The little palace maid is charming and charming, and she is a disaster along the way

Chapter 34: Life is all about acting
They are all gone.

Only Shen Qingtang was left in Kunning Palace.

She sat cautiously on the embroidered cushion, watching the burning incense rise from the gilded incense burner in the hall, and then slowly dissipate in the dull and depressing air.

Empress Ye, who had left her in Kunning Palace, sat on the couch without saying a word, making the atmosphere in the entire Kunning Palace even more gloomy and depressing, as if a huge rock was crushing her heart.

No one knew how long it had been, so long that even Aunt Ginkgo, who was serving her, became frightened, before Queen Ye's voice finally rang out indifferently.

"Do you know why I kept you in Kunning Palace?"

Queen Ye's aura was too intimidating. Shen Qingtang, who was just a minor noble, was so terrified that she clutched the corner of her clothes tightly in her hands.

"I am stupid, please tell me clearly, Queen."

Under Queen Ye's gaze, Shen Qingtang's face turned pale. He dodged and dodged because he was afraid of her gaze, not daring to look at her at all.

Seeing her reaction like this, Queen Ye knew that she was afraid of her. She was satisfied, and her cold and majestic expression softened a little.

Empress Ye leaned forward slightly, her eyes as sharp as a sword, and asked, "Do you think that I kept you in Kunning Palace to hold you accountable for the fact that the emperor stayed overnight in Fanghua Palace last night?"

Shen Qingtang's face was in a panic, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report that when the Emperor came last night, it suddenly rained and he couldn't leave, so he had no choice but to stay in Fanghua Palace."

As he spoke, cold sweat broke out on Shen Qingtang's forehead. He changed from sitting upright on the embroidered cushion to kneeling on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I am wise. If I have said even a little bit of falsehood, I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death."

I swear to God, she didn't lie. The storm never stopped last night.

It's the same outside and inside the house.

Until now, she felt very tired all over.

Shen Qingtang really wanted to lie down and take a nap, but Queen Ye's sharp gaze was always hanging over her head.

The moment she looked up nervously, she saw Queen Ye's indifferent expression, which became even more imposing and majestic.

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. It is your blessing to be favored by the Emperor. However, one thing..." Empress Ye's eyes suddenly became stern. "In this harem, remember not to be arrogant and break the rules because of the favor."

Hearing Queen Ye's words, Shen Qingtang's expression relaxed and he quickly nodded to express his gratitude.

"Thank you for your teachings, Queen. I will keep them in mind."

Seeing that she was so easy to control, Queen Ye immediately gave Aunt Ginkgo a look, and Aunt Ginkgo understood and helped Shen Qingtang up from the ground.

"The ground is cold, why did you kneel down suddenly?" Yin Xing offered a cup of tea and said gently, "The Queen is kind-hearted. If it weren't for the etiquette of paying respects, the Queen would hate to see you kneeling down. If you accidentally hurt your knees, it would be terrible to become a cripple in the future."

"How can a useless person serve the emperor well? My dear, do you think this is true?"

Not a useless person, to be precise, it should be a waste.

In the harem, if you become a useless waste, you may not even be able to control your own life.

Shen Qingtang looked at the amiable Aunt Ginkgo in shock, and understood deeply what it meant to be a smiling face with a dagger in one's heart and a cotton ball with a needle in one's sleeve.

The Aunt Ginkgo in front of you is her!
Not a single sentence was a threat, yet every sentence was a threat. The people in this palace are really smart!
It's really thrilling.

She was so excited that she wanted to strangle herself with a rope!

"Aunt, what you said is very true. Qingtang has learned a lot."

"No, no, my lady, please try this cup of golden pumpkin tribute tea. Is it to your liking? If you don't like it, I will ask someone to make another cup of flower tea."

Aunt Ginkgo said this as she handed another cup of the steaming golden pumpkin tribute tea in her hand to Shen Qingtang.

"My lord, please."

This cup of tea is too hot. If I don't accept it, I will be disrespectful to the Queen. But if I accept it -

"It is indeed a tribute tea. The fragrance of the tea is so fragrant. I'm sure it tastes very sweet. Thank you, Queen, for the tea."

This cup of golden pumpkin tribute tea is very hot.

When Shen Qingtang caught it steadily, Queen Ye subconsciously looked at Aunt Ginkgo, but under her gaze, Aunt Ginkgo shook her head imperceptibly.

Aunt Ginkgo and the others are used to serving in front of people. Over the years, they have already acquired extraordinary skills.

She can hold the cup of scalding hot golden pumpkin tribute tea steadily, so how can this noble lady do that?
Queen Ye stared at Shen Qingtang. Under her scrutinizing gaze, Shen Qingtang told Queen Ye about the predicament she was facing at the moment without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, this cup of golden pumpkin tribute tea is still a little hot. I am afraid that I will pollute your eyes. Please allow me to taste it later."

Her honesty and lack of scheming made Empress Ye look up to her, and she turned around and gently reprimanded Aunt Ginkgo.

"You are also an elder by my side. How can you give this hot tea to Lady Shu?"

Aunt Ginkgo quickly apologized, "I deserve to be beaten."

"I forgot to tell Lady Shu that after brewing this Golden Pumpkin Tribute Tea, you should first smell its fragrance and then taste its flavor. Only then will it have an endless aftertaste. If Lady Shu doesn't care about these things, you can drink it later."

After listening to Aunt Ginkgo's explanation, Shen Qingtang suddenly felt ashamed of his ignorance.

"I see. No wonder the tea smells so good."

But as straightforward as she is, she would not drink such hot tea.

"Then I will let it cool down before drinking it."

This is half an incense stick.

During this period, Shen Qingtang had been listening to Queen Ye's sincere teachings until the golden pumpkin tribute tea was completely cold, and Aunt Ginkgo reminded her.

"Lady Shu, this tea is just right for your mouth. Please try it."

"Thank you for your reminder, Auntie." Shen Qingtang picked up the Golden Gourd Tribute Tea and looked at the leaves spreading in the tea. She squinted her eyes and smiled. "It's really a tribute tea. It's still so fragrant even after it cools down. I won't be polite then."

In palace fighting dramas, adding ingredients to tea is the most common method.

Not to mention that there was something in it, she would have to drink it even if she was stabbed.

After all, she had no choice.

Under the gaze of two pairs of eyes, Shen Qingtang picked up the teacup and took a sip. Then, with his eyes lighting up, he picked it up and drank it all in one gulp under the astonished gaze of Queen Ye.

Queen Ye narrowed her eyes slightly. Could it be that Concubine Shu was trying to pretend to choke on the water and then spit it out?
however--

Under Queen Ye's suspicious gaze, Shen Qingtang took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

"Thank you, Queen, for the tea. This tribute tea is indeed very fragrant."

"...As long as Lady Shu likes it."

Queen Ye and Aunt Ginkgo exchanged glances for a moment. If she was not mistaken, the handkerchief that Shen Qingtang had just taken back was not wet at all, which meant that she did not take the opportunity to spit out the tea.

So, this person is really stupid and naive - a vase.

If so——

Queen Ye's expression changed as she was thinking about something.

"Lady Shu, what do you think of Concubine Zhengui?"

(End of this chapter)