"Your Majesty, she doesn't know the rules. My maids all saw it." Concubine Zhu still tried to grab his sleeve and act coquettishly.
Di Yunjian didn't even blink and just flicked his sleeve and walked past.
"Your Majesty, our mistress indeed met Concubine Zhu while admiring the flowers, but she didn't act disrespectfully as Concubine Zhu claimed. Please investigate clearly," Zhu Yao, who was brought in by Li Dahai, quickly said.
Yan Qingshu twisted her handkerchief and said with a somewhat embarrassed look on her face.
"Concubine Zhu, according to the palace rules, even if a concubine is disrespectful, it should be reported to the Empress, and the Empress will decide the reward or punishment. Now you punished me in the harem without informing the Empress. This is also against the rules..."
"Moreover, even if I was disrespectful to you today, you should have reported it to the Empress. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs every day. How can we waste Your Majesty's time on such trifles between us?"
Yan Qingshu frowned slightly. With just a few words, she elevated this matter to the level of state affairs.
Di Yunjian's eyes were cold. Following Yan Qingshu's words, he stared at Concubine Zhu indifferently.
"Your Majesty, I didn't mean to. I was out of my mind. I admit my guilt."
Hearing this, Concubine Zhu knew there was no point in acting coquettishly. Kneeling down quickly to admit her mistake and defend herself was the wise thing to do.
Di Yunjian's concerned gaze fell on Yan Qingshu. Seeing her frowning slightly and unconsciously touching her knee, he knew her knee must be uncomfortable.
His eyes on Concubine Zhu grew colder.
"The matter in the northwest has troubled me for a long time. Now you waste my time on such petty squabbles between concubines instead of letting me deal with memorials. You're really 'obedient to the rules'."
"Go to the Fengming Palace yourself and tell the Empress the whole story. Then let the Empress decide the reward or punishment."
Di Yunjian emphasized the word "rules" heavily.
He had just met Zhu Liangcai. It would be inappropriate for him to punish his daughter at this moment.
So he had to leave it to the Empress.
Concubine Zhu opened her mouth, looked at Yan Qingshu, and finally reluctantly said yes.
"Your Majesty, I'm fine. Sister Concubine Zhu must be enthusiastic, which is why she taught me a lesson," Yan Qingshu finally spoke, retreating to advance.
At this moment, because she had taken the "Pill to arouse pity", there were委屈 tears in the corners of her eyes, which made people feel a strong urge to protect her.
"I can still tell the difference between teaching a lesson and making things difficult," Di Yunjian snorted.
Hearing her adding fuel to the fire, Concubine Zhu wanted to say something more. But thinking of what the Emperor had just said, she swallowed the words back.
It was originally a very small matter. She just wanted the Emperor to punish Yan Qingshu to vent her long - standing resentment of being oppressed by the Virtuous Concubine.
Unexpectedly, it ended up with her being punished...
Li Dahai stepped forward with a smile and respectfully invited Concubine Zhu out.
Only then did Di Yunjian step forward, take Yan Qingshu's hand, and ask softly, "Is your knee red again?"
Yan Qingshu shook her head and said in a muffled voice, "I don't know."
Di Yunjian pulled her to sit behind the desk and lifted her skirt.
Yan Qingshu quickly blushed and stopped him.
Seeing her shy, Di Yunjian pinched her face and teased.
"Is there any part of your body that I haven't seen?"
Yan Qingshu gave him a reproachful look and covered her blushing face with a round fan.
Di Yunjian lifted the skirt and saw that the place on her knee that had already subsided now had a faint red mark.
"I just heard Concubine Zhu complaining aggrievedly. I thought you finally knew how to fight back.没想到 you still got hurt," Di Yunjian said.
After saying that, Di Yunjian stood up and took some high - quality swelling - reducing ointment. He picked up the ointment with his slender, bony fingers and applied it on the swollen area.
The knee felt cold. Yan Qingshu let out a soft moan.
"She is a Concubine, while I'm just a Noble Lady. I didn't dare to resist too much."
"The Dragon Boat Festival banquet will be held in the Summer Resort this year. How about I promote you to a higher rank?" Di Yunjian heard her grievance and gently smoothed the ointment on her knee.
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu didn't show it on her face, but she was actually overjoyed in her heart.
A promotion would unlock new pills on the mall panel.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Yan Qingshu said sweetly with a smile on her lips.
Di Yunjian smoothed the ointment and put down her yellow skirt.
"I've been busy with state affairs these days and haven't been to the harem often. A full - length Western mirror was just offered as a tribute today. I'll ask Li Dahai to send it to your palace later," Di Yunjian said as he pulled her up gently.
Yan Qingshu nodded obediently, wrapped her arms around his waist, and shyly kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After they were affectionate for a while, Yan Qingshu left the imperial study.
When she returned to the Guanghan Palace, Xiaoluzi had already brought back the dinner.
In the main hall of the Guanghan Palace, there were some ointments and precious jewelry.
Yan Qingshu raised her eyebrows and looked at Xianshu and Tanyun behind her.
"Mistress, these were sent by Aunt Qingzhu, the maid beside the Empress, just before you came back. The Empress said she already knew about what happened this afternoon," Xianshu stepped forward and replied.
Yan Qingshu nodded. Eunuch Li had followed Concubine Zhu to the Fengming Palace. The Empress must have understood the Emperor's obvious partiality, which was why she sent these things.
"The Empress also said that in a few days, when the concubines go to the Summer Resort to escape the heat, insect - repellent medicine bags and mugwort sachets have been prepared for each palace. These were sent along with the rewards," Xianshu continued.
Yan Qingshu's gaze fell on the sachets, which emitted a refreshing fragrance of mugwort.
Yan Qingshu washed her hands and sat down at the desk to have dinner.
At this time, Li Dahai came with some people.
They brought the full - length Western mirror that Di Yunjian had mentioned.
"Greetings, Mistress. May Mistress be in good health," Li Dahai bowed.
"Eunuch Li, please get up."
"Mistress, this is the mirror bestowed by His Majesty. It's clearer than ordinary bronze mirrors and big enough to reflect a whole person," Li Dahai said.
After saying that, Li Dahai directed the people to place the mirror on the ground. He waved his hand and pulled off the velvet cloth in front of the mirror.
"Mistress, this was just delivered by the Western envoys this morning. You're the only one to have it," Li Dahai added.
Yan Qingshu stood up and walked in front of the mirror. The woman in the mirror had a slightly blushing face. Her eyes were shining, and her figure was graceful, looking like the beautiful Goddess of the Luo River.
She was truly stunningly beautiful.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I like this mirror very much," Yan Qingshu said.
She couldn't bear to leave in front of the mirror. Every move of the woman in the mirror showed her beauty.
"His Majesty also ordered this slave to send some insect - repellent sachets. He said that since we'll be going to the Summer Resort in a few days, these should be prepared for you in advance so that you don't have to go to the imperial hospital," Li Dahai then took a red wooden box from a young eunuch behind him. There were mugwort sachets in it.
"The Empress just sent some. Now His Majesty has you send some too. I think no insects will be able to get close to me when we go to the Summer Resort," Yan Qingshu said with a gentle smile.
She asked someone to put away the sachets and personally grabbed a handful of gold ingots and put them in Li Dahai's hand.
"Thank you, Eunuch Li, for today's help. Please use these to buy some tea," Yan Qingshu said.
Li Dahai's smile grew wider, and he bowed more respectfully.
"Thank you, Mistress."
Li Dahai said some more auspicious words and then left with the young eunuchs.