Concubine Zhao was also an intelligent person. Seeing Concubine Shu's expression, she knew there was nothing she didn't understand, so she had to retreat reluctantly. Shen Qingwan never dared to look for anyone, and obediently followed behind Concubine Zhao as a servant.
When they arrived at the courtyard, Concubine Zhao was in a bad mood, and it showed on her face.
The maidservant next to her advised, "Don't be sad, my lady. The Concubine Shu has always been like that. She doesn't mind you alone."
"I know everything you said, but she is so unkind that I can't get any information from her."
The young palace maid quickly covered her mouth and said, "My dear noble lady, you can't say this casually outside. If you have anything to worry about, we can go back to the side room and sit down and talk about it. It doesn't matter. What time is it now? The one in heaven is worried, and the one in heaven is still missing. The whereabouts of the one who was favored before are even unknown. If someone hears this, it will be terrible."
Concubine Zhao endured it, and finally suppressed the pampered nature she had acquired from her mother's womb, and did not utter any other complaints.
Suddenly thinking of Shen Qingwan, he looked around and saw that Shen Qingwan had not left. He couldn't help but wonder, "Why didn't you go find the pomegranate?"
Shi Liu was a very inconspicuous maidservant beside Concubine Shu. She only went out with Concubine Shu on important days and rarely interacted with the senior maids. Therefore, the maidservants beside Concubine Zhao only knew her but were not familiar with her.
Shen Qingwan said: "It is not appropriate to cross the line in front of the noble lady and the imperial concubine. I will go there now. Please take care."
Lady Zhao nodded, and reminded him, "Remember to let me know if there's anything new. I'll buy it for you."
"Don't worry, my lord. I know what you are talking about."
Only then did Concubine Zhao feel relieved and left with the palace maids.
Shen Qingwan quickly walked towards a nearby palace maid and asked, "Excuse me, who is the head maid in charge here? I want to ask her for something."
This kind of thing was very common among the palace maids, but for the sake of caution, the man still asked, "What do you want to see that person for?"
Shen Qingwan smiled and said, "Sister, you may not know that the steward in your courtyard is from the same hometown as me in my early years. I have only seen him from a distance and do not know his name in the palace. I am afraid that it will bring trouble to her if I ask too much. I have no choice but to come and see if it is him, so that I can take care of him in the palace in the future."
Seeing that Shen Qingwan looked ordinary and didn't seem like someone who would bring disaster upon herself, the maid led her to the inner room of the palace and found the head maid.
"Sister, I have brought someone to see you. I say you are from the same hometown. Please meet him."
Mo Lan turned around and glanced at Shen Qingwan in front of him, puzzled and suspicious.
"Okay, I get it, go down."
The servant girl retreated in response, leaving Shen Qingwan and Mo Lan alone to talk.
"Who are you? You say you're from the same hometown, but why have I never seen you before?"
Shen Qingwan pulled her close and said, "Sister, I'm thirsty. Can we talk in the room?"
Seeing Shen Qingwan looking at her pleadingly, Mo Lan thought it was not a big deal to bring someone into the house, so she agreed.
She always felt that this palace maid seemed to have something to say to her.
When they got to the outer room, Mo Lan asked her to do it, but Shen Qingwan didn't have time to talk nonsense with her.
He took out the jade pendant he always carried with him from his bosom, handed it to Moran, and resumed his normal speaking voice.
"Show this to the queen, and she will understand everything. Then she whispered a few words into Mo Lan's ear. Seeing her face change drastically and looking at her in doubt, she sat down and drank tea with peace of mind.
Moran hurried to Concubine Shu's room.
Just as Concubine Zhao and her companions had left, Wu Ling was feeling very impatient. She was just trying to find something to do to relieve her boredom when she heard the sound of a curtain being opened.
"Your Majesty, I have something important to report. It's about the virtuous concubine."
"What?!"
Wu Ling was so shocked that she almost dropped the tea in her hand. She managed to calm down and not make any more noise to attract the attention of the servants outside. She kept saying, "Quick, tell me."
Mo Lan quickly handed the jade pendant in his hand to Concubine Shu, and tears suddenly flowed down her face.
"It really is her. She came to find us. I have been waiting for so long and I am so worried. Where is she? Is she still here? Do you think it was the queen herself or someone else who came to deliver the message?"
Mo Lan said anxiously: "She said it herself was the virtuous concubine, and the voice sounded exactly the same to me. I will invite you in to talk to you, don't worry."
This girl was comforting him, but she was running like a fire wheel. Concubine Shu burst into laughter through her tears.
Not long after, Shen Qingwan came in, a tall beauty rushed towards her, hugged her and refused to let go.
"You are such a heartless person. You only remembered to see me now. You don't know how much Concubine Qi misses you. I usually don't dare to go to her. I worry about your safety day and night here!"
Shen Qingwan didn't expect Concubine Shu to lose her composure like this. She was grateful and didn't want her to be sad anymore, so she took her hand and sat on the couch to talk.
"I'm really happy that you're worried about me, sister. I've been worried about you being manipulated by the queen these past few days and not having a peaceful day. Fortunately, I have a chance to come and see you, so that we don't have to worry about each other."
"That's right. Now I can finally sleep peacefully. By the way, now that you are here, where is the emperor? Is the emperor okay? Last time I saw Guard Ye Feng, I heard Concubine Qi talk about the situation. How are you doing now?"
Shufei knew that Qingwan's current status was different from before, and that she might have other reasons, so she tried to be brief and asked all the questions she wanted to ask.
Shen Qingwan smiled and replied, "Don't worry, sister. I'm working in the imperial kitchen now. They all call me Chen Juanzhi. If there is anything in the future, just send Mo Lan to find me quietly. This time I followed Concubine Zhao under the guise of seeing the pomegranates."
After Shen Qingwan said that, Wu Ling realized that she was there just now, but she was too emotional to pay attention. She admired Qingwan's courage and secretly prepared to keep silent about it.
"I remember. Tell me how you are doing."
Shen Qingwan then explained in detail the emperor and the people she had brought with her over the past few days and their recent situation, and only then did Wu Ling feel relieved.
After thinking for a while, he frowned and said, "The emperor is now living abroad, and he must be short of money. If he wants to make a comeback, he must have food and grass. If you have any difficulties in this regard, just come to me. If nothing else, I can still give you a few thousand taels of silver."
Even if they risk their lives, their brother has been working with the emperor since he was rehabilitated. If the emperor falls, how can they have a good life
She understood all these clearly, but it was also for Shen Qingwan's safety. They were all in the same boat, and if anyone died, they would be implicated.
Shen Qingwan declined her kindness: "Sister still has to take care of things in the palace."