Chapter 255 She Wants to See Me
After the hunting procession returned to the palace, something happened, not a big deal.
Concubine Hui's little white fox is missing.
The reason why I say this is not a big deal is that it is just a small animal and it can be lost if it is lost.
The reason why this matter was considered serious was that Concubine Hui actually shed tears in front of the Emperor, and the Emperor was also displeased.
In Minghui Palace, Murong Yu wiped away the tears on Pei Shu's face and comforted her:
"It's just a fox. Since Shu'er likes it so much, I'll order people to hunt hundreds of them and raise them in the palace to make a white fox garden."
Pei Shu turned her head away from Murong Yu's hand, tears streaming down her face as she tried to speak:
"Your Majesty, there is no need to do this. What's the point of White Fox Garden? I dare not be a concubine who wastes the people's money and energy."
Murong Yu: "I am the ruler of the world. What is a garden? If anyone dares to call you a demon concubine, I will chop off his head."
Pei Shu seemed to be amused. She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed softly:
"Your Majesty, I am old now, and I am easily melancholic. When I saw Miss Su today, I felt a little fond of her. I thought that if Your Majesty and I had a daughter, she might also be as smart and lovely as this. It's a pity that I have no such blessing in this life. Now that the fox Miss Su gave me is lost, I feel even more regretful..."
Murong Yu couldn't bear to hear Pei Shu mention that she couldn't get pregnant.
He would think of how she had knelt in the heavy snow outside the Ganyang Palace, spent several years in silence in the cold palace, and injured her body.
Neither he nor Pei Shu mentioned those days, but they were like a needle hidden under the skin, which would prick the flesh and cause pain when touched.
Murong Yu pondered:
"If you like Hao Ren's daughter, at worst I will summon her to the palace to be a maid and serve you every day in Minghui Palace."
Pei Shu glanced at him, with a charming look at the corners of her eyes:
"The Emperor summoned someone else's only daughter into the palace to serve as my maid. They don't know how they will blame me. Besides, I don't need anyone to serve me. I'm just sad that I can't have a daughter like this..."
Murong Yu did not let Pei Shu continue and said directly:
"Then I will summon her to the palace and let her stay with you for a few days."
Murong Yu took his word for it and immediately sent a message to Heishan Mansion, asking them to send the child to the palace the next day.
After hearing the news, Hao Ren went to the palace to ask for an audience that day, looking extremely terrified.
He knelt before the emperor with a worried look on his face, "Your Majesty, my little girl is still young and often ignorant. I'm afraid that if she were to be sent to the palace, she would anger the Empress."
Murong Yu didn't listen to the nonsense:
"Hao Ren, don't pretend in front of me. I know you're reluctant to let go. Don't worry, your daughter will stay in the palace for a few days and then go back."
Hao Ren wanted to speak again, but Murong Yu said:
"You have taught my daughter well, and I will reward you with a hundred taels of gold."
Hao Ren seemed to be gagged, with a mercenary look in his eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Hao Ren returned to Heishan Mansion with a box of gold and put the gold in Su Zhizhi's room.
This is Zhizhi's money.
At dinner time, everyone was happy that Zhizhi had returned from the spring hunt with a bountiful harvest, but when they heard that Zhizhi had to stay in the palace for a while, they felt mixed emotions.
Wu Yingniang scooped a bowl of pork bone and egg drop soup for Zhizhi: "Zhizhi, if you don't want to go, I'll find a way."
Su Zhizhi took a sip of soup, her lips glistening with oil: "Mom, I've already told Dad that I'm willing to go. I want to go."
Wu Yingniang glanced at Hao Ren with a hint of blame in her eyes.
Such a big thing, but he didn't even tell her in advance.
But Su Zhizhi said she wanted to go, so everyone didn't want to spoil the fun and just said:
"The palace is like a deep pool of dangerous water. It's like walking on thin ice... Well, bring some thick-soled shoes."
"I heard that the chamber pots in the palace are made of gold. Zhizhi, can you help us take a look..."
"What can I bring to protect myself? When outsiders enter the palace, their bags are searched, right?"
"Zhizhi, remember as much as you can about the palace's layout. Draw it down later and use it as a scouting trip..."
"Hey, it doesn't matter if you don't remember. Zhizhi, just treat it as a few days of visiting relatives in the palace. Eat and drink well. If you suffer any grievances, be sure to write them down and tell us later..."
Su Zhizhi nodded repeatedly.
She is going to the palace to see the world.
Many people in the village cannot enter the palace, so she wants to be everyone's eyes and help them see what the palace looks like.
At night, Su Zhizhi packed the bag she was going to take into the palace.
Wu Yingniang and Hao Ren wanted to help, but Su Zhizhi said she wanted to do it herself.
She didn't look like she was going to the palace at all, as if she was just staying at someone else's house for a while.
So the couple sat by and watched Su Zhizhi busying around.
Hao Ren asked, "Zhizhi, tell Dad why you want to go to the palace?"
Su Zhizhi put a few translucent little stones she brought from Lingnan into her bag:
"Because my aunt is in the palace, she wants me to visit her."
"I met my aunt and gave her a little fox. Her little fox ran away because she wanted to see me."
Su Zhizhi is sensible and reasonable, but most of the time she relies on her intuition when looking at things or people.
Her intuition told her the answer.
Su Zhizhi's words were a bit strange and illogical, making them incomprehensible to people who didn't understand the situation.
But Hao Ren and Wu Yingniang understood.
The light clearly outlined the profile of Hao Ren.
"Zhizhi..." He pulled his daughter over and opened his mouth several times, but found that he could not say anything.
Instead, Su Zhizhi stuffed her two sugar figures into the hands of Hao Ren and Wu Yingniang respectively, and instructed them like a little adult:
"Dad and Mom are together every day, and there are so many villagers here. Aunt is lonely in the palace alone. I will go to accompany her for a few days. You wait for me at home and don't miss me too much."
My aunt lived a hard life in the palace for a long time.
Su Zhizhi didn't know what she could do, but she wanted to go and take a look.
Because when people are lonely, it is nice to have someone to talk to.
Hao Ren, who is usually good at planning, was almost choking at this time, and became an old father with tears in his eyes.
Wu Yingniang took Hao Renlou into her arms, patted him, and said softly:
"Don't worry, we'll wait for you at home."
It's late at night.
Everyone went to bed.
When Su Zhizhi was about to fall asleep, she heard a knock on the door.
Hua Erniang's hushed voice came in: "Zhizhi, are you asleep? Let me help you sew your clothes."
…
The next morning, Su Zhizhi had a bowl of chicken noodle soup for breakfast.
This noodle is special, it was cooked by Doctor Yu and Hua Erniang together.
Hua Erniang said, "Zhizhi, this is called 'Unparalleled Medical Poison' noodles. Eat them all!"
Su Zhizhi ate the whole bowl of noodles generously. When she slurped the last noodle, the end of the noodle bounced on her nose.
By the time she had finished her noodle soup, the people from the palace who came to pick her up had arrived.
Wu Yingniang straightened Su Zhizhi's collar, and everyone watched Su Zhizhi get on the carriage, which went farther and farther away.
After everyone returned home, Wu Yingniang asked:
"Zhizhi is wearing new clothes today, but I just felt something was wrong. What did you do?"
Hua Erniang's eyes drifted away. "Nothing. I was just worried the clothes weren't strong enough, so I took them back and sewed a few stitches."
Wu Yingniang: "What did you sew in?"
"...Banbu Dian, Hanxiao Powder, and some antidotes." Hua Erniang changed the subject. "I saw Sister Qiu take Zhizhi's shoes last night."
Wu Yingniang looked at Qiu Jinyu again.
Qiu Jinyu coughed dryly twice. "Well, well, I just added an insole to Zhizhi's shoes... and hid the flying needles there."
The wheels rolled over the flagstones.
Su Zhizhi sat in the carriage, holding a bundle in her arms, sitting very straight and not moving.
Because before she went out this morning, Sister Hua and Aunt Qiu had quietly told her not to move around on the road and not to let people see how ugly the new stitching on her clothes was.
When they arrived at the palace gate, Su Zhizhi got off the carriage and, following the instructions of the palace servants, handed over her bag for inspection.
The palace maids knew that Su Zhizhi was summoned by the Emperor to accompany Concubine Hui, and since she was very pleasing, they were all smiling.
"Miss Su, please."
They simply flipped through the bag and returned it to Su Zhizhi.
Dongyue had already led people to wait at the palace gate. When she saw Su Zhizhi, she saluted:
"Miss Su, I am Dongyue, the maidservant, and I am here to fetch you on the orders of Concubine Hui. Please follow me."
Su Zhizhi nodded and called out, "Sister Dongyue."
After hearing this, Dongyue was so excited that she almost wanted to lift Su Zhizhi up and walk away.
Fortunately, she held back and just took the bag from Su Zhizhi's hand:
"I'll hold it for Miss Su."
Following behind Dongyue was a second-rank palace maid from Minghui Palace.
Concubine Hui is now a popular figure in the harem. As Concubine Hui's personal maid, Dongyue's status has also risen, and she no longer needs to flatter people outside the palace.
The maids didn't expect Dongyue to be so respectful to a girl whose family had no official rank, and even volunteered to carry things for her.
With this attitude, he wouldn't even hesitate to carry a bag, let alone a pair of shoes.
But then again, the emperor summoned her to the palace, so she should be served well.
The young palace maids all thought to themselves, wow, no wonder Dongyue could become such a favorite with Concubine Hui.
When dealing with someone the Empress likes, one can humble himself to the lowest level.
The young palace maids followed suit and saluted Su Zhizhi.
Before Su Zhizhi entered the palace, Hao Ren told her that the palace was solemn and she should ask less and speak less in front of outsiders.
But Dongyue kept saying:
"Miss Su, this direction leads to Ganyang Palace."
"If we go left, we will pass the Imperial Garden, but we don't go left..."
"There's a pond in front and a big willow tree. Willow leaves can make sounds when blown. Did you blow through the willow leaves, girl?"
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