Eight Treasures Trousseau

82

Chapter Eighty-Two: Presents

"Junwang Ye..." Hou shi stood at the Door of Drooping Flowers and looked at Yan Bo Yi who was smiling at a concubine. She pushed down the soreness she felt and forced herself to show a smile.

The concubine next to Yan Bo Yi curtsied when she saw Hou shi and moved to the side with a lowered head. She seemed exceptionally docile and well-mannered. But even the most docile and well-mannered concubine was, in Hou shi's view, a woman who was displaying docility and trying to take her man from her. However, Hou shi was skilled in enduring, and even though she felt discontent inside, she did not show it on her face. She sedately walked in front of Yan Bo Yi and said in a gentle voice, "Pardon my intrusion of your pleasure."

Seeing Hou shi, Yan Bo Yi's smile disappeared. After having the concubine leave, he said, "I see that your complexion has not been well these days. The medicines that the grand doctors have prescribed are not of use."

"Sickness leaves slowly, so how can recovery be so quick?" Hou shi smiled and didn't care at all about her own illness. "After a few days, it will be the Empress' birthday. Qie really doesn't know what kind of birthday present to send into the palace. Junwang, what do you think?"

When the Empress was mentioned, Yan Bo Yi''s expression was not well. Thinking about his own plans, he said, "Two-tenths more than in the past years, but avoid anything to do with pomegranates and grapes, so as to not remind the Empress."

Pomegranates and grapes had the meaning of lots of children. But right now, the Empress did not have a son, and the child inside the Crown Princess was not the Crown Prince's. Wouldn't sending in those things increase the Empress' displeasure? He could guess that the child inside the Crown Princess was the Emperor's, and so could the Empress. If he could team up with the Empress, it would be good for him. If he could not, at least, the Empress might have a good opinion of him.

"Qie understands," Hou shi responded. After the two of them said this, they didn't have anything else to talk about.

As the mood cooled, Yan Bo Yi suddenly spoke. "I heard that Xian Wang Fei does not like to manage affairs, so she may not know what is most appropriate to give to the Empress for a birthday present. If you have the free time, you can chat with her. That will be of great help to her."

"You mean..." Hou shi's expression changed slightly. After a long pause, she said, "Xian Wang Fei doesn't like to attend to matters, but she is not stupid. I'm afraid that she will not believe what I say."

"If she isn't willing to believe, think of a way to get her to believe." Yan Bo Yi's tone carried unconscious disdain. "She's just a woman, and spoiled by Yan Jin Qiu—what can she do?"

Hou shi heard the mockery in Yan Bo Yi's voice. Her gaze was complex when she responded.

Two days later, Hou shi was copying the Book of Dao when she saw her personal servant girl come in. She put down the brush in her hand and said in a calm tone, "What is the progress on the matter?"

"Mistress, do not worry. Today, the procurer from Xian Wang Fu purchased that jade statue of the immortal goddess holding the pomegranate. I heard that Xian Wang Fei is very satisfied with it and has already added it to the list of presents."

Hou shi nodded and sighed. Hua shi might be intelligent, but in the end, she had been spoiled by Xian Wang.

In Xian Wang Fu, Hua Xi Wan played with the immortal goddess and pomegranate jade statue that Hou shi talked about. She sighed. "Such good skill—even the wrinkles on the goddess' robe can be seen clearly. I just don't know if it will be smashed after it is delivered to the Empress' palace. It is such a pity."