Zhen Huan sat down gently and gracefully below the Empress, a warm smile on her face, as she listened to the Empress speak.
"You've just recovered and returned from the imperial palace. You haven't even entered Suiyu Pavilion yet, but you've come to Jingren Palace to pay your respects to me. It's really kind of you."
Zhen Huan said, "That's the rule set by our ancestors. I should have come much earlier. But I was in the imperial palace and delayed until now, which is already inappropriate."
"I am deeply grateful to Her Majesty the Empress for her kindness and for not holding a grudge against me."
The empress held prayer beads in her right hand. Although she was dressed in gorgeous clothes, the patterns on her clothes and her makeup were simple and unadorned.
Unlike when she first entered the palace, when her headdress alone was dazzlingly gold, the Empress's gourd-shaped earrings were enormous, and she privately worried about the Empress's earlobes.
The Empress was unaware that Zhen Huan had once secretly disliked her taste. Even if she had known, she would probably have just laughed it off.
Previously, she was suppressed by Consort Hua, and could only rely on those things to demonstrate her dignity and nobility as the Empress.
The time for her to copy the sutra was approaching, and the Empress said, "These formalities are just minor matters. As long as His Majesty is pleased, I have no objection. Consort Wan should do the same."
Zhen Huan said, "Yes, Her Majesty the Empress is a model of virtue in the harem. If we can often listen to Her Majesty's teachings, all the concubines in the harem can also enjoy her grace."
The Empress said, "You are very well-mannered and talented. You should stay by the Emperor's side."
"I am not feeling well, so from now on, except for the first and fifteenth of the month, you do not need to come to Jingren Palace to pay your respects."
"You must be tired, you should go back first."
Zhen Huan was unsure whether the Empress was sincere or feigning. Because of the jar of musk buried in the flowerbed of Suiyu Pavilion, and the few words she had gleaned from Sun Miaoqing's heart, she remained wary of the Empress.
But after hearing this greeting, she really couldn't understand it.
Even after being escorted out of Jingren Palace by Jianqiu in a daze, Zhen Huan was still completely confused.
Could it be that she hid in Suiyuxuan for too long and missed something important?
You can't figure it out by just thinking about it like this; you should ask Sister Mei first.
It wasn't that she didn't want to go to Chuxiu Palace, but rather that her relationship with Sun Miaoqing wasn't close enough that nothing would cause any misunderstanding.
She had just returned from the imperial palace and was going straight to the Chuxiu Palace; people might think she was being provocative.
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