After saying this, Concubine Zhu bent down and tucked the Chinese rose she had just picked into Yan Qingshu's hairpin.
"Sister Yan, I'll let you off this time for disrespecting your superior today. But if you still don't know how to pay your respects when you see me next time, it won't be so simple."
After saying that, she sneered mockingly, flicked her sleeves, and walked ahead.
Li Dahai, who was behind, whispered, "Please walk slowly, Concubine Li, so that this servant can keep up."
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu smiled and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Li."
Seeing their backs disappearing in the distance, Zhu Yao and Shi Hua, who had also been kneeling behind, quickly stepped forward to help her up.
"Your Ladyship, get up quickly."
"The ground is full of pebbles. Your knees must be red again, Your Ladyship." Zhu Yao helped her up and couldn't help rubbing her sore knees.
"Concubine Zhu used to be at odds with the Noble Consort Xian when the latter wasn't under house arrest. She often had her chances of bedding the emperor intercepted by the Noble Consort Xian for various reasons."
"A few days ago, she had another chance to bed the emperor, but the emperor..." Zhu Yao lowered her voice.
"She just can't do anything to the Noble Consort Xian, so she's picking on me." Yan Qingshu snorted and patted the hem of her skirt.
"Come on, the scenery in the imperial garden is so beautiful. We can't let it go to waste."
Yan Qingshu watched Concubine Zhu's gradually disappearing back, then took the Chinese rose from her hair. Her slender, fair fingers gently stroked the petals.
Then, it withered and was crushed into dust.
The Chinese rose fell at Yan Qingshu's feet and was bruised by the pebbles.
Zhu Yao saw a pavilion beside the imperial garden, so she and Shi Hua helped her into the pavilion to rest.
The evening breeze carried a gentle touch and blew lightly on Yan Qingshu's face.
---
In the Imperial Study.
Di Yunjian was dealing with the memorials just submitted by the officials.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be in good health."
Concubine Zhu walked in gracefully with light steps. Her figure was gentle, and her voice was soft and melodious as she paid her respects.
Di Yunjian was busy approving the memorials and didn't even look up. He pointed at the inkstone and said, "Grind the ink for me."
Concubine Zhu stood up and walked to his side. She picked up the ink stick and started grinding the ink. The faint fragrance of ink wafted into her nose.
Seeing that the emperor didn't seem to care about her at all, Concubine Zhu acted coquettishly in a charming voice.
"Your Majesty, I've just suffered a great grievance."
Hearing this, Di Yunjian finally spared her a glance.
"Oh? What grievance?"
Concubine Zhu put down the ink stick and gently pulled at the corner of his robe, looking very aggrieved.
"Your Majesty, I met Lady Yan on my way to the Imperial Study just now."
Di Yunjian raised his eyebrows. Could it be that the girl had been bullied?
"And then?"
"Your Majesty, you don't know how rude Lady Yan is. She didn't even pay her respects when she saw me, and she even called me as stupid as a pig!"
Concubine Zhu took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe away the non - existent tears from the corners of her eyes.
Di Yunjian frowned slightly as he looked at her pulling at his robe, but he still managed to hold back from shaking her off.
"Oh?"
Di Yunjian became really interested. So the little girl was finally starting to show her thorns?
"Your Majesty, I came to bring you soup. But I heard from Eunuch Li that you had already had your meal, so I left and wanted to take a stroll in the imperial garden. I didn't expect to meet Lady Yan."
"Lady Yan was very rude to me and didn't pay her respects either..."
"I was really angry, so I punished her to kneel down and learn some etiquette. But I didn't expect her to call me stupid as a pig!"
"Your Majesty, please avenge me~"
Concubine Zhu leaned against his side coquettishly, her voice so charming that it seemed to be dripping with honey.
She didn't notice that Di Yunjian's eyes had gradually turned cold since she mentioned punishing Yan Qingshu to kneel.
He snorted and moved her body away with his hand.
"If what you said is true, then Lady Yan is really going too far." Di Yunjian stood up, his voice cold.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please avenge me." Concubine Zhu stood aside pretending to cry and wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Li Dahai, go and invite Lady Yan here."
Di Yunjian ordered outside.
Concubine Zhu's face lit up. She thought the emperor was going to punish Yan Qingshu for her, and the corners of her mouth hidden by the handkerchief couldn't help but curl up.
Di Yunjian didn't look at her anymore and continued to approve the memorials.
She already had an injury on her knee. Now that she had knelt on the pebbles in the imperial garden, her knee must be swollen and red.
Li Dahai got the order and quickened his steps towards the imperial garden.
At this moment, Yan Qingshu was fanning herself with a round fan and looking at the butterflies flying in the imperial garden contentedly.
"Your Ladyship, this butterfly is so beautiful." Zhu Yao pointed at a pink - and - white butterfly resting on a peony.
Yan Qingshu looked over and saw Li Dahai's figure approaching from afar at the winding palace path.
"Lady Yan, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Study." Li Dahai bowed.
"Thank you, Eunuch Li." Yan Qingshu stood up and smiled slightly.
"Please, Your Ladyship."
Yan Qingshu took a step forward and walked towards the Imperial Study.
When she arrived at the Imperial Study, she could still hear Concubine Zhu's coquettish voice inside.
"Your Majesty, you must punish Lady Yan severely later. She is so disrespectful in the palace. What if she offends the Empress in the future?"
Yan Qingshu sneered and took out a "Pitiful Pill" from the system mall.
After taking the pill, her whole aura changed. Just one look at her would make people feel pity for her.
Yan Qingshu walked into the hall with a round fan in her hand and paid her respects.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty and Concubine Zhu."
Di Yunjian's gaze fell on her. Seeing her red - rimmed eyes, his heart tightened.
Had she been crying?
He thought the girl had fought back, but he didn't expect her to cry while fighting back.
"I don't think Lady Yan is as disrespectful as you described." Di Yunjian waved his hand to signal her to stand up.
"Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare to lie. She clearly called me stupid as a pig!"
Hearing the emperor's tone, Concubine Zhu quickly grabbed his arm and acted coquettishly.
Di Yunjian quietly pulled his arm back.
"Your Majesty, I'm wronged. I went to the imperial garden to enjoy the flowers after leaving the Imperial Study. I paid my respects respectfully. It was Concubine Zhu who deliberately picked on me."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. Crystal - clear teardrops fell from her amber eyes, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
"She deliberately picked on me and made me kneel on the pebbles. I didn't talk back to her rudely."
"Eunuch Li was there at that time and saw Concubine Zhu about to slap me!"
Yan Qingshu didn't hesitate to drag Li Dahai in as a witness.
Hearing this, Li Dahai walked in resignedly.
"Your Majesty, when this servant arrived, Lady Yan was kneeling on the ground, and Concubine Zhu had her hand raised high. The slap was almost about to land."
Hearing this, Di Yunjian's eyes turned completely cold.
"If what you said is true and she was disrespectful to you, you should have reported it to the Empress. How could you take matters into your own hands?!" Di Yunjian stared at Concubine Zhu with a frown.
"Your Majesty, I... I didn't."
Concubine Zhu still wanted to defend herself.
"But I don't see any sign that Lady Yan doesn't know how to pay her respects. She's so cautious in front of me, but in front of you, she becomes someone who disrespects her superior and has no sense of propriety?! " Di Yunjian scolded coldly, with anger brewing in his eyes.
Li Dahai secretly opened his mouth. This was clearly blatant favoritism!