Chapter 263: Seeing the Light of Day Again (6)

What did this sentence mean? Did it mean she would trust her, or did it mean she had to be absolutely loyal? The word "trust" was easy to say, but it was the most precious thing in the world. Fu Ling couldn't guess her thoughts, nor did she know how to answer, but Qingfeng's eyes, like her person, were so sharp that people had nowhere to hide. Fu Ling muttered, "This servant is dull, I don't know?"

"Fu Ling." Seeing her in a dilemma, Qingfeng had already guessed that she was either playing dumb or would refuse her. Interrupting what Fu Ling was about to say, Qingfeng said straightforwardly, "I might enter the Heavenly Prison again at any time. Next time, I might not be so lucky to come out alive. Think clearly about whether you want to stay or not before making a decision. I'll wait."

"The Empress has arrived."

Before Qingfeng finished speaking, the eunuch's sharp announcement came from outside the hall. It was very harsh, but it could be heard clearly.

Qingfeng's cold brows furrowed tightly. What was she here for?

At the palace banquet, she was just a "gift" and was demoted to a palace maid. Xin Yuening had already been aggressive and wanted to get rid of her everywhere. Now that she had been conferred the title of concubine, how could Xin Yuening let it go? Qingfeng looked at Fu Ling beside her, patted her shoulder, and said in a low voice, "There is a storage room for clothes and ornaments behind the curtain, you retreat first." She could see that Fu Ling was unwilling to stay. Since that was the case, it was better to let her avoid it so as not to be implicated by her for no reason.

Qingfeng supported the bed rail with one hand and struggled to get up, walking toward the screen. These few steps had exhausted all her energy, and she didn't notice at all that the moment she told Fu Ling to retreat, a flash of surprise, and? emotion, passed through Fu Ling's eyes.

Although Qingfeng disdained palace etiquette, she was from a famous family and naturally knew how to receive the Empress. To avoid Xin Yuening finding fault with her as soon as she entered, Qingfeng walked to the screen and knelt on one knee. She hadn't walked off the bed for a long time, and as soon as her knees bent, her whole body almost fell to the ground. A slender arm supported her shoulder in time.

Qingfeng looked up. Fu Ling had already knelt beside her, still with that calm expression, but the hand supporting her shoulder didn't let go. Why hadn't she left yet? The two looked at each other, and there was no chance to say anything else. A purple gold-embroidered shoe had already stepped into the hall.

"May the Empress live ten thousand years."

Qingfeng lowered her head slightly. What she was thinking about wasn't how Xin Yuening would make things difficult for her, but Fu Ling beside her. She was indeed a person who was easily soft-hearted. How much deception and disappointment would she have to experience to be as cold as she appeared on the surface?

"Little sister, you are not feeling well, so there is no need for so many rituals. Get up quickly." The clear woman's voice couldn't be called intimate, but it wasn't harsh either. Qingfeng looked up. Xin Yuening didn't bring many palace maids and nannies to show off as she thought. Beside her was only a young woman in her early twenties, with a tall and thin figure and a plain and gentle temperament, standing quietly, not looking like a servant.

Fu Ling helped Qingfeng stand up and sit on the wooden chair beside her. Xin Yuening looked at the decorations in the hall and shook her head lightly, looking full of emotion, and smiled, "I didn't expect that three years have passed, and this Shuyun Palace hasn't changed much. The peonies outside the courtyard are still blooming so brightly. This is also expected. Back then, in order to help Consort Shu find these top-grade pink peonies, the Emperor almost sent people all over the six kingdoms. The past is still vivid, but now this place is already Qingfeng Hall. It really is a case of the new replacing the old."

This sounded like emotion, but it wasn't hard to hear the sarcasm between the lines. Qingfeng was a bit impatient and asked in a low voice, "What is the Empress here for?"

Xin Yuening raised the corners of her mouth and smiled, "This palace heard that little sister is unwell, so I came to see you specially."

Since when were they so intimate? Not sure of Xin Yuening's intention, Qingfeng remained calm and replied distantly and politely, "Just a small cold, I dare not trouble the Empress."

Sighing lightly, Xin Yuening smiled softly, "Since the Emperor has already conferred you the title of concubine, this harem is your home. This palace is in charge of the harem, so naturally, I have to take care of you more. Little sister, there is no need for rituals. You and I can call each other sisters. There are many people and many rules in this harem. When you recover, this palace will let Shui Xin come over to tell you about the rules in the palace. Although this palace is strict, I have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. I'm just afraid that you will offend those insidious villains without knowing it."

Call each other sisters? Qingfeng sneered. She only had two sisters, her eldest sister and Mo'er. Xin Yuening's performance today was completely different from the palace banquet, but her attitude of being superior and despising everyone was the same. Qingfeng snorted lightly and replied, "That's true, I often offend some monsters and ghosts for no reason."

Xin Yuening's face turned cold instantly. Fu Ling was secretly shocked. She picked up the tea beside her, handed it to Qingfeng, and shook her head lightly at her. Qingfeng pursed her lips. If she didn't say it, she wouldn't say it. Taking a sip of tea, Qingfeng then replied shamelessly, "Thank you for your reminder, Empress."

"The King of Hell is easy to see, but the little ghosts are hard to deal with. Little sister, be careful. This palace still has to go to Consort Hui's place. Little sister, take good care of your illness and recover early. The Emperor likes you so much, so you must not fail the holy grace." Xin Yuening's face was still not very good, and she didn't seem to be in the mood to deal with her anymore, so she got up and walked toward the outside of the hall.

"Respectfully send off the Empress."

Shui Xin followed behind Xin Yuening. When she stepped out of the hall door, she glanced at the woman beside Qingfeng. She actually dared to stop Qingfeng when she spoke rudely, and Qingfeng actually listened to her. That palace dress should be the attire of a low-level palace maid. Why did she appear in Qingfeng Hall? Who was she?

Feeling the scorching gaze on herself, Fu Ling raised her head and met Shui Xin's eyes. The two looked at each other silently for a while. Shui Xin smiled slightly at her and turned to walk out of the hall.

Fu Ling's brows furrowed tightly. That woman just now should be Shui Xin, the Empress's dowry maid, who had been in the palace for nearly ten years and was now the Empress's personal female official. Although she had no intersection with her, she had heard of her for a long time. From the two Empress Dowagers down to the palace maids and eunuchs, everyone praised her. Seeing her today, she was indeed gentle and elegant, but what did that smile of hers just now mean?

Qingfeng supported her chin, shook her head and smiled, "Unexpectedly, trouble came so quickly." Fu Ling beside her had her brows almost tied into a knot. Having been in the palace for so long, she should also know that the Empress's inexplicable kindness was not a good sign. "You go, I'll ask Gao Jin to transfer you back to the Female Medical Academy."

Qingfeng was about to call Lan'er outside the door, but Fu Ling suddenly said, "This servant is willing to

Qingfeng was stunned: "Why?" At the beginning, Fuling had been unwilling to stay. Although the Empress had not made things too difficult during this visit, she had not truly come to show goodwill either. Under such circumstances, why did she suddenly change her mind? Qingfeng was puzzled.

"This servant? I want to stay by your side, Your Ladyship."

Qingfeng's expression darkened, and she said coldly: "You are lying. I want to hear the truth."

Within the cold voice was a faint disgust. Fuling raised her head and immediately met a pair of eyes burning with fire. Her heart skipped a beat; she should not have lied to her. Why bother deceiving her? Was wanting to stay not exactly because that phrase "someone I can trust" had moved her? Looking at the peonies blooming brilliantly outside the window, Fuling replied in a low voice: "This servant entered the palace at twelve years old, and it has been eleven years since then. I have stayed in the Imperial Kitchen, the Silk Weaving House, and the Female Medical Academy. Now, I am afraid I cannot even return to the Laundry Bureau. If I do not stay here, what other place is there for me to go?" Trust in this imperial palace was too precious. She also wanted to try to see if there could be someone she could trust.

Just because there was nowhere else to go? Qingfeng was somewhat disappointed. "You have been in the palace for so many years; you should be very clear about my current situation. Have you thought it through?"

"Yes." Fuling nodded without saying anything more.

"Fine, then you shall stay by my side." Staring at Fuling's gentle and calm profile, Qingfeng said word by word: "But you must remember, I loathe deception and betrayal."

A flash passed through her silent eyes. Fuling lowered her head and replied: "This servant will keep it in mind."

"Also, do not call me 'Your Ladyship' in the future."

"Yes, Master." Fuling obediently changed how she addressed her, appearing to be completely submissive and compliant to Qingfeng's words. Yet, Qingfeng felt an inexplicable irritation in her heart. She waved her hand and said: "You may withdraw."

"Yes."

Watching Fuling's silent, departing back, Qingfeng frowned deeply. Keeping someone so deep and unfathomable by her side—was it right or wrong?

Having lain in bed for ten days or so, Yan Hongtian did not appear again, and the Empress and other concubines did not come to bother her either. Fuling was attentive and considerate, and the pain in her chest had slowly faded; everything was very peaceful. Fuling spent some silver to pull strings and managed to get some news about her eldest sister and younger sister. They were currently living in the Prime Minister's Mansion and the General's Mansion respectively, and could meet occasionally. Although she only knew this much, she was still very happy; her eldest sister and younger sister could at least see each other.

Huang Jiao removed the silver needles and took her pulse carefully for a while longer before saying with a look of relief: "Your injury has already healed by seventy or eighty percent. With more rest and continued medication, your body will be able to recover slowly. However, you must be extra careful from now on. It is not advisable to be overly exhausted, especially you must not catch a cold, and even more so, you must not get angry." Since the internal injury had been treated after dragging on for some days, it had left behind a root of illness. If she could always live such an affluent life as she did now, it would not be a major issue.

Qingfeng had been thinking about how to find out more news about her sisters; she hadn't been listening at all to what Huang Jiao was saying. Only after he finished did Qingfeng come back to her senses and smile: "I understand."

Qingfeng hadn't been listening, but Fuling had listened very carefully. Given the many taboos mentioned by the Imperial Physician, it was clear that this injury had not been completely cured. Fuling asked in a low voice: "Do you mean that Master's illness has left behind some root cause? Then what should be paid attention to in daily diet and medication?"

Huang Jiao paused as he packed his medicine chest and looked up at the young woman beside him. With her beautiful face and calm eyes, it was clear she was a bright and intelligent girl. Huang Jiao smiled: "Do you know medicine?"

(End of chapter)