Crossing the Palace Fighting Fox Harem

Chapter 138 An ominous premonition

After about two or three minutes, Xiaoyao, the maidservant of Guibao Concubine, came out. She usually looked like a very smart girl, but today, for some reason, there was always a bit of worry and sadness in her eyes. Although there was a slight smile on the corner of her mouth when she spoke, the smile always seemed a bit forced, as if she was hiding a lot of worries.

After seeing Xiaoyao's expression, Ji Anni guessed that Concubine Baogui's situation might not be optimistic. Just as she was about to ask, she heard Xiaoyao speak first: "I'm sorry to have kept Concubine Zhao waiting for a long time. Today, Concubine Zhao has met many people and is a little tired."

The implication of this is "please go back".

Ji Anni rushed over in a hurry, but she didn't expect to get such an answer. She was surprised and disappointed, and she became more worried about the situation of Baogui Fei.

Even if he couldn't meet Concubine Baogui, he would at least find out some news about her from Xiaoyao.

Countless ways of asking questions flashed through her mind, but the one she finally said was the most conservative one. She asked timidly, "Xiaoyao, is Empress Bao... okay?"

Xiao Yao smiled at Ji Anni and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Concubine Zhao. Your Majesty is doing well."

Having said that, the faint sigh that she inadvertently let out when she said this gave Ji Annie the real answer.

Xiaoyao was in a bad mood, and it was difficult to have a conversation. Ji Anni had no choice but to say goodbye and said, "In that case, I will come to visit you another day. Xiaoyao, you must take good care of Baoguifei's health."

Xiaoyao replied, "I have heard Concubine Zhao say this more than ten times today."

This sentence sounded a little bit harsh, and Ji Anni couldn't help but be stunned.

There were countless dignitaries who came to the West Palace to visit Baogui Concubine today. When they were sent out by Xiaoyao, they would intentionally or unintentionally say the words of advice that Ji Anni had just said. If someone said it unintentionally, of course, it was simply out of concern for Baogui Concubine's health; but if someone said it intentionally, it always seemed to contain a hint of contempt and sarcasm.

Although Xiao Yao also knew that Ji Anni was definitely the kind of person who didn't mean it, she still felt a little unhappy when she heard it, so the expression on her face inadvertently became a little cold.

After hearing Xiaoyao's slightly harsh reply, Ji Anni realized that she had said something that the other party didn't like to hear, and she couldn't help but regret it. She asked stiffly, "Xiaoyao, did I say something wrong?"

Xiaoyao was shocked when she heard this, and then she realized that her attitude just now made Ji Anni feel uneasy, so she quickly apologized: "Your Majesty is not wrong, it is Xiaoyao who is wrong. Xiaoyao made Your Majesty suspicious, please don't blame me."

Ji Anni was probably the first empress to ask the maid anxiously if she had said something wrong, so it was no wonder that Xiao Yao was frightened. She changed her slightly depressed look just now, not only kept apologizing, but also frowned nervously, not daring to look at Ji Anni at all, as if she was afraid that Ji Anni would blame her.

In fact, Ji Anni had no intention of blaming her. She was just worried.

Before she came, it was only Concubine Baogui who was worried. After she came, even Xiaoyao became worried.

She gently took Xiaoyao's hand and said sincerely, "Xiaoyao, I have been in the palace for a short time, and I don't know Baogui Concubine as well as you do. I don't even know what I said to make you unhappy. Even if I really met Baogui Concubine, I am afraid I can only make her unhappy. Before I leave, I only have one thing to say - to you - Xiaoyao, take good care of the queen. Maybe if I go in and say ten thousand words to Baogui Concubine, they will not be as effective as the one sentence I say to you now. Everything about the queen can only be left to you."

These words sounded like an exhortation and a confession. Xiaoyao raised her head after hearing this, her eyes full of emotion. She held Ji Anni's hand tighter and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Concubine Zhao, Her Majesty will be very happy to know that you care about her so much. Although Xiaoyao is just a useless maid, she has served Her Majesty for three years. I would like to say that Her Majesty is like Xiaoyao's own sister, and Xiaoyao will never watch her sister suffer."

Ji Anni nodded, as if relieved. Then she said goodbye to Xiaoyao and turned to leave with Die'er.

***

It was already late, the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon, the sky and the earth had become somewhat dim, but only the winding Qinglan River was flowing silently. The road was extremely quiet, except for the occasional bird calls, there was no other sound, and Ji Anni's heart gradually calmed down.

She walked slowly with her head down, and it seemed as if many things flashed through her mind, but it also seemed as if it was blank.

Maybe I'm really too tired, I should go back and have a good sleep...

While telling yourself this, take a deep breath.

At this moment, I suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps behind me.

Ji Anni subconsciously looked back and saw Xiaoyao running towards her in panic.

Before she could open her mouth to ask what was going on, Xiao Yao shouted "Empress Zhao" and pulled Ji Anni's skirt and knelt down.

Ji Anni was frightened by her kneeling, and she hurriedly pulled her aside and asked, "Xiaoyao, what's wrong? If you have something to say, please talk to me. Don't panic. Seeing you panic makes me panic too."

Die'er, who was standing by, also hurried over to help Xiaoyao.

As soon as Xiaoyao stood up, she grabbed Ji Anni's hand, feeling painful and guilty, and said hastily: "Please forgive me, Concubine Zhao, I did not inform the queen about your visit just now. It was Xiaoyao who took the initiative to reject you on behalf of the queen... just because, just because..."

The following words seemed difficult to utter. Xiaoyao kept repeating "just because" many times but still couldn't finish her words. She had just run all the way here and was already panting. Now she was in a hurry to speak, so she couldn't utter a single word.

Ji Anni didn't know what was going on, but she could tell from Xiaoyao's worried and nervous expression that things were not simple. Seeing that Xiaoyao couldn't get to the point for a long time, she frowned anxiously and said, "Don't be anxious, Xiaoyao, speak slowly."

"Your Highness." Xiaoyao wiped the tears from her eyes and took several deep breaths before her breathing finally became smooth. She held Ji Anni's hand tightly and said in a very low voice, "Your Highness, the reason why Xiaoyao dared not report on your behalf is... just because, just because... the Imperial Master came first and was talking to you in the room..."

"Yun Zhen?" Ji Anni's heart suddenly sank.

It turns out Yun Zhen already knew...

Not only did he know, he also went to the West Palace to visit Concubine Baogui.

What kind of mood and expression is he in now when facing Concubine Baogui?

What topics did he and Concubine Baogui talk about?

Ji Anni wanted to know, but she didn't dare to know. Her heart suddenly felt a little stuffy, and she had a bad premonition.

At this time, Xiaoyao begged bitterly: "My queen, Xiaoyao begs you, please find an excuse to ask the national master to leave, let the national master leave the West Palace... Otherwise, otherwise... Xiaoyao is afraid... Xiaoyao is afraid in her heart..."

Xiao Yao was really scared, so scared that even the hand that was holding Ji Anni had lost its temperature, leaving only a slight tremor.

Seeing that Ji Anni did not respond, Xiao Yao kept repeating: "My Lady, Xiao Yao begs you... please..."

"Don't worry, Xiaoyao." Seeing that she was about to cry, Ji Anni patted the back of her hand in a comforting manner, "What are you afraid of? Yun Zhen will not hurt Baogui Concubine... They already knew each other before entering the palace, and they are very good friends... What are you afraid of?"

Xiaoyao shook her head vigorously. She couldn't explain herself, and kept repeating in confusion: "I don't know... Madam, I don't know, but I always feel like something is about to happen, Madam... Xiaoyao begs you, can you find a way to get the Imperial Master to leave?"

Unlike Xiaoyao's panic, Ji Anni was much calmer at this time, and said her thoughts calmly: "Xiaoyao... I won't go, because, maybe now... Yun Zhen is the one who should be with Baogui Fei the most."

...None of us should disturb them.