Chapter Eighteen: The Favored Concubine Qing'er

  "Good luck!"

  "Yes."

  "Return to the mansion."

  "Yes."

  "Walk steadily."

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  "Huh? Why didn't you go, is it because I get carsick and you're considering my body? It seems that the demon is not bad after all, but... doesn't the Emperor's decree matter?"

  I secretly took a look at him, he was still closing his eyes and leaning on the carriage. Actually going back is also good, I'm not prepared to meet this emperor who betrothed me to that demon either. Meeting the emperor, it's not an ordinary person, I'm afraid if I say something wrong, I'll be beheaded.

  Returning to the mansion, Xiaoyue came over to help me down from the carriage. Had this little girl been waiting at the gate all along?!

  Although I had just vomited, the carriage ride back made my stomach uncomfortable again. The constant jolting back and forth had weakened me to the extreme, and until we returned home, I leaned on Xiao Yue's body the whole time.

  Xiao Yue helped me take off my outer clothes, removed my hair accessories, and supported me to lie down on the bed to rest. I managed to survive, just lying there until evening. During this time, Xiao Yue came over to ask if I wanted to eat something, but I didn't respond with my eyes closed, pretending to have fallen asleep. Later, I don't know how late it was, Xiao Yue came over to check on me again. I felt embarrassed to let her take care of me like that, so I got up and asked for some water to drink, telling her not to bother with me anymore.

  After that, the whole person was dazed and finally struggled until dawn. Although the stomach was still a bit uncomfortable, at least the spirit was better. He got up early and sat in front of the window, looking through the window gap at the snow scene outside. The snow was getting bigger and bigger, and now it has become pieces.

  "Ma'am, have you woken up?"

  "Come in, Little Moon."

  "Does the lady want something to eat?"

  Xiao Yue put a cotton cloak on me, which touched me a bit. Although she doesn't talk to me much, she has always taken good care of me. If her heart is also with me, that would be even better. But for me, this is simply a fool's dream. Sometimes I wonder if she is Fu Ma or, more accurately, a demon sent to monitor me.

  "Ma'am?"

  "Let's have some rice porridge, I want something light, just a small refreshing dish will do."

  "Yes."

  "Xiao Yue?" Xiao Yue stopped opening the door and walked back again.

  "Your Majesty, has the king come over?"

  "No."

  "It's all right, go."

  Xiao Yue bowed her head and opened the door to leave. I had been sitting for a long time, and my waist was a bit sore, so I might as well go into the courtyard for a walk.

  Pushing open the door, a gust of cold air rushed in, and she shivered involuntarily. It was really cold, so it's better not to go out. Just as she was about to close the door, two people entered from the moon gate. Next to them was that little girl who came to invite the demon on the wedding day. Was this person in the middle her?

  That person walked up, and I took a closer look. She was indeed a beauty, wearing a light yellow changshan, white cotton boots on her feet, and a white cotton or velvet cloak draped over her shoulders. Just looking at her outfit made her very pretty. Her facial features were delicate, with a small face, thin eyebrows, curved eyes, and a small mouth. Most importantly, her skin was incredibly clean and moist. I reckon I've never had such good skin since birth.

  At my age, I don't know how to guess anymore. Everyone here is younger than me. The only older person I met has passed away. Sigh! Looking at their figure, it's so slender. I'm also wearing a long sweater, but I look very bloated. Sigh, you tell me, if I could dress like them and have a good figure and appearance, that would be great.

  "Sister, on such a cold day, are you going out?"

  "Who are you?"

  "This is the Fourth Mistress." The little maid introduced with a straight face, I glanced at her, what kind of master, what kind of servant, she must not be a good person either. However, Fourth Mistress? Aren't there only two concubines? Then she should be the Second or Third Mistress, how did she become the Fourth Mistress? Could it be that this demon has taken in another one?!

  "I see, so what should I call this beautiful little sister? Come on in and take a seat."

  "Xiang Yu, wait for me outside."

  "Yes."

  "Sister just call me Qing'er."

  "Come on, Qing'er, sister, sit down on this couch, it's warmer here."

  "Good. I heard sister had a rough time on the horse carriage ride, is your body feeling better now?"

  "Lao Qing'er, don't worry about me, I'm fine now. Come, have some hot tea and warm up your body. On a cold day like today, you still came to see me, you're really a kind-hearted person!"

  "Sister, don't say that. Since you came over, I, as your younger sister, have already been very impolite by not visiting you until now."

  "Hehe, these tedious formalities are indeed a headache, Qing'er doesn't need to take it to heart."

  "It's true, on the day of my sister's great joy, the king came to me, his younger sister, according to etiquette, this is completely wrong, but the king had to come, you know that in this mansion, the king is like heaven, and I also have no choice." Provocation?!

  "Qing'er's sister is really kind!"

  "The king has been coming to my place every night these days, and I've tried to tell the king that he should come to your place instead, after all you're the new one in the house! But the king... Ah, sister, don't blame the king!"

  "How could that be? Qing'er sister has taken on the hardships for me, and I haven't even had a chance to thank her yet! Moreover, with Qing'er's extraordinary beauty and elegant figure, how could the king possibly take notice of an old, faded person like me?"

  "My sister is being modest."

  I looked at Qing'er's face with that proud and arrogant expression, apparently my flattering words were quite enjoyable. As for her visit, I knew it was just a small warning to me, this latecomer. Among the three concubines, Qing'er was the first to come to me, so she must have some status in the heart of the demon. I wonder if I told her my true thoughts, would she help me? In any case, it wouldn't hurt for her to hear them.

  "Little sister Qing."

  "What's wrong?"

  "I used to live in the countryside and wasn't familiar with the rules here, so I wanted to ask my sister something."

  "Sister, go ahead and say it." I stood up and opened the door to see Xiang Yu right at the entrance, with a look of surprise on her face, and also Xiao Yue, who had just arrived or...

  "Xiao Yue, put down the dishes and go back inside."

  "Yes."

  "Qing'er, can you let Xiangyu and Xiaoyue stay together for a while?"

  "Of course."

  "Xiang Yu, go."

  "Yes, ma'am." After seeing Xiaoyue and Xiangru enter the house, I closed the door and sat back on the couch.

  "Sister, haven't you eaten yet? Eat first, we can talk while eating." The stomach was indeed hungry, lifting the bamboo basket, the porridge had become a lump, and instantly lost appetite.

  "Can I divorce her here?"

  "What's with this, sister?"

  "I just wanted to ask my sister how I can leave the palace?"

  "Sister, I want to leave the Wang Manor!"

  "Hmm, I'm just a country bumpkin who hasn't seen the world and can't even get on a big stage, but somehow I became the county princess and then the queen, with this sudden change, I'm almost unable to cope."

  "What does sister mean?"

  "Wanted to leave the palace, but didn't know how to get out." Suddenly, that demon's words flashed in her mind, "Carry me out horizontally".

  "Sister, is this really what you think?!"