Chapter 203 What kind of person does Madam Shen think Young Master Wei is?
The gate of the palace was much higher than Chunxi had imagined, and the guards were very strict.
Although she was with Princess Hengyang and her husband, and had the golden order given by the Queen Mother in her hand, she still had to undergo strict inspection before entering.
The palace road was wide and long, enough for carriages to pass side by side. After entering, a sedan chair came to pick up Princess Hengyang, and Chunxi and Wen Yanshu automatically followed behind.
The palace servants who led the way walked in front with their heads down. Guards holding long spears could be seen at intervals, and the atmosphere was solemn and majestic everywhere.
Chunxi didn't dare look around and followed quietly all the way. After walking for an unknown amount of time, Wen Yanshu and the others separated and went to another place. Chunxi breathed softly when she heard Princess Hengyang's voice coming from the sedan chair: "Don't be afraid. Your Highness is going to the Imperial Garden. Come with me to the harem to meet someone first."
"Yes, Princess."
Chunxi responded respectfully, but his whole body was still unconsciously tense.
It was still early, so Princess Hengyang took Chunxi to see the Queen Mother first.
The Empress Dowager's Cining Palace was very large and was filled with all kinds of rare flowers. The Empress Dowager doted on Princess Hengyang very much. Knowing that she would enter the palace, she specially ordered people to prepare Princess Hengyang's favorite cakes.
As soon as she entered the palace, Princess Hengyang threw herself into the empress dowager's arms and acted coquettishly. The mother and daughter had a very good relationship.
Chunxi knelt silently and waited until Princess Hengyang introduced herself before she began to bow: "Your humble servant Cao Chunxi pays homage to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years."
"Mother, I have a very similar temperament to Ah Xi and would love to be her friend. Please let her stand up and talk."
Princess Hengyang spoke up to defend her, so the Queen Mother naturally did not make things difficult for her. She asked Chunxi to stand up and asked her a few questions. Then, she could no longer stand Princess Hengyang's pestering and rewarded Chunxi with a lot of things.
After receiving the reward, Princess Hengyang chatted with the Queen Mother about some interesting things, and then took Chunxi to the Queen's Kunning Palace.
The Kunning Palace is about the same size as the Cining Palace, but the maids serving in the palace are younger, and it is not as dull and quiet as the Cining Palace.
When they arrived, the concubines in the harem had just greeted the queen and were about to leave.
These concubines were about the same age as Princess Hengyang. They were all well-maintained and in their prime, and their pleasant fragrance could be smelled from a distance.
Chunxi didn't dare to look at him, but bowed his head and saluted.
After these concubines left, Chunxi raised her head and saw a gorgeous woman standing in front of her, looking at her with interest.
The woman was extremely beautiful, with almond-shaped eyes, willow-shaped eyebrows, bright facial features, and skin as smooth as a baby's. Although she had her hair in a bun, one couldn't tell her age. She looked noble, but still gave people a sense of friendliness and gentleness.
Before, Chunxi thought Yun Wantang's aura was very special, but now after meeting this person, he found that Yun Wantang was just so-so.
Chunxi only took one look and then lowered his head. Just as he was about to apologize, the woman spoke softly, "You must be Yuan'er's new bride. Mother and sister-in-law have both mentioned you to me."
As soon as these words came out, Chunxi immediately understood the woman's identity and quickly bowed: "Your humble servant Cao Chunxi greets Her Majesty the Concubine."
"No need to be so polite. When I was still a boudoir maiden, I was very close to Yuan'er's mother. Now that Yuan'er has finally married the girl of his dreams, I'm very happy for him. I've lived in the palace for a long time and can't leave often. Today is a rare opportunity for us to meet, so I'm giving you a wedding gift."
As Concubine Xian spoke, she took out a ruby ring and gave it to Chunxi.
This ring is made of gold, and the ruby has been cut into many diamond-shaped facets using some unknown technique. It sparkles in the sun and is even more dazzling than gold.
This is too expensive.
Shen Qingyuan had never mentioned this virtuous concubine before. Chunxi didn't know whether to accept it or not. As she was hesitating, Princess Hengyang bumped her elbow and said, "What are you standing there for? Go thank your cousin."
Princess Hengyang's word "cousin" brought the two closer together. Chunxi took the ring with both hands and thanked her repeatedly.
After a few more words, Concubine Xian left. Chunxi carefully put away the ring and went into Kunning Palace with Princess Hengyang.
It was quite tiring to accept the greetings from all the concubines. In the main hall, the queen was drinking tea, and a palace maid behind her was rubbing her head.
Seeing the two enter the palace, the queen immediately dismissed the palace maids and smiled: "Hengyang is here, you used to come to the palace to play with me every now and then, but recently you haven't come for a long time."
The queen had not yet changed into the gorgeous clothes she would wear for the occasion, but her aura of being the mother of the country still made people want to submit unconsciously.
Chunxi was about to kneel down when she heard the Queen say, "Madam Shen, there's no need to be so polite. You are Princess Hengyang's good friend, and I invited you into the palace on my behalf. You don't have to be too restrained."
"Thank you, Queen, for your grace."
Chunxi thanked him and stood aside obediently.
Princess Hengyang also has a very good relationship with the Queen. She tells the Queen about her recent situation without reservation, including the new waiter in Wuyou Pavilion and her daily interactions with Chunxi and Xiao Qinghe.
Princess Hengyang was particularly proud of the day she got drunk and fought with Chunxi against the ladies of the noble families. She told her in detail what the secret guards later told her. At the end, she said, "You don't know, if Ah Xi hadn't been with us that night."
Princess Hengyang's words were all meant to help Chunxi take credit, but Chunxi broke into a cold sweat after hearing them.
Although someone else had taken the initiative that night, her drunken outing with Princess Hengyang was not something to be encouraged. The Queen was the mother of the country and a role model for all women in the world, and she could not support Princess Hengyang to continue to indulge herself.
Sure enough, the next moment, Chunxi heard the queen say: "Hengyang is famous for her good drinking capacity. I didn't expect that someone could get her drunk. It seems that Madam Shen can drink a lot too."
Chunxi quickly said, "Your Highness, I can indeed drink a little, but I usually drink wines I can't name, and I don't know the power of the fine wines in the Princess's Mansion. I was careless and got drunk, and almost made a big mistake. I have seriously reflected on this these days, and I will definitely only drink a little and never get drunk again."
Chunxi spoke in a firm tone and with a good attitude, and he was not at all proud of beating people.
The Queen raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at Princess Hengyang. Princess Hengyang also said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I won't get drunk again in the future. Even if I get drunk, I will just wander around the mansion and will never go out to cause trouble."
After hearing what Princess Hengyang said, the Queen did not dwell on the matter and instead asked someone to give Chunxi a reward.
Chunxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down to express his gratitude.
However, just as she finished speaking, she heard the Queen ask, "I heard that Madam Shen served the eldest young master of the Wei family for three years. What kind of person does Madam Shen think of the eldest young master Wei?"
The Queen asked casually, as if she had suddenly remembered something, but Chunxi's mind was filled with alarm bells.
The Queen is the mother of the country. Although she does not directly interfere in politics, there are deep meanings behind her words and actions.
Is Your Majesty going to appoint Wei Lingze so soon?
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