Lamei helped Liu Churong up from the ground. Liu Churong held her forehead with her hand, looking like a weak willow in the wind, which was very different from her previous arrogance and domineering. When Shen Qingwan saw her expression, she knew that Liu Churong was going to act up again.
Shen Qingwan stopped trying to defend herself. Only Liu Churong and she, as well as the maids around them, had seen what had just happened. Liu Churong insisted on accusing her, and no matter how much she said, it was useless. She lowered her eyes and apologized, "I am guilty of making the Imperial Concubine unhappy. It is my fault."
Seeing that she had given in, Liu Churong could no longer throw a tantrum. He was filled with anger but did not vent it. He could only snort coldly: "Do you think that just admitting your mistakes will suffice?"
She must get back at Shen Qingwan for what happened before, and now that the timing is right, how could she just let it go.
"I have never done anything to offend the imperial concubine." Shen Qingwan said in a calm tone, neither humble nor arrogant.
She was just here to cause trouble, and everyone knew what kind of person Liu Churong was.
Seeing her indifferent, Liu Churong became even more angry. She frowned and said angrily, "You pushed me down, but you don't repent. It seems that if I don't teach you a lesson, you will lose the distinction between superiors and inferiors."
"Since you are so sharp-tongued, I will slap you twenty times as a punishment," he said, and then waved to the eunuch beside him, "Laifu, loosen up the skin of the Concubine Xian."
Everyone was shocked. Concubine Liu had just been released from house arrest, but she was already causing trouble openly, and the one who caused trouble was the virtuous concubine. Everyone was wondering how this would end.
"Yes." Lai Fu responded, revealing an ugly face, rolled up his sleeves and walked towards Shen Qingwan.
"You!" Lianyun was anxious and was about to blurt out a rebuttal, but was stopped by Shen Qingwan's eyes.
Shen Qingwan raised her hand to stop Lai Fu's action and said coldly: "My Lady, our sisters' reputations are used to serve the Emperor. I'm sorry, I can't bear the slap in the face."
Liu Churong was about to attack again when an extremely authoritative voice interrupted her.
"What's going on? What's going on?" Following the voice, Xiao Shushen, dressed elegantly in a Qiuxiang Liuxian dress, walked out from the corner.
The two of them bowed together. After being called up, Liu Churong said angrily: "Sister, I was just admiring the flowers when I ran into Concubine Xian. I wanted to make peace with her, but she pushed me down. I was so angry that I wanted to punish her, but she threatened me with the emperor's favor!"
This statement confuses right and wrong, and no one would believe it. How could Concubine Xian offend Liu Churong innocently
Xiao Shushen narrowed her eyes and looked at Shen Qingwan: "Xianfei, is it really as the noble concubine said?"
"I didn't push my sister down." Shen Qingwan looked calm, not at all panicked.
Xiao Shushen took a look and had an idea in her mind. She glanced at Liu Churong again and asked, "How does the Imperial Concubine want to punish the virtuous concubine?"
Liu Churong's eyes lit up. Xiao Shushen meant that she was not going to protect Concubine Xian. She thought that these two people shared the same hatred for the enemy, but it turned out to be just superficial.
There was a hint of pride in her eyes, and she said pitifully: "I didn't intend to punish her, but she was wrong and tried to argue. In order to make her be careful about what she said and did, I wanted to slap her twenty times to make her remember."
Twenty may not sound like a lot, but after a real slap, the cheeks will be red and swollen, and it will take nearly half a month to recover.
Shen Qingwan had just gained the emperor's favor and it was time to consolidate her favor. Liu Churong made it clear that he wanted to prevent her from seeing the emperor and take back his favor.
Xiao Shushen's mind was full of thoughts, but her expression remained calm for a moment: "It was wrong for the virtuous concubine to bump into the noble concubine. Slapping her is too severe. It would be better to let her kneel for two hours and reflect on her mistakes."
Shen Qingwan's expression was stern. She didn't expect Xiao Shushen to punish her.
Xiao Shushen spoke, and Liu Churong was unwilling and unable to do so. Fortunately, the sun was shining brightly at that time, and kneeling in the open area of the Imperial Garden for two hours was enough for Shen Qingwan to drink a pot of wine, which made her feel a little more balanced.
"Then let's do as the Queen said and give him a light punishment and a severe warning." Liu Churong looked at Shen Qingwan with a smile.
At this point, Shen Qingwan knew in her heart that she could not escape this inexplicable punishment.
"Thank you, Queen, and Royal Concubine for your forgiveness," Shen Qingwan had no choice but to bow and express her gratitude, then she bent her knees and knelt on the ground. Seeing this, Lianyun also knelt down.
Liu Churong sneered and didn't look at her again. She flattered Xiao Shushen: "The flowers in the Imperial Garden are blooming beautifully. Why don't you and your concubine go to the pavilion in front to have tea and enjoy the flowers?"
"Okay," the queen nodded, and the group walked towards the pavilion not far ahead.
The pavilion was neither far nor near from Shen Qingwan. Liu Churong and the Queen could see her but could not hear her voice.
Lian Yun then asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, why didn't the Queen help us this time?"
"After all, she helped me for profit," Shen Qingwan chuckled, "and the emperor has been coming to me all this time, so it's inevitable that the queen will have some grudges, so she's just taking this opportunity to sound the alarm for me."
Lianyun heard this and said no more.
Liu Churong had just finished her house arrest and came to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers to relieve her boredom. On the way, she encountered Shen Qingwan teasing her. Now that she was free and felt bored, she said to Lamei: "That poor girl danced well a few days ago. Send someone to find her and let the Queen see her for fun."
La Mei agreed and called a palace maid to do it. Seeing this, Xiao Shushen asked, "Are the people that the imperial concubine mentioned the ones who entered the palace not long ago?"
"That's right," Liu Churong didn't say anything, La Mei answered for her, "Her Majesty always likes excitement, so she has to ask people to sing and dance. She found someone she likes and stayed in the palace to enjoy the show for a few days."
"I like it very much, and now is a good time for her to help cheer me up." She took a sip of tea, her face full of smiles, and she seemed to be in a good mood.
"The imperial concubine really knows how to enjoy herself. She comes out to visit the garden and has no shortage of tea and snacks. There are even songs and dances prepared," Xiao Shushen took the tea handed to her by Lamei, lifted the lid and smelled it, but did not drink it. "Is it the new pre-rain Longjing tea this year?"
Liu Churong nodded: "The emperor gave it to me not long ago, but I haven't finished it yet. After all, there aren't many offered every year."
"The Emperor dotes on you, so just accept it. Why be so stingy?" She was obviously showing off, but the Queen took it calmly and was not affected at all.
Liu Churong only glanced at her without any expression, and said calmly: "Get up."
"Thank you, Queen." The pitiful person stood up, and at Liu Churong's signal, quickly began to sing and dance.
The person who could catch Liu Churong's eye was indeed no ordinary person. This lovely woman danced gracefully and was extremely beautiful. Her singing voice was as melodious as the first song of an oriole. Even as Liu Churong was admiring her, a layer of gloom appeared in Xiao Shushen's eyes.
As the mistress of the six palaces, Xiao Shushen had seen many beauties and knew what the emperor liked. This pitiful woman was undoubtedly very much to Fu Yuheng's liking. If Fu Yuheng saw her, I'm afraid there would be trouble again.
As for things in this world, most of the time, good things don’t happen as you expect them to, and bad things happen as you expect them to.
The poor man was still singing and dancing when a bright yellow figure came towards him not far away.