Chapter 76: Concubine Lin pretends to be pitiful
During these ten days or so, Su Jingyao had an exceptionally leisurely and comfortable time.
Because she had given birth, she did not need to sleep with the emperor. In addition, it was spring and the weather was pleasant. She would stroll leisurely in the pleasant places in the palace every day.
If Jun Zechen came to Zhaochun Palace for a meal, she would accompany him. If he had lunch, she would have to take a nap beside Jun Zechen.
Today, Su Jingyao strolled leisurely to the south of Yu Garden.
The royal palace is really huge, the garden is also amazingly large, and the south side is full of crabapple trees.
In this spring day, the sunshine is like a gentle and bright fairy, falling softly.
The crabapple blossoms in the Yu Garden are in full bloom, with gorgeous postures. At first glance, the entire garden is filled with a colorful sea of flowers, as if a gorgeous pink cloud is slowly shrouding the garden.
As one of the four concubines, Su Jingyao was always followed by a large group of palace maids whenever she went out.
Miaoyun and Miaoxia stood obediently on either side of her.
"Master, does His Majesty like Concubine Lin?"
When Miaoyun accompanied Su Jingyao for a slow walk, she was keen to talk to her about the latest news in the harem.
In the past ten days, Concubine Lin was summoned by His Majesty twice in a row, and was promoted to Concubine Rong directly and gracefully. Her promotion speed was really astonishing. Now she has become the highest-ranking among the newcomers.
Even Ye Ronghua, who had a more prominent family background, had never been summoned by His Majesty again since the first time he was summoned.
In addition to Concubine Lin, His Majesty also began to summon other newcomers one after another, and basically started with those with higher positions.
"How can I know what your majesty is thinking?" Su Jingyao's voice was faint, like a feather fluttering in the wind.
Her gaze slowly fell on the colorful flowers in the garden, and there was an elusive look in her eyes.
"Miao Yun, didn't His Majesty only favor Concubine Lin twice among the newcomers? His Majesty also comes to our Zhaochun Palace every day. How could Concubine Lin compare to the master?" Miao Xia said hurriedly.
"Of course, Concubine Lin is not as good as the master, but there are rumors in the palace that Concubine Lin is the new favorite of His Majesty, and most importantly..."
Miaoyun raised her eyes slightly and looked at her master carefully. Seeing that her master's face was still as calm as water, she continued to speak softly.
"Everyone in the palace says that Concubine Lin has a similar temperament and appearance to the master. His Majesty has always liked weak and charming women. Recently, the master has been unable to sleep with him, so His Majesty will naturally favor Concubine Lin even more."
Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, perhaps what these people in the palace said was not wrong, Jun Zechen really liked this type of woman.
Miaoyun just asked her if she thought Jun Zechen liked Lin Jieyu. Su Jingyao couldn't give a definite answer. She was not a worm in Jun Zechen's stomach, so how could she know?
Plus, Su Jingyao herself doesn't trust men.
In her opinion, any man, no matter how beautiful a woman is, will become boring after looking at her for a long time. How can she enjoy the stimulation brought by the novelty?
Miaoxia had naturally heard the rumor that Miaoyun had told her that people in the palace thought Concubine Lin looked like her master.
But the master's beauty is far more beautiful than Concubine Lin's. Concubine Lin can only be said to be somewhat similar to the master in type.
Therefore, I have no comment on this.
Su Jingyao shook her head and didn't care.
I continued to stroll at a leisurely pace and came to a pavilion surrounded by crabapple vines.
"This pavilion looks quite nice. Let's go in and sit down."
Having said that, Su Jingyao walked into the pavilion gracefully and then sat down elegantly.
The dozen or so palace maids following behind him quickly surrounded the pavilion.
Miaoyun also specially sent two palace maids back to Zhaochun Palace to get scented tea for her master.
After the palace maid brought the scented tea, Miaoyun carefully brewed it for her master and then stood quietly by.
Suddenly, a sedan chair appeared on the path outside the pavilion.
Su Jingyao was drinking scented tea leisurely, looking quite relaxed, and really didn't notice it.
Miaoyun's eyes were extremely sharp and she saw it immediately. However, what she didn't expect was that the sedan chair didn't show any signs of stopping!
Miaoyun and Miaoxia glanced at each other quickly, and then Miaoxia strode out of the pavilion with a hint of fierceness in her voice.
"How dare you! Concubine Chun Shu is here, yet you don't even get off the sedan chair to pay your respects!"
I saw Concubine Lin sitting upright on the sedan chair. After seeing Miaoxia, a smile appeared on her face.
Then Lin Jieyu's personal maid Yuqi spoke.
"Aunt, I followed His Majesty's order to accompany the emperor in the Qianqing Palace. I was worried that I would not be able to make it in time, so I asked the eunuchs who were carrying the sedan chair to walk faster. I really didn't see Concubine Chun Shu."
Miaoxia didn't care what her reasons were. Her master was one of the four concubines. If he let her, a concubine, walk away from his presence so openly, where would the master's dignity be?
"Now that Concubine Lin knows that the queen is here, why doesn't she hurry down to pay her respects?" Miaoxia asked seriously with a stern face.
The smile on Concubine Lin's face became a little forced, and then she said slowly: "Get off the sedan chair."
After hearing Miaoxia's words, Su Jingyao slowly raised her eyes and glanced at Concubine Lin, who was said to be Jun Zechen's new favorite.
She had a nonchalant smile on her face, and she wasn't worried at all that Concubine Lin would make things difficult for Miaoxia and just walk past her and leave.
As long as Concubine Lin really dares to leave, she will definitely let her know why the flowers are so red.
However, when looking at Concubine Lin's sedan chair, Su Jingyao had a hint of fierceness in her eyes.
Jun Zechen really dotes on Concubine Lin, and he even gave her a sedan chair to pick her up. After all, a Concubine's position does not allow her to have her own sedan chair.
The sedan chair that Concubine Lin is sitting on now can only be given by Jun Zechen. She is really spoiled in a high-profile manner.
Oh.
Concubine Lin got off the sedan chair and walked into the pavilion with light steps.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be well and healthy." She said respectfully.
At this time, Su Jingyao took a sip of tea, as if she had not heard her greeting at all.
Lin Jieyu bent her legs, leaned forward slightly with her head lowered, and time passed by little by little.
Her legs began to tremble slightly and beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead.
With a hint of grievance in his eyes, he raised his head slightly and called out weakly, "Madam?"
Su Jingyao had a smile on her lips. When she heard the voice, she turned her gaze to Lin Jieyu.
"I was drinking flower tea and didn't see Concubine Lin."
"But didn't Concubine Lin learn the palace rules well?" Su Jingyao asked with a smile.
Concubine Lin frowned slightly, and tears gradually filled her eyes.
"I don't understand what your Majesty means. Please explain clearly."
As soon as she finished saying this, Concubine Lin felt that she could no longer hold on, her body went limp, and she fell to the ground.
Miaoyun, who was standing by, saw this and said slowly, "Jieyu Lin, the master is one of the four concubines and now controls the palace. Jieyu Lin should kneel down and pay homage."
A trace of humiliation instantly appeared on Concubine Lin's face. Normally, concubines would only kneel and kowtow to higher-ranking concubines on important occasions.
Concubine Chun Shu's behavior today was clearly making things difficult for her.
Concubine Lin bit her lip, lowered her head, then straightened her body and knelt on the ground, performing a very standard kneeling ceremony.
She said in a clear voice: "I pay my respects to Her Majesty, Consort Chun Shu. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness."
When Concubine Lin got off the sedan chair, she secretly sent a palace maid to the Qianqing Palace.
She knew that Concubine Chun Shu was taking a walk here today, and when His Majesty sent someone to summon her to accompany him, she deliberately took this route.
As His Majesty's favorite concubine, Concubine Chun Shu's understanding of her personality came entirely from the descriptions of the palace people.
However, the people in the palace all spoke highly of Concubine Chun Shu, saying she was magnanimous, kind, tolerant and merciful.
Concubine Lin couldn't make a judgment based on these alone, so she had to test it herself.
Sure enough, Concubine Chun Shu is not as tolerant and generous as she seems. Now that she is deeply favored by the emperor, won’t Concubine Chun Shu start to make things difficult for her?
As long as His Majesty comes over later and sees that Concubine Chun Shu is completely different from before, His Majesty will definitely be disappointed in Concubine Chun Shu and feel more pity for her.
Su Jingyao narrowed her eyes slightly and her gaze fell on Lin Jieyu's face, taking in the unwillingness, grievance and humiliation on her face.
I couldn't help but sneer in my heart.
What a great acting.
If she hadn't known clearly that this place was not the shortest way from Liushuang Pavilion to Qianqing Palace, she would have almost believed that Concubine Lin was really humiliated.
Since Concubine Lin came to her specifically to provoke her today, Su Jingyao naturally followed her wishes.
"Miaoyun, go teach Concubine Lin how to perform etiquette."
Su Jingyao had a calm expression and spoke in a lukewarm tone.
"Yes, Master."
Miaoyun responded, then walked behind Concubine Lin, stretched out her hand and gently pressed it against her back, using a little force to lower her back a little.
"Lin Jieyu, when you see the master, you must bend down even lower so that the master can only see the top of your head."
Miaoyun's voice sounded neither fast nor slow, and then continued.
"Jieyi Lin, at least you should stop looking so aggrieved. The master is in charge of the Palace Administration Department and is the most impartial and selfless person in the palace. You look like that, do you think the master is making things difficult for you?"
Under Miaoyun's pressure, Concubine Lin had to lower herself further, and her body felt extremely uncomfortable at this moment.
She gritted her teeth and said with difficulty: "I dare not."
Miaoyun then let her go. Concubine Lin knelt on the ground and took a while before she stood up.
Her face looked more and more pitiful.
Until she caught a glimpse of a bright yellow figure out of the corner of her eye.
The tears in Concubine Lin's eyes could no longer be held back, and finally fell down.
"Your Highness, I was summoned by His Majesty today to accompany him in the Qianqing Palace. I have already wasted quite a bit of time. If Your Highness dislikes me, how about I kneel in the Zhaochun Palace tomorrow?"
"Your Majesty, please let me go to the Qianqing Palace today."
After saying this, Concubine Lin kowtowed heavily again and said with a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I beg you to do this."