Chapter 38: The Palace Politics Champion

Concubine Chun, who had been silent throughout, quietly said, “I think the Seventh Prince’s gift is quite nice. It represents completeness and vitality. He wants the Queen Mother to be healthy.”

“Mother…” Concubine De looked at the Queen Mother. At that moment, the Queen Mother’s expression was calm, showing no visible sign of displeasure or joy. Concubine De thought that if the Queen Mother was upset, she would take all the blame herself to spare An’er from any punishment.

“Over the years, I have always wanted a soccer ball. I didn’t expect Seventh Brother to understand my thoughts so well. You really are a thoughtful child.”

Everyone: ?

Huh?

Is the Queen Mother praising Di Zian?

It’s just a soccer ball. Is there any special meaning to it?

[Grandmother is right. Gifts aren’t about their value but the thought behind them. It’s the sentiment that counts.]

[Brother, you finally avoided being scolded this time. It’s not easy!]

Di Zian sighed with relief and cautiously looked at the Queen Mother, “Grandmother, do you miss Grandpa?”

“When I met your Grandpa, he was just as young as you…” The Queen Mother’s eyes showed a fleeting, deep nostalgia, which Di Zian, with his keen perception, noticed clearly.

The Queen Mother smiled, hiding her emotions, and carefully handed the soccer ball to a waiting maid, “Take good care of this and place it in a prominent spot in my quarters.”

Though this soccer ball isn’t the same as the old one, it would still evoke many fond memories for her.

“Grandmother, once you’re feeling better, I’ll play soccer with you,” Di Zian said with a smile.

The Queen Mother’s eyes lit up, “Very well, it’s settled then. You must come to see me often in the future.”

Di Zian: “…I will follow your orders.”

[Haha, my brother must be shocked. Going in and out of the palace is a common thing for others, but my brother is always unlucky!]

[But for the Queen Mother, my brother doesn’t mind being unlucky. Keep it up!]

Next, Concubine Rou presented a hand-stitched longevity picture she had made herself.

Concubine Rou, from a merchant family and skilled in embroidery, created a stunning longevity picture that impressed everyone.

Concubine De took out the pre-prepared prayer beads and handed them over.

As soon as the Queen Mother took them, there was a ‘crack!’—the entire string of beads broke!

The 108 beads scattered and clinked on the floor.

Everyone’s faces turned pale.

A broken string of prayer beads at a birthday banquet was considered an ominous sign, especially when it broke right after the Queen Mother received it.

Everyone avoided looking at the Concubine De.

At this moment, the Concubine De, holding Ah Bao, had a gloomy expression.

Concubine De was also flustered, quickly kneeling, “Mother, I hope I didn’t scare you. It’s my fault; I didn’t know how the beads broke.”

“I heard that Queen Mother’s beads were from Huguo Temple, but why does it seem that these beads are fake?” someone whispered.

Concubine Rou frowned, “I heard the beads from Huguo Temple are strung with gold thread. These beads are clearly not gold-threaded. They are indeed fake.”

Concubine Shu said, “Concubine De, presenting fake beads at the Queen Mother’s birthday banquet is quite inappropriate.”

Concubine Hui timidly added, “I heard that broken prayer beads are considered a great taboo…”

Everyone chimed in, and the criticism against Concubine De grew, almost drowning her in accusations.

Almost everyone pointed fingers at Concubine De, accusing her of ill intentions.

The older Concubine Hui spoke up, “Concubine De, do you think that since you’ve been favored by the Emperor because of your beloved little princess and have come out of the Cold Palace, you can disregard the Queen Mother’s birthday? Is this why you presented a string of fake prayer beads to deceive the Queen Mother?”

“I didn’t,” Concubine De struggled to explain.

She couldn’t understand how the prayer beads could have broken.

[Those beads are not from Huguo Temple. The beads prepared by Concubine De for the Concubine De have been swapped!]

Ah Bao noticed the beads scattered on the ground.

They were still the same 108 beads, including one red one.

However, the red bead contained an ominous aura.

Ah Bao remembered that the red bead in Concubine De’s beads was pure and protective.

Concubine De was surprised, staring at the broken beads on the floor.

Upon closer inspection, the shattered beads were of inferior quality and were not the ones she had obtained from Huguo Temple.

[Grandmother, look closely at those beads. They are not the ones prepared by Concubine De. Someone is trying to frame Concubine De at the Queen Mother’s birthday banquet.]

Ah Bao waved her little arms, making various sounds to try to convey her meaning to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother straightened up and cast a stern glance at everyone.

All the concubines fell silent immediately.

The Queen Mother was about to get angry!

Concubine De was likely in serious trouble now.

Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother said, “Bring that string of beads to me. I have a feeling there’s something wrong with them.”

[Grandmother, you’re so smart!]

[As expected of the previous champion of palace politics, you noticed even these small details. You’re so clever!]

Wooden horse?

The Concubine De was momentarily confused.

Why did Ah Bao mention a wooden horse?

Desiring a wooden horse?

Arrangements!

After the banquet, she would order a small wooden horse to be made and sent to little Ah Bao.

As the maid picked up the beads from the floor—

Ah Bao, still in the Concubine De’s arms, watched the beads and saw that the single red bead on the ground was emitting a wisp of black mist.

It resembled a tadpole with a tail, swiftly darting towards the Concubine De.

Carrying an air of malicious spirit!

[Good heavens, it’s the aura of an evil spirit! Trying to harm the Queen Mother through my mother—no way!]

[I’ll kick it!]

Ah Bao focused on the malevolent spirit, lifted her little foot, and gave it a firm kick right in the center of the evil aura.

Ah Bao heard a painful scream!

It was a woman’s voice!

The malevolent spirit seemed stunned for a moment, then dispersed like fireworks.

The Queen Mother looked down and saw Ah Bao waving her little hands, stretching her legs, and lifting her feet as if she were stretching…

She was absolutely adorable.

[Oh yeah, the evil spirit is gone. The Queen Mother is safe!]

The Queen Mother was astonished. Was Ah Bao’s foot enchanted?

With just one kick, she had driven away the evil spirit. It was incredible.

The maid who had been picking up the beads didn’t know anything had happened.

The Queen Mother glanced at the beads on the jade tray.

“It’s indeed not the prayer beads from Huguo Temple. Perhaps Concubine De made a mistake,” the Queen Mother said casually.

Concubine De frowned, certain she hadn’t made a mistake.

The beads had fallen when she was speaking with Concubine Rou and Concubine Hui, and she wondered if they had been swapped at that time.

“Concubine De, you have been careless,” the Queen Mother said with a stern expression.

The other concubines lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Although the Queen Mother didn’t scold Concubine De harshly, the broken beads at the birthday banquet were considered an ill omen.

If the Emperor found out, he might not favor Concubine De as much.

Hmm.

Favor in the harem is always fickle.

Everyone eagerly awaited the Queen Mother’s punishment for Concubine De.