PNB Chapter 214 Utterly Ridiculous
Chapter 214 Utterly Ridiculous
Seeing her disdainful expression, Qiao Qingling choked.
She bit her lip and said, "This is a gift from His Majesty, how could it be an ordinary pearl?"
"I am simply stating the facts; believe it or not, it is up to you."
Chu Qingyin slowly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said leisurely, "But Consort Qiao is currently enjoying great favor. Could it be that His Majesty is unwilling to even bestow upon her a single pearl?"
However, his words carried a slightly derogatory tone.
Qiao Qingling looked at the person in front of her who was calm and composed, but she couldn't say a word in rebuttal, so she had to pretend to be aggrieved and speak.
"It is enough that Your Majesty has me in your heart. Besides, the Eastern Pearl is not something a concubine of my status can enjoy. If I were to overstep the rules, like that Lu family, whose virtue is not worthy of their position, wouldn't I end up only provoking Your Majesty's displeasure?"
And there she is again, putting on that pitiful act.
It's ridiculous.
Chu Qingyin ignored her and pretended to yawn as if she was sleepy.
Just when I thought that Qiao Qingling would be sensible enough to leave, I heard her continue, "Sister, you haven't seen His Majesty for a long time, and I'm sure you miss him very much. Why don't I say a few nice words to His Majesty and ask him to come and see Your Highness?"
Chu Qingyin sneered, "I really dare not trouble Consort Qiao with matters between me and His Majesty. Besides, in this harem, nothing lasts forever, and those who receive the Emperor's favor are never long-lasting. It used to be me, now it's Consort Qiao, and I wonder who will be next in a while."
"Sister is joking."
Qiao Qingling lowered her eyes obediently, "Your Majesty's heart is beyond our control, but now that His Majesty's heart is with me, I will naturally serve him wholeheartedly."
"Serve with all your heart..."
Chu Qingyin, for some unknown reason, found it all rather ridiculous.
Pei Yuanling was known for his prowess in matters of the heart, leaving his concubines with marks and difficulty walking afterward. But Qiao Qingling, after her service, was radiant and light-footed. This time, she even came to pay her a visit in person, showing off in various ways…
I'm afraid there's something fishy about this matter of serving the emperor.
Thinking of this, Chu Qingyin stood up and stepped forward, placing her hand on Qiao Qingling's arm. "His Majesty has yet to have any children, and now that Consort Qiao is so favored, her belly should be showing signs of pregnancy. The female physician who took my pulse is right next to the palace; why don't we have her take your pulse as well?"
Qiao Qingling was taken aback, and quickly said, "If I feel unwell, I will send someone to fetch the imperial physician, so there's no need to trouble Your Majesty..."
"No need for that."
Chu Qingyin smiled and said, "We're sisters, why be so polite? Xianglan, go and invite Physician Ling over."
"Don't……"
Qiao Qingling didn't have time to stop her. In just a moment, she saw a young woman carrying a medicine box walking over step by step.
She knelt on the ground and bowed to the two people in front of her, saying, "Greetings, Consort Liang and Consort Qiao."
Chu Qingyin raised her hand, gesturing for her to stand up and reply, and then pointed to Consort Qiao beside her.
"Consort Qiao has been favored by the Emperor for quite some time now, and I am somewhat worried about her health. Do you have any good news?"
The female physician Ling responded and got up to walk towards Consort Qiao.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, even if Qiao Qingling had something to hide, she dared not refuse Chu Qingyin's kindness and could only extend her hand.
The female physician, Ling, was an old hand in the palace; she could tell the diagnosis the moment she placed her hand on the pulse.
She was still thinking about what Xianglan had just told her, and shook her head at Xianglan.
Xianglan whispered a few words to Chu Qingyin, and her expression became somewhat subtle.
"Consort Qiao, do you know what crime it is for someone to impersonate His Majesty's favor?"
Qiao Qingling's mind was in turmoil, but she pretended to be calm on the surface, "Naturally, it is the crime of deceiving the emperor. Drag him out and beat him to death."
"Yes, then Consort Qiao—do you know your crime!"
"I do not know what wrong I have done?"
"You have never been favored by His Majesty. You know in your heart what really happened on those nights when His Majesty visited you!"
Ever since that argument, Chu Qingyin has been constantly thinking about the past when the two of them were in love.
When she learned that he had been angry with her and had favored Qiao Qingling, she inevitably felt a sense of estrangement.
I specially invited Dr. Ling over today to find out if it's true.
Now that she could see it was a fake, she felt incredibly happy.
Qiao Qingling was already terrified and flustered, but remembering that the emperor was backing her up, she suddenly stood up and angrily said, "Where did this female doctor come from, daring to spout nonsense here!"
"Sister, even if you can't stand to see me in the emperor's favor, you shouldn't use such slander to frame me!"
Qiao Qingling knew that the other party had already seen through her scheme.
These days, His Majesty hasn't touched her at all; all this so-called favor is just an act.
The thought only fueled her anger.
Her beautiful face flushed red with anger as she said indignantly, "Sister, I know you've never liked me. I won't come to you anymore."
With that, she knocked the box of earrings to the ground and stormed off.
Chu Qingyin watched her departing figure, but didn't feel particularly angry.
She pursed her lips, looking somewhat bored.
afternoon.
Pei Yuanling had just finished lunch and looked at the memorials on his desk, feeling inexplicably irritated.
Recalling the scene of Chu Qingyin bowing before his desk, adding fragrance to his ink, he looked at the little eunuch beside him, pursed his lips, and asked, "What has Consort Chu... been doing lately?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Liang has been staying in Feixue Palace these past few days."
The young eunuch bowed and answered, but when he looked up and saw that His Majesty was still looking at him, he was startled and quickly lowered his head to say more: "However, earlier today, Consort Qiao went to Feixue Palace. But Consort Qiao did not look well when she left. As for Your Majesty... there has been no news. However, after Physician Ling took Your Majesty's pulse today, she has been staying in Your Majesty's palace and has not come out."
"Dr. Ling?"
Pei Yuanling's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly felt something was wrong and quickly led a large group of people to Feixue Palace.
Xianglan saw him, but knelt in front of the door, blocking his way.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty, but my lady is unwell and unable to accompany Your Majesty. Please find another place for her to accompany you."
"Is she still angry with me?"
Pei Yuanling frowned, looked up at the hall a few times, but did not see that familiar figure. He subconsciously felt that Chu Qingyin was doing it on purpose.
"Never mind."
Just as he was about to leave, Xianglan grabbed the hem of his robe.
"Your Majesty, it's not that Her Majesty doesn't want to see you, but earlier she was talking to Consort Qiao when Consort Qiao said she wasn't feeling well and left first. Not long after, my lady also felt weak and is currently still unconscious."
Pei Yuanling's expression changed drastically. "Where is Physician Ling? Wasn't it said that Physician Ling hadn't left the palace since this morning?"
"The Imperial Physician Ling is attending to Her Majesty, but Her Majesty has said that this matter must not be disturbed in the six palaces, much less be mentioned to His Majesty. However, this servant thinks that since Her Majesty is currently unconscious, perhaps if His Majesty were to be by her side, Her Majesty might wake up sooner..."
Before Xianglan could finish speaking, Pei Yuanling pushed open the door and went inside.
The palace guards who were guarding the gate tried to stop him, but they were intimidated by his gaze and retreated.
Pei Yuanling pushed open the door and passed through the outer hall, where he saw Physician Ling standing in front of the bed, solemnly instructing the palace maids to change the water.
However, as soon as he turned around, the palace servants saw the emperor arrive and immediately knelt down on the ground.
"Alright, get up, all of you."
Pei Yuanling strode forward and looked at the beauty sleeping soundly with her eyes closed under the pink curtains, a hint of tenderness flashing between his brows.
"What exactly happened to Consort Liang?"