Chapter 158 - 51: Top-grade Playboy
Within the Empress Dowager’s palace, Lie Rou had not informed Yue Jinghua about the awkward matchmaking farce that had occurred afterwards.
In fact, Lie Rou’s thoughts had been too simple; she initially thought it was just a casual match made by the Empress Dowager without much thought, but she couldn’t have imagined that this marriage arrangement would ultimately change the entire political landscape of the Shang Kingdom.
There’s a saying that goes, "A man explodes in rage for the sake of a beautiful woman," but who knows that sometimes this rage is not only applicable to men of valor.
Lie Rou and Yue Chen went out of the palace to look for Yue Jinghua, and it was not long before the three of them met up.
Lie Rou inevitably asked Yue Jinghua where she had been and what had delayed her. Yue Jinghua used Sha Fei as an excuse, saving much trouble.
Just as the three were about to leave the palace, they saw Eunuch Chen, the Empress Dowager’s chief eunuch, who ran up to them, panting: "Lady, Miss, please wait, the Empress Dowager has decreed for the young lady to join Prince Fa for a boat ride on Cuiwei Lake three days from now."
Upon hearing this, Lie Rou glanced at Yue Jinghua without showing any emotions; seeing no reaction from her, it was the little boy Yue Chen who tugged at her hand and tightened his grip for no apparent reason.
"A Lake tour? Touring the lake in the autumn indeed has its own unique flavor. Besides Prince Fa and myself, will there be anyone else joining the lake tour?" thought Yue Jinghua inwardly with a sneer, yet her face showed a look of delight, appearing quite pleased with the news to others.
"The Prince and Miss’s boat trip is at a location specially appointed by the Empress Dowager, and naturally, no one else is allowed to disturb," said Eunuch Chen with a beaming smile.
"That’s good to hear. I appreciate it, Eunuch Chen," mused Yue Jinghua, handing over a bottle. "Here are a few Elixir Pills, the same kind the Empress Dowager takes. I hear Eunuch Chen’s spouse is quite a beauty."
It’s well known that eunuchs and palace maids in the palace often engage in illicit trading of favors. Remarkably, Yue Jinghua was not only aware of but adept at navigating such intricacies, prompting Eunuch Chen to view her in a new light.
As for the effects of the Elixir Pills she concocted, Eunuch Chen had seen them with his own eyes and was secretly pleased as he took the pills and whispered into Yue Jinghua’s ear, "Prince Fa is most fond of drinking Osmanthus Brew and eating squirrelfish. The Empress Dowager has specially granted a century-aged jar of Osmanthus Brew. Miss Yue, you should make an effort."