0p0 Chapter 324 The Cannon Fodder Who Suffered the Massacre of His Family (31)
Chapter 324 The Cannon Fodder Who Suffered the Massacre of His Family (31)
Consort Shu understood and said, "In that case, let Xi'er go."
She also instructed Gao Yan: "It's not easy for Consort Qi to avenge her parents. If she is unwilling, don't force her. It's okay to help her when appropriate."
Gao Yan replied, "Mother, rest assured, I understand."
That day, Qi Ning was reclining on a small couch in Mingyue Pavilion, with tea, snacks, and various fruits laid out on the table beside her.
She casually picked up a piece of pastry and took a bite.
Ji Mei approached Qi Ning with a vase in her hands: "Your Highness, shall we take this vase to Minghua Palace?"
Qi Ning glanced at it and said, "Take it with you. Take all the valuables with you. There's no need to ask me about each item one by one."
"Yes, ma'am."
Ji Mei took the vase and went out to continue leading the people below to tidy up.
Since Qi Ning was promoted from Noble Lady to Consort, she was able to become the head of a palace and no longer needed to live in a small place like Mingyue Pavilion.
The emperor personally asked Qi Ning which palace he wanted to move to.
In fact, they won't be staying in the palace for long. They will definitely have to return to the palace before the New Year. It doesn't matter whether they move or not.
But Qi Ning thought for a moment and casually said, "Then let's go to Minghua Palace. I was rescued from the water and taken to Minghua Palace. I thought it was a nice place."
Of course, Qi Ning's "casualness" was just an act; she chose Minghua Palace because she liked its tranquility.
It's more convenient to do things in a quiet place with few people.
Unaware of Qi Ning's ulterior motives, the emperor granted her request.
However, Minghua Palace had been uninhabited for a long time, and repairs and cleaning would take time, so it was only now that Minghua Palace was finally cleaned up.
Ji Mei and the others packed their things, preparing to move to Minghua Palace.
Ji Mei had only been gone a short while when she hurriedly walked back in.
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess requests an audience."
"Ninth Princess?" Qi Ning raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Indeed, the Ninth Princess is right outside the door with a palace maid. According to the Ninth Princess, she has come to apologize to Her Majesty because of the incident where she fell into the water last time."
Ji Mei asked, "Does Your Highness wish to see her?"
"Please invite the Ninth Princess in."
"Yes."
Qi Ning knew, of course, why Gao Xi had come. Apologizing was one thing, but the main reason was Gao Yan.
A short while later, Ji Mei brought Gao Xi and her palace maids in.
"Empress Qi."
Gao Xi stood at the door and called out to Qi Ning somewhat timidly.
She was worried that Qi Ning might blame her or hate her because of what happened when she fell into the water last time.
Qi Ning smiled and waved to her, "What brings the Ninth Princess here? Please have a seat."
Gao Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the smile on Qi Ning's face.
She sat down in front of Qi Ning and stammered, "Your Highness Qi, I've come to apologize to you. What happened last time... it was all my fault. I almost got you into trouble. Are you angry with me?"
"Of course not," Qi Ning said. "The Ninth Princess was bewitched by Consort Feng. She even tried to harm you. If I have to blame someone, it's her. Actually, there's no need for the Ninth Princess to come and apologize in person."
Upon hearing Qi Ning's words, Gao Xi's tense expression immediately relaxed considerably.
"Your Highness, you are so kind. It is only right that I apologize to you. Look at the gifts I brought as an apology."
As she spoke, Gao Xi instructed her palace maid to present the gifts as an apology.
The palace maid was carrying a tray covered with a red cloth, which Qi Ning had just seen.
Upon hearing Gao Xi's instructions, she presented the tray, lifted the red cloth covering it, and revealed a complete set of gold jewelry underneath.
"Does Consort Qi like it?"
Qi Ning glanced at the jewelry set and said without any politeness, "Of course I like it, Ninth Princess is very thoughtful."
Gao Xi said, "Actually, I think the Emperor must have given Consort Qi a lot of these things. You certainly don't lack them. Besides, these gold and silver things are too vulgar. Giving these things shows no sincerity."
Qi Ning thought to herself, "If the emperor gives me something this valuable, I won't mind if someone else gives me more, and I won't think it's vulgar."
Gao Xi looked at Qi Ning with her big eyes wide open: "So I was thinking of embroidering a sachet by hand for Your Highness, but I don't know what kind of embroidery pattern Your Highness likes, or what kind of flowers you like for the fragrance inside?"
Now we get to her main purpose.
Qi Ning replied calmly, "Of course I like the sachet that the Ninth Princess embroidered herself. As for the embroidery, everything is fine. As for the flowers, I prefer the scent of lilies."
Lilies are actually a fairly common flower. Gao Xi often makes sachets, which naturally contain spices made from lilies.
But after hearing Qi Ning's words, she said, "Alright, I'll make a lily sachet for Lady Qi. But... but I don't seem to have any lilies. How about we go to the garden together to pick some lilies?"
Gao Xi, who doesn't usually lie, was blinking rapidly, her face filled with nervousness.
Faced with such a clumsy lie, Qi Ning did not expose it.
She pretended to consider it for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Okay, I haven't been out in a long time, so I'll go out for a walk."
Gao Xi was very happy to see that Qi Ning had agreed; she had finally completed the task her elder brother had given her.
Qi Ning quickly changed her clothes and went out with Gao Xi.
Following Gao Yan's instructions, Gao Xi led Qi Ning to where Gao Yan was.
"Your Highness, I know a place where the flowers bloom in abundance and beauty. I'll take you there."
Qi Ning, accompanied by a palace maid named Ji Mei, followed behind Gao Xi.
After walking for a while, the group arrived at a rather secluded garden. The flowers there were indeed in full bloom, and there were many different kinds.
"Your Highness Qi, look, aren't the flowers here blooming beautifully?" Gao Xi asked, tilting her head back.
Qi Ning replied, "Indeed, if the princess hadn't brought me here, I wouldn't have known there was such a wonderful place in the palace."
"Then let's pick more, and Lady Qi can take some back to put in a vase."
The two were picking flowers, with Ji Mei and Ji Xiang helping them.
At this moment, Gao Yan stood in a secluded spot, using the flowers, grass, and tree branches as cover, watching the direction where Gao Xi and Qi Ning were from a distance.
This was the first time Gao Yan had looked closely at Qi Ning. He had to admit that Qi Ning was indeed beautiful, a beauty that could easily make a man's heart flutter. No wonder his father doted on her so much.
While Qi Ning turned to pick flowers, Gao Xi glanced in Gao Yan's direction.
Gao Yan nodded to her.
Gao Xi quickly turned around and glanced at Ji Xiang.
Jixiang immediately said to Jimei, "Miss Jimei, the Ninth Princess and Consort Qi have picked so many flowers, it's inconvenient to take them back. Why don't we find two flower baskets to put them in?"
“This…” Ji Mei hesitated, “We’ve all left, how can Your Highness and the Ninth Princess be left alone here?”
“Why not? It’s just going to get a flower basket. I’ll be back soon. This garden is inside the palace, and there are guards patrolling outside. There won’t be any problems,” Jixiang reassured her.
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