To be honest, Rong Concubine always looked down on the Empress. She felt that the Empress could not hold her ground. Although she was the Empress, she lacked the dignity of one. Concubines like Xian often whispered complaints about her to the Emperor, and the Empress would inevitably receive a scolding.
But today, Rong Concubine found the Empress gave her a completely different impression.
The previous Empress was like a stagnant pool of water, eerily calm, following routines without deviation. But now, the Empress seemed vibrant. Her appearance was still unremarkable, yet she seemed much more pleasing to the eye than before.
"Sit down." Tianmiao glanced at this bright woman, who was frank, decisive, with her own ideas and principles. It was not easy to maintain one’s original self in the palace, yet Rong Concubine achieved it. She was not a simple person.
"Empress, is this the white peacock? Only the Empress has the charm to make it display its feathers." Rong Concubine said with a smile after sitting down.
"Do you want to visit the Summer Palace?" Tianmiao asked directly.
Not only was Qing Guiren stunned, even the straightforward Rong Concubine was caught off guard by Tianmiao’s bluntness. Was the Empress always this direct? How should she respond? Should she tactfully decline or directly confirm? For a moment, Rong Concubine was at a loss.
"Do you want to visit the Summer Palace, Qing Guiren? I liked your gift very much. You can visit Bai Ming anytime before departure, but remember to bring food for it. It loves bean cakes." Rong Concubine paused in silence, and Tianmiao turned to speak to Qing Guiren.
"Ah, this is a gift for the Empress." Qing Guiren suddenly remembered the gift she brought for the Empress, hurriedly took it from the Palace Maid’s hands, and presented it to the Empress nervously, "I embroidered it myself. I hope the Empress will not dislike it."
"Good child, I like it very much. Go prepare then. Remember to bring some pouches to prevent mosquito bites." Tianmiao said gently.
"Can I, can I go?" Qing Guiren asked excitedly. Since entering the palace, she had never been anywhere, always confined to its depths. The Emperor naturally never thought to take her to the Summer Palace before. The previous Empress wouldn’t bother about it. She had tried this time upon hearing everyone would have a chance, and to receive such an unexpected answer, how could she not be excited?
"Yes." Tianmiao smiled and confirmed once again.
"Thank you, Empress." Qing Guiren thanked the Empress excitedly and bowed.
"Go ahead." Tianmiao nodded.
After expressing her gratitude profusely, Qing Guiren left. Rong Concubine watched her back, slightly frowned, and pondered.
"Empress, you..." Rong Concubine turned to the gentle-faced Empress, hesitating to find the right words.
"What about me? Different?" Tianmiao smiled and spoke what was in Rong Concubine’s heart.
"Yes, the Empress gives me a completely different feeling than before." Rong Concubine looked at Tianmiao’s face and said thoughtfully, "I mean no offense, I hope the Empress will not blame me. I think the Empress is more beautiful and attractive than before." And she noticed that the Empress referred to herself as ’I’ and not ’this palace.’ Why was that?
Tianmiao chuckled softly, oh Rong Concubine, such high emotional intelligence.