Chapter 324: The Imperial Concubine's Kneel

"Creeeak..."

The door opened, and a fragrant breeze rushed toward them.

Luo Zijun cast a quick glance inside, lowered his head, and walked in, bowing respectfully: "Your subject Luo Zijun pays his respects to the Queen and the Imperial Concubine. May both Your Ladyships live for ten thousand years!"

The Queen, dressed in a purple-gold phoenix robe, sat upright on a long chair, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Seated to her lower right was a woman wearing a vermilion-red ru skirt, with a thin silk shawl draped over her shoulders and neck; she looked graceful, luxurious, dignified, and beautiful, no more than eighteen or nineteen years old—this was the eldest young lady of the Jia Mansion, Jia Guifei.

Regarding Luo Zijun's greeting, the Queen smiled but said nothing.

Jia Guifei, however, hurriedly rose slightly and smiled: "Young Master Luo, please dispense with the formalities; there is no need for such courtesy."

She naturally knew the current status and position of this Young Master Luo, and she also knew that the reason the people of the Jia Mansion, including herself, had not been imprisoned or exiled was actually due to his efforts.

As for the collapse of the Jia Mansion, it was entirely self-inflicted; he could not be blamed for it all.

Of course, even if she harbored resentment in her heart, she absolutely dared not show it at this moment.

The Liang King had already left, and now she, this Noble Consort, was long since like dust on a roof ridge; once the wind blew, she would vanish without a trace.

She had no one to rely on now, and the Jia Mansion was gone too; whether the entire family lived or died depended entirely on the Queen's mood.

And this young man before her was likely the person the Queen favored most these days.

Therefore, she certainly dared not put on any airs as an Imperial Concubine or the eldest young lady of the Jia Mansion.

"Young Master Luo, actually I have long wanted to meet with you, but I never had the chance. Thank you for taking in those young ladies and maidservants from the Jia Mansion; if not for you, I do not know where they would have ended up by now..."

Jia Guifei smiled in gratitude, dignified and proper.

But she no longer dared to refer to herself as "this palace" or "this consort."

Luo Zijun raised his head to look, and seeing this Jia Guifei with a smile on her face, willow-leaf brows, phoenix eyes, cherry lips and pearly teeth, skin like congealed fat, and a temperament that was dignified, gentle, graceful, and luxurious, she truly lived up to the title of Imperial Concubine.

This woman appeared to have more of a royal, aristocratic air than the Queen.

Although the Queen was very beautiful, she was too glamorous, possessing a soul-snatching, bewitching, and seductive beauty, whereas this Noble Consort possessed a beauty that was dignified, grand, and luxurious, making one respect her involuntarily.

"You are too kind, Noble Consort. Your subject only did what he ought to have done."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said respectfully.

At this moment, the Queen, who had been silent until now, smiled: "The Noble Consort is indeed too kind. When Luo Qing does such things, it is not just out of kindness, but with other motives."

"Oh?"

Jia Guifei was startled upon hearing this, a look of confusion appearing on her face.

The Queen glanced at someone, smiling: "I presume you have also heard in the palace that Luo Qing is very close with your Jia Mansion's Tanchun, Yingchun, and especially that Lin Meimei."

Jia Guifei immediately understood her meaning, and her phoenix eyes also glanced at someone, her face still carrying a dignified smile: "That is Tanchun and the others' good fortune. Young Master Luo is so talented, proficient in everything from poetry and songs to writing books, and that girl Daiyu loves these things most of all; she is naturally very happy to be friends with Young Master Luo."

The Queen smiled slightly and said: "I suspect Luo Qing does not just want to be friends with them."

Jia Guifei lowered her gaze and smiled: "I am no longer in the Jia Mansion, so I do not understand these matters, nor do I care; as long as they are living well, I am at ease."

The Queen raised her eyebrows at someone, as if to say: Look, she has already given her consent.

Luo Zijun said respectfully: "Miss Tanchun and the others are doing very well in Daguanyuan; it is self-sufficient there, and no one disturbs them, so Noble Consort need not worry."

Jia Guifei smiled: "That is good, thank you, Young Master Luo."

The Queen suddenly smiled: "I hear that Daguanyuan is built with extreme luxury and beauty, even more extravagant than our inner palace; I have always wanted to go see it, but unfortunately, I have had no opportunity."

Luo Zijun said: "If the Queen wishes to see it, you may go today."

The Queen, however, smiled: "Forget it, I am busy with state affairs, and it is not easy to make a trip out. On the other hand, Jia Guifei is usually at leisure; when you have nothing to do, you could go take a look. If you like it there, you could even stay there; after all, your sisters are all living there, and it would be more comfortable and at ease to live there."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jia Guifei's expression changed; she hurriedly rose from her chair, knelt on the ground, and lowered her head, trembling as she said: "Sister is joking. Since I have entered the palace, I naturally cannot go out as I please. Although the King is no longer here, Sister is still here, and I will stay here for the rest of my life to serve Sister. I beg Sister... do not drive me away..."

Staying in the palace now, she at least still had the title of Imperial Concubine, the Jia Family would not completely fall apart, and those who had previously held grudges against the Jia Family would not dare to exterminate them.

But once she was driven out of the Royal Palace, all of that would change.

Moreover, the criticism from other families and the gazes of her own relatives would make her live in such shame and guilt that she could not go on.

In this era, even some maidservants and young ladies would throw themselves into wells out of shame and anger when driven out of a mansion, let alone her, a dignified Imperial Concubine.

The room was silent for a few seconds.

The Queen suddenly smiled, rose to help her up, and said: "Sister has misunderstood. I just felt that you were bored staying in the palace and wanted you to go out and see your sisters to relax; I never said I wanted to drive you away."

Jia Guifei's body was still trembling slightly, her beautiful face slightly pale, and she lowered her head: "Thank you, Sister... If there is time, I am willing to go there with Sister to take a look."