PFC Chapter 237 We'll know after tonight.
Chapter 237 We'll know after tonight.
The New Year's Eve banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which is not a short walk from there; one has to cross the Imperial Garden to reach the other end of the palace.
Chu Qingyin boarded the sedan chair, which swayed and wobbled as it headed towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The road was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, creating a lively scene. The sedan chair moved slowly forward, and Chu Qingyin lifted a corner of the curtain, her gaze sweeping over the Imperial Garden.
Red plum blossoms bloom on branches covered in snow, contrasting beautifully with the large red lanterns hanging by the roadside. It should have been a stunning scene, but she had no heart to appreciate it, feeling only a sense of disorientation.
This was her first New Year in the palace since her rebirth. It was just as festive and lively as ever, but she felt as if she were in another world.
Just as the palanquin was about to leave the Imperial Garden, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.
Chu Qingyin frowned and gestured for the sedan chair bearers to stop.
Not far away, Qiao Qingling was pale-faced and dressed in a plain palace dress. She seemed to be on her way to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but her resentful eyes seemed out of place in the festive atmosphere.
In front of her was Consort Li, dressed in a light pink palace gown.
The two seemed to have gotten into a conflict, with Consort Li's sedan chair blocking her way and refusing to give way even an inch.
Chu Qingyin's heart stirred. Now that she had run into him, she couldn't let him go so easily.
She gracefully lifted the sedan curtain and stepped forward, immediately attracting the attention of the two men.
"This concubine greets Consort Liang." Consort Li was the first to bow, her voice clear and melodious, with a hint of flattery.
Although Qiao Qingling was unwilling, she could only bite the bullet and follow suit, saying, "Greetings to Consort Liang."
Chu Qingyin smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them. "What's going on? It's the New Year, and you're arguing in the Imperial Garden. What kind of behavior is this?"
Consort Li answered first: "Your Highness Consort Liang has arrived just in time. Please judge for me. My palanquin was moving when Consort Qiao suddenly rushed out and almost bumped into me. I asked her to move aside, but she refused and even complained."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qingling immediately became agitated, "You're talking nonsense! You were the one who deliberately blocked my way, and I had already moved aside, but you're still making a fuss about it."
"Besides, I am still a concubine, while you are only a concubine. How dare you ask me to make way for you!"
Qiao Qingling's face was ashen, and her plain clothes made her look even more haggard.
Chu Qingyin waved her hand, "Alright, stop arguing."
She approached Qiao Qingling, her gaze sweeping over her. "Consort Qiao, your plain attire is rather jarring on this festive New Year's Eve. Are you dissatisfied with the palace banquet, or are you intentionally trying to spoil everyone's mood?"
Qiao Qingling clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms. "This concubine dares not, but I have not been feeling well these past few days and have not had time to prepare any other clothes."
Chu Qingyin sneered, "Oh? No time to prepare? The entire Shangfu Bureau is busy preparing for today's palace banquet. You think you're too late? I think you're clearly dissatisfied."
After saying that, she turned to look at Consort Li, "Consort Li, you go to the banquet first, I will handle things here."
Consort Li was eager to get away, so she curtsied and hurriedly left in her sedan chair.
At this moment, only Chu Qingyin, Qiao Qingling, and their respective palace maids remained in the Imperial Garden.
Chu Qingyin's eyes were cold and piercing. "Qiao Qingling, now that His Majesty knows about the despicable things you did in the past, do you think you still have a chance to turn things around? Do you think that His Majesty hasn't demoted you because he still cares about our past relationship?"
At this point, Chu Qingyin let out a soft chuckle.
Thinking back to her previous life, even after she was murdered, Pei Yuanling never stripped her of her title, allowing her to still hold onto hope.
But he never got to see him again until the poisoned wine was swallowed.
Isn't Qiao Qingling holding the same thought now?
Qiao Qingling raised her head, her eyes filled with hatred. "Qiao Qingyin, don't be so smug. You're just relying on His Majesty's favor. When you get old and lose your beauty, or when someone who looks more like the late Consort appears, you'll definitely suffer."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Chu Qingyin leaned closer to her and said in a low voice, "It's just a pity that my sister probably won't live to see that day."
"What do you mean!" Qiao Qingling's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition flashing through her mind.
Chu Qingyin composed herself, a hint of coldness creeping into her beautiful face. "You'll find out after tonight."
Before the other party could react, she had already sat back in the sedan chair and headed towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Ya'er stood timidly behind Qiao Qingling. In the past few days, she had been subjected to a lot of disdain in the palace and had been beaten by Qiao Qingling quite a few times.
Now that Qiao Qingling has been wronged again, she will be the one who suffers in the end.
"Your Majesty, why don't we go back to the palace?"
Ya'er shrank her neck and whispered, "There might be some changes at the banquet now. That Consort Liang is obviously up to no good."
"Return to the palace? What right do you have to return to the palace, just because of a few words she said?"
Qiao Qingling gritted her teeth, her face full of resentment, "I'll see what tricks she can pull."
Having said that, she flicked her sleeves and walked towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The cold wind howled, making Qiao Qingling's plain palace dress flutter and her hair was blown into disarray, but it did not diminish the fierceness in her eyes.
Helpless, Ya'er could only trot along behind, her heart filled with worry.
Judging from Consort Liang's demeanor, what she said didn't seem to be false.
But seeing his master's angry expression, he knew that if he spoke again, he would probably get another beating.
In the end, he chose to remain silent and obediently followed behind Qiao Qingling.
Before long, Chu Qingyin arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The palace was brightly lit, and the carved beams and painted rafters exuded imperial majesty and luxury.
Palace maids and eunuchs moved about busily preparing wine and dishes for the concubines and ministers.
As soon as Chu Qingyin stepped into the hall, she attracted everyone's attention.
Today, she wore a magnificent crimson palace gown, the hem of which was embroidered with golden peonies swaying gently with her steps. The kingfisher feather headdress on her head was even more dazzling, with each gemstone reflecting a brilliant light, making her appear even more graceful and elegant.
Pei Yuanling had not yet arrived, and among the high-ranking concubines present, only Consort Qin was there.
Upon seeing her arrive, Qin Rong'er's face lit up with joy, and she greeted her with great warmth: "Sister Liangfei, your arrival is perfectly timed. I have something I'm having trouble deciding on."
Chu Qingyin smiled slightly, bowed gently, and said softly, "Sister Qin Fei, you are too kind. May I ask what has troubled you so much?"
Qin Rong'er affectionately took Chu Qingyin's hand and led her to a seat to the side: "It's all about the seating arrangement at this palace banquet. Several low-ranking concubines and ladies-in-waiting are clamoring to be seated closer to the front. I think they are all His Majesty's women, so I shouldn't be too harsh on them. But if I give in to them, I'm afraid it will break the rules. Sister, you've always been quick-witted, so please give me some advice."