Early the next morning, Concubine Xian came to Shouning Palace carrying a food box as usual.
"Empress Dowager, the weather is dry now. Drinking some Sichuan Fritillary Loquat will be refreshing. It can replenish body fluids, clear away heat and moisten the lungs."
The virtuous concubine personally handed the bowl of hot Sichuan loquat soup to the empress dowager.
She is sincere, respectful and filial, and truly deserves the title of "virtuous" in her position.
The soup is colorful, fragrant and delicious, which makes people's appetite increase just by looking at it.
"Thank you for your hard work in bringing me soup so early in the morning." The Queen Mother took the soup from Concubine Xian's hand with a smile.
The virtuous concubine complimented him, "It is my blessing to be able to fulfill my filial duties by your side."
"You are just a softie. I really made you suffer yesterday. Stop kneeling and get up."
The Queen Mother winked at Wan Shuang as she spoke.
Wanshuang hurried forward and helped Concubine Xian to sit down beside her.
The virtuous concubine sighed slightly, lowered her head, and said in a low mood: "I am used to it. The emperor has always favored the noble concubine. It was my fault for being too talkative yesterday. I shouldn't have argued with the noble concubine."
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and continued sobbingly, "It doesn't matter that I've been wronged. I'm just worried that the imperial concubine might be careless and make the little princess feel uncomfortable."
The virtuous concubine had not given up yet. She hinted at things, hoping that the empress dowager would come forward and hand Su Qiqi over to her for raising.
The Queen Mother pretended not to understand the virtuous concubine's implication and smiled, changing the subject: "You always compromise. It hurts me to see you. Look at your face, pale and weak. Drink this soup quickly."
Wanshuang stepped forward, took the soup from the Queen Mother's hand, and presented it to Concubine Xian.
The virtuous concubine was flattered: "This, this is specially cooked for you..."
The Queen Mother said kindly, "You need to replenish your Qi and blood more than I do."
"But……"
Wan Shuang advised, "Your Highness, please don't refuse. If you become exhausted, the Queen Mother will worry and blame herself."
The Queen Mother said, "This soup is a reward from me. I must personally watch you drink it."
"this……"
The virtuous concubine was extremely flustered.
Why did the Queen Mother insist on letting her drink that bowl of Chuanbei Loquat Soup? Did she discover that something else was added to the soup?
It shouldn't be that bad...
If the Queen Mother had discovered something, she would have cut her into pieces long ago. How could she possibly be nice to her?
Perhaps the Queen Mother really just felt sorry for her and loved her, so she was kind enough to let her drink the bowl of soup.
It seems that she cannot refuse, otherwise it might displease the Queen Mother and even arouse her suspicion.
After thinking for a moment, Concubine Xian took the Chuanbei Loquat Drink from Wanshuang's hand with gratitude and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
The Queen Mother smiled faintly, "Hurry up and eat, my good child. You must take good care of your body so that you will have the energy to serve me."
"I understand."
Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Concubine Xian could only hold the bowl and slowly take a bite of the loquat.
She didn't drink a single sip of the soup.
The Empress Dowager saw all of Concubine Xian's little movements.
Now it seems that the returning grass was specially placed in the soup by the virtuous concubine.
Haha, then there’s no need to be soft-hearted.
A hint of cruelty flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes.
But in an instant, she smiled kindly again: "You are as picky as the emperor, you won't eat this or that! I am watching you today, and you are not allowed to leave a single bite of this soup."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Concubine Xian's face froze: "Empress Dowager, your humble concubine..."
"No excuses, no refusal. You have to drink all this soup to get better."
He looks so sincere and sincere, and he's doing it for your own good, that it's really hard to find any fault with him.
Having said this, Concubine Xian could only grit her teeth and force herself to finish the entire bowl of Sichuan Fritillary and Loquat Drink.
The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction: "That's right."
"Thank you, Queen Mother, for your willingness to bear the pain. I will recover soon. I..."
As if she suddenly remembered something, Concubine Xian said, "I have some urgent matters to deal with in the palace. I'm afraid I have to go back first."
The Empress Dowager didn't respond, but instead changed the subject: "The second day of next month is the Emperor's birthday. Would you be willing to copy some Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Emperor?"
"Of course I am willing. This is my blessing."
She would often copy scriptures with the Queen Mother. It was just a few words, which was not a difficult task for her.
Moreover, copying scriptures to pray for the emperor is hard work even if there is no merit.
As long as the empress dowager says a few good words to the emperor, all her hard work will be worth it.
"I knew you were the most sincere to the Emperor. Wanshuang, go and get the scriptures I have selected."
"yes."
Wanshuang responded and turned around to pick up the pile of books on the table next to her.
The Queen Mother said, "Just copy it once, but make no mistakes, omissions, or extra words, and don't leave any ink spots. Otherwise, you'll have to start all over again."
There are about thirty or forty books in that pile.
No typos or omissions, no ink spots...
Xianfei felt her eyes blurred: Oh my God, can she still refuse now? Copying scriptures was not so troublesome before!
"My virtuous concubine, thank you for your hard work. You are so thoughtful and considerate, and I can only feel at ease if I leave this matter to you. Please do not let me down."
The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Xian with admiration in her eyes.
How dare the virtuous concubine refuse?
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will definitely live up to your expectations."
"Well, I'm tired, you should go back too. Remember to come and worship Buddha with me tomorrow."
"Pray to Buddha?" Concubine Xian glanced at the Buddhist scriptures held by the maid and said, "Empress Dowager, I have been busy copying Buddhist scriptures these days, so I am afraid I don't have time..."
"During the day, I will accompany you to recite scriptures and worship Buddha, and at night, I will copy scriptures."
"But……"
"Only in this way, reciting the sutras and worshiping the Buddha, and then copying the scriptures by hand, can it be the most sincere. I know you can do it, right?"
Xian Fei could no longer refute and could only agree in a low voice: "...I understand."
"Well, let's go back today."
"I'll take my leave."
The virtuous concubine left Shouning Palace with her personal maid.
Watching the figure of Consort Xian disappear outside the courtyard gate, the Queen Mother murmured, "She is so hypocritical and full of loopholes. How could I have been deceived by such a person? If the Emperor hadn't reminded me, I would have been kept in the dark."
Wan Shuang said, "She is so bold that it's hard to guard against her. She will do anything to climb higher. Now it seems that Concubine Ming is the one who is least competitive."
"With the Emperor fighting for her, she certainly doesn't need to wade into muddy waters. She's the smartest one! The son and daughter of the Shen family have completely charmed my son and daughter. It really makes me die of anger!"
As she spoke, there was a hint of anger in the Queen Mother's voice.
As the emperor, Lu Liyuan insisted on marrying Shen Mingyue, and as the eldest princess, Lu Qingyuan insisted on marrying Shen Jiayan.
Under her coercion and inducement, the emperor at least had several concubines and children.
But Qing Yuan...
The Queen Mother became more and more upset the more she thought about it.
She raised her hand to rub her aching head and ordered, "Wanshuang, go to Qionghua Palace and call Qingyuan over. I want to personally choose a husband for her today!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
