Chapter 182 The Empress Bestows a Golden Token and Seal
The Empress personally took the package and placed it aside, her smile growing even brighter: "Good girl, you are so thoughtful. To be honest, I've eaten quite a lot of ginseng before, but my health never improved. But ever since I ate your ginseng, my health has improved. This proves that Miss Liu is my benefactor, bringing me good fortune, hahaha."
King Xuan glanced at Liu Ye with a complex expression, then smiled and said, "Miss Liu is truly my lucky star. I sent many people to search for the silver that Lord Li hid, but they couldn't find it. It was Miss Liu who found it by chance, which has been a great help to me."
Upon hearing this, the Empress excitedly pressed Liu Ye's hand to her chest: "Really? That's wonderful! Wouldn't that mean...?"
The Empress took out a gold token from her sleeve and stuffed it into Liu Ye's hand: "This is my Empress's token. Seeing this gold token is the same as seeing me. You don't need to kneel to anyone except the Emperor and me. Do you understand?"
Liu Ye nodded, looking bewildered. "I understand. Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty. Oh dear, her hands are finally free. Just now, her hands were on the Empress's chest. How embarrassing!"
The Empress nodded happily: "Both of you stay for lunch. I haven't been this happy in a long time."
At this moment, a palace maid reported from outside: "Your Majesty, Consort Su has brought Miss Su the Third to pay her respects."
The Empress's face instantly darkened: "The annoying people are here. Summon them in!"
Liu Ye quickly got up and sat down in the next seat. She secretly glanced at the gold medal in her hand. The gold medal was very heavy, about half the size of her palm. The front was inscribed with the Empress's Seal, and the back was a phoenix with outstretched wings, which was quite beautiful.
At this moment, Xuan Wang gestured to her sleeve, and she instantly understood. She quickly put the gold medal into her sleeve pocket and stored it in her spatial storage.
The palace doors were pushed open from the outside by palace maids and eunuchs, and Consort Su, accompanied by Miss Su, slowly walked in. Consort Su was still dressed in her elegant and luxurious attire, which was very much in line with her status as a favored concubine. The red phoenix hairpin on her head reflected a cold light in the dim light.
Consort Su glanced indifferently at the willow leaves, then bowed slightly to the Empress in the main seat: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy peace and happiness."
Miss Su half-knelt and also greeted the Empress: "This commoner greets Your Majesty the Empress and His Highness Prince Xuan."
The Empress nodded indifferently: "You may rise and have a seat." Prince Xuan nodded without speaking.
Consort Su walked to Liu Ye's side. Among all the concubines in the harem, she was the highest-ranking one besides the Empress, and only she was worthy of sitting below the Empress.
But Liu Ye didn't understand what she meant. She looked at the Empress with a blank expression and said helplessly, "I...should I bow to the Imperial Concubine?"
The Empress smiled and shook her head, saying, "No need. You have the golden token bestowed by me. Apart from the Emperor and me, you don't need to kneel or pay respects to anyone. Consort Su, please don't stand on ceremony, sit wherever you like."
Consort Su appeared calm on the surface, but was inwardly quite surprised. This country bumpkin had actually managed to get the Empress to grant her a golden token; she must be quite extraordinary.
She pretended not to care and sat down next to Liu Ye. When her eyes fell on Liu Ye, they were as cold as ice. However, she spoke very politely: "A girl who is so highly regarded by Your Highness must have an extraordinary background. May I ask which noble family you are from? I would like to get to know you?"
Miss Su stood behind Consort Su, glancing at Liu Ye from left to right, also curious about who she was.
The Empress deliberately kept Consort Su in suspense, knowing that she had come after hearing rumors. She picked up a teacup, took a sip of tea, and then slowly said, "Guan Yu is Xuan'er's adopted sister outside the palace. I like her very much and will often invite her to the palace to play in the future."
Liu Ye was stunned for a moment, then looked at Prince Xuan sitting opposite her. Prince Xuan winked at her. Okay, she could accept it. She had suddenly become the prince's god-sister. So now she was a member of the royal family, right?
Upon hearing this, Consort Su exclaimed, "So that's how it is." "Adopted sister," she thought, "it sounds nice, but she's just a girl who climbed up the social ladder by sleeping with someone." She glanced at Liu Ye with disdain and said sarcastically, "Oh, so she's Prince Xuan's adopted sister. She is quite pretty, but not as good-looking as my third sister. Your Majesty hasn't said whose noble family she is yet. I suppose Prince Xuan's adopted sister must come from a very good family."
Liu Ye rolled her eyes inwardly and couldn't help but complain, "Damn it, you seem to be the vice president of the troublemaker association. Who I am is none of your business. You're just bored out of your mind. You're like a lapdog trying to bite the moon. You don't even know your own limitations. To put it nicely, you're a noble concubine. To put it bluntly, you're just a lowly concubine!"
The Empress raised an eyebrow, looking at Consort Su with sarcasm in her eyes, and said, "Although Miss Liu is a commoner, she has good character and a kind heart. That's what I value in her. Unlike some noble ladies, who are all showy but useless, two-faced. In front of me, they are as kind as bodhisattvas, but behind my back, they kill without a knife, treating human lives like ants. I've also heard that some people like to use corpses as fertilizer. Miss Su, have you heard of that?"
Miss Su shook her head nervously: "Perhaps there is, but I've never heard of it..." Damn it, who's been gossiping about her behind her back, spreading rumors to the Empress's ears? Could it be her?!
Miss Su looked at Liu Ye with hostility. Liu Ye also looked at Miss Su. What was with that look? What did it have to do with her? She hadn't said anything to the Empress.
Consort Su, not wanting the Empress to dwell on this topic, quickly changed the subject: "Hehehe, Your Majesty, my birthday is in three days. Alas, I originally planned to have a meal with my family, but His Majesty insisted on hosting a banquet for all the officials to celebrate my birthday. I couldn't refuse, so I had to comply. Today, I have come to invite Your Majesty the Empress. I humbly request that Your Majesty and Prince Xuan do me the honor of joining us. I also sincerely invite Miss Liu to come. Miss Liu wouldn't be unwilling to celebrate my birthday, would she? Would she look down on me, a mere Consort?"
Liu Ye said with a troubled expression, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Your Highness. I'll come when I have time, but I won't come if I don't. I live alone, and I raise two pigs. If I'm not home, there'll be no one to feed them..." (ω) Hey
Consort Su's lips twitched with anger. What kind of bastard was she talking about? She suspected that this little bitch was cursing her, but she had no proof!
The Empress pursed her lips, trying hard to suppress her laughter, while Prince Xuan gritted his teeth. Liu Ye's words had also hit his funny bone. It was so funny that Consort Su was not as important as a pig. Oh dear, he couldn't hold back any longer.
Prince Xuan suddenly stood up from the stool. The Empress looked at him with concern. What's wrong with Xuan'er? Consort Su, the Third Miss Su, also looked at Prince Xuan with a puzzled expression.
Liu Ye touched her nose. King Xuan seemed to be holding back laughter. Was what she said really that funny?
King Xuan lowered his head and said, "Mother, I'm going to the Imperial Kitchen to see if the food is ready. I haven't had breakfast yet, and I'm a little hungry."
The Empress nodded: "Go ahead. By the way, I want to eat pig's ears. Have the Imperial Kitchen make a plate of pig's ears, steamed, and the more tender and mushy the better. Pork should be eaten very soft."
Consort Su immediately disliked what she was hearing, her face falling long. Who was she trying to insult?
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