Empress, she is rising step by step

"My slave, I didn't find anything unusual." Zhu Ci had always been on guard against Hongxiu, but Hongxiu couldn't find anything even if she wanted to, so it would be good if Zhu Ci didn't get suspicious.

"Going around, the two Baolins, Zhu Baolin and Cao Yan, interacted quite frequently. Later, I don't know what happened, but Zhu Baolin and Yan Baolin gradually became estranged from Cao Baolin, and I don't know why."

"Really?" Bai Xinrui was dubious and reached out to brush her hair.

"She's not suspicious of you, right? Zhu Baolin has always been very generous to his slaves and has no airs at all. I guess he treats you well, right?"

Hong Xiu replied calmly: "Probably not. I have always been careful. Zhu Baolin treats both Nu and Cui Lan equally, but he is not as kind to Sister Zhuying."

Bai Xinrui frowned slightly, Zhu Ci was a smart man. Even if she didn't realize that Hongxiu was hers, she would definitely be on guard against her.

"That's good. I was originally worried that you would betray me and sell me because of Zhu Baolin's kindness. As the old saying goes, a loyal servant is not suitable for two masters, and a slave can only choose one master. Only the head on the neck can be secure.”

A chill ran down Hongxiu's back, and she felt infinitely sad. Zhu Baolin was very wary of her, and the imperial concubine did not treat her as a real person.

Why should she be ordered around without even being able to decide her own life? Just because she is a slave, she will die when she dies?

"I know. I know that only you, the empress, are really good to me. Only by following you can I live a good life."

Bai Xinrui smiled with satisfaction and waved her hand, "Go back. Your Majesty is here. I can't tell you clearly after seeing you."

Hong Xiu hurried away, and Bai Xinrui touched her face and smiled happily. Ever since Cao Baolin came to bed, the emperor had not stayed in her palace once. She finally expected the emperor to come, and she had to keep him no matter what.

She quickly asked the palace maid to bring out the newly made dress she had made recently so that she could change her clothes and wash herself again.

On the other side, the sun was blazing in the sky and the trees were in the shade. The palace attendants who carried the sedan took a long way to avoid being exposed to the sun. Although the journey is a bit long, the surrounding trees are lush and dotted with prosperity, making it very cool.

Shen Que leaned on the back of the sedan, his arms casually resting on the armrests of the sedan. He slightly squinted his eyes and looked into the distance. The surrounding green trees were thick and gloomy, like emerald jars. Occasionally, a flock of birds flew over the treetops, flying to unknown distances with their autumn chirping.

The cicadas were noisy, getting louder and louder.

Shen Que clicked his tongue impatiently, "Every time in the summer, this thing makes me have a headache. How do those slaves do their work? Do I need to send someone to talk about this?"

Shen Que rarely walked this way, and there were tall trees all around, so there were naturally a lot of cicadas chirping.

Li Quan didn't know what was wrong with Shen Que, and he, a slave, didn't dare to say anything. In addition, he has been with Shen Que since he was a child, and is used to his uncertainty.

He glanced at Shen Que cautiously and said, "Perhaps those slaves are lazy again. Your Majesty, please don't be as knowledgeable as them. I will ask people to catch all the cicadas on the trees."

He turned around and said to Xiao Fuzi behind him: "Go find a few people and ask them to stick all the cicadas with sticky sticks. Don't disturb the emperor. The emperor is kind, and they have become more and more unruly. Even this kind of thing can't be done." Don’t take it seriously. Look inside their heads.”

"Hey." Xiao Fuzi accepted the order.

Shen Que frowned and raised his hand to wave at the mosquitoes around him, "You stupid thing, why did you remember to leave here? Why don't you leave quickly?"

The palace attendants who carried the sedan did not dare to show their anger. After hearing Shen Que's words, they quickened their pace. Sweat slowly slid down their foreheads and fell to the collar, making it smear white.

When walking near Chunse Garden, Shen Que suddenly heard a melodious whistle, like a woman whispering in his ear. It is also like weeping drizzle, desolate and full of infinite sadness.

Shen Que raised his hand and said, "Stop!" He listened carefully for a while.

"Who is playing the flute?" Li Quan recognized it immediately. Except for Concubine Shu who was good at playing the flute, there was no other empress in the palace who could play Xiao so beautifully.

"It seems to be Empress Shu. In the palace, apart from the empress's harp and Zhu Baolin's pipa, only empress Shu's Xiao is the best at it."

Shen Que thought deeply for a moment and said, "Let's go and have a look."

Shen Que got off the sedan and looked for Xiao Sheng. From a distance, he vaguely saw Xu Tingyue standing deep among the roses. She was dressed very plainly and seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

"The weather is so hot, why are you standing under the sun like this? What if you get the heat? You don't know how to cherish your body."

The chirping sound stopped suddenly, and Xu Tingyue turned her head in disbelief. He saw Shen Que standing not far away, with his hands behind his back, looking at him with smiles and concern in his eyes.

She was startled at first, but then she reacted with uncontrollable joy.

"Concubine, I come to see the emperor." She saluted quickly.

"Why is the emperor here?"

"I happened to be passing by here and heard you playing the flute, so I came over to have a look."

Shen Que took a few steps closer. Xu Tingyue didn't put any makeup on her face, and only a few seasonal flowers were dotted in her hair. Perhaps it was because he had stood under the sun for too long that his cheeks were white and rosy.

Shen Que's eyes deepened, "The injuries on your face are all healed? You can't even see any scars."

"Thanks to the Queen. I was worried that I would be heartbroken because of the injury on my face, so I looked for a miraculous doctor from outside. I used the miraculous doctor's prescription, and it really worked."

Xu Tingyue raised her eyes and looked at Shen Que, her eyes seemed to be filled with infinite sadness and endless affection.

"Is there anything else, Your Majesty? If Your Majesty is still busy, go and get busy. I've been out for a long time, so I'm afraid the people in the palace will be worried."

Saying that, Xu Tingyue was about to lift her legs to leave, but Shen Que grabbed her wrist.

"Don't worry, let me talk to you. I feel very sad and sad when I hear your voice, but why don't you blame me for not visiting you during this time?"

Xu Tingyue shook her head, "I don't dare. I just remembered that the emperor once told me that the begonia flowers on my hairpin are the most beautiful. But now it has already passed the season when the begonia flowers are in full bloom, and they have all withered. Concubine I felt sad for a while, so that’s why…”

Her eyes were faintly red, and she lowered her head while choking.

How could Shen Que not understand that Xu Tingyue was using flowers as a metaphor for himself? Indeed, since Concubine Shu's face was injured, he had not been to Concubine Shu's palace much.

"You cried anyway, and others saw it and thought I had bullied you."

Shen Que took the handkerchief from Xu Tingyue's hand and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Although the begonia flowers have withered, the roses are still in full bloom. It doesn't matter what kind of flower you wear, what matters is who wears the hairpin. I see that you look more charming today."