Yanshou Palace
After receiving the news from Zhu'er that was of little use, Concubine Rui, who was a few years older than Shi Muyuan, flew into a rage. Her face was almost covered with fine wrinkles.
"What good is this information to me? I've never seen that second Miss Yao, Yao Kun, meet the Empress Dowager before. They only got acquainted on the day of the banquet. Everyone knows this. You're truly useless!"
"Your Ladyship, the Yao family really had no connection with the Shi family before. There's simply nothing to find out! If we have to draw a connection, the two families have had some conflicts recently. And it's been widely rumored in the capital recently that the second Miss Yao has fallen ill again, with the same symptoms as a few years ago. It's really hard to say. Even if someone wanted to take action, they'd easily arouse suspicion."
As soon as she finished speaking, Concubine Rui threw the teacup in her hand in front of her. Zhu'er let out a startled cry and kowtowed to the ground: "Your Ladyship, please spare my life! Please spare my life!"
"What do you mean by 'take action'? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"Of course not, Your Ladyship. You're kind - hearted and elegant. It's just that I'm clumsy with words. It's my fault." Zhu'er slapped herself twice hard.
"Enough! I don't like such a bloody sight. It makes my heart ache." Concubine Rui bent down and lifted Zhu'er's head. Seeing that there were already many blood beads on the corner of her mouth, she then let go and threw a bottle of wound medicine.
Zhu'er swallowed the taste of blood in her throat and quickly picked up the bottle of medicine. Looking at Concubine Rui gratefully, she said, "Thank you for your reward, Your Ladyship."
"Have you found out what the conflict is about?"
"It's said that General Shi and General Yao had a disagreement in the court."
"Take this and go to the Wanhua Tower to find someone."
Zhu'er knelt over to listen to her: "Your Ladyship, are you really going to do this? I've heard..."
"Do as I say. When did it become your turn to talk to me like this!" Concubine Rui's eyes turned fierce, scaring Zhu'er into quickly saying, "No."
...
Shi Muyuan would often stroll in the imperial garden, take walks, admire the flowers, and play shuttlecock with Ji Ling after school. Even Ji Huang, who wasn't very fond of sports, would come and kick a few times.
After jumping and drinking too much water, Shi Muyuan went to the toilet by herself. On her way back, when she passed by the plum - tree grove, she heard people talking. She was afraid that walking by openly would startle them.
Just as she was about to leave quietly, she saw a red skirt. It turned out that Concubine Rui and Concubine Qi were also in the imperial garden today. Their red peony - embroidered skirts swayed, and the bright red embroidered shoes on their feet left marks on the snow like patches of bright red blood.
She hid behind a tree trunk, not daring to move, and clearly heard their voices.
"I heard that a new chef has come to the Tianxiang Pavilion in the capital. He makes excellent pastries. I sent someone to buy some today for you to try, sister. How about going to my palace later?" Concubine Qi asked.
"If you invite me, of course I'll go. I'd like to taste the craftsmanship that even you praise."
"Don't laugh at me, sister." Concubine Qi was very picky about food. The imperial kitchen had to be extra careful when preparing food for her in Xicui Palace.
"I heard that a circus troupe came to the city today. They're from outside the Daliang Kingdom. It's said to be very interesting. It's possible to bring the food into the palace, but it's troublesome to bring in something for entertainment."
"Do you want to go and watch, sister?"
"Of course I do. I'm getting tired of watching the palace troupe."
"Why not just invite them in?"
"If I could, I wouldn't be drooling here. That circus troupe is from outside. They have their own rules. They'll only stay for a few days and then leave without stopping. I heard they'll leave the day after tomorrow."
"Are they really that bold?"
"It's not the first time. Besides, with Daliang's current situation, who would dare to provoke those outsiders?"
"True. How about we sneak out?"
"You're really bold! How are you going to get out?"
"Anyway, we're always in the harem. Who would notice if we're out for a day?"
Shi Muyuan was shocked as she eavesdropped, but she was also intrigued. She wondered if it was like a circus performance.
Watching the two of them walk away slowly, Shi Muyuan came out from behind the tree trunk and went back to find Ji Ling and the others, but she couldn't stop thinking about it.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she got back and played with Ji Ling and Ji Huang for a while, she saw the red figure in the distance.
Shi Muyuan didn't want to be polite to her. She turned around and pretended not to see her, hoping that she would just pass by quietly.
Anyway, they didn't get along well. Why bother with the pretense? It was so troublesome. Moreover, she didn't like the feeling Concubine Rui gave her from the first sight, so she didn't want to have any dealings with her.
But Concubine Rui didn't let her have her way. She lifted her skirt and walked towards her: "Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Oh, it's Concubine Rui. Long time no see." Shi Muyuan pretended to have just seen her. Ji Ling picked up the shuttlecock that had fallen on the ground and pulled on Ji Huang's sleeve to salute Concubine Rui.
Concubine Rui smiled and tried to touch her but missed. Her hand froze in the air, and a hint of malice flashed in her eyes.
"Be good, Huang'er. Take your imperial sister and continue playing."
Ji Huang bit his thin lower lip and led Ji Ling aside to play. Ji Ling looked back at Shi Muyuan uneasily. Seeing the smile on her face, she felt relieved and followed her elder brother to play.
Shi Muyuan sat down at the stone table and poured herself a cup of tea. Concubine Rui and Concubine Qi smiled and said, "We don't want to disturb your elegance, sister. We still have some things to discuss, so we'll take our leave first."
Thinking of what she had just heard, Shi Muyuan wondered if they were going to discuss how to go out and play. Shi Muyuan bit her fingertip. What should she do? She also wanted to go out and play. The palace was so boring.
But how could she get out? She certainly couldn't ask Concubine Rui.
While Ji Ling was playing shuttlecock, in order to catch it, she moved a bit to the side. The next second, the shuttlecock landed on the treetop.
The two little ones helplessly came to Shi Muyuan. Looking at the rather high treetop, she squatted down and then jumped up vigorously. Tut, it was too high. She couldn't reach it.
Seeing her like this, Yao Kun tilted her head and imitated her. She jumped very high. All she had to do was raise her hand and she could touch the shuttlecock.
It wasn't that the treetop was too high, but that Shi Muyuan was too short. Yao Kun was tall with long arms, so it seemed easier for her.
There was nothing else to do. Shi Muyuan had to trouble Yao Kun to jump one more time to get the shuttlecock. Yao Kun naturally did as she was asked and easily got the shuttlecock and handed it to her.
Shi Muyuan suddenly remembered the first time she met Yao Kun. With such strict security, Yao Kun could still climb into her palace. Did it mean that Yao Kun could help her get out of the palace?
Instead of taking the shuttlecock, Shi Muyuan sized up Yao Kun, making Yao Kun feel a bit uncomfortable.
What's wrong with the beautiful sister? Did I do something wrong?
Yao Kun thought for a moment and threw the shuttlecock back onto the treetop.