Guanghan Palace.
Yan Qingshu dismissed the servants and stayed alone in the inner chamber.
She opened the system store. Since she was promoted to a noble concubine, many pills had appeared in the system store.
Yan Qingshu scrolled through the items in the store. There were Healing Pills, Peach - Blush Pills, Appetite Powders, and Charm - Fragrance Pills. There were also Dragon - Phoenix Pills, Painless Pills, and Auspicious Pills that could be unlocked with 100 Favourite - Concubine Points.
When she scrolled to the Potency Pill, her beautiful face blushed.
The basic Potency Powder she used last time was already too much for her to handle. If she used the upgraded version, she wondered if her body could take it.
[Host, you currently have 60 Favourite - Concubine Points. 50 of them can be converted into points to exchange for pills. Please choose the pills you want to exchange.]
The voice of the system rang in her mind.
After thinking for a while, Yan Qingshu selected the Healing Pill. It was important to take good care of her body, conceive a child, and get promoted.
She had already guided the Emperor. The Emperor was suspicious, and he had always been wary of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion. He would surely conduct secret investigations.
After some more thought, Yan Qingshu exchanged for two more packets of Potency Powder. Having more intimate encounters with the Emperor and accumulating Favourite - Concubine Points was the right way.
[Host, someone is approaching.] The system reminded her.
Yan Qingshu stood up and walked towards the door of the chamber. All she saw was a figure disappearing around the corner.
It seemed that there were spies planted in her Guanghan Palace.
Yan Qingshu called for Zhuyao.
"Keep a close eye on these four newly - recruited servants with Xiaoluzi. They are not allowed to approach the main hall without permission," Yan Qingshu instructed.
"Your servant understands. Just now, when I was checking the Emperor's rewards in the storeroom, I found that a pair of cat's - eye earrings was missing," Zhuyao whispered.
"They have sticky fingers..."
"I guess they are just greedy for money," Yan Qingshu said with a smile playing on her lips.
"Little Mistress, what should we do?"
"Xianshu and Shihua are second - rank maids in charge of the storeroom and other trivial matters in the palace. So the suspicion falls on them."
"We can't rule out the cleaners either. I remember the Emperor once rewarded us with other hairpins inlaid with cat's - eye stones and other jewels. You can pretend to take them out and put them in conspicuous places to see who has sticky fingers."
Yan Qingshu's eyes fell on the busy servants outside the courtyard. The only person who could plant spies in her palace was the Virtuous Concubine.
Zhuyao followed her order and went to the storeroom. She put some precious trinkets in conspicuous places.
Soon it was noon.
The eunuchs from the imperial kitchen brought the lunch. The young eunuch from the imperial kitchen smiled and said, "Greetings to Mistress Yan. These are all medicinal diets prescribed by the imperial physicians in the imperial hospital. The Emperor specifically ordered the people in the imperial kitchen to prepare them. They are not as unpalatable as ordinary medicinal diets and are very nourishing for the body."
After saying that, the young eunuch opened the food box, and the fresh fragrance of the ingredients filled the air.
When the other servants outside heard this, they worked even harder. If their mistress was in favour, they, as servants, would have more prestige when they went out, and others would respect them.
Yan Qingshu asked Zhuyao to grab a handful of gold nuggets and reward the young eunuch.
The young eunuch was very surprised. A few days ago, he heard from the young eunuch in the Chamber of Favours that this Mistress Yan was very generous with her rewards. So he snatched this errand today. He didn't expect to receive a handful of gold nuggets.
The young eunuch's smile became even more sincere. He said, "The Emperor misses you very much, Mistress. This servant heard from Chief Eunuch Li in front of the Emperor that he told the chefs to take good care of you and never treat you badly."
The smile on Yan Qingshu's beautiful face deepened. The young eunuch was quite tactful. After flattering her a few times, he retreated.
"Little Mistress, the Emperor dotes on you very much," Zhuyao said as she took out the food from the food box and arranged it neatly.
Yan Qingshu picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
There was doting, but as for love...
The Emperor's love was a bit too heavy. She couldn't afford it. Being his favourite was enough.
After lunch, the people from the Imperial Household Department came.
Chief Eunuch Hai Dasheng of the Imperial Household Department led a group of people and brought a lot of things.
"Greetings to Mistress Yan. These are all the rewards ordered by the Emperor. The Emperor specifically ordered that this Sichuan - embroidered fabric should be used to make new clothes for you. He asked this servant to bring it for you to see if you like the pattern. Then it will be sent directly to the Bureau of Clothing to make summer clothes for you," Hai Dasheng bowed and waved his hand, signaling the people behind him to present the rewards.
Among the people behind Yan Qingshu, except for Zhuyao and Xiaoluzi, the others all showed their joy on their faces.
They originally thought they would have a hard time after entering this Guanghan Palace. But unexpectedly, the Virtuous Concubine was under house arrest, and their mistress was so much in favour.
The shy smile on Yan Qingshu's face deepened, and it caught Hai Dasheng's eye.
Seeing Mistress Yan so happy, he would surely make the Emperor happy when he reported back later.
"Thank you, Chief Eunuch Hai. It's very hot at this time. Chief Eunuch Hai, please have some mung - bean soup before you leave."
After saying that, she waved her hand, signaling Zhuyao, Xianshu and the others to bring the mung - bean soup, which was chilled with some ice cubes.
These ice cubes were sent by the people from the Imperial Household Department yesterday. Taking a sip of the mung - bean soup with ice cubes was really refreshing.
"Mistress Yan, how can this servant accept such kindness?" Hai Dasheng said with an embarrassed smile.
Yesterday, he secretly sent someone to pass on a message. Today, he was really praised by Chief Eunuch Li and also received some rewards.
Zhuyao and the others brought the mung - bean soup. Even the young eunuchs behind them were given a bowl.
After they finished drinking, Zhuyao stepped forward and stuffed them with some silver.
In this deep palace, although mung - bean soup was good, silver was more practical.
Hai Dasheng led a few young eunuchs away contentedly.
As usual, Yan Qingshu asked Xianshu, Shihua and the others to record the rewards. This time, she also asked Tanyun to help sort them out on one side. Her eyes fell on the three of them subtly.
They were really good at acting. She couldn't find any flaws.
—
Seeing that the sun was no longer at its hottest, Yan Qingshu went into the small tea - room. According to the recipe for the favourite concubine given by the system, she made a bowl of ice cream.
If she wanted to be a favourite concubine, she had to fight for it. In the past, some concubines would go to the Emperor in the afternoon to offer him some soups and drinks, but most of them were turned away.
When they asked, they found out that they had offered highly - nourishing things like ginseng chicken soup.
The Emperor's daily imperial meals were already nourishing enough. If he ate those highly - nourishing things, he might even bleed from his nose on the spot.
After making the ice cream and putting it into a food box, Yan Qingshu took Zhuyao and went to the imperial study.
She left Xiaoluzi to keep an eye on the storeroom to see if anyone would approach it.
The mistress and her maid quickened their steps and headed for the imperial study.
When they arrived at the imperial study, Li Dahai was standing outside. Seeing her coming, he smiled and greeted her.
"Mistress Yan is here. The Emperor is discussing state affairs with the ministers at the moment."
Yan Qingshu pursed her lips and said, "It seems I've come at a bad time. Chief Eunuch Li, this is the ice cream I made for the Emperor with my own hands. It's almost summer now, and the sun is very hot. Eating this can make him feel cooler."
"Please pass it in for me. I'll go back first."
Just as she finished speaking, a man in official robes came out of the imperial study.
"Lord Xue, this is Noble Concubine Yan," Li Dahai quickly introduced respectfully when he saw him coming out.
"This humble official pays respects to Noble Concubine Yan," the official bowed respectfully.
Yan Qingshu also returned the salute and said, "I hope you are well, Lord."
The official nodded and left the imperial study.
"Little Mistress, this servant will go and report to the Emperor," Li Dahai said as he walked into the hall with his whisk swinging.
Not long after, he came out with a big smile on his face.
"Little Mistress, the Emperor asks you to go in."
Yan Qingshu picked up the food box, fanned herself with a round fan, lifted her long skirt and walked in.
As soon as she entered, she saw the tall figure standing behind the desk, writing something with a brush.