At this moment, the much - missed Yan Qingshu was so exhausted that she was sweating all over. She was nestled in the man's arms, sound asleep.
When she woke up again, it was almost time for dinner. Yan Qingshu stirred a bit and felt aches all over her body.
She opened the mall panel and saw that her favored - concubine value had risen to 900. She couldn't hide the joy in her heart.
With so much favored - concubine value, it would be more than enough for the next few months when she couldn't serve the emperor.
Her hand gently touched her lower abdomen. In a month, a new life would emerge there.
A faint smile played on Yan Qingshu's lips.
When Emperor Yun saw that she was awake, he hugged her and helped her sit up. Dinner was already prepared outside.
After dinner, Yan Qingshu returned to Rouyun Palace and fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed.
"Your Ladyship, wake up quickly. It's time to pay respects to the Empress."
Zhu Yao's voice rang in her ear. Yan Qingshu slowly woke up and sat in a daze in front of the dressing table to freshen up.
"Your Ladyship, I heard that yesterday at the residence of the Virtuous Concubine, that Yin Qiao was punished to kneel. She knelt for almost a whole day!"
Zhu Yao combed her long black hair and gossiped.
"Yin Qiao failed to invite the emperor. Moreover, she knelt outside Rouyun Palace early yesterday morning and got nothing. So, of course, she should be severely punished."
Yan Qingshu propped her head up, half - asleep, and let the people behind her arrange her hair.
Shi Hua came in with a new summer dress.
"Your Ladyship, this is the dress that the emperor just sent someone to deliver. They said that the Dress Bureau finished making it yesterday, and the emperor had someone bring it here early this morning."
Shi Hua placed the dress in front of her.
Yan Qingshu looked over and saw that the light - blue dress was embroidered with shiny silk that sparkled like water waves, mixed with soft gold threads. In the sunlight, it was as brilliant as glass.
"It's really beautiful," Yan Qingshu said with a faint smile.
"The emperor is so kind to Your Ladyship. He has given Your Ladyship so many silks and precious jewelry." Shi Hua unfolded the dress. The soft fabric hung down and gently swayed in the air.
After Yan Qingshu finished freshening up, she put on another set of clothes and then headed to the Peacock Pavilion where the Empress lived.
Today, she sprayed the perfume that was进贡 from the Western countries a few days ago. Wherever she went, a faint fragrance lingered, making people feel refreshed.
When she arrived at the Peacock Pavilion, a group of concubines were already waiting.
Seeing her, several concubines whispered to each other.
It was nothing more than that the Virtuous Concubine's actions yesterday had spread. Now, they were probably discussing how she was ill - behaved and had bewitched the emperor.
Qing Zhu came out and invited everyone into the hall.
After they paid their respects, the Empress had a smile on her lips.
"Are all my sisters getting used to living here?"
"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, I feel right at home," Concubine Zhu replied.
"It's good that you're used to it. After all, it's not as convenient as in the palace. If you need anything, just tell me."
"In a month, it will be the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. According to the rules, all the concubines should make some zongzi and prepare some performances to liven up the event."
"After all, this is a family banquet. Sisters who have just entered the palace don't need to be too constrained. Just report your performances to me in the next few days."
The Empress's smile was dignified, and her tone was gentle.
"Speaking of performances, I remember hearing before that the Virtuous Concubine's dance once amazed the whole capital. Her dancing was so graceful that no one could match it. I'm sure Lady Yan, as the Virtuous Concubine's younger sister, won't be too bad," a concubine said. Yan Qingshu looked up and saw that it was Lady Chen, who was on good terms with Concubine Zhu.
"I wonder what performance Lady Yan will present to the emperor at the banquet?"
These daughters from noble families had been carefully cultivated since childhood. Now, they were quite jealous that a commoner girl like Yan Qingshu, who was in no way their equal, had won the emperor's favor. How could they be balanced?
"I can't compare my dancing skills with my sister, the Virtuous Concubine. As for the performance, I really haven't decided yet."
"Have you not decided yet? Or do you not know how to do anything at all?"
Lady Chen was aggressive, with a challenging look in her eyes.
Yan Qingshu's expression remained unchanged. She really didn't know those things, but so what?
Before she could say a word, Lady Chen continued, "Lady Yan calls the Virtuous Concubine'sister' so affectionately. The other day, when the Virtuous Concubine was ill and the emperor wanted to go and see her, why was he then detained in Lady Yan's Rouyun Palace?"
"After all, the Virtuous Concubine is a high - ranking concubine."
"I heard that it even made the Virtuous Concubine so angry that she is still bedridden. Isn't Lady Yan's behavior extremely disrespectful?"
Lady Chen didn't give her a chance to speak at all.
As Lady Chen spoke, Yan Qingshu's eyes were filled with tears. When Lady Chen finished her last sentence, the tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Sister Chen, I know I'm sorry to my sister, the Virtuous Concubine. But that day, my old illness flared up. My maid went to call the imperial doctor and was seen by the emperor. That's how he knew I was ill."
"I didn't mean to steal the emperor's favor."
"That day, I also apologized to my sister, the Virtuous Concubine. I know I'm guilty. Please punish me, Your Majesty," Yan Qingshu said. Then she lifted her skirt and knelt down. Her eyes were red, and she looked so frail that it was hard not to feel pity for her.
The Empress's expression changed slightly. If anyone was stealing the emperor's favor, it was the Virtuous Concubine who did it first.
After all, this wasn't the first time the Virtuous Concubine had done such a thing. She didn't even pay respect to the Empress herself and still managed to invite the emperor away.
Before the Empress could say anything, Yan Qingshu's weak voice sounded again, as if she was sobbing.
"I didn't know that my sister, the Virtuous Concubine, was bedridden. I didn't hear a single word about it before. Thank you, Sister Chen, for reminding me today. After paying respects, I will definitely go to the Virtuous Concubine's residence in person to apologize."
Yan Qingshu's words were meaningful. In this palace, there was no news at all about the Virtuous Concubine being ill. Lady Chen just blurted it out. Was she lying and exaggerating, or was there something else going on?
The Empress's face darkened slightly. Lady Chen was on good terms with Concubine Zhu, and Concubine Zhu was on her side.
The Virtuous Concubine had indeed sent a sick note today. Except for herself, no one else knew that the Virtuous Concubine was ill. She knew that the Virtuous Concubine wanted to use this as an excuse to charge Yan Qingshu with the crime of disrespecting a high - ranking concubine and making her ill.
However, the emperor doted on Lady Yan, and she didn't plan to punish Yan Qingshu.
She didn't expect Lady Chen to be so quick - tongued. It seemed that the Virtuous Concubine had asked her to take advantage of the situation and shift the blame to Yan Qingshu when she mentioned the Virtuous Concubine's illness.
It seemed that the Virtuous Concubine knew it was useless to place someone by her side, so she placed someone beside Concubine Zhu, her subordinate.
If it weren't for Lady Chen's quick tongue and Yan Qingshu's pointed words, she wouldn't have noticed.
"I just can't stand you being so arrogant because of the emperor's favor. If you're so disrespectful to the Virtuous Concubine, won't you be even more excessive to the Empress in the future?!" Lady Chen sneered.
"Enough!" The Empress was slightly angry and stopped Lady Chen.
"The Virtuous Concubine sent a sick note to me saying that she was ill, but it has nothing to do with Lady Yan," the Empress said, looking at Yan Qingshu. "Get up."
Yan Qingshu wiped her tears and got up, then sat back in her seat.
The Empress didn't want to punish Yan Qingshu.
In the past, the Virtuous Concubine had never failed to steal the emperor's favor. But this time, the emperor stayed in Rouyun Palace, which showed how much the emperor doted on Yan Qingshu.
She had no reason to punish Yan Qingshu because of the Virtuous Concubine. Otherwise, the emperor might be unhappy.
"The most important thing for the concubines in the harem is to be harmonious. I've said this many times. Have any of you taken it to heart?!"
The Empress's sharp eyes swept across all the concubines.
"Instead of wasting your time on idle talk, you'd better think about how to make the emperor happy and conceive the emperor's heir to expand the royal line!"
Yan Qingshu sat on one side, aggrievedly wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
So what if the Virtuous Concubine was ill? She could do that too.