Side Consort Bai said softly, “Upon learning that Your Highness was almost injured, this concubine felt uneasy. Coupled with having caught a bit of cold wind, I fell ill again. Cough, cough… it is all to blame on this concubine’s uselessness.”
Luo Qinghan asked, “Have you seen the imperial physician?”
Side Consort Bai’s gaze was as tender as water, and her voice became increasingly soft and pleasant to hear. “It is just a minor illness, there is no need to trouble the imperial physician. This concubine will be fine after lying down for a while back home. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
“If you are ill, you should still treat it early. Later, have someone take my token to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to find someone to examine you.”
Side Consort Bai lowered her head. A faint blush rose on her fair face, revealing a bit of a maiden’s shyness, which was extremely enticing.
She responded softly and lightly.
“Yes.”
Suppressing the sourness in her heart, Liangyuan Chen flattered with a smile, “Your Highness is so good to Sister Bai.”
Side Consort Bai said softly, “His Highness is good to everyone.”
Liangyuan Chen deliberately showed a charming and innocent manner. “That’s not true! Your Highness is best to you, Sister!”
Side Consort Bai did not speak further, only looking at the Crown Prince with a gaze full of tender affection.
In her heart, Side Consort Li cursed Side Consort Bai to high heaven.
This white lotus only knew how to act weak to attract His Highness the Crown Prince’s attention. How shameless!
And that Liangyuan Chen was also a brainless fool, only knowing how to kiss up to that white lotus’s boots. Did she think she could secure her footing in the Eastern Palace this way? Keep dreaming!
Side Consort Li’s eyes darted, and she revealed a bright and seductive smile.
“Your Highness, this concubine has been practicing Western Regions dance recently and has achieved some modest success. I wonder if Your Highness could come to this concubine’s place tonight to watch and appreciate it?”
The crowd of concubines only wanted to swear.
While Side Consort Bai was merely attracting the Crown Prince’s attention, Side Consort Li was actually trying to drag the Crown Prince straight to her courtyard to spend the night! Too shameless!
Luo Qinghan said indifferently, “We will see.”
Unwilling to give up, Side Consort Li continued to act spoiled and clingy, wishing to make him change his mind.
Not wanting to be left behind, the other concubines racked their brains to find reasons to get the Crown Prince to spend the night at their places tonight.
Luo Qinghan remained completely unmoved throughout.
He had watched this kind of drama unfold from childhood to adulthood and had long since grown accustomed to it.
His gaze swept across the women, finally resting on Xiao Xixi.
At this moment, all the women were doing their utmost to vie for favor, yet Xiao Xixi was the only one still burying her head in her food.
The fruit peels in front of her had already piled up.
Looking at that quantity, she must have eaten quite a lot even before he arrived.
Luo Qinghan could not help but call out.
“Virtuous Consort Xiao.”
Xiao Xixi raised her head, still chewing food in her mouth, her cheeks puffed up.
Luo Qinghan recalled the little squirrel he had raised when he was a child.
The way she looked now was very similar to that squirrel.
A bit cute.
The moment the Crown Prince called Virtuous Consort Xiao by name, all the women shut their mouths. They turned their heads in unison to look at Xiao Xixi.
Xiao Xixi, who was originally almost transparent, became the center of attention in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Xixi quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and stood up.
“What are Your Highness’s instructions?”
Luo Qinghan turned the teacup in his hand and said nonchalantly, “Tomorrow is Imperial Mother’s birthday, and a banquet will be held in Fengqi Garden in the evening. You will accompany this prince to attend then.”
Xiao Xixi blinked her almond eyes.
The Empress’s birthday banquet.
There must be a lot of delicious food, right?
Go, go, go!
Not going would make her less than human!
She nodded vigorously in excitement, “Alright!”
If the gazes the concubines cast at Xiao Xixi just now were merely filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, then their gazes now were envy, jealousy, and hatred multiplied by ten to the power of N.
That thick feeling of jealousy almost wanted to cut Xiao Xixi into a thousand pieces.