After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 59 The Emperor Neglects the Imperial Concubine
Consort Liang wanted to take a nap on the bed, but she tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep.

Qinglang stood to the side, gently waving her fan, and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Your Highness? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing, I'm just a little irritable," Consort Liang slowly got up from the bed and leaned against the headboard.

"Your Highness, the kitchen just made some peach blossom pastries. Let me bring them to you so you can have a taste," Qinglang suggested softly.

Consort Liang nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Alright, I'm actually a little hungry."

"This servant will go and get it right away."

After a while, Qinglang brought out a plate of delicate peach blossom pastries. A few pink peach petals remained on the pastries, and they smelled wonderful.

Consort Liang gracefully extended her slender hand, picked up a piece from the plate, and gently handed the pastry to the palace maid, her eyes full of tenderness: "Qinglang, you should try some too."

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty."

Qinglang happily accepted it, covered her lips with a handkerchief, and carefully tasted it.

After saying that, she took a small bite herself, the soft pastry melting in her mouth and filling it with fragrance: "This peach blossom pastry is excellent, sweet but not cloying."

"As expected of a chef sent by the General, his cooking is even better than that of the imperial chefs in the palace," Qinglang couldn't help but praise.

"Of course, anything my brother sends must be of the finest quality." Consort Liang savored the peach blossom pastry, then suddenly remembered something and asked softly, "Has the princess woken up?"

Qinglang respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I just went to check on her, and the princess is still asleep, sleeping soundly."

Consort Liang smiled gently, her eyes full of tenderness: "Jingyao has been ill these past few days, and it has broken my heart."

"Your Highness has lost weight these days, and it breaks my heart to see it."

"Oh, you," Consort Liang then instructed, "Oh, by the way, go and get some peach blossom pastries. I'm going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to deliver them to the Emperor. He's had a long day and would appreciate some pastries."

"Yes, Your Majesty, our lady is truly the most virtuous woman in the world. In this palace, you are probably the only one who is so sincere to the Emperor."

Qinglang accepted the order and quickly packed the peach blossom pastries into an exquisite food box.

Consort Liang rose, gently straightened her clothes, took the food box, and walked out with light steps, not forgetting to turn back and tease, "Your mouth is getting more and more clever, you always know how to tease me."

Qinglang helped the Imperial Concubine walk towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation: "No, not at all. Every word I said is the truth."

"You," Consort Liang gently poked Qinglang's forehead with her finger.

Yangxindian

After reviewing the last memorial, Xiao Jingheng stretched, making a slight clicking sound as he slept. A look of relief appeared on his face, and he said softly, "Finally finished."

After observing the situation, Eunuch Zhao cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to Consort Lu's place?"

The Emperor's lips curled into a smile, and upon hearing Lu Jingning's name, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes. Pointing at Eunuch Zhao, he said, "You certainly understand me."

"I've served His Majesty for so long; if I couldn't guess this, then I truly deserve to die!"

Xiao Jingheng patted Eunuch Zhao on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go to Chengqian Palace to see Consort Lu."

As soon as she stepped out of the Yangxin Hall, she bumped into Consort Liang, who was walking gracefully with a food box in her hand.

Consort Liang, dressed in a magnificent palace gown, her jewels gleaming in the sunlight, stopped abruptly upon seeing the Emperor and gracefully bowed, her voice soft and respectful: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. Long live the Emperor!"

Upon seeing this, Xiao Jingheng paused, saying, "Your Highness, please rise."

Consort Liang's eyes held a hint of doubt and confusion: "Your Majesty, what is this...?"

"What business does the Imperial Concubine have with me?" Xiao Jingheng suppressed his impatience.

Consort Liang gently lifted the food box, revealing carefully arranged peach blossom pastries inside. She smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty, I have specially prepared peach blossom pastries for you. Please try them."

As she spoke, she reached out to take a piece and hand it to the Emperor. Xiao Jingheng's gaze quickly swept over the exquisite pastry, but he was anxious to see Lu Jingning.

He waved his hand hastily: "Your Highness, I have other matters to attend to. You may return now. I will taste these pastries later."

After saying this, he left without waiting for Consort Liang's response.

As Consort Liang watched the Emperor's receding figure, a hint of loneliness flashed in her eyes, and even her magnificent palace attire seemed to lose its luster at that moment.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty must have something to attend to. Let's go back first," Qinglang said softly, feeling a pang of sympathy.

"Forget it, I doubt the Emperor would eat these pastries anyway. Let's go."

She sighed softly, turned around, and slowly walked back to her palace.

Evening, Changchun Palace
"Your Majesty, I heard from others today that the Imperial Concubine went to deliver pastries to the Emperor, but he didn't even glance at them before heading to Chengqian Palace."

As Qingming removed the jewelry from the Empress's head, she spoke.

The Empress was already used to such things: "Given Consort Gui's temperament, she must be heartbroken."

Qingming looked on with schadenfreude: "The Imperial Concubine used to vie for the Emperor's favor quite a bit, and now she's reaping what she sowed."

Upon hearing this, the Empress gently reprimanded, "Qingming, be careful what you say."

Qingming realized she had misspoke and quickly apologized, "Yes, this servant understands."

The Empress sighed softly and told her, "Alright, go and have someone make the bed. I'm a little tired."

"Yes, Your Highness, I will go right away."

Qingming strode into the inner palace to make the bed for the Empress.

In the outer hall, the Empress gently touched her earlobe and said anxiously, "Where are my earrings?"

"What's wrong, Your Highness?" A palace maid immediately stepped forward and asked.

"Those earrings were a birthday gift from the Emperor to me. Go find Qingming and have her come over."

"Yes, my lady."

A triumphant smile appeared on the little palace maid's lips as she walked towards the inner hall.

"Sister Qingming, Her Majesty the Empress's earrings are missing. She asked you to go and help look for them," the young palace maid said, her smile fading and replaced with an anxious expression.
Upon hearing this, Qingming immediately put down the brocade quilt, her expression solemn, and instructed, "Make the bed for Her Majesty first, and be sure to do so carefully."

Afterwards, Qingming quickly went out of the inner palace to the outer palace to help the Empress find her earrings.

Seeing that Qingming hadn't gone far, the young palace maid quickly made up the Empress's bed.

Carefully, she walked to the bedside and saw that Qingming had already gone far away. She took down the sachet hanging there, opened the medicine powder in her bosom and sprinkled it in, and then tied the sachet back up.

Just as she put it back, Qingming returned. She hurriedly turned around and asked, "Sister Qingming, have you found Her Majesty's earrings?"

"Found it! Greenie, why are you sweating so much on your forehead?"

Greenie took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands, saying, "It's a little hot."

Qingming looked puzzled and asked, "Really?"

"Sister Qingming, I've finished preparing the ingredients, so I'll take my leave now."

Qingming nodded: "Alright, you may leave now."

(End of this chapter)