sjar Chapter 240 can be considered a final farewell.
Chapter 240 can be considered a final farewell.
Qin Fei and Qiao Qingling watched Chu Qingyin's dance with a hint of jealousy in their eyes.
Qiao Qingling muttered to herself, "It's just some old poses, what new tricks can they come up with?"
After the dance ended, Chu Qingyin gazed at the high platform in the distance, her eyes filled with longing.
The wind was biting, and she was dressed in thin clothes. Her red dress made her face even more beautiful. Chu Qingyin bowed gracefully, and the applause and cheers from the audience were thunderous.
Pei Yuanling's gaze fell on her, but her thin clothes only made her figure appear even more graceful.
A bitter feeling welled up in Chu Qingyin's heart. She recalled how he would always notice even the slightest grievance she had in the past.
Ultimately, he was not Pei Yuanling in his youth, nor was she the Chu Qingyin of the past.
There's no going back for the two of them.
Now, let's consider this a farewell from afar.
Amidst the chorus of praise, Qin Fei and Qiao Qingling's expressions grew increasingly gloomy.
Qiao Qingling gripped the silk handkerchief tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white.
That pink and white dance costume was something she had bribed someone to change, simply because Chu Qingyin had said she was dressed too plainly in the Imperial Garden, and she wanted to use that to put her down.
Although it's just a minor incident, if the Empress Dowager dislikes it, it will likely cause a lot of suffering.
Chu Qingyin seemed completely unaware of this. She slowly rose, took light steps, and walked off the stage.
During the journey, her eyes met those of Qin Fei and Qiao Qingling; she merely raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
That smile held an undisguised provocation.
Just then, the Emperor's voice came from the high platform: "Consort Liang's dance was wonderful, I am very pleased, I reward her!"
Chu Qingyin bowed gracefully again and said sweetly, "It is my honor to receive Your Majesty's praise."
By the time she changed back into her previous clothes, the banquet was nearing its end.
The Empress Dowager, seated on the throne, looked at her from afar, her sharp eyes instantly turning cold, revealing her ruthless nature.
"Consort Liang, what are you wearing?"
The dignified and elegant Empress Dowager sat high in the hall, and Empress Wang, who was attending to her, looked over and her face turned pale.
All eyes turned to Chu Qingyin.
Everyone knows what this deep purple palace dress embroidered with peonies represents.
Chu Qingyin immediately knelt on the ground, and in the dead silence, she slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was in a hurry this morning and did not check carefully. It must have been the palace maid who mistakenly took the wrong clothes."
Seeing this, Consort Qin's lips curled into a barely perceptible cold smile. She stepped forward and feigned fear, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am responsible for the clothing of the palace concubines. This mistake is my oversight. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
"However, Consort Liang knew that this dress was inappropriate, yet she still chose to wear it to the palace banquet. I don't know what she was thinking."
What a brilliant excuse he came up with to clear his name! He must have thought it all out long ago, just waiting for the Empress Dowager to ask.
"You are indeed guilty of making such a mistake. After the New Year, you will regain your authority to manage the six palaces and will no longer need to manage them."
The Empress Dowager's words struck Consort Qin's heart like a heavy hammer. The smile on her face froze instantly, and a trace of resentment flashed in her eyes, but she had no choice but to pretend to be calm and gracefully bow to express her gratitude.
Chu Qingyin knelt on the ground, secretly sneering to herself, but her face still showed a look of fear and unease: "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no intention of overstepping my bounds. I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly."
As she spoke, a thin mist welled up in her eyes, as if tears were about to fall at any moment.
At this moment, Pei Yuanling, who had been silent until now, frowned slightly and said, "Mother, Consort Liang has always been cautious and meticulous. It must have been an unintentional mistake. Moreover, her dance today added a lot of color to the New Year's Eve banquet. I hope that Mother will consider her hard work and forgive her this time."
Empress Dowager Wang raised her eyes, her gaze shifting back and forth between Pei Yuanling and Chu Qingyin, before finally letting out a cold snort: "Since His Majesty has pleaded for her, I will spare her this time. However, Consort Liang, you must be more careful in your future actions and lest you make such a mistake again."
Chu Qingyin hurriedly kowtowed to express her gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will remember it forever."
"Go and change your clothes. It's annoying to see you hanging around in front of me." The Empress Dowager pinched her brow wearily, becoming increasingly irritated.
"Yes, Queen Mother."
Chu Qingyin respectfully replied and hurriedly walked out of the hall under everyone's gaze.
As she reached the door, she suddenly turned her head and looked at the man on the high platform.
The other party didn't say a single word.
On this auspicious day, the Empress Dowager punished her in front of all the court officials, clearly to give her a warning.
They not only revoked Qin Rong'er's authority but also suppressed themselves, partly because the Wang family intended to send Wang Jingyi into the palace.
But she no longer cared about these things.
As Chu Qingyin left, her gaze met that of Lu Zhiheng, who was sitting at the head of the table, before quickly looking away.
Pei Yuanling watched her departing figure, and for some reason, a sense of panic rose in his heart, as if something was going away.
"His Majesty."
The Empress Dowager suddenly called out, "You haven't visited the Empress for many days. Today is New Year's Eve banquet, and the Emperor and Empress must not be separated, lest the ministers think that the Emperor and Empress are estranged and that there is unrest in the harem."
Pei Yuanling was slightly taken aback.
The Empress Dowager's words were a warning to him not to neglect Empress Wang because of his favoritism towards Chu Qingyin, since the Wang family's influence in the court was still not to be underestimated.
"Your Majesty's teachings are correct; I will heed your instructions."
Pei Yuanling withdrew his gaze, feeling somewhat annoyed.
As soon as they stepped out of the palace, Xianglan rushed up to them anxiously and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Chu Qingyin shook her head slightly and said softly, "It's alright, let's go back to Feixue Palace first."
She didn't want the banquet to continue anyway.
On the way back, she did not choose to ride in a carriage.
The two walked slowly through the Imperial Garden, which became increasingly deserted as the banquet had already begun.
"At this hour, the fireworks makers should be getting started by now," Chu Qingyin murmured softly.
Once the fireworks are lit, and sparks fall into Feixue Palace, she can feign death and escape the palace completely.
Unexpectedly, Xianglan, who was beside her, bit her lip and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, when you left just now, His Majesty... His Majesty had already canceled tonight's fireworks display."