The Beloved Concubine of the Eastern Palace (book 2)

Chapter 264 - She Has a Temper Too

hocked by such a rebuke, He Liangdi paused before angrily responding.

"How dare you speak to me like that!"

"He Liangdi, you may have been here longer, but our ranks are the same. Why can't I speak my mind?"

Hu Liangdi, despite her temper, was raised in a pampered household. She glanced at He Liangdi and decided not to engage further.

"Instead of trying to curry favor at every opportunity, He Liangdi, you should focus on cleaning up your family's mess. His Highness despises corruption."

With that, she walked away, leaving He Liangdi seething but unable to retort.

"Liangdi, should we still go to the garden?" Ying Xia asked softly.

He Liangdi glared at her, "What's the point, just to irritate His Highness?"

Ying Xia, feeling wronged, stayed silent.

She had advised He Liangdi to stay away, fearing the Crown Prince's displeasure due to recent family offenses.

But He Liangdi insisted on going, only to be mocked by Hu Liangdi.

Realizing the poor timing, Ying Xia was relieved it had ended with just a scolding rather than further humiliation before the Crown Prince.

Full of anger, He Liangdi returned to Jinxiu Pavillion.

At the door, she saw Pan Chun with a small food box.

"Liangdi, I heard the kitchen made magnolia cakes today. Knowing you love them, I got some fresh from the oven."

Pan Chun curtsied immediately.

But He Liangdi, too irritated to eat, waved her off.

"I feel nauseous just looking at it. Take it away."

With that, she stormed inside without looking back.

Pan Chun, rebuffed, looked to Ying Xia, who shook her head sympathetically.

Understanding, Pan Chun handed the food box to Ying Xia and followed He Liangdi inside.

Ying Xia, grateful for the reprieve, nodded appreciatively and stepped aside.

Inside, He Liangdi sat brooding on the couch, glaring at Pan Chun without a word.

Pan Chun, accustomed to this, cautiously approached, speaking softly.

"Liangdi, why sulk? It's not worth hurting yourself."

"How can I not be angry!" He Liangdi slammed the table, her brows furrowed.

"Father's actions led to His Highness scolding me in front of everyone. His disgrace is mine. His Highness has ignored me for days. Now I'm losing favor, and even that newly-arrived Hu Liangdi mocks me!"

Remembering recent events, He Liangdi fumed.

But Pan Chun, prepared for this outburst, quickly calmed her.

"I understand you're angry, but we must first seek His Highness's forgiveness. He only scolded you without real punishment. He's lenient, recalling past affections. Go before him, beg forgiveness. Doing nothing will only distance you further."

Hearing Pan Chun's advice, He Liangdi slowly calmed.

"You were once so silent. You've become quite eloquent," she remarked, looking up at Pan Chun.

"Knowing I'm not as quick as Ying Xia, I've put more thought into easing your worries. Even a clumsy bird flies early," Pan Chun said, pouring tea for He Liangdi, who took it, her expression softening.

"Ying Xia thinks of you too. She wants to be as devoted as Yun Qian, serving you wholeheartedly."

Yun Qian was now Pei Yao's concubine. Hearing this, He Liangdi paused, frowning before Pan Chun continued,

"Ying Xia's skillful. Though pleading for forgiveness requires plainness, attention to detail is vital. She'll dress you like a lotus, appealing to His Highness's compassion."

Her words stopped He Liangdi from retorting, and she began discussing the specifics of the plea.

Meanwhile, Fang Yun, tired after half an hour in the garden, returned to Biluo Pavilion with Pei Yao.

On their arrival, they found the Second Lady in a fit.

Waking from a nap to find her mother and the fox gone, she was inconsolable, crying in Yuanhe's arms and demanding to find her mother.

Seeing her daughter cry, Fang Yun, feeling both amused and heartbroken, wiped her tears.

"Darling, dropping golden beans again? Let me count them."

Soothing her, the little girl stopped crying and smiled, wanting to be held by Fang Yun, who, too pregnant, couldn't, so Pei Yao took over.

Children's moods shift quickly, and she soon played with the fox.

Watching their daughter, Pei Yao's affection for Fang Yun grew.

He had worried Fang Yun might distance herself from the adopted child once she had her own, but saw no signs of it.

Seeing their bond, he abandoned the idea of finding a new caretaker for the Second Lady.

Initially, his concern wasn't mistreatment, but the difficulty of caring for two young children simultaneously.

Seeing their closeness, separating them seemed unwise, so the notion vanished without Fang Yun noticing.

Back inside, Fang Yun sipped hot milk, sighing,

"No wonder poetry says, even with thousands of gold, a daughter's marriage worries a mother. The Second Lady is young, and this one's gender is unknown. Thinking of the future saddens me."

"She's young. Marriage is far off," Pei Yao smiled, reminded of something else, "My two cousins are of marriageable age."

"You dealt with the Empress and King Ming but left the Third Princess. Are you planning to marry her to Marquis Jinrong?" Fang Yun asked.

Pei Yao chuckled, "She longs to marry Yin Zhangce, even scheming for it. As her cousin, I can't deny her wish."