Hai Dasheng met Yin Qiao's knife-like gaze. The tea in his hand felt as hot as molten lava, and he didn't know what to do.
"Concubine Yan, Her Highness the Noble Consort is indisposed. Please go and see her quickly."
Yin Qiao withdrew her gaze and forced a smile.
"How is Her Highness? Is it serious?" Hearing this, Yan Qingshu's face turned a little pale, and her expression was briefly unnatural.
"Whether it's serious or not, Concubine Yan will know when you go and see for yourself."
After saying that, Yin Qiao stepped aside and said with a smile, "Please, Concubine Yan."
Yan Qingshu hesitated for just a moment. Yin Qiao then said, "Your Ladyship, you and Her Highness are blood sisters. Her Highness misses you. Now that Her Highness is unwell, why are you so hesitant?"
Yan Qingshu opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.
"I'm not hesitant to visit Her Highness. I'm just worried about her."
After saying that, Yan Qingshu turned her head and said, "Eunuch Hai, let those two maids over there and that little eunuch at the back stay."
As she spoke, she pointed at two maids in the middle row and the eunuch standing at the back.
Hai Dasheng finally found an opportunity to put the tea aside and said, "Your Ladyship, please rest assured. Those people are all smart."
Only then did Yan Qingshu follow Yin Qiao to Fengzao Palace.
Hai Dasheng instructed the maids and eunuchs left by Yan Qingshu, and then led the rest of the Inner Palace Affairs Office people away.
On the way, Hai Dasheng felt a bit hesitant. Everyone in the harem knew the temper of the Noble Consort. At this moment, Concubine Yan was summoned. It was said that the Noble Consort was unwell, but he knew exactly what was going on.
Before coming to deliver the things, he had been instructed by Li Dahai to treat Concubine Yan well and never neglect her. That's why he had rushed to pack up the things and deliver them before Concubine Yan returned to the palace.
But the Noble Consort's order came first...
Just as he was hesitating, he saw Zhu Yao, the maid beside Concubine Yan, hurriedly running back.
"Aren't you the maid beside Concubine Yan? You went with her to Fengzao Palace. Why are you back?" Hai Dasheng saw her flustered expression and grabbed her to ask.
"My mistress suffered severe abdominal pain on the way. But she didn't dare to delay going to Fengzao Palace, so she endured it and asked me to come back for some medicine."
After saying that, Zhu Yao returned to Guanghan Hall to rummage around, and then rushed back in a hurry, with her hairpin slightly disheveled.
Hai Dasheng and the others were left standing there looking at each other in the dim light.
A few little eunuchs behind Hai Dasheng hesitated and said, "Father, should we tell Chief Eunuch Li? After all, Chief Eunuch Li said today that we mustn't neglect Concubine Yan. We were all there when Concubine Yan was summoned. If His Majesty追究 later..."
Hai Dasheng looked at Zhu Yao's back gradually disappearing on the palace path. He reached out and snatched the lantern from a little eunuch beside him and said, "What are you still standing there for?! Hurry to Qianyuan Hall!"
"Do you know what to say?!"
The little eunuch nodded and ran away quickly.
The Noble Consort summoned Yan Qingshu on the pretext of being unwell. As the younger sister, it was only natural for Concubine Yan to serve her. It was a proper reason.
Anyone smart enough would know what to say when going to Qianyuan Hall to report.
On the other side, Yan Qingshu deliberately walked slowly. Yin Qiao, who was in front with a lantern, patiently urged her.
"Concubine Yan, I don't know what you're thinking. It's just a matter of going to pay respects and serve Her Highness. Why do you pretend to be ill and delay?"
Yan Qingshu's face was pale, and she couldn't say a word.
At this moment, Zhu Yao caught up from behind.
"Your Ladyship, I've brought the medicine."
"I'm fine." Yan Qingshu forced a smile. She looked weak, but her eyes were sly.
This was the Noble Consort's own doing.
"Your Ladyship, Her Highness is waiting." Yin Qiao was a bit impatient, but seeing her really looking unwell, she felt a bit scared in the end.
Thinking of the Noble Consort's harsh methods, she gritted her teeth and urged.
Finally, the three of them arrived at Fengzao Palace. The palace was brightly lit, and the flickering candlelight shone on the window lattices.
Yan Qingshu and her maid entered the main hall of Fengzao Palace.
Sure enough, the moment she entered the hall, there was the sound of porcelain shattering.
Zhu Yao knelt behind Yan Qingshu. Seeing that her mistress was really unwell and on the verge of collapse, she kowtowed and begged for mercy, "Your Highness, my mistress is unwell. Please be merciful."
The Noble Consort on the high seat was lying on the concubine's couch. Beside her was her confidant imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau, who was feeling her pulse and applying acupuncture to treat her.
"Unwell?" The Noble Consort lifted her red lips, and her jealous eyes stabbed at Yan Qingshu who was kneeling.
"She can accompany His Majesty in the Imperial Study for an afternoon when she's unwell. But as soon as I summon her after she comes back, she suddenly becomes unwell."
"What a good excuse."
The Noble Consort yawned and said lazily, "Sister, I'm afraid you've forgotten what I told you the other day, haven't you?"
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I have no intention of competing for favor." Yan Qingshu bit her lip and lowered her body. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead.
The burn on her knee, which had almost healed, started to throb again.
"No intention?" The Noble Consort withdrew her hand, stood up, and came in front of her, looking down at her.
She squatted down, pinched Yan Qingshu's chin, and lifted it up forcefully. Her bright red nail polish made Yan Qingshu's face look even paler.
Yan Qingshu frowned in pain. She didn't dare to dodge.
It's almost over.
—
By now, it was completely dark. The people from the Chamber of Imperial Entertainments had come with the green headcards of the concubines in the harem.
Li Dahai was about to let the people from the Chamber of Imperial Entertainments in when he saw a little eunuch running over in a hurry.
"Chief Eunuch Li."
The little eunuch was out of breath. Seeing this, Li Dahai let the eunuch from the Chamber of Imperial Entertainments go in first.
"Aren't you Hai Dasheng's apprentice? What's the hurry?" Li Dahai waved his whisk and asked.
The little eunuch pulled him aside and whispered a few words in his ear.
Li Dahai widened his eyes and hurriedly asked, "Really?!"
"Really! Master was instructed by you, so he specially sent me to tell you. I saw that Miss Zhu Yao's hairpin was in a mess and she looked very flustered. I think Concubine Yan has already arrived at Fengzao Palace by now."
Li Dahai was about to go in to report when he saw the people from the Chamber of Imperial Entertainments coming out. He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Has His Majesty chosen a concubine?"
The little eunuch shook his head and said, "I just went in when His Majesty drove me out."
Hearing this, Li Dahai heaved a sigh of relief and quickly entered the hall.
The little eunuch hadn't reacted yet when he saw the cold and detached His Majesty from just now frowning and walking out.
Di Yunjian's handsome face was now slightly gloomy.
He knew the temper of the Noble Consort too well. Yan Qingshu had just returned to the palace when she was summoned by the Noble Consort on the pretext of serving the sick. It sounded nice, but everyone knew what was really going on. Li Dahai also said that she was unwell on the way to Fengzao Palace.
Thinking of Yan Qingshu, Di Yunjian's heart softened slightly, and his steps quickened. Because of her low status, she lived carefully, which was quite similar to him in his childhood.
Moreover, he had always wanted to severely punish the Noble Consort, but the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion had made too many contributions, so he couldn't act rashly.
Taking this opportunity, it was time to give the Noble Consort a severe punishment.
When he arrived at Fengzao Palace, he didn't let anyone announce his arrival.
He only heard the Noble Consort's whispered malicious words from inside. Every word was like a knife stabbing at the heart!
"You, a lowly bastard daughter, used to live a life of groveling under me. I would amuse myself with you when I was in a good mood. Do you really think you're a young lady of the Marquis Mansion?"
"How can a person of low status be worthy of a noble position? You and your mother are both lowly people! If I didn't have a son, you would end up marrying a country bumpkin and serving those lowly people for the rest of your life!"
"I can crush you as easily as crushing an ant. If you dare to covet what doesn't belong to you, I'll hang the heads of your mother and younger brother at the gate of your palace!"
The Noble Consort's words were like the fangs of a poisonous snake. Every word was poisoned, and it made people burn with anger.
Di Yunjian's eyes darkened, and his eyes were filled with killing intent.