As soon as Shen Qingwan entered Shoukang Palace, someone reported to Xiao Shushen.
"Empress, Concubine Xian has been summoned by the Queen Mother again." said the palace maid Yuexi.
Xiao Shushen's phoenix eyes were sharp, and she nodded to Yue Xi: "I know, go and find out what the Queen Mother wants to see her about."
Yue Xi took the order and left. Nanny Gui asked worriedly, "Madam, why did the Queen Mother summon her so many times?"
"How would I know?" Xiao Shushen took the jade ruyi and played with it, stroking the white jade with her slender fingers. Her movements were slow but forceful.
Her face was gloomy. Nanny Gui saw it and didn't dare to say anything. For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was solemn, almost suffocating.
It was not until Yue Xi, who had gone to inquire about the situation, came back and told Xiao Shushen that Concubine Xian was reprimanded for interfering in government affairs.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Shushen smiled, but her smile was a little cold and creepy: "It seems that I have been worrying too much. Has the virtuous concubine come out of Shoukang Palace?"
"Reporting to the Queen, no. I heard the Queen Mother scolding Concubine Xian in Shoukang Palace. I don't think it will be over in a short time." Yue Xi said.
"You go to Shoukang Palace and wait. If Concubine Xian comes out, ask her to come to me." Xiao Shushen waved at her, and Yuexi responded and left.
Shen Qingwan was finally let go by the empress dowager and was preparing to return to the palace to copy the palace rules as ordered by the empress dowager. However, as soon as she left Shoukang Palace, Yuexi came to meet her.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Concubine. Best wishes to Her Majesty." Yue Xi said with a smile.
Shen Qingwan naturally couldn't recognize every palace maid, so she asked, "Stand up, which palace are you from?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, I am from the Empress' palace. The Empress has ordered me to take you to see her." Yue Xi replied.
Hearing the Queen, Shen Qingwan secretly groaned in her heart. It was obvious why the Queen wanted to see her at this time. She had just dealt with the Queen Mother and now had to deal with the Queen. It was really hard. Even if she was reluctant, Shen Qingwan had to go with her.
Arriving at the Queen's Palace, Shen Qingwanpu bowed deeply to the Queen as soon as she saw her, and said earnestly: "Your Highness, I am sorry for my crime. I apologize to the Queen."
Seeing that she was getting straight to the point, Xiao Shushen raised her eyebrows and asked, "Oh? Why do you want to apologize as soon as you come to me, Sister Xianfei? What crime have you committed?"
"I have violated palace rules and interfered in harem politics. I hope the Queen will punish me." Shen Qingwan didn't want to shirk responsibility with the Queen, so she simply asked for the punishment herself.
Xiao Shushen looked at her carefully. She didn't expect Shen Qingwan to admit it so straightforwardly.
She looked solemn and dignified, and said in a deep voice: "Xianfei, I think you are smart. Since you know that meddling in government affairs violates palace rules, why do you knowingly violate it? As one of the four concubines, you should set an example for the harem."
"I was only concerned about the emperor's health and forgot about etiquette. In the future, I will be careful with my words and actions and abide by the palace rules." Shen Qingwan's face was full of regret.
Xiao Shushen wanted to use Shen Qingwan, so she taught her a lesson and then let her go: "Get up. Considering that this is your first offense, I will not pursue the matter. I will punish you to return to the palace to reflect on your mistakes."
There is no difference between reflecting on one's mistakes and not being punished. Shen Qingwan also knew that Xiao Shushen had given her leniency, and she said gratefully, "Thank you, Queen, for your forgiveness. I will remember your teachings in my heart."
Xiao Shushen nodded, and picked up the jade ruyi on the table again, but this time she played with it much more gently than before. She stroked the white jade and said, "I think you have learned your lesson today. It's getting late. Kneel down and pay your respects."
"Well, I'll take my leave." Shen Qingwan bowed and left.
... ...
The news that Concubine Xian interfered in government affairs and was scolded by the Empress Dowager and the Queen in turn spread throughout the harem and naturally reached Fu Yuheng's ears.
When Fu Yuheng learned about this, he just came out of the Queen's Palace after having dinner.
Seeing that he looked a little worried, Sun Ning asked, "Your Majesty, how about going to the Xianfei Palace to take a look?"
Fu Yuheng had the same idea in mind, but when he remembered that she had rejected him in the imperial study before, he knew it was not appropriate to go at this time.
Fu Yuheng was once a prince and a member of the harem. He naturally understood the twists and turns and intrigues in the harem. If he were to go to Shen Qingwan's palace tonight, it would undoubtedly make her already difficult situation even more difficult.
Before, Fu Yuheng hated the Shen family for forcing Shen Qingwan into the palace, so he showed his doting unscrupulously just to make her life difficult. But after being together for so long, Fu Yuheng has developed a greater appreciation for her. Although he can't say that he likes her, he doesn't hate her that much either.
Besides, this time she was "interfering in politics" for his sake, so Fu Yuheng couldn't make things difficult for her anymore.
"No." He shook his head. "I'll go tomorrow."
Sun Ning was confused, but did not ask any more questions and just followed the emperor back to the palace.
... ...
The next morning, Shen Qingwan was helped by the palace maids to put on appropriate clothes and go out early in the morning in an orderly manner.
As soon as she entered the Queen's Palace, many concubines cast gloating glances at her.
Shen Qingwan caught a glimpse of the expressions on their faces and realized that today's morning meeting was another verbal sparring with her.
"Your servant greets Her Majesty the Queen." Shen Qingwan knew it well in her mind, but she did not show any timidity and bowed gracefully.
Xiao Shushen smiled and said, "Get up."
"Xianfei arrived early today," Defei Zhao Yuanrong spoke first, "I was still thinking about what happened yesterday, so Xianfei sister will come later."
Shen Qingwan turned her eyes away and said indifferently: "Thank you for your concern, sister. I am fine. Why am I late?"
"Sister Defei, what you said is wrong," Li Jieyu Shen Lihan smiled, raised her thin eyebrows, and showed a bit of sarcasm, "Sister Xianfei is the daughter of a military commander, she is different from us, what does this little fight mean?"
Shen Lihan's words implied that Shen Qingwan was thick-skinned, but the phrase "daughter of a military general" not only mocked Shen Qingwan, but also included all the daughters of the Wu family present.
Naturally, some people were unhappy and their faces changed as they began to refute.
Xiao Shushen looked at it, annoyed, and said, "Come on, the Queen Mother and I have already reprimanded the virtuous concubine, so don't discuss it anymore. It's boring to discuss it so early in the morning."
"But..." Shen Lihan was still unwilling and wanted to say a few more words, but was interrupted by Shen Qingwan before she could say anything.
"Your Majesty is right," Shen Qingwan glared at Shen Lihan, half warningly, "If you still want to say it now, do you think you are the one in charge of the harem? It is not your turn to teach me about my mistakes."
Having said this, if Shen Lihan continued to pester her, it would be disrespectful to the Queen, so she could only glare at Shen Qingwan and said nothing more.
The concubines talked some gossip and flattered her on the surface, so Xiao Shushen asked them to kneel down and pay their respects.
Xiao Shushen's words were clearly meant to protect Concubine Xian, so the other concubines no longer openly discussed Shen Qingwan's meddling in government affairs. However, there were always people who secretly made fun of Shen Qingwan about this matter, but she would turn a deaf ear to them every time they heard it. When the people who were talking about it saw that the main person didn't react, they also stopped being angry. After a few days, the matter was completely forgotten.