In the past, when the first emperor was there, she was favored more than the Empress. Although the ice of the concubines was fixed according to the grade, in order to please her, the eunuchs in charge sent the most ice to her palace every year. The Empress did not dare to say anything even if she knew and now it made her proud.

She approached, still not saluting, and just sat down on her own, “Niangniang is so leisurely, why didn’t she go to the Chongzheng Hall today?”

“Your Majesty is not in good health, let him rest for two more days.” Jiang Rui did not care about her rudeness.

Noble Concubine Xiao smiled gently: “It turns out that Niangniang went to Chongzheng Hall, really to teach His Majesty to read, I thought…”

Jiang Rui glanced at her and focused on the watermelon in her jade bowl.

Seeing that she did not answer, Noble Concubine Xiao gritted her teeth secretly and said, “I heard that Lu Gonggong recently sent a lot of good things to Niangniang’s palace. I don’t know when Niangniang and Lu Gonggong Lu got so good like this?”

“Really? I don’t know who the Noble Concubine listens to, why don’t I know?”

“Why should Niangniang pretend to be confused?” Noble Concubine Xiao got closer and lowered her voice: “I didn’t know before, Niangniang has such a good ability. Even people like Lu Gonggong can be won over. If Niangniang exerts her strength earlier, I’m afraid that in front of the first emperor, there will be no business for me and several other sisters.”

Although she did not say it clearly, the hint in her words was already very obvious.

It is not uncommon for eunuchs and palace maids to eat against each other, even secretly, the concubines are not absent. The great royal palace, how bright and beautiful it is on the surface, but there are so many shameful things in the dark. It’s just that she did not expect that looking at the dignified and gentle Empress Dowager, she would also do such a thing.

“If the first emperor finds out, what will Niangniang say he will think?” Noble Concubine Xiao said faintly.

Jiang Rui finally looked at her squarely, “You know what, can the dead still jump out of the mausoleum?”

“You… You are disrespectful!”

“Oh?” Jiang Rui smiled and said, “Then, wait until I see the first emperor and then make amends to him.”

In the past, Empress Xie would never say such a thing. Noble Concubine Xiao looked at her unexpectedly and said for a while: “Niangniang is really different. Originally, I would still be suspicious, but now it seems that you… are willing?”

“Don’t misunderstand, Noble Concubine, I didn’t admit anything. Why did you say that you have a nose and eyes?” Jiang Rui put the jade bowl aside and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.

Noble Concubine Xiao sneered: “Not everyone is blind. These days, Niangniang goes to the Chongzheng Hall every day, saying that she is teaching His Majesty to study, but others can’t see it, who knows what’s going on? Moreover, Lu Gonggong frequently sent good things to the Niangniang Palace. There was no such thing before.”

If she had heard of this kind of thing before, she would only think it was a joke. But now looking at the face in front of her, she thinks it is extremely possible.

Since Empress Dowager Xie recovered from a serious illness two months ago, every time she saw her, Noble Concubine Xiao felt jealous.

She is obviously the same as her over thirty and her years have passed away. So, why is she the only one who is restored to the most beautiful appearance as if she has been favored by a god? This face is even more charming than it was before, with the style of a mature woman and the tenderness of an innocent girl.

Noble Concubine Xiao is a stunning beauty herself. She knows that this kind of complicated and strange temperament can make a man more difficult to extricate than a beautiful face.

Jiang Rui did not refute anymore, but said nonchalantly: “Noble Concubine said yes, just ask the concubine to restrain her own people. Don’t talk nonsense. Otherwise, if someone gets angry, I can’t stop it.”

Although in the eyes of some people, she and Lu Xingzhou have already an established relationship, Jiang Rui knows very well in her heart that Lu Xingzhou has not even thought about it in that direction. If someone says some gossip and is heard by him, maybe he will make a move because of shock and anger.

What she said was to remind Noble Concubine Xiao, but it became a threat to the other party’s ears.

Noble Concubine Xiao sneered: “Niangniang is so majestic. You are now leaning against the big tree to take advantage of the shade, who dares to gossip? I’m afraid that this Chang’an Palace, I won’t dare to come in the future.”

After she finished speaking, she got up and left without saying goodbye.

Outside the palace, Lu Xingzhou was in his private house. In front of him was a whole box of rings and bracelets. They were made of various materials, including rubies, emeralds, opals, pearls, agates, and tourmalines. One more exquisite than the other.

Seeing that he stared at him for a long time and did not say anything, Sanqi could not help asking: “Governor, is this going to be given to the Empress Dowager?”

Lu Xingzhou nodded slightly, still looking at the brocade box.

“Do you want the younger one to run for Governor?” Sanqi took the initiative to ask.

“You don’t have to.” Lu Xingzhou nodded at the table and said, “Go and buy another box, these are too old.”

Sanqi laughed and said courageously: “You don’t know, some jewelry is more valuable as it gets older. A few days ago, Erba gave the hairpin left by his old mother to the palace maid who serves in the kitchen, and the people were moved to tears. This is all a heart. The Governor’s heart for Niangniang, even if Niangniang does not say it, she must know it. The little one dares to say, looking at these days, Niangniang may not be unintentional to the Governor, but Niangniang is reserved and polite when she sees it, so she has not shown it.”

He said to himself that he hadn’t noticed the look of his Governor who was initially confused and then shocked.

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