ebookland Chapter 323 Lobbying 1
Chapter 323 Lobbying 1
When daylight came out, Zhen Huan held Jin Xi's hand and walked slowly, and soon they arrived at the Xinghuachun Pavilion.
As the sun sets, its soft afterglow falls on the neatly arranged rows of vegetable plots, adding a sense of tranquility and peace to this world.
This is the first time Zhen Huan has come here.
The master and servant walked slowly along the path between the vegetable plots until they arrived at the gate of Xinghuachun Pavilion. Jinxi knocked on the door and exchanged a few words with the maid. Not long after, Qi Yuebin came out to greet them personally.
Both of them had gentle smiles on their faces. They held each other's hands and performed the carrot squat ceremony very familiarly.
Zhen Huan was the first to speak: "Sister Duan Fei, I am not disturbing you, am I?"
"No way, I'm just bored!"
Zhen Huan's eyes slowly swept across the surrounding scenery. The green mountains and clear waters complemented each other beautifully, and the fruits and vegetables in the countryside exuded thriving vitality. She couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "This is a wonderful place to live. The joy of the countryside makes people feel comfortable and at ease just by looking at it. It's something that so many scholars and literati have longed for!"
Qi Yuebin smiled faintly, "Although this pastoral scenery is beautiful, it is only a temporary comfort. Your Bitong Academy is the place closest to the Emperor. It shows that the Emperor loves me so much and really cares about me!"
"The Emperor only showed some compassion towards me out of concern for the heir. How can it compare to the friendship between Concubine Shang Duan and the Emperor, which has lasted for over ten years?"
"Sister, please don't say that. The relationship in this palace cannot be determined by the length of time."
Qi Yuebin's eyes flickered as he looked at Zhen Huan with a smile, but there was an elusive depth in his gaze.
Zhen Huan remained calm, the emotions in her eyes well hidden, and responded calmly: "Sister, you are right, it is my sister who is superficial!"
"Look at me, I was so busy talking to you that I forgot you're pregnant and can't stand for long. Come inside and sit down!"
"Sister please!"
The two of them walked into the yard holding hands.
The sunlight shines through the gaps between the branches and leaves, forming patches of golden light on the ground. Several apricot trees are scattered around in an orderly manner. Although the apricot blossom season has passed, the branches and leaves are lush and green, rustling in the breeze.
Tender green grass grows freely between the cracks in the bricks and stones, adding a touch of vitality to the courtyard. Occasionally, a few colorful butterflies flutter by, adding a touch of lively beauty to this quiet world.
Entering the hall, although the furnishings inside are not gorgeous, they are exquisite and elegant everywhere.
Jixiang swiftly served two cups of tea. Curls of hot steam rose up and the fragrance of tea instantly filled the room.
Zhen Huan picked up the teacup but didn't take a sip. She just sniffed it and praised, "What a fragrant tea! Sister Duan is a kind and elegant lady. Only tea like this is worthy of your taste!"
"No, my sister is a distinguished guest. Today is your first time visiting my Xinghuachun Pavilion. Naturally, I have to treat you well. Please don't be disgusted." Qi Yuebin always had a faint smile on his face.
At this point, she seemed to suddenly remember something, then paused slightly before continuing, "Oh, right, I heard from people in the palace today that Concubine Hui is also pregnant. This is really a great joyous event, and I heard that the Emperor is also very pleased!"
Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan paused, her hand gripping the teacup in her hand. Alarm bells rang in her heart, but the smile on her face remained undimmed. "It's been one happy event after another lately. Hearing that the Empress Dowager's health has improved, the Emperor is now in high spirits, and even us sisters are feeling the joy!"
Qi Yuebin's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Sister, you are absolutely right. The Queen Mother's good health is a blessing for all the concubines in the harem."
The two of them exchanged pleasantries with each other, seemingly just sisterly greetings and talking about interesting palace stories, but in fact, they were full of hidden meanings. Every sentence was like a sharp blade wrapped in sugar, subtly testing the other's reaction, but they both maintained due etiquette and demeanor, and it was difficult to find any mistakes in their words.
If An Lingrong were here and heard them talking like this, she would probably have lost control of her temper!
Pretend, what are you pretending for!
Qi Yuebin picked up the teacup beside her, took a sip, and after putting it down, she looked up at Zhen Huan: "By the way, you and Concubine Wen are so close sisters. Why didn't she come with you today? I really want to talk to her more!"
"She felt a little unwell today and went to bed early. When she gets better, she will definitely come to visit me!"
"Feeling unwell? Then you must take good care of yourself." Qi Yuebin nodded slightly, a look of concern on his face, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "You and Concubine Hui are both pregnant, so she must be working hard day and night. If she is not well, how will she deal with the upcoming turmoil? Now that the Queen Mother is feeling better, she should be the happiest one, right?"
Seeing her gloating expression, Zhen Huan was a little annoyed, but she still smiled and said, "Sister, you're right. It's just that things in the palace are always complicated and chaotic. It's impossible for one person to handle it. We sisters must work together."
Seeing that she had gotten to the point, Qi Yuebin stopped exchanging pleasantries and asked directly, "Sister, what you said makes sense. I wonder what brought you here today?"
"I heard that the Queen Mother was worried during her illness. Although the Emperor and Empress cared for her and showed respect, she couldn't help but miss the Fourteenth Master. If she could get any news about the Fourteenth Master, even just a few words, the Queen Mother would surely be very happy. In this way, her health would naturally be at ease."
Her voice was soft and gentle, as if she was just chatting casually, but there was an imperceptible gleam in her eyes.
Qi Yuebin was stunned at first when she heard this, and her hand, which was about to pick up the teacup, paused. But after a moment, she instantly understood what Zhen Huan meant, and couldn't help but feel secretly shocked.
The Fourteenth Master has always been a thorn in the Emperor's heart. In this palace, mentioning the Fourteenth Master is an extremely sensitive matter. If you are not careful, you will end up in dire straits.
After a while, Qi Yuebin spoke slowly, his voice still calm, but with a hint of caution: "Sister, this idea is novel, but the Fourteenth Master is in mourning for the Holy Ancestor, so how can this news be easily spread? Moreover, there are palace rules. It would be inappropriate for us in the harem to interfere in these matters."
"Everything depends on human effort. How do you know if you can do it if you don't try? As for whether it's appropriate or not, that depends on how you act!"
The hall fell into a brief silence for a moment, with only the occasional bird calls outside the window breaking the slightly depressing silence.
Qi Yuebin raised his eyes and looked at Zhen Huan calmly, with a bit more scrutiny and inquiry in his eyes.