Chapter 49 After Marriage
This matter actually had nothing to do with the two maids, but Jialuo dared not reveal even a trace of information about what happened that day.
She glanced at Gao Wa, whose face was cold, and knew that her third sister was doing it for her own good.
But the two little girls were really innocent.
"Alright, it's all my sister's fault for spoiling them."
Gao Wa turned her head, looked at Jia Luo with undisguised anger, and said, "It's because you're so soft-hearted that these scoundrels have become so arrogant!"
The conversation escalated, and Jialuo suddenly didn't know how to respond.
On the contrary, Angelama said in a gentle voice, "Yes, Sixth Sister is always soft-hearted. It's time to punish the maids. Otherwise, they'll become more and more stubborn, and who knows where they'll go in the future!"
The tone was extremely gentle, but the words spoken were the most unpleasant.
How far can a top-tier maid in the Empress's palace reach when she tries to hook her hand upwards?
Jade and Agate trembled slightly and said repeatedly, "This servant dares not, this servant dares not, please forgive us, Master."
Jialuo sighed silently, then curled her lips and said, "Third sister is doing this for my own good, and what fifth sister said is only human nature. The punishment is justified, but I can't do without them now, so I'll demote them from first-class palace maids to second-class palace maids, and they'll still serve me."
Gao Wa nodded, breathed a sigh of relief, and her expression softened. She turned to look at Jia Luo and said, "You're always too gentle with the people around you. Abu was extremely worried that you might be wronged here, so he specifically asked me to come and check on you and tell you not to be so soft-hearted, worrying about this and that."
Jialuo felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this, as she hadn't suffered any injustice in the palace.
“I didn’t make myself suffer. I lived a very comfortable life. My sister and I had the Khorchin tribe behind us, and my brother and Abu to support us. How could we have a hard life?”
"The Emperor and Empress Dowager have been very kind to me. Even when I had some minor disagreements with the Emperor, we always gave in to each other."
Angel swung her legs and said with a smile, "Yes, the Emperor and Empress Dowager always let Sixth Sister go out of the palace to play. I was thinking if Sixth Sister could take Angel with her next time. Angel also wants to go out and play."
On the contrary, Angrama's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
Just now, when she was walking with her third sister Gaowa, her words were full of warnings, but when she came to Jialuo, she was full of fatherly love.
She was bullied?
She flaunted her power and prestige in the palace, waiting for the concubines to pay their respects every day.
She monopolized the emperor's favor, and in fact, no one else in the entire harem was favored except for her.
She stood to the side, her hands clenched tightly, not uttering a word. Why was Abu so biased now?!
The other three didn't pay attention to her for a moment, and instead started talking about the differences between Khorchin and the capital.
On the contrary, one of the maids brought by Gaowa glanced at Angrama slightly, and then lowered her head.
The sisters wanted to stay together, but there was a curfew at the palace, so Gaowa left the palace in the evening.
The lively atmosphere suddenly quieted down, and the place seemed rather lonely.
Jialuo sat blankly on the tatami, gazing at the sky outside the window.
The sky was filled with twinkling stars, and in the courtyard beneath them, the hibiscus trees, with their branches bare and sprawling, looked rather bizarre in the night.
Today, Galo sensed the familiar fighting spirit of her fifth sister, Angelama.
Gaowa blamed Jade and Agate because she thought they hadn't served her well, and she was only worried about her younger sister.
However, Angrama's words implied that he was forcing Garo to punish Jade and Agate, and even accused them of seducing the emperor.
This made Galo feel bored.
She was tired of being with Angelama like this, even though she never intended to compete with Angelama for her father's love, and she never tried to please her mother who didn't like her.
Now she no longer wants to compete with Angrama for "the emperor's favor".
"Master, it's late, you should rest."
Emerald carefully supported Galo's injured hand and whispered a reminder.
Jialuo glanced at Emerald and Jialuo, who had been behaving very well all night, and chuckled as she tapped their foreheads.
"Alright, what happened that night? Which of us, master and servants, dares to utter a single word?"
"Now that I'm saying I'm injured and weak, it's just an excuse. You two are taking the blame for nothing."
"This is all fake. You two were really wronged to be scolded and demoted."
Jialuo smiled and said, "How about adding a thousand taels of silver to your dowries in the future?"
"Okay, okay!"
"Master, you mustn't!"
"…………"
Jade, looking delighted, and agate, looking repulsed, stared at each other.
Seeing their constantly changing expressions, Jialuo suddenly found it amusing and started laughing.
"Alright, alright, stop talking so much."
“You two know how much silver our master has.”
Agate glared at Jade, chuckled, stepped forward, took Jialuo's hand, and said with a smile, "Master is right."
"Then Emerald and I thank you, Master!"
"That's more like it."
After taking a bath and washing up, Jialuo rested.
Time flies, and in early spring, the third sister, Gaowa, married Prince Xiang.
Jialuo did not attend the wedding, but the next morning, her third sister and Prince Xiang were to enter the palace.
Jialuo got up early. Today she was wearing a bright yellow satin robe embroidered with clouds and dragons, gold-plated with pearls and silver rat fur, and a mink fur crown inlaid with pearls.
With a light application of makeup, she arrived at the Qianqing Palace in a sedan chair.
This was Jialuo's first time visiting the Qianqing Palace. She hadn't come before because she had caught him having a secret rendezvous with Dong Eshi.
That all happened several months ago.
The Qianqing Palace is built in a majestic and solemn manner. Five-clawed golden dragons spiral upwards on the red pillars, and golden dragons soar through the clouds on the roof. As soon as you enter, you can feel the tangible pressure of the emperor's majesty.
Fu Lin, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a court hat, stared directly at her.
There was no one else in the palace at this moment; the Empress Dowager had not yet arrived.
Fu Lin rose from the dragon throne and strode over to her.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
A pair of hands took Jialuo's hand and pulled her up with a little force.
Jialuo looked up and once again met the boy's gaze.
His eyes were deep and scrutinizing her inch by inch, making her feel the heat of his gaze on her skin, and she felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty, I..."
“Galo,” he said softly.
Then, he took her hand again, his gaze falling into her eyes.
Fu Lin smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "When you walked towards me just now, I was inexplicably reminded of how you walked towards me on our wedding day."
Jialuo was taken aback, then smiled and said, "I was extremely tired on our wedding day, but when I got out of the sedan chair, even through the veil, I could still see your heroic and extraordinary figure."
"Yeah?"
Fu Lin raised his eyebrows and took her hand as they walked up the steps.
"I thought you didn't really want to see me back then."
He said it as if Gallo was being forced, while he was looking forward to it.
The two walked up the seven steps. Beside the dragon throne were incense burners, incense tubes, and auspicious beasts, symbolizing all kinds of good fortune.
The dragon throne is carved with thirteen golden dragons in different poses, each lifelike.
When Jialu saw the dragon throne for the first time, she realized it was the most precious throne in the world, a chair that countless emperors had fought for and guarded.
She glanced at it a couple more times without sleep.
Seeing this, Fu Lin, who was standing beside him, smiled and said, "So curious?"
Jialuo immediately looked away, glanced at Fulin, and found that his expression was gentle and there was no intention to target him.
But Jialuo dared not be presumptuous. If the emperor changed his temper again and accused her of coveting the throne, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of her entire family.
"This is the first time I have seen the supreme position in the world. I feel great respect for it and couldn't help but take a second look. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
After speaking, she gave a half-bow.
"you……"
Before the emperor could finish speaking, a eunuch's shrill voice came from the doorway.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived."
Fu Lin strode down the steps, and Jia Luo followed the emperor down the seven steps.
"Your subject respectfully welcomes Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."
"Yes, get up."
Jialuo rose with Fulin. Recently, the Empress Dowager had been dressed in luxurious clothes and was wearing a jeweled headdress, which was rare for her.
Jialu helped Mubumutai to sit on the right side of the dragon throne, while Jialu walked around the dragon throne and sat on the left side.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne in the very center.
Although the three of them didn't say much, Jialuo clearly sensed the change in Fulin's attitude.
Especially for her.
He reverted to his usual seemingly gentle but actually nonchalant demeanor.
Mubumutai, with a gentle expression, first inquired about the Emperor's well-being over the past two days.
"Has Your Majesty been busy with state affairs these past two days? You seem to have lost some weight."
Fu Lin said gently, "Your Majesty, I am as healthy as ever."
"Yes, it is true that national affairs are of utmost importance, but Your Majesty should also take care of your health."
"Your subject understands."
After the two finished speaking, Mubumutai looked at Jialuo and said with a smile, "Are you feeling any better?"
Jialuo looked up and saw Mubumutai's caring and kind appearance, and felt a chill run down her spine.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I am almost fully recovered. The imperial physician said that I only need to drink one more dose of medicine to replenish my qi and blood."
"Yes, you are a good girl. As the mother of the nation, taking good care of your health is not only for your own sake, but also to set a good example for women of the Qing Dynasty."
Jialuo nodded obediently to the woman.
"Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings."
"Yes, speaking of which, the Third Miss is a very generous and open-minded person, and I like her very much."
“The Prince Xiang is also a sincere child, even more pure-hearted than his mother. It is his good fortune to have a wife like the Third Miss.”
Jialuo: "..."
She straightened her back and said with a smile, "Yes, I once saw Prince Xiang from afar in the Imperial Garden. He was an extremely well-behaved child, and he was also quite handsome."
Upon hearing this, Fu Lin glanced at Jia Luo but did not speak.
Upon hearing this, Mubumutai raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? The Empress has also seen Prince Xiang?"
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Author's Note: Happy New Year to all my dear readers! 2024 has flown by, and 2025 is here with joy. May the new year bring you abundant wealth, continuous good fortune, happiness, and good health!
I started writing at 10 p.m. tonight, and when I had written 1,500 words by midnight, I heard the sound of fireworks and cheers from downstairs. Working in a different city, sitting alone in front of the fireplace, I couldn't help but feel a little lonely. This must be loneliness amidst the hustle and bustle.
Time flies, and this year marks my fourth year of writing and my fourth year of working after graduation. Some of the authors' IDs are quite familiar, having been with me for a long time.
It's hard to see growth from just one or two books, and I'm not an exceptionally talented person either. My writing journey has been full of stumbles and falls, but I'm grateful for everyone's support and companionship along the way. Whenever I feel lost or frustrated, a small comment or a small subscription is enough to encourage me to open my writing software and keep typing.
I don't know how long we can walk together, but I hope that you can find joy and emotional release in my writing.
I cherish the time that you, my dear readers, are willing to spend on my writing!
My three to five hours are made up of each of your three minutes.
Thank you all! [Roses][Roses][Roses][Roses]
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