Tian Jinglan kept a smile on her face, grinning as she continued separating the Buddhist beans into different baskets.
Empress Dowager Tian saw that she did not respond at all and could not help sighing: “You child, truly a foolish girl with no scheming in your heart. Everyone wants to climb higher, yet you never step forward or entertain such thoughts!”
However, the more she was like this, the more Empress Dowager Tian liked her.
The more one was accustomed to intrigue and plotting, the more one grew tired of disputes and of people who were overly clever.
In Empress Dowager Tian’s view, Qi Yuan was nothing more than someone who was overly clever, everything under heaven seemed to fall into Qi Yuan’s hands.
Born into a marquis household, favored and appreciated by the Eldest Princess, and also chosen by Xiao Yunting.
Where in this world was there such a complete and fortunate person?
If she had not exhausted all her schemes and methods, how could she have reached this step?
Such a person, no matter how good, was not to her liking, she only felt that her scheming mind was too heavy.
Tian Jinglan, on the other hand, was different, gentle and dignified, always hiding behind others whenever anything happened, forever wishing that people would not notice her at all.
Such a girl was the one truly suitable to become the Imperial Grandson Consort.
Tian Jinglan widened her eyes and waved her hands: “Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please don’t praise me like that, I feel quite embarrassed being praised.”
She smiled. “What do you mean by not stepping forward or entertaining thoughts? I truly have neither talent nor virtue, nor any outstanding qualities. Being able to enter the palace already relies entirely on Your Majesty’s favor…”
Liu Shanggong stood smiling at the side. Knowing that Empress Dowager Tian genuinely liked Tian Jinglan, she joined in pleasantly: “Miss Tian mustn’t belittle yourself. If you were not good, then there would be no good girls left in this world.”
“Isn’t that exactly the truth?” As she spoke, shouts of “Long live!” suddenly sounded outside.
Immediately afterward, Emperor Yongchang entered from outside.
The moment they saw him, Tian Jinglan, Liu Shanggong, and the others immediately knelt on the spot.
Empress Dowager Tian asked gently, “The Emperor has come?”
Emperor Yongchang respectfully acknowledged and waved his hand for Tian Jinglan and the others to rise.
Tian Jinglan promptly brewed tea herself and presented it.
Emperor Yongchang took a sip, nodded, and praised: “Not bad. This tea needs to be brewed three times before its flavor emerges, it seems quite a bit of effort was spent.”
Tian Jinglan lowered her head somewhat uneasily: “Knowing that Your Majesty comes every day to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, I prepare it in advance each day…”
Originally, Emperor Yongchang had only mentioned it casually, but hearing this, he gave her a more serious look: “You are thoughtful.”
“Isn’t she?” Empress Dowager Tian sighed with emotion. “This child spends all day busy with my affairs, thinking of everything for me ahead of time. With her here, I could live ten years longer!”
Empress Dowager Tian often praised Tian Jinglan. Emperor Yongchang was also happy to elevate a girl from an outer relative family background who possessed nothing, just to please the Empress Dowager.
Since the deaths of Tian Bozhi and Tian Baoci, the Tian family retained only the empty title of Duke Chengen’s household, but in reality had no official duties at all.
Letting them exchange for the title of a county lady, this was not a losing deal in the slightest.
Hearing this, he laughed: “Is that so? If that’s the case, then I truly must reward Jinglan properly. Taking good care of the Empress Dowager is equivalent to showing filial piety on my behalf, no reward would be excessive.”
He then asked Tian Jinglan, “What do you want?”
Tian Jinglan immediately knelt to the ground, trembling with fear: “No, no, this subject only serves and cares for the Empress Dowager out of sincerity. It was the Empress Dowager who raised and taught me. Even if I died ten thousand times I could not repay even a fraction, I truly dare not ask for any reward!”
Empress Dowager Tian immediately reproached Emperor Yongchang: “You’ve frightened the child! Her temperament is the gentlest, if a needle pierced her she wouldn’t even know to cry out in pain. Look how you’ve scared her!”
Seeing Tian Jinglan prostrate on the ground, Emperor Yongchang smiled: “Why are you kneeling? I am not some man-eating tiger. Rise! Since you do not know what to ask for, I shall reward you with ten bolts of Shu brocade and one dou of pearls, keep them for your future dowry.”
Tian Jinglan immediately expressed her thanks.
Emperor Yongchang waved his hand, and only then did Tian Jinglan turn and withdraw.
Once she stepped out into the corridor, Liu Shanggong smiled and congratulated her.
Tian Jinglan quickly shook her head: “It is all thanks to the teachings of Shanggong and the senior maids, I truly feel unworthy. I have only done small things; Shanggong and the others are the ones who work hardest.”
Liu Shanggong hurried to decline outwardly, but inwardly could not help sighing in admiration.
What an excessively clever girl.
No matter what matter, she handled it flawlessly.
Toward everyone, she was humble and respectful.
Even toward the lowest-ranking servants in the palace, she was considerate in every way.
Such a person, Liu Shanggong did not believe she was truly so gentle and kind, but rather felt she must be plotting something far greater.
At this time, Empress Dowager Tian was also speaking about matters related to Tian Jinglan.
She coughed a few times and then asked about the Imperial Guards entering the Eastern Palace, concerned: “Emperor, what exactly happened? Why did such a great disturbance suddenly arise?”
At the mention of this matter, Emperor Yongchang’s expression darkened.
He snorted and recounted the incident of the Eldest Princess’s villa estate being stormed, as well as the earlier matters involving Lu Jintang and Zeng Wenxiu.
Only then did he say, “They plotted with ulterior motives from the beginning, and after the matter was exposed, they sought private revenge afterward. People like this, even dying ten thousand times would not be enough!”
Empress Dowager Tian frowned. “Although that may be so…”
She seemed somewhat worried: “Those matters are one thing, they all did wrong, and it is only right for Your Majesty to punish them. But… I truly dislike that Miss Qi.”
When Qi Yuan was mentioned, Emperor Yongchang had little impression.
He only remembered that Xiao Yunting had insisted on marrying this girl as the Imperial Grandson Consort.
Xiao Yunting rarely asked him for anything. Since he already had someone he liked, and her status and background were acceptable, there was nothing that could not be granted.
He had agreed quite readily at the time.
But now, hearing Empress Dowager Tian say this, Emperor Yongchang was somewhat surprised: “Royal Mother, are you blaming her because of what happened back then?”
After all, Tian Baoci’s dog-fighting incident with Qi Yuan had caused a huge uproar and ultimately led to his own death.
Emperor Yongchang felt it was normal for Empress Dowager Tian to harbor resentment.
Empress Dowager Tian, however, sneered: “I do not have such leisure. Back then, when Baoci committed wrongdoing, I myself insisted he be executed! There is nothing more to say.”
She frowned. “Emperor, I dislike her purely because she is too capable.”
She took a sip of tea and listed, one by one, all the incidents related to Qi Yuan. Seeing that Emperor Yongchang remained silent, she then said in a low voice: “Why is it that whenever anything involves her, nothing good ever happens?”
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