Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

"what happened?"

Tan Yin helped Gu Youning walk outside.

"My lord, these two maids were careless and lost their balance, and they dumped the water from the teapot into the box."

Xiao Shengzi glared at the two kneeling palace maids and reported to Gu Youning.

Gu Youning looked into the box. The clothes packed inside were all Zheng'er's. Now they all looked wet. The tea was the health-preserving tea from the Winter Palace. It contained not only tea leaves, but also dried tangerine peel, sesame seeds and so on.

This piece of clothing cannot be worn without washing it, even if it is dried.

"Damn you servants! We prepared the tea so early that it's already a little cold. We were afraid that Concubine Consort and the Crown Prince would feel uncomfortable after drinking it, so we hurriedly wanted to change it to hot tea."

"The servants didn't mean it."

The two palace maids kneeling beside the box had already started to kowtow.

"How did you do it? You even soiled the eldest prince's clothes..."

"The Queen has arrived."

Xiao Shengzi was scolding the palace maid with a fierce look on his face when a notification came from outside.

Gu Youning raised his eyebrows slightly and walked to the door with everyone in the room to welcome the phoenix carriage.

"I heard some noise from far away. What happened?"

The Queen walked into the room with a big smile on her face.

"Is the eldest prince still feeling unwell?"

After the queen asked everyone to stand up, she looked down at Xiao Yunzheng who was standing beside Gu Youning with a loving face.

"To answer your Majesty, Zheng'er is no longer feeling uncomfortable."

Although Xiao Yunzheng spoke so obediently, his expression was listless, and he was not at all as lively as he was in front of Gu Youning just now.

At this moment, He'er came over with medicine in her hand: "The eldest prince hasn't taken his medicine yet."

When Xiao Yunzheng saw the medicine bowl, his whole face wrinkled up and his eyes became even more gloomy.

Gu Youning lowered her eyes and saw it, she felt funny in her heart, Zheng'er was actually better at acting than her.

"There's no time to waste. Hurry up and prepare the medicine for the Crown Prince."

The Queen's expression turned to worry.

"The slaves obey."

He'er walked up and picked up Xiao Yunzheng, who looked very listless, and walked into the inner room.

Gu Youning asked the queen to sit at the top.

"Why are these two palace maids kneeling on the ground, but they are not serving you well?"

The queen saw the two palace maids lying on the ground and looked at Gu Youning in confusion.

"Her Majesty, these two maids poured the entire teapot of water into the box, soaking and staining the eldest prince's clothes. Our master is very worried."

Tan Yin stepped forward and replied.

"It was indeed a bit reckless."

The queen took one look at the messy box and looked at the two palace maids with displeasure.

"Please forgive me, Queen. I know I did it on no purpose."

The two palace maids began to beg again.

"You didn't mean it? You guys are so gentle, but what should the eldest prince wear in the next few days?"

"All kinds of people are rushing up to serve us. The last time the emperor came here with us, we didn't encounter any of this."

The last sentence was murmured very softly, but the queen who was nearby could still hear it clearly.

The Queen's eyes flickered slightly, and she caught a glimpse of Gu Youning frowning in displeasure. She smiled gently and said, "Sister Gu, there's no need to be upset about these two reckless and ignorant palace maids. I just asked the Shanggong Bureau to buy some clothes for the two princes a few days ago. Now that they're done, they'll be perfect for the eldest prince."

Gu Youning's complexion looked better.

"Don't worry, I've instructed the Shanggong Bureau to use top-quality fur lining and soft Shu brocade for those clothes. The eldest prince will definitely like them."

After hearing what the Queen said, Gu Youning relaxed her brows and bowed to the Queen: "On behalf of the eldest prince, I thank the Queen for the reward."

"Don't be so polite. The Emperor specifically instructed me to take good care of you and your son, so I naturally have to pay more attention to you."

The queen specifically mentioned the emperor and saw a hint of joy in Gu Youning's eyes, but it was fleeting. Although the sadness was subtle, the queen still noticed it, so the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"You and your son are great contributors to the harem. If there is anything missing here, just send someone to tell me."

The queen spoke to Gu Youning in a friendly manner for a long time before she stood up and left.

"How's the Shanggong Bureau doing?"

When they arrived at the front hall, the queen asked softly.

"Don't worry, my lady, everything is ready."

Zhichun said softly.

"It was the Second Prince who reminded us this time. I didn't expect that Queen Mother is still so sensitive about what happened back then."

The Queen smiled and sighed.

"If this is accomplished, it will not only make the Queen Mother dislike Concubine Gu and her son, but will also help Her Majesty gather the Cui family's forces."

"If the Queen Mother is so upset that she becomes seriously ill, then the Cui family will only have the Empress in the harem."

Zhichun smiled.

The Queen's lips curled slightly, but quickly turned back down: "Gu Jieyu wouldn't know about this, would she?"

"This matter is secret and old. If we hadn't bribed the people around the Queen Mother, we wouldn't know the details."

"Gu Jieyu is even more impossible."

"I have also inquired about the clothes that the Second Prince is wearing. They were just sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs by chance. There is nothing unusual about them."

"Speaking of which, the Second Prince's fate is truly unfortunate. He finally won the Empress Dowager's favor with a painting of Guanyin, but before he even had time to warm up to her, she was rejected by her."

Although Zhichun said so, the queen still had some doubts in her heart. Gu Youning had encountered too many unexpected things since entering the palace, and she didn't believe that all of this was due to luck.

"When you send the clothes, have someone pay close attention to Concubine Gu's expression and words, and report everything to me when you return."

"Yes."

Zhichun responded.

"But Gu Youning has already fallen headfirst into the emperor's gentle dreamland, which is actually a good thing for us. As a woman, once she falls in love with a man, her brain will not work well."

When the queen thought of the expressions and words of the master and servant just now, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"No wonder she thinks so highly of herself. Even the maids around her dare to murmur against His Majesty. The Emperor has been very kind to Changchun Palace these days. He even granted Concubine Gu the right to ride in the imperial carriage..."

"This servant deserves death! This servant made a mistake."

Sensing the coldness from his master, Zhichun quickly stopped talking and lowered his head.

Although the master does not care about the emperor's favor, she is extremely concerned about the position of Empress. Last time in Changchun Palace, the master rarely lost her composure.

"She thought she could win favor with the Emperor by volunteering. So I will grant her the wish and let her sacrifice herself for once."

The corners of the queen's mouth stiffened slightly before she walked into the hall.

The tassels of the nine-bead phoenix hairpin create a cool arc on the side of the face.

"Yes, Concubine Gu will definitely not escape your clutches this time."

Zhichun quickly echoed.

……

Quiet residence.

"Master, I think those two palace maids did it on purpose. I just don't know the purpose of the person behind it."

Tan Yin asked the palace maid to send the box of dirty clothes to the laundry department, and then returned to Gu Youning and said.

"You'll know when the Shanggong Bureau delivers the clothes."

"Send He'er to the Shanggong Bureau to inquire about it, and then see how your aunt's injury is recovering."

Because she was afraid that people would notice her relationship with her aunt, Gu Youning could not go and see her in person, so she had to ask He'er to secretly send a lot of medicine and supplements over.

The people from the Shanggong Bureau arrived very quickly. Just as Gu Youning and her son had finished their dinner, a female historian and two eunuchs came over with a box of new clothes.

"Jieyu, can you please see if there is anything wrong?"

The leading female historian asked the eunuch behind her to open the box.

Gu Youning helped Tan Yin stand up and walked to the box. She only took a look at the clothes inside and she knew the queen's intention.

However, she bent down and touched the Shu brocade dress, her eyes filled with joy: "This Shu brocade is indeed as good as its reputation, soft and delicate."

"As long as Concubine Jie is satisfied, the eldest prince is so cute and beautiful, and he is just suitable for wearing such a bright dress."

The female historian took advantage of the flattery to carefully examine Gu Youning's expression.