Qiu Ziqiang's voice was very soft, but the banquet became quiet. It seemed light and non-aggressive, but in fact it turned the situation around.
Just like the gift given before, if you don’t think about it carefully you will think it is a coincidence, but there is no coincidence in the harem. However, most people will think that Qiu Ziqiang is imitating others.
But after she said that, Qiu Ziqiang suddenly became the victim. How could it be such a coincidence?
Yan Fu raised his eyebrows, a smile in his eyes:
"Oh? My beloved concubine, what you said is that Jin Liangyuan and my beloved concubine are in sync, and it just happened to be the same thing you gave me?"
"My concubine..."
Hua Yunyao felt uneasy when Yan Fu looked at him, and seeing the pride in Qiu Ziqiang's eyes, he wanted to go to Qiao Yu for help, but he was afraid that Qiao Yu would not care about him.
"Not only does Lady Qiu and my sister have a tacit understanding, but I, the concubine, also sent her calligraphy and paintings."
Yan Fu originally intended to make things difficult for Hua Yunyao. He wanted to provoke Qiao Yu to see if he would stand up to protect Hua Yunyao.
He knew how much Qiao Yu hated Hua Yunya, so why was he suddenly so kind as to help this half-sister?
"I, a humble concubine, naturally cannot paint such a grand longevity painting as my two younger sisters, so I can only offer this as a token of my gratitude."
Qiao Yu did not change the gift given by Zhong Hua Yunlan in the original plot. Yan Fu liked the calligraphy of the old Duke Hua very much, so she catered to his preferences.
Naturally, it was impossible for him to be so self-righteous as to think that Yan Fu would like the calligraphy he gave him.
In order to prevent Qiu Ziqiang from doing this, Qiao Yu also gave the old Duke Hua some calligraphy and paintings.
Yan Fu looked at the calligraphy and paintings on display and received three pieces in a row. The first two were written by the senders themselves and both carried the owner's heart.
Qiao Yu's gift was indeed valuable, but no matter how outstanding it was, it lacked thoughtfulness in Yan Fu's heart. Even if Qiao Yu gave him a scribble of talismans, no one else's gift could compare to it in Yan Fu's heart.
But this girl obviously didn't have the same desire to please him as the first two:
"Concubine Hua's gift is very much appreciated by me. Yu Yuanting has collected it and hung it in the Imperial Study... Concubine Qiu has hung it in the Jinhua Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A hint of hurt flashed across the girl's beautiful almond-shaped eyes, but she hid it so well that before Yan Fu could catch the look, she had already lowered her eyes and calmed down.
On the surface, it seems that Qiu Ziqiang is more favored. No matter how good the gifts given by the two Hua sisters are, or how much they slap Concubine Qiu in the face, they will still be placed in the study in the end.
Concubine Qiu’s belongings were placed where the emperor slept. Every time the emperor opened his eyes, the first thing he thought of was Concubine Qiu, right?
But Yu Yuanting didn't think so when he collected paintings in the past. He just asked ordinary palace servants to collect Hua Yunya's painting, so why did the emperor ask him to collect Qiao Yu's painting?
It was obvious that the emperor was still thinking about Empress Hua, but he didn't know how this lady had offended the emperor again, and why she was so stubborn and refused to coax him.
Qiao Yu returned to his seat with an expressionless face. Qiu Ziqiang was unwilling to give in and said cautiously to Yan Fu:
"Just now, I was clumsy with my words and seemed to have offended you two sisters unintentionally. Your Majesty, would you allow me to offer you two a toast to apologize?"
When Qiu Ziqian was pestering him before, he knew that she was a cautious person, afraid of offending anyone. Yan Fu didn't care much and said:
"Go ahead."
After getting permission, Qiu Zicheng immediately stood up with the wine in hand and walked towards Huayun Cliff:
"Sister Jin, it was Ziqian's fault just now. I was not very good with my words and that's why I displeased the Emperor. Can you please forgive me if I drink this cup?"
Qiu Ziqian was lucky that someone like Hua Yunya didn't come forward and tear her apart. How could she even think of forgiving her just for a glass of wine? There was no such a cheap deal in the world.
"Lady Qiu, please don't call me sister. Not to mention that my father didn't give birth to a daughter like you, but according to age, I should call you sister, right?"
But you have to be lucky enough to be worthy of her calling you sister, right?
Qiao Yu listened to Hua Yunya's sharp words and held her forehead with a headache. No matter how fairy-like her outfit was, it was ruined by her words.
Her position is indeed higher than that of Noble Lady Qiu, but how can an unfavored concubine have the confidence to show off to the favored concubine like this? Isn't she occupying her mother's family?
It would be fine if Yan Fu didn't care, but if someone was interested, he would definitely report it to Hua Bocheng.
Qiu Zicheng's injured hand trembled slightly, and he stepped forward pitifully to pull Hua Yunya's sleeve:
"Sister, are you still mad at me? I really am not...ah!"
Qiu Ziheng's scream stopped the music at the banquet, and everyone's eyes turned to her, thinking that something had happened to her.
Something did happen here, and someone was soaked to the skin, but it wasn't Qiu Ziqiang, but Qiao Yu.
Hua Yunya quickly took out an embroidered handkerchief to wipe Qiao Yu's wound, while cursing Qiu Ziqian viciously:
"Are you out of your mind? Why are you dragging me along? If it weren't for you, how could the wine have spilled on my sister?"
Hua Yunyao was a little stupid, but she was born to the victorious concubine Yao in the harem. At this moment, she didn't understand that if Qiao Yu hadn't blocked the wine just now, it would have been Qiu Ziqiang who was splashed.
By then, I won’t be able to explain myself even if I open my mouth a thousand times.
Qiu Ziqian, who was interrupted, did not panic, but continued with her words:
"I'm sorry, sister. It's...it's my own fault that I didn't hold the cup tightly, so...that's why I was careless..."
Qiu Ziqiang's voice was choked, as if he was forced by Hua Yunya to say so. What a white and tender Tianshan snow lotus.
Everyone in the seats looked at Hua Yunya with strange expressions, and even Queen Mother Xue looked at Qiao Yu with a bad look:
"If it weren't for Jin Liangyuan pushing Concubine Qiu, how could she not even be able to hold the cup steadily? It seems that the title given to you by the emperor has not made you remember it all the time!"
"Queen Mother, calm down!"
Hua Yunyao was most afraid of Empress Dowager Xue. When she glared at him, his legs went limp and he quickly knelt down.
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