After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

I have no idea how I got back to the palace. I only remember that I was so tired that I insisted that Gongsun Wen carry me on his back. Gongsun Wen naturally refused. He was so annoyed that he had to pick me up and put me back on the carriage. But I fell into a deep sleep as soon as I lay on the cushion in the carriage. I couldn't remember anything about what I had said or done before when I woke up.

I slept until noon the next day and when I woke up I was stunned by the several large boxes of jewellery in front of me.

Could these boxes full of jewels be what Zheng Yan meant by sending me some jewelry?

Isn't this too arrogant?

Seeing that I had woken up and was staring at the open boxes on the ground, Yang said quickly, "This is a reward sent by His Majesty early this morning. You were still asleep, so the eunuch said there was no need to wake you up. He put the things down and left."

I was a little uneasy about Zheng Yan's "generosity", but I couldn't return the emperor's reward, so I said with a headache: "Please help me pick out a few sets of simple and elegant headwear, and put the rest into the warehouse."

Yang replied "yes", then looked at me with some confusion, seeming to hesitate to speak.

I pretended not to see it, lifted the quilt and got out of bed, walked to the washstand, and Yingchun quickly wrung out a towel and handed it to me to wash my face.

After washing my face and rinsing my mouth, I sat down at the round table. Several dishes I liked were already on the table. I took the soup bowl, drank a sip of the soup, and said to Yang: "Do you have anything to ask me?"

Yang said quickly: "I dare not, but, but..."

After drinking the soup, I started to eat. The imperial kitchen knew that I liked to eat fish, so various kinds of fish were delivered to the palace in different dishes every day.

Today's dish is Osmanthus fish, which is made with boneless sea bass fillets cut into chrysanthemum shapes, fried at high temperature and then coated with osmanthus honey. The outer layer is crispy and delicious, while the inside is soft, glutinous and sweet.

Today's fish dish was very much to my liking. I ate the whole fish and also finished a bowl of rice.

Seeing that I was eating with relish, Yang didn't want to disturb me and just served me silently.

After I had eaten my fill, rinsed my mouth, drank tea, and served me some fruit, Yang said, "Madam, I heard from Fuyao that you held Prince Ming's hand and walked around half of the palace. If this gets to His Majesty's ears, I'm afraid His Majesty will be furious."

I looked at Yang blankly, blinking my eyes, and said, "I was drunk last night and I couldn't remember anything after I woke up. Did I hold Prince Ming's hand last night?"

Seeing me look like a fool, Yang said with both anger and laughter, "Your Majesty is so lucky. You have slept till now and you don't remember anything after waking up. I was so worried about causing trouble last night. As a result, I received His Majesty's reward early in the morning. Seeing how concerned His Majesty is about you, I was so worried again. Your Majesty, why don't we leave the palace and go back to the Marshal's Mansion? You stay in this palace. His Majesty will come several times a day. If this goes on, I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of you with my life."

I was still immersed in the fact that Gongsun Wen was holding my hand, and had no intention of listening to what Yang was saying.

After Yang finished speaking, she saw that I didn't respond. She glanced at Yingchun, who was quick-witted and whispered, "You can go pack your things. The queen doesn't like to live in this palace for a long time. We can pack up and leave directly."

Yang thought it made perfect sense, and quickly turned around to happily pack her things.

I have no memory of what happened last night. I don’t know whether Gongsun Wen held my hand first or I held Gongsun Wen’s hand first.

Drinking really messed up things. I don’t even remember anything. I’m really curious about what Gongsun Wen’s expression was when he held my hand?

After lunch, Yang had just finished packing up her things when Zhao Fangping showed up.

She was holding a note in her hand, and behind her were a few newly-entered palace maidens. Somehow, she became friends with the maidens.

After being scolded by me, Zhao Fangping finally learned how to salute when he saw me.

She knelt respectfully on the ground, her waist bent low, not daring to raise her head, and held the invitation high in both hands and said loudly: "Madam Shufei, I will hold a lotus viewing banquet in the Laurel Palace in three days, and I have come here specially to ask you to do me the honor of attending the banquet."

Yingchun took the post and handed it to me.

I casually flipped through the posts and found that Zhao Fangping's handwriting was neat and beautiful, and he had a good hand in writing.

I said, "If I go, you will feel uncomfortable, so I won't go. You guys can have more fun."

Seeing that I didn't want to go, Zhao Fangping quickly said, "I have also invited the Empress Dowager, who has promised me that she will come to the banquet in three days. Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are the closest. If you go, the Empress Dowager will have an extra person to talk to. What do you think?"

Is this PUAing me?

I threw the post on the table in dissatisfaction and said, "Tell me, what method have you come up with to harm me?"

Zhao Fangping's face turned pale when she heard this. She didn't expect me to be so straightforward.

Zhao Fangping kowtowed quickly and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I am innocent. I just thought that the lotus flowers in the Laurel Palace were in full bloom, so I wanted to invite everyone to go and enjoy them, drink some fruit wine, and eat some cakes. Isn't that a pleasant thing?"

I said impatiently, "I said I don't want to go, don't you understand? I want to enjoy the lotus, aren't the lotuses in the Marshal's Mansion lake enough for me? The Marshal's Mansion is not good enough, but the lotus pond in the Imperial Garden is big enough, right? If I want to go, I can go eight hundred times a day, there is really no need to be hypocritical with you. Okay, you go back, I have something to go out of the palace, so I won't keep you."

Zhao Fangping's face was pale and clear, with tears welling up in his eyes, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

But she couldn't fight back now, so she could only swallow all her resentment and grievances.

Zhao Fangping stood up shakily, bowed to me, and then said, "I'll take my leave."

I said, "You guys are hosting a banquet, so I have to show my appreciation. I will give a set of pearl hairpins to everyone who attends the banquet. You can talk to them."

When the several beautiful ladies who came with Zhao Fangping heard this, their eyes lit up and they quickly bowed and expressed their gratitude.

Zhao Fangping bit her lip and turned pale with anger. Originally, she was the one who hosted the banquet and should be the one to be praised by everyone. However, if I gave away this set of pearl hairpins, everyone would only remember my good points. Thinking of this, she was so angry that her teeth were about to break.

But she has lived two lives, so she is naturally more insightful than ordinary people. Moreover, she lives in the palace with luxurious clothes and food, wears fine silk and expensive jewelry, and has more than a dozen maids and eunuchs serving only her, her only master. She would wake up laughing in her dreams of such a life. So she would never confront me head-on. She would endure until the day when she could dominate the harem. She didn't believe that she couldn't kill me by then.