Chapter 223 Concubine Xiao's Nightmare
[Being plotted against?] You mean...】Su Qianqian looked at Xue Wanning.
[That’s right, Xue Wanning had schemed against me! Miss Xue found that Xue Zhiqing imitated her in every way, so she had already prepared this idea. She instructed the embroiderer in advance that if the second lady asked, she should say that her new clothes were those dresses. Sure enough, Xue Zhiqing was fooled and made new dresses of the same style, which made it impossible for Xue Wanning to wear new clothes.
However, Xue Wanning had already ordered the embroiderer to secretly find colleagues to make a few more sets and offered them generous rewards. The embroiderer was of course happy to serve, so what Xue Zhiqing wore was not what Xue Wanning would like at all!
There is one most important point, which you will know in a while. Even Mrs. Xiao is not clear about this, but Xue Wanning is the only one who knows it. 】
The system kept it a secret at this time.
The Qin family members' eyes moved quietly, and they looked at the two young ladies' attire calmly. They saw that Xue Wanning was wearing a lake blue cross-collared jacket with cloud pattern embroidered on the edge, and a lake blue eight-panel Xiang skirt underneath. She had her hair tied in a flowing cloud bun, and only a white jade water drop hairpin was inserted in her hair. She looked fresh and elegant.
Xue Zhiqing, on the other hand, wore a cross-collared gown made of moon-white Xiang satin embroidered with osmanthus flowers. She wore a moon-white Xiang satin belt embroidered with twined branches around her waist, which made her slender waist look very charming. She also had a golden hairpin with osmanthus tassels inserted into her flowing cloud bun, which made her look even more noble.
No one noticed anything wrong with Xue Zhiqing.
By this time, the wine and food had been served. The prince said some words of praise on behalf of the emperor. The emperor had regained his calm expression. He then commented on the bravery of the court officials today, especially the bravery of the Du family, who was as brave as any man, and then announced the start of the banquet.
[The people of Daliang are particularly good at riding and shooting, so why didn’t they catch anything today? 】
Su Qianqian watched the lady pick up her chopsticks, and then she picked up a piece of braised wild boar meat. It was worthy of the skills of the imperial chef. The originally rough meat was processed to be chewy and soft, and the meat was fragrant. How did they do it in the era without pressure cookers?
[That’s because they didn’t even enter!]
First, it was to avoid suspicion so as not to make the officials of Da Qi uneasy. Secondly, it was to show humility, but in fact it was contempt. Even if they were hunting one day later, they would still be the biggest winners. Thirdly, it was inconvenient for the prince of Daliang to find anything smelly along the way, and he was a little listless! 】
【ha? Will he keep his quirks in Da Qi? However, I can satisfy his needs, but I can't give it to him so easily. Let's see what benefits he can give me! 】
Su Qianqian narrowed her eyes, thinking that there really was something so smelly in her own space. It was just as her grandma said: Different people use different things, everything has a market, it all depends on your skills!
[There are quite a few resentful couples tonight. In addition to Lu Fengyi and Cui Jing, Princess Zhaoning also wishes she could bite Mengdu to death so that she wouldn't have to travel thousands of miles to marry in Daliang. 】
[Princess Zhaoning naturally doesn't want to marry, and what other couple... are you hinting at me? 】Su Qianqian asked grimly in her heart.
[What is there that is worthy of connotation about you? You two are living in peace and harmony in name only. It's better to part ways amicably and shake hands and say goodbye. You can't be considered a couple of resentment! 】The system sneered and sneered in a low voice.
[Then who is there...my sister?] 】
Su Qianqian looked at Zhu Min next to her. Zhu Min felt cold and shivered. He quickly tried to please Su Xinxin by picking up several pieces of food with his chopsticks and carefully checking whether there was any hair on the meat.
[Don't guess. Look at the young master Du Hanyang of Marquis Dingyang. He has been depressed all the time. Ever since he was granted marriage, he has been frowning all day long and is unwilling to leave the house.
Although his mother was very proud that her son married a legitimate princess, the man who married a princess could not pursue a career in officialdom and could only rely on the princess for his title, like Duke Xu. Du Hanyang did not want to do that.
He hated Princess Zhaoyang for ruining his future, and Princess Zhaoyang was unwilling to marry a weak gentleman like him, alas...】
[It's not all the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, not to mention that His Majesty has granted marriage to Princess Shang, which is a huge favor from the Emperor! 】
Su Qianqian shook her head. This kind of marriage is the norm in this era. It is truly rare and precious for two people to fall in love at first sight.
"Zhiqing, come to your aunt. Your aunt wants to have a few words with you."
Concubine Xiao suddenly waved to Xue Zhiqing with a smile. Madam Xiao looked at Concubine Xiao warily, but it was difficult to stop her. She could only whisper to Xue Zhiqing to observe the rules.
Disgust flashed across Xue Zhiqing's face for a moment, but it quickly disappeared. She agreed in a low voice and then stood up and walked towards Concubine Xiao.
Concubine Xiao was sitting with Prince Jing and Princess Zhaoning. When Prince Jing saw Xue Zhiqing coming over, he nodded slightly in greeting, but Princess Zhaoning pretended to raise her glass with the other noble ladies and didn't even look at Xue Zhiqing.
Xue Zhiqing bowed and sat down beside her. Concubine Xiao took her hand and chatted with her affectionately. Madam Xiao stared at her warily for a moment, but when she saw that there was nothing unusual, she felt relieved and turned to talk to Xue Wanning about today's hunting.
At this time, the palace maid serving Concubine Xiao came over with a tray of fruit drinks and carefully served them. Concubine Xiao took it but suddenly raised her hand and poured the whole cup of fruit drink on Xue Zhiqing's head and body.
Xue Zhiqing could have dodged the attack, but because her mind was on King Xiang at the time, she didn't notice such a sudden change at all. She was splashed with red juice all over her face and body, and she stood there in a daze. For a moment, the hall was extremely quiet.
"Oh, you slut, how could you be so clumsy that you splashed water all over the Second Young Lady? Come, drag her away and beat her to death!" Concubine Xiao was furious and shouted sternly.
The palace maid was so scared that she knelt on the ground, kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"Zhiqing!" Mrs. Xiao stood up and came over quickly. While wiping the sticky juice off Xue Zhiqing's head, she helped her up and took her to change clothes.
The eunuch came over to pull the maid, and Madam Xiao turned around and said, "My Lady, please show some mercy and spare this maid. It will also help Zhiqing to gain merit. Today is the first day of your majesty's hunting trip, and it is not a good sign if someone dies first."
"Sister, so you don't blame me? It was me who couldn't bear to look at the sweet-scented osmanthus and couldn't control my shaking hands. This slut didn't know how to read her expression. If she had held on to any part of it, it would have spilled on Zhiqing."
Concubine Xiao looked worried and uneasy. She took a handkerchief to help Xue Zhiqing wipe it, but Madam Xiao raised her hand to stop her: "I dare not trouble the Concubine. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please forgive me and my daughter for leaving first. I hope you will forgive me for my impoliteness in front of the palace."
Madam Xiao and Xue Zhiqing saluted, and Emperor Gan De glanced at Madam Xiao and said, "It's approved."
[So that's how it is. But why does Concubine Xiao hate osmanthus so much? 】
Su Qianqian asked curiously, watching Xue Zhiqing being supported by Madam Xiao in a daze, followed by Prime Minister Xue and Xue Wanning who were leaving the hall together.
[There is a century-old osmanthus tree in the back garden of the Duke of Min's Mansion. The sisters used to like to eat snacks, read and practice the piano on the stone table under the tree.
Later, one entered the palace and the other entered the prime minister's residence. Concubine Xiao always dreamed that the osmanthus tree stretched out its branches and leaves to trap her tightly. This became her indelible nightmare, so she hated the osmanthus tree and osmanthus flowers the most.
Only Xue Wanning, who was very thoughtful, noticed it when she entered the palace, so this time she asked the embroiderer to use osmanthus. 】
The system solved the mystery.
Su Qianqian sighed, but then remembered something.
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