Ling Shan's delicate hands gently played with the charming lotus flower in front of her, its petals still dotted with droplets. She nodded faintly.
However, she couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
When did the Queen Mother develop the interest of summoning her enemies for a chat?
She had summoned Jun Wuyuan to Yaotai Jinfeng last night. She was so angry that she almost vomited blood. Wasn't that enough? And now she was bothering Ling Shan today?
Did she think Ling Shan was an easy target and wanted to regain her dignity by venting her anger from last night on her?
As these thoughts raced through her mind, Zhiju walked in with a pale face.
In the past, as a fellow maid, Zhiju had always looked down on Ling Shan, who was even of a lower status than herself. But now, she couldn't even look up to her.
In just a few months, Ling Shan had risen from a lowly and despised maid to the noble and unparalleled Noble Consort Zhao.
Throughout the history of the Great Yan Dynasty, no one had ever received such an honor.
Now, Zhiju was like a frightened bird. Where was the ambition she once had?
She knelt on the ground respectfully and paid her respects.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Noble Consort Zhao. May Noble Consort Zhao enjoy eternal good fortune and peace."
"So it's Zhiju. You don't have to be so polite. After all, we're old acquaintances. Get up and speak."
Hearing this, Zhiju should have been happy, but her heart couldn't help but rise nervously, as if she was standing on a cliff.
Moving forward meant falling into the abyss, while stepping back was filled with thorns.
Not understanding Ling Shan's kind intention, Zhiju got up cautiously and replied.
"Your humble servant thanks Noble Consort Zhao for your kindness. Your servant will always remember your great kindness."
Ling Shan's fingers gently caressed the flower, and she glanced at the trembling Zhiju.
The corner of her lips twitched slightly. It seemed that the current Queen Mother was not easy to serve.
"Does the Queen Mother have any other instructions? Zhiju, you don't have to be polite. Just speak directly."
The subtext was: They both knew what kind of person the Queen Mother was.
She never came without a reason.
All the things she did when she was alive and breathing were life - threatening and disgusting.
"Replying to Noble Consort Zhao, your servant is here by the Queen Mother's oral order. Three days later is the birthday of the Gentle Consort. The Queen Mother intends to hold a banquet in Furong Pavilion and invites Noble Consort Zhao to attend."
Ling Shan's hand paused, and her gaze shifted from the lotus flower to the cautious Zhiju.
A birthday banquet?
Suddenly, a smile appeared on Ling Shan's lips.
Her light laughter drifted into Zhiju's ears, but it felt like a heavy hammer.
Just as she was nervously waiting, Ling Shan actually agreed with a smile.
Zhiju couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She didn't expect that in the situation where the Queen Mother and Ling Shan had clearly fallen out, Ling Shan didn't make things difficult for her.
After leaving Jiuzhou Qingyan, Zhiju couldn't help but recall the scene of Ling Shan arranging flowers by the window just now. She was as beautiful as a celestial being.
The Gentle Consort was beautiful, but compared to the lively and vivid Noble Consort Zhao, she obviously paled in comparison.
If she were a man and the Son of Heaven, she would naturally not wrong herself to get close to a beauty from the enemy's camp.
Especially when this beauty was not unique.
The Queen Mother had failed in one move and was trying another. But would she really succeed?
Zhiju always felt that this birthday banquet was not a good one.
In Jiuzhou Qingyan, Ling Shan finished arranging the flowers, washed her hands, and took the tea cup offered by Banchun. Her eyes deepened as she fell into deep thought.
"Banchun, was there any major event in the court today?"
For some reason, when Ling Shan woke up this morning, she found that her ability to read minds from afar had disappeared again.
After sleeping tiredly for the whole morning, she had no idea what had happened outside.
Otherwise, why would the Queen Mother be causing trouble again by holding a birthday for the Gentle Consort?
"Replying to your ladyship, there was indeed a major event in the court. This morning, a conclusion was reached in the case of corruption in Jiangzhou. The mastermind was Vice - Minister Xue of the Ministry of Revenue, who was a relative of the Wang family.
It is said that after the joint trial by the three departments, the evidence pointed to the fact that the Xue family secretly sold official positions and embezzled money in Jiangzhou in the name of Grand Tutor Wang and the Queen Mother, and secretly sold the relief grain. Vice - Minister Xue has already pleaded guilty, and the Emperor was so angry that he has issued an imperial edict to dismiss him from office and confiscate his property."
The Xue family?
A look of mockery flashed across Ling Shan's eyes. She didn't expect that after the self - harm of a member of the Xue family, the Xue family still couldn't escape being used as a scapegoat by Grand Tutor Wang. He even tried to support the Wang family before his death.
She wondered if that Vice - Minister Xue was willing for his whole family to be used as scapegoats.
However, why did Jun Wuyuan let the Wang family off so lightly this time?
It was strange.
That guy must have some other schemes against the Wang family. She couldn't fall behind either.
In the study in the front hall, Jun Wuyuan put down a secret memorial with a slight smile on his lips. A glint of certainty flashed in his eyes.
Before the proud light could fully shine, suddenly his nose itched, and a loud sneeze echoed in the hall.
The Emperor's health was no small matter. Before Jun Wuyuan could even react, Liang Jiusi was on high alert.
He quickly looked at Jun Wuyuan worriedly, first offered a cup of hot tea, and then eagerly handed over a handkerchief, waiting for the Emperor's orders.
In his heart, he secretly murmured: He had said that things should be done steadily.
The commotion last night... Oh dear, even an old eunuch like him felt embarrassed.
Calculating the time, the Emperor probably hadn't slept all night.
Even if the Emperor was as energetic as a dragon, this was... too exhausting.
Look, he was sneezing on such a hot day. It must be...
"Has Noble Consort Zhao woken up?"
Just thinking of Ling Shan, Jun Wuyuan's eyes softened instantly.
He had been too rough last night. He thought that Shan Shan must be "missing" him at this moment.
The topic changed so quickly that Liang Jiusi almost hesitated and let out an "ah" sound. But he quickly reacted.
He quickly replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, Noble Consort Zhao has gotten up. She's probably having breakfast now."
Jun Wuyuan gave a faint "um" and pretended to pick up a memorial.
However, his mind was full of Ling Shan's figure. Sometimes it was the scenes from last night, and sometimes it was her charming and angry look...
Liang Jiusi couldn't bear to look and lowered his eyes.
The memorial was even held upside down. Oh, his dear Emperor.
"Achoo—"
Ling Shan, whose ears were turning red, suddenly sneezed. She raised her finger to rub her earlobe and couldn't help but curse that inhumane guy again in her heart.
The pink lotus flower by the window looked even more charming and moving in the sunlight, like a blush on a shy girl's cheek.
It added a touch of amorous tenderness to the quiet hall. On the soft couch under the window, a graceful girl was lying there, holding a book and reading intently, forming the most beautiful picture in summer.
Jun Wuyuan, who had just thrown away the upside - down memorial and walked into the inner hall, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His eyes were fixed intently on that beautiful face, and he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.
[Shan Shan seems to be in a good mood. She probably isn't angry with me, right?]