In an instant, Tang Youyou frowned. She suddenly felt unwell, a wave of nausea surging up. She immediately rushed to a garden, bending over and retching for a long time, but she didn't feel any better.
This scene scared Yi Ran. She hurriedly helped Tang Youyou to the main hall. Only when she saw Tang Youyou lying on the couch did she heave a sigh of relief.
Qing Yu had just returned from the Imperial Household Department. Seeing Tang Youyou's pale face, she was about to call for the imperial physician, but was stopped by Tang Youyou on the couch.
"Qing Yu, there's no need to call the imperial physician. I know my own body well."
The two of them had words of concern on the tip of their tongues, but they hesitated to say them. They knew that Tang Youyou was stubborn, and saying too much might not make her listen, so they simply let it be.
After a long while, Tang Youyou's complexion looked better. Yi Ran was just about to go out to do some work when, just as she took a step, she saw from afar Su Nian'e holding a delicate small box, striding towards the main hall.
Yi Ran looked at Qing Yu, signaling that there was someone at the door.
In a blink of an eye, Qing Yu had already reached the door of the main hall. She didn't give Su Nian'e a good look at all. She said, "Thank you, Noble Consort Su, for coming all the way. Her Majesty the Queen is unwell today and can't see you."
Hearing this, the smile on Su Nian'e's face disappeared instantly, replaced by a look of malevolence.
She looked ugly, but couldn't say a word for a long time. It seemed that something was off about Su Nian'e today.
She suppressed her temper and actually said in a soft voice, "I haven't seen Her Majesty the Queen for more than a month. I just wanted to come and see her."
Seeing that Yi Ran still wouldn't let her in, she said again, "I'm just following the palace rules and coming to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Queen."
As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Youyou inside said, "Yi Ran, let her in."
Hearing Tang Youyou's voice, Yi Ran could only grit her teeth and let Su Nian'e in.
Just as she was about to enter, Su Nian'e gave Yi Ran a venomous look, her eyes extremely arrogant.
Meanwhile, Tang Youyou, half - lying on the couch inside, had a clear idea of what was going on at the door. Even though she didn't see the person's every move, she could imagine it precisely in her mind.
Looking at the listless Tang Youyou, Su Nian'e's dissatisfaction disappeared instantly. On the surface, she pretended to look concerned and gently asked, "Your Majesty the Queen, why are you ill?"
Tang Youyou gave her a sidelong glance and said with a half - smile, "I accidentally fell into the water a few days ago and caught a cold, which is why I'm like this."
Hearing Tang Youyou say this, Su Nian'e placed the box in her arms beside Tang Youyou and then explained, "This perfume was developed by me a few days ago. I've given some to the sisters in each palace. I know that Your Majesty the Queen likes osmanthus fragrance, so I used osmanthus as the base and made a box for you."
Tang Youyou glanced at the delicate box on the table and was very vigilant in her heart. This woman never came without a reason. She was probably up to no good.
She sat in a high position, observing the woman's every move, but she couldn't find any fault with her. She just felt that something was off.
"Then thank you, Sister, for your kindness. I'll accept the gift. I'm not feeling well today and can't accompany you for long. Qing Yu, see the guest out."
Tang Youyou didn't give her any more time to talk. Qing Yu was quick - witted. She slightly raised her right hand, making a gesture of "please".
Surprisingly, Su Nian'e showed no emotion today. After bowing slightly, she quickly left.
Seeing that the hall had become much quieter and Tang Youyou could finally have some peace, for some reason, Tang Youyou had been feeling sleepier recently, accompanied by constant retching.
She said, "Yi Ran, I'm going to rest. Don't wake me up for anything later."
Hearing this, Yi Ran nodded. She looked blankly at the still bright sky outside and then at Tang Youyou, who was yawning continuously. She frowned slightly.
Yi Ran hesitated for a moment and then quickly left the main hall.
After a long while, Tang Youyou's breathing became even.
She slept until noon the next day. She was in good spirits and got out of bed, planning to go for a stroll and think about a way to leave.
With her hands behind her back, she strolled in the imperial garden. Seeing her hunched back like an old woman, Qing Yu anxiously said, "Your Majesty the Queen, if you have any worries, please tell this servant. If not, you can tell the Emperor too."
"If Your Majesty the Queen keeps worrying like this every day, you might get sick from it."
Tang Youyou stared blankly at the Lotus Pavilion expressionlessly. Her handsome and extremely beautiful face showed a trace of coldness and a hint of melancholy.
Qing Yu even thought that the Queen had become a bit silly after sleeping.
But Tang Youyou hardly said a word, which made Qing Yu even more convinced of her own thought. She carefully followed behind Tang Youyou, afraid that she might do something impulsive again.
Tang Youyou stood with her hands behind her back, and then bowed her head in thought.
After a moment, she raised her eyebrows slightly, her heart skipped a beat, and then she restrained her sharp gaze.
She saw Wen Ruxue walking not far away. Her smart eyes became dull, as if she was deliberately avoiding this person.
Wen Ruxue walked gracefully, slowly approaching her. When she reached Tang Youyou, she simply saluted, claiming that it was because of her unwell body.
Tang Youyou said, "Sister is not feeling well. You should stay in your own palace. Why do you keep coming out to suffer?"
It seemed that every word Tang Youyou said was full of concern, but to Wen Ruxue's ears, it was the greatest irony.
She gritted her teeth, sneered coldly, and then said, "Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen, for your concern. I'm just not feeling well, but it's not that my legs are bad. Is Your Majesty the Queen blaming me for coming out and making you feel unlucky?"
The two of them immediately became tense. But the next moment, Tang Youyou suddenly softened her momentum. She looked at Wen Ruxue timidly with a forced smile on her face.
"Concubine Wen has misunderstood me. A few days ago, Noble Consort Su came to my palace to pay her respects and told me something about you. She only said that there was singing and dancing in your palace every night, but she didn't know who it was..."
Tang Youyou paused for a moment. She glanced at Wen Ruxue's expression. Sure enough, this person looked flustered, and the handkerchief in her hand was crumpled.
Tang Youyou then continued, "Later, Noble Consort Su wanted to go to your residence to take a look. But those servants were so stupid. They just said that you were busy and couldn't see her, and then sent Noble Consort Su away perfunctorily."
"I've been worried about you for a long time because of this. I'm afraid that you might have been offended by some lecher and seen something dirty. Am I right?"