Yan Qingshu picked up a chopstick of cold shredded chicken and put it into his bowl. "Sixth Lord," she said, "Concubine actually wants to go fishing in the Summer Resort."
Di Yunjian raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised. "Fishing?"
"A girl like you also likes fishing?"
"Sixth Lord is underestimating Concubine. When Concubine was young, she caught quite a few fish to feed her mother and younger brother." Yan Qingshu looked quite proud.
There was a touch of pity in Di Yunjian's eyes. He stroked her head.
This would be the only time. This time, he would use her to get hold of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion's misdeeds, and he would surely protect her mother and younger brother well.
After the late lunch, Yan Qingshu didn't stay long. After adding fragrance to the red sleeves for a while, she bowed and left.
As she walked on the road, the beautiful smiling eyes of Yan Qingshu turned completely cold.
"Zhuyao, do you see anything?" Yan Qingshu tilted her head slightly and asked Zhuyao and Shihua who were following behind.
"Your Highness, today's matter seems like a play..." Zhuyao hesitated before speaking. Actually, when they were outside the hall, she and Shihua had heard everything.
Although the drought in the northwest had nothing to do with the Zhenyuan Marquis, it had passed through the hands of the vice - minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The two families were in - law relatives. And yesterday, His Majesty had even taken Your Highness back to the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion.
The purpose was obvious.
"If this slave is not wrong, His Majesty must be planning to use Your Highness." Shihua suddenly said.
"You can see clearly." Yan Qingshu smiled faintly.
Indeed, His Majesty did want to use her, use her to bring down the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion.
It didn't matter. Being used was fine. She didn't care. As a member of the Yan family and having won the emperor's favor, it was only a matter of time before the emperor's schemes were used on her.
"Your Highness, don't be sad..." Zhuyao said carefully, trying to console her.
Seeing her Highness turn around with no sign of sadness on her face, she was quite surprised.
"Sad? Why should I be sad? His Majesty is going to avenge me." A curve appeared on Yan Qingshu's crimson lips.
"So I've always said that I can rely on being the emperor's favorite in his palm, but I can't rely on being his true love."
"Otherwise, I'll end up dead miserably."
Yan Qingshu's eyes darkened. There was a beauty in the late emperor's harem who had won great favor. For a while, she was the most favored in the six palaces and was extremely prominent.
But she wanted too much. She wanted the emperor to only have her in his heart. In the end, the emperor was heartless, and she ended up growing old in the cold palace.
"This slave understands." Zhuyao lowered her head, her voice slightly solemn.
The setting sun was no longer so dazzling. It left streaks of rosy trails in the sky.
When passing by the imperial garden, Yan Qingshu casually picked a rose and played with it in her hand. The fragrant smell wafted into her nose.
"How dare you! Why don't you pay your respects when you see Her Ladyship the Lady of the Third Rank!"
A shrill angry shout came from behind the three of them.
Yan Qingshu stopped her movement and slowly turned around.
It was actually Lady Zhu.
"Greetings to Lady Zhu. May Lady Zhu be in good health." Yan Qingshu bowed respectfully.
Lady Zhu just smiled. She stepped forward to the blooming roses, leaned over slightly, and waved her hand to let the fragrance of the roses rise.
"The flowers are really blooming well." Lady Zhu looked at the roses with a smile on her face, deliberately ignoring Yan Qingshu who was bowing beside her.
Yan Qingshu didn't move. She just continued to bow properly.
From the corner of her eye, she saw that the maid behind Lady Zhu was carrying a food box. Judging from the direction, she must have come from the imperial study. It seemed that she had been rebuffed in the imperial study and was in a bad mood. So she came to pick on her when she saw her.
Lady Zhu glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Seeing her jealous - worthy face, the anger in her chest welled up again.
A few days ago when it was her turn to accompany the emperor, His Majesty didn't come. She had to spend the night alone.
Today, when she heard that her father had entered the palace, she quickly prepared some soup and was going to the imperial study. Maybe she could accompany the emperor tonight.
But unexpectedly, as soon as she got to the imperial study, she saw Yan Qingshu coming out of it.
She stepped forward with her maid and said that she had brought soup for His Majesty. But unexpectedly, Chief Eunuch Li said that His Majesty had already had his meal, and her father had already left the palace.
In the end, she got nothing and had been in the sun for a long time!
When she came to the imperial garden, she saw Yan Qingshu strolling around in the imperial garden with a few maids. She felt extremely unbalanced. Clearly, this Yan Qingshu had been an unfavored talent just a few days ago!
Now the jealous Lady Xian was under house arrest, and here came another Yan Qingshu!
A mocking smile appeared on Lady Zhu's lips. It was Yan Qingshu's bad luck to meet her today. Now her father was being重用 by His Majesty. Even if she made things difficult for Yan Qingshu today, His Majesty wouldn't punish her for this.
Yan Qingshu gritted her teeth. Her knees were aching and going numb. She couldn't hold her figure steady and swayed a little, which was quickly noticed by Lady Zhu.
"Lady Yan still hasn't learned the rules until now?"
"If you don't know, then let the maid beside this Lady teach you how to pay respects."
Lady Zhu stood in front of her, looking down at her.
Yan Qingshu looked up at her, her eyes full of stubbornness. "Lady Zhu, Concubine doesn't know where she has done wrong to displease Lady Zhu."
"Displease me? You can't learn the rules well and don't understand the etiquette of superiority and inferiority. Do you think this Lady is deliberately making things difficult for you?"
"Concubine wouldn't dare."
Yan Qingshu lowered her eyes.
[Host, the eunuch beside the Emperor of the Great Shun Dynasty is found nearby.]
The voice of the system sounded in her mind.
Yan Qingshu's amber eyes rolled. She looked up at Lady Zhu and said, "But in Concubine's opinion, Sister Lady should not be so stupid as to stop Concubine just to make things difficult."
Yan Qingshu's words were meant something. It was almost like saying directly that Lady Zhu was a fool.
Hearing this, Lady Zhu raised her finger at her, and her beautiful face was filled with anger.
"How dare you be so disrespectful!"
After saying that, she raised her hand and was about to slap Yan Qingshu's delicate face.
Looking at that beautiful face, Lady Zhu put all her strength into her hand. She wished she could smash her face.
"Oh, this slave has finally found you, Lady Zhu!"
The voice of Li Dahai rang out in time. He frowned and looked at the scene in front of him.
He saw Lady Yan kneeling on the ground, her back straight, with tears in her eyes. Her eyes were stubborn. Lady Zhu had her hand raised high, about to slap down.
He was here because His Majesty had left Lady Zhu alone in the empty room last time. When he heard from Li Dahai that Lady Zhu had come, he felt a little guilty and asked Li Dahai to bring her here.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he got to the imperial garden, he saw this scene.
Lady Zhu's raised hand stopped in mid - air.
She snorted and took back her hand. "I wonder what Chief Eunuch Li wants from me?"
"His Majesty heard that you've come and asked this slave to find you and take you back. But this slave didn't expect to see this..."
Li Dahai stepped forward a few steps, with a few wrinkles on his smiling face.
Hearing this, Lady Zhu seemed to be triumphant. "Since His Majesty has summoned me, Chief Eunuch Li, take me there quickly."
"As for this Lady Yan, she doesn't understand the palace rules and is disrespectful. Later, this Lady will report it to His Majesty personally."