Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 414: Winning People’s Hearts

Nanny Qi’s smile deepened, the little girl even knew the importance of balance, that indeed was the answer she sought, the little girl understood, quite good indeed.

For Lian Hua, this matter was very serious. She continued to speak without stopping, "Grandma, for me, I want to promote them all because they remained unwaveringly loyal when I was in a lower position. In my selfishness, I wish to elevate them all so that when they go out, they won’t be easily bullied. They represent Canglan Court and also represent me. I cannot allow them to be aggrieved outside, and with a higher rank, they will have more protection. People outside will think twice when they encounter them."

Her voice carried a tinge of melancholy, she still remembered when she was a Cainv or a Little Daying, how others in the palace scorned her and her people— even a servant could bully her and her people, and all she could do was to bear it with them.

Xiao Linzi arrived the latest and didn’t suffer, but Xiao Qing and Xiao Jizi truly endured it.

She remembered the first time she met Beauty Li, she had to sternly rebuke Xiao Qing, instructing her to kneel quietly without speaking too much for fear that Xiao Qing’s ignorance would bring disaster, and she couldn’t protect her.

She also remembered Xiao Jizi’s face swollen like a pig’s head, which only after relying on His Majesty’s influence, she was able to retaliate.

Deep down, she really wanted to become stronger, so that His Majesty would not always have to tiresomely protect her; she wanted to be able to retaliate on her own. His Majesty had so many matters to attend to daily, and she hoped to ease his burden.

And for her people, she still wished the same, being strong was better than anything else. They always had tasks outside, and she could not always keep an eye on them. She didn’t know how much they had to endure, but with a higher rank, they no longer needed to heed others’ mood.

Nanny Qi turned around, understanding why she wanted to promote the three of them.

In vain she, an old nanny, had lived for so long, and yet she was not as clear-thinking or insightful as a young girl, who while she focused on calculating gains and losses, simply thought about how to protect her people, a virtue in which she found herself wanting.

She recalled the time the young girl, just after arriving, fearlessly killed the serpent to protect her, even worrying it might have frightened her and seeking to comfort her.

Nanny Qi finally understood why Feng Ji and the other two were devoted to the little girl; it was not merely because the little girl treated people sincerely and without airs, but because they trusted that their master would protect them, enabling them to rely on her with confidence.

How could they not be loyal then?

Winning hearts was better than any method of managing subordinates.

With a heavy heart, she got up, walked over, and patted Lian Hua’s hand, comforting her, "Good child, from now on, no one will be able to bully you, nor dare to look down upon you. It’s not impossible to promote them. Don’t rush, slowly one by one is better. Listen to Granny, okay?"

Lian Hua could not help but smile joyfully, understanding Nanny Qi’s words.

Her eyes twinkling, she hugged Nanny Qi, acting coquettishly, "I understand, Grandma, you’re really great, so knowledgeable and capable. I really like you, I like you the best." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

This made Nanny Qi’s face wrinkle up with a smile.

The Emperor, who had just returned from court with the Imperial Physician, was not too pleased. This ungrateful girl liked Nanny Qi the most, what about him?

Xiao Jizi and the others were sent elsewhere and were not present, as Nanny Qi was discussing which servant to promote, which was not suitable for them to overhear.

Thus, when the Emperor returned, he only saw Nanny Qi’s chubby maid guarding the door, apparently named Pang Ya?

However, the young eunuch, who usually recited poetry loudly upon seeing him, was absent. He sensed something unusual and immediately stopped the plump girl, approaching the door just in time to overhear the sneaky ingrate saying how much she loved Nanny Qi.

Although he knew the sweet nothings this sneaky ingrate typically spouted were manipulative, he had never expected her to speak so sweetly of Nanny Qi, even sweeter than she spoke to him, so sweet that it made him jealous.

Listening to the nauseating affection between the old and the young, the Emperor sighed deeply within his heart, thinking, "Let it be, important matters await."

He loudly cleared his throat at the entrance as a hint that he was back.

Lian Hua heard the sound, let go of Nanny Qi, and initially felt joy followed by shock, seeing the mess she was in. She blurted out without thinking, "Your Majesty, you’re back? The sun outside is just right today. Why don’t you bask in the sun first?"

With that, she began to hastily tidy up.

Worried that the people inside might panic, the Emperor responded loudly from outside, "The sun indeed looks splendid outside. A sunbath sounds good, I will enter later."

Turning away, he gestured with a wave of his hand to the people behind him, who then stepped back, waiting outside.

Inside, Lian Hua breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was close; she had almost finished her needlework. It would have been such a pity, such a wasted effort, if His Majesty had discovered it now.

She forgot why His Majesty had returned at this time and did not remember why she could no longer hear Xiao Linzi loudly reciting poetry as a warning; she was too busy tidying up her own mess.

Nanny Qi, seeing Lian Hua confused again, hardly resisted the urge to laugh out loud, letting things unfold as they may.

Stepping out of the inner chamber, she smiled silently at the Emperor at the door, bowing slightly, then walked a few steps out only to notice the two Imperial Physicians waiting outside the side hall: the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau and Charcoal Head—Doctor Huang.

Only then did she remember that today was the day to request the Pulse of Peace. But why had the Emperor returned as well? Even the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau was here.

She sensed something unusual, immediately decided to stay, and had the plump girl call back the three who had been sent away, especially Xiao Jizi. The matter of the Bird’s Nest Soup had not yet been handled; this was an opportunity to inspect and meanwhile distract the Palace Maid, Xia Liu.

The Emperor observed Nanny Qi’s calm handling of the situation and heard the bustling noise from the inner chamber. The contrast between the two sides made him chuckle to himself.

It was indeed the routine day to request the Pulse of Peace, so he had returned, intercepted Huang Zude in advance, and invited the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, making preparations.

Even though Doctor Huang reported his father felt there should be no serious concerns, he still could not be at ease. He wanted the two officials to properly examine his Little Concubine to ensure she was alright.

If she was indeed alright, he could then fully relax and arrange for her Clan Aunt to enter the palace to see her, preventing any issues.

What he feared the most was that upon seeing the Clan Aunt, his Little Concubine might remember something. That would be disastrous.

Regarding the Clan Uncle and Clan Aunt, he had already sent someone to instruct them to stick to their previous claim of owing a lot of debt when talking to Nannan, better to feign ignorance about everything else.

The Emperor had not shared the matter concerning Lian Hua with Nanny Qi, for fear of worrying her.