Should we deliver flowers to Consort Zhao?
Looking at the delicate hibiscus flowers in the bottle, Huaiyao instinctively refused, "I'm not going!"
Not going?
That won't do.
Yuan Yao pondered for a moment and then repeated Consort Lin's words.
Although Huaiyao is still young, she may not understand the meaning behind Consort Lin's words.
However, all she needed to do was remember Consort Lin's words and repeat them to Consort Zhao.
Presumably, Consort Zhao will understand.
After hearing Yuan Yao's words, Huai Yao looked at Huai Rou and asked, "Elder sister, what do you think Mother meant by saying that?"
Could it be that she wanted Consort Zhao to propagate this hibiscus flower through cuttings and grow new seedlings?
Huairou pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "I suppose that's not what the Imperial Concubine meant."
"What does that mean?" Huaiyao stared wide-eyed.
Huairou said they didn't know.
So, Huaiyao turned her gaze to Yuan Yao's face: "Yuan Xiaoyao, you tell us."
"I?"
Yuan Yao opened her big eyes, clear and innocent.
If even an eight- or nine-year-old princess doesn't understand, how could three-year-old Yuan Yao possibly understand?
Huairou said, "Huaiyao, please don't make things difficult for Yao'er."
It's already quite remarkable that Yao'er could remember the Imperial Concubine's words.
“Mmm!” Yuan Yao nodded in agreement.
Huaiyao immediately deflated: "But I really don't want to go to Yonghe Palace..."
She didn't want to see the one in Yonghe Palace even more.
"How about this?" Yuan Yao looked at Huai Rou and said, "Sister Huai Rou, shall we go with Huai Yao?"
“Okay.” Huairou nodded in agreement.
"Hmph!" Huaiyao snorted coldly in anger.
However, she still called in a palace maid: "You, take the vase and follow me!"
The young palace maid obeyed the order and carefully picked up the vase.
Yonghe Palace is not far from Beichen Palace.
The three of them walked slowly for about half an hour before reaching the outside of Yonghe Palace.
The tall palace gates were half-closed, and a young eunuch stood at the entrance, dozing off.
Hearing footsteps, the little eunuch wiped the drool from his mouth, snapped out of his daze, and quickly bowed: "This servant greets Princess Huairou, Princess Huaiyao, and the young princess..."
"Is Consort Zhao here?" Huaiyao interrupted him coldly.
The young eunuch bowed and said, "This servant will go in and inform the princess immediately..."
"So verbose!"
Yuan Yao touched the whip on her wrist, lifted her foot, her red skirt fluttering, and she had already entered Yonghe Palace.
Huairou took Yuan Yao's little hand: "Yao'er, let's go."
Incense was burning in Consort Zhao's bedroom.
Although it was summer, the temperature inside the sleeping quarters was extremely low.
There was a faint, sour smell of medicine in the air...
The aroma was rather strong.
Upon entering the bedchamber, Yuan Yao couldn't help but sneeze.
"Yao'er, are you alright?" Huairou asked her worriedly.
Beside her, Danqing had already taken out a silk handkerchief, folded it, and handed it to Yuan Yao: "Princess, please bear with it for a moment."
Yuan Yao took the handkerchief herself, covered her nose, and said to Huairou, "Sister Huairou, I'm fine."
She is not only allergic to nuts, but also extremely sensitive to certain tastes.
Seeing Yuan Yao's red eyes from sneezing, Huai Rou said with some concern, "After we finish talking, let's leave early."
"Okay!" Yuan Yao nodded obediently.
At this moment, Huaiyao, who was walking in front, noticed something strange behind her.
She reached out and snapped the burning incense stick, frowned, and asked, "Where is he?"
"Huaiyao, is that you?"
Behind the screen, on the bed, came a weak yet joyful voice.
Upon hearing this voice, Huairou frowned and was about to back away.
At that moment, a figure on the screen moved, and a woman wearing a dress embroidered with white plum blossoms stepped out.
Consort Zhao was not yet thirty, but she looked haggard, with very shallow wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and a somewhat sallow complexion.
Her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and refined.
She must have been a beauty in her youth.
Unfortunately, he must have had a hard time these past few years; a hint of bitterness and resentment has crept into his features...
Upon seeing Huaiyao, Consort Zhao clutched her silk handkerchief and joyfully stepped forward, trying to grasp Huaiyao's hand: "Huaiyao, you've finally come to see your mother."
Mother?
Upon hearing those two words, Huaiyao sneered and mocked, "My mother is Consort Lin of Beichen Palace!"
"Your Highness, Consort Zhao, please refrain from making unwarranted connections; you'll only invite unwanted dislike!"
“Ah Yao…” Consort Zhao clutched her chest, her expression wounded.
Huaiyao frowned: "Consort Zhao's Ayao died eight years ago. The one standing in front of you is Princess Huaiyao. Your Highness, please don't mistake her for someone else!"
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhao swayed slightly.
"Your Majesty..."
A palace maid in green ran in from outside the hall, curtsied to the group, and then went to help Consort Zhao.
Consort Zhao let others support her as she looked at Huaiyao: "Huaiyao, you were also born after your mother carried you for ten months."
Back then, my mother was only ill, which is why... that's why she did that to you.
Over the years, my mother has blamed herself day and night...
If possible, please give your mother a chance to make it up to you, okay?
Get ill?
make up?
"No!" Huaiyao interrupted Consort Zhao's words with a sharp voice.
She handed the vase in her hand to Consort Zhao.
Then, in front of everyone, Huaiyao unbuckled her belt and opened her clothes.
“Huaiyao…” Huairou exclaimed in surprise.
Yuan Yao looked up, puzzled.
Huaiyao was wearing an outer robe, revealing a slightly paler abdomen than her face.
There is a clear crescent-shaped scar on her waist and abdomen.
The scar was about the size of an adult's thumbnail tip...
Huaiyao pointed to the scar and said to Consort Zhao, "Back then, when you stabbed me with these scissors, I was on the verge of death and almost died."
Fortunately, my mother stayed by my side for three days and even held a knife to the imperial physician, which saved my life...
Consort Zhao, by what right do you have the audacity to let a child you almost killed in his swaddling clothes recognize you as his mother?
Furthermore, what gives you the audacity to ask me to acknowledge the Changdu Marquis's family as relatives?
Just as you tried to kill me back then, I'm nothing but a princess, not even a pawn to the Marquis of Changdu's household!
“Huaiyao…” Consort Zhao’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with despair.
Huaiyao gazed at the hibiscus flower in Consort Zhao's hand: "This hibiscus flower was given to me by my mother to give to you..."
She repeated to Consort Zhao what Yuan Yao had just said.
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhao was already in tears.
“Hibiscus flower…” Consort Zhao’s hand trembled as she touched the petals.
The hibiscus flower represents both Huaiyao and the Changdu Marquis's Mansion.
Huaiyao, like a sapling, almost died in Yonghe Palace, but after being moved to Beichen Palace, she was able to be reborn and grow...
The Changdu Marquis's Mansion, like a hibiscus flower, enjoyed over a decade of glory, but in the grand scheme of things in the history of the Great Qi Dynasty, it was destined to be a fleeting spectacle, blooming briefly before withering away to make way for other rising powers...
Forcing it will ultimately be fruitless.
Consort Zhao smiled through her tears: "Huaiyao, Consort Lin is an excellent person."
From this day forward, may you be free and carefree…
Huaiyao snorted coldly: "How I live is none of Consort Zhao's concern!"
After speaking, Huaiyao lifted her foot and strode out.
Huairou took Yuan Yao's hand: "Your Highness, Consort Zhao, we'll be leaving now."
"Wait a moment," Consort Zhao said, tears welling in her eyes. "Princess Huairou, Princess Yuanyao, I am so glad that you allowed Huaiyao to come and see me today."
Born into an imperial family, Huaiyao has such a fiery temper; he's bound to suffer some hardships in the future...
Today, I shamelessly beg the Princess and the County Princess... that in the future, if a critical moment arises, I implore the Princess and the County Princess to... protect Huaiyao!
As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Zhao knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty!" Huairou exclaimed in surprise.
Consort Zhao, her face streaked with tears, bowed to the two men.
Huairou was slightly nervous and glanced at Yuan Yao.
Yuan Yao opened her mouth and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, Huaiyao is our sister, and we will definitely protect her."
"Thank you very much..."
After speaking, Consort Zhao bowed deeply once more.
Huairou pulled Yuan Yao along and hurriedly left Yonghe Palace.
The following day was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Early in the morning, Yuan Yao was still snuggling in bed, playfully tugging at the Ninth Prince's long hair, when Dan Qing hurriedly entered and whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Zhao of Yonghe Palace passed away last night..."
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