Low-ranking Imperial Concubines like Qing Luo were not qualified to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
With so many Imperial Concubines in the Harem, if every one of them had the right to meet the Empress Dowager, she would spend too much time just meeting people, leaving no time to enjoy her leisurely retirement.
Therefore, Qing Luo was sent away after merely kowtowing at the entrance of Cining Palace’s main hall.
Only Consort Rou and two Noble Ladies from Xianfu Palace were qualified to remain in Cining Palace and have the opportunity to see the Empress Dowager.
Because of the unpleasantness with Emperor Zhangping that morning, the Empress Dowager was not in the mood to see Imperial Concubines.
She only kept a few high-ranking Imperial Concubines for conversation, dismissing the Noble Ladies.
As soon as Qing Luo finished paying her respects, she wanted to slip away; she still wanted to go back to sleep.
However, she was stopped by several Imperial Concubines who insisted on chatting with her.
One invited her for tea, another for flower viewing, calling her “Sister Pei” with such warmth.
“Sister Pei, you look so radiant today. What kind of makeup powder do you use, I wonder?”
Qing Luo shook her head honestly, “I don’t know, I don’t use makeup powder.”
Paying respects already required waking up very early; if she had to put on a full face of makeup, she would have to sleep at least half an hour less.
She would be crazy to give up sleep just to wake up early for makeup.
This left the Noble Lady who asked the question speechless.
No makeup powder?
Was Attendant Pei showing off her natural beauty, implying she looked good without makeup?
But even without makeup powder, Attendant Pei’s complexion was so good, fair with a rosy glow, like peach blossoms.
It was hard not to envy her; it was truly frustrating.
Since they were both returning to Xianfu Palace, Qing Luo and Attendant Miao walked together.
Qing Luo and Attendant Miao got along reasonably well, but Attendant Miao was one of the Imperial Concubines, and she also possessed a common trait among them: the desire to vie for favor.
Especially after witnessing Qing Luo, a Little Concubine who hadn’t been favored for three years, suddenly catch the Emperor’s attention, Attendant Miao’s desire to vie for favor grew stronger.
She wasn’t as beautiful as Attendant Pei, but she was young, the youngest among the Imperial Concubines, and in good health, making her fertile.
This meant a high chance of conceiving a dragon fetus.
“Sister Pei, what kind of person is the Emperor? Is he very majestic?”
Qing Luo nodded, “He is very majestic. The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, of course he is incomparably majestic.”
“Then what kind of person does the Emperor like? Besides someone like Sister Pei, would he like someone like me?” Attendant Miao’s small face was flushed.
After all, she was still young and thin-skinned, revealing the shy demeanor of a young girl in love.
Qing Luo:…She was speechless.
You ask me?
How would I know? Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
I’m not Emperor Zhangping himself, how could I possibly know if he likes your type of beauty?
Although Qing Luo briefly speculated about Emperor Zhangping’s aesthetic tastes in her heart, those were her personal opinions, and their accuracy was uncertain.
Moreover, according to her speculation, the charmingly naive Attendant Miao didn’t fit either; she lacked the qualities of Consort Hui or Consort Xi, neither a gentle understanding flower nor dazzlingly captivating.
“I don’t know. How could an Attendant like me presume to guess the Emperor’s thoughts? When I see the Emperor, I only feel reverence; I wouldn’t dare to make wild conjectures.”
Qing Luo’s words were very true and reasonable.
Besides, which Imperial Concubine would dare to openly speculate about the Emperor’s thoughts?
At most, they’d think about it in their hearts.
However, Attendant Miao was not satisfied, pouting unhappily.
She understood the reason, but she felt that Attendant Pei was fobbing her off, using polite platitudes to deceive her, because Attendant Pei wanted to monopolize the Emperor’s favor and feared that once the Emperor favored other Imperial Concubines, she would fall out of favor.
Attendant Pei was truly jealous.
After only a few nights of favor, she was already thinking of monopolizing the Emperor.
It was a good thing Qing Luo didn’t know Attendant Miao’s thoughts, otherwise she would have scoffed.
Monopolize Emperor Zhangping?
Attendant Miao really dared to think.
How great was the Emperor’s power, and how many women had he not seen?
Could an Attendant like her possibly monopolize him?
It sounded like a joke.
Attendant Miao spoke directly, saying, “Sister Pei, please help me. Let the Emperor favor me. If we sisters unite, both young and beautiful, we’ll have plenty of confidence to vie for favor and surely keep the Emperor’s affection.”
Qing Luo was stunned speechless by Attendant Miao’s words, her eyes nearly falling out.
Sister, do you even hear what you’re saying?
You’re being too direct!
This isn’t how it works.
I’m not your biological sister, and even if I were, would you have the nerve to say it so righteously?
Asking me to help you vie for favor.
And clear your head a bit, look where we are right now.
This isn’t your private residence.
Is it appropriate to say these things now?
Qing Luo couldn’t help but secretly click her tongue, thinking that Attendant Miao was truly too naive, even to the point of foolishness.
She thought she was clumsy enough, but she never expected there to be someone even clumsier and dumber than her.
If palace intrigue had ranks, she was a small cannon fodder, but Attendant Miao couldn’t even be considered a cannon fodder; she wouldn’t even survive the opening.
Sure enough, Attendant Chen emerged from who-knows-where, suddenly speaking up, “Attendant Miao, Attendant Pei is currently in the Emperor’s good graces, so her spirits are naturally high. How could she possibly bother to care for small fries like us? Expecting Attendant Pei to help you out is simply a pipe dream. It’s more practical to pray to gods and worship Buddha.”
Her tone was sarcastic, her face full of scorn and malice, and her eyes glared fixedly at Qing Luo.
Qing Luo recoiled a step, oh my god, Attendant Chen was really targeting her too much.
She had only been favored a few times, so how had she offended Attendant Chen so deeply?
One who didn’t know would think there was some deep-seated blood feud.
[host, don’t panic. Attendant Chen is just jealous that you’ve been favored. In broad daylight, with many eyes watching, she wouldn’t dare to do anything.]
She wouldn’t dare in broad daylight, but she might dare in secret.
Qing Luo genuinely felt that the palace had too many schemes and wasn’t suitable for a simpleton like her.
She wanted to return to modern times.
As the good pregnancy system said, openly, Attendant Chen was at most verbally sharp and harsh; she didn’t dare do anything else.
“I think she’ll definitely retaliate against me later. System, I can’t fight her. You have to help me think of a way. I don’t want to die accidentally.”
Qing Luo emphasized the word “accidentally.”
Attendant Chen’s malice towards her was too obvious, not hidden at all.
She wondered if it was because they had already fallen out, so she disdained to hide it.
Such a personality definitely had further tricks waiting for her.
Recalling the palace intrigue plots in dramas—poisoning, drowning, framing…
Qing Luo didn’t want to experience any of them.
She just wanted to preserve her life while trying to live as well as possible.
[Don’t worry, host, Little Qian will protect you. We still have to give birth to many, many Children together.]
This left Qing Luo feeling both touched and speechless.
So, protecting her was just for giving birth to Children?
She was just a tool, then.
A tool is a tool.
Anyway, she also regarded the good pregnancy system as a tool system.
You ensure my safety, I help you complete the mission.
Mutual benefit and it’s a win-win, we are truly the best partners.