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Chapter 96: Meng Qianqian is the Grand Viceroy's Woman
Chapter 96: Meng Qianqian is the Grand Viceroy's Woman
In the main hall, Meng Qianqian received Grand Eunuch Wang.
Li Mama and Banxia were initially worried that Consort Li was going to make things difficult for their young miss again. But when they saw the respectful attitude of Grand Eunuch Wang and the generous gifts sent by Consort Li, they couldn't understand her change in attitude.
Meng Qianqian calmly said, "One should not accept rewards without merit. Please, Grand Preceptor Wang, enlighten me."
Grand Eunuch Wang smiled and said, "His Majesty troubled Miss Meng last night. His Majesty left the palace after a quarrel with the Empress, and the Empress was worried sick. When she found out that Miss Meng had taken him in, she specially sent me to thank you on her behalf."
His words seemed like a gesture of gratitude, but the key message was that the Emperor had quarreled with the Empress. A Consort would not usually need to explain such details unless she wanted to forge a closer relationship with Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian remained calm and sipped her tea, gently scraping the foam off with the lid of her cup.
Tan Er, with her hands on her hips, interjected, "Who took him in? He was the one who refused to leave! Don't try to drag my sister into this! My sister has nothing to do with him! Besides, he's still a child! If he wasn't so young, I wouldn't have brought him home!"
Li Mama's face turned pale in fear. She wondered how many bear hearts and leopard gallbladders this girl had eaten to speak to the Emperor like that.
Grand Eunuch Wang was stunned. The last time he had encountered this young miss, she had been recklessly charging forward, and he had thought her to be brainless. He never expected... that this young miss was actually quite clever! And despite her young age, she seemed to understand quite a lot.
Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "I wasn't home last night, and my servants must have been inadequate in their hospitality, causing you inconvenience."
Grand Eunuch Wang gave an embarrassed smile. "Not at all, not at all."
What a clever response! First, she implied that the Emperor was still young and could be treated as a child. Then, she made it clear that she had avoided any potential scandal by not being home last night, ensuring there were no implications of impropriety between her and the Emperor.
No wonder Lin Wan'er and the Lu family had fallen into her hands. From her to her servants, not a single one was foolish.
Meng Qianqian replied in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, "I appreciate Consort Li's kind intentions, but as for these gifts..."
Tan Er bent down and whispered into Meng Qianqian's ear, "Sister, there's Blood Coagulating Ointment! It's a good thing!"
Meng Qianqian naturally said, "I really shouldn't accept these gifts. After all, it is my duty to be loyal to His Majesty. However, if I don't accept them, it might be difficult for Grand Preceptor Wang to report back. Banxia."
"Yes, Miss."
Banxia reached out and took the gifts from the two little eunuchs.
After Grand Eunuch Wang left, Li Mama closed the door and carefully inspected each of the gifts.
Consort Li had sent quite a lot of things, including Blood Coagulating Ointment, antique paintings, calligraphy works by famous artists of the current dynasty, and a dagger with a sheath inlaid with colorful gems.
Li Mama didn't understand the value of the medicine or the paintings, but she could recognize the value of the gems on the dagger.
"Miss, why has Consort Li's attitude towards us suddenly become so friendly?"
She didn't believe that it was because Meng Qianqian had taken in the Emperor last night.
The Emperor was the Son of Heaven, and everything under the heavens belonged to him. It was his prerogative to stay wherever he pleased, and it was an honor for whoever he chose to stay with. Consort Li's words about taking him in were just a polite gesture. But clearly, they had been very displeased with each other earlier because of Lin Wan'er's matter.
Banxia asked, "Could it be that after the Emperor returned, he told the truth to Consort Li, and she saw through Lin Wan'er's true character, feeling that she had wronged Miss in the past?"
Meng Qianqian shook her head, "I don't think so."
Tan Er played with the dagger, shaking her index finger, "My mother said that the women in the harem are never simple. They don't have good hearts either. Because of their good hearts, they were all killed!"
Banxia exclaimed, "Ah, that's too absolute, isn't it? The Empress is a good person."
Tan Er turned serious, "Don't you see that she's not favored?"
Banxia: "Umm... it seems that's what happened."
Tan Er continued to instruct Banxia, "If the Empress was willing to collude with Lu Yuan, would there ever be a day when Concubine Li could rise to power? Without a son of her own, wouldn't she try to snatch someone else's?"
Li Mama gnashed her teeth, "It's that Lu Yuan again!"
Tan Er immediately scurried back to Meng Qianqian and whispered, "Sister, did I say something wrong?"
Meng Qianqian: "No."
Concubine Li and her son had risen to their positions because of Lu Yuan, but as their appetites grew, it remained to be seen if Concubine Li could keep Lu Yuan under control.
Recalling the rumors circulating in the capital, Tan Er covered her mouth with the back of her hand and asked curiously, "Sister, is it true that the Grand Viceroy has an affair with Concubine Li?"
In the Changchun Palace...
Grand Eunuch Wang returned and reported what had happened, omitting Tan Er's arrogant remarks as they were insignificant.
Concubine Li wouldn't punish Tan Er for them, nor would she be upset that someone had cursed at her in such a way.
On the surface, Concubine Li appeared impulsive and willful, relying on her status as the mother of the emperor to act arrogantly in the harem, even daring to occasionally step on the queen. But that was just her disguise.
"It's good that you accepted them."
Concubine Li donned a Miao ethnic hat, dressed in the style of a Miao woman, exuding a unique charm.
Time had left few traces on her face, and her eyes remained bright and lively.
When Grand Eunuch Wang saw her attire, he knew she was expecting an important guest.
He led all the palace maids to withdraw.
Soon, a man wearing a bamboo hat and a purple robe appeared in Concubine Li's bedroom.
Concubine Li gazed at the visitor through a bronze mirror, a charming smile on her face, "You're here. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
The man looked at the person in the bronze mirror. The person in the mirror turned around and gracefully approached him, "Look at you, rushing over so hastily that you didn't even notice the fallen leaves on your shoulders."
As she spoke, she raised her slender jade-like hand to pluck the leaves from his shoulders.
At that moment, she also saw the face under the bamboo hat, and her smile froze. She withdrew her hand, "Why is it you? Where's Lu Yuan?"
Shangguan Ling spoke seriously, "The Grand Viceroy is occupied with matters, so he sent his subordinate to deliver a message to Your Highness."
Concubine Li coldly sat back down in her chair.
Shangguan Ling said, "Meng Xiaojiu is the Grand Viceroy's bodyguard. If Your Highness wants to win her over, it depends on whether the Grand Viceroy is willing or not."
Concubine Li coldly smiled, "She's just a bodyguard. What? Is he reluctant to part with her?"
Shangguan Ling smiled faintly, "It's not that the Grand Viceroy is reluctant, but Miss Baoshi likes her and can't bear to be apart from Meng Xiaojiu."
Concubine Li scoffed, "A wild child picked up from the streets, and you treat her like a precious daughter!
Shangguan Ling smiled, "Whoever the Grand Viceroy favors becomes a precious jewel. Don't you agree?"
Concubine Li rolled her eyes.
Shangguan Ling had delivered the intended message and turned to leave the Changchun Palace.
Concubine Li removed the silver hat from her head and angrily threw it on the ground, "How dare you send Shangguan Ling to brush me off! After going to the border, you've become more capable! You won't let me target Meng Xiaojiu? Hmph, I'll do as I please!"
In the afternoon, Meng Qianqian visited the money shop. Today, Liu Changsheng reminded her that she still owed Lu Yuan some silver. Although the interest had been offset, she needed to repay the principal.
On her way back, she bought a few storybooks that the old matriarch liked and returned home as the sky darkened.
She asked Banxia to deliver an invitation card to the Grand Viceroy's residence, informing him of her visit tomorrow to repay the debt.
After bathing, she read for a while and retired early.
In the middle of the night, a dark shadow quietly sneaked into her room.
(End of Chapter)
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