kvmb Chapter 283 Testing
Chapter 283 Testing
"You didn't know?" Shen Qingtan looked surprised and slowly said, "The maidservant by the Imperial Concubine's side kept Yinyin and asked her about the dietary taboos of Northern Qi."
"I was so focused on Princess Guangning that I didn't notice anything else. I thought it was because Miss Qi hadn't followed."
Hui Chun explained, "There are many rules in the palace. I'm worried that if Miss Qi accidentally offends someone important, Your Highness won't be able to help."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtan raised an eyebrow.
Who among those whose rank was below Consort Ling would dare not give Consort Ling some face?
Only Consort Xian, who was in charge of the affairs of the six palaces, could rival Consort Ling.
Now, Consort Ling and Consort Xian are competing against each other.
The "noble lady" mentioned in Huichun's words refers to Consort Xian, implying that Consort Xian is difficult to get along with and that offending her would likely not end well.
A thought flashed in Shen Qingtan's eyes. Huichun wouldn't bring up this sentence for no reason; it seemed like she was laying the groundwork for something that was about to happen.
Is Consort Ling planning to target Qi Chuyin and frame Consort Xian?
"Yinyin is a bit straightforward, but she is also a well-mannered noblewoman who will not offend anyone by breaking the rules. If she does offend someone, it is probably just a misunderstanding."
Shen Qingtan calmly said, "Since it's a misunderstanding, if the Imperial Concubine steps in and clarifies the misunderstanding, the noble ladies in the palace won't hold it against Yinyin."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "I found all the distinguished guests to be very kind and easy to get along with."
Hui Chun was speechless, unable to refute Shen Qingtan's words, otherwise it would be saying that the noble ladies in the palace were not kind and difficult to get along with.
If these words were to get out, her death would be imminent.
Huichun quickly said, "This servant was too worried about Miss Qi and misspoke."
"No matter where you are, always remember the words 'be careful with your words and actions,' or you'll get into trouble for what you say," Shen Qingtan said casually. "Luckily, you're following a master with a gentle temperament. If you were following one with a bad temper, you would inevitably suffer physical pain."
Thinking of Consort Ling's temperament, Hui Chun tightened her fingers, lowered her head, and bowed to Shen Qingtan: "This servant will remember the Prefect's instructions."
Shen Qingtan said, "Alright, go to the main hall to entertain the distinguished guests."
Huichun withdrew.
Shen Qingtan watched Hui Chun's departing figure, recalling what Hui Chun had said, wondering how Qi Chuyin was doing.
She arranged for secret guards to follow Qi Chuyin, so that if Consort Ling made any move, it would reach Emperor Jing'an's ears in no time.
Given Consort Ling's cunning, she wouldn't be so foolish, would she?
Even if they wanted to frame Qi Chuyin, they would do it subtly, leading her to make a mistake. That way, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to Consort Ling.
However, given Qi Chuyin's personality, Consort Ling's elaborate schemes might not be able to outwit her.
-
Qi Chuyin stood at the entrance of the garden behind the side hall, holding a menu handed to her by a palace maid.
She glanced at it briefly, then looked at the palace maid holding the brush and ink.
"How would I know what food the princess ate in Northern Qi?" Qi Chuyin casually tossed the menu onto the tray. "You might as well go to the Siyi Pavilion and ask the people of Northern Qi."
After entering the palace, she felt extremely uncomfortable.
Everyone wore a mask, and their words were full of hidden meanings.
It's not as carefree as the North.
The palace maid hurriedly said, "Miss Qi, the imperial kitchen is about to prepare lunch. If I go to the Siyi Pavilion now, I'm afraid it will be too late."
"Don't you prepare in advance?" Qi Chuyin asked, puzzled. "If the Imperial Kitchen doesn't have the ingredients, do you then ask the Imperial Household Department to buy them outside the palace?"
The palace maid explained, "Your Highness originally wanted Princess Guangning to experience the flavors of the Great Zhou, but was worried that Princess Guangning wouldn't be used to them, so she thought of preparing one or two special delicacies from the Northern Qi as well."
"You've asked the wrong person." Qi Chuyin said this and then headed to the side hall.
A palace maid knelt before Qi Chuyin, pleading, "Miss Qi, you and your soldiers have conquered several cities of Northern Qi in the north, so you should know the flavors of Northern Qi. Please help me by writing down two dishes. If I mess this up..."
"Alright." Prince Yu emerged from a narrow door, interrupting the maid's last words: "Miss Qi doesn't know, you don't need to force her."
When the maid saw Prince Yu appear, she turned pale with fright. She swallowed the words "I will be punished" and hurriedly left.
Prince Yu overheard Qi Chuyin's conversation with her maid next door. Qi Chuyin was adamant that she would not get involved in matters of the inner palace.
As a woman, she fought on the battlefield in the north and deserves to be called a heroine. She naturally had strategies in her heart, so how could she not see through such petty tricks in the inner quarters?
The maid's kneeling pleading would not only fail to persuade Qi Chuyin, but would also only make more mistakes.
Prince Yu looked at Qi Chuyin, who was wearing a black robe with wrist guards, and was tall and slender with a heroic air.
Besides Empress Xiao'en, she was the only female general to emerge from the Great Zhou Dynasty.
“Miss Qi, please forgive my rudeness.” Prince Yu’s expression was gentle, his clear eyes filled with a smile: “You’ve come to the back garden to admire the flowers?”
"It's nothing." Qi Chuyin looked at the gentle-looking Prince Yu and didn't want to say more. "I was just passing by, farewell."
Qi Chuyin clasped her hands in a fist salute to Prince Yu, then turned and left.
Prince Yu looked thoughtfully at Qi Chuyin's retreating figure.
-
As Qi Chuyin stepped into the front courtyard of the side hall, she saw Shen Qingtan standing at the entrance, as if waiting for her.
"Sister-in-law," Qi Chuyin quickly approached Shen Qingtan, "Is Princess Guangning alright?"
"The princess was frightened in the back garden and went to sleep in the side hall." Shen Qingtan wanted to ask a question, but then remembered that this was Consort Ling's palace and that someone might be watching them, so she kept quiet.
Qi Chuyin saw through Shen Qingtan's thoughts and whispered in Shen Qingtan's ear, "The Empress asked me to write down some dishes from Northern Qi. Prince Yu came to the rescue."
In Qi Chuyin's view, Prince Yu was not trying to help her out of a predicament, but rather to stop the palace maid from speaking, fearing that saying too much would reveal a flaw.
"Don't worry, I've refused them all." Qi Chuyin didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the harem. Only by remaining unmoved could she protect herself and avoid being plotted against.
Shen Qingtan breathed a sigh of relief, probably understanding Consort Ling's thoughts.
If Qi Chuyin were to write down a few dishes without any precautions, and Princess Guangning were to eat those dishes and something were to happen to her, she would surely face certain doom.
Just as Shen Qingtan was about to speak, she saw Princess Guangning sit up and say in a low voice, "I will tell your cousin about today's events when I return to the manor."
Qi Chuyin nodded.
Shen Qingtan came to the long couch, poured a cup of water and handed it to Princess Guangning: "Princess, how are you feeling? Should we send someone to invite the imperial physician to take your pulse?"
Princess Guangning held the water cup with both hands and said listlessly, "No need, I'm feeling better."
"It's good that you're alright. I can give Her Majesty an explanation now." Shen Qingtan had a vague idea of what had happened to Princess Guangning. She tentatively asked, "Princess, there are rumors outside that you're going to marry Prince Yu. If that's true, that's fine. But if it's just a rumor, letting it go will only hinder you."