Yan Qingshu stood in front of the mirror, looking left and right. Only then did she smile in satisfaction.
"Your Ladyship, this Western mirror is really wonderful. It shows off your beauty to the fullest," Zhu Yao said with a smile as she stood behind her.
Yan Qingshu turned around and tapped her on the nose. Then she told Xiaoluzi and Xiaoqingzi to place the mirror in the bedroom.
—
Night fell quietly. The black sky was split by the silver moon, which shed its silvery radiance.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the night when the spring charm had faded. After a brief pause, the steps quickened.
The lanterns were of little use under the silver moon. Shihua was dressed in black, which concealed her figure and face.
She looked around and walked in the direction of Fengzao Palace.
Since the noble concubine Xian was under house arrest, the main entrance of Fengzao Palace was guarded. She walked to the back hall, where someone was already waiting for her.
It was the time for the guards to change shifts, so the security was relatively lax.
Yinqiao saw Shihua's figure and quickly pulled her in. Then she closed the door of the back hall.
"This slave pays respects to Your Ladyship," Shihua knelt on the ground and saluted.
"Get up," the noble concubine Xian was lying on the imperial couch. Her phoenix eyes slanted towards Shihua.
"I heard that the slut Yan Qingshu has been quite in the limelight these days," the noble concubine Xian held up her hand in the candlelight and looked at her newly painted fingernails. Then she picked up the mirror and looked at her face. Her tone was full of ridicule.
"In just a few days, she has accompanied the emperor in the imperial study and become a newly favored concubine. She's really something," the noble concubine Xian sneered. She still remembered the faint sneer on Yan Qingshu's lips before she was put under house arrest.
That slut did it on purpose!
"Your Ladyship, Concubine Yan has been highly favored these days. Today, the emperor even bestowed the Western mirror that was presented as a tribute on Concubine Yan," Shihua knelt on the ground. The words that Yan Qingshu had just taught her echoed in her mind. She rolled her eyes and spoke.
Hearing this, the noble concubine Xian suddenly threw the mirror in her hand.
The mirror smashed on the ground and broke into pieces.
The maids in the hall quickly knelt down with a thud, their bodies bowed low.
"Your Ladyship, please calm down!"
"This slut! I warned her last time to remember her lowly status. She's really bold enough to cross my line so many times!"
"It seems that she really thinks her mother and younger brother have lived too long!"
The noble concubine Xian stared at the broken mirror on the floor. Her chest heaved up and down. Just imagining Yan Qingshu's coquettish and affected appearance while winning the emperor's favor made her want to skin that slut alive!
She had heard of the Western mirror for a long time. It was a rare object that was presented as a tribute from overseas.
But now it was bestowed by the emperor on that slut!
The noble concubine Xian clenched her fists tightly.
"Your Ladyship, these days, this slave has been monitoring Concubine Yan as you ordered. I found that she didn't deliberately seduce the emperor. Instead, she remembered your order and drank the medicine for promoting pregnancy every day," Shihua saw that she was almost at the peak of her anger, so she reported a few more words.
Hearing this, the noble concubine Xian sneered. Her expression softened a little.
"She still remembers my order. After drinking so many bowls of the medicine for promoting pregnancy, she still hasn't gotten pregnant. What a waste!"
"I'm just waiting for her to get pregnant," there was no pregnant concubine in the palace. As long as she could make that slut Yan Qingshu pregnant first and then kill the mother and keep the child, if it was a boy, the child could become the crown prince!
"Your Ladyship, please don't worry. After drinking so many bowls of the medicine for promoting pregnancy, there's no reason for her not to get pregnant. A few days ago, the imperial physician came to diagnose her. Concubine Yan has a cold constitution. If she takes good care of herself, she can get pregnant. Now Concubine Yan is taking care of her body," Yinqiao quickly stepped forward and persuaded. Every word hit the noble concubine Xian's heart.
"She will surely give birth to a chubby little prince for you," Yinqiao fanned the noble concubine Xian with a round fan, sending a gentle breeze with a faint fragrance.
"Moreover, the lives of Concubine Yan's family are still in your hands," Yinqiao continued.
"Your Ladyship, there are only a few days left before we go to the Summer Resort. Although we are under house arrest, we can still go. These days, this slave will prepare some insect-repellent sachets for you," Yinqiao said.
"On the night banquet of the Dragon Boat Festival, if you dress up beautifully, you will surely make the emperor release you," Yinqiao fanned the noble concubine Xian with a round fan, sending a gentle breeze with a faint fragrance.
The noble concubine Xian slightly raised her lips. Her eyes fell on Shihua. She casually took out a jade hairpin from her hair bun and said lazily, "You've done a good job. This jade hairpin is for you."
Shihua took the jade hairpin. She pursed her lips and said, "May this slave ask how her family is?"
The noble concubine Xian smiled charmingly, "Don't worry. I've sent someone to check on your mother. Your mother has recovered a lot after receiving my favor a few days ago."
Shihua lowered her head to hide the hatred in her eyes.
"This slave thanks Your Ladyship for taking care of her family. This slave will never forget your kindness!" Shihua kowtowed. Her voice was firm.
"Don't worry. As long as you do a good job of watching Yan Qingshu for me, your family will surely be rewarded. I will surely reward them handsomely," the noble concubine Xian sneered at her. There was ridicule in her eyes. She was just a lowly maid. It was just a matter of a few words. After using her, she would just kill her.
Did her family deserve the care of a noble concubine like her?
"Go down. I'm tired," the noble concubine Xian yawned and began to dismiss her.
Shihua clearly saw the fleeting mockery in the noble concubine Xian's eyes.
She unconsciously clenched the corner of her clothes. She endured it and kowtowed. Then she was quietly sent out of Fengzao Palace by Yinqiao.
On the way back, Shihua looked at the silver moonlight. Her determination towards Yan Qingshu deepened.
When she returned to Guanghan Hall, Yan Qingshu was leaning on the cushion on the kang, reading a book. Zhu Yao and Xianshu were mending socks and preparing for the trip to the Summer Resort.
They bickered from time to time.
She stepped forward and took off her hood, "Your Ladyship, this slave is back."
"Good. Come and have a bowl of ice cream. Zhu Yao just made it. She left a bowl for you," Yan Qingshu saw that her eyes were slightly red. She knew that Shihua had seen the true face of the noble concubine Xian.
"Thank you, Your Ladyship," Shihua walked forward silently and ate the ice cream. She watched the two of them arguing about what color embroidered shoes to bring for the little mistress. Then they took out the clothes and looked at them. Finally, they decided on the pink and white embroidered shoes.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Yan Qingshu also smiled and continued reading. It was actually quite nice to have a few people chattering around.
She looked out of the window at the night sky. Then she retracted her gaze and continued reading.
She deliberately let Shihua mention that the emperor had bestowed the Western mirror on her. According to the noble concubine Xian's jealous nature.
She couldn't accept that the man she loved showed affection to a lowly woman who was despised by her.
She would surely teach her a lesson when they went to the Summer Resort.
She would take this opportunity to make her suffer a loss and break her idea of killing the mother and keeping the child.
No matter what the noble concubine Xian wanted to do or what she wanted, she, Yan Qingshu, would never let her have her way!
The night was hazy. The silver moon was high and pure.
When Di Yunjian arrived at Guanghan Hall, he saw her with her long black hair loose, leaning against the window frame and reading a book. Under the silver moonlight outside the window, the beautiful scenery was clear. The begonia petals were blown off and slowly landed on the window frame.
Against her peerless face, it was really charming.