Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Deliberately - Emperor Shenwu would always run into Jiang Yuxian in Empress Dowager Li's Quanhe Pavilion.

On this day, Emperor Shenwu once again saw Jiang Yuxian in Quanhe Pavilion. She was making lotus heart cakes and was serving them to Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li was unusually happy after the incident with Prince An. When Emperor Shenwu arrived, he was also in high spirits. "Your Majesty, try some too! This niece of Imperial Concubine Jiang is surprisingly so clever and skillful. The last time I ate was the peach blossom cake made by the Empress!"

Jiang Yuxian quickly and discreetly presented the Emperor with another plate of lotus seed cakes. The Emperor lifted his eyelids and glanced at the cakes, showing no interest in even touching them. Li Xiang, sensing the Emperor's intention, stepped forward and pricked each one with a silver needle. After doing this, Li Xiang turned to the Empress Dowager Li and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty's food has always been like this, let alone these cakes brought by outsiders."

Empress Dowager Li's expression was of course not good, but she thought of the poison Emperor Shenwu had been poisoned with before, glanced at the "outsider" - Jiang Yuxian, and nodded: "This is the rule. I was not thoughtful enough."

Emperor Shenwu said, "How could that be? My mother was just coaxed into a moment of happiness and neglected it. I don't take it to heart. I came here today to see how my mother is doing. I heard from the imperial physician a few days ago that my mother was still feeling a little dizzy and unwell. Is my mother feeling better now?"

Empress Dowager Li's face looked better. "I am old, and I have many ailments. I have been drinking this medicine and taking this tonic. With this child accompanying me these past two days, I feel much better."

Emperor Shenwu nodded: "That's good!"

He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Jiang Yuxian. Jiang Yuxian lowered her head when Li Xiang used the silver needle to test the poison. At this time, Emperor Shenwu looked over and saw a delicate beauty lowering her head cautiously, revealing a pitiful and lovely look for no reason.

Empress Dowager Li really didn't think too much at this moment. She said a few more words to Emperor Shenwu, and then Emperor Shenwu stood up and left.

Mrs. Li picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip of tea. She said, "This cake goes really well with this fragrant tea!"

Empress Dowager Li's original intention was to comfort Jiang Yuxian. After all, the girl had taken great pains to prepare food for her, but Emperor Shenwu did not take her seriously. He was afraid that it would be a blow to the girl. However, after Empress Dowager Li said this, there was no response from the girl.

Empress Dowager Li looked over in confusion and saw Jiang Yuxian with blushing cheeks watching Emperor Shenwu leave. Her eyes were infatuated and it was obvious that she didn't hear what Empress Dowager Li said.

Empress Dowager Li was slightly startled and looked in the direction where Emperor Shenwu left, then looked at Jiang Yuxian. She suddenly felt that she understood the little girl from the Jiang family.

What young girl isn't in love? The man she longs for must, of course, be the most outstanding person in the world. Emperor Shenwu was in his prime, holding a high position of power and authority, supreme and noble. If he were to hold a normal selection, wouldn't all the noble ladies of her age have to enter the palace to serve him?

Empress Dowager Li gently stroked the lid of the teacup with her fingers. Thinking of Concubine Jiang, she felt a little uncomfortable again. Did Concubine Jiang know what her niece was thinking?

Empress Dowager Li suspected that Concubine Jiang knew about this. Jiang Yuxian was young and ignorant, and she had no intention of hiding it. It was hard for Concubine Jiang not to know, as they spent day and night together. Yet, she still had her niece come to Quanhe Pavilion every day. Emperor Shenwu would come to Quanhe Pavilion to pay his respects from time to time. Was Concubine Jiang trying to create opportunities for her niece? What was she thinking? Was she truly completely innocent and unconcerned?

Jiang Yuxian, however, didn't care at all that Empress Dowager Li knew her thoughts; she even deliberately let them slip. Emperor Shenwu had stopped selecting concubines for years, and she suspected Empress Dowager Li was certainly unhappy. Now, a noblewoman from an aristocratic family who harbored admiration for Emperor Shenwu had appeared. Regardless of her status, Empress Dowager Li wouldn't be too offended, and might even, on a whim, grant her a favor.

Jiang Yuxian did not return to Baifu Pavilion until the afternoon. Concubine Jiang had already woken up from her nap. She was yawning lightly and sitting in front of the dressing table. A line of palace maids were assisting Concubine Jiang in dressing, washing her face, tying her hair, and changing clothes. Jiang Yuxian watched quietly from the side, a trace of envy flashing through her heart. Her aunt was already so noble, so how noble and honorable should the Queen be, with so many people following her?

Concubine Jiang looked at Jiang Yuxian in the bronze mirror and said, "You didn't get any rest at the Empress Dowager's, did you? Go and rest for a while. I'm going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and report some matters."

Jiang Yuxian was stunned: "Aunt, Xian'er is not tired, let's go and pay our respects to the Queen together!"

Imperial Concubine Jiang was not surprised at all. She nodded and said, "Alright, since you are here with my aunt, it would be bad if we didn't go to the Empress. Let's go!"

Concubine Jiang rode in a sedan chair to the Qingliang Palace, but Jiang Yuxian was not qualified to ride in the sedan chair, so she could only walk in the palace following Concubine Jiang's procession.

But when they arrived at the gate of Qingliang Palace, a young eunuch came forward and saluted: "Your servant greets the Imperial Concubine Jiang. The Empress is not in Qingliang Palace at this time."

Concubine Jiang asked, "I came to pay my respects to the Empress. Where has the Empress gone?"

The young eunuch smiled and said, "The Empress has been taken by His Majesty to see the lotus flowers."

Concubine Jiang nodded: "Thank you, young eunuch."

The senior palace maid beside Concubine Jiang immediately stepped forward and stuffed a purse into the young eunuch's pocket.

Concubine Jiang thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the Lotus Pavilion!"

The group walked towards the Lotus Pavilion again. Jiang Yuxian seemed very curious: "Aunt, isn't this Qingliang Palace the emperor's bedroom? Why has the empress been in Qingliang Palace all this time?"

Doesn’t the Queen have her own palace in this temporary palace?

Imperial Concubine Jiang smiled and said, "Of course, there is the Empress's palace in Miaoling Palace—Qingyou Palace. It's closest to Qingliang Palace and, like Qingliang Palace, is on the central axis of the palace. However, over the years, Qingyou Palace has been under renovation every year, but it's never been fully repaired. So, His Majesty has kept the Empress in his own Qingliang Palace every year. This has been the case year after year!"

Jiang Yuxian almost couldn't keep the smile on her face: "Really?"

Imperial Concubine Jiang said softly, "Yes! The Emperor and Empress have always been inseparable. Look, His Majesty just finished his work and took the Empress to the Lotus Pavilion to see the lotus flowers. Oh, this Lotus Pavilion was just built this year. The lotus pond inside is so ingenious and the scenery is so beautiful. Needless to say, you can also see that His Majesty built it specifically for the Empress!"

Jiang Yuxian couldn't laugh anymore. She murmured softly, "Lianhuachi Xian'er also likes it very much!"

It was there that she met the Empress who was dressed in casual clothes, and was also dazzled by the Empress's charm and elegance. Unfortunately, Jiang Yuxian then met the Emperor Shenwu on the cloud swing. She was moved by this emperor, and she was infatuated with this supreme ruler in the world!