latelenovela Chapter 168 The Unyielding Green Bamboo
Chapter 168 The Unyielding Green Bamboo
After Chu Qingyin finished bathing and had just combed her hair, she heard a commotion outside the door.
"Granny Lin, my master is taking a bath and changing clothes. It is not appropriate for you to enter at this time. Please wait a little longer."
Yu Yan had caused trouble a few days ago, and was already feeling depressed.
Although her master did not punish her, she still felt a little guilty. Fortunately, the Empress was not disliked by His Majesty because of her; on the contrary, she was even more favored, which lessened her guilt somewhat.
This Lin Mama was originally the head maidservant by the Empress Dowager's side and rarely left her side. Unexpectedly, as soon as His Majesty left today, she asked to see him outside the door, saying that the Empress Dowager invited her lady over.
"It seems this old servant has arrived at an inopportune time."
Lin Mama remained expressionless, but her tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "Now that Consort Qiao is enjoying the Emperor's favor, it's one thing for her to disregard this old servant, but she shouldn't be so arrogant as to disregard even the Empress Dowager."
She is standing here today by the Empress Dowager's decree. How dare the other party avoid seeing her and leave her standing here? Isn't that a slap in the face to the Empress Dowager?
Upon hearing this, Yu Yan immediately knelt down with a thud, "Granny, you've misunderstood."
She is the Empress Dowager's confidante. What difference is there between offending her and offending the Empress Dowager?
"What's going on?" Chu Qingyin had changed her clothes, her hair still damp. Hearing the commotion outside, she casually threw on a coat and came out.
Upon emerging and seeing Yu Yan kneeling on the ground, she frowned slightly, then revealed an extremely gentle smile: "So it's Granny Lin. I was just taking a bath and was unable to greet you in time. I hope Granny Lin will not take offense."
"How dare this old servant blame Consort Qiao?" Granny Lin frowned, her deeply lined face filled with displeasure, and she did not even bow to Chu Qingyin.
She looked Chu Qingyin up and down, her tone still carrying a hint of displeasure, and spoke in a sarcastic tone: "Consort Qiao certainly has a lot of airs about her. This old servant has come here on the orders of the Empress Dowager to invite you over."
"You've made this old servant wait outside for so long. Do you really think that now that you've gained His Majesty's favor, you can disregard the Empress Dowager?"
Chu Qingyin's smile remained unchanged, her face still displaying her gentle demeanor: "Granny, you're being too harsh. How could I dare to disrespect Her Majesty the Empress Dowager? I was simply taking a bath just now and it was inconvenient for me to come out and greet you immediately. I hope you will forgive me."
"This concubine will now accompany the nanny to see the Empress Dowager. Please lead the way, nanny."
Judging from her current attire, she had indeed been taking a bath. Lin Mama didn't press the matter further, but she made no attempt to hide her disdain.
"Enough. Go and tidy yourself up. Come with this old servant to see the Empress Dowager. How dare you come with this old servant to see the Empress Dowager dressed like this?"
"Yes, please wait a moment, Granny Lin." Chu Qingyin turned around, her smile instantly vanishing.
This old woman, Lin, always looked down on ordinary concubines because she had the Empress Dowager as her backer. She was extremely rude to her in her previous life, and she is even worse now.
As for the reason, it was all at the behest of the Empress Dowager—
The Empress Dowager looked down on someone, and she treated that person with disdain.
Upon entering the hall, Chu Qingyin changed into a simple and elegant dress and styled her still-damp hair into a simple bun.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's invitation to you at this time is probably not for a simple conversation."
Xianglan skillfully styled her hair, her eyes filled with worry, her small face scrunched up in concern.
"As I said before, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. I'm currently favored by the Empress Dowager, so she can't possibly beat me to death in public. She'll just give me a few words of admonishment and make me kneel as punishment."
Having said that, Chu Qingyin carefully instructed, "If I haven't returned in three hours, then have Kang Luhai go and invite His Majesty."
"Remember, His Majesty must not go too late, but also not too early."
She raised her hand to touch her fair and radiant cheek, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
Since the Empress Dowager had invited her to reminisce, she didn't mind adding fuel to the fire of the already strained relationship between the Empress Dowager and Pei Yuanling.
"Let's go."
Chu Qingyin wore a pearl hairpin that she loved most in her previous life. Her eyes were upturned, and her originally gentle face suddenly gained a touch of arrogance and haughtiness, making her look more and more like the former Consort Chu.
Seeing her dressed so extravagantly as she walked out, Lin Mama felt contempt and sneered, "Your Highness, you'd better hurry up, lest you keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
After saying that, she turned around and led the way.
Chu Qingyin gestured for Yu Yan to get up, then followed behind Granny Lin to the Empress Dowager's residence.
Since the passing of the late emperor, the Empress Dowager has been practicing vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures. After arriving at the temporary palace, she also set up a Buddhist hall in the Cikang Palace where she resides.
Before long, the group arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace, but after Lin Mama went in to announce their arrival, she did not come out again.
Without being informed, Chu Qingyin had no choice but to continue waiting under the sun outside Cikang Palace.
It was midday, when the sun was at its hottest.
After waiting for quite some time, Lin Mama still did not come out to announce their arrival.
Xianglan was already getting anxious. Seeing her mistress's pale face and the sweat dripping down her fair neck, she felt even more worried.
Just then, Granny Lin slowly walked out of the hall. She clasped her hands in front of her chest and looked down at her. "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is currently worshipping Buddha and should not be disturbed. Consort Qiao, please wait a little longer."
Having said that, she entered the hall without waiting for Chu Qingyin's reply.
"Your Highness, this Granny Lin has gone too far!"
Xianglan's face flushed red, and she said indignantly, "I think she's deliberately making things difficult for you. How can she make you wait here in the scorching sun?"
Chu Qingyin merely frowned slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes, before quickly regaining her composure. She softly reassured her, "Say no more. Since Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is worshipping Buddha, how can I possibly disturb her? Let's wait a bit."
"But Your Highness, the sun is so strong, I'm afraid you'll get too much sun..."
Xianglan still couldn't bear to see her mistress suffer, so she thought of going to invite His Majesty over.
"Alright, that's enough."
Chu Qingyin frowned, her eyes fixed straight ahead, and sternly rebuked, "The Empress Dowager has her reasons for doing this."
Upon hearing this, Xianglan felt somewhat aggrieved, but dared not say anything more. She simply lowered her head and quietly stayed with her mistress.
Chu Qingyin caught a glimpse of a fleeting figure in the corner of the wall, and a chill ran through her heart.
Since the Empress Dowager intends to punish her, she must make the right gesture.
Not only must they stand properly to receive their punishment, but they cannot utter a single complaint.
Under the blazing sun, Chu Qingyin's clothes gradually became soaked with sweat, and strands of hair at her temples clung to her cheeks, making her face grow increasingly pale.
Even so, she did not move an inch, but stood straight in place, like a sturdy, unyielding green bamboo.