mtl008 Chapter 371 Others Benefit
Chapter 371 Others Benefit
She took a deep breath, her ears twitching slightly, confirming that her master was imitating Noble Lady He's words.
Songzhi looked up and saw Concubine Shu who was trying to suppress her smile, and quickly gave Zhou Ninghai a wink, asking him to serve tea and cakes to the masters.
Taking advantage of the fact that most people's attention was on the chattering Noble Lady He, she quietly took two steps towards her master and gently poked her arm, signaling her to be more restrained.
Concubine Hua reluctantly retracted her forward-leaning neck and decided to leave the gap between everyone's chairs smaller next time before paying her respects.
This way you can appreciate the rich expressions of both parties in the friction better from a close distance.
Huanbi recited all the sarcastic remarks that Concubine Qi had made to her on a daily basis in one breath, and then knelt on the ground and begged.
"Your Highness, Concubine Hua, Concubine Qi is really going too far. I beg Your Highness to help me."
Concubine Qi reacted quickly and immediately stood up to refute.
"Your Highness, Noble Lady He is slandering me. I am a daughter of the Guarjia clan, carefully raised and educated. I have been well-educated and well-mannered since childhood. How could I possibly use such vulgar language?"
"On the contrary, it's Noble Lady He's background... mingling among the common people, it's inevitable that she's been influenced by what she sees and hears, bringing some bad habits into the palace."
"Lady Qi, you are so sharp-tongued, it's simply..."
Concubine Qi didn't even look at Huanbi and continued to report.
"Your Highness, I initially said that Noble Lady He was disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, but she has now started to confuse others and slander them. I beg Your Highness to examine this matter."
Concubine Hua, who was watching the fun, only remembered the important matter after she reminded her.
"Yes, what Lady Qi said makes sense. Things need to be solved one by one."
"Lady He, can you first tell me what's going on with the powder floating in the copper basin?"
"Reporting to the Imperial Concubine, I have met Yong'an Prince's concubine Yu several times before and found her very kind, so I wanted to give her some cosmetics. I got some good stuff two years ago, and only found it now... I poured the cosmetics into the copper basin and washed them away."
Huanbi said hesitantly.
The emperor's plan to reorganize the Imperial Household Department was a big deal, and everyone in the palace had heard about it. It was normal for some of the cosmetics in her palace to be inferior and pass them off as good ones.
Concubine Hua had obviously thought of this as well, and she responded nonchalantly.
"Are you saying that the servants of the Imperial Household Department tampered with the cosmetics?"
"Your Highness, I don't know. Perhaps it's because I didn't store it properly that the powder got damp."
"Your Highness, Concubine He is lying. I also have cosmetics sent by the Imperial Household Department, but the situation she described has never occurred."
"Your Highness..."
Seeing that Concubine Hua was in trouble, the two noble ladies began to throw mud at each other and defend themselves.
The quarrel in the hall was getting louder and louder, becoming really noisy. An Lingrong frowned slightly.
She knew that Concubine Hua liked to watch the fun, but she didn't expect that she would set her sights on the daily greetings.
The deposed queen led the harem and surrounded the Jingren Palace as tightly as an iron gate, so the emperor had a way to keep abreast of what happened during the emperor's visit.
An Lingrong didn't believe that the emperor hadn't sent someone to keep an eye on the Yikun Palace, so she took advantage of the moment when Huanbi and Concubine Qi were arguing to interrupt.
"Lady Qi, Lady He, today is the first day for everyone to return to Yikun Palace to pay their respects. How can you two be so noisy?"
"If this matter accidentally reaches the emperor's ears, how will you let the emperor view those who come to pay their respects today?"
"What Noble Concubine Shu said makes sense. The Emperor asked me to hold the Phoenix Seal so that the sisters in the harem could live in harmony. You are indeed being too unreasonable."
Having had enough of the excitement, Concubine Hua seriously brought out the palace rules.
"You two each have your own reasons, but only your servants can testify, so it's hard to tell the truth."
"The Empress Dowager's mourning period has just ended, so it's inappropriate to make too much noise. I know you two are deeply filial to her. Why don't you copy a few Buddhist scriptures to apologize to her?"
Concubine Jing, with a buzzing head, stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Your Highness, this is a brilliant move. We sisters in the harem should live in harmony and not make a big fuss over minor arguments."
The most difficult deposed queen was confined to Jingren Palace, and the other high-ranking queens in the palace did not seem to have such vicious intentions.
If there is constant quarreling in the harem, and the emperor blames us and allows other women into the palace, and then a powerful figure like the deposed queen appears, life will probably be difficult again.
Concubine Jing would rather have these old people stay in the palace, at least she can teach Hongxia painting in peace and quiet.
An Lingrong glanced at Concubine Xin who was looking miserable across from her, and an idea came to her mind as she suggested in a gentle voice.
"Empress Hua, the Empress Dowager once said that copying Buddhist scriptures requires a calm mind. Concubine Qi and Concubine He live in the front and back halls of Changchun Palace respectively, so they won't affect each other."
"But Concubine Xin and Concubine Qi live in the same front yard. Going in and out will inevitably disturb Concubine Qi. How about you move Concubine Xin to another palace?"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Xin, who had had enough of Concubine Qi's sarcasm, glanced at Concubine Hua at the top with shining eyes.
Seeing that Concubine Hua seemed to be lost in thought, she hurriedly coughed a few times until her eyes were blurred by tears.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I did not mean to disturb you, my sisters."
"Lady Xin, you're not feeling well. You really need to move to a more spacious place."
Just as Concubine Hua was thinking about where to arrange the people, Concubine Jing spoke up with a smile.
"Your Highness, it's just the Seventh Prince and I in my Xianfu Palace. It's so lonely. Today, I'm shamelessly asking for a favor. Could you please allow Concubine Xin to live with me?"
"It's rare for Concubine Jing to be so friendly to the sisters in the harem. I agree."
Concubine Hua gave another order, thinking that the Seventh Prince was still living in Xianfu Palace.
"Your Highness Xin is frail. Considering that you have served the Emperor for many years, I will allow you to live in the spacious and sunny main hall at the back of Xianfu Palace."
Concubine Xin didn't expect that Concubine Hua not only agreed, but also gave her an unexpected surprise, so she kowtowed to express her gratitude.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine and Your Highness the Respectful Concubine, for your grace."
"Get up quickly."
Concubine Hua stroked her empty belly and spoke with a smile.
"That's all for today's greetings. Sisters, please go back and have dinner early."
An Lingrong stood up and nodded to Concubine Hua. Just as she was about to walk out, a voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.
"Please stay, Concubine Shu. I have something to tell you."
So An Lingrong followed Concubine Hua through the beaded curtain and sat on the other side of the couch with ease.
"Sister Nian, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Concubine Hua looked An Lingrong up and down curiously. "You used to want to avoid everything, so why are you speaking up for Concubine Xin, who has been out of favor for so many years?"
"I don't like the two noble ladies in Changchun Palace. They refused to give in when paying their respects, which shows how hostile they are in Changchun Palace. Noble Lady Xin has Princess Shu and Princess He as her children. Children without mothers always have a harder life than others."
That's only part of the reason.
Last time, An Lingrong helped Concubine Xin and Princess Shuhe meet. A few days later, she ordered someone to send three sets of underwear for the children.
Concubine Xin was able to save the eldest princess under the nose of the deposed queen. She is definitely not as cowardly as she appears to be.
An Lingrong was happy to extend a helping hand to such a grateful person.
"Having a child does make one more vulnerable. But today, Concubine Qi and Concubine He argued so fiercely that they almost came to blows, but someone else benefited. I wonder if they'll be so angry that they'll vomit blood."
Concubine Hua laughed uncontrollably when she thought of the two men's ugly faces.