Because Qing Luo had been summoned for two consecutive nights, Qing Luo clearly felt that her colleagues were all much more enthusiastic, with the exception of Attendant Chen.
“Sister Pei has truly seen her suffering come to an end. After three years, she finally had the honor of seeing the Emperor’s face.” Attendant Zhou clutched her handkerchief, occasionally dabbing the corners of her eyes as if about to cry.
Qing Luo’s small head was filled with great confusion.
She thought, ‘Are you alright?
I was summoned, why are you crying?
Do you need to cry?
You’re not related to me.’
[She’s acting out deep sisterly affection with you, host, but her acting is too fake. It’s all a show; she can’t even shed a single tear. And she still wants to act like she’s crying tears of joy.]
The good pregnancy system was very interested; not only did it watch with relish, but it also took the opportunity to complain a few times.
Qing Luo suddenly understood.
No wonder Attendant Zhou had been so cold to her last time, but now she was calling her ‘Sister Pei’ repeatedly.
So, she was acting.
Tsk, her acting skill was indeed poor; not a single tear fell.
“Back then, when we were chosen for the draft, we even lived in the same room, and were taught etiquette by the same instructing governess. Later, we were both assigned to Xianfu Palace. Sister Pei and I are truly fated. From now on, we must take care of each other…” Attendant Zhou took Qing Luo’s hand and began to play the emotional card.
Qing Luo subtly pulled her hand away.
“We are all sisters; it’s only right to take care of each other. Sister Zhou, I remember how you used to take care of me.”
Take care of each other from now on?
Why didn’t she mention taking care of each other before?
The Original Owner was initially close to Attendant Zhou in Xianfu Palace.
They had been quite close since the draft.
Attendant Zhou knew the Original Owner was being bullied but never helped her, instead quietly distanced herself.
Sometimes, to curry favor with Attendant Chen, she even joined in bullying the Original Owner.
With such a ‘plastic sister,’ regardless of whether the Original Owner would help her if she became successful, Qing Luo certainly wouldn’t.
Those affections belonged to Attendant Zhou and the Original Owner, and it had nothing to do with her.
The smile on Attendant Zhou’s face froze slightly.
She wondered why Attendant Pei spoke so smoothly, and with such profound meaning.
It wasn’t just her; everyone else present had a similar feeling.
They felt that Attendant Pei had become much more articulate, unlike before, when no matter what others said to her, she would either nod or shake her head, or just utter a few muffled ‘mm-hmms’ that were irritating and hard to hear.
Not only had her tongue become sharper, but Attendant Pei herself had undergone a complete transformation.
The former Attendant Pei, though beautiful, was a dull and stuffy wooden beauty, always lowering her head, timid and submissive, completely lacking in presence. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
But now, her face was still the same face, yet her brows and eyes were bright and lively, especially those autumn-water-like eyes, rippling with layers of charm, extremely spirited.
She wore no excessive adornments, just a simple and elegant crimson long dress, making her appear like a peach blossom in full bloom, so beautiful that it was hard to look away.
Was Attendant Pei always this beautiful?
Everyone was secretly shocked, feeling that they might have underestimated her beauty.
It had only been a few days since their last meeting.
Last time, Attendant Pei was an unremarkable piece of wood; now she had suddenly blossomed.
Where did this change come from?
Could it be due to being summoned?
However, most of the Imperial Concubines present had been summoned, except for Attendant Miao, who had only recently entered the palace and whose family background and appearance were not outstanding, so she had not yet been summoned by Emperor Zhangping.
Unable to think of other reasons, the Imperial Concubines could only attribute the change to the nourishing effect of the dragon qi, which allowed Attendant Pei to be reborn.
Fortunately, Qing Luo didn’t know what they were fantasizing about, or she would surely have scoffed.
What in the world is dragon qi?
She is just herself.
This morning’s greeting were no different from the last; as usual, it was about listening to the teachings of the Head Concubine.
Consort Rou first inquired about the situation in each courtyard, then gave a stern warning, telling all the Imperial Concubines to follow palace rules and so on, and then, using an excuse, dismissed them.
Just as Qing Luo was about to leave, she heard Consort Rou ask her to stay behind for tea.
Since the Head Concubine had spoken, what else could Qing Luo do?
Of course, she had to stay.
After all, she was currently living under Consort Rou’s authority, and a single word from Consort Rou could make it impossible for her to remain peaceful in Xianfu Palace.
Additionally, Qing Luo was quite curious about why Consort Rou had asked her to stay.
Based on Qing Luo’s shallow experience from watching a few palace intrigue dramas, it was impossible that she was merely asked to stay for tea; something was definitely waiting for her.
Unexpectedly, Consort Rou really just kept her for tea.
There was no situation Qing Luo had imagined where everyone would be dismissed, or only trusted confidantes would remain for a secret conversation.
Instead, Consort Rou personally brewed a pot of tea for her in the courtyard.
Consort Rou was skilled in tea ceremony; her set of tea-brewing movements was a delight to behold, and the tea she brewed was clear in color and had a long aftertaste.
“Sister Pei, how do you find this tea? Does it suit your taste?”
“Tea brewed personally by Your Ladyship is the best there is.”
Qing Luo didn’t understand tea, so she could only say it was delicious.
Upon hearing this, Consort Rou slightly curved her lips and smiled gently, truly a beautiful woman as tender as water.
“If it’s good, drink more.”
When the tea was almost finished and the chat ended, Qing Luo left…
She had gone to pay her respects to Consort Rou empty-handed, but returned with several hair ornaments, which Consort Rou had given her.
“What does this mean? Does she want to win me over, to show me goodwill?”
Qing Luo thought and thought, and could only come up with this reason.
For no reason, Consort Rou wouldn’t give her things; if she wanted to, she would have done so earlier.
Is it because she sees that Qing Luo is being summoned by the emperor, and wants to win her over, so that Qing Luo will speak well of her in front of Emperor Zhangping, thereby gaining Emperor Zhangping’s attention?
But hadn’t Consort Rou long stopped participating in the struggle for favor?
Because it was useless for her to compete.
Eight years ago, when Consort Rou was still a Noble Lady, good news spread that she was pregnant with a dragon fetus.
Emperor Zhangping was overjoyed and soon promoted her to Consort, even stating that after she gave birth, she would be elevated to Imperial Consort, one of the Four Imperial Consorts.
Unfortunately, when she was five months pregnant, Consort Rou accidentally fell, causing a massive hemorrhage on the spot.
Despite the imperial physicians’ best efforts, they couldn’t save the dragon fetus, and her own body suffered permanent damage, rendering her unable to conceive again.
Emperor Zhangping pitied her, bestowed upon her the title Rou, made her the Head Concubine of Xianfu Palace, and allowed her to enjoy the treatment of an Imperial Consort despite her Consort rank.
Because she once had the merit of carrying a child, Emperor Zhangping would occasionally visit her residence, sometimes even staying overnight, and during festivals, she would receive numerous rewards.
In short, Consort Rou still held a place in Emperor Zhangping’s heart, and he had truly cared for her once.
Now, among the Imperial Concubines, her life was considered quite good.
Moreover, she wasn’t the only one summoned in Xianfu Palace.
For example, wasn’t Attendant Chen quite favored?
Had Consort Rou ever sent her things?
Did she succeed in winning her over or not?
What about the other Imperial Concubines?
Had Consort Rou tried to win over any of them?
Forget it, guessing is too complicated.
Qing Luo couldn’t figure it out, so she simply stopped trying.
Anyway, if it was given to her, she’d accept it.
And Consort Rou kept calling her ‘good sister,’ insisting she accept it, so she had no choice but to take it.
Palace intrigue is too complicated; she doesn’t understand it.
Rather than engaging in palace intrigue, she’d rather look forward to when she can be summoned again.
It’s already been several days; Emperor Zhangping wouldn’t have forgotten her, would he?
Tsk, men are indeed big pig trotters; they eat their fill and then turn their backs.