Chapter 1259 Chapter 1256 Speaking Alone
Chapter 1259: Chapter 1256: Speaking Alone Chapter 1259: Chapter 1256: Speaking Alone She hadn’t changed her attitude to fall in line with everyone else.
Speaking of it.
From beginning to end, Empress Lin’s demeanor toward her had been the same—cordial but not overly intimate. Even when Chu Heng’s incident occurred, she didn’t kick him while he was down.
Ye Muyu couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, truly worthy of being the Empress, not one to be shallow, but as for what the other party was really thinking, she couldn’t be certain either.
However, compared to the other concubines, she indeed preferred the company of the Empress.
“Madam Chu really has earned the Empress’s favor,” Madam Liu said with a covered laugh, her position as the eldest daughter-in-law of Duke Zheng’s Household the highest among those present.
It seemed like jest, but in fact, there wasn’t a hint of flattery in it.
Empress Lin smiled faintly, “Madam Liu jests, I have no one to chat with in the palace, and I’ve been quite bored. Talking with the ladies truly brightens my spirits.”
“The Empress speaks so kindly. It’s an immense honor for me to converse with Her Majesty,” another responded.
The other ladies also offered compliments, “Indeed, may Her Majesty not find us too talkative.”
For a time, the atmosphere was very harmonious.
After talking for a while, the midday banquet was about to start, and with so many people, Ye Muyu didn’t get a chance to speak with Empress Lin individually.
Once the feast was laid out.
Ye Muyu sat down with Madam Liu in a seat toward the back.
In front were the family members of officials of the First and Second Rank, and not only that, there were favored concubines from the Imperial Harem.
What surprised Ye Muyu was that even Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi had come this time.
She slowly ate the pastries on the table, listening to some of the idle talk at the banquet.
She learned that Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi had come out because Emperor Xuanming had a soft heart, and the Third Prince had written a letter pleading on her behalf.
She couldn’t help but take another look at her.
She saw that Zhao Yi was indeed in very heavy spirits, her face covered with thick makeup, clearly looking distraught.
The Qi family’s power had waned, while the Liu family was obviously celebrating a joyous event.
At the end of the banquet, there was the flower-viewing feast.
Pregnant, Ye Muyu did not go to view the flowers but stayed inside the hall.
She chatted with some of the ladies.
And at that moment, Empress Lin unexpectedly returned,
and called Ye Muyu aside for a private word.
Ye Muyu felt like it had finally arrived.
Strictly speaking, those who came to the banquet weren’t pregnant, and with Ye Muyu’s condition, she could have easily been excused from attending after informing the Emperor.
But strangely enough, the palace insisted on her attendance.
Ye Muyu followed a palace lady into a side hall.
Inside the side hall, Empress Lin sat in the seat of honor, surrounded by several palace ladies and nannies; they hadn’t cleared the room, which slightly eased Ye Muyu’s mind.
She walked briskly in.
Empress Lin offered her a seat and had a palace lady serve her hot tea.
Ye Muyu expressed her gratitude.
After watching Ye Muyu for a while, Empress Lin remarked, “Madam Chu, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight recently; are you unwell?”
“Just the usual morning sickness,” Ye Muyu smiled helplessly, but internally she thought, her morning sickness was surely no secret to the Empress, and yet the latter hadn’t pointed it out directly, choosing instead to inquire again, which Ye Muyu found rather odd.
Suppressing the suspicions in her heart, Ye Muyu continued to converse with Empress Lin.
Empress Lin had someone bring her medicinal herbs to nourish the body,
and then offhandedly mentioned, “Recently, there’s been some turmoil in the palace, resulting in a change of palace guards, so we couldn’t promptly learn about your situation, Madam. Today we’re making up for that oversight; I hope you don’t mind.”
Ye Muyu’s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly recalled the conversation she had overheard in the palace during the Fifth Imperial Son’s full-month celebration.
It seemed, there were palace ladies fraternizing with young gentlemen, all for the sake of positions among the palace guards.
She had all but forgotten about that incident.