The secluded gardens in the palace not only attract those seeking tranquility but also, naturally, those love - struck couples who rarely get to meet.
In her previous life, Chu Qing had witnessed quite a few amorous affairs around this rockery. There were eunuchs and maids becoming sworn couples, concubines out of favor in the harem having secret liaisons with guards. The most outrageous one was when the most favored concubine in the harem had an affair with the most favored minister in the court. That was truly a headache for her. She was in a dilemma because she didn't know whether she should expose this matter or not.
It was right after she became the queen. Troubled by the numerous and complicated affairs in the harem, she got irritated. So she slipped away from everyone, changed into simple and neat clothes, and came to this rockery.
Before she could lie down comfortably, she caught sight of a concubine who had always been at odds with her being lovey - dovey with a certain general in the court. Chu Qing couldn't remember the name of that concubine. She only remembered that the woman always looked delicate and weak, but in fact, she was extremely scheming. She was good at presenting herself as a weakling to gain the pity and love of her late emperor husband. If Chu Qing had exposed her at that time, the concubine would surely have shifted the blame onto her.
However, in the end, Chu Qing still managed to subdue her completely.
Later, when she became the empress dowager and then the grand empress dowager, due to the rare moments of being alone and her strong desire not to encounter such absurd things again, she never came to the rockery.
She never expected that when she came here again, it was as if she had crossed into another world.
...
Hearing the sound of the two people leaving, Chu Qing slowly opened her eyes.
The spring breeze caressed her face, carrying wisps of floral fragrance. Except for the people and things just now, Chu Qing really enjoyed this peaceful moment.
After taking a short break, seeing that no one else would come, Chu Qing got up and stretched.
When she got down from the rockery, Chu Qing was suddenly stunned.
Her current status was not as high as in her previous life. In this palace, she could no longer act as if this was her own home.
Indeed, she could never treat it as her home again.
This was the palace with strict rules and regulations.
Chu Qing frowned. Where should she go now? Should she leave the palace directly? Or go back to the Hall of Everlasting Joy?
Just as she was at a loss, she heard another sound approaching. Chu Qing looked up and saw a group of beautiful women walking towards her.
Perhaps they were the concubines in the harem.
In a blink of an eye, the group had come closer. Before Chu Qing could say anything, a pretty - looking woman spoke first:
"Who are you? How dare you not pay respects when you see Her Highness the Lady of Grace?"
Oh, here comes a hot - headed one.
Chu Qing didn't say a word. Instead, she stood still and carefully sized up these women.
Taking a general look, the woman surrounded by the others like a moon surrounded by stars must be the so - called Lady of Grace. She really had a good appearance, with bright eyes and fair skin as smooth as congealed fat. Every glance she gave was full of charm.
While Chu Qing was sizing her up, the Lady of Grace, Gu Lian, was also sizing up Chu Qing.
Just from the dark red formal dress, Gu Lian knew that this woman's identity was not simple.
To reach the position of the Lady of Grace, it wasn't just about appearance and family background. Assessing the situation was always crucial. After all, currently, only the queen was above the Lady of Grace, and this queen had an extremely kind nature.
Although the woman's clothing was not bright red, any woman who could wear dark red inside and outside the palace must have a noble status. Maybe she was a titled lady or a princess consort.
If she was a titled lady, she was too young.
If she was a princess consort... Coincidentally, Gu Lian had heard that His Highness the Prince of Ning and the Princess Consort of Ning had been summoned into the palace by the empress dowager for a family reunion.
Thinking of this, Gu Lian ignored the woman who had spoken first and bowed to Chu Qing:
"My sisters and I are blind. Please forgive us, Princess Consort of Ning."
Everyone was shocked. They never expected that the woman they had met was the Princess Consort of Ning.
Because they thought that the Princess Consort of Ning must be a dignified and elegant woman. They never expected that she was even more gorgeous and peerless than this charming Lady of Grace.
Normally, the status of a princess consort was not particularly high, but the Princess Consort of Ning was different. Both in the court and in the palace, everyone knew that His Highness the Prince of Ning was second only to the king in the State of Yan.
So the status of the Princess Consort of Ning had risen accordingly.
Seeing that the Lady of Grace had good judgment and an unassuming attitude, Chu Qing showed a slight smile and said graciously, "It's okay."
At this moment, Chu Qing, as if in a trance, regarded herself as the grand empress dowager again. When seeing a junior she liked, she naturally assumed the airs of an elder.
Gu Lian was relieved to see the other's attitude. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a servant report that the queen was coming. Swallowing back the words she wanted to say, Gu Lian led the other concubines to bow in the direction where the queen was coming.
"May Your Highness the Queen enjoy good health." Their整齐 voices sounded quite pleasant.
Since Chu Qing had taken a fancy to the queen when they met in the Hall of Everlasting Joy, she stepped forward to greet her.
Seeing Chu Qing walking towards her, the queen quickened her steps with a beaming smile. When she reached Gu Lian and the others, she pretended to support them gently and said softly, "You don't need to be so formal. Go and stroll around on your own. I'll take care of the Princess Consort of Ning."
Gu Lian responded with an affirmative answer and then led the group away from the garden to stroll elsewhere.
After watching them leave, Chu Qing turned to the queen and said, "They seem to be quite worry - free for Your Highness the Queen."
The queen lowered her head and smiled. It was hard to tell her tone as she said, "There are many sisters in the harem, but only I can outrank them. However, I don't like to fight for anything. As long as some things are not too excessive, I'll just let them be. So they are quite respectful and proper to me."
Chu Qing understood. She knew very well about the affairs in the harem, so she didn't say anything more.
However, she was still a bit worried about the queen's gentle nature. That Lady of Grace was not a simple character. If she was content with her current situation, it would be fine. But if she had other intentions, the queen would be in danger.
After all, in this harem, only the emperor had the highest power.
Seeing Chu Qing frowning slightly, the queen thought for a while and carefully said, "Did Mother speak too strictly?"
Seeing the worry in the queen's eyes, Chu Qing felt a warm current in her heart. She quite regretted that in her previous life, she had ignored worldly affairs. Otherwise, she would have surely cultivated this lovable granddaughter - in - law from a pure white lotus into a black lotus.
"Your Highness the Queen doesn't need to worry."
Seeing that Chu Qing didn't say much, the queen thought that as a junior, it was inappropriate to gossip behind others' backs, so she changed the topic: "My name is Lan Wanyu. Auntie can call me by my pet name, Yu'er."
Chu Qing was a bit surprised. Was this silly girl so easy to get close to others?
Seeing Chu Qing stunned, Lan Wanyu, thinking that she might have been a bit abrupt, explained, "Although Auntie is my elder, you look about the same age as my elder sister. So I can't help but feel close to you. I thought we don't need to be so formal."
Looking at the nervous look on the other's face, Chu Qing couldn't help but smile helplessly in her heart. She thought: I'm your grandmother, but you regard me as your elder sister. This family hierarchy is getting more and more messed up.
However, she would never say this in this lifetime.
Chu Qing nodded with a smile and replied, "Okay, then I'll boldly call you by your pet name."
The two chatted merrily. Seeing that the sky was getting dark, Jiang Wanyu was about to send Chu Qing out of the palace.
Just as they left the imperial garden, they saw Wei Ying coming to look for Chu Qing.
"I didn't expect that Qingqing would have such a pleasant chat with Her Highness the Queen." Wei Ying narrowed his eyes and said in a rather calm tone.
As he walked over from a distance just now, seeing Chu Qing chatting and laughing with others so relaxedly and contentedly, a look he had never seen before, there seemed to be a sour feeling rising in Wei Ying's heart.
Seeing Wei Ying coming to look for her, Chu Qing said goodbye to Lan Wanyu and then prepared to leave the palace with Wei Ying.
...
"Why is Your Highness walking so fast?"
As Wei Ying quickened his pace, Chu Qing was a bit dissatisfied. Was there a fire under this guy's feet? Or did he have a fight with the emperor and was taking it out on her? No matter how she looked at it, this guy's attitude seemed wrong.
He didn't even bother to pretend that they were a loving couple.
"Keep up." Hearing Chu Qing's breathless complaint, Wei Ying's tone was still cold, but his steps gradually slowed down.