for the first time, with the intention of finding suitable spouses for the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng, but unexpectedly, such a thing happened.
If word gets out, the emperor and empress dowager will blame her for not managing the harem properly.
Although she doesn't love power, she also doesn't want to be punished.
Zhou Wan smiled smugly and asked Gu Nanjiao with feigned surprise, "When you came, my sister, you had a charming and delicate maid with you. Why can't we see her now?"
"As soon as that maid entered the palace, she said that an acquaintance was looking for her. I didn't want to disturb her meeting with her acquaintance, so I let her go. How come the Consort is so concerned about me, even knowing that a maid is missing from her side?"
Faced with Gu Nanjiao's sarcasm, Zhou Wan smiled instead of getting angry: "We are both pregnant at the same time. I was thinking of communicating with you more, so I paid some attention. Please don't take offense, sister."
As they were talking, the eunuch sent by Consort De walked over with a troubled expression, knelt on the ground, and stammered.
"Why haven't you dragged that adulterous couple out yet? Don't hesitate in front of me, answer properly!"
The eunuch glanced at Zhou Wan and then lowered his head.
Zhou Wan felt a chill run down her spine, and an ominous premonition shot through her heart.
What was that eunuch looking at her for?
The eunuch glanced at Zhou Wan, then knelt on the ground and respectfully replied, "The person in the side hall is of noble status; this servant dares not pull him out!"
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