Where prosperity ends, flowers never end

The next day—

The concubines were talking at once. The queen was already annoyed, and hearing all these gossips so early in the morning made her feel even more headache.

Even though Ran Qianxi's position was lower than hers, she had never received that kind of favor. As far as the position of queen was concerned, Ran Qianxi was a time bomb, which might blow her to pieces one day, and she would have to hand over the Phoenix Seal.

"Well, if you guys are capable of gossiping here, why don't you think about what you can do to get some favors."

A petty concubine said.

"But His Majesty will stay in the Yifeng Palace all day, and there is nothing we can do."

"You guys come to bother me when you have no other choice. Who can I complain to?"

"She is so charming, Your Majesty will be so enchanted by her that he won't even attend court."

After Concubine Die finished speaking, the Queen glared at her and she was instantly speechless.

"How dare you say such things? Do you think His Majesty is a tyrant?"

"No wonder His Majesty dotes on her so much. You guys are inferior to her anyway."

After hearing the reprimand from the Empress, everyone became quiet.

"What's the point of you talking here? I've been implicated as well."

The queen pretended to be sad and held her temple, sounding as if she was speaking up for them.

"I can't care about that. Just use whatever abilities you have. I'm happy for you to share the favor."

This sentence undoubtedly told them to let go of their plan for Ran Qianxi, and there was silence all around.

"Okay, let's go back first. I'm a little tired."

The concubines stood up and bowed.

"Yes, the concubine is retiring."

The bell in the East Palace rang, it was already past midnight, but Baili Yong still hadn't left the Yifeng Palace tonight.

As the sky slowly brightened, the sound of Baili Yong getting out of bed startled Ran Qianxi.

"Your Majesty...where are you going?"

Baili Yong turned around and touched her face.

"Go to court. You continue to sleep. I will come to see you after I finish handling government affairs."

Ran Qianxi stretched lazily and turned over.

"Okay."

After changing into court robes, Baili Yong turned around and kissed her on the forehead.

It was almost noon when Ran Qianxi woke up and finished washing up, and then the empress dowager sent someone to call her.

"Your servant pays respect to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

Ran Qianxi knew that she was the Queen Mother's personal servant, and hurriedly helped her up.

"Aunt Fushuang, why are you here?"

Fu Shuang smiled faintly and was very respectful to her.

"The Queen Mother asked me to invite you over for dinner."

"Okay, any quail?"

"Yes, we have everything you like."

Ran Qianxi put his arm around her, and the two of them were like master and servant.

"Then let's go."

Fu Shuang smiled gently and took her hand away.

"My Lady Imperial Concubine, you are no longer the second daughter of the Ran family. It is not right for you to be with me like this."

"That's okay..."

Originally she thought that she and the Queen Mother were the only two people at lunch, but unexpectedly all the prominent concubines were there, including an extremely gentle one whom she had never met before.

"Queen Mother~"

Ran Qianxi walked over with a swagger without bowing to the queen, but the concubines stood up and bowed to her.

"Meet the Imperial Concubine."

"No gifts."

The Queen Mother looked at her with loving kindness, and she seemed like a little sun wherever she went.

"Your Highness, may you live forever."

The Queen Mother laughed heartily a few times, and it was obvious that she was genuinely happy.

"Hahaha, it's only been one day and it already looks like it's done properly..."

The Queen Mother held the banquet just to tell the concubines not to plot against Ran Qianxi. She was the daughter-in-law she was most satisfied with, even more satisfied with her than the Queen.

"Come and sit here. Today's stewed quail is very delicious. Eat a leg."

A domineering daughter of a prince like the Queen Mother would be attracted to a savage and mean daughter of a wealthy family like Wei Ran Qianxi, not to mention that she is only like that on the surface.

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

"Hahaha... Ouch... If you keep calling me a concubine, I won't chat with you anymore. Let's just keep going like before..."

"So shall I start?"

The Queen Mother looked at her with a kind smile. From the very beginning, she wanted Baili Yong to marry her as his principal wife.

The Queen pretended to be sensible, gentle and virtuous, which made the Queen Mother feel uncomfortable. The whole palace was full of people who knew how to pretend. Whenever she saw them, she would think of the defeated opponents she had met in her youth, and she would look down on them even more.

"Eat more. This is nutritious. Eat this."

The Queen Mother picked up some food for her as she spoke.

"And this, eat it up, so that you can give Yong'er a prince..."

Ran Qianxi looked at the full bowl of food and couldn't help swallowing...

"Queen...it seems a bit too much..."

"Not much, not much. Look at how thin you are."

Ran Qianxi unconsciously looked at her belly, which was quite plump.

"Are you... sure I'm thin?"

"Of course, you have to eat more."

"But my belly is full of meat..."

The Queen Mother smiled and gave her another chicken leg.

"Silly child, you are blessed with meat, and you will feel strong when you are still alive. Eat some more."

It is not difficult to see that the Queen Mother is eager to hold her and Baili Yong's child.

Ran Qianxi smiled gently, picked up the river crab and started to dig it for her.

"Just pick it up for me. I'll pick up some crab for the Queen Mother."

"Okay, okay, finally you're not unkind and still remember that I love to eat river crabs."

Ran Qianxi rested her head on her shoulder, picking crabs and acting coquettishly at the same time.

"Oh... I always remember... The Queen Mother also likes to eat shrimps..."

Several concubines couldn't bear to watch this scene, especially the queen, who was their legitimate daughter-in-law.

"Mother, I am a little tired. I will go back to rest first."

The Queen Mother's warm face suddenly turned cold and she dropped her chopsticks, scaring Ran Qianxi so much that she sat up straight immediately.

"There are no rules! Did I let you go?"

The queen looked unhappy, but she could only sit back graciously.

"Stand still! I think you are the queen and you are so proud of yourself!"

Ran Qianxi's face also looked a little embarrassed. After all, the queen was the empress, and there were concubines at the table.

"Queen Mother?"

She called out tentatively, and the empress dowager turned around with a kind look on her face.

"Are you scared, girl?"

Ran Qianxi smiled awkwardly.

"It's okay... Don't be angry with the Queen... Look, I've stripped it all... It's very neat... Please try it~"

As she spoke, she fed the crab meat directly into the Queen Mother's mouth.

"Okay, okay, I'm not angry anymore, don't be afraid."

Seeing the queen standing there lonely, Ran Qianxi felt a little sympathy.

"The queen is standing, you guys should sit still."

The Queen Mother's words frightened all the concubines and they stood up.

"Fu Shuang."

"Yes."

After Fu Shuang paid her respects, she brought over a plate of milk cake, and Diepin's face immediately turned ugly.

"Give this plate of cakes to Concubine Die."

"Yes."

Fu Shuang brought the pastries to Diepin, who was obviously starting to panic.

"What's wrong, Concubine Die? Are you disgusted with the Queen Mother's cakes?"

Concubine Die stood there and didn't dare to speak.

"is it?"

The Queen Mother's questioning was so loud that it frightened her so much that she fell to her knees.

"I don't dare."

"Do you think the cakes I gave you as a reward are not tasty?"

"no no…"

Fu Shuang glanced at the Queen Mother. They both had a thousand ways to make her eat the plate of pastries.

"The Queen Mother saw that Concubine Die had not eaten much just now, and was worried that you would be hungry. Eat two pieces of milk cake to fill your stomach."

Ran Qianxi didn't understand what was going on and looked at her curiously, but she was still peeling shrimps for the Queen Mother.

"What's up with her?"

"You'll find out soon."

Diepin was reluctant to raise her hand, and Fushuang stopped pretending to be nice.

"This is a reward from the Queen Mother. Does Concubine Die dislike it if she doesn't want to eat it?"