Chapter 216 Zhang Huaide Requests for an Audience
Back at Tongming Palace, Doctor Zhang Yu came over quickly.
Yunqin's throat was somewhat irritated, and she would probably be mute for the next few days. Her eyes were fine, though. After washing them and applying ointment, the swelling soon went away.
Her knees were blue from kneeling, but this was nothing unusual to her and applying some ointment was enough.
After hearing this, Danxue and Tingchun rushed over, and when they saw Yunqin's appearance, they burst into tears.
Yunqin was somewhat helpless, and shouted to Xiaoshunzi behind them: "Go get a basin quickly, didn't you see these two golden beans falling?"
Tingchun couldn't help laughing at these words, and said angrily: "Master, you still have the leisure to make fun of us!"
Dan Xue was much more gentle, but her words were sharp as a knife, "Master, please keep silent and don't say anything."
Yun Qin snorted and laughed, pulling up Rong Xin who was rubbing the medicine on her knees, "Don't shed tears, your eyes are swollen, let them do it."
When she was copying the scriptures, Rong Xin was blocked outside and did not suffer with her. This made her feel extremely guilty. She had not stopped crying since Yun Qin was taken out by Huo Jinchi.
"Ah..." Yun Qin held her hand and sighed deliberately, "If this continues, the Tongming Palace will be flooded by you."
This made Rong Xin pat the back of her hand, but at least she smiled, "Dan Xue is right, Master, please shut up!"
The master and servant were laughing.
A maid from the imperial palace came in and said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhang from the Ministry of Internal Affairs wants to see you."
Zhang Huaide?
Yunqin recalled that before in the Empress Dowager's Palace, the Emperor asked Xu An to go and question Zhang Huaide. Of course, the Emperor had no time to go as Xu An was serving him. He must have heard the news and came to the Emperor to apologize.
But the emperor is currently discussing matters with his ministers and probably has no time to deal with him. So why is he asking to see him?
After all, he is the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, and Yun Qin has to give him some face when he comes to ask for a meeting.
Without her saying anything, Danxue came forward to pull up her trouser legs, straighten the hem of her skirt, and cover her with a thin blanket as she saw that she was in the mood to see him.
After gathering the thin blanket, Yun Qin said calmly, "Let him in."
Soon Zhang Huaide walked in behind the palace maid, bowing and saying, "Greetings to Concubine Xi." He looked very respectful.
"I wonder why Eunuch Zhang wants to see me?" Yun Qin asked straight to the point.
Upon hearing her hoarse voice, Zhang Huaide's face turned bitter three times, "When I came here, I happened to run into Doctor Zhang Yu. He heard that your Majesty was not feeling well, so I came to visit you."
"My father-in-law is a very busy man. I am not worthy of his position."
Since Yun Qin was canonized as an imperial concubine, Huo Jinchi had ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare most of the things in the palace. Someone came to deliver her monthly salary, but no one in her palace was allowed to collect it.
Apart from that, I haven't had much contact with Zhang Huaide.
"Your Majesty, you really torture me." His face was wrinkled, and every wrinkle seemed to be dripping with bitterness.
"Your Highness, please understand that the sandalwood and spices that our Ministry of Internal Affairs provides to the palaces are all top-notch. Only the palace maids and eunuchs use inferior incense. Who knows where the Empress Dowager got it from? This matter has nothing to do with me."
Yun Qin understood that he was asking her to plead for mercy on the emperor.
"Eunuch is putting the blame on the Empress Dowager." She said in a hoarse voice.
At that time, the sandalwood incense in the Buddhist temple was lit in bundles. Even if the eunuchs and maids in the Empress Dowager's palace were all Buddhists, they could not collect so much. In the end, it all came from his Ministry of Internal Affairs.
However, he certainly didn't know that this was used to deal with her.
"How dare I? Your Majesty, you have a keen eye and must understand my difficulties." Zhang Huaide felt so angry that he almost died.
When people from Ninghe Palace came to ask for things, could he not give them to them?
Why did the emperor take his anger out on him? It's really like a fight between gods that has affected innocent people!
Yunqin doesn't mind giving him a favor, as she might need him someday.
"I understand what you mean, and I won't make it difficult for you. But the emperor is angry now, and he might lose his temper again if he sees you. You should go back, and I will explain the situation to you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Huaide was overjoyed and bowed to express his gratitude, but then some hesitation appeared on his face.
Yun Qin knew what he was thinking at a glance, and then said, "Don't worry, I promise not to let the emperor punish you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty really has a kind heart!" This time Zhang Huaide was completely relieved and kept bowing.
He said earnestly, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has just received a batch of acacia honey, which will be distributed to the palaces in the next few days. I will have someone pick out the best ones and send them to Your Majesty when I return."
Tingchun, who was standing by, suddenly laughed and said with her hands covering her lips: "Eunuch Zhang is really joking. The tribute acacia honey is the best. Besides, our queen is a concubine, so she has to divide it well. Eunuch is just using it as a favor."
Zhang Huaide's face turned red and white after hearing these words.
Yunqin had seen enough, and then she said to Tingchun, "You are the only one who talks too much!"
"The people around me are ignorant and make Eunuch Zhang laugh at me."
Zhang Huaide shook his head hurriedly, "No, no, Miss Tingchun is right. Your Majesty's great kindness and virtue cannot be matched by this little thing. Your Majesty, don't worry. As long as you need me in the future, I will go through fire and water for you."
It's okay to just hear the words of going through fire and water, but after all, you owe me a big favor.
"Eunuch Zhang's words are too serious."
"Your Highness, please don't be polite. I will not disturb your rest and will take my leave now."
Yun Qin responded indifferently, and Zhang Huaide followed Xiao Shunzi out.
After he left, Yun Qin couldn't help laughing, and the others in the hall also started laughing.
Dan Xueqing poked Tingchun's forehead and said, "You are so brave."
Rong Xin laughed and said, "It's not appropriate for you or me to say this, but it's just right for Tingchun to say it!"
"Yes, Sophora japonica honey, he has the nerve to show it off! That old guy is just bullying our queen because she is so young!" Tingchun was still a little angry.
Yunqin laughed as she listened, and said to Tingchun, "Well done! When the honey arrives, I'll make you some snacks myself."
"Thank you, Madam!"
Zhang Huaide, who was leaving from the side hall, did not look so good.
The eunuch who followed him glanced at him and said, "Master, the emperor is just trying to piss off the queen mother, not necessarily you. Why bother asking Concubine Xi for help?"
The Imperial Household Department is in charge of the expenses of the imperial harem. It is their responsibility to ask for help from others. When will it be their turn to ask others for help?
Zhang Huaide glared at him and said, "What do you know? No matter whether the emperor is really angry or just pretending to be angry, the empress dowager will definitely be angry. If we don't hold on to her thighs tightly, we will be scalped by the empress dowager!"
"Didn't Concubine Xi also suffer a great loss at the hands of the Queen Mother?"
"But didn't the emperor find her back? We can't just look at the present. We, as servants, have to look at the future!" Zhang Huaide was too lazy to argue with him anymore. "Just remember, no matter what happens in the harem, we are on Xipin's side!"
"Yes, I understand."