The naive concubine is only interested in being a bad person. Your Majesty, please change your favor

"Yes, I will remember the Queen Mother's teachings."

"All of you please leave. I want to be alone and have some peace and quiet."

"Yes, the concubine is retiring."

"Your Majesty, please retire."

After saying that, Concubine Shu and Xia Qingqian left Ci'an Palace together.

Outside Ci'an Palace, Concubine Shu slapped Xia Qingqian hard.

Xia Qingqian covered her face, not daring to argue with Concubine Shu, and could only endure it silently.

"Bitch, you dare to think of replacing me? Do you think His Majesty is so easy to fool?"

Concubine Shu was full of ridicule.

"I dare not. I am only following the Queen Mother's orders."

A hint of hatred flashed across Xia Qingqian's eyes, but she didn't let Concubine Shu see it.

"Are you using the Queen Mother to threaten me?"

Concubine Shu pinched Xia Qingqian's chin and questioned in a cold voice.

"I dare not. The Concubine Shu is the Queen Mother's cousin. I dare not overstep my bounds. I know very well that I am just a chess piece used by the Queen Mother to check and balance Your Majesty. Now I am half a useless chess piece. Why should the Concubine Shu be afraid of me..."

Xia Qingqian is very smart and knows Concubine Shu's personality very well.

After she said this, Concubine Shu was indeed less apprehensive, but more disdainful and sarcastic:

"It's good for you to know. No matter how much I dislike the Empress Dowager, I am still better than a daughter of a side branch like you. Don't even think about replacing me."

"Yes, I dare not ask for anything more. I entered the palace to protect the honor of the Xia family. We are from the same root. We prosper together and suffer together."

"Humph, you have a good vision. Get up."

"Thank you, Concubine Shu."

Xia Qingqian stood up tremblingly, and the slap mark on her face was very conspicuous.

"If you behave yourself in the future, I will not treat you unfairly. As you said, you are a member of our Xia family, and I will not allow others to bully you."

Concubine Shu lectured Xia Qingqian in a condescending manner, thinking that Xia Qingqian would be grateful for her kindness at this time. Little did she know that Xia Qingqian already regarded her as a thorn in her side and wished to remove her immediately!

"I thank the Empress Shufei for her grace. I will serve her well in the future and contribute my humble efforts to the Xia family."

Xia Qingqian's words flattered Concubine Shu so much that she stopped causing trouble for her.

After Concubine Shu left, Rou'er, the maid who had served Xia Qingqian since she was a child, could not bear it and said:

"Miss, the Concubine Shu is too much. How could she slap you in the face? You have never suffered such an injustice at home."

Although Xia Qingqian was only a concubine's daughter, she was treated as well as a legitimate daughter at home because of her outstanding appearance. Her father and mistress had been training her since she was a child, hoping to marry her to an official in the court or the son of a marquisate in the future in order to curry favor with the powerful.

When her father heard that the Queen Mother needed a chess piece, he sent her to the palace without hesitation, hoping that she could become his majesty's concubine and be favored. He never treated her harshly in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation, let alone beating her.

The slap that Xia Qingqian just received was the first time.

Xia Qingqian gently stroked the half of her face that was beaten, her eyes full of cruelty:

"Don't worry, Xia Qinghuan won't be so proud for too long. I will return this slap to her sooner or later."

Hearing the young lady say this, Rou'er didn't dare to say a word. She knew that the young lady was completely resentful of Concubine Shu, and Concubine Shu would probably be in big trouble.

Jiang Wange is lazy and doesn't like to go out, but when Wen Yilan took Jiang Wange's pulse, she suggested that she walk more, which would be beneficial for delivery later.

Jiang Wange then remembered that the medical conditions in ancient times were not very good, and it was common for difficult childbirths to result in two deaths. That’s why she paid more attention to Wen Yilan’s words. It was always right for him to ask her to walk more.

So every day when the sun was about to set, she would ask Qianyue and Yufeng to accompany her for a walk in the Imperial Garden.

Now that it is autumn, the scenery in the Imperial Garden is particularly beautiful, with all kinds of chrysanthemums in full bloom.

"Do you think I can pick these chrysanthemums and dry them in the sun, and then make tea with them?" Jiang Wange was very interested.

"I think it's okay, but I don't know if I can pick this flower."

Qianyue was not very familiar with the rules of the palace, so she looked at Yufeng, who grew up in the palace.

"My lord, the flowers in the imperial garden cannot be picked without the consent of His Majesty. We still have to ask His Majesty's opinion." Yu Feng answered very carefully.

When Jiang Wange heard her say this, he felt relieved.

"You want to ask His Majesty? That's fine. Just pick them and I'll tell His Majesty in the evening."

After saying that, Jiang Wange ordered Qianyue and Yufeng to pick a large basket of chrysanthemums, enough for her to drink for a while.

However, the chrysanthemum bushes that were lush and flourishing just now suddenly became bare and ugly.

After picking the chrysanthemums, they were about to go back when they heard sparse noises, like someone crying.

"Yufeng, go over there and see who is crying there."

Yu Feng walked towards the direction of the sound and behind a rockery, where he found Xia Qingqian wiping her tears.

When Xia Qingqian saw Yufeng, she was also surprised. She quickly wiped away her tears and followed Yufeng out from behind the rockery.

"My lord, it's Miss Xia."

Qianyue recognized Xia Qingqian at a glance, and the defensive look on her face was very obvious.

Jiang Wange was suspicious. Wasn't Xia Qingqian someone close to the Queen Mother? Why was she crying behind the rockery? Who bullied her?

"I have met Jiang Liangyuan. I disturbed her interest. It is my fault. I hope Jiang Liangyuan will forgive me."

Xia Qingqian knelt down in front of Jiang Wange and apologized without waiting for her to ask any questions.

"I didn't disturb you, but why are you crying behind the rockery? Were you bullied?"

Jiang Wange glanced at Yufeng, and Yufeng immediately helped Xia Qingqian up.

She didn't dare let Xia Qingqian kneel down to her. If the Queen Mother saw it, she would think that she had bullied her.

"No... No one bullied me. I just bumped into him accidentally."

When she raised her head, Jiang Wange could clearly see the slap mark on her face and couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Wow, this slap is so real.

"Yufeng, do you have any ointment with you?"

"My Lord, I am always prepared."

"Give it to Miss Xia. It would be a pity if such a beautiful face was left with a wound."

It’s not that Jiang Wange was meddling in other people’s business, it’s just that Xia Qingqian had a face that was 50% similar to hers, and she couldn’t bear to see the slap in the face stay on her.

Xia Qingqian seemed flattered. She took the ointment and thanked him:

"I thank Jiang Liangyuan for the medicine. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart."

"There's no need to express gratitude. Just stay out of His Majesty's presence in the future." Jiang Wange glanced at Xia Qingqian and reminded her.

Xia Qingqian's face froze, and then she quickly explained:

"It was not my will to attend the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. I am just an insignificant concubine in my family. I was sent to the palace by my father. I had no choice but to obey the Queen Mother's arrangements. I did not want to be an enemy of Jiang Liangyuan. I already have a lover outside the palace..."

When Xia Qingqian thought of this, she couldn't help but wipe away her tears.

Jiang Wange didn't feel much when she heard what Xia Qingqian said. Regardless of whether she was forced to do so or not, her first impression of Xia Qingqian was not good.

"Qianyue, Yufeng, I am tired, let's go back to Fengming Palace."

Jiang Wange glanced at Xia Qingqian, who was about to cry, and then left gracefully.