When Consort Hua returned to Yikun Palace with her head held high, Sun Miaoqing had already returned to Furong Pavilion and had taken a nice afternoon nap.
As soon as she got up, Liuli automatically began to report on the latest happenings in the palace.
"Your Highness may not know this, but something big happened in the Imperial Garden today, and Consort Wan and Consort Shen just happened to witness it."
"I heard that as soon as Consort Wan returned, she summoned the imperial physician. As soon as the physician left, he reported to Her Majesty the Empress, saying that she was seriously ill and needed to rest for a while."
Sun Miaoqing already knew about this. Zhen Huan was so smart; she had seen so many schemes in just a few days after entering the palace. How could she possibly put herself in the eye of the storm?
With Wen Shichu as a useful cheat code, it would be strange if she couldn't resist using it.
Seeing that Sun Miaoqing didn't seem to care much, Liuli thought of saying something that would make her care.
Although she couldn't compare to Rose and Lily of the Valley, the two maids who accompanied her in marriage, they were from outside the palace and couldn't do as well as she, who had served in the palace since childhood.
"Just now, Eunuch Jiang Fuhai came to convey Her Majesty the Empress's decree, saying that starting tomorrow night, the newly entered concubines should prepare to serve the Emperor in bed."
"You are the second person to be selected with an official title this time. Consort Dongguan did not have this luck. You must be the first person to receive this favor."
Rose smiled and said, "Who can know the Emperor's thoughts? It might not be tomorrow, but we should still prepare in order to avoid panic when the time comes."
Liuli also realized that what she had just said was inappropriate. If the Emperor really did choose the young lady tomorrow, then it would be fine.
If you go through someone else's stuff, aren't you just asking for trouble?
"Sister Rose is right. The Imperial Household Department just sent over some face powder today. I'll apply it for you tonight."
After Sun Miaoqing learned that Zhen Huan was feigning illness, the first person she would serve in bed was Shen Meizhuang, and she wasn't worried about tomorrow at all.
Without specifying tomorrow, there shouldn't be any need for her to go over for the next two months, so I'm quite relieved.
But Liuli is being so attentive...
Sun Miaoqing suddenly asked, "How many taels of silver did you bet?"
Without thinking, Liuli replied, "Just two... taels."
"This servant deserves to die, please forgive me, my lord."
Being caught gambling in the palace was a serious crime, punishable by two months in cangue or forty strokes of the cane, followed by being sent to the imperial mausoleum to do hard labor.
But most of them didn't survive the forty strokes and were beaten to death, which is why Liuli was so afraid.
Sun Miaoqing was unaware of the harm caused by the gambling among palace maids and eunuchs; she only felt that they were all pitiful people.
The pressure in the palace is immense, so it's only natural to seek thrills to pass the time, as long as it's not excessive gambling.
Pulling Liuli up, Sun Miaoqing asked with a curious look, "I heard there are gambling games in the palace. Whenever a new concubine enters the palace, many palace maids and eunuchs like to start a game in private, betting on whose name the emperor will choose first."
"Tell me who you all bought."
Liuli said, "Of course this servant bought it from you, my lady."
Sun Miaoqing said, "And what about the others? Who bought the most?"
"Originally, many people bought Guan Changzai, but since Guan Changzai had an accident, most of those people bought Fucha Guiren and Shen Guiren instead."
Liuli spoke softer and softer, afraid that Sun Miaoqing would get angry.
Although her mistress was not bad either, there must always be a comparison. Consort Fucha and Consort Shen came from good families and were also very beautiful.
Because she was by the young master's side, she gritted her teeth and bought two taels of silver.
However, she bought four taels of silver from Consort Shen...
Sun Miaoqing asked, "What are the odds like now?"
Liuli lowered her head and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, the odds for betting on Consort Fucha and Consort Shen are now 1 to 2. As for Consort An and Consort Chun, one is inconspicuous and the other is young, the odds are 1 to 10."
"What about buying mine?"
Liuli moved her lips, bracing herself for the pressure, and said, "The odds of betting on you are 8 to 1..."
Linglan was furious upon hearing this, "What do these lackeys mean? Where do their eyes look?!"
Sun Miaoqing wasn't angry. She directly ordered, "Linglan, give Liuli one hundred taels of silver."
Linglan nodded. "A mere hundred taels is nothing to you, my lady. You can do whatever you want with it."
A short while later, Linglan brought two silver ingots, each worth fifty taels, totaling one hundred taels, and handed them to Liuli.
Sun Miaoqing said, "Take this and use it to buy Consort Shen."
Liuli, holding the silver, said, "Don't worry, my lady, I'll use this hundred taels to bet on you in a moment, so that those shallow-minded people... will all be betting on Consort Shen?"
Sun Miaoqing, who is easily swayed...
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