"What does Empress Zhaoyi mean?"
Shen Qingwan heard these words vaguely through the courtyard wall. She stopped, raised her eyes, and looked outside through a small hole on the side. The woman in green was someone she was very familiar with in the past few days. This was Qing Ling whom she brought back. However, when she saw the person opposite her, she couldn't help but frowned.
"Meng'er?" What was she doing here? Why was she not following Hua Zhaoyi at this time and coming to her yard
He muttered a few words almost inaudibly, but just continued to watch and was not noticed by the two.
"Miss Qingling, there is no need to be so vigilant. It's just a little gift from Empress Zhaoyi." Meng'er stuffed the hairpin in her hand into hers and looked around from time to time, afraid that someone would see anything.
He sneered in his heart, is he trying to bribe the people around her? That's a really good plan!
"No merit, no reward. Please take back the hairpin, Empress Zhaoyi!" Qing Ling's eyes were a little cold. This refusal made her look at him a few more times.
"Since Hua Zhaoyi is willing to give this to you, just accept it."
The voice came from behind Qing Ling, causing both of them to shrink their pupils suddenly, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Concubine."
Qing Ling stood up straight, and seemed to be walking and sitting upright, but compared to Meng'er beside her, she lowered her head, obviously worried that she would blame her.
After all, she was just doing things for Empress Zhaoyi. If she was wronged for nothing, it would be a loss. After all, no matter how she thought about it, she knew that Hua Xiangwei would never offend Shen Qingwan for a little palace maid like her.
But at this moment, Shen Qingwan's gaze was not on her at all. She was just looking at Qing Ling who was kneeling beside her.
"Take it!" Finally breaking the depressing atmosphere, a smile appeared on her face. She is really a very smart woman.
Meng'er then realized that she was not joking. She took out the hairpin that she had just taken back from her bosom and handed it to Qing Ling.
And while they were still stunned, she had already returned to the yard.
"Madam, are you worried about something?" Seeing her frowning slightly, Lianyun couldn't help but ask. She had rarely been in a bad mood in the past few days.
"Nothing..." She shook her head, but was obviously still immersed in her own thoughts, and didn't even realize she had taken the book in her hand.
Lianyun reached out and took the book from her hand, but Shen Qingwan glared at her with some displeasure, not realizing why she did that.
"Madam, you hold the book upside down." She reminded her that if she didn't explain the matter clearly, she would probably be chopped into pieces by her eyes.
Shen Qingwan lowered her head, glanced at her empty hands, and then smiled awkwardly. It turned out that she was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice it.
He took the book back from her hand and without thinking about it anymore, he started reading quietly.
It is now May, and many flowers in the garden have bloomed. They are bright and beautiful, and very pleasing to the eyes. This is also the favorite season for all the concubines. They order the people in the palace to pick some petals, whether for bathing or making some flower cakes to eat, which is very pleasant.
"Run slower!" Zhao Yuanrong followed behind Fu Lingling with a smile in his eyes, but with a bit of helplessness.
She is a daughter, and she does not have the airs of a princess. She should be sensible now, but she is very resistant to the palace rules. She acts like a little girl every day and likes to run around in the garden.
"Mother runs too slowly. She can't even catch up with Lingling." She turned around, looked at her with her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed up like a little goldfish, looking very cute.
"In this whole garden, you are the one who runs the fastest. After all, you are a princess, and it's time for you to learn the etiquette of the harem." He walked closer to her and tapped her forehead lightly with his finger.
"No, mother, those etiquettes are boring." Fu Lingling's face fell instantly when she heard this.
Zhao Yuanrong had a stern face, but he was actually helpless. Just as he was about to say something else, he heard a soft voice behind him.
"Since the Third Princess doesn't like it, Sister Defei should stop forcing her." There was an obvious smile in her tone, and she looked past her and directly at Fu Lingling.
Hua Xiangwei took a few steps forward and wanted to approach her, but she ran away with a look of disgust on her face, "Mother? Who is this person?" She stared at her like a little adult, with eyes full of vigilance.
Thinking that this little girl was not likable, she had to awkwardly withdraw her hand that was about to hold her.
"This... If I remember correctly, it should be Hua Zhaoyi, right?" Zhao Yuanrong couldn't figure out her purpose for a moment, and his expression was a little ambiguous.
"Sister has a really good memory." She said this with gritted teeth.
“Oh…” Fu Lingling responded, but there was no further words.
Lianyun, who was far away, saw this scene and looked at the changing color on Hua Xiangwei's face. She couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Your Majesty, this third princess is really an interesting person." She was amazed. She found this little person very interesting.
Shen Qingwan nodded and smiled, "Yes, the third princess is really smart."
The cleverness and innocence in that child's eyes were extremely rare in this palace.
"How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?" He suddenly changed the subject and asked about Qing Ling.
"There has been no progress yet." Lian Yun looked at her with some confusion. During these few days of getting along, Qing Ling did not show any abnormality. On the contrary, she seemed to be much more mature than her in doing things. In her opinion, she was very easy to get along with.
"Hmm." Looking up at the sky, he suddenly felt a little melancholy. If he was not behind these high walls, would there be no need for such intrigue
“Your Majesty…” Seeing her change, Lianyun felt a little more guilty. Even though she saw her like this, she was just a little palace maid and could not actually help much. It could be said that she was powerless.
"Forget it, let's go back." He tightened his cloak. Even though the weather had started to get hot, there was indeed a lack of emotion in the harem. Even his heart felt a little colder, and the coldness spread straight to his body.
“Yes.”
At this time, on the other side, Zhao Yuanrong had already taken Fu Lingling back, leaving Hua Xiangwei standing there alone and sulking.
"My queen, this flower cake..." Meng'er held the basket in her hand and looked in her direction, with a bit of confusion in her eyes. Originally, she asked her to give the flower cake made of these flowers to Fu Lingling, but now it seems that it is of no use.