An Lingrong took a small sip of tea and suddenly remembered the milk tea from Sun Miaoqing's place. It was made by boiling high-quality tea leaves with milk, osmanthus, red dates, and longan, making it perfect for drinking in winter.
Xia Dongchun said embarrassedly, "I'm not saying this to make you pity me, it's just that I really have no one to confide in."
"If possible, I'd also like you to teach me how to become a little smarter."
An Lingrong was taken aback by what she heard, and before she knew it, she choked on her tea and almost spat it out.
An Lingrong covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief and coughed a few times before speaking.
"Did Xia Changzai just say that he wanted me to teach you to be a little smarter?"
Xia Dongchun nodded, took a jade bracelet off her wrist, and placed it on the kang table. "I won't let you teach me for nothing. This bracelet is the best thing I have. I'm giving it to you."
An Lingrong was confused by her actions. Why would she think of such things? Even if she wanted to find a backer, why would she come to her, a concubine from a humble background?
"What does Consort Xia mean by this? If you really want to find a master, why not ask Consort Shen or the others instead of me?"
Xia Dongchun sighed and said, "I know they all look down on me. Besides, what's the point of going out? It's easy to get into trouble."
"There are only the three of us living in Yanxi Palace. Besides worrying about the Emperor, Consort Fucha only cares about worshipping Buddha. I can't find anyone else besides you."
"Since Consort Cheng is so favored and pregnant, I dare not trouble her."
"Now I only hope to live a peaceful life in the palace, and I dare not ask for anything more."
An Lingrong originally intended to refuse, but suddenly felt that Xia Dongchun and she were exactly the same, except that she was lucky enough to meet Sun Miaoqing.
It was thanks to the help she received from Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang that she has the life she has now.
Because she had been treated kindly before, An Lingrong was willing to help Xia Dongchun.
Besides, everyone has their own unique talents, and even if they aren't used, they can still pass the time.
An Lingrong said, "If Consort Xia wants to find something to do, that's easy enough. But this bracelet seems to be your prized possession, so it's inconvenient for me to accept it."
"Didn't you say you've wasted these past ten years and still can't read? Why don't you start by learning to read? I just don't know if Consort Xia can endure this hardship?"
Xia Dongchun said with a smile, "I'm already very happy that you're willing to teach me, as long as I can handle it."
She's become much smarter now, knowing that if she's all alone in the harem and out of favor, she'll only be bullied.
Although An Lingrong was of lower birth and rank than her, she lived a much better life and had a good relationship with the other concubines.
She should first build a good relationship with An Lingrong step by step. If An Lingrong gains favor, she can benefit from it to some extent.
*
Yesterday, Big Fat Orange said he would promote Sun Miaoqing to the rank of Consort, and today the Hibiscus Pavilion is bustling with people coming and going.
Those concubines who had a good relationship with Sun Miaoqing all brought gifts and personally visited her to congratulate her.
Even those with whom they had only a casual relationship, such as Consort Fucha, sent congratulatory gifts.
Even though the Empress was still ill, she sent Jianqiu over a century-old ginseng root, saying it was to congratulate Sun Miaoqing on her promotion.
Just as Sun Miaoqing had cheerfully seen Jianqiu off, she heard a eunuch shouting outside.
"Consort Hua has arrived."
Sun Miaoqing turned her head and saw Consort Hua approaching with a string of palace maids and eunuchs. Two eunuchs were carrying a large box, clearly a gift for her!
[Why did Hua Pangpang come in person, bringing so much stuff? That's too kind of you!]
But I like it!
All the good stuff, come to my bowl!
"Greetings, Consort Hua!"
Sun Miaoqing's address of "Consort Hua" was truly heartfelt, sweet, and melodious. Consort Hua felt comfortable upon hearing it and reached out to help Sun Miaoqing up.
"You're so afraid of the cold, yet you came out to greet me. Hurry up and go inside, or you'll catch a cold."
Consort Hua pulled Sun Miaoqing into the room, and as soon as they sat down, she said, "His Majesty has promoted you to the rank of Consort Cheng. I thought I should give you something to congratulate you on your promotion."
"But gold and silver jewelry is a bit too vulgar. Your brother is the Suzhou textile commissioner, and good fabrics will be available to you, no matter who else is lacking. So I thought about it and decided against it."
At this point, Consort Hua deliberately paused to observe Sun Miaoqing's reaction.
Sun Miaoqing's eyes, which had been sparkling, immediately dimmed when she heard Consort Hua say it was alright.
【Ahhh, I don't mind at all! The more tacky it is, the better I like it! I can't give up on this!】
Consort Hua chuckled and said, "I'm just teasing you. My brother accidentally acquired a few top-quality white bear pelts. He kept one for himself, gave one to me, and sent the rest to the Emperor."
"Aren't you afraid of the cold? I heard that polar bears roam in the far north, living in the icy and snowy land, and their fur is the thickest and warmest."
"I have no need for this, and it would be a waste to keep it, so I'll just have to give it to you."
The two eunuchs opened the box, and sure enough, it contained a very large bear skin.
It's all taken care of. The inside has been sewn with lotus-root-colored silk, which fits snugly against the bearskin. It can be used as a blanket directly. The outermost layer of silk can also be removed for easy washing.
[Polar bears, huh? I'd only ever seen them in zoos before. They look kind of clumsy, but they're actually extremely fierce, and quite a big one.]
[Nian Gengyao managed to get all this and even knew to send it to Big Fat Orange, which shows he hasn't lost his mind.]
[No, at this time the Northwest had not yet been pacified. Although Nian Gengyao was arrogant because of his achievements, it had not yet reached the point where the emperor could no longer tolerate him.]
[Who told him to be so arrogant, daring to have Consort Su serve him meals? If he had toned it down a bit, Big Fatty Orange might have been willing to end things amicably with him; after all, in this world, wars never end.]
Who is Consort Su? Is there such a person in the palace?
Consort Hua thought about it carefully again and again, but she couldn't remember any concubine in the palace whose surname was Su.
The Emperor previously said that there would only be one selection of concubines. Could it be that this Consort Su is some kind of palace maid or official lady-in-waiting?
Consort Hua sensed something was amiss. No matter how arrogant her brother was, he wouldn't dare have the emperor's concubines serve him meals.
Could it be one of the palace maids from the Hall of Mental Cultivation? That must be it!
Consort Hua felt she had figured it out; it seemed that the palace maid must be very much to his liking...
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. So while she was fighting with this person and that person in the harem, Big Fat Orange had already kept his precious darling hidden away by his side.
She wanted to see just who this Consort Su was and what abilities she had!
Sun Miaoqing was so fond of the polar bear skin in front of her that she touched it again and again before asking Liuli to take it away and put it away.
"Thank you very much for the white bear skin, Consort Hua. I like it very much."
"General Nian is so good to the Empress; he always thinks of her when he gets something good."
Speaking of this, Consort Hua said proudly, "Of course."
"However, swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield, and I cannot help but worry about it. Fame and fortune are good, but they are not as important as the safety of my family."
Consort Hua tentatively said, "My brother was originally a civil official, and leading troops into battle was a last resort. If the Northwest is pacified, it would be great if my brother could return to the capital to take up his post."
"Sister Sun, do you think what I said is right?"
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