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nWhen the carriage came to the gate of the palace, the little eunuch guarding at the gate trotted toward at the sight of the King Xuan’s Manor’s carriage, and led it into the palace fawningly. A long line of carriages moved backward to give way to the carriage. King Xuan was the Emperor’s favorite prince, and no one dared to offend him.

nWhen the carriage stopped well, Mo Xuetong got off first and helped Feng Yuran to get off. And He Yuxiu behind had already came out of her carriage.

nA little eunuch guarded there and hurried to kneel down when seeing Feng Yuran get off the carriage. “Your Highness, His Majesty asks you to go to the Qianqing Palace.”

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nFeng Yuran frowned and looked at Mo Xuetong.

nMo Xuetong knew that he was worried about her, so she squeezed his hand in the sleeves, took a sideways glance at He Yuxiu who was coming towards them, and suggested. “You just go. I will go to the Cining Palace first and pay my respects to Her Majesty.”

n“Fine, you be more careful and don’t leave Mo Ye.” Feng Yuran nodded and said to her. Then, he entered an imperial coach that was prepared by the little eunuch especially. It was not the Emperor’s dragon coach, but a transporting tool sedan when the masters in the palace were unable to walk. Although it looked like a sedan, the coach was more gorgeous and spacious with a yellow umbrella over it and silk yarn hanging beside.

nFeng Yuran’s leg was still injured, so no one dared to let him walk. The little eunuch helped him into the coach, and it headed to the Qianqing Palace stably.

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n“Yuxiu, I will go to pay respects to Her Majesty first. You can enjoy the scenery in the garden with the ladies and misses. I will find you later.” Mo Xuetong said apologetically to He Yuxiu who was coming to her.

nAs a member of the royal family, it was the rule to pay respects to Empress Dowager and Empress in the palace. However, He Yuxiu did not have this honor and had no right to seek an audience with the two Highness without imperial permission.

n“Xuetong, just feel assured and go. I will walk around in the garden and won’t go anywhere else.” He Yuxiu was thinking about how to leave. Seeing Mo Xuetong about to leave, He Yuxiu was so pleased to take on an obedient look.

n“The imperial garden is really beautiful! I will stay here and have a good look.”

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nIn the spring, a variety of flowers were blossoming on the branches in bright red, light yellow and other colors, and dancing in the breeze with their diversified shapes. What a beautiful sight! So He Yuxiu’s remarks accorded to her first experience to appreciate the fine view. If her eyes were not rolling so sneakily, her words would sound convincible.

n“Then I’ll go first.” Mo Xuetong gave a gentle smile and held Mo Ye’s hand to leave.

nAs for the favorable place and time, Mo Xuetong had created for He Yuxiu, while as for winning the support, it would depend on He Yuxiu herself!

nHe Yuxiu saw Mo Xuetong hold Mo Ye’s hand and disappear in her sight.

nHe Yuxiu also didn’t go in further. Her status was inferior to Mo Xuetong, so she could not take her own maidservant and nanny to the palace to serve her. But there were many ladies with moderate status coming into the garden in small groups. These ladies were born in the capital and all had their own friends as company. So they were not lonely.

nHe Yuxiu strolled along with them in the garden!

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nThe Imperial Garden was so large, and young ladies and madams were admiring the beautiful scenery in the garden while talking about everything under the sun. It was rather pleasing.

n“Have you heard that Her Highness, Consort Zhao, attends the banquet this time. I saw Her Highness 10 years ago. I haven’t thought that since a decade has passed, she is still so beautiful.” A madam of some ages said smilingly to other madams around.

nSomeone asked curiously. “Mrs. Han, have you ever seen Her Highness, Consort Zhao?”

n“Of course. At that time, Her Highness, Consort Zhao, was just around Her Highness Consort Xian, and kept a low profile. Well, Her Highness Consort Xian was the most favored consort in the palace. But unfortunately, she had passed away. Then, His Majesty put all his heart on Her Highness, Consort Zhao. In this respect, Her Highness, Consort Zhao owes thanks to Her Highness, Consort Xian.” Obviously, the madam knew the story. Seeing all the people looking at herself admiringly, she was too dazzled to realize that some of the imperial secrets were not allowed to speak, and just spouted out feverishly.

n“Her Highness, Consort Zhao was related to Her Highness, Consort Xian? What’s the relationship between them?” Consort Xian had passed away for years. If she could be remembered, it was only because she gave birth to King Xuan, Feng Yuran, a licentious prince, who was too impressive for the public. So all the people present fixed their eyes on Mrs. Han.

nEveryone’s stunned eyes flustered Mrs. Han, and then she realized that those people were unknown of it, but she just spoke it out openly. It did violate the royal taboo. Cold sweat ran from her forehead, and she did not dare to say more about it. “Ah, Her Highness, Consort Zhao was not beside Her Highness, Consort Xian? Well, I… I made a mistake.”

nShe stuttered and claimed that she was dizzy and had to rest, so she pushed the crowd away and walked to the direction of flowering shrubs. She did not dare to stay there any longer, afraid of being imprisoned for her carelessness.

nMrs. Han left, but the chat did not stop, and the topic shifted from what Consort Zhao used to be to what she was now.

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n“Have you met Her Highness, Consort Zhao, just now?” A lady asked another lady. With a mere glance from afar, she did not see Her Highness clearly. And with the second sight, she could only see a slender and beautiful figure surrounded by palace servants, but the face was still invisible.

n“I stood there and only took a glance. Her Highness is really beautiful. No wonder she is able to enjoy the favor for years.” The lady who asked praised with an envious look.

n“She is really beautiful. If any lady can win Her Highness’ support, she will definitely do as she pleases in the palace.”

n“It has been for years since someone talked about Her Highness’ paternal family. I am afraid there is no one else in that family. What a pity! Her Highness wins His Majesty’s favor, and her paternal family members could live in ease and comfort…”

nHe Yuxiu’s eyes flickered, and she came up to ask with a smile, “Are you talking about Her Highness, Consort Zhao? Where can I seek an audience with her?”

n“Just in the pavilion in front, but there are eunuchs and guards outside. No one is permitted to come in. It is a pity to let the pool of lotus go to waste. It is impossible to see the early lotus in this season outside the palace.”

nSeeing He Yuxiu was strange but kind, the two ladies answered regretfully, because they had enjoyed the scenery there, but all the people were driven out there at the Consort Zhao’s arrival. It was a waterside pavilion with a pool of locus beside. In this season, a few flowers had bloomed pleasantly above the water.

nHe Yuxiu didn’t come to appreciate the lotus with them, so she just exchanged some greetings and then deliberately shifted the topic about the routes to the pavilion. After getting precise information, He Yuxiu hurried to the road that the ladies pointed to her. At the same time, behind her near the flowers, a woman wearing the palace dress held the fruit tray in her hands and traced back He Yuxiu slowly.

n“How dare you! Her Highness is resting in the pavilion in front. Retreat now!” Two guards stretched out the swords and blocked He Yuxiu with stern faces. Viewed afar, a pavilion was exactly there where Consort Zhao was surrounded by a group of palace maidservants. With the breeze passing by, the ornament and jewelry jingled. Consort Zhao did look strikingly opulent.

nImagining that she would live such an opulent life, He Yuxiu was too agitated to be scared, so she said to the guards peevishly, “Elder Brother, would you kindly make an exception for me this time and go to report that I am Her Highness’ niece from her paternal family? And I come here to beg for an audience especially.”

nHer Highness’ niece?

nThe two guards looked at each other and saw the doubt in each other’s eyes. For so many years in the palace, they had never heard that Consort Zhao had any family members.

n“How dare you! Where are you from? Dare to pass yourself off as Her Highness’ niece?” A harsher guard scolded coldly and pointed his sword at He Yuxiu, showing no intention to let her in.

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n“Get away!”

n“My dear guard, I am really the niece of Her Highness. Please help me to report to Her Highness. I will be at your disposal if I am fake.” He Yuxiu was reluctant to drop the idea, but did not dare to come forward. Seeing it was not far from the pavilion, she yelled suddenly, “Her Highness, I am your niece from your paternal family. Please grant an audience to me!”

nWhen the two guards saw He Yuxiu did not leave but made a loud noise instead, they got angry, and one of them came up to directly drag He Yuxiu’s clothes to pull her out. It was in the palace where no one was allowed to create a disturbance, let alone a moderate woman. If it disturbed His Majesty and he looked into it, the two guards would be killed without a doubt.

n“Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Her Highness gives an order to allow the woman’s audience.” A eunuch ran over and wheezed.

nThe two guards released her, looked at each other, and retreated.

nOn the ground, He Yuxiu was almost scared to death, just staring blankly at the eunuch running to her and unable to react. Just now, when she was dragged by the guards, she thought she was going to die.

n“You are Her Highness’ niece?” The eunuch came over to stand beside and looked disdainfully at the embarrassed woman on the ground. The eunuch thought that the woman looked pretty at the age of 15 or 16, but the palace was full of beautiful women, so her appearance was just classed as a common one in the palace.

nAlthough she had many ornaments on her hands and head, none of them were precious. She seemed not to be a lady from a high, noble family.

nGiven her coward appearance, she lacked the air that a girl from an eminent family should have, and looked too frumpy to be presented. And now she fell on the ground with a disheveled look, which was rather unsightly.

nBeing in a state of shock, He Yuxiu raised her head and answered pitifully. “I, I am.”

nThe eunuch threw a glance at her and said indifferently, “Come with me.” Then, the eunuch simply turned around and led the way even without paying a salute to He Yuxiu. Obviously, the eunuch did not take her seriously. He Yuxiu who had come to herself gritted her teeth secretly with anger, but she also knew that it was not the time to get cross and that all the things should be left till she met Her Highness, Consort Zhao. He Yuxiu’s senior uncle and second young uncle had said that Consort Zhao was so conscientious that she would not act like Consort Xian who had forgotten her origin and driven her paternal family members to a remote place and let them live and die there, and enjoyed a luxurious life in the palace herself.

nIn the pavilion, Consort Zhao sat there, wearing a gorgeous palace suit, like a beautiful woman about 20 years old. She was looking mildly at the awkward He Yuxiu.

nHe Yuxiu did not dare to take more looks at Consort Zhao, but took two steps forward, knelt down respectfully, kowtowed and said, “He Yuxiu pays respects to Your Highness, and wish Your Highness a long life and good health.” She had not expected that things would go on so smoothly and that she could see Consort Zhao so easily. She was in such an excited mood that her voice began trembling slightly.

nHe Yuxiu thought, “My elder uncle and father racked their brains to see Her Highness, but both failed. But I could accomplish it today after I entered the palace just for a while. In this regard, I should take a big share in the glory and wealth in the future.”

n“You are He Yuxiu?” Consort Zhao did not let her stand up but looked at her carefully. “Raise your head.”

n“I am He Yuxiu.” He Yuxiu raised her head slowly and looked up at Consort Zhao. Just now, she did not dare to move. But now she felt a bit relieved inwardly and dared to looked at Consort Zhao carefully.

nAlthough the woman sitting above was not young, she was still exceedingly fascinating and charming and wore luxurious clothes. Looking at the glittering clothes, He Yuxiu could not help but swallow and tried hard to shift her eyes from them, thinking that judging from the treasures on Her Highness, Her Highness did gain great grace in the palace.

nAt the thought that Her Highness would probably grant some of the treasure to her, He Yuxiu felt a surge of excitement run through her.

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