flstandardbreds Chapter 104 Exploitation
Chapter 104 Exploitation
The Queen smiled and said, "Great! If all the concubines could get along harmoniously like these three, I would be at ease. Concubine Xia and you entered the palace at the same time, so you should support each other!"
"Your Majesty is right!" Shen Meizhuang continued to talk to Xia Dongchun, "Sister Xia, I heard that your dance on the ice yesterday won the emperor's heart. I didn't know you had such a unique skill. It's a pity that I didn't see it with my own eyes. It's really a pity. If there is a chance, I would also like to see it for myself!"
Xia Dongchun heard the hidden meaning in her words and could only avoid the main point, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I only showed my humble skills to make the emperor smile!"
Zhen Huan took over the conversation, "Sister, you're being modest! Feiyan was so graceful that she could dance on her palms. Your dancing is no less graceful than Feiyan's. I see that your figure is slender, and your skin is whiter than snow, far better than when I first met you. Do you have any secret recipes for maintaining your beauty?"
Ever since Xia Dongchun gained favor yesterday, Zhen Huan knew that this was the Queen's chess piece to deal with An Lingrong. Seeing Shen Meizhuang targeting her today, she became more certain of her guess.
As soon as these words came out, the concubines present all focused their attention on Xia Dongchun. You know, she had just been released from the cold palace! Even if the queen had someone specially assigned to take care of her, how could she have become so bright and beautiful in just one year?
Youth and beauty are what every woman desires. Even Concubine Hua, who is always arrogant and disdains to talk to lower-ranking concubines, couldn't help but cast a curious look at her at this moment.
"My concubine, my concubine..." Xia Dongchun murmured, unable to speak, and turned her gaze to the queen.
The queen was also looking at her with a smile.
Knowing the Queen wouldn't help her, Xia Dongchun could only bite the bullet and speak, "Noble Lady Wan, you're joking. There's no secret recipe. I'm just looking forward to the day I can see Your Majesty again, so I take extra care of myself. Concubine Hui is elegant and dignified, and Noble Lady Wan is fresh and beautiful. I can't even compare to her."
The concubines did not show this reason on their faces, but they felt a bit disdainful in their hearts.
Zhen Huan smiled and didn't ask any more questions.
This is exactly the effect I want. She was favored for her dancing and was the subject of envy. Now I have helped her attract a wave of hatred. Xia Dongchun's life in the palace will not be easy in the future.
Concubine Hua lazily fiddled with the armor on her hand. "Mrs. Xia's manners are much better than they were a year ago, and her words are more pleasant to the ear. The Empress is really good at disciplining people!"
The Queen's smile deepened upon hearing this. "That's all thanks to Concubine Hua, for making Concubine Xia remember the palace rules!"
"The Queen is joking. I hope Concubine Xia doesn't resent me!"
"I dare not!" Xia Dongchun was both afraid of and hated Concubine Hua.
Concubine Hua didn't care about Xia Dongchun regaining favor. She was just a fool. She could give her a hundred lashes or even ten lashes.
After paying their respects, the concubines left Jingren Palace.
When Hua Fei passed by Shen Meizhuang, she pretended to ask casually, "How many months has it been?"
Shen Meizhuang replied, "Your Majesty, it's been six months!"
"Take good care of her!" After saying this, Concubine Hua helped Songzhi get on the sedan chair by the hand.
Xia Dongchun stayed in Jingren Palace.
The queen put away the smile on her face and asked, "Do you understand?"
Xia Dongchun took the teacup that Jianqiu brought in and handed it to the Queen with a hint of a sneer on her face, "What Huipin said today clearly shows that she wants to protect that bitch An Lingrong!"
The queen took the teacup, took a sip, then raised her head and looked at Xia Dongchun with a half-smile, "You're not that stupid."
Xia Dongchun was delighted, but she still carefully observed the Queen's expression and asked cautiously, "What should we do now?"
The queen smiled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes, "What do you think?"
Xia Dongchun pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "The reason Huipin dares to be so arrogant is simply because she has a dragon seed in her belly. If she loses this child, she will lose her greatest support. Then, not only will An Lingrong be in trouble, but she herself will also be in trouble."
She did not forget that the cause of what happened that day was Shen Meizhuang.
"Hmph, that's not that easy!" The Queen put down her teacup. Neither she nor Concubine Hua gained any advantage when fighting with An Lingrong, and they even suffered heavy casualties. Fortunately, she hid her tail quickly enough and was not exposed.
Xia Dongchun gritted her teeth and said, "I'm willing to give it a try."
She had just come out of the cold palace, and now she couldn't wait to show her abilities to the queen in order to gain a firm foothold.
The queen raised her eyebrows slightly, staring at Xia Dongchun's ferocious expression, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "We are all sisters in the harem, we should take care of each other!"
"Yes!"
After Xia Dongchun left, Jianqiu waited on the empress at dinner. "Your Majesty, in my opinion, although Concubine Xia has been trained by you for a year, she is still stupid and ignorant. She is really not someone who can be of great use."
"Of course I know, but there's really no one available right now!" The Queen sighed, "But she has something we all want!"
"Then your Majesty must make good use of her!" Jianqiu was still a little worried, "But if she acts carelessly, you must not let her get involved!"
The Queen put down her chopsticks and revealed a confident expression. "Acting carelessly? She still has a good father to help her clean up the mess! Even if she is exposed, what does it have to do with me? I haven't said anything!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"