I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 40 I want to ask for advice in person

Empress Zhong put down the half-finished silk ribbon and said nonchalantly, "It's just a title of beauty. As long as Your Majesty likes it, it's fine. Why should I be the bad guy?"

"But Lady Zhu was not favored last night," Qiu Sui took the bird's nest brought by the little palace maid and placed it on the small table in front of Empress Zhong. "As soon as your majesty's decree of promotion was issued, there were quite a few complaints in the harem."

"Isn't there enough jealousy in the harem?" Empress Zhong pinched the thin handle of the silver spoon with two fingers and gently stirred the rock sugar bird's nest in the soup bowl. She glanced at the person beside her, "Is this worth bragging about in front of me?"

Qiu Sui immediately knelt down and said, "My servant said something wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Queen Zhong ate two mouthfuls of bird's nest and wiped the corners of her lips with a handkerchief. "Get up."

Qiu Sui stood up, ordered someone to take the soup bowl away, and went forward to massage Queen Zhong's shoulders.

Empress Zhong closed her eyes slightly, and after a moment of silence, she said, "Promotion is a happy event. I remember there are two pieces of brightly colored silk in the storeroom, which were awarded by the Queen Mother. I will send them to Qiu Shui Zhai together with the nine-color glazed lotus lantern to bring good luck."

Qiu Sui's eyes turned and she bowed and said, "Yes."

On the other side, Huaqing Palace.

The large incense burner in the hall spewed out wisps of fragrant mist from the beast's mouth. The refreshing aroma lingered around the room, filling it with fragrance, as if one were in a sea of ​​flowers.

"Xianglu, do you think my face is intact?"

After looking at herself in the mirror on the dressing table, Concubine Rong was still not reassured, so she turned around and asked Xianglu next to her to come forward and take a closer look.

Xianglu moved a little closer, her eyes wandered for a moment on the beautiful woman's face, and she was delighted: "It's all right now. I think it's even better than before. Your skin is really whiter and softer than a peeled egg."

Concubine Rong was most concerned about her most beautiful face. Upon hearing this, she smiled with satisfaction and casually picked up the tourmaline scented bead bracelet on the dressing table and handed it to her, "Take it and wear it for fun."

Xianglu accepted it happily and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Madam, for your reward."

"Get up." Concubine Rong opened the silver box on the dressing table, scooped out a small piece with a jade spoon, and applied it evenly on her face in front of the mirror.

Xianglu picked up a sandalwood comb, dipped it in osmanthus oil, and carefully combed the cloud-like and satin-like black hair under her hands, afraid of tearing a single strand.

After wiping her face, Concubine Rong wiped her neck, saying as she did so: "The Imperial Hospital has done its best this time. The new Jade Cream is better than the previous Pearl Cream, and the rose scent is nice too."

Xiang Lu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is the apple of His Majesty's eye. How dare the Imperial Hospital not serve you wholeheartedly? I heard that the first place they sent her to was our Huaqing Palace, and the second was Changchun Palace."

"They are good at what they do. The queen's face is dull except for her eyes. It doesn't matter what you use on her. It's a waste of good things."

"That's what the Queen said."

Concubine Rong snorted softly and glanced at her in the mirror: "Have you found out who it is?"

Xianglu said, "To answer your Majesty's question, the maid who was given the perfumed powder by the emperor was named Chu Liuzheng. She used to serve in the library of Changchun Palace. She didn't change her name because her master didn't give her a name. Now she is a maid serving tea in front of the emperor. Your Majesty has seen her in Zhaoxue Hall."

"It's her." Concubine Rong paused while applying the jade cream. The face that could only be described as pretty flashed before her eyes. Her delicate eyebrows slightly frowned. "What did she do?"

"She didn't do anything special." Xianglu said, "Your Majesty rewarded her because she served him wholeheartedly. I also heard that she is very good at making tea. But..."

"Just say what you want to say! Why are you hesitating?" Concubine Rong frowned, "She seduced Your Majesty with her seductive charm?"

"It's not her. She is a well-behaved person. The one who is not well-behaved is a palace maid named Caiyue who serves tea in the same room with her." Xianglu did not dare to hide it. "Your Majesty, do you still remember that a few days ago, His Majesty suddenly punished a palace maid to soak in the Moon Pond for more than an hour?"

Concubine Rong had a vague impression and nodded slightly.

Seeing that she remembered, Xianglu continued, "That Caiyue is the vixen. She failed to seduce His Majesty, but His Majesty disliked the strong smell of her perfume powder, so he punished her to wash it in the Moon Pond."

Concubine Rong's expression suddenly became stern, "Where is she serving now?" "Still in front of the emperor." Xianglu's tone became more cautious, "That bitch is unlucky. She got sick after soaking in the water of the Moon Pond. She coughs every day and is now recuperating in Nongyun Garden."

"What did Wang Jinzhong do?" Concubine Rong slapped the dressing table. "Why did you keep this seductive thing in front of the emperor instead of sending it to the laundry department?"

"Someone, call Wang Jinzhong over. I want to ask him if he doesn't want to be the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs anymore!"

"Your Majesty, calm down." Xianglu knew that if she told the truth, it would be bad. She stopped the maid who was about to run to call for help and quickly told the news, "Your Majesty, Caiyue is from Wanshou Palace."

Hearing the words "Wanshou Palace", Concubine Rong's anger froze and she looked down at her, "Is it really Wanshou Palace?"

Xianglu nodded repeatedly, "I dare not deceive your majesty."

Concubine Rong immediately ordered: "Everyone get out."

All the palace maids left the hall, leaving only Xianglu.

She advised softly, "Your Highness, we still don't know what the Queen Mother plans to do with Caiyue. If you ask Wang Jinzhong to transfer her away, you can vent your anger, but it's not worth it to anger the Queen Mother for such a shameless bitch."

Concubine Rong was able to become a concubine not just because of her face.

She bit her beautiful red lips and pondered for a moment, her eyebrows and eyes showing a hint of doubt, "Why did the Queen Mother suddenly think of sending someone to the Imperial Court?"

Xianglu shook her head. How could she know what the Queen Mother was thinking?
"Does your Majesty know that Caiyue was sent by the Queen Mother?"

Xianglu didn't dare to guess the emperor's intention, but she didn't dare not answer her master's words. After weighing the pros and cons, she could only say tactfully: "Those who served in front of the emperor before and were not considerate were sent away by Zhou Yuande early. Only Caiyue is still here."

How could Concubine Rong not understand what this meant?

It's not that she can't tolerate a new person around the emperor. After all, he is the emperor, and it is impossible for him to stay with her alone. But there is only one thing, this new person can't be a shameless foxy woman who takes the initiative to climb into the emperor's bed.

The exclusive favor that Lady Wen had shown her in those days left a thorn in her heart.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she raised her eyes and said, "Send someone to keep an eye on it first, and wait and see what happens."

Xianglu asked, "What about the palace maid named Chu Liuzheng?"

"I am very curious about her tea-making skills and would like to learn a thing or two in person. Please invite her to Huaqing Palace when she has time." Concubine Rong raised the corner of her lips and a dark light flashed in her eyes.

"only."

"By the way, have you chosen the things to be sent to Qiu Shui Zhai?" Concubine Rong suddenly remembered this matter.

A little beauty is not worth her attention. If she is someone who can be controlled, she can be won over to be her help.

Xiang Lu smiled and said, "I have picked them all. They are the same as the ones I gave to Lady Wen."

——The emperor also forgot about it and never thought of it again.

Understanding the teasing meaning, Concubine Rong curled the corners of her lips slightly and tapped the silver box lightly with the delicate nail on her little finger.

"I heard that Sister Zhu almost lost her face because she ate something wrong when she first entered the palace. Even if she is better now, her skin will never be as good as before. I will add a box of jade cream to the gift. I can't bear to see a beautiful woman's face damaged."

Xianglu glanced at her and replied softly, "Yes."

(End of this chapter)