C52 (1/2)

Chapter 52: Hard to Fathom a Monarch’s Heart

Night has come and the the lanterns inside and outside Qing Feng Hall were lighted up. It was not very bright in the courtyard but it was enveloped in a warm glow. When Gao Jing step out of the chambers, he stood one zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet) away from the door and wait, with a calm yet expressionless face. There were may new palace maids today and even though they were quietly working, Fu Ling felt crowded and was a little annoyed. Walking out of Qing Feng Hall, the early autumn night wind was blowing. Fu Ling unconsciously s.h.i.+vered but still stood in the wind for a long time.

“Older sister Fu Ling, do you still remember me?”

A gentle female voice rang by her ears which made Fu Ling look back. A female clad in the palace uniform smiled as she look at her with full of hope.

Fu Ling gently nodded her head and replied, “I remember, it’s Lan Fang. How did you come to Qing Feng Hall?”

Lan Fang knows that Fu Ling will definitely remember her but now her position was a female official and was also the confidant of her Ladys.h.i.+p. If she pretended not to remember her it would also not be strange. Hearing that Fu Ling remembering her, Lan Fang was secretly relieved and she smile, “You are now already a female official and still remembered me. This time I spend all of my money to put everything in order so that I can enter here. Both of us had also been through thick and thin, you must guide me well!”

It was originally like that, it is understandable for people to climb higher. The Laundry Bureau was actually not a good place to stay at. Fu Ling smiled, “Her Ladys.h.i.+p treat people magnanimously and her mind is clear. As long as one whole-heartedly serve, she would definitely not ill treat you.”

The corners of Lan Fang’s smile somewhat stiffen, but it was only for a moment before she bowed and replied obediently, “Yes, this servant will serve whole-heartedly.” Finis.h.i.+ng her words, she did not forget to greet before withdrawing.

Just now it was “me”, now she had refer herself as servant. Fu Ling shook her head helplessly, what she say was indeed the truth, most likely Lan Fang felt that she was putting up an air around her.

“Older sister Lan-er, let this servant do this kind of work.”

Standing outside the door, through the half opened door to the hall, Fu Ling saw Lan Fang standing by Lan-er’s side talking respectfully and carefully.

Lan-er sized up the well-behaved palace maid beside her with a look and frowned, “Do you know how to do it?” Fu Ling was usually the one taking care of her Ladys.h.i.+p and now it would be her or Xia Yin to intervene. The tasks of doing laundry or sweeping, these kind of menial tasks did not require her to do. Seeing her Ladys.h.i.+p treasuring these Begonias, she casually trimmed the leaves.

Lan Fang saw that the expression on Lan-er’s face was not very good and quickly replied, “This servant had learned from many old Mamas on how to do flower arrangements and even though the skills would not be comparable to older sister, these type of tasks should naturally be done by us servants. Older sister can just point out from the side.”

Lan-er raise her eyebrows slightly, this palace maid’s mouth was sweet. She unceremoniously dump the scissors to Lan Fang and smile, “Then this would trouble you.”

Lan Fang looked alarmed as she anxiously said, “It is nothing. This servant just come here and don’t know anything and would need older sister for guidance.”

Lan-er nodded her head in satisfaction and took two steps before suddenly asking, “What is your name?”

“This servant name is Lan Fang.”

Giving her another look, Lan-er smiled, “Then you trim it first and I will come over later to take a look.”

“Yes.” Lan Fang answered as she respectfully bowed and Lan-er returned back to her room in a good mood. The respectful expression on Lan Fang’s face immediately faded but she actually did the work very seriously.

Fu Ling sighed, perhaps Lan Fang type of person would be more suited to live in the Palace and all she needed was an opportunity. In fact everyone in the Inner Palace were in rivalry for favour, the mistresses wants to get the Emperor’s affections, the servants were also the same, hoping to get recognition from the mistresses. Everyone was fighting and even though she originally thought that Qing Feng and her were not those who fight but now it seems like Qing Feng was also fighting.

This is what the Inner Palace is. Fu Ling suddenly felt a little out of breath and she looked up to the starry sky. Suddenly a pair of aloof and indifferent eyes appeared in her mind. That person… Does he bother to compete? Realising that she was thinking about that cool and arrogant man, Fu Ling’s brow wrinkled up.

*****

“Say what you need to say.”

The candlelight in the house was warm and atmosphere was arely harmonious. Yan Hong Tian’s tone was relaxed and it seems that his mood was also good. Qing Feng considered for a moment before speaking, “Xu Mama has been by the Empress Dowager’s side for a long time and for her to go out of the Palace now meant that the Empress Dowager do not have a caring person to look after her living conditions. Why not let her stay in the Palace to serve the Empress Dowager and atone for her offences.”

Yan Hong Tian’s hand was holding the wine cup and his cold eyes turn sombre, “What you wanted to say is that?”

His voice was light and neither joy or anger could be heard. The Empress Dowager have been repeatedly pleading and it was impossible for the Emperor not to give her face. Till now he did not answer to it, it could be that he wants to leave this favour to her, so for her to say this now, there should not be anything wrong? Qing Feng questioned herself another time before replying, “Yes.”

Since beloved Imperial Concubine has plead, it is approved.” As what she espected, Yan Hong Tian did not make things difficult for her but his voice was cold and some disappointed was also heard, but why? As she was looking up to see his expression, Yan Hong Tian suddenly stood up and opened the door and strode off, in her astonishment. Staring at the figure striding away, Qing Feng was filled with doubt. Was he angry just now? But what was he angry about? Or what was he expecting her to say?

The Emperor has left for quite some time but when Fu Ling entered, she still saw her Mistress;s brows knitted as she stood there blankly. She could not help but worried as she softly called out, “Mistress?”

Shaking her head, Qing Feng still could not read Yan Hong Tian’s mind and she might as well ignore it, “I am all right.”