C99 (2/2)
”More people means more care,” Ru Yan's eyes dimmed for a moment. ”However, the Empress is still fortunate. Even if quasi wangfei has a child, she's only a son.”
Xue Liuhua slightly raised the corner of her lips, ”You're right, I'll be fine with you by my side, there's no need for others.”
Ru Yan beamed, ”This servant will do everything in my power to serve the Empress.”
Xue Liuhua crooked her fingers, ”Bring the small embroidered box in the second drawer on the left.”
Ru Yan took out the embroidered box and handed it over to her, ”What treasure is inside the Empress's box?”
Xue Liuhua smiled and opened the box in front of her curious eyes. Inside the box was an agate hairpin made from red plum.
”I can see that your skin is white, so it must be very suitable for you to wear this.” Xue Liuhua smiled amiably as she picked up the hairpin and stuck it into her hair bun.
Ru Yan was unable to react in time, she blankly raised her hand and touched the hairpin. Why did Consort Hua give her such a precious gift today?
”You have served me for a long time,” Xue Liuhua smiled sweetly.
”Empress,” Ru Yan lowered her eyes. ”You treat me so well.”
”It's nothing. The reason why I gave you this hairpin was not just to thank you for taking care of me for so long.”
Ru Yan looked at her blankly. ”Serving the Empress is my duty, Empress …”
”Sigh.” Xue Liuhua put her forefinger next to her lips, interrupting her words in a soft voice, ”Besides praising your diligence, I also want to praise your loyalty.”
Ru Yan was startled, but at the same time, her heart became alarmed. Could it be that Consort Hua suspected that she was one of the informants sent by Empress Chen into Yongle Palace?
”Ru Yan,” Xue Liuhua's ice-cold fingers slowly caressed her face, ”Do you know that many of the imperial concubines in the palace died instantly when they were pregnant with a dragon embryo?”
”Your servant …” Ru Yan hurriedly said, ”Empress, the Yin Qi in the palace is very dense, and it is common for the imperial concubines to not catch diseases when they are pregnant. The imperial concubines have already been alive for almost five months, please do not be careless.”
A trace of a miserable smile appeared on Xue Liuhua's lips, ”It's not that I'm worried, it's just that the rear palace has never been a battlefield without smoke. I don't want anyone who's hiding in the shadows to pierce my heart with an arrow.”
”That won't happen,” Ru Yan advised softly. ”The Emperor has always been very concerned about the Empress's baby, and only has one share of food and clothing. The Empress will definitely be able to give birth to this child safely.”
”I'm in the dark, and I'm in the light, so how can I guard against it?” Xue Liuhua lightly pinched her chin, her gaze as gentle as water.
Ru Yan kneeled down in a hurry, the aubergine hairpin in her hair teetering on the verge of collapse. ”Empress, this servant is loyal to the Empress my entire life, definitely not with any other intentions.”
”It's still too early in your life. Girl, what are you talking about right now?” Xue Liuhua increased her strength without a sound, ”Are you really that loyal?”
Ru Yan nodded in panic, afraid that the Consort Hua would notice something if she acted too late.
”Alright then,” Xue Liuhua said with a faint smile, ”Go and bring me today's Body Nourishment Medicines. I'm tired, so I want to finish my medicine as soon as possible and go rest.”
Ru Yan's heart was beating so fast that even the hands holding the medicine bowl were trembling.
Xue Liuhua stirred the soup back and forth, but did not drink it, ”How many years have you been in the palace?”
”It's been three years.”
”En,” Xue Liuhua suddenly put down her bowl, ”I saw that you look pretty and delicate, so how come you didn't attract the emperor's favor?”
Ru Yan opened her eyes wide, a suspicious flush appearing on her cheeks. This servant did not think about that. ”
”No?” Xue Liuhua squinted her eyes and smiled, then feebly picked up the medicine bowl and slapped it on her head, ”You slut, you dare say you don't have it?!”
Ru Yan raised her head in disbelief as her eyes reddened. Her voice turned frighteningly hoarse, ”Empress, I really don't have any, I don't have the guts to do it!”
”You know very well whether you have the guts or not,” Xue Liuhua's face held an almost cruel calm. ”If you don't have the guts, why do you keep staring at the emperor?”
Ru Yan gritted her teeth and said, ”Empress, you are carrying emperor’s kid with you, so don't think too much.”
Xue Liuhua slowly rubbed her stomach, a trace of malice flashing past her eyes. ”You went to the Changchun Palace for so long, did you say something at the empress dowager's place?”
”Your servant …” Ru Yan closed her eyes in hatred. If she had to give up the Queen now, then she would be dead without a burial ground in the future. ”This servant is just going to pay respects, this servant really doesn't understand why the Empress doesn't trust this servant so much.”
Xue Liuhua scoffed, ”Because you are not worthy of my trust. You really think I am a fool that you can play with in your palms. In fact, I already knew that you had ill intentions from last night's Changchun Palace.”
”Your servant …” Ru Yan feebly opened her mouth, but could not find the reason behind it.
”Tell me, why did the empress call you here?”
”Empress, the empress didn't call me a servant. This servant really doesn't know what the empress is saying.” Ru Yan bit her lips tightly, not letting out a single word.
”You,” Xue Liuhua laughed while covering her mouth, her eyes filled with frost, ”You really won't shed a tear until you see your own coffin.”
's knees were incomparably sore, but he still forced himself to hold on. ”I wonder what wrong this servant did that could cause the Empress to suspect this servant?”
”Just hang in there,” Xue Liuhua's eyes flashed with a devouring light, ”I will let you know, the most wrong thing you did was to provoke me, Xue Liuhua.”