kingnovel Chapter 244: Endearing
Chapter 244: Endearing
She took the initiative to help the imperial concubine clear her name, thus helping them quickly identify the murderer behind the scenes. Qin Keqing left a good impression on Qin Feiling.
So, he praised Qin Keqing in front of everyone and rewarded her with a lot of gold, silver, jewelry, cloth, and silver...
Qin Keqing was flattered and thanked him respectfully.
Then, she looked at Zhou Lingge with a slightly flattering look.
"Your Highness was the one who was most frightened by this incident. I, a concubine, cannot tolerate injustice. I only did what I was supposed to do. It's not worth mentioning at all."
"As long as the noble concubine is safe and sound, I will be relieved."
"I know that Your Majesty cares deeply for the Imperial Concubine... I would like to offer you the jewelry and hairpins Your Majesty has bestowed upon you. I wonder if the Imperial Concubine would be willing to accept my gift?"
She helped the imperial concubine escape punishment, and now she is so generous that she wants to give the imperial concubine the things that His Majesty has awarded her... This kind of mind and generosity are worthy of being a lady from a noble family.
All the concubines present cast a look of great admiration and appreciation towards Qin Keqing.
They couldn't help but whisper to each other: "I didn't expect that Concubine Qin would be so generous. She was willing to give the pearl hairpin that His Majesty had awarded her to the Imperial Concubine..."
"She helped the Imperial Concubine, so she should be the one expressing her gratitude... The Imperial Concubine didn't even mention rewarding Concubine Qin. Instead, she asked Concubine Qin to give her a gift?"
The behavior of the legitimate daughter of a noble family and the illegitimate daughter of a small family was fully displayed at this moment.
Their eyes couldn't help but glance at Zhou Lingge, constantly comparing and looking at him.
Zhou Lingge's eyes were full of interest... She could feel that Qin Keqing had been extending an olive branch to her.
She has always been trying to please me...but this flattery is particularly deliberate.
It must be a deliberate performance for Qin Feiling to see, right?
Zhou Lingge saw through it but kept silent. She smiled faintly at Qin Keqing and said, "Lady Qin helped me, so I should give you a gift to show my gratitude. But how could you put the cart before the horse? If I really accepted your gift, I'm afraid others would secretly stab me in the back."
Qin Keqing's expression suddenly changed. She quickly shook her head and explained, "Your Highness, that's not what I meant..."
Qin Feiling also frowned slightly, wondering if Qin Keqing had any ulterior motives.
Zhou Lingge continued to smile, "Don't worry, I was just joking. I know Concubine Qin meant well. This time, it's really thanks to you that I was able to cleanse myself of the dirt so quickly."
"Come here, give Concubine Qin a pair of jade ruyi. May she soon gain the emperor's favor and give birth to an heir for His Majesty..."
The palace maid brought over a pair of jade ruyi, and Qin Keqing thanked her with great trepidation and anxiety.
She always felt that Concubine Yu was deliberately plotting against her, but she could not find any evidence.
Qin Feiling seemed to smell a hint of vinegar.
He looked at Zhou Lingge with a smile.
Zhou Lingge didn't even look at him from beginning to end. Now that the matter was settled, she left Wolong Palace first on the pretext of feeling a little tired.
Qin Feiling personally saw her off.
He helped Zhou Lingge sit on the sedan chair.
Unable to suppress his excitement, he asked tentatively with a hint of anticipation, "I seem to smell a sour smell again..."
Zhou Lingge looked up at Qin Feiling in confusion: "Sour? Where does the sour taste come from?"
"Your Majesty, could you please explain it more clearly? Why can't I understand?"
Qin Feiling glanced into the hall, his eyes filled with a faint smile.
His big hands tightly clasped Zhou Lingge's waist and held her in his arms.
"I am kind to Concubine Qin because she has done a great job in exposing you and clearing your name."
"Only by combining kindness and severity can we strike a balance among people's hearts..."
"You suddenly gifted her the Jade Ruyi, and then said you wished her the emperor's favor and a long line of successors... If this isn't jealousy, then what is it? I know you were deliberately teasing me."
Zhou Lingge couldn't help but laugh at Qin Feiling's anger.
"Your Majesty, you really think too much."
"Aren't all the concubines who enter the palace here to gain the emperor's favor and continue the royal family? My wishes are the expectations of every concubine, and what I say is not wrong!"
"Could it be that Concubine Qin doesn't want to gain your Majesty's favor? Doesn't she want to bear an imperial heir? She took the initiative to clear my name today. Perhaps she did this to gain your Majesty's attention?"
Qin Feiling frowned, "Really?"
"Isn't that timid and frightened look of Concubine Qin just now particularly endearing? Your Majesty, please do not let this beauty down." Zhou Lingge said with a half-smile. She pushed Qin Feiling away, lowered the gauze curtain, and put some distance between them: "Return to the palace."
Jin Xin didn't even dare to raise her head, she quickly ordered the palace servants to lift the sedan chair.
Qin Feiling was stunned. He looked at the sedan chair moving further and further away and said something quickly.
"Your Highness, please return to the palace first. I will accompany you later..."
Zhou Lingge's voice, with a hint of sarcasm, slowly floated into Qin Feiling's ears with the night wind.
"Your Majesty should go and comfort the frightened Concubine Qin tonight... or, you should continue to listen to the ballads sung by Concubine Lin. Your Majesty is so busy and unable to do anything else, so I will not bother you, lest you tire yourself out."
Qin Feiling knew that the imperial concubine was angry.
He didn't dare to joke anymore and quickly explained, "I just wanted to accompany the imperial concubine... everything else was just a show."
Zhou Lingge curled her lips and muttered softly, "Men's words are deceitful. I'd be surprised if I believed them..."
She did not respond to Qin Feiling again.
The sedan chair quickly left the Wolong Palace and quickly disappeared from Qin Feiling's sight.
He smiled helplessly.
And you say you're not jealous?
Every word she said just now was full of jealousy.
Inside the Wolong Palace.
When the Queen Mother saw Zhou Lingge leave, she cast a meaningful look at Qin Keqing.
Interesting, this Concubine Qin is actually a smart person!
She knew how to please the emperor.
"Noble Lady Qin, I really like your clear distinction between gratitude and resentment, and your upright and courageous character. Here, I will give you this bracelet as a reward." The Queen Mother smiled, took off the bracelet on her wrist, and gave it to Noble Lady Qin.
Qin Keqing's eyes were full of surprise, and she quickly thanked the Queen Mother.
The bracelet given by the Queen Mother is emerald green all over and is made of top-quality jade. It is very valuable... It can be called a rare and exquisite product.
Looking at the concubines in the harem, how many of them can own such a unique jade bracelet?
This time, Concubine Qin reaped all the benefits and earned all the attention.
Not only did she gain the favor of His Majesty, but she also received high praise from the Queen Mother.