Chapter 320: Competing for Flattery 1
The next day, the guards in the cold palace were replaced, and Aunt Qingzhu, who was by the Queen Mother's side, was also ordered to enter the cold palace to meet Song Zhao.
"Don't worry, my lady. The Empress Dowager will let you stay in the cold palace for the time being. When the Emperor calms down, the Empress Dowager will defend you. There are many doubts about this matter, and the Emperor doesn't believe it completely.
The emperor sent Prince An to the south of the Yangtze River to stabilize the people's hearts and to investigate the breach of the Chidong Dam. Let me say that the emperor still cares about you. Otherwise, even if the queen mother persuaded him again, if the emperor was determined to execute you, you would not be alive today. "
Song Zhao nodded calmly, "I know that the emperor loves me deeply, and the queen mother is also considering me. Under the circumstances at that time, entering the cold palace was the only way for me to survive."
Then he asked anxiously, "The Queen Mother looked very sick that day. Has her condition worsened?"
Qing Zhu sighed, "The Empress Dowager has had tuberculosis since the death of the fourth prince. It has recurred over the years, sometimes getting better, sometimes getting worse, and it is difficult to cure it. Now the imperial physician is trying his best to treat her, and the emperor has also ordered Yu Shengshou to come to the palace frequently to take care of the Empress Dowager. I hope the Empress Dowager can get better soon."
Song Zhao said sadly, "Aunt, please take good care of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother treats me like a family member, but I can't serve her at this time. It turns out that I am unfilial."
Qingzhu said, "I will convey your feelings to the Queen Mother. The cold palace is a forbidden place, so I can't stay here for long. Please take care of yourself."
At lunch time that day, the guards who came to deliver the meal were also very respectful to Song Zhao, and did not treat her as a deposed concubine at all.
"Your humble servant Qin Tai greets you, my lady. From now on, I will be responsible for delivering your meals to you."
He lowered his voice and added, "Don't worry, my lady. These foods have been tested three times. They are only sent to you after they are proven to be safe."
Song Zhao nodded, "Thank you for your help."
He then took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Qin Tai, "I'll have to trouble you to find a way to pass this to Tong Changzai of Zhaochun Palace for me."
Qin Tai took the letter and put it away, then he bowed and said, "My lady's order is the order of His Royal Highness Prince An. I will do my best to take care of it for you!"
*
Ever since Song Zhao was sent to the cold palace, the situation in the palace has become increasingly clear.
The imperial concubine Ning Wanshuang was not favored, and Concubine Ying was also neglected by Xiao Jingheng because she and the entire Adahu tribe had touched the emperor's sore spot due to the disappearance of the crown prince.
The only two concubines left were Concubine Yun and Concubine Yao.
Moreover, Concubine Yun had the most seniority among all the concubines, so now when the concubines came to pay their respects, they all went to her Changchun Palace.
She was also in high spirits because of the good news, and she thought she was not far from becoming the queen. She always chose secondary colors such as rose red, crimson purple, and light yellow for her clothes, as if she wanted to make herself look more noble than others.
When everyone paid their respects today, they saw that Rong Yue was very different from before.
She was a person who didn't like to dress up and she went out without makeup all day long. Although she was naturally beautiful, she looked very plain without makeup and didn't attract anyone's attention.
She's dressed up today, with delicate makeup and bright clothes, which is really eye-catching.
Concubine Yao said first: "Look at how Concubine Tong is dressed up today."
Rong Yue smiled and said, "I just got two pieces of brocade from the emperor as a reward and made some clothes. The colors are too bright to hold back, so I put on some makeup. But it made my sisters laugh at me."
Li Changzai sneered, "I was wondering why you stayed in your room for so long today. You were thinking about doing these things? It's been less than half a year since the Queen passed away. We are so sad, but you have the mind to dress up first."
Rong Yue did not respond to her words, but stood up and bowed to Concubine Yun who was sitting in the first seat.
"Please forgive me, Concubine Yun. Sister Li Changzai's words were unintentional and she did not mean to mock Concubine Yun. Please do not take it seriously."
When everyone looked at them, although Rong Yue was dressed gorgeously, she was only wearing a sky-blue cloak with cloud-shaped patterns of flowers and birds. How could it compare to the embroidered silk and satin that Concubine Yun was wearing?
Seeing Concubine Yun's face darken, Li Changzai also felt frustrated and hurriedly apologized to Concubine Yun:
"Your Majesty, don't listen to Concubine Tong's instigation. This is not what I meant..."
"Then what do you mean?" Concubine Yun glanced at her and said unhappily, "If you really want to commemorate Empress Jiarui, you don't have to do these superficial things. Since Li Changzai misses Empress Jiarui so much, I will reward you to kneel in Anhua Hall and copy a hundred volumes of Buddhist scriptures for Empress Jiarui, so that you can also place your grief at ease."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know I was wrong!"
"This is a reward, not a punishment. What have you done wrong? Go ahead. When you finish copying, you can return to the palace."
Li Changzai was punished to copy a hundred volumes of Buddhist scriptures in Anhua Palace. It was estimated that she would have to stay there for three or four days and would not be able to return to Zhaochun Palace.
She and Rongyue both live with Huipin. Now Huipin is pregnant. Everyone in the palace knows that Li Changzai is very attentive to Huipin.
Everyone knew that if Huipin gave birth to a boy, she would be promoted to the position of concubine, filling the vacancy in the four corners of the concubine position.
At this time, Li Chang was trying to curry favor with Huipin, and Yunfei was already unhappy, so the "reward" to her was also expected.
In fact, ever since Song Zhao was sent to the cold palace, Xiao Jingheng hasn't turned over the concubine's card for more than a month.
Although he didn't say it, anyone with a discerning eye could see that he was still thinking about Song Zhao in his heart.
It has been difficult for the concubines to see Xiao Jingheng recently. It was only because Concubine Hui was pregnant that Xiao Jingheng would visit her palace every now and then.
On this day, Xiao Jingheng finished his dinner with Huipin in Zhaochun Palace. When they were about to leave,
I happened to meet Rong Yue who had just returned from outside.
"Go slower, don't damage the branches."
Rong Yue was calling out to the palace servants as they were carrying pots of red plum blossoms to place in the courtyard.
She was so absorbed in the flowers and plants that she still listened to the palace servants paying their respects and saying, "Long live the Emperor."
She was surprised to find that Jamel Xiao was watching her quietly not far away.
Rong Yue was panicked for a moment, and hurriedly bowed and greeted:
"I pay my respects to His Majesty. May His Majesty be blessed with good health."
Her flowing cloud brocade dress, under the caress of the moonlight, emitted a shimmering glow, which was very eye-catching.
But compared to her exquisite and beautiful face, these material possessions are just icing on the cake.
Xiao Jingheng was used to seeing Rong Yue without makeup, but now he was fascinated by her red lips.
"Stand up."
Xiao Jingheng walked forward slowly, fiddling with the red plum branches in the potted plant.
"I remember that you liked Yingchun, why did you pick these plum blossoms for no reason?"
Rong Yue said, "I thought that Concubine Hui was pregnant. Now in winter, the red plum blossoms are in full bloom, which is auspicious and has a good meaning. The Concubine Hui also likes them, so I took the palace maids to pick some and put them in the courtyard, hoping to bring more joy to the Concubine Hui."
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