To return to Luo Qianqian, she had spent the night at Red Joy Palace with Murong Xue and the Imperial Noble Consort, getting ready for the Flower Admiring Gathering the next day.
The next morning, Luo Qianqian and Murong Xue accompanied the Imperial Noble Consort to the Flower Admiring Gathering.
The Imperil Garden was quite spacious, exotic flowers and rare herbs competed with each other for beauty of looks.
Beautiful sunlight, fragrant flowers, and singing birds on the trees had evoked an ethereal splendour defying description.
Luo Qianqian took a deep breath, she felt so relaxed and happy seeing such a beautiful scene.
It was such a good day as well, warm breeze stroking peopleâs face and warm sunlight bathing peopleâs mood, everything seemed so perfect.
There was a pavilion located in the center of the Imperil Garden, it was a big pavilion which could hold over one hundred guests.
Luo Qianqian, Murong Xue and the Imperial Noble Consort walked towards the pavilion and they found the empress was already there, surrounded by other imperial concubines, young ladies of the officials and serving maids.
The empress was wearing a Phoenix Robe in red, the ultimate symbol of her identity and power. None of the concubines present dared to wear anything even close to the color of red, they all tried so hard to stay low profile in the empressâs presence.
The empress was known for always seeking revenge for the smallest grievance, she would definitely punish the one who dared to wear the same color with her on such an occasion, or any occasion.
The other imperial concubines knew the empressâs disposition, they dared not to provoke her and draw fire against themselves, they only wanted some peace in this cold imperial harem.
Luo Qianqian swept across the whole pavilion, she thought the empress was indeed a beauty, but the Imperial Noble Consort was definitely standing out more, the thing about the Imperial Noble Consort was she was not those typical beauties with arresting features, but she was oozing such tranquil aura that everyone would be attracted to her.
Luo Qianqian thought probably that was one of the reasons why the emperor cared for the Imperial Noble Consort so much, the emperor was also drawn by that unique aura.
If you could compare the Imperial Noble Consort to a flower, a lotus flower would be the one. She was noble and unsullied in nature, she disdained those imperial concubines who made the most of their charms to compete for the emperorâs favour.
Luo Qianqian was so glad that the Imperial Noble Consort had Murong Yun and Murong Xue, otherwise she was afraid chances were the emperor had already forgotten about this woman who never threw herself on him. A woman wouldnât survive the imperial harem without the emperorâs care.
But the Imperial Noble Consort didnât need to worry about her and her childrenâs safety any more, no one dared to mess with them due to Murong Yun. Thinking of that, Luo Qianqian couldnât help but show a smile.
âQianqian, do you know where your mother is buried?â Luo Qianqian was drawn back to reality by the Imperial Noble Consortâs question, she wondered why would the Imperial Noble Consort be so interested to know about that.
Luo Qianqian searched the original ownerâs memory and she found the right answer.
The original owner had only been to her motherâs tomb with Prime Minister Luo once, and after that she wasnât allowed to leave her shabby yard any more, so she wasnât able to visit her motherâs tomb even though she wanted it so bad.
âMy motherâs tomb is in Yuling Mountain.â Luo Qianqian replied.
Yuling Mountain was in the eastern suburb of the capital city, it wasnât a precipitous mountain but it was famous for the beautiful scene of being shrouded by mist and fog.
âYour Highness, Iâm a very straightforward person, so I need to ask you why are you so interested in finding more information about my late mother?â Luo Qianqian asked with curiosity.
Luo Qianqian couldnât forget the Imperial Noble Consortâs reaction when they first met each other, and how the Imperial Noble Consort changed countenance when Luo Qianqian said her mother had passed away.
Luo Qianqian didnât think those were just coincidences.
If the Imperial Noble Consort wanted to know more about her, the question should be about Prime Minister Luo or herself instead of her mother who had already passed away years ago.
The Imperial Noble Consort sighed and stared at Luo Qianqian, âQianqian, good girl, I donât want to lie to you, you⦠you bear a striking resemblance with a good friend of mine.â
Hearing that, Murong Xue slowed down her step and asked, âWho are you talking about, mother? Have I met that friend of yours before? You mean you know my sister-in-lawâs mother?â
âIâ not sure, Xue.â the Imperial Noble Consort shook her head, âMy friendâs name is not the same as Qianqianâs mother, but⦠â¦â
The Imperial Noble Consort and kept staring at Luo Qianqianâs face, the more she looked at Luo Qianqian the more she was certain Luo Qianqian was her friendâs daughter, especially those eyes, those eyes could convey love merely by casting a look at people.
Luo Qianqian was so intrigued, she could tell the Imperial Noble Consort wished to speak more but she had stopped on a second thought. And she was fine with that, she just thought she needed to visit the motherâs tomb soon to find more information.
Plus, she owed this to the original body.
But she found it so odd that Prime Minister Luo hadnât buried her mother in Luoâs Ancestral Grave considering how much Prime Minister Luo had loved her mother.
âWhat does your friend like,Your Highness?â Luo Qianqian asked.
âShe was exceedingly beautiful, men would fight for her attention, but she herself was a strong cultivator who didnât need any manâs protection.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Luo Qianqian shook her head, she had heard the hearsay from the servants back at home that her mother was a delicate woman who knew nothing about martial arts.
âSorry Qianqian Iâve made you sad, letâs go to the pavilion now.â the Imperial Noble Consort didnât want Luo Qianqian to be so wrapped up in her own thoughts.
Luo Qianqian turned around and signaled Feng Qing to follow them.
Luo Yuyan was in the pavilion as well, she turned jealous seeing how intimate Luo Qianqian and the Imperial Noble Consort were, and she was more determined to marry Mu Chaoyang and grind Luo Qianqian beneath her heel.