As the maid massaged her, she said, "Your Ladyship, please don't overwork this humble maid. It would pain me."
With the maid's massage and after sipping a bit of the iced plum soup, Consort Chen felt much more at ease in her heart, and her mind became clearer.
Suddenly, she recalled the implications in the maid's words.
A smile curled up on her lips. "You're right. With your skillful hands massaging me, I feel much more relaxed. I'm afraid His Majesty must be in a bad mood at this moment. Thinking that Hanzhi, who is usually so well - behaved, has angered His Majesty today, I should go and apologize to His Majesty on his behalf."
The maid didn't say much. Matters involving the Crown Prince, the Emperor, and the Consort were not something a low - ranking maid like her could comment on. It was precisely this maid's cleverness that made Consort Chen keep her by her side. Although she wasn't one of the long - serving maids, she was highly favored.
"Is there still another serving of the plum soup?" Consort Chen closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the moderate pressure of the maid's hands.
"Your Ladyship, this humble maid was afraid you'd feel hot, so there must still be some. I've always prepared it for you."
Consort Chen nodded. Having such a smart girl by her side really saved her a lot of trouble.
"I don't trust others to do things. You go and watch over it for me. Fill a serving in my golden silk and glazed bowl. I'm going to take it to His Majesty."
"Yes." After receiving Consort Chen's order, the maid didn't hesitate and ran towards the small kitchen in the back.
She carefully filled a serving in the golden silk and glazed bowl that the Consort had given her. Just in case His Majesty refused to see the Consort, the maid took out a large bowl. She placed the golden glazed bowl in the center of the large bowl and thoughtfully arranged a circle of ice cubes around the edge of the bowl.
In this way, the plum soup wouldn't lose its coolness if they had to wait outside for a long time.
After getting everything ready, the maid put it all in a food box and placed it on the Consort's small table.
Although it was just to deliver a serving of iced plum soup, Consort Chen still dressed up carefully.
After making all the necessary preparations, Consort Chen carried the food box and headed towards the Imperial Study.
At the entrance, she met the guards. After announcing herself, His Majesty allowed Consort Chen to enter the Imperial Study directly.
He didn't take out his anger on Consort Chen because of Xiao Hanzhi's incident.
Consort Chen told the maid beside her to wait outside and carried the food box alone into the study.
When she entered the Imperial Study, Consort Chen found that Xiao Huaishi was still carefully reviewing the memorials, so she silently stood aside. She didn't make any move or sound.
She waited until Xiao Huaishi called her name before slowly stepping forward.
"Rong'er..."
Xiao Huaishi's tone didn't seem angry, but there was no sign of affection either.
Consort Chen slightly curtsied. "Your humble servant is here to admit her mistake today. It's all my fault that I didn't raise my son well, which made His Majesty angry."
Consort Chen's humble attitude made Xiao Huaishi feel embarrassed to say anything angry. He just waved his hand and said, "It's not your fault. The matter of the Fourth Prince moving to the mansion has nothing to do with you."
"He's still my son. Just thinking that he made His Majesty angry makes my heart ache. I'm so afraid that His Majesty might get ill because of the Fourth Prince's behavior." As she spoke, she opened the food box she had brought. "I thought that His Majesty has been dealing with state affairs for a long time and must be feeling irritated, so I brought this iced plum soup to relieve the heat for His Majesty."
Seeing the circle of ice cubes on the verge of melting around the golden silk and glazed bowl, Xiao Huaishi's heart softened immediately. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Consort Chen gave a shy smile. She took out the golden silk and glazed bowl filled with plum soup and placed it beside Xiao Huaishi. "Your Majesty, please have a taste quickly. Otherwise, all my efforts will be in vain."
Her tone seemed to carry a bit of complaint, but it was precisely this tone that Xiao Huaishi liked.
Xiao Huaishi nodded and was about to drink the plum soup when Eunuch Li beside him wanted to reach out to stop him. But since the Consort was there, he didn't dare to make too obvious a move. He could only use his eyes to signal Xiao Huaishi. "Your Majesty, this..."
Xiao Huaishi immediately understood what Eunuch Li meant. But being interrupted while flirting with the Consort made him very unhappy. He wanted to scold Eunuch Li, but Consort Chen stopped him.
Consort Chen stretched out her delicate hand and covered Xiao Huaishi's hand. Her eyes were full of tenderness. "Your humble servant understands what Eunuch Li means. He's doing this for His Majesty's good, in case some villains take advantage of my absence to put something in it. If His Majesty drinks it, it will become my responsibility. Although I made this myself, there might be unexpected situations. For His Majesty's well - being, it's better to test it."
Although every word of Consort Chen seemed to be defending Eunuch Li, the meaning behind her words seemed to be mocking him, while highlighting her own gentle and harmless appearance.
When Xiao Huaishi heard this, he was furious. He slapped the dragon table. "Eunuch Li, I think you're being too presumptuous. Do you suspect that Rong'er has put poison in it?"
Eunuch Li was shocked. Without hesitation, he knelt on the ground in fear, with a thin layer of cold sweat on his forehead. "This humble servant wouldn't dare..."
In the end, they still had someone test the plum soup for any sign of poison.
A small amount of plum juice was poured out, and a silver needle was inserted into it. The needle didn't change color.
Because of this, Xiao Huaishi's look towards Eunuch Li became full of disgust.
Consort Chen didn't want to waste time on such things. So she gently picked up the golden silk and glazed bowl, knelt on one knee, and presented it in front of Xiao Huaishi. "Your Majesty, please don't punish Eunuch Li anymore. He's just doing it out of good intentions. How can Your Majesty be so unfair just because you like your humble servant?"
"You're so considerate."
Then Xiao Huaishi took the plum soup from Consort Chen's hand and drank it all in one gulp. "Rong'er, you're really considerate. After drinking this plum soup, I do feel my mind becoming clearer and not so hot anymore."
"It's my duty to share His Majesty's worries." Consort Chen knelt on the ground and bowed to Xiao Huaishi.
Xiao Huaishi got up from the dragon chair, reached out his hands, and helped Consort Chen up. "We're husband and wife. Why do you care about these formalities?"
Consort Chen lowered her head. "The rules left by our ancestors must not be forgotten. If His Majesty still cares about our feelings, how about allowing your humble servant to bring a bowl of plum soup to His Majesty at this time every day?"