Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 31

On tenterhooks.

Xiao Yu’s verbal decree was spread to Zhongcui Palace in the blink of an eye.

Hearing that she was appointed to take care of the eldest prince, despite being surprised, Xu Lanzhi could not suppress the smile on her lips.

Yuan Xi, a maid of the Zhongcui Palace, smiled and said: “His Majesty let my lady take care of the eldest prince at this juncture, it must be a good sign.” The court and the harem were closely related, which one of them did not know about the matter that had just been issued this morning?

Xu Lanzhi looked at the maid in annoyance and said lightly: “What good sign? Don’t talk nonsense.”

Yuan Xi pursed her lips and continued to smile: “This servant will congratulate my lady first.”

Having received the emperor’s verbal decree, Xu Lanzhi did not dare to waste more time. She immediately got up and prepared to go to Shou’an Palace. Just when she arrived at the door, she paused and said, “Yuan Xi, go get two packs of plum candy.”

Yuan Xi asked in confusion: “Plum candy?”

Xu Lanzhi: “Young children are afraid of taking bitter medicine. Quickly bring them over.”

“Yes!”

Yuan Xi recalled that the eunuch who had just read the decree specifically explained that the eldest prince had recently suffered a cold and kept coughing.

When Xu Lanzhi arrived at Shou’an Palace, Imperial Physician Ning was examining the pulse of the eldest prince.

Xu Lanzhi went around the screen, raised her eyes, and looked in the direction of the eldest prince—Xiao Yun’s facial features were very similar to the emperor, that was to say that his palm-sized face was very handsome.

Hearing the movement coming from the door, Xiao Yun raised his head eagerly and looked around. The moment he found Xu Lanzhi, his dark pupils became different and he looked at Momo Yuan puzzledly.

“Momo…”
Once he finished speaking, he suddenly coughed until he was out of breath,

Seeing this, Xu Lanzhi took a few steps in his direction, then looked down and asked Physician Ning: “Is the eldest prince’s disease serious?”

Imperial Physician Ning got up and replied: “Answering Shuyi, the disease is not serious, but the eldest prince’s body was hot yesterday and he coughs more today. I’m afraid he will have to take a few medications.”

At this time, the medicine was ready.

A court lady came over with the medicine, and Xiao Yun frowned.

Xu Lanzhi immediately squatted down, looked at Xiao Yun’s eyes, and said softly: “Don’t be afraid of the bitterness, look at what I brought you.”

Xu Lanzhi stretched one hand into her sleeve before taking it out again, “Look, some plums.”

Xiao Yun pursed his lips and looked at Shuyi Xu motionlessly.

His eyes reddened inexplicably.

Shuyi Xu only felt that it was normal because the child was ill. She took the medicine bowl, took a spoonful, blew it, and delivered it to his mouth with a soft “aah”.

However, when the porcelain spoon touched Xiao Yun’s lips, Xiao Yun raised his arm to push the medicine bowl.

The medicine was spilled and the bowl fell to pieces.

Shuyi Xu quickly stepped away.

Young children do not like to take medicine, he merely does not like taking medicine, she thought as she took a deep breath.

“Bring another bowl here.” Xu Lanzhi turned her head and said to the maid.

After a while, the maid brought a bowl of medicine again, but when Shuyi Xu took it, Xiao Yu said in a hoarse voice: “I will drink it myself.”

Because of the illness, his voice was somewhat weak, but his eyes were undoubtedly determined.

Shuyi Xu froze in place, not knowing what to do for a while.

Momo Yuan knew Xiao Yun’s temperament. Since he said that he would drink it by himself, then he would never be fed. She hurriedly went over to relieve Shuyi Xi, “Let this old servant do it.”

Xu Lanzhi knew that she had to pass the decoction back to Momo Yuan.

Although she was a bit disappointed in her heart, she also knew that feelings could not be cultivated overnight. It was understandable that the eldest prince was vigilant against her since he had lost his mother at a young age.

Shortly after, Xu Lanzhi let Yuan Xi give the two packs of plum candy to Momo Yuan and said: “I often had colds when I was young, and my mother would give me plum candy to coax me to drink medicine. I don’t know whether Yun’er likes it or not.”

Momo Yuan bowed to take it, “Shuyi is very considerate.”

Momo Yuan was afraid that Shuyi Xu would overthink things and grow misunderstandings in her heart, so she specifically added one more sentence, “His Highness is still young, so my lady does not need to worry. The future is long.”

Xu Lanzhi nodded her head, “Many thanks to momo.”

Xu Lanzhi left Shou’an Palace, and Xiao Yun lay down again and closed his eyes.

Momo Yuan wanted to cover him with a blanket, but when she lowered her head, she saw his wet eyelashes.

She had been serving in the deep palace for so long, it was not that she had never thought of that outcome.

But that Jieyu Qin’s identity was too low after all.

Momo Yuan had mixed feelings in her heart, but she could only lean over and pat Xiao Yun on the back.

***

Consort Xue received the news as soon as Xu Lanzhi went to Shou’an Palace.

Consort Xue raised the corner of her lips and sneered: “What did I say? Jieyu Qin’s father is merely an insignificant grand scribe and her eldest brother is just a lowly merchant. How could His Majesty trust the eldest prince to her? In the end he’s just paving the way for the daughter of the Xu family.”

“Not to mention the eldest prince’s maternal family is guilty of treason and has earned the wrath of the people. How could they agree if the emperor put him in Jieyu Qin’s place?”

Qing Yue massaged Consort Xue’s shoulders and said anxiously: “But once Shuyi Xu raises the eldest prince, wouldn’t it be…”

“Don’t worry,” Consort Xue said quietly. “That person from Cining Palace will never let someone of the Xu shi become a phoenix.”

Empress Dowager Chu had no heir, so to put it bluntly, during those years she supported Xiao Yu ascend the throne was also to protect the Chu family’s honor and glory. But then the emperor refused to marry the eldest daughter of House of Chu, Chu Yingguo even though she had passed marriageable age.

Consort Xue supported the pearl hairpin on her head and stood, then said, “Come. Let’s go to Cining Palace.”

When Consort Xue entered Cining Palace, the corners of her mouth suddenly rose.
Sure enough, in this palace, there was not a single simple person, as she was not the first one to arrive.

Consort Liu was already playing go with the empress dowager.

Seeing Consort Xue approaching, the empress dowager gave a knowing smile and said: “Aijia has just started the game when you came.”

Consort Xue paid her respect, then immediately said a light “Oh!” while pointing at the board: “Big Sister Liu, this white pion is misplaced.”

Consort Liu looked up at her and sneered: “Little Sister is truly picking fruit by climbing a wall, your hand is stretched so long.”

This room was full of foxes with profound knowledge, there was something hidden in each and every word.

The empress dowager smiled and reprimanded: “Consort Xue, why don’t you get rid of your old problem. Just watch the game without saying a word.”

Consort Xue obediently said: “This concubine knows her mistake.”

The empress dowager: “What mistake? Just sit here and accompany aijia to play.”

Some time passed and the empress dowager had already lifted her hand to knead her temples several times.

Consort Xue hurriedly asked with concern: “Your Highness, does your head hurt again?”

The empress dowager replied: “Aijia’s body is not as good as before. I used to accompany the late emperor in go and did not get tired at all. Now only some time has passed and I have a headache already.”

Consort Xue got closer to the empress dowager and put her hands on her temples to massage it slowly: “What did the physicians say?”

“You know, the usual, telling aijia to fully relax,” The empress dowager closed her eyes and frowned, “But there are so many things in the harem, how can aijia relax?”

Consort Xue and Consort Liu said together: “This concubine is willing to share the worries for Your Highness.”

The empress dowager opened her eyes to look at the two people before her, then nodded thoughtfully, “Consort Xue ah, sometimes, my body feels good, but other times, it feels bad. Consort Liu likes quietness, while you are energetic.”

Consort Xue said: “Does Your Highness dislike this concubine for being too noisy?”

“I have something for you to do.”

The empress dowager lifted the black pion in her hand into the basket and said: “I will give you the right to manage the harem.”

At Consort Liu’s gaze, Consort Xue smiled slightly before paying her respect in gratitude: “This concubine will live up to Your Highness’ high hopes.”

***

Jingyang Palace. Mist curled up from the censer.

Qin Ling sat in the hall alone in a daze, recalling the dream last night.

She had to say that Xiao Yu was a person who held onto his promises. In that, he was truly kind to her. In other words, he was kind to princess consort Jin.

At that time, she did not know that there existed the kind of person who can control their emotions freely.

When they need you, they can make you think they have you in their heart.

When she was young, she was so passionate she had forgotten that people who were born to compete with each other would not be entangled in love.

She remembered that Xiao Yu used this corruption case to severely break Prince Cheng’s right and left arm.

At that time, the court was turbulent, everyone united with those of the same views but alienated those with different views. The case was reviewed by the Supreme Court, and Su Huai’an tried his best to help.

Su Huai’an really responded to what he had said to her back then—As long as he treats you well, I, Su Jingming, will voluntarily serve him.

Qin Ling involuntarily looked out the window.

Was her eldest brother alive?

When Qin Ling was still lost in thought, there was an urgent knock on the door outside.

“Come in.”

Chang Ge said: “Reporting to Jieyu, Gonggong Sheng is here.”

Gonggong Sheng?

Intuitively, Qin Ling felt a little uneasy in her heart, but she didn’t show it on her face. She merely said, “What are you waiting for? Quickly invite him in.”

Gonggong Sheng slowly walked in and spoke with the usual polite smile on his face: “Today, this servant came because I have something to say to Jieyu.”

Qin Ling: “Gonggong, do tell.”

“The eldest prince suffered a cold yesterday and the high fever persisted. He just drank the medicine and fell asleep,” Gonggong Sheng paused for a while and lifted his eyes to look at Qin Ling before continuing: “So Jieyu does not need to bother going to Shou’an Place to accompany him to study.”

Hearing this, Qin Ling immediately said: “Is the cold serious?”

Gonggong Sheng secretly tried to figure out the Holy One’s intention. He touched the tip of his nose and deliberately said: “There is Shuyi Xu looking after him, Jieyu doesn’t need to worry too much.”

What did Shuyi Xu go to Shou’an Palace for?

Qin Ling’s delicate eyebrows were knitted slightly: “Daring myself to ask Gonggong, what does this imply?”

“Today, His Majesty has given a verbal decree, the eldest prince’s study and everyday life matters will be Shuyi Xu’s responsibility for the time being,” Gonggong Sheng looked into Qin Ling’s eyes and smiled faintly, “Before this, Jieyu has spent a lot of effort to accompany His Little Highness in his study, His Majesty has taken it all and bestowed these rewards for you.”

After that, a dozen or so court ladies came in one after another, each holding a lacquer tray.

Gold and silver jewelry, jade and all kinds of precious stone. It could be described as a dazzling array.

Gonggong Sheng reminded her: “Jieyu, thank you for your kindness.”

Qin Ling leaned over to express her gratitude and nodded: “This concubine… thank His Majesty for the rewards.”

Gonggong Sheng replied: “Then, this servant will retire first.”

The door closed with a creak, and the surroundings were still like a pond of stagnant water.

Qin Ling seemed to be able to hear the throbbing heartbeat in her chest, slowly becoming empty.

One has to say that people will change.

If she were the same as she was six years ago, she would definitely ignore this and rush into Yangxin Hall to have a big fight with him. Now, time changed and things were different. She knew at an earlier time that to let the daughter of the Qin family to raise the eldest prince, she could only try to figure out a plan slowly.

She knew everything, but at a certain moment, she admitted that it was still as if boiling water was drenching her heart and lungs.

Dark clouds flowed slowly, blocking the sunlight. Qin Ling’s body was half-covered by the shadow.

Just as she was thinking about what to do, a figure flashed across the bronze mirror placed on the opposite side. In the main hall where Qin Ling lived, the dressing table was facing the window.

However, when she opened the window to look, there was no one around.