Palace Scheming: the Queen In the Cold Palace I

Chapter 12 Meeting an old friend in the court (1)

As soon as Yun Qing returned to the palace, Bi Tao rushed forward like a bird, nervously pulling her to look left and right, for fear that she was missing a piece of meat.

Later, Yunqing learned that after she and the emperor left the palace, Concubine Hua returned to Zhuhua Palace after being diagnosed and treated by the imperial physician. However, about an hour later, it was reported that Zhuhua Palace was in trouble.

Yun Qing was shocked when he first heard the news. Later, Bi Tao told her with a disapproving look that it was not serious at all.

It turned out that Concubine Hua had a sudden idea and said that she would personally cook some midnight snacks for the emperor to enjoy when he came back. However, because she was born delicate and delicate, she had never cooked before. Not only did she not make midnight snacks, but she almost burned the kitchen. .

Yunqing didn't feel relieved when he heard that he was fine. After two days in a row, no one came to trouble her again, and she was happy to have her leisure time. She only took care of the flowers and plants in the palace with Bitao and Xiao Taohong every day, or sat in a sunny place and read a book. Occasionally she and Bitao Playing chess and living happily.

In the Zhuhua Palace, although the emperor stayed in the Qinyue Palace as soon as he came to court, He Ruowan no longer lost the confidence he had before.

Every time she leaned coquettishly in the emperor's arms, there would be a hint of absent-mindedness on his face, which made her mood suddenly sink.

 The main character that caused her hidden worries was the woman that the emperor had never mentioned in the past two days - Yun Qing.

“Mother, the autumn moon is here.” The bead curtain swayed slightly, and a slender pink figure lifted the curtain and got into the Nuanxiang Pavilion. Her voice was as light as a mosquito or fly and stopped in front of the red gauze curtain.

 “Well, let her in.” The person on the bed did not move, only gave a lazily order, and then continued to close his eyes and rest.

When Qiuyue walked into the Nuanxiang Pavilion surrounded by thick fragrance, she couldn't help but be secretly frightened by the careless luxury. Although she has now been promoted to the aunt in charge of Jinfeng Palace, she doesn't expect Zhuhua Palace to be several times more luxurious than Jinfeng Palace.

　　It really depends on the person. So what if you are a queen? Being out of favor is better than not being favored.

 “My servant Qiuyue, I have seen Concubine Hua.”

Qiuyue said hello twice in a row, and the people inside finally moved. Then Concubine Hua stretched out her arms and called out softly: "Ning'er."

"Your Majesty, I'm awake." The maid named Ning'er immediately stepped forward and carefully helped Concubine Hua stand up.

"Oh, are you the aunt in charge of Jinfeng Palace?" She seemed to have noticed Qiuyue who was half-bent in front of the bed. Concubine Hua raised her lips slightly and said with a smile: "Get up quickly, this is not anywhere else, there is no need to do this. Very polite."

As she said this, Qiuyue still bowed, not daring to lose her etiquette.

 “Chi.” Concubine Hua smiled softly, but she didn’t say anything. She just asked the palace maid to comb her hair, and kept telling the palace maid about what kind of hairpin she should wear today.

"Your name is Qiuyue, right?" Suddenly, she said this, which made Qiuyue's heart tighten and she subconsciously stood up straight.

 “Yes, empress!”

"Oh, it's a very good name, and it's a bit poetic. Haha, I heard that you contradicted the Queen's sister, but the Queen's sister promoted you. Is this the case?" Concubine Hua smiled to herself. Concubine Hua suddenly changed the topic and laughed. It also made people feel cold after hearing it.

"Yes, your Majesty!" Qiuyue wasn't sure why Concubine Hua suddenly asked someone to come to her today, but she thought it must have something to do with that woman.

Sure enough, seeing that Qiuyue was just cautious in her words and actions, Concubine Hua smiled again: "Well, she does have some discernment. You are indeed a talent!"

"I'm not very talented, thank you for your compliment." Qiuyue was stunned, and she was really flattered.

Concubine Hua stared at Qiuyue and said: "Haha, don't be so modest. I invited you here today just to see what a courageous and knowledgeable palace maid like you looks like. At first sight, she was so excited Her beautiful features are very pleasing to the eye. ”

As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on the rough jade bracelet Qiuyue wore on her wrist, and she said to herself: "She is a very beautiful person, it would be a pity to be a palace maid."

Then, when Qiuyue retracted her wrists into her sleeves cautiously, she smiled faintly again and called out: "Ning'er, get the jade ring that the emperor gave you just now."

"Yes, your Majesty!" Ning'er quickly found a pair of brilliant jade rings from the makeup box, respectfully handed them to Concubine Hua, and said, "Here they are, Your Majesty."

"Well." Concubine Hua looked at Qiuyue, her beautiful face exuding a smile that could not be refused, and said lazily: "Qiuyue likes these jade rings? I see that your wrists are soft, and these jade rings should match you very well. Anyway, I have so many jewelry here that I can’t finish them all, it would be a pity to leave them alone.”

"My dear, you can't do this." Qiuyue was shocked. She didn't expect that Concubine Hua would give her such a valuable gift. She was so frightened that she knelt down and didn't dare to accept it.

Concubine Hua didn't ask her to get up, but her face darkened and her voice became much colder: "Aunt Qiuyue thinks that I am not as noble as the queen sister, so she doesn't like the things I gave her?"

"Qiuyue doesn't dare." Lowering her head slightly, Qiuyue knew the purpose of Concubine Hua's coming to find her. But she didn't know whether she should accept her reward.

Since ancient times, Qiuyue, who has no merit and no reward, knows her own merits and allows the beloved Concubine Hua to reward her.

"I don't dare, or I don't want to. I never make things difficult for my servants. If I don't dare, I just said that this thing is suitable for you. It would be a pity to leave it idle here. If you don't want to, then you are dissatisfied with me. I don't want to accept such an ordinary thing from my concubine." He Ruowan snorted and looked at Qiu Yue coldly, her words making Qiu Yue's heart hurt like a needle.

She understood that since Concubine Hua had found her, she would not let her go easily.

The harem was never a clean place. Ever since she entered the palace, even though she was young, she had already seen through the battles in the palace.

Whether it is between the concubines or the palace maids and eunuchs, they are all full of intrigues and no one is innocent.

As for herself, she was able to stand out from the many palace maids only by relying on a little scheming, and was selected into the Golden Phoenix Palace from Xin Zheku.

 So, sometimes a single thought can change a life's circumstances.

Now, perhaps it is another opportunity for me, so I might as well use this concubine as another avenue for me to reach glory in the future.

"I don't dare, I'm afraid I will disappoint the queen." Thinking of this, she answered in a low voice, but she had obviously made her decision.

"It doesn't matter, as long as you like it. I may need your help in the future, and Aunt Qiuyue will have to worry about it then." Concubine Hua smiled, winked, and asked Ning'er to pick up Qiuyue and help her pick it. Take off the old bracelets and put these jade bracelets on for her.

“I will always be there when you call me, as long as I don’t give up.” Qiuyue looked at the jade rings on her wrists that almost made her eyes spin, and suddenly realized that her fantasy was not unattainable.

 As long as the opportunity is right, everything will fall into place...

 Under the moon, the shadows of the trees are dancing, and there is a gentle wind and rustling.

　　The few slender figures walking in the imperial garden were stretched thin by the moonlight and reflected on the ground, looking cold and hazy.

"Miss, Concubine Hua has gone too far! The Queen Mother just asked her if she was feeling better, but she dragged the young lady out of the blue for no reason, implying that Miss Queen Mother you haven't visited her in the past three days." Bi Tao held up the lamp and thought of the banquet with Concubine Hua just now. The sinister face makes me feel very uncomfortable.

"Haha, she only said that she was still frightened and couldn't come to greet the Queen Mother and me every day. That's okay." Yun Qing smiled slightly and didn't take such trivial matters to heart at all.

"Let me see, the rumor that the young lady is petty is probably spread by her. Who is she? She is not aloof." Yun Qing didn't mind, but Bitao was different. She intuitively felt that Concubine Hua did it on purpose, otherwise there would be no rumors in the palace.

"Okay Bitao, what you say afterwards will be what others say. Right and wrong are all for others to say. It is better to say less than to say more. Peace is blessing." Yun Qing shook his head and softly stopped Bitao from speaking.

 Actually, it was not that she had not thought about going to see Concubine Hua, but thinking that the emperor might be there and worrying about getting into unnecessary trouble, she decided not to do so.

Not to mention that it had been three days, and with the emperor's careful care, Yun Qing thought that the shock should have subsided.

But Qiuyue, who never took the initiative to talk to Yunqing during the day, suddenly asked Yunqing if she wanted to prepare some gifts to visit Concubine Hua. Yun Qing was still quite curious about her sudden mention and couldn't help but want to hear her opinion.

Qiuyue told her that there had been rumors in the palace that the queen wanted to use the night of the 15th to seduce the emperor, but still failed. Instead, she resented Concubine Hua for taking away all the emperor's love, and was jealous so she refused to go and see her. Concubine Hua.

Yunqing just laughed when he heard this, but Qiuyue said with disdain that it didn't matter that as a queen, she didn't have the demeanor of a mother to treat the world, but it caused those of them in the Golden Phoenix Palace to be ignored by others, which was really beneath their status. Even if it is a backup gift sent by someone, it is better than being blamed.

After thinking about it, Yun Qing agreed.

I originally planned to wait until the emperor's morning court tomorrow, but tonight the Queen Mother suddenly summoned the Queen and the Emperor to the Yangxin Hall. She said that she was very curious after hearing Xuanyuan Moyu talk about the Queen's Lantern Festival Night deeds, so she wanted to ask Ask Yunqing and Xuanyuanze about other interesting things that night.

At the banquet, Xuanyuan Moyu was almost the only one talking, Xuanyuan Ze was silent, and He Ruowan's gentle smile always made Yun Qing feel uncomfortable.

 Hence, she could not speak at all, and when she could speak less, she would never speak too much.

Later, the Queen Mother probably felt that everyone was too silent and boring, so she didn’t stay to talk anymore after the meal, so they all left.

“Xiao Taohong, do you think the Queen Mother likes the lady more, or the Concubine Hua more?” Bi Tao was quiet for a while, and then couldn’t help but find a topic.

 Only this time she was not complaining to Yun Qing, but wanted to get some opinions of the Queen Mother from Xiao Taohong.

Now she also knows that Xiao Taohong is the person assigned to the Golden Phoenix Palace by the Queen Mother, so she is not sure whether Xiao Taohong is helping the young lady or monitoring the young lady.

"Xiao Taohong just obeys the master's instructions. As for the master's thoughts, Xiao Taohong does not dare to guess. And the Queen Mother also said that now Xiao Taohong's master is the Queen." Xiao Taohong, who was holding the lantern in front, did not look back, and her voice was as before. The gentleness never seems to waver.

However, her words had clearly told Bi Tao that the Queen Mother's intention was towards the Queen.

But Bi Tao was puzzled and found it boring. She was about to ask again, but she felt a white shadow flash in the garden on the right, and when she looked again it was gone.

"Miss." She was startled. She couldn't help but approach Yun Qing, stretched out her hand and held her sleeve, and whispered: "There seems to be someone over there."

Xiao Taohong also stopped, subconsciously waiting for Yun Qing to approach, making Yun Qing want to laugh.

Even the calmest person has weaknesses. Xiao Taohong is usually sensible and well-behaved, but it is easy for people to forget that she is only a teenager.

“Oh, why don’t we go over and take a look.” With a slight smile, Yun Qing stepped forward, took the lantern from Xiao Taohong’s hand, and walked straight to the right.

"Miss, let's go. This palace..." Bi Tao didn't dare to say any more, because she had heard people say that many people were killed unjustly in the palace, especially women, so their ghosts lingered after death, which was very scary.

"It's okay. It's a blessing, not a curse. You can't avoid disaster. If you don't see it with your own eyes, some things will become rumors. That's why there are so many unfounded rumors in the world." He reached out and took Bi Tao's hand, Yun Qing He raised his lips and smiled at Xiao Taohong: "Xiao Taohong, are you afraid?"

"The queen is not afraid, and neither is Xiao Taohong!" Xiao Taohong shook her head, looking at the queen who was as beautiful as a fairy under the moonlight, the trace of fear that had just arisen disappeared.

Yun Qing smiled faintly and led the two of them along a path leading to the other end of the garden.

There was a gentle breeze, causing the lanterns to sway, causing the surrounding flowers and leaves to sway lightly and make a constant rustling sound.

Xiao Taohong subconsciously moved closer to Yun Qing, as if she was the light in his heart and he would not be afraid because of her presence.

"Woo..." A low whistle suddenly sounded, scaring Bi Tao to "wow", closing her eyes tightly and shouting.

The whistle suddenly stopped. Yun Qing raised the lantern and saw clearly the white figure squatting under a clump of flowers not far ahead.

“It’s you?” She was slightly surprised, looking at the pale but handsome young man, wondering why he was here.

The young man didn't say much, he just glanced at Yun Qing lazily, then stood up gracefully, threw down the leaves in his hand, and turned around to leave.

"Hey, I'm sorry!" Yun Qing had seen this young man at that family dinner, but because he came late, no one introduced him.

At this moment, when the young man turned around, Yun Qing saw clearly that the thing covered under his figure was actually a memorial to the dead. It was just that the paper money had not been burned, so Yunqing and the others did not see the light of the fire just now.

 The young man paused and seemed quite surprised. Slowly turning around, he raised his handsome eyebrows and said calmly: "Who are you?"

 The sound is clear and clear, like a clear spring, slow and clear. But there was a strange hostility in that voice, as if it was repelling strangers.

Bitao heard the voice and dared to open her eyes, only to see a handsome young man standing not far away, his brows filled with coldness.

"Who are you? What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Are you pretending to be a ghost to scare people?" Knowing that it was not a ghost, Bi Tao became much bolder and raised her voice a lot.

"Bitao." Yun Qing scolded, secretly pinched Bitao, and smiled apologetically at the young man: "I'm sorry, we disturbed you. My name is Yunqing, I think I saw you last time in the Mingyue Palace... "

 “Yun Qing?” The other party interrupted Yun Qing lightly. A flash of surprise flashed across his handsome face, as if he was thinking about who Yun Qing was.

"Miss, since we know that this person is here, let's go back to the palace quickly. It's windy at night and we're worried about catching the cold." Bi Tao saw that the young man interrupted the lady's conversation, and she intuitively had a bad impression of this person. In addition, he was wandering alone and silently in the garden like a ghost just now, and it was a night to pay homage to the dead, so eerie.

The young man just snorted coldly, stopped talking, turned around and walked back to the Qingfeng Palace not far away.

“Mother, let me carry it.” A young palace maid’s voice came from behind. The young man’s eyes moved and he quickly guessed Yun Qing’s identity.

Empress?

 At present, the only young empresses in the palace are the empress and concubine Hua who are Xinna by the emperor's brother. Since she is not a concubine, she must be a queen.

It's just that he didn't expect that such a pure and ordinary woman like her would be the disgraced queen who was widely rumored in the palace.

No wonder I saw her sitting in a corner eating alone at the banquet that time. It turned out that she was just like myself and was not taken seriously in this palace...

Yun Qing woke up late the next day, and she didn't wake up until Bi Tao hurriedly came to wake her.

"What's the matter, Bitao?" She was confused and didn't understand what happened to make Bitao so panicked.

"Miss, get up quickly. The emperor has sent someone to invite you to Tai Chi Hall. I don't know what happened!" Bi Tao's face turned red. She had obviously just run in from outside and was out of breath.

“Tai Chi Hall?” Yun Qing blinked, wondering if he heard wrongly.

"Yes, miss, Eunuch Chang came to deliver the message in person, saying that the emperor is waiting for you in the main hall." Bi Tao looked worried. She didn't know why the emperor sent the miss to the court. This was incredible.

"Where is Mr. Chang?" Yun Qing quickly got out of bed. Although he didn't understand what was going on, he didn't dare to neglect.

Bitao hurriedly stepped forward to help and responded: "Waiting outside the palace."

"Oh." Nodding, Yun Qing finished washing up and found that Bi Tao had actually styled herself a palace bun. She couldn't help but smile and said, "Bitao wants me to wear that crown again, right?"

"Yes, Miss is the queen of a country, and there are all the civil and military officials in the court. How can Miss be too shabby!" Bi Tao took it for granted, she deserved it unequivocally, and her hands were not idle.

Seeing that she was really going to bring the phoenix crown, Yun Qing was so frightened that he stood up to block it and said angrily: "Silly Bitao, I just went to the Tai Chi Palace, not to receive envoys from other countries. As a queen, I just need to dress up more dignified." , why be so orthodox? Besides, you don’t know how heavy that phoenix crown is?”

As she spoke, Empress Yunqing touched her neck fearfully. The pain from the wedding day seemed to be still there, and she was no longer willing to wear it.

"This..." Bi Tao was in a dilemma. Seeing that Yun Qinghao didn't care, he had to hold her down again and insisted: "If you don't want to wear the phoenix crown, then I won't wear it, but this hairpin is absolutely indispensable."

Then she couldn't help but open the makeup box, put a circle of exquisite beads on Yunqing's bun, inserted two magnificent purple and gold hairpins on the left, and inserted a gold walking stick on the right, and placed two golden hairpins on both sides of the head. Each has a strand of black hair hanging down, making Yunqing look noble and delicate.

Not losing the dignity of the queen, but also the tenderness and charm of the girl. Even Bi Tao looked at the young lady in the mirror and couldn't help but sigh several times: "Miss, you are so beautiful. The emperor is so ignorant. Yes, the lady is actually much prettier than Concubine Hua. Although she is good-looking, her eyes are not as clear and charming as the lady, her smile is not as easy-going as the lady, and her voice is not as nice as the lady..."

"Okay Bitao, if I keep saying this, the sky will be dark for you, and I'm afraid you'll never see me again." Yun Qing interrupted Bitao's gushing praise in time, smiled and touched her forehead a little, Then I heard Bitao burping a few times and shouting that Yun Qing was not allowed to talk nonsense.

Xiao Taohong, who came in to wait on Yun Qing to change her clothes, felt warm in her heart when she saw the two of them being so close, and she smiled happily.

"Your Majesty." Seeing Yun Qing come out, Chang Le hurriedly stepped forward to salute respectfully, and then urged: "My Majesty, please follow me to the Tai Chi Hall quickly."

“Well, I kept you waiting, father-in-law.” Yun Qing nodded and followed Chang Le out of the Golden Phoenix Palace.

“Eunuch, do you know why the emperor asked me to go to the Tai Chi Palace?” On the way, Yun Qing looked at the maids and eunuchs on both sides, who were obviously surprised when they saw him and Eunuch Chang Le together.

 Because in the eyes of everyone, his status is not as good as that of a personal father-in-law beside the emperor.

"The specific servant is not very clear, but it seems to be related to the emperor and the empress setting off lanterns during the Lantern Festival. This is a custom in our country. The emperor promised that anyone who picks up the lantern with the emperor's inscription can realize a wish within the scope of the emperor's permission. ." Chang Le responded respectfully. Although he had heard about this queen, his attitude was not as contemptuous as others.

Although he knew that the emperor did not like to see the queen, in the past two days, no one else knew it, but he knew clearly: every time the emperor passed by the Golden Phoenix Palace when he went to court, he would always look inside unconsciously.

Although it was just a palace wall, Chang Le felt that the emperor seemed to be looking at the people inside the wall.

The emperor did not say who that person was, and Chang Le did not dare to ask. But he guessed that it must have something to do with the queen.

"Well, I know a little bit about the customs of Tianque, but did the person who picked up the lantern make any request related to me?" Yun Qing was slightly startled, remembering his wish that night, he couldn't help but smile. move.

She thought, no one would understand her wish!

 When I thought about it, I found it unbelievable. I was afraid that I was too preoccupied.

 “Your Majesty, you see me clearly!” Chang Le was secretly surprised, thinking that not only was this queen beyond the emperor’s expectation, but her talents were also extraordinary, and her appearance and intelligence were also not as bad as what ordinary people said.

 (End of this chapter)