mtl008 Chapter 496: The Disharmony between the Two Imperial Concubines (2)
Chapter 496: The Disharmony between the Two Imperial Concubines (2)
Concubine Xin watched from the shadows for a long time before deciding to step forward and say hello.
"Empress Jingfei, it's so cold late at night, why are you still awake?"
"Lady Xin, you are frail, and you haven't fallen asleep yet, have you?"
Concubine Jing felt good about this poor woman who was assigned to the palace and lived a quiet and obedient life, so she invited her.
"If you can't sleep, why don't you take a walk with me?"
"Then I will respectfully obey your command." Concubine Xin agreed softly, then quietly suggested, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince lives in the front yard, and I'm afraid of disturbing his rest. Why don't we go for a walk in the back yard?"
"Okay, it's up to you."
As they walked, Concubine Jing asked, "You've moved to Xianfu Palace for some time now. Have you encountered any difficulties? If so, please feel free to tell me."
Concubine Xin looked up into the distance, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. "Your Majesty, I am fortunate to have your protection, and my life is quite comfortable. However, with the change of seasons, it seems that a wind is about to pick up within the palace walls."
Concubine Jing followed her gaze and sighed softly.
Even someone like Concubine Xin, who hardly ever goes out, has noticed the undercurrents in the harem. It seems that the peaceful days are really coming to an end.
"Only the deep-rooted trees in the Imperial Garden can withstand the wind and rain. Lady Xin, what do you think?"
"My Lady, this depends on God's will."
Concubine Xin, who was holding a lantern, said something meaningful.
"The power of heaven is unpredictable, the future..."
A cool breeze blew by, blowing away the whispers between the two.
The next morning, Bao Ge, who had gone to the kitchen early to pick up the ingredients he had ordered the day before, came back angrily and went straight to the main hall to complain.
"Master, the kitchen steward said that Concubine Hua of the Yikun Palace wanted to bathe because of the hot weather, so she took away the eight pounds of milk that was allocated to our palace daily."
"They've all been taken? Nothing left?"
The exclamation came from Hongyao who stuck his head out.
Not a drop of milk from Yongshou Palace was wasted. It was all used to make delicious snacks such as milk candy, milk rolls, and milk and water chestnut cakes.
When Hongyao saw Baoge nod without hesitation, he felt his heart broken.
"Mother, Sixth Brother has been looking forward to the lactose you sent him."
An Lingrong touched Hongyao's warm head and explained humorously.
"Mother, remember there's a box of nougat in the storeroom. I'll have Aunt Baoge deliver it to your sixth brother later."
"Hongyao is so friendly and loving to his brother, your sixth brother will definitely be touched."
"Do you want to accompany Aunt Baoge to the prince's residence?"
Upon hearing this, Hongyao opened his mouth in shock. He was only thinking about sending the remaining lactose candy to the prince's residence, and completely forgot about the milk being stolen from Yiku Palace.
An Lingrong gently closed his mouth and explained patiently.
"It's hot in the summer, so it's hard to boil the nougat, and it melts easily. I'll divide this box into three parts, and you three can share them equally. Mother, please wait until it's cooler and then ask Aunt Baoge to boil the nougat, okay?"
Hongyao thought about it quickly and agreed.
If he dared to howl and demanded candy every day, the stick in Sixth Brother's hand would not be used for free.
I heard from Xiao Quanzi that the Ministry of Internal Affairs replaced the sixth brother's ruler with a red sandalwood ruler, and it hurts a lot when he hits people with it.
"Mother, I still have to study, so I'll take my leave now."
"Okay, go ahead."
After confirming that Hongyao had entered the East Side Hall, An Lingrong asked in a low voice.
"Bao Ge, has the matter of the milk been spread?"
"Master, please rest assured that I will do my duty. I will make sure that this matter is spread throughout the harem after breakfast."
Bao Ge answered confidently that she had been busy on the way back.
"Okay, keep an eye on the movements in the palace behind."
An Lingrong is not a person who can be easily molded. Since the Yikun Palace blatantly slapped her in the face, she had to "retaliate" a little.
More than an hour later, Baoge came hurriedly to report.
"Master, Concubine Hua and her entourage have gone to the Imperial Garden."
An Lingrong, waving a round fan in her hand, sat up straight in an instant.
"It's nice to cool off under the shade of the trees in summer. Let's go to the Imperial Garden and relax."
"Yes, slave, go and prepare now."
The news that the two masters of Yiku Palace and Yongshou Palace went to the Imperial Garden one after another spread quickly among the palace people.
The masters of the six western palaces were the first to get the news. Except for Concubine Lan in Taiji Hall, the masters of Changchun Palace, Chuxiu Palace and Xianfu Palace all left the house at the same time.
Huanbi and Concubine Qi simply wanted to watch the fun, but Shen Meizhuang had ulterior motives.
Only Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Xin had worried expressions on their faces. They glanced at each other from time to time and simultaneously quickened their pace.
The harem has been peaceful for less than three years. The two concubines must not... Alas!
A group of people crossed most of the imperial garden diagonally before they found the two groups of people who were at loggerheads in Wanchun Pavilion.
Concubine Hua was facing the newcomers, and she saw the most conspicuous Shen Meizhuang and Huanbi at a glance.
"Concubine Hui, Noble Lady He, you're glad to be here."
She raised her face triumphantly.
"Come forward and see if my complexion has improved a lot."
"Empress Hua, this..."
Shen Meizhuang had just arrived and didn't hear clearly what was said by both sides, so she had to kneel slightly in greeting.
"I pay my respects to the two imperial concubines!"
An Lingrong responded softly.
"We are all sisters, don't be so formal. The sun is getting hot, come in and rest for a while."
Huanbi noticed that Concubine Hua, who spoke a step later, was rolling her eyes, so she laughed secretly in her heart.
"I've seen the ladies chatting happily from afar. I wonder what they are talking about? Could you please tell us?"
Concubine Hua put the teacup aside and said, "Noble Lady He, what do you think of my skin color?"
"Reporting to the Imperial Concubine, your skin is as white as cream, is it..."
Huanbi's words were on the tip of her tongue but she suddenly stopped talking. She then remembered that Concubine Hua had intercepted the milk quota from Yongshou Palace that morning. It was obvious that she had used it for bathing.
Her eyes turned red with jealousy, but she didn't know what to say so as not to offend the two imperial concubines.