Some people left a side profile for her, which was actually their best-looking side. Some people recited poetry in the distance with voices that were hearty and pleasant to hear, all for her to listen to. There were also people painting in the Imperial Garden, spreading out their paintings from time to time, positioned exactly toward the place where she passed.
In reality, the corners of their eyes were all glancing toward her body.
[Host, is it refreshing? Does it not look like those women in the harem competing for favor? Actually, if you swap the roles, everyone is about the same.]
Regardless of whether the Host felt refreshed or not, he felt quite refreshed.
Many women also had talent, but they ultimately had to rely on their looks to bewitch the monarch. Men, on the other hand, used talent to display their charm, while appearance was secondary.
Tang Guo passed by with a expressionless face, paying no attention to these consort-servants who wanted to hook up with her.
Without turning her head, she could feel the disappointed gazes of a large group of people.
In fact, she was laughing like crazy inside. To be honest, she also felt a tiny bit of satisfaction. So this was what it looked like when men competed for favor.
Until she heard a sorrowful zither sound and unconsciously stopped her pace.
Of course, she did not truly want to stop her pace, but because she had some interest in the owner of this zither sound, she still gave the other party some face. She stood by the edge of the flower bushes, her eyes fixed on the person inside the pavilion, listening carefully to the other party’s zither music.
The other party seemed intoxicated in his own zither music and did not notice Her Majesty the Empress not far away.
It was not until the zither music stopped and he saw Tang Guo that his expression showed some panic. He hurriedly came down to bow to Tang Guo.
“Su Qing pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Rise.”
Tang Guo waved her hand. “Just now, I heard sadness from your zither music. Did you think of something sad? Are you able to tell me about it?”
“It is just some trivial matters. It is better not to disturb Your Majesty.”
“Speak. I am willing to listen.” The corners of Tang Guo’s mouth turned up. Su Qing hung his head and did not see her expression. In those eyes, there was actually a bit of playfulness.
At this time, she suddenly sensed another somewhat special gaze. She instinctively went to look for it and saw a person by the lakeside.
That man stood tall and straight like jade, taller than ordinary men. His calm and cool eyes just looked at Tang Guo like that, containing a bit of strangeness, a bit of curiosity, and a bit of scrutiny.
Tang Guo smiled at that person. Jing Cheng also had not expected that Her Majesty the Empress, who usually did not show much expression, would actually show such a brilliant smile to him.
Yes, this smile was truly too romantic and innocent.
In that instant, his heart skipped a beat.
Tang Guo pulled back her smile. Her gaze no longer looked at Jing Cheng and instead fell upon Su Qing in front of her. “Su Qing, speak. Tell me what sad thing you have. I want to hear it.”
“Yes.” Su Qing gave a sigh. “It is that Su Qing thought of an elder brother who passed away a long time ago. In a few more days, it will be the anniversary of brother’s death. It is just that Su Qing has already entered the palace and cannot go to offer sacrifices to brother. My heart is somewhat sad.”
Tang Guo almost laughed out loud. What ghost elder brother? It was clearly that he knew Nan Yunchuan could go back to visit relatives, so he also could not sit still and prepared to go out together. The two of them had already discussed it.
“So that is how it is,” Tang Guo furrowed her brows. “That was my oversight. How about this, I permit you to go back to offer sacrifices to your elder brother. Two days’ time should be enough, right?”
“Your Majesty, this…”
Tang Guo did not want to chatter much with him and directly said, “I do not take back the words I have spoken. You go pack up, pick a day, and leave the palace.”
Su Qing was stunned for a moment. Tang Guo had already walked away before he joyfully gave a word of thanks, took a deep look at Tang Guo, and turned to leave.
Tang Guo turned a corner and saw Jing Cheng again.
“Imperial Consort, why are you also here?” she asked with a smile.
The corner of Jing Cheng’s mouth twitched. Was this their Majesty?
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