C83

Madam Su was like Su Yu, someone who knew when to advance and when to retreat. Although this was specially arranged for her and Su Xing Yu, she did not really talk to Su Yu. Instead, she picked up some anecdotes or gossips for Qing Qing to listen to, which made her laugh.

As the three were deep in conversation, they suddenly heard a shrill voice in their ear. "Greetings to the empress."

"Little Lu, is there something wrong with the emperor?" Seeing that the person who came was a nobody, Qing Qing guessed that it must be Duanmu Yu Ling who had something to talk to her about.

"The Emperor only ordered his servants to invite the empress. This servant doesn't know what's the matter."

He gave Madam Su and Su Yu a slight smile. Without further ado, he followed the small path to where Duanmu Yu Ling was.

Just as he was about to greet her, he was helped to his feet by Duanmu Huanghun. "Empress, what are you smiling so happily for? Come and tell me."

Qing Qing rolled her eyes internally. She had been looking for him just to ask him about these useless things. She didn't know if he was full or not.

"Chenqie was just talking to Su Rou and you're interested in me, your majesty?"

Seeing that Qing Qing wasn't willing to speak, Duanmu Yu Ling didn't press her and instead said, "Empress, I heard from Xiahou that your mount is a good rider. Will you come out with me later?"

"Of course it's good, but chenqie didn't bring her riding attire today. I wonder if she will be able to sweep away the emperor's interest?"

"No worries, I will send someone to get it now."

He called upon the personal guards he had brought with him, whispered a few words to them, and then dragged Qing Qing to his tent. Consort De was also here. When she saw Qing Qing come up, she quickly got up to greet her.

Qing Qing gave him a nonchalant look. "Take a seat. You don't have that much etiquette outside."

When both of them were seated, Consort De still maintained her half-squatting posture, her face filled with guilt.

When Duanmu Yu Ling saw this, he was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong with Consort De?"

Consort De plopped to her knees. "May esteemed empress forgive me, but concubine didn't intentionally ignore the empress." This morning, my concubine was in such a hurry to leave with the emperor that she didn't have time to report to my father. "

Duanmu Huanghun slightly frowned. There really was a reason for what happened this morning, and it wasn't because of Consort De's fault. Consort De normally didn't think much of anyone, but Consort De actually begged for forgiveness with fear and trepidation.

Qing Qing sized up Consort De who was kneeling on the ground. This Consort De couldn't be trying to apologize to her, right? It was as if she was trying to drug Duanmu Yu into thinking that she was using her status to bully her concubine. However, she was relieved when she saw that Duanmu Yu Ling hadn't thought about it in this direction.

He ordered Lingtong to help Consort De up, "I'm not a person who doesn't know my place. Since you have matters with the emperor, you can put the rules aside."

'Ding … guide target affability level + 2, current affability level 55. '…

Duanmu Huanghun was very satisfied with the way things were done. "Since the empress has already said so, don't take it to heart." With that, he no longer paid any attention to Consort De and instructed Little Road to bring the dishes over.

"Your majesty, aren't we returning to the palace?" The palace wasn't too far away, so Qing Qing didn't understand why they had to eat here.

Duanmu Yuling smiled and said, "Don't the empress think that eating here doesn't taste good either?"

Qing Qing nodded her head in agreement. Eating in the open occasionally was indeed very interesting, and the people accompanying her were also a bit more relaxed and less restrained.

"Queen, how do you want to spend next month's birthday?"

Qing Qing was in the middle of savoring the delicious food in her mouth when Duanmu Huanghun's sudden words scared her so much that she swallowed the meat in her mouth.

He then picked up a bowl of soup and finished it in one gulp before saying, "Chenqie and the sisters in the palace can just casually eat a meal. It's not a big birthday, so there's no need to make it too grand."

Duanmu Yu Ling looked at the empty bowl, picked up a piece of beef, and placed it in her bowl. He smiled gently and said, "So it's like this. This year, I'll have Consort Fu and Consort De arrange a celebration show for you."

Qing Qing felt flattered and quickly rose to thank him. "Thank you, your majesty."