SFS Chapter 487: People are not as good as before
Chapter 487: People are not as good as before
Listening to the repeated denials, An Lingrong gently rubbed her sore wrist.
The Emperor's meeting with Zhen Huan was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but it was dampened by an unexpected event arranged by other concubines on the way back.
This was not arranged by her, so why is she the one who suffers?
Since the emperor was taking his anger out on her, An Lingrong was not someone to be trifled with.
When she heard no more movement beside her, An Lingrong blew a warm breath into the emperor's ear, her voice filled with resentment and grievance:
"Shiro, have you forgotten me?"
She called out softly repeatedly until the emperor responded, then An Lingrong slowly got up and asked someone to prepare water for her bath.
After washing up, she picked out a quilt as light as a cloud and wrapped herself tightly in it.
Of course, the pebble in the mouth was not forgotten.
The next day, when An Lingrong woke up, the emperor had already gone to court.
The quilt beside me was still warm, indicating that the person had just left.
In fact, she was not unaware of the emperor's getting up, but she just didn't want to get up and serve him.
After washing up, An Lingrong was about to return to the harem to pay her respects, but Xiao Dongzi came up to her with a smile.
"Your Highness, please stay. The Emperor specifically instructed before he left that he would share breakfast with you."
"Okay, thank you, Eunuch Dong."
An Lingrong glanced at Baoque and reported in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, last night, Noble Consort Hua said that the weather is getting hotter. Out of sympathy for the difficulties faced by the other ladies, we will reschedule the greetings to the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month. We will inform you separately when we resume the daily greetings tomorrow."
"Okay, I understand."
An Lingrong felt amused in her heart. Concubine Hua's obvious temper told her that she was in a bad mood.
Shen Meizhuang, Huanbi and Bai Caiwei's bellies are getting bigger and bigger, so it may not be a bad thing to temporarily exempt them from paying their respects.
A lot of annoying words were said last night, and An Lingrong thought the emperor might not have much appetite, so she bluntly recommended a few breakfast dishes that Xiao Dongzi liked.
"Let's have another Red Plum Pearl Fragrance and Red Plum Pastry."
"Your Highness, I will go to the kitchen to order the dishes."
Xiao Dongzi ran out briskly. The imperial concubine ordered a lot of dishes. If the master couldn't finish them, the rest would be divided among the people under them.
Your Majesty is really considerate.
Today's morning court lasted a little longer. As soon as the emperor came in with a sullen face, he complained to An Lingrong.
"Gao Changjin fell unconscious, and I don't even have a useful eunuch around me. Those ministers under me keep saying that they are wholeheartedly working for the Qing Dynasty, but I see that they are clearly abusing their power for personal gain!"
An Lingrong pretended not to hear the rest of the sentence and spoke softly to comfort him.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Su has been ordered to work in the Prince's Mansion and will probably be back soon. He has served you for many years, and it is inevitable that you will feel a little uncomfortable without him by your side for a while."
"Rong'er is right. Without Su Peisheng around, the servants won't even serve tea."
When the emperor mentioned tea, he couldn't help but think of the cup of hot tea that Zhen Huan handed him yesterday. It was so scalding that he still feels a lingering fear.
My mouth feels numb, could it be a burn?
While the emperor was waiting for breakfast, he was thinking about asking Li Songling to come and see him later.
He was already very suspicious, so when he thought about it more carefully, he felt that yesterday's trip was a bit hard to describe.
"Your Majesty, the rock sugar bird's nest in the imperial kitchen is delicious. Would you like to try it?"
"This sweet treat... Since it's Rong'er's gift, I can't let her down."
The emperor said half of the sentence stubbornly, then changed the subject abruptly.
He did like light meals when he was young, but as the number of meals he had with An Lingrong increased, he felt that his previous life was too frugal, and he would occasionally enjoy something savory.
The emperor took the small bowl and took a sip. He inadvertently glanced across the table, his eyes lingering for a moment on the Hongmei Zhuxiang and Hongmei Su.
In the past, when I had meals with Rou Ze, these two items were always indispensable.
But ever since Rouze died of complications during childbirth, this dish and this cake have become taboo.
The emperor picked up a piece of stir-fried shrimp balls with sauce with chopsticks and chewed them slowly with nostalgia.
Although the taste is better than before, it is not the taste I remember.
Clothes are never as good as new, and people are never as good as old!
This has been the case since ancient times.
The emperor put down his chopsticks silently, his expression changed, and he gave orders to the person outside the door.
"Go and see how the affairs of Yong'an Beile Mansion are going. If they are almost done, have Su Peisheng come back and report as soon as possible."
"The slave obeys."
Xiao Dongzi quickly jumped out to reply.
The emperor's gaze fell on Hongmei Zhuxiang and Hongmei Su again, and his heart was in turmoil.
He suddenly stood up and said, "Noble Concubine Shu, I have something important to do. You can eat first."
After saying this, he strode away without looking back.
Bao Que was stunned, and only spoke softly after the emperor disappeared.
"Master, this..."
"Your Majesty is diligent in his work and cares for his people. He doesn't even have time for breakfast. I am truly ashamed."
An Lingrong sighed softly, then added.
"Your Majesty has always been frugal. I alone cannot consume all the food. Baoque, please allocate some to the people below."
"Yes, slave, I'll do it now."
Baoque was very familiar with this matter, and she even left a portion for Xiaodongzi.
An Lingrong enjoyed this breakfast very much. She said something to the people guarding outside the palace and left with them.
The weather was getting hotter and she had to go back to make light clothes for the children.
On the other side, Su Peisheng received Xiao Dongzi's message and excitedly confirmed it again.
"You said that the master asked me to return as soon as possible to report?"
Su Peisheng stayed outside the palace for a few days before he came to his senses and gradually realized that his actions might have angered the emperor.
He never expected that he would be able to return and serve so soon.
Xiao Dongzi nodded seriously.
"Yes, master."
"Yesterday, I was ordered to go to Yongshou Palace to invite Consort Shu to the Yangxin Palace. On the way, she asked about you. This morning, when I accompanied the Emperor for dinner, I also heard her speak on your behalf. Only then did the Emperor..."
"I know about this, don't tell anyone else."
He remembered the kindness of Concubine Shu in his heart.
He had nothing to do in the Yong'an Prince's Mansion, so Su Peisheng gave a few brief instructions and led his two disciples on the carriage back to the palace.
Su Peisheng, with a purple face, glanced at Xiao Xiazi, who had suffered the same misfortune as him, and asked without hesitation.
"Tell me in detail what happened during the time I was away from the palace."
Xiao Dongzi would complain with a bitter face whenever he got the chance.
"Master, right after you left the palace, I was sent by the sinister Gao Changjin to guard the gate of the Yangxin Palace... I suspect that Gao Changjin instigated the emperor to pray at Ganlu Temple..."
"What did you say? The emperor went to Ganlu Temple?" Su Peisheng was shocked when he heard this. "Can you tell me the specific time?"
After Xiao Dongzi reported the truth, Su Peisheng clenched his fists in anger.
The subordinates reported that Gao Changjin went out of the city before the emperor's trip, but the bastard changed several carriages along the way to confuse people, and no one found out where he went at that time.
Now he is certain that Gao Changjin had been to Ganlu Temple and may even have had contact with Zhen Huan on Lingyun Peak.