Chapter 213 Meeting the Queen Mother

Once things calm down in the palace, the days pass quickly.

But this was only for Yunqin. For other people in the palace, life was a bit difficult.

The Emperor still seldom came to the harem as he did before. This month he only stayed in the harem six times. Once he went to the Queen's Palace, once he went to see Concubine Shen, and the rest of the time he went to Concubine Xi's Palace.

He also summoned her to the Tongming Palace to sleep with him once, and this did not include the number of times he had meals with her on weekdays.

She had originally thought that the arrival of two fresh newcomers would be able to share some of her favor, but she had never expected that the two of them would simply become decorations, and the emperor didn't even look at them.

The people in the palace all looked at Yun Qin with green eyes.

Yun Qin was quite stable. If she didn't even have the ability to gain the emperor's favor, what kind of concubine would she be?

She was able to remain calm, but some people could not sit still.

After paying respects to the Queen as usual that day.

Concubine Shen also came. After her pregnancy was advanced, the Emperor and the Empress exempted her from paying respects to the Emperor and Empress. However, she still came to sit with the Empress from time to time, and no one could find any fault with her.

Every time Yunqin saw her, she felt her heart pounding and couldn't help but be alert to her surroundings, especially to Concubine De.

She had to control herself carefully so as not to show obvious vigilance and hostility.

In addition to the relationship between her and Lady Shen, there is also a kind of simple care and awe for new life. Moreover, she was taught to care for pregnant women since she was a child.

After sitting for a while, the queen suddenly stood up and said to everyone, "It's rare to have so many people gathered today. The queen mother is much better now. You should all go with me to pay respects to the queen mother today."

After the queen said this, she glanced at Yunqin intentionally or unintentionally.

Even if she didn't look at her, Yun Qin understood that the Queen Mother was obviously coming for her.

Not to mention, Yun Qin was actually a little scared.

After all, the empress dowager is different from the concubines. She is the emperor's biological mother, and she does not have the ability to make the emperor go against the empress dowager for her.

She unconsciously held tightly the hand of Rong Xin who was supporting her.

Rong Xin was also nervous and called out "Master" in a low voice.

Yun Qin patted her hand soothingly. After all, the Queen Mother would not take her life, so she should just take it one step at a time.

Peaceful palace.

Sandalwood was still burning in the hall. The Queen Mother must have used the finest spices. It was elegant and had a hint of sweetness, which was very pleasant.

But this kind of spice is not suitable for pregnant women.

After Yun Qin entered, she did not sit forward, but sat near the door. She reached out and pulled Lady Shen down, letting her sit below her, closest to the door.

Lady Shen was naturally grateful and smiled gently at her.

Their movements were not conspicuous, but Yunqin herself was very conspicuous.

But in the eyes of the public, Yun Qin sat so far back purely to avoid the Queen Mother, and Concubine Shen was just forced to sit over her out of courtesy.

The Queen Mother sat on a soft couch, one hand resting on a low table, holding a string of wooden Buddhist beads in her hand. She looked kind, but the sharpness that occasionally flashed in her eyes made people dare not relax.

The Queen sat on the other side of the low stool, while Fang Danying sat directly next to the Queen Mother, holding her arm and calling her aunt every day.

He looked like a naive person, not realizing at all that this was unreasonable, and there was even a hint of showing off in his expression.

The Queen Mother spoke to her for a while before she raised her eyes casually and looked at Yun Qin.

"Why is Xipin sitting so far away? Am I scary?"

Years ago, she was sick most of the time and had only paid her respects to the Empress a few times, let alone to the Empress Dowager.

I only saw him once, at her birthday party, and it wasn't a very pleasant experience.

Years later, Yunqin's health improved day by day, but the empress dowager was not feeling well and rarely saw anyone.

This was her first time meeting the Queen Mother after she became Concubine Xi.

Hearing the Queen Mother's question, Yun Qin wanted to nod, because she could not forget that the Queen Mother once had someone drug her. It was just a small matter, and the Queen Mother probably didn't take it to heart.

Later, she named herself as the one who agreed, and for the Queen Mother, the matter was over.

But for Yunqin, this matter cannot be turned over.

"You are joking, Her Majesty the Queen Mother. Her Majesty is so amiable that I cannot get close to her enough."

She had a smile on her face and said words of intimacy, but she just wouldn't sit forward, and she didn't even find an excuse to sit so far away.

The Queen Mother's expression did not change because of her words. She also smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time. Sit closer so that I can see you."

Since she had spoken, Yun Qin had no choice but to walk forward and sit on the stool brought by the palace maid.

Sitting closer, the empress dowager took a quick look and saw that Yun Qin was wearing a lilac-colored palace skirt with wide sleeves and a slim waist. She was wearing a long, double-breasted jacket made of Zeng Yunwu gauze on the outside. The collar of the skirt was embroidered with cloud and animal patterns. Her skin was as white as snow and her face was as beautiful as a lotus. She looked really like a fairy from heaven.

Even if the Queen Mother disliked her, she still couldn't help but sigh, "What a beauty."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "No wonder the Emperor loves you so much and wants to be with you every day."

Here it comes!

Yun Qin tightened her fingers in her sleeves slightly, without showing any fear on her face. She only lowered her eyes and said, "I can only serve the emperor with all my heart."

She would never say something like “I dare not”. Wouldn’t that give the empress dowager a reason to get angry?

Yun Qin's words put all the blame on the emperor, which was no less than saying: The emperor just dotes on me and loves me, so what can I do?

These words also made the faces of several people, except the Queen and Concubine Shen, change slightly.

On the one hand, he was surprised that she did not know how to restrain herself in front of the Queen Mother, and on the other hand, he secretly cursed her for being so shameless for showing off her favor in front of the Queen Mother.

"You really did your best." The Queen Mother's expression turned a little colder.

"Sometimes you can't be too attentive. You have to take care of your body." She said calmly, "As a concubine, you should also advise the emperor and not just obey him blindly."

Anyway, the Queen Mother will definitely put the blame on herself.

Yun Qin muttered inwardly, then obediently replied, "Yes."

Afterwards, the Queen Mother turned to talk to other concubines, and it seemed that the matter was just passed over.

But Yun Qin did not let her guard down. She didn't believe that the Queen Mother would let her go so easily.

As she expected, when everyone was leaving, the Queen Mother suddenly spoke:

"The last time Xipin copied Buddhist scriptures, even the abbot of the temple said that you are pious. I am not feeling well, so you can stay and help me copy Buddhist scriptures."

Yun Qin really didn't expect that even though her handwriting was so bad, the empress dowager could find a reason for her piety and punish her by making her copy Buddhist scriptures.

But it's better than giving her a beating.

"It is my honor to copy scriptures for the Queen Mother." Yun Qin could only agree.

Everyone who had not left was feeling happy and gratified, except Lady Shen, who frowned slightly.

After leaving Ninghe Palace, she said to Xiangtan beside her, "Send someone to tell the emperor."

Xiangtan knew what she was talking about and did not dare to delay, so she called a eunuch to report to Tongming Palace.