Si Kong Ting withdrew his foot.
Qin Huaiqiu watched as the fresh peach blossoms he had painstakingly picked bit by bit were mercilessly crushed and squeezed by Si Kong Ting, and finally mixed into the soil. Initially startled by Si Kong Ting's sudden appearance, he pursed his lips, then raised his head and gave Si Kong Ting a cold look.
Si Kong Ting was stunned. He had thought that with Qin Huailian's personality, she would cry, complain, or even continue to act coquettishly with a smiling face. After all, when Qin Huailian discovered his secret before, even under his harsh words, she immediately went to the Empress Dowager and got the Empress Dowager to stabilize her status as Concubine De.
He knew that this woman was extremely scheming and extremely flattering. So he threatened her with death, thinking that this would make her behave herself after entering the palace. But unexpectedly, on just the second day, she started to pull the same stunt again. Taking off her clothes in public? To wrap the peach blossoms? It was ridiculous!
But Qin Huaiqiu's cold look puzzled him. This was quite different from what he had expected.
Qin Huaiqiu just glanced at him, then suddenly let out a soft laugh and shifted his gaze elsewhere. He bowed slightly to Si Kong Ting and said, "Since Your Majesty is not happy for me to make wine with peach blossoms, then I'll just let it go. Qin Lan, scatter those peach blossoms. Turning into spring mud to nourish the flowers is what Your Majesty means, right?"
Before Si Kong Ting could say a word, Qin Huaiqiu stepped forward himself and stepped on the peach petals one by one into the soil. Then he turned to Qin Lan and said, "See? Scatter them quickly."
Qin Lan responded and immediately scattered the wrapped petals all over the ground, even helping to step on them a few times.
Si Kong Ting didn't expect Qin Huaiqiu to do such a thing. He stood there stunned, frowning as he took in Qin Huaiqiu and Qin Lan's actions.
What was this woman doing?
Seeing the large expanse of peach blossoms that had been stepped into the soil, Qin Huaiqiu nodded in satisfaction. He turned to Si Kong Ting and said, "I've already handled it according to Your Majesty's wishes. Your humble concubine has other matters to attend to and won't accompany Your Majesty anymore."
With that, he was about to leave. Si Kong Ting took a step across and stood in front of him, looking down at him and saying, "Did I allow you to leave?"
Qin Huaiqiu looked at him and said, "What else does Your Majesty want?"
Si Kong Ting felt that the Concubine De in front of him was very strange. Qin Huaiqiu's actions just now made him feel as if his punch had hit cotton, neither painful nor itchy, but was easily defused by him. But Si Kong Ting didn't intend to let him go so easily. He let out a cold snort and questioned, "All the concubines in the harem were invited by the Empress Dowager to enjoy the cherry blossoms today. Why didn't you go?"
Qin Huaiqiu said sourly, "I was thinking of quickly brewing some good wine to send to the Empress Dowager, so I declined. Who would have thought that Your Majesty would come to remind your humble concubine that these peach blossoms are more useful when turned into mud."
What a glib tongue.
"Unnecessary." Si Kong Ting looked at Qin Huaiqiu and said, "There are plenty of good wines in the palace. Does it need you to brew some and send it to the Empress Dowager?"
"Your Majesty is right. Your humble concubine has realized her mistake." Qin Huaiqiu said, "Then your humble concubine will return to the palace to reflect."
This arrogant emperor. He really didn't want to serve him for another second.
"Did I allow you to return to the palace?"
Damn it.
"Since you don't need to make wine anymore, you should go and enjoy the cherry blossoms." Si Kong Ting said.
"… Then your humble concubine will go back and change clothes…"
"Just wear this." Si Kong Ting said firmly.
Qin Huaiqiu looked up at him.
He saw Si Kong Ting smiling contemptuously: "Such fine cloud - silk brocade, you used it to line the ground and wrap peach blossoms. Can't you wear it now?"
This was clearly the emperor deliberately embarrassing him. His outer robe was already stained with mud. Was he supposed to enjoy the cherry blossoms in just his inner robe?
Hearing this, Qin Lan looked at Qin Huaiqiu worriedly.
Qin Huaiqiu stood stiffly. After standing for a while, he turned around, took the outer robe stained with mud from Qin Lan's arms, shook it, and put it on. He walked a few steps in front of Si Kong Ting and stubbornly stared up at him.
Si Kong Ting felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at by him. His eyes were too bright, with a fierceness and stubbornness that Si Kong Ting had never seen before. For a moment, Si Kong Ting even felt that he had never really known the person in front of him.
"Not leaving?" Qin Huaiqiu's thin lips parted slightly.
He seemed to be too close to the Concubine De. Si Kong Ting woke up as if from a dream. He took a few steps back suddenly, flinging his sleeve: "Let's go!"
The distance from the peach orchard to the imperial garden was not far. With Si Kong Ting leading the way, Qin Huaiqiu and Qin Lan didn't have to wander around like when they came.
Qin Lan followed behind Qin Huaiqiu. As they walked, she used a handkerchief to clean the mud off his outer robe. Although it wasn't as clean as washing, at least it wasn't noticeable unless one looked closely. Qin Lan took a closer look and let out a long sigh of relief.
Qin Huaiqiu turned his head and gave her a reassuring look. Then the two didn't dare to make any more movements.
Qin Huaiqiu was now sure that Si Kong Ting's hostility towards him seemed greater than he had thought. He didn't know how long he would have to live in this palace. The best way to protect himself now was not to oppose him. As the saying goes, those who follow will prosper, and those who oppose will perish. Under someone else's roof, he had to bow his head.
The Empress Dowager and her entourage had been waiting in the imperial garden for a long time. The Empress Dowager had just eaten a very sweet grape when she heard someone announce the arrival of the emperor. Immediately, a big smile spread across her face.
She was just about to speak when she saw Qin Huaiqiu following behind the emperor. She was stunned for a moment. Her eyes lingered on the not - so - happy expressions of the two for a while, then she stopped talking and just smiled as she watched the two getting closer.
Of course, they had to pay their respects when the emperor arrived. After the formalities, Si Kong Ting saw that the Empress Dowager and several concubines had already taken their seats, so he found another table and sat down.
Qin Huaiqiu looked around and consciously sat at the table with the concubines and the Empress Dowager.
When the Empress Dowager saw Qin Huaiqiu sitting down, she quickly grabbed his hand and asked, "Lian'er, weren't you unwell? Why did you come again?"
Unwell? Could someone who was unwell climb a tree?
Hearing this, Si Kong Ting sneered mockingly in his heart. Sure enough, this woman Qin Huailian was full of lies.
"I felt better on the way back. I ran into the emperor and came back with him." Qin Huaiqiu said evasively.
"That's good, that's good." The Empress Dowager smiled and said to the emperor, "Son, the cherry blossoms in the courtyard are in full bloom. Take a rest for a while and then go for a walk with us later?"
Si Kong Ting said, "I'll follow whatever the Empress Dowager arranges."
After answering the Empress Dowager, Qin Huaiqiu didn't say anything else. He stared at the fruit plate in front of him, his mind full of how to leave this place full of troubles.
While he was in a daze, a slender and fair hand pushed a cup of tea in front of him.
He looked up and saw that it was the Concubine Xian, who he had met once before.
The Concubine Xian was wearing a light cyan ru - qun. Her long black hair was slightly pulled back and tied into a bun. Her skin was fair and smooth, and her eyes were full of spring charm. She looked like a proper young lady from a noble family.
"Try this tea." The Concubine Xian coughed lightly and said. She felt a bit embarrassed being stared at by Qin Huaiqiu.
"Oh, th - thank you." Qin Huaiqiu took the tea and took a small sip.
It was refreshing going down his throat. It was excellent Biluochun.
He was a tea lover by nature, so he couldn't help taking a few more sips. Immersed in the fragrance of the tea, he gradually forgot about the many trivial matters just now. Therefore, he didn't notice that the Concubine Shu sitting beside him was looking at him with a rather unpredictable look in her eyes.