The procession ahead was moving slowly. It was already some distance away from the Peacock Terrace. After leaving the imperial garden, they reached the Pear Garden.
The Pear Garden was filled with lush flowers and plants, and butterflies fluttered about. Tall trees surrounded the area. It was truly a wonderful place to enjoy the cool and the scenery.
Yan Qingshu grabbed Tang Yinmian and wanted to leave. She didn't have the energy to deal with these people anymore.
Just as they were about to slip away quietly, an abrupt voice rang out.
"Your Ladyship Yan, you haven't talked to Her Highness the Virtuous Concubine for so long. Why are you leaving so soon?"
It was Lady Lin. Her words made the procession in front come to a halt.
The Virtuous Concubine was supported by Yin Qiao and slowly stepped down.
"Sister, it's been so long since we last met. Are you really in such a hurry to leave?"
The Virtuous Concubine, supported by her maid, walked towards them step by step.
"The scenery in this Pear Garden is so nice. Won't you join me, sister, to enjoy it?"
Yan Qingshu stopped in her tracks. Tang Yinmian felt a bit nervous.
She turned around and bowed. "Sister, the Virtuous Concubine, I'm not feeling well, so I was planning to return to the palace quickly."
The Virtuous Concubine showed an expression of understanding, and then smiled. "Why is it that as soon as I invite you to join me, you suddenly feel unwell? Sister, do you still hold a grudge against me?"
Yan Qingshu shook her head. Her amber eyes reflected the extremely gorgeous face of the Virtuous Concubine.
"How dare I hold a grudge against you, sister?"
"That's good. If not, then accompany me to enjoy the scenery."
Saying so, the Virtuous Concubine reached out and grabbed her wrist without giving her a chance to refuse, pulling her to her side.
Tang Yinmian watched as the concubines surrounded the Virtuous Concubine and Yan Qingshu. She had a bad feeling.
The Virtuous Concubine came with ill intentions, and she didn't know what she was up to.
Yan Qingshu walked beside the Virtuous Concubine and watched as she bent down to smell a blooming Yao Huang peony.
"The weather is getting hotter, and the flowers in the Pear Garden are blooming even more beautifully." The Virtuous Concubine straightened up with a satisfied smile.
"Your Ladyship, I used to think that the saying 'a beauty outshines the flowers' was an exaggeration. But seeing your ladyship's beauty today, I know that the flowers should feel ashamed in front of you."
Lady Lin laughed obsequiously behind her.
Lady Lin was right. The Virtuous Concubine's appearance was truly unparalleled and extremely beautiful.
The Virtuous Concubine raised her lips. "Lady Lin is really good at talking."
Yan Qingshu remained silent throughout. She always remembered the saying "misfortune comes from careless talk".
"Your Ladyship is in great favor. I believe that in a few days, there will surely be a little prince in your ladyship's belly."
"As for some people who drink the pregnancy - promoting medicine every day, it's probably all in vain. The truly blessed person is standing right in front of us."
Every word Lady Lin said was intended to hurt Yan Qingshu.
It was a pity that the so - called blessed person in her mouth, no one knew what her final fate would be.
The Virtuous Concubine was in a great mood after hearing this. She said coyly, "You all know how to amuse me."
After saying that, she even deliberately placed her hand on her lower abdomen, as if she was really pregnant.
"Why aren't you saying anything, sister?" The Virtuous Concubine's gaze fell on her.
Just as Yan Qingshu was about to speak, a hand behind her pushed her hard. She lunged forward, and right in front of her was a rose bush full of thorns.
Beside the rose bush was the Virtuous Concubine.
Just as her body was about to fall into the rose bush, everyone's movements paused.
The fluttering butterflies stopped flying, and the scenery in the Pear Garden seemed to freeze at this moment.
[Host, are you okay? Now that you have a child in your belly, the system has automatically activated the protection mechanism.]
Yan Qingshu shook her head. The system could control people's movements for a short time.
She looked back at the crowd. A hand sticking out from the crowd was clearly visible. It was Lady Lin.
Her ferocious grin was frozen on her face by the system.
Yan Qingshu sneered and tore off the Virtuous Concubine's handkerchief and threw it outside the path.
The moment the system resumed everyone's movements, Yan Qingshu kicked Lady Lin from behind. Lady Lin lunged forward and fell right on top of the Virtuous Concubine.
Yan Qingshu quickly ran to pick up the handkerchief.
"Ah!!!!"
The two of them fell into the rose bush together. The fine thorns left scratches on their snow - white skin.
"Yan Qingshu! What are you doing! You're so presumptuous!"
The Virtuous Concubine's voice seemed to tear her apart.
Hearing the Virtuous Concubine calling her, Yan Qingshu quickly lifted her skirt and trotted over.
"Sister! Sister, are you okay!"
When Yan Qingshu shouted, the other concubines also reacted.
How could this be? She was standing here. Who was in the rose bush?
Concubine Zhu pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. It was supposed to be Yan Qingshu rolling in pain in the rose bush, but now it was the Virtuous Concubine and Lady Lin.
"Quick! Quick!"
The maids rushed up and helped the two out of the rose bush.
There were cuts all over their bodies and faces, and some thorns were still stuck in their skin.
The Virtuous Concubine touched her face in disbelief. The bright red blood on her hand almost stabbed her eyes.
Yan Qingshu watched coldly. If she had fallen just now, her face would have been against those thorns.
This Lady Lin was really ruthless. It must have been the Virtuous Concubine's order. Otherwise, just out of confinement, she wouldn't have the guts to play any tricks on her.
The Virtuous Concubine finally came back to her senses from the shocking blood. It wasn't Yan Qingshu who had knocked her down just now. It was clearly Lady Lin!
She raised her hand, and a crisp slap landed on Lady Lin's face.
She had told Lady Lin to push Yan Qingshu into the rose bush to teach her a lesson, but she had messed it up again!
"Your Ladyship! Forgive me, Your Ladyship! I don't know why this happened!"
"It was clearly Yan Qingshu. It was her!"
After receiving a slap, Lady Lin didn't care about the wounds on her face and body. She quickly lifted her skirt and knelt down.
Yan Qingshu tilted her head innocently and looked at her. "Sister Lin, what do you mean?"
"Do you mean that I pushed you?"
"Sister Lin, why are you wronging me like this?"
Lady Lin was like a dumb person eating bitter herbs. She couldn't say that it was supposed to be Yan Qingshu who was pushed into the rose bush. If this got to the Emperor's ears, she would surely be confined and demoted.
"Lady Lin, you're going too far! What on earth did Her Highness the Virtuous Concubine do to displease you that you would try to harm her like this! Your heart is so cruel!"
Yan Qingshu supported the Virtuous Concubine and sternly accused Lady Lin.
"Your Ladyship! I didn't mean to! I felt someone push me! That's why I accidentally bumped into Your Ladyship!"
Lady Lin was full of doubts. She was sure that she had pushed that bitch Yan Qingshu just now. Why was it that she herself was pushed out?
It must be someone behind her.
She suddenly turned around and looked at the concubines watching the show behind her.
"Did you push me!"
The other concubines looked at her as if she were a ghost. Were they crazy? Who would be as stupid as her to get involved in this mess?
It was obvious to everyone that they couldn't offend the Virtuous Concubine and Yan Qingshu at this moment.
She was just so stupid. After a stint in confinement, her brain seemed to have disappeared.
Seeing that the plan had failed, the Virtuous Concubine frowned due to the pain on her face.
"Send for the imperial physician!"
After saying that, the Virtuous Concubine was supported by Yin Qiao onto the procession. Compared to the slow pace before, the eunuchs now trotted towards the Floating Shade Palace.
The most important thing now was to get treatment. As for Lady Lin, there would be plenty of time to deal with her.
Seeing that the Virtuous Concubine had left, the concubines also left in groups, leaving only Lady Lin beside the rose bush, doubting herself.
"It was you, wasn't it? You pushed me!" Lady Lin glared at Yan Qingshu fiercely.
Yan Qingshu paused in her steps to leave. Supported by Zhu Yao, she turned around.
"Wasn't it you who wanted to push me? It's just that I didn't fall into the rose bush as you wished."
"As for who you've offended and who pushed you from behind, don't you have any idea?"
Yan Qingshu easily attributed the kick she had just given to the concubines who had been watching the show.