At this moment, deep in the harem, An Suzhi was still enjoying the attendants' service. Every maid held a dazzling array of delicacies in her hands.
This feeling of being the center of attention gave An Suzhi a greater sense of satisfaction.
Meanwhile, in the distance, a woman in a thin gauze dress hurried towards An Suzhi. It was Shen Mengchen. She looked at the person who was enjoying herself and said, "Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, in a little while, Her Majesty the Empress will be back."
Hearing this, An Suzhi sneered, "Whether she comes back or not has nothing to do with this palace. Besides, even if she does come back, she'll only end up as a prisoner of this palace!"
Hearing this, Shen Mengchen smiled and said, "In that case, this concubine won't worry any more. As long as Your Highness is well."
Looking at Shen Mengchen, An Suzhi took a grape from a servant on one side and looked at her as she said, "So, you came all the way here just to tell this palace this?"
"When did you become so kind?"
After her words fell, An Suzhi smiled and said, "This concubine came to the Great Ming Kingdom with the princess. I'm all alone here. If I can relieve the princess' worries, it can be considered as this concubine's repayment to the king."
At this, An Suzhi continued to mock, "If that's the case, it's this palace's fortune. As long as you're loyal to this palace, this palace guarantees that you'll live a good life in the future."
Hearing this, Shen Mengchen nodded silently and then turned to leave.
Outside the palace, Tang Youyou sat in the sedan chair and entered the palace under everyone's gaze.
In the distance, Rong Xun had been waiting at the palace gate for a long time. He quietly watched Tang Youyou until she stopped in front of the main hall of the palace. Then Rong Xun walked towards her.
"Xiaoyou'er, you're finally back?"
Hearing this address, Tang Youyou was slightly stunned. She saw that Rong Xun in front of her looked haggard and as pale as paper.
Tang Youyou tilted her head and asked, "Have you stayed up all night or indulged in pleasure too much?"
Hearing this, Rong Xun carefully carried Tang Youyou down from the sedan chair. He whispered in her ear with a smile, "So? I've been waiting for you for a long time. You're just coming now. It really makes me feel bad."
Looking at this person's hypocritical appearance, Tang Youyou frowned and mocked, "Are you... in love again?"
Hearing this, Rong Xun pinched the waist of the person in his arms hard. For a moment, Tang Youyou's mind went blank. She stared blankly at Rong Xun.
"What are you doing? There are so many people watching! They'll say we don't know the proper etiquette!"
Hearing this, Rong Xun deliberately pretended to be arrogant and said, "What I want to do doesn't allow others to make irresponsible remarks. So you don't have to worry."
On one side of the palace, there were many concubines and palace servants standing. On the other side, there were many court officials.
Since Tang Youyou came to the palace with the empress's ceremonial guards, coming in great splendor under everyone's attention, these people had to kneel down!
This was also the confidence Rong Xun gave her. He just wanted these people to see clearly that his woman could only be bullied by him. No one else should even think about it!
Just then, a woman walked over unhurriedly from a distance. This woman pretended to be very surprised when she saw Tang Youyou lying so openly in Rong Xun's arms.
She immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, what are you doing? You're of noble status. How can you be so tired? Although this concubine is a princess from the Western Regions and not very clear about some etiquettes, I can't just watch Your Majesty suffer!"
Hearing this woman's words, Rong Xun couldn't help but frown.
He sneered, "Since you don't know, then go and ask the old ladies in the palace more. They'll naturally tell you. I'll let you off this time, but next time..."
Rong Xun paused slightly at this point.
And Tang Youyou in his arms clearly knew that the person in front of them not only came to pick a fight but also to ruin her reputation.
Tang Youyou looked at her and smiled, "Princess of the Western Regions, you've become an imperial concubine from a concubine. You really have good schemes. How should I put it? Having a good father at home means you can do whatever you want, right?"
Hearing this, this woman was completely helpless. She didn't know whether to say something or not.
Seeing the person in front of her being at a loss for words, Tang Youyou was extremely delighted.
Seeing this, Tang Youyou didn't say any more and soon left.
And An Suzhi, who was standing still, looked red and then green in the face. Her expression was really wonderful.
She tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand until it was out of shape.
She made the maids beside her look at the person in front of them one by one and then smiled, "Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, since things have come to this, let's take you back quickly."
"Yes, it's cold outside. Don't stay here any longer."
Hearing this, An Suzhi's expression changed. Then she looked at the maids beside her fiercely. She raised her hand and slapped one of the maids on the face.
The maid immediately knelt down crying. She sobbed, "Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, it's all this servant's fault for saying the wrong thing. Please calm down, Your Highness!"
Saying this, the other maids also knelt down one after another.
Seeing these maids crying loudly, An Suzhi's original anger instantly disappeared. She looked at the maid kneeling on the ground with a strange smile on her face and raised her hand to clamp the maid's chin.
The little maid was forced to look into An Suzhi's eyes. While shedding tears, she kept begging for mercy, "Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, Yi'er really knows she's wrong. Yi'er will never talk too much again."
An Suzhi smiled and said, "This palace has a task for you. Will you take it?"
Hearing An Suzhi's sneer, the maid's voice trembled as she said, "If it's something Your Highness the Imperial Concubine tells this servant to do, this servant will surely do her best!"
An Suzhi then smiled and said, "So, if this palace tells you to die, would you be willing?"
As soon as this question was asked, the maid was stunned. Then her expression changed drastically. "Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, this servant's family only has an old mother. If this servant dies, this servant's younger brother won't be able to survive either!"
"Brother? You have a younger brother. If you can help this palace accomplish this task, this palace will guarantee that your whole family will have enough to eat and wear. If you can't, then none of you will have to live."
For a moment, the maid looked shocked and slumped on the ground in disbelief.
"Yi'er, what kind of life your family will have in the future depends on you. This palace believes you're a smart person and know how to choose."
Then, the maid had no choice but to agree reluctantly.