In the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Xiaoman, Gu Xiangning and his party finally returned after more than ten days of travel and looked at the familiar gate of Kyoto.
Xiaoman raised an eyebrow: "Not everyone likes traveling. It's not easy to come back from a trip."
Gu Xiangning laughed when he heard this: "What you said, do you know why my sisters like it? But you get tired easily?"
Xiaoman tilted her head and looked at Gu Xiangning: "You speak as if you know something. What do you think?"
Gu Xiangning became serious at this time: "As for my opinion, of course it's because my sisters are adaptable and take things as they come. Wherever they go is home."
"So they are free and happy, but you and I are different. We regard Kyoto as our home, so when we come back, we have this feeling."
After hearing this, Xiaoman blinked a few times and looked at Gu Xiangning: "What you said seems to be right. I am speechless. Then I will assume that what you said makes sense."
Gu Xiangning was speechless. This was clearly the case. What did he mean by saying that what he said made sense? Forget it, let's change the subject and look at Xiaoman.
"Now that you are back in Kyoto, where are you going after sending the Queen Mother back to the palace?"
Xiaoman laughed and said, "Of course I'm going home. I'm going back to Xiaotian Village to see my father and brother. What about you? Just go to the Xiangfu by yourself and wait for me to come and see you tomorrow."
Gu Xiangning also thought that Xiaoman had not stayed in his home for a long time, so he smiled and did not force it: "Okay, then let's go back to the palace now. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter the palace."
These words were to remind Bai Jing, who came along this time, that Xiaoman should not bring Bai Jing into the palace. After so many days of traveling, the Queen Mother and Bai Jing had become very familiar with each other.
After hearing this, he said to the two people who were talking outside: "Let Jing'er come to the palace as well, just as if she is sending me home."
Xiaoman smiled when she heard this and said, "Yes, Queen Mother, let's go back to the palace now."
As he spoke, he led a group of people to the gate of the palace. Countless carriages passed by the gate of the palace every day, but they were all marked with which family they belonged to.
However, the carriage in front of them had no markings. When the guard saw it and was about to drive it over, he saw that the person riding the horse in front of the carriage was actually Gu Xiang.
He immediately bowed to Prime Minister Gu and said, "Greetings, Prime Minister. Hello, Prime Minister."
Gu Xiangning smiled and said, "Get up. This is the Queen Mother's carriage. The Queen Mother is returning to the palace."
The guard was about to shout when he heard Xiaoman's voice: "Don't make a fuss, just report this news to the emperor and queen."
The guard heard a woman's voice giving the order and took a look out of curiosity. His eyes widened. This evil star was back.
His legs softened and he knelt on the ground: "Greetings, County Lady. Hello, County Lady!"
Bai Jing, who was also riding a horse behind, looked at this scene and suddenly widened her eyes, as if something was different from what she had imagined. This Princess Xiaoman seemed to be even more terrifying than the Prime Minister
Xiao Man looked at the guard with dissatisfaction: "What do you mean? Is it scary that I have a green face and fangs?"
The guard was so scared that he trembled: "Please forgive me, my lady. I know I was wrong."
The more Xiaoman saw the guard's fearful look, the more dissatisfied she became. She looked at Gu Xiangning and said, "Gu Xiangning, what do you think he meant by this?"
"I'm so cute! So adorable, how could you do this to me?"
The corner of Gu Xiangning's mouth twitched, obviously shocked by Xiaoman's words. Judging from her appearance, our Princess Yongxi is very cute and adorable!
But what is this place? This is your base camp. Your true nature is clearly revealed. No wonder the guards are afraid of you.
But now is not the time to talk about these things. He glanced at Xiaoman and said, "Well, you are a county lady. It's not good to fight with the guards for no reason. You should go to the palace first."
The Queen Mother in the carriage also found it funny and said, "Xiao Man, it's important to return to the palace first."
Xiaoman glared at the guard and then rode into the palace. Xiaoman was allowed to ride a horse into the palace. This was her privilege. Of course, Gu Xiangning also had this right.
As for the rest of the people like Bai Jing, they could only get off and walk in. The carriage quickly went into the palace, and when it arrived at the Meridian Gate, Gu Xiangning suddenly stopped.
Looking at Xiaoman, he said, "Xiaoman, take the Empress Dowager back. I will go find the Emperor."
Xiaoman also knew that it was inconvenient for Gu Xiangning to go to the harem as a man, so she nodded and said, "Okay, let's go together when we leave the palace later."
After the two separated, Xiaoman continued to ride his horse and lead the way, but when passing by the imperial garden, he suddenly heard a voice.
A palace maid shouted loudly: "Stop the carriage in front! You are so brave! Do you know that this is the imperial palace? How dare you ride a horse and drive a carriage in the palace!"
"Aren't you afraid that the emperor will punish you?"
The Queen Mother did not say anything, but she was somewhat angry in her heart. Since when did a palace maid in the harem dare to be so rampant
Xiaoman was also surprised and looked at the little palace maid: "Which palace are you from? How dare you make such a loud noise in the Imperial Garden!"
When the palace maid heard Xiaoman's words, her cheeks turned red with anger. She saw that the other party not only refused to dismount, but also dared to turn the tables. It was simply too much!
"I am He Ye, a maid from Qinghe Palace."
Xiaoman raised an eyebrow: "Which queen is this from Qinghe Palace?"
If Gu Xiangning was still around, he would know that the person living in Qinghe Palace was none other than the most favored Concubine Qing, Lin Chuwan, who was also Xiaoman's target for returning this time.
At this time, the palace maid He Ye opposite was obviously very angry. There were people in this palace who didn't recognize their own queen.
Ever since his queen entered the palace, she has been the apple of the emperor's eye. It can be said that she has been favored by all six harems. How could there be someone who doesn't recognize her now
No, this woman definitely was not unfamiliar. She must have deliberately wanted to humiliate their queen. Thinking of this, she was so angry that her eyes turned red.
She did not answer Xiaoman's words, but just stared at Xiaoman with a pair of big eyes, very dissatisfied. Xiaoman frowned: "You, a palace maid, are so bold."
"I asked you a question, but you didn't dare to answer. You even dared to stare at me like that! Your master really knows how to discipline a servant! Hurry up and answer, who is your master?"
In fact, if there was only one woman entering the palace, Xiaoman could guess it, but unfortunately there were several women entering the palace this time, including Lin Chuwan from the Lin family.
There is also Ren Yu from the Ren family, who was made a concubine as soon as she entered the palace. So Xiaoman was a little confused for a moment and asked about it, but she didn't expect to cause such a misunderstanding.
The palace maid looked at Xiaoman with red eyes. When she heard the word "County Princess", she suddenly remembered that there seemed to be not many County Princesses in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and there was only one County Princess who was allowed to ride a horse in the palace.
That is Princess Yongxi, who was personally conferred by the late emperor. She is a very difficult person to deal with, and when following one's own queen into the palace, one must not offend such people.
The family had been informed in advance, but she was so proud that she didn't remember it just now. When the county lord heard the other party's self-introduction, the palace maid He Ye finally remembered it.
She knelt on the ground all of a sudden and said, "I'm sorry, County Lady. Please let me go. The person living in Qinghe Palace is Consort Qing, the younger sister of the current queen."
When the Empress Dowager in the carriage heard the name "Concubine Qing", she was dazed for a moment. Could it be that the Emperor was following the example of the late Emperor and hoped to have the Empress and Concubine Qing
Like how she used to get along with Concubine Qing? No, from Gu Xiangning, she has thoroughly understood the character of Lin Chuwan. The title of Concubine Qing!
Even if it's just a homonym of Concubine Qing, it won't work! That woman is not worthy at all! At this time, the emperor had already met Gu Xiangning.
Upon learning that the Queen Mother and Xiaoman had returned together, he was on his way to the Queen Mother's palace to pay his respects, not knowing that a lively gathering was about to follow.
At this time, Concubine Qing Lin Chuwan was looking for He Ye and looked at the maid beside her: "Lian Zi, where is your sister He Ye?"
When Lianzi heard the queen's question, she quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Sister Heye will go to the imperial kitchen to see if the lotus seed soup for you is ready."
Just as she finished speaking, she saw a young eunuch running in breathlessly: "Madam, Madam, it's bad, He Ye has been bullied."
"Inside the Imperial Garden."
When Concubine Qing heard this, she stood up suddenly. She had specifically requested the emperor for the lotus leaves and lotus seeds, saying that after entering the palace, she had no one to serve her.
The lotus leaves and lotus seeds grew up with her and were as close as sisters. She asked the emperor for permission to bring them into the palace. They were different from those assigned to other places in the palace.
Now I heard the little eunuch say that someone dared to bully Cheng Liye. That was disrespectful to Concubine Qing. She looked at the little eunuch and asked, "Do you know who it is?"
The young eunuch quickly replied: "That person claimed to be the county lady and was riding a horse. It must be the return of the Yongxi county lady."
When Concubine Qing heard that it was Xiaoman, she immediately began to assume, "So she's back. No wonder she couldn't wait to cause trouble for me."
"You want to vent your anger on my good sister, right? Unfortunately, I am not someone who can be easily bullied. Let's go to the Imperial Garden and meet the county lady!"
At this time, the news that He Ye, who was beside Concubine Qing, was troubled by someone spread throughout the palace, and even the emperor got the news.
The emperor would not believe that Xiaoman was embarrassing a palace maid. He glanced at Gu Xiangning with a meaningful look in his eyes: "It seems that you and Xiaoman have talked a lot."
Gu Xiangning didn't care about the emperor's tone, he just smiled and said: "I just said what I should say. I'll say it again, your majesty should know what kind of person Xiaoman is!"
The emperor snorted. Of course he knew that if Xiaoman really didn't like Lin Chuwan, he would only go after Lin Chuwan herself and would not implicate anyone else.
This time there must be something going on inside. Never mind, it will be here soon anyway. Gu Xiangning looked at the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, news spreads very quickly in the harem!"