Changzai Zhou had already composed her expression amidst a few thoughts, donning her usual bright smile, she followed behind and said, "Sister Zhao, I’ve said it earlier, today is the Longevity Event, magpies are circling the branches, and it’s an omen of double happiness welcoming us. Surely something good will happen. Look, isn’t this it? It’s truly delightful to see Elder Sister Lian."
Lian Hua was laughing and chatting with Xiao Jizi and the others, telling the Young Eunuch guarding the golden melon seeds that she would surely help lighten his load and to not be in a hurry.
The Young Eunuch brightened up a lot, smiling and thanking Master Lian, otherwise, he would have had to guard them all day long.
Xiao Jizi jokingly interjected that there must be at least a hundred and eighty golden melon seeds, considering the speed at which arrows were being thrown, calculated with a bit of deliberation, and followed by a round of cheers, they would definitely be finished before the lanterns were lit at dusk. By then, it would be just the right time to enjoy the spectacle without having to move back and forth.
Lian Hua and Xiao Qing laughed and spat at him, Lian Hua said she was worried about shooting too fast as she also shouldered the responsibility of enjoying the fun with everyone. "My divine power hasn’t been unleashed yet. Wait till I get going, I’ll win them all in no time with a hundred shots hitting the target."
Laughter ensued, creating a joyful and harmonious scene.
Upon hearing the voices of Beauty Zhao and Changzai Zhou, everyone stopped laughing and talking.
Lian Hua looked up and saw the two approaching, smiling tenderly at her.
"Oh, it’s Changzai Zhou and Beauty Zhao." Lian Hua smiled demurely.
After mutual greetings, Cui Laner remained kneeling in place, while Daying Jia and Kong Yinyin came forward to pay their respects, standing to one side.
After returning the gestures to them, Changzai Zhou and Beauty Zhao turned their indifferent expressions away, looking enthusiastically at Lian Hua.
Xiao Jizi’s eyes flickered, glancing at Cui Laner not too far away with a hint of disdain. Standing to the left and right of Lian Hua with Xiao Qing, they silently bowed their heads, motionless.
Lian Hua directly got to the point, puzzled, "Are you two also here to play the pitching game?
Changzai Zhou answered straightforwardly, "Originally, Sister Zhao and I were solving the riddles on the lanterns over there, but when we heard the noise here and thought that Elder Sister Lian might be here, we came over to take a look. We didn’t expect to actually find Elder Sister Lian here; it’s really wonderful."
Being addressed as Elder Sister repeatedly left her feeling oddly scrutinizing Changzai Zhou.
In the palace, they called each other sisters based on rank, and Lian Hua found it quite peculiar. She was the youngest among the Palace Concubines, and those who used to call her Sister now addressed her as Elder Sister. No matter how she heard it, it sounded strange. Thankfully, His Majesty did not have any consort older than seventy or eighty and of lower rank than her; otherwise, she would not know how to respond if they called her Elder Sister.
She let her thoughts run wild, and the more she thought about it, the stranger her expression became.
Xiao Jizi, knowing his master had spaced out again, coughed in a timely manner.
Lian Hua came back to her senses, "Ah, what was that?"
Seeing Changzai Zhou, a real person before her, she remembered and exclaimed with delight, "So you’re not here to play the game after all?"
Even with her quick wit, she was at a loss about what was on Lian Hua’s mind. Her reaction was not like that of an ordinary person, and she did not know where to pick up the conversation or how to make small talk...
But her response was quick; in just a moment, she smiled and nodded, going along with, "Yes, just here to see Elder Sister Lian."
Beauty Zhao’s heart tightened at first, thinking something had been discovered, but then she relaxed, smiling and saying, "Sister Zhou and I had previously come here to play the game, but playing it with just two people seemed a bit lacking in fun. Hearing that Qianqiu Hall outside had elegant riddles on the lanterns, we both went there together."
Lian Hua felt even more at ease upon hearing this, waving her hands cheerfully, "Alright, you go ahead then."
She had just made a bold declaration and must quickly win all the golden melon seeds—that was the priority.
Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing understood her the best and knew why she reacted . Their master was a lover of wealth and always sought tangible benefits. It was all for that bag of golden melon seeds.
Beauty Zhao and Changzai Zhou were stunned, their minds filled with question marks. Weren’t their words just expressing that they had come specifically to visit her? Why was she dismissing them just after seeing them?
Changzai Zhou shot a glance at Beauty Zhao, both somewhat baffled.
After some thought, Beauty Zhao spoke with concern, "The lanterns are not urgent. After that massive act of defiance before, coupled with not seeing Sister Lian for such a long time, we are extremely worried. We don’t know if Sister Lian is well now?"
As she spoke, her gaze earnestly fell upon Lian Hua’s abdomen.
Changzai Zhou’s eyes flickered, and she stood off to the side with her head bowed, feigning a smile and listening, without joining the conversation.
The question was odd. She was standing there just fine, yet they asked if she was well now—what kind of nonsense was that?
If one could think straight, Lian Hua couldn’t be bothered to waste effort pondering over riddles.
Without a second thought, she retorted, "Am I not right here? Can’t you see for yourself whether I look well or not?"
Seeing is believing, but hearing is deceiving. It’s better for them to see for themselves rather than her telling them she was fine. This update is available on novel✶fire.net
Beauty Zhao chuckled awkwardly, thinking to herself that despite looking harmless, she was cunning. No wonder the Noble Consort was always at a disadvantage in the past.
She glanced at Changzai Zhou, noticing that the latter kept her gaze down and wasn’t looking at her. Thus, Beauty Zhao decided to stop beating around the bush.
With her hands pressed together, she uttered "Amitabha" with a smile, "Look at what I’m saying. As a person of good fortune, Sister Lian is naturally doing well. Seeing your rosy complexion, it seems you’ve recovered well. I suppose the Prince within your womb is also fine, right?"
After pausing for a moment, her eyes twinkled, and her face became even more concerned, "Sister Lian, don’t take offense at my prattling. Being with child requires the utmost caution. Although today is the Longevity Event, if you feel any discomfort or unwellness, it’s still better to go back and rest. His Majesty surely won’t blame you."
Now Lian Hua understood the insinuation of her words; they were inquiring about the baby in her womb!
She couldn’t help but have her eyes shine, ignited with a roaring flame of theatrics.
She almost forgot her original intention, which was to lure them into asking about her due to the archery delay, but she was prepared. Everything was in place.
She had even worried that no one would ask. But Nanny Qi had predicted it correctly, saying that someone would surely come to inquire about the child in her womb. Look, here they were!
Ah, she had been so energetic just now. She wondered if they believed her. It didn’t matter now!
At that moment, she became Pang Ya incarnate. She stretched out her hand, and Xiao Qing quickly supported her. She leaned "weakly" against Xiao Qing, while still clutching an arrow in her other hand, unwilling to let go of that gleaming golden melon seed.
This sudden turn of events happened so swiftly that Beauty Zhao thought she had seen wrong, and she was momentarily stunned.
Instantly, a sorrowful look spread across Lian Hua’s radiant face. With a woeful tone, she imitated, "Thank you for your concern, Beauty Zhao. My child in the womb... Alas, I also feel unsettled, which is why I pleaded to come out and distract myself. After that day..." Her voice trailed off, filled with pain and drawn out long.
Beauty Zhao’s pupils dilated slightly as she couldn’t help but lean in a bit more and pressed, "After that day, what happened?"
Her abdomen was noticeably swollen, and logically the child should still be there. Her mind stirred, could there be a hidden complication? But with her rosy cheeks and white teeth, she looked quite healthy!
Changzai Zhou also couldn’t help but lift her head and look over.