Concubine Zhu stood in the shadows, watching the woman kneeling uncomfortably, her eyes fixed on the direction of the Guanghan Palace.
There was a slow - growing mix of unwillingness, resentment, and longing in her eyes.
She let out a soft laugh, then turned around with her entourage and left.
After leaving the imperial garden, Rao Cui supported her back to the palace and couldn't help but ask, "Your Ladyship, there's no reason for you to target Lady Tang. Why did you..."
Concubine Zhu curled her lips slightly. "Target her? I just want to make her more determined to seek refuge with Noble Consort Chen. Then everyone will know that she was trying to curry favor."
"Once Noble Consort Chen has an accident, who do you think will be the prime suspect?"
Rao Cui still looked worried. "My Lady, but Lady Tang has no reason to harm Noble Consort Chen..."
"If there's no reason, we'll just create one. Her elder sister, Tang Yinmian, died because of the Nalan family. Isn't that reason easy enough to find?" Concubine Zhu let out a snort.
"Anyway, during the time when His Majesty is away from the palace, by the time His Majesty returns and conducts an investigation, the greatest suspicion will surely fall on the Tang family."
Rao Cui lowered her eyes. She still felt a bit uneasy, but seeing her mistress's confident look, she didn't voice her concerns.
Forget it. She'd just keep a closer eye on things for her mistress from now on.
---
When Qing Shu returned to the Guanghan Palace and had just sat down to look at her children for a while, Shi Hua lifted the beaded curtain and came in.
"Your Ladyship, Lady Tang has been punished to kneel."
Qing Shu raised her eyebrows in surprise. She tickled her son's chubby chin and asked, "Do you know why?"
Shi Hua replied, "I heard that when she was admiring the flowers in the imperial garden, she offended Concubine Zhu and even spoke disrespectfully. That's why Concubine Zhu punished her to kneel for an hour."
Hearing this, Qing Shu frowned slightly. "I've never heard that Concubine Zhu and Lady Tang had any conflicts before. Do you know the exact details?"
Before Shi Hua could answer, Zhu Yao came in with some snacks.
"Your Ladyship, I've found out the details." Zhu Yao placed the snacks on the table, then casually tickled the restless little princess. Only then did she pull Shi Hua to sit at Qing Shu's feet and continued, "I heard that the tributes from the neighboring small countries have arrived. His Majesty ordered that you should receive more Moon - Shadow Silk than the other concubines. So Concubine Zhu was jealous."
"Then Lady Tang said something neutral, but it was obvious that she was on your side. So Concubine Zhu..."
After hearing the whole story, Qing Shu let out a sigh.
"Your Ladyship, this Concubine Zhu really never changes. Now that she knows your status is noble and doesn't dare to cause trouble for you, she goes after others..." Shi Hua murmured discontentedly.
"Her family is a trusted aide of His Majesty. As long as she doesn't go too far, His Majesty generally won't easily take action against her. I don't want to make His Majesty embarrassed because of Concubine Zhu's past mistakes."
If she made His Majesty, her Sixth Brother, embarrassed because of her own matters, she wasn't confident that she was more important than the affairs of the court.
So, she'd try her best to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
"Your Ladyship, should we show some concern for Lady Tang?" Zhu Yao asked, biting her lips.
By now, everyone in the palace must have known why Lady Tang was punished to kneel. The Guanghan Palace should at least send some Jinchuang Medicine. Otherwise, there would surely be some gossip.
"Tell Xiao Shunzi to send some Jinchuang Medicine to her. That's all." Qing Shu let out a breath and continued to tickle her son's chubby chin. She stopped only when she saw tears welling up in his big round eyes.
She really didn't want to have any more contact with the Tang family.
Just thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable.
"Yes, I'll go find some Jinchuang Medicine and tell Xiao Shunzi to send it right away." Shi Hua quickly got up and left.
"Remember, don't send the best one. Just send some ordinary Jinchuang Medicine." Zhu Yao reminded her uneasily.
If the Jinchuang Medicine was too good, the other party might want to cling to them.
Qing Shu was holding the child and coaxing him. Di Yin pouted his little mouth and looked at his mother aggrievedly. He raised his hand to touch his own chin and finally couldn't help but lean on his mother's shoulder. Big tears rolled down his face.
This really intrigued Qing Shu. Since he was born, her son had been overly calm.
He never made any noise. Compared with Di Zhao, he was so quiet that the wet - nurse didn't even need to watch him specially.
Seeing him cry now, Qing Shu found it extremely rare.
Zhu Yao was holding the little princess Di Zhao, with a smile on her lips. "This is the first time I've seen the little prince cry."
Qing Shu touched her son's chin. It was as smooth as ever.
She thought she had used too much force and hurt him.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Qing Shu asked.
Di Yin pointed his short and chubby finger at his beautiful little yellow clothes aggrievedly.
Zhu Yao blinked and looked at the princess in her arms. She saw the princess also pointing at her brother's clothes aggrievedly.
After a while, Qing Shu asked uncertainly, "Could you two be missing your father?"
As soon as she said this, the two little ones cried even more bitterly...
Qing Shu: .....
Has your father even been out of the palace for half a day?!
If you're already missing him like this, what are you going to do in the next dozen days?
Zhu Yao couldn't help but laugh. She hugged the little princess and coaxed her softly. "Your Ladyship, I feel so happy now."
"You have His Majesty's favor, the little princess, and the little prince. You don't have to worry about the safety of the princess either. The young master is also studying in the imperial study."
"Everything is getting better."
Qing Shu looked at her. "I think it would be even happier if you could have a good marriage."
Zhu Yao lowered her head and bit her lips, hiding the loneliness in her eyes.
"Zhu Yao, listen to me. I want to adopt you as my younger sister and choose a good husband for you. You've been with me since I was a child when I didn't have enough to eat or wear warm clothes. You've taken a lot of beatings for me. Even after we entered the palace, you've been with me. You've long been my younger sister."
In this deep palace, palace maids could leave the palace at the age of twenty - five.
When she entered the palace, she was sixteen. Two years had passed, and after her birthday this year, she would be nineteen.
Zhu Yao was only a few months younger than her.
If she could choose a good husband for her, it would be better than wasting time in this deep palace.
"Your Ladyship, I... I don't want to leave you. I want to accompany you forever." Zhu Yao sobbed.
To her, the Lady was not only her master but also her elder sister, the dearest sister in her life.
Qing Shu lowered her head and held back the tears in her eyes.
"Zhu Yao..."
Zhu Yao bit her lips and said with red - rimmed eyes, "Your Ladyship, I beg you to let me accompany you for the rest of my life. No matter what happens in the future, whether it's dangerous or peaceful, I'll always be by your side."
Qing Shu let out a sigh and reached out to wipe her tears. "Don't cry. Otherwise, these two little ones will cry even louder."
As soon as she said this, the little princess in Zhu Yao's arms let out a coo and reached out her hand to wipe her tears. Her little head leaned against Zhu Yao's face, silently comforting her.
Di Yin also stretched out his little hand to wipe her tears from afar.
"Zhu Yao, no matter what happens in the future, you'll always be my younger sister, always."
Qing Shu stroked her head.
If she didn't want to leave, then so be it. Anyway, she could protect her and ensure a worry - free life for her.
Zhu Yao nodded, wiped away her tears. Her eyes were still red, and her voice was still a bit nasally as she tickled the little princess.