Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Palace Maid's Forty-three Days
Shen Qing took the gold hairpin in his hand and examined it carefully. Seeing that it was as big as his palm, he realized that it was a hairpin big enough and heavy.
The largest gem on the big gold hairpin is about the same size as the tip of a thumb, and is very deep and translucent, and feels quite hard to the touch.
She immediately inserted the golden hairpin into her bun, turned around to look at the bronze mirror, reached out to adjust the position, hesitated for a moment, and took off the original jade hairpin.
Shen Qing likes to comb her hair tightly so that it won't fall apart easily. She has a lot of hair, so no matter how tightly she combs it, it still looks very fluffy.
In the past, her hair accessories were used to embellish her bun to make it more colorful.
This gold hairpin is different because it is big enough to instantly shift the center of gravity of the bun to it. However, precisely because it is big enough, it makes Shen Qing's face look even smaller and more delicate.
Not only did it not suppress her fair skin and beautiful appearance, but it actually made her look more noble.
Shen Qing couldn't help but reveal a happy and joyful smile. Looking at the beautiful woman in the bronze mirror whose movements were equally beautiful, his heart felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey.
The next day, Shen Qing put on the jade hairpin again because the big gold hairpin was too ostentatious.
Today, the Queen will bring the eldest prince to pay respects to the Queen Mother. Among the concubines in the room, wearing a gold hairpin will steal the limelight.
It’s better to keep a low profile.
Outside the Cining Palace, light snow was falling. Inside the Cining Palace, the Queen obediently performed the complete ceremony of paying her respects to the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother then asked the Queen to get up.
Concubine Xian was already in the Cining Palace, and when the Queen performed the salute, she also bowed to the Queen according to etiquette.
The Queen had a calm expression on her face with a smile on her lips. After she stood up and sat down, she seemed not to notice that Concubine Xian was bowing to her and did not say a word to excuse herself.
After a while, Concubine Xian stood up with a normal expression. The Queen said slowly, "Just now I was concentrating on paying my respects to the Queen Mother. I didn't see Concubine Xian and didn't ask her to excuse herself. It's really my fault."
[I bowed to the Queen Mother, and Yan bowed to me. I could not resist the Queen Mother according to etiquette, so how could Yan resist me?]
Xianfei heard the Queen's hidden meaning, her eyes fell on her nails, she stroked them, and said, "Your Majesty is very busy, and you may have neglected it for a moment. It is understandable that you are forgetful."
The virtuous concubine stretched out her tone and her words were meaningful, as if she really didn't care about this trivial matter of etiquette, which made the queen seem to be fussy about it.
The queen's eyes darkened for a moment, but she quickly adjusted herself: "I am managing the six palaces, so I am not as free as my sister."
There was a flash of annoyance in the Queen Mother's eyes. She had only been Queen for a year, yet she dared to show off in front of her, as if she had never been Queen before.
After all, it's not long, she can't keep her cool, and she is still a stupid woman.
On the contrary, Yinghua has become much calmer after staying in the Buddhist temple for a few months. Thinking of what Yinghua discussed with her yesterday, the empress dowager's eyes flickered slightly. This could cut off the empress's arm and let the empress know that she can't sit back and relax just by becoming a queen and giving birth to a prince.
The Queen Mother said, "Bring Can'er to me and let me see him."
Shen Qing, who was following the Queen, looked at the wet nurse who was holding the eldest prince and motioned her to come to the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother wanted to see the prince, so she couldn't stop her. The Queen stared at the Queen Mother's actions, thinking that the Queen Mother would not do anything in front of so many people.
[This is the Queen Mother's only grandchild. No matter how much you hate me, you will never involve Can'er.]
The queen told herself this, but she still couldn't help but worry, what if?
The eldest prince was awake at this time. The queen mother reached out and touched his chin and his little face: "I haven't seen you for a while. Can'er has grown up so fast that I almost don't recognize him."
The queen smiled and said, "All children are like this." She did not mention a word about bringing the eldest prince to the Cining Palace to see the queen mother.
The empress dowager looked at it for a while, then had someone bring a jade disk with a dragon pattern, which served as a peace lock. She placed it under the eldest prince's arm and carefully tucked in a corner of his quilt.
I just hope this child is safe and sound.
When the queen saw this, a sincere smile appeared on her face. No matter what, the queen mother still loved the eldest prince.
The Queen Mother waved her hand, and the wet nurse brought the eldest prince back. The peace locket was placed close to the baby's body, which would make the child uncomfortable even with a layer of clothing between them, so she took out the peace locket and gave it to Shen Qing.
Shen Qing put the peace locket into his sleeve and planned to register it when he returned. He also asked the queen whether to put it in the warehouse or in the eldest prince's room.
Their actions did not escape the Queen Mother's eyes. This was nothing, but when the Queen Mother saw Shen Qing, she pondered and said, "The palace maids who are in charge of the prince are young. How can they manage the servants and take care of their masters?"
The Queen Mother did not trust Shen Qing from the bottom of her heart. She looked so delicate and weak, with a slender waist and thin wrists, and her face had no intimidating power at all. What could she accomplish by being next to the eldest prince?
The Queen looked at the Queen Mother without saying a word, waiting for the Queen Mother to continue speaking.
Shen Qing lowered her eyes. She had been doing this for several months, wondering whether she could be taken care of well. It was not like she had not been seen by the eldest prince before. He was doubting her ability now. His intention was obvious.
The Queen Mother continued, "Why don't I send a nanny with rich experience to the eldest prince so that she can take better care of him."
The queen forced a fake smile, "It's true that Shen is young, but he is pure-hearted and devoted to the eldest prince. I feel at ease using him. The nanny assigned by my mother must be very loyal, but this child is the most troublesome now. He makes a fuss day and night. I'm afraid that the nanny will lose her energy. If that happens, she will neglect the eldest prince like I did to Concubine Xian. That won't be good."
The Queen Mother said: "The maids in the palace will not be distracted..."
The Queen interrupted, "But even so, Can'er is already familiar with the people around her. If there are more palace servants, she will definitely be uncomfortable."
If the purpose is to place someone next to the eldest prince, the queen will not give in at all.
Anyway, I have already broken off relations with the Queen Mother, so this time won't matter.
The Queen Mother's dissatisfaction with the Queen reached its peak at this moment. As the Emperor's grandmother, how could she harm the Prince by sending a nanny?
Her excellent self-control prevented her from frowning.
The Queen Mother looked at Shen Qing and said, "The older maids are not suitable, and the younger palace maids are even less suitable to stay with the prince."
Shen Qing lowered her eyes. After going around in circles, the matter finally came back to her. The empress dowager couldn't persuade the queen, so she wanted to use her to kill the queen's prestige.
The Queen hesitated for a moment when she heard this.
[If Shen Qing returns to my side, it can calm the Queen Mother’s anger...]
Shen Qing was shocked. She could stay with the eldest prince only because of the queen. If the queen changed her mind, she would have to leave.
After returning to the queen, he met concubines in the harem frequently. He had to greet them all the time and could not slack off in the slightest.
Everyone knows what to choose.
Shen Qing's heart was set, and before the queen could speak, she said, "Queen Dowager, Queen, I have something to say."
The queen said: "Yes."
The Queen Mother raised her eyes.
Shen Qing explained: "Although I am young, I have been serving the eldest prince since he was born. I know everything about him and I pay great attention to him. I dare not make any mistakes. In the past three months, the eldest prince has not been sick once, and I have never failed to serve him well. I dare not take all these things on myself, but I think I still have some experience in taking care of the prince."
"Just as the Queen said, if this servant had a loyal heart, I would use it all on the Crown Prince."
No matter what, just say whatever comes to mind. If you don't fight for it now, you will have no chance. In fact, she was assigned to the eldest prince, which was easier than before, but she was also very concerned about the eldest prince and could not find any mistakes. Otherwise, the queen would replace her before the queen mother spoke.
I hope the Queen will change her mind.
Shen Qing felt sad, but he still looked low-key and calm.
The queen was disturbed. He had become so loyal to the eldest prince in such a short time. Could she find another person whom she could completely trust and who could meet the queen mother's requirements?
I'm afraid that next time, he will still find fault with me as before.
The Queen Mother: "Sharp-tongued."
This means that there are no mistakes to be found.
The queen smiled and said, "I'm sure you are satisfied, mother. Although this girl is young, she is steady and prudent. I can rest assured when the prince is in her hands."
Then, she said in a worried tone: "Mother also knows that Can'er was born prematurely and is weaker than normal children, but you have also seen Can'er's condition in the past three months. It may not be without Shen Qing's contribution. If we rashly change people..."
The Empress Dowager didn't need to think about it, she knew that what the Queen said meant that if the eldest prince got sick or injured in the future, it would all be due to the unkindness of her, the Imperial Grandmother.
Just want to replace someone, but let her take such a big blame?
The empress dowager drooped her eyelids. She was in a dilemma whether to give in or not. Either her dignity would be lost, or she would be branded as unkind in the future.
At this time, the voice of the eunuch from the Cining Palace sounded: "The Emperor has arrived——"
The Empress Dowager, the Empress, the Virtuous Consort and several concubines who were able to come to the Cining Palace looked towards the door.
The palace maids on both sides lifted the door curtains, and Ji Chen stepped in with a chill. There was a stove burning in the room. He took off his fox fur coat and handed it to the eunuch beside him, then walked towards the empress dowager.
"Your son pays respects to your mother."
The queen mother's face lit up: "Hurry up and get up. I asked the palace maid to prepare a bowl of ginger soup for you. Drink some to drive away the cold."
Several concubines looked at the emperor reservedly and excitedly, as if they were looking at something rare.
The queen listened to the most noble greetings between mother and son in the world, her face gentle and her smile not reaching her eyes.
I am not afraid that the Empress Dowager dislikes me, but I am afraid that under such circumstances the Empress Dowager and the Emperor still have a close relationship.
If the Emperor had not supported the daughter of the Yan family as the Queen, she would have had no chance of fighting against the virtuous concubine who had the Queen Mother standing behind her.
Concubine Yan's success and failure were both due to the Yan family.
The queen had never realized so clearly that the emperor was unreliable and the only one she could rely on was her son.
Ji Chen finished his greetings with the Queen Mother and looked around the room: "What were you talking about just now?"
Concubine Xian said, "Let's talk about replacing the palace maids around the eldest prince."
Ji Chen looked at Shen Qing openly, and became interested: "Why?"
Then he saw that Shen Qing was still wearing the jade hairpin in her hair, and the smile on his lips disappeared.
"At such a young age, I'm afraid he can't take on the responsibility of looking after the eldest prince." Concubine Xian said worriedly, "The eldest prince is the most important prince, so it's always right to be more cautious in employing people."
Ji Chen: "But I think she's doing a good job, so she's fine, no need to change."
Xianfei's eyes sparkled: "The emperor actually remembered a palace maid?"
The two asked and answered each other. When Shen Qing heard Ji Chen say that there was no need to change, he was surprised and then realized that it was safe.
Once the emperor spoke, the matter was settled. After all, it was just a small matter. There was nothing in the palace that the emperor could not make the decision on, let alone this.
Ji Chen didn't want to answer at first, but he didn't expect that someone would dare not wear the things he gave him. He felt slightly unhappy and just nodded.
Now, everyone in the room looked at Shen Qing.
I also saw clearly the face that was deliberately low-key.
She has a skin as white as ice and bones as beautiful as jade, eyebrows as dark as distant mountains, and eyes as affectionate as autumn water.
There are many beautiful women among the palace maids. After all, there are appearance requirements for entering the palace to be a maid. However, there are not many beautiful women who look so timid and weak.
How come they ignored her just now and thought that this palace maid was honest and dutiful?
Which honest person looks like this?
Shen Qing concentrated and calmed himself, ignoring the intense gazes, but his clenched hands showed his cowardice.
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