diskusbooks Chapter 241 New Year's Gift
Chapter 241 New Year's Gift
"what?!"
Chu Qingyin looked surprised, her brows furrowing tightly. If that were the case, wouldn't her plan be ruined?
Just then, Qinglan hurriedly emerged from the shadows.
She quickly curtsied and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Lord says we should hold back tonight and discuss leaving the palace later."
After saying that, she quickly left.
How could this be?
Chu Qingyin's face turned a little pale. This was not what she had expected. Why were the fireworks, which were a regular feature in previous years, canceled this year?
"Perhaps His Majesty canceled the fireworks display because he thought he wouldn't be able to enjoy it with His Highness tonight?" Xianglan whispered.
"Perhaps..."
Unable to leave the palace, Chu Qingyin felt somewhat dejected.
I don't know when the next opportunity will come.
The two returned to Feixue Palace, but Chu Qingyin had no interest in the brightly lit courtyard.
After the banquet at the Hall of Supreme Harmony ended, news also came back that the emperor had gone to the Phoenix Palace.
"That's how it should be."
Chu Qingyin didn't look up. She held a piece of peach blossom pastry in her hand and absentmindedly put it into her mouth.
On New Year's Eve, how could the emperor possibly stay overnight in a separate palace?
I slept without any dreams.
After Lunar New Year's Eve comes the New Year.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chu Qingyin wore a bright red palace dress with lotus patterns, without any other decorations.
As a concubine in the imperial harem, she naturally had to pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress on this day, and then go to Cining Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
After a brief reorganization, Chu Qingyin, accompanied by Xianglan, went to Fengyi Palace with a group of concubines.
Along the way, the concubines chatted in twos and threes, exchanging pleasantries in hushed tones. On the surface, it was a peaceful scene, but in reality, they were secretly competing with each other.
Chu Qingyin did not want to have much interaction with them, and she dismissed several concubines who wanted to come forward to exchange pleasantries with her with a few words.
Qiao Qingling deliberately slowed her pace to walk alongside Chu Qingyin, a seemingly friendly but actually mocking smile on her face: "Sister, what happened yesterday was really dangerous. You should be more careful in the future and not make the same mistake again, lest you anger the Empress Dowager."
Chu Qingyin glanced at her indifferently: "Thank you for reminding me, sister. I was indeed negligent yesterday. I will be more careful in the future."
Seeing Chu Qingyin's composure, Qiao Qingling felt somewhat displeased, but she couldn't show it, so she could only snort and quicken her pace to walk forward.
Upon arriving at Fengyi Palace, everyone paid their respects to Empress Wang. Empress Wang sat regally in the main seat, her expression solemn, but a hint of weariness was visible in her eyes.
She scanned the crowd, her gaze lingering on Chu Qingyin for a moment before quickly shifting away.
"Rise, all of you. Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, a time for new beginnings. I don't want to say anything that might spoil the mood. However, in this harem, the rules must still be observed. Do not do anything that would overstep your bounds and break the palace rules."
Empress Wang's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, and her words were practically a direct address to Chu Qingyin.
Everyone agreed in unison, keeping their eyes down and not wanting to risk any bad luck.
After paying their respects, everyone went together to the Empress Dowager's palace.
The Empress Dowager's palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and palace maids and eunuchs were bustling about, creating a joyous atmosphere.
Empress Dowager Wang sat on the couch, watching the concubines come to pay their respects. A rare smile of satisfaction appeared on her well-maintained face.
"Today is the first day of the month. I am very pleased to see that you are all in good spirits, with different figures, some plump and some slender."
The Empress Dowager's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Chu Qingyin. She frowned slightly and said, "Although His Majesty pleaded for you yesterday, I will spare you for now. But you must remember that the rules in the inner palace are strict, and there must be no next time."
Chu Qingyin quickly knelt down and respectfully said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is right. I will keep it in mind and dare not be negligent in the slightest."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly: "Rise."
He then ordered the palace servants to prepare tea and snacks, which he enjoyed with the other concubines.
Chu Qingyin sat to the side, quietly eating her tea and snacks, behaving exceptionally well.
After having tea and snacks, everyone chatted with the Empress Dowager for a while. Only after the Empress Dowager distributed red envelopes did they take their leave.
During this time, Pei Yuanling sat with the Empress the whole time, not sparing Chu Qingyin even a glance.
After paying his respects to the Empress Dowager, he and Empress Wang went to the front court to receive the congratulations of the officials.
Chu Qingyin weighed the rather heavy red envelope in her hand, feeling listless.
Upon returning to the palace, he instructed Xianglan to distribute the prepared red envelopes, giving an extra one to Kang Luhai and the others, before returning to the inner palace alone.
She didn't let anyone follow her; she simply held Little Snowball in her arms, her slender fingers running over the cat's fluffy body, ruffling the fur that the cat had just licked smooth.
The thought that she couldn't take Little Snowball with her made her lift the kitten up and kiss it again and again, feeling extremely reluctant to part with it.
Seemingly sensing her mood, the little snowball made a gurgling sound and obediently lay on her lap.
Chu Qingyin stroked Little Snowball and murmured softly, "Little Snowball, if there is an afterlife, I wish you could be born into an ordinary family, free and unrestrained, no longer bound by the rules of the palace."
Just as Little Snowball meowed, it heard a deep male voice coming from the side.
"Is Yinyin resenting me?"
Chu Qingyin's breath hitched, but she quickly regained her composure and slowly turned around, "Your Majesty..."
She rose from the bedside, her bright face showing a hint of grievance: "Your Majesty, I greet you."
"No need for such formalities."
Pei Yuanling stepped forward to support her.
Chu Qingyin leaned against Pei Yuanling's chest, tilted her head slightly, and said with a hint of resentment in her eyes, "Your Majesty, how could I resent you? It's just that too many things have happened recently, and I am really troubled."
Pei Yuanling sighed softly, stroking the black hair of the person in his arms: "Yinyin, I know you have been wronged. Although I pleaded for you yesterday, I couldn't be too harsh on the Empress Dowager."
Chu Qingyin sneered inwardly. How could he still act in such an obvious way after framing Pei Yuanling? What kind of emperor was he?
However, she still maintained an understanding expression: "Your Majesty, I understand your difficulties."
"The Empress Dowager's reprimand was only to teach me to follow the rules, and I have no complaints. However, this matter was framed by others, and I am truly indignant."
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Pei Yuanling raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of Chu Qingyin's eyes and said softly, "Yinyin, be patient for a little longer. Once you become a Noble Consort, no one in this harem will dare to bully you easily."
Chu Qingyin buried her head in his chest, her voice somewhat muffled: "Your Majesty, I truly couldn't sleep last night without you here. I kept thinking of you and the Empress..."
"I did not touch her."
Pei Yuanling hugged her even tighter and said seriously, "Besides, after you left last night, I canceled the fireworks. If you can't see them, no one else can either."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Unexpectedly, the reason why the plan failed was this.
As if remembering something, Pei Yuanling took out a red envelope from his sleeve, handed it to her, and said softly, "Happy New Year, this is my New Year's gift to you. Open it and take a look."