jdhmnovel Chapter 397 What did you do behind Concubine Yue’s back?
Chapter 397 What did you do behind Concubine Yue’s back?
Faced with Concubine Yue's denial, Lan Zhaoyi did not refute, but just smiled and continued speaking along the lines of Concubine Yue.
"That's right. If you think any dish doesn't suit your taste, or if you want something that's not on the menu, just tell me."
She personally poured tea and water for everyone at the table. People of lower status stood up in panic, and she comforted them and pulled them to sit down.
"We're gathering today, borrowing Concubine Yue's place. It's because after the military experience, I haven't been able to sleep well these days. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, my mind full of the scene of the Tartars entering the palace. We are like lambs to be slaughtered staying in Fengyi Palace..."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away with a handkerchief. "Look at me, why am I saying all this? I invited everyone here today for no other reason than to get together, so we can comfort each other and quickly forget what happened that day. After all, we have a long life ahead of us, and we can't live in fear and dread all the consequences."
She used tea instead of wine, and first toasted Yue Fei Fei Wan and a few other high-ranking officials, and then, as the host, toasted all the guests.
The banquet officially began.
Because of Lan Zhaoyi's opening remarks, everyone was reminded of that day, so their spirits were low. They chatted in small groups, and the atmosphere was somewhat dull.
Fei Wan and Yue Fei were close to each other, whispering concerns about each other's injuries and chatting casually.
Concubine Yue said she had no appetite and didn't eat anything, only two sips of soup and two pieces of fruit. Fei Wan, seeing her like this, naturally didn't eat anything either, so she asked the maid to pick out the honey pine nuts from the dried fruit plate and ate a few of them.
After a while, he excused himself and left the table, going to the warm room next door to rest.
Not long after, Concubine Yue also followed in.
"Sister, you're not going to eat either?" Fei Wan moved further into the couch to make room for Concubine Yue.
"What's there to eat? Let her take the leftover vegetables back to her palace."
Concubine Yue asked her maid to support her and lay down on the outer end of the couch. She sent the maid away and turned sideways to face Fei Wan.
The couch was not wide, and two people lying side by side were only about half a foot apart.
The smell of their breaths was that of sweet narcissus perfume on Concubine Yue's body, making Fei Wan, who was already sleepy in the afternoon, even more drowsy.
"I see that Sister Yue's treatment of Consort Lan is different today than before."
Speak in a low voice so as not to be heard by outsiders.
Concubine Yue scoffed, "I knew she was full of tricks in her heart, but she was just trying to be useful. Ever since I lost power, been grounded, and reprimanded time and time again, she's been less and less with me. Especially since she was sent to the palace to be punished, she only came to visit me once. Oh, now she's suddenly become so affectionate. Who knows what she's up to? I'm actually doing her a favor by being so perfunctory with her!"
"I'm just like my sister. I'm here today to honor her."
Fei Wan smiled, her lips were as soft as petals, without any lipstick, and the pale pink color was like the cherry blossoms blooming on the branches in spring.
Concubine Yue was stunned by what she saw.
I instantly realized that the two of them were too close.
The bitter smell of the ointment on Fei Wan's body rushed straight into her nose.
"Why are you blushing, sister?" Fei Wan suddenly stretched out her fingers and hooked the wings of the butterfly buttons on her collar.
"I'm not blushing at all, it's just that the room is too hot!"
Concubine Yue slapped Fei Wan's hand away.
Fei Wan was just teasing her and had no intention of playing around, so he stopped immediately.
She whispered, "Sister, what do you think Zhaoyi Lan wants to do by hosting everyone today?"
Concubine Yue rolled her eyes and said, "Who knows? No matter what she does, it's useless in Changle Palace!"
The entire Changle Palace is loose on the outside but tight on the inside.
Just waiting for Lan Zhaoyi to do something bad.
No matter what she does, she can be caught in the first place.
However, what Concubine Yue did not expect was that the entire banquet was calm and nothing happened.
Lian Feiwan was a little confused.
Listening to the concubines outside standing up one after another, saying goodbye to each other, and preparing to go back to their respective places after the banquet, Fei Wan wondered, could it be that Concubine Lan is not planning to cause trouble here?
Concubine Yue called the maid in and helped her out.
"I accidentally fell asleep. You're all leaving so soon. You don't want to talk to me anymore?"
Lan Zhaoyi was just saying goodbye to Concubine Shun when she hurried over and said with a smile, "I didn't dare disturb the Empress and Concubine Zhao, so I'll send you all off first. Now that the Empress is awake, let's go back to the main hall and talk."
Concubine Shun said, "You guys can chat, but I can't stay. I still have to get approval from Concubine Kang."
Recently, the affairs of the palace have been taken care of by Concubine Shun and Concubine Kang. After the war, they have been comforting the dead and wounded, repairing the palace, replenishing things, and dealing with daily trivialities, which have kept the two of them busy.
Concubine Yue said, "Then go get busy."
Concubine Shun spoke a few more words of concern to Concubine Yue, then said goodbye and left.
"My queen dropped something."
A palace maid who served the meal reminded him.
Something fell out of Concubine Shun's sleeve and floated to the ground. Everyone looked and saw that it was a piece of paper.
There seemed to be words on it.
Shun Fei's maid quickly squatted down to pick it up, put it into her sleeve, and helped Shun Fei away.
Lan Zhaoyi laughed and joked, "What's so important? You're so nervous, like you're afraid of being seen."
Concubine Shun laughed and said, "You even make fun of me. You have no respect for your parents."
"Your Majesty, please don't be in such a hurry to leave. I just saw the words 'Yue Fei' written on the note, and it doesn't seem to be a good word." Lan Zhaoyi took a few quick steps and stepped forward to stop Shun Fei who had already stepped over the threshold.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shun retracted her foot, frowned, and asked her, "What do you mean?"
Lan Zhaoyi grabbed her maid's sleeve, forcibly snatched it from the sleeve pocket, and took out the crumpled note, which she unfolded in public.
Concubine Shun's face was grim. "Lan Zhaoyi, what do you want to do? This is the list of heaters that I and Concubine Kang have discussed for each palace. It's not ready yet, so it's inconvenient to make it public. What are you doing..."
Before she could finish her words, she saw the words on the note and stopped immediately.
"What the hell is this!?"
Lan Zhaoyi didn't wait for her to take it back. She turned around and walked over to Concubine Yue with the note in her hand. "What's that? I'd like to ask Concubine Shun about it. Did you do something behind Concubine Yue's back? Who wrote this to you?"
"What nonsense!" Concubine Shun's face turned pale.
At this time, with Lan Zhaoyi's hand, not only Concubine Yue, but also the other concubines in the room could see the words clearly.
——The matter has been settled. Within two days, Concubine Yue will not be able to ascend to the throne. But please rest assured, Your Majesty.
For a moment, everyone looked at Concubine Shun in surprise.
Concubine Shun felt as if a thorn in her back, and turned to stare at her maid.
"What's wrong with you? You pick up all kinds of notes and put them up your sleeves!"
The maid fell to her knees, mumbling an apology, but no one could hear what she was saying clearly.
Lan Zhaoyi said, "Empress Shun, it's true that your maid hurriedly picked up the paper and put it in her sleeve, but it was from your sleeve that it fell out. Why are you blaming others? You should explain clearly to Empress Yue what you did!"
"This isn't the paper in my sleeve. What's in my sleeve is another list..."
Concubine Shun turned up her sleeves and took out her sleeve pockets on the spot.
But the bag was empty, there was nothing in it.
Her expression changed.
At this time, a palace attendant from Changle Palace entered the room and reported: "The emperor has sent a message. His Majesty requests that the queen come to Chenqian Palace immediately!"
Concubine Yue asked, "Did you say what it was?"