Chapter 16: Sharp-tongued
Chapter 16: Sharp-tongued
acquaintance?
The call of "Sister Shen" made Shen Qingtang feel confused.
She didn't remember that besides Li Changzai, she had a second sister in the palace.
Shen Qingtang looked back and saw a pretty girl in a goose yellow skirt. After greeting the woman in a gorgeous dress next to her, she walked towards her with her almond-shaped eyes blinking and a happy look on her face.
They are the mistress of Chunxi Palace, Liu Linglong, and her noble lady Zhang Leyao.
Lady Zhang?
How could she not remember when she had any friendship with this noble lady Zhang?
Calming his mind, Shen Qingtang knelt down and saluted the woman in the gorgeous dress.
"Noble Lady Shen from Fanghua Palace greets Noble Lady Liu Zhaoyuan and Noble Lady Zhang."
"A few days ago, I heard that the emperor made an exception and appointed a little palace maid as a noble lady. I didn't expect it to be you, my sister."
Concubine Zhang walked around Shen Qingtang, then turned and happily introduced her to Liu Zhaoyuan.
"Sister Liu, she is the one I told you about before."
As she spoke, Concubine Zhang extended her hand affectionately again, and Shen Qingtang was caught off guard and was grabbed by her hand.
"I haven't congratulated you yet, sister. I told you that with your looks, even if you were rejected and became a maid in Chenglu Palace, you wouldn't be a slave forever. Don't you think your luck has turned and you are the latecomer who has taken over?"
Concubine Zhang smiled and spoke gently, and every word she said made Liu Zhaoyuan's face change.
The critical gaze moved from Shen Qingtang's cross bun with the green lotus jade hairpin on it, to her graceful wide-sleeved moon-white fairy dress, and finally to her fairy-like jade-colored face, and he snorted in displeasure.
"From a palace maid to a noble lady with a title, Lady Shu is truly a man of many talents."
Liu Zhaoyuan made no secret of her dislike for Shen Qingtang.
Liu Zhaoyuan's words were like a knife piercing people's hearts. If it were someone else, she would have been humbled to the point of being ashamed. Unfortunately, the person she ridiculed was Niu Hulu Qingtang from the New Century.
As if she didn't understand, Shen Qingtang smiled shyly, "Empress Zhaoyuan, you are too kind. It's just that the emperor likes me, so I was named Shu Guiren. I have only been serving the emperor for a short time, so I will need to ask Empress Zhaoyuan for more advice in the future."
It's hard to give up a natural beauty. Who made the emperor like her? !
After taking a quick glance, Liu Zhaoyuan suddenly felt that smile was very annoying.
"When Lady Shu entered the palace, there were rumors that you were sharp-tongued. Seeing you today, I can see that you are indeed very sharp-tongued."
Shen Qingtang was also innocent when Liu Zhaoyuan got close to him and fired at him.
"Empress Zhaoyuan, it's not that I don't want to change, but the emperor likes me to be straightforward and frank. You don't like me to talk, so why don't I twist my tongue and become mute?"
Shen Qingtang's words were full of bloody threats, and not only Liu Zhaoyuan, but even Zhang Guiren changed their expressions.
Does the Emperor know that Concubine Shu is so crazy?
Twisted your tongue and became mute?
Who dares!
"What a good lady Shu, I will remember you!" Liu Zhaoyuan spat inwardly, swung the pink scarf on her wrist and shouted coldly, "Lady Zhang, you want to reminisce about the old sisterhood, but I'm afraid she won't look down on you. Come with me to pay respects to the Queen!"
Seeing Liu Zhaoyuan leave angrily, Shi Liu and An Lan also supported Shen Qingtang and walked towards the vermilion palace gate.
An Lan withdrew her gaze and said worriedly, "My lady, today is the day you officially show up in the harem. If you offend Liu Zhaoyuan this time, I'm afraid—"
"It's okay." Only the right amount of sharpness can prevent people from being easily bullied.
She does want to establish a vase persona, but she also didn't say that she wants to hide her edge and be a soft persimmon to be squeezed by others. As long as she doesn't become the target of public criticism, she will be safe for the time being.
When Shen Qingtang and his two servants crossed the threshold and were engulfed by the vermilion and green-tiled Kunning Palace, two figures slowly walked out from the corner.
"My lady, I told you that you slept too late last night. You almost missed the time to pay your respects today."
"Isn't this in time?" Concubine Liang covered her lips with her jade hands, breathing heavily and said, "Being late has its advantages. Look, this wonderful show has been brought to me, hasn't it?"
Perhaps she was really sleepy. Concubine Liang looked in the direction of Kunning Palace and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
"What you said that day only showed one tenth of Concubine Shu's eloquence. Look how angry it made Liu Zhaoyuan? Concubine Shu is so sharp-tongued. It seems that I am worrying about nothing and cannot be the flower-guarding messenger." In just a few words, Ping'er couldn't count with both hands how many yawns her queen had yawned. It was obvious that she was very sleepy, but she was still thinking about protecting Concubine Shu.
With her queen being like this, it's hard to say how Concubine Zhengui will set the rules in the future.
Thinking of Concubine Zhengui, Ping'er couldn't help but shudder and hurriedly took out a small porcelain bottle from her arms.
"Your Highness, if you go to pay respects like this, you may be held accountable by the Imperial Concubine. Can I give you some cold oil?"
"Don't worry, the Queen is the one who protects me the most, how could I be afraid of her." Concubine Liang snorted, but tilted her head to match Ping'er, "If you lose your manners, you will not be beautiful after all."
The use of cool oil instantly refreshed the mind, and the world in Concubine Liang's eyes suddenly became much brighter.
"A little more here..."
……
In Kunning Palace, frogs croak and cicadas chirp.
In the front hall, all the concubines gathered together, some plump and some thin, each with her own unique charm.
"Your concubine Shen from Fanghua Palace pays respects to the Empress. May the Empress be blessed with good health and good health."
In the hall, except for Liu Zhaoyuan's cold snort, everyone else looked at Shen Qingtang.
More than a dozen scrutinizing eyes fell on him, and Shen Qingtang greeted him without any fear.
The greeting was as smooth as flowing water, and the manners were so standard that there was nothing to fault with.
Queen Ye, who was sitting high on the gilded phoenix throne, withdrew her gaze from Shen Qingtang, her rosy face filled with a gentle smile.
"Hurry up and get up. The emperor said you were not feeling well and had exempted you from paying your respects. It's a pity that you still came. It's really thoughtful of you."
As soon as Queen Ye finished speaking, not only did Liu Zhaoyuan change her expression, but everyone else also looked at her subtly.
She has just entered the emperor's bedchamber, yet she is so favored. Could she really be the second precious concubine in the future? !
Under the suspicious gazes of many people, Shen Qingtang smiled softly and said shyly: "It is a blessing for me to be able to pay my respects to you in this life."
Shen Qingtang's words were sincere and heartfelt, which made Queen Ye happy both physically and mentally.
"No wonder the emperor likes you so much. Even I am delighted to see you like this."
"That's right, Lady Shu's mouth is as sweet as honey." Concubine Liang, who was a step late, appeared in everyone's sight holding Ping'er's hand. "From now on, let's see who dares to say that you are sharp-tongued. I will be the first to disagree. Queen, don't you agree?"
As soon as Concubine Liang finished speaking, Liu Zhaoyuan, who was sitting next to her, turned pale, while Shen Qingtang herself blushed with shame.
"Your concubine greets Concubine Liang." So Concubine Liang must have eavesdropped on her, right?
Walls have ears, and the ancients were not deceiving her.
"I haven't even paid my respects to the Empress yet. Please stand up." Concubine Liang knelt down to greet Empress Ye. "I pay my respects to the Empress. I am late today. Please be magnanimous and don't blame me."
Suspecting that she was being tricked, Liu Zhaoyuan immediately said with a smile, "The Queen is merciful. Even if Concubine Liang didn't come to pay her respects today like Concubine Zhengui did, the Queen wouldn't blame you."
Everyone in the harem knew that among all the concubines, Empress Ye loved Concubine Liang the most.
Concubine Zhengui was the most arrogant and domineering person in the harem, and was disliked by Empress Ye the most.
Now, with just one sentence, Liu Zhaoyuan equated Concubine Liang with Concubine Zhengui, which shows how sinister her intentions are.
Queen Ye glanced at Liu Zhaoyuan, then looked at Concubine Liang, and seeing the dark shadows under her eyes that could not be covered by makeup, she immediately asked Aunt Ginkgo to invite her to her side.
"Why do you look so haggard? Liu Zhaoyuan is right. Even if you don't come, I won't blame you."
Concubine Liang sat down at the bottom, looking at Shen Qingtang with a smile and a teasing look.
"Instead of asking me, Your Majesty, why don't you ask Lady Shu? Lady Shu, what do you think?"
(End of this chapter)