After staying at Chuxiu Palace for a while, Big Fat Orange felt dizzy again.
He enjoyed himself in the palaces of other concubines, but coming to Sun Miaoqing's palace was a bittersweet experience.
He truly did his best for the Qing Dynasty and for all the people under heaven, and he sacrificed far too much.
Thinking that he still needed to comfort Consort Hua, he couldn't neglect the Empress either.
The chubby orange cat, exhausted, told Sun Miaoqing to rest well before being helped away by Su Peisheng.
After leaving the Chuxiu Palace, the chubby orange cat sighed. Looking up at the azure sky above, it felt its mind calm down and much more relaxed.
He said helplessly, "Go to Yikun Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty, please board the palanquin."
*
Sun Miaoqing took the jade pendant in her hand and admired it carefully.
Then it hung on its finger and twirled around triumphantly several times, making Linglan very worried.
Fearing that she might use too much force and throw the jade pendant away, causing it to break and fall to the ground, bringing misfortune and unrest.
"Your Highness, let me put this jade pendant away for you. Such a fine item would be worthless if it got even the slightest scratch."
Sun Miaoqing had just finished playing, so she handed it over directly, saying smugly,
"You must keep it safe; my rank as a concubine is still hanging there!"
Linglan examined the jade pendant, and then, from who knows where, took out a green sandalwood box carved with bamboo and rock patterns.
The jade pendant was carefully placed into the pear blossom cabinet next to it, which Sun Miaoqing used to store these valuable items.
The cabinet, which is four people wide and eight feet high, is already half full, and the other half should be filled soon as well.
After doing all this, Linglan returned to serve Sun Miaoqing.
Knowing that her mistress would soon be promoted to the rank of imperial concubine again, she was overjoyed.
"I am so happy that Your Highness is so favored. Now that Master and Madam know, they can rest assured."
Sun Miaoqing said, "My brother might be relieved, but it's too early for my sister-in-law to be relieved."
“How could His Majesty be so sudden in appointing my brother as the prefect of Tongzhou? I spoke so earnestly, yet he still insists.”
"I always felt that there might be something strange about this."
Sun Miaoqing guessed that perhaps Da Pangju (Big Fat Orange) had already reached his breaking point with Nian Gengyao by this time. He not only flattered Nian Gengyao to the point of ruin, but also treated Sun Zhuhe in the same way.
Although Consort Hua was arrogant, she had not yet killed Zhen Huan and Chen Meizhuang. In Da Pang Ju's view, the difficulties she usually caused to the concubines were just trivial matters in the harem, not worth her attention.
Moreover, the Northwest was about to wage war, and Nian Gengyao was being heavily relied upon, having received some kind of guidance from someone. Every time the memorials sent from the Northwest were read, Da Pangju was overjoyed.
In this situation, the claim of "praising someone to death" is simply unfounded.
Linglan said, "Could it be as the Emperor said, that it's because he loves the Empress and also because of the Fifth Prince?"
"I heard that when Consort Qi was still in the Prince's residence, her father was convicted of a crime."
"After the Emperor ascended the throne, out of consideration for the Third Prince, he also bestowed the title of Consort upon him. Not only did he pardon the Li family's crimes, but he also granted an official position to Consort Qi's brother."
"This is still because the Third Prince is not favored by the Emperor, yet the Emperor still did this. The Emperor's favorite is the Fifth Prince, so these things are nothing."
Sun Miaoqing was persuaded by Linglan, and upon reflection, she realized it made sense. The chubby orange cat wasn't seriously ill; he wasn't the kind of emperor who would neglect those he favored.
"You're right, I was overthinking it. But even with all this overthinking, I was forced into it. If I didn't think things through, who knows how many layers of scheming there might be?"
Linglan comforted her, "Your Majesty worries too much. With the Fifth Prince by your side, what else do you have to worry about?"
Sun Miaoqing thought about it and decided that she should ask about Sun Zhuhe's situation. Despite the sharp pain in her knees, she tried to get out of bed.
"Help me down. I need to write a letter back to ask before I feel at ease."
"Your Majesty, please slow down."
Linglan helped the limping Sun Miaoqing to the table and brought her a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Sun Miaoqing picked up the brush and quickly wrote two letters.
The envelope was tightly sealed with glue, and a small piece of hair was stuck to the seal. If someone were to steam it open or replace it with a different envelope, it would be immediately noticeable.
"Take this. Just like the previous two times, this letter is to praise the Emperor and express gratitude for his boundless grace. Follow the usual channels."
“This letter contains my ‘true feelings,’ so let’s take that new approach.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
*
Yanxi Palace
Despite the pain in his legs, Xia Changzai diligently copied the Diamond Sutra by the window.
No one in the entire palace was more wronged than her. She had long given up hope of gaining favor and would hide away whenever possible, spending her time reading in her room.
Many concubines sent gifts to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but what did it have to do with her? She never received any benefits, but she was always implicated when things got complicated.
Unfortunately, this was the Empress Dowager's order, and it was unknown when the other concubines would deliver it.
The Empress Dowager did not specify a time, so I suppose everyone is eager to make the most of this moment.
She needs to prepare quickly and deliver it in the middle, trying to avoid attracting attention as much as possible.
Hongzhu watched as her mistress frowned, huddled there, carefully writing each word, for a full hour.
Remembering the young master's arrogant and willful nature in the past, a wave of sadness washed over her. She stepped forward with a cup of tea and tried to persuade him.
"My lord, you've been copying for so long, have a cup of tea and take a good rest."
Xia Dongchun put down his pen, rubbed his stiff wrists, and said wearily,
"I'm tired of copying. How come there are so many words in the Diamond Sutra? I've been copying for so long and I'm not even a fifth of it."
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