[Qinglan Palace]
Qinglan palace was indeed from other palaces in the harem.
It was modest and had only a few servants. Shen Ruihua now resided there.
Li Min walked in with Qingtong who was holding a meal box in hand.
"I would like to see Concubine Yu", Li Min informed a servant.
"Your Highness, please come with me", a servant girl led her to a small main hall at the center of the palace.
"Your highness, Consort Cheng is here"
"Greetings, Mother", Li Min greeted.
Shen Ruihua paid no mind to her.
Li Min studied her for a minute.
The previous glory Shen Ruihua had was no longer there but her pride and sense of nobility remained unshattered.
Though, a concubine, her posture still maintained the dignity of an empress.
She had now fallen from grace and Li Min could not stand her arrogance.
However, she forced a smile and walked up to Shen Ruihua.
She placed the meal box on the table and opened it revealing different exotic dishes - dishes that Shen Ruihua had not seen for a long time since after her fall.
"I had the kitchen prepare these dishes for you. I understood you might not be used to the dishes served here", Li Min explained with a smile as she sat down.
Shen Ruihua did not cast a glance at the dishes.
"Why are you here?"
Li Min was taken slightly aback by the question but she responded calmly, "Prince Cheng has already begun his journey to the Northwest. Before leaving, he instructed me to take good care of you"
"So you are here on He Yan's behalf?" Shen Ruihua's voice was cold and indifferent.
"Even if he had not told me, I would have done the same. After all...." She stood up and poured tea for Shen Ruihua then walked up to her, "...you are my mother-in-law. I should perform my filial duty to you", she added offering the tea to Shen Ruihua.
Shen Ruihua studied the girl before her for a long time before finally accepting the tea.
"The day is going to be long. I shall not disturb Mother any longer", Li Min curtsied.
She turned and left with Qingtong by her side.
At the entrance of the hall, she paused and turned back. Shen Ruihua was having a bite of the food she had brought.
Li Min turned back and left, her expression turning cold.
[Songhai Palace]
Sang Xue'er gave a slight nod also acknowledging He Xuan's presence.
"Mother, did you invite her over?" He Xuan asked as he served himself.
"Your highness, let me..." Ling Long wanted to serve him instead.
"It's fine", He Xuan did not need any help.
He served the congee and passed it to Consort Feng before serving for himself.
"At least you know how to be filial", Consort Feng said as she tried the congee.
He Xuan smiled, "who else is going to be filial to you if not me?"
"Well, you can find me a daughter-in-law", Consort Feng suggested looking at Sang Xue'er with a smile.
The three people seated knew who she was suggesting.
He Xuan, however, was not about to give her what she wanted.
"That's such a shame. If Mother is looking for a filial daughter-in-law, I'm afraid that is not possible", he said while eating.
Was he calling Sang Xue'er ill-mannered and unfilial? Was he questioning her upbringing?
Consort Feng was about to scold him but Sang Xue'er spoke first.
"Is Prince Ning trying to say that my upbringing is questionable?" she asked facing him.
He Xuan who had his spoon in his mouth and the congee in another hand, set it down.
"Your Grace got me wrong. I meant I'm a territorial prince. Once I get married, of course, my wife, would have to live in Nanning with me, not the palace", He Xuan corrected.
Consort Feng's expression relaxed.
He Xuan reached for his fan and slowly stood up, "besides....." he said walking away backwards, "...who said I was going to marry you", he completed and walked off.
"He Xuan, come back here!" Consort Feng shouted standing up.
He Xuan turned back to look at her.
"Mother, I'm already full. You can finish eating without me", he smiled and walked away even faster.
Consort Feng was about to yell something else but Sang Xue'er stopped her.
"Your Highness, there's no need to bother with him. Prince Ning has always been carefree", she said.
Consort Feng turned to her, "but I haven't made him apologize to you yet"
Sang Xue'er stood up, "it's fine"
She would get her apology herself.
[Channing Palace]
He Yu gestured for Lingxi to come closer.
Lingxi, guessing the name was sensitive, leaned closer to him till her ear was close to his lips.
"As for the one who poisoned me....." He Yu was saying but paused.
Lingxi patiently waited for his answer.
He Yu's expression, however, switched from serious to teasing, "....when you can figure out when we've met before, I'll tell you", he said and withdrew with a mischievous smile on his lips.
Lingxi, on the other hand, had no idea whether to be angry or annoyed. She could only sigh and return to sitting.
She continued eating, "I don't know what else I was expecting from you"
He Yu watched her as she ate.
"I've always been honest about my feelings. Apart from when we met before, I haven't kept anything from you", he said.
Lingxi looked at him, "really?"
"Of course. If you want to refer to my present actions, you'll understand it more if you recalled the past ones", He Yu added with the same smile.
Lingxi looked at him, unsure but that did not mean she did not trust him. It was just that he was fond of testing her mental health.
"I may not fully understand your words, but I understand you. Instead of telling me directly, you would prefer for me to figure it out myself", Lingxi said looking at him.
"I also understand you too but I don't understand if you want me to figure out if you have a new guard now that Qin Yan is gone", He Yu replied.
The pavilion was quiet for a moment.
He Yu turned to look at Xin Lan who was standing beside Lingxi, "wouldn't you agree, Xin Lan?"
Xin Lan remained calm. After all, she was sure Lingxi would not let any harm befall her.
After he finished speaking, he finally decided to eat and tried one dumpling.
Lingxi watched him eat for a few seconds before asking, "when did you find out?"
"Find out what?" He Yu asked in return.
"About Xin Lan"
Lingxi refused to believe He Yu was spying on her in the bathroom even though she knew He Yu was shameless enough to do so.
"There is nothing to it. When I wanted to choose maids to serve you, I noticed she was good at martial arts so I had Steward Bo select her"
[Flashback]
Back then, a servant girl was being bullied by a senior maid.
He Yu who was passing by noticed and wanted to step in but waited for a few minutes.
Xin Lan, on the other hand, who was new and was just having her first day, could not stand it.
From where she was sweeping, she picked a stone and tossed it at the senior maid's leg making her fall to the ground. The senior maid was furious.
He Yu watched the scene bemused.
"Who did that?" she yelled looking around.
She turned to see Xin Lan quietly sweeping at one corner and rushed up to her.
"Did you throw the stone at me?" she asked grabbing Xin Lan's arm.
"I didn't. I was just sweeping", Xin Lan denied.
"Stop!" Chi Yun's voice sounded.
The three maids present all turned to see He Yu and Chi Yun. They curtsied.
He Yu looked at the senior maid, "Refer to the head maid for your punishment", he said calmly.
The senior maid knew better than to argue. She simply curtsied, "yes", and left.
He Yu walked past Xin Lan without a word.
Once out of sight, He Yu turned to Chi Yun, "have Steward Bo select her as Miss Mo's personal attendant"
[End of Flashback]
Xin Lan realized when she gave herself away while Lingxi studied He Yu.
How much did he really know?
"You are pretty observant", Lingxi said.
"How else could I match up to my dear wife?" He Yu responded with a smile.
Lingxi smiled back at him, honestly and went back to eating.