The Darling of Heaven Owns a Rip-off Shop

Chapter 821 - 13: The Slacker Empress

Does everyone have a chance?

Even the concubines of lower status have a chance to go?

After Tianmiao had breakfast in the early morning and was watching Bai Ming eat, a Palace Attendant arrived to report that Qing Guiren requested an audience.

"Let her in," Tianmiao knew of this Qing Guiren, someone who was not favored at all, extremely unfavored. The Emperor had never summoned her, not even once.

The Palace Maid quickly led Qing Guiren in.

When Qing Guiren arrived, she saw Bai Ming and widened her eyes, her eyes bright with excitement, nearly forgetting to bow. Once she came to her senses, she hurriedly paid her respects to Tianmiao.

"Rise," Tianmiao looked at this youthful Qing Guiren and smiled. Rather than calling her a lady, one might rather say she was still a child. With her baby-faced cheeks, big eyes, and innocent demeanor, she spoke to Tianmiao, cautiously stealing a glance at Bai Ming.

"Do you like Bai Ming?" Tianmiao asked with a smile after Qing Guiren sat down.

"Bai Ming? Is that the name of the white peacock? It’s a nice name! I like it, I like it. However, although I often visit the Exotic Beast Garden, I’ve only seen it display its feathers once," Qing Guiren said, sounding somewhat regretful. Later on, when she went to the Exotic Beast Garden again, the white peacock was no longer there.

To Tianmiao, Qing Guiren, who frequently visited the Exotic Beast Garden, was like a modern child obsessed with going to the zoo. In the dreary confines of the palace, visiting the Exotic Beast Garden must be Qing Guiren’s only joy.

"If you wish to see it, you can come every day," Tianmiao said, taking a small bean cake, called Bai Ming over, and fed it to Bai Ming.

The white peacock happily ate it, then shook its feathers and spread its tail.

"Wow!" Qing Guiren exclaimed softly, quickly covering her mouth, afraid to disturb the peacock’s display. She stared intently at the white peacock with bright eyes as it fanned its tail.

"Why did you come here?" After a long while, Tianmiao asked proactively; otherwise, this silly child might watch until the end of time.

"Ah, please forgive me, Empress." Only then did Qing Guiren come back to her senses, realizing she had been staring dazedly for too long, which was disrespectful to the Empress. Although the Empress wasn’t favored, she could easily punish a less favored Guiren.

"Don’t be nervous," Tianmiao laughed, "Bai Ming is very beautiful, it’s normal to be entranced."

"Thank you, Empress." Qing Guiren hesitated before saying, "I’ve heard that everyone has a chance to go to the Summer Palace. So, so..." Before Qing Guiren could finish her sentence, a Palace Maid came in to report that Rongpin requested an audience.

Needless to say, Rongpin also heard that everyone had a chance to go to the Summer Palace and came to request an audience with the Empress.

Rongpin was radiant and charming, with a completely different charm from Xianfei and Meifei. However, many concubines from prestigious families looked down on her because she came from a royal merchant family. Despite being of the rank of Pin, her allowance was better than that of Xianfei and Meifei, as her family was immensely wealthy, lacking nothing but money. Her family sent her a lot of wealth monthly for her to squander on luxuries and also gifted her many precious items.

Initially, some concubines couldn’t stand her and whispered in the Emperor’s ear. Before the Emperor could say anything, Rongpin’s family sent him lavish gifts, precisely what the Emperor desired.

Really, what more needs to be said? Being beholden to others, the Emperor tacitly allowed Rongpin’s God of Wealth to blind the other concubines with his gilded presence in the palace.

"Greetings to the Empress." Although Rongpin was somewhat favored, it was still not comparable to Xianfei and Meifei. If she wasn’t on the list that the Empress put together, the Emperor wouldn’t say anything.

Therefore, Rongpin decided to seek out the Empress and offer some gifts so that the Empress would include her. However, the Empress never accepted extravagant gifts, as she was very cautious to avoid gossip.

This time, Rongpin also brought lavish gifts, prepared to take them back if refused. But this time, it was completely unexpected for her.