Chapter 1006: Chapter 40, Explaining the Truth
No one can dictate that she cannot fall ill, right!
Upon thinking this, Nalan Jinlian nodded with a smile, "Hmm, I will rest well!"
After seeing off Nalan Mingyi and Nalan Huanhuan, Nalan Jinlian spoke to Chunqiu, "Tell me, how can one appear particularly wan and unable to get out of bed?"
"Miss, you..."
Chunqiu immediately understood what Nalan Jinlian intended to do.
But entering the palace tomorrow was by the Empress’s decree, with an implication of choosing for His Highness.
Yet Nalan Jinlian adamantly refused to enter the palace.
"I don’t want to enter the palace, nor do I wish to compete with my sisters, so find a way to feign illness!" Nalan Jinlian said, reclining on the bed, playing with the tassel in her hand.
Chunqiu wanted to persuade her.
But Nanny Qin smiled, "Since the lady does not wish to enter the palace, then we shall not go. As for pretending to be sick, Miss need not go through the trouble, just rest well in bed!"
"Is this feasible?" Nalan Jinlian asked.
"Certainly it is!"
"Very well then, go and inform Grandmother that I shall not be going tomorrow morning!"
"Yes!"
Nanny Qin responded, donned her heavy garments, wrapped herself in a cloak, and left Qinglian Garden.
She headed to the courtyard of the old Lady Nalan.
The old Lady Nalan, due to her age, had separated her quarters from the old Marquess five or six years ago. The old Marquess resided in the front courtyard, while Lady Nalan stayed in the rear courtyard. The old Marquess held Lady Nalan in great respect but also had a certain fear of her.
When Nanny Qin arrived, Lady Nalan was just preparing to rest. Learning that Nanny Qin from Nalan Jinlian’s side had come, she quickly said, "Please come in!"
Were it the butler of another courtyard, the old Lady Nalan would certainly not be so courteous and eager.
This was someone sent by the Crown Prince, someone close to the future emperor, perhaps even specially prepared by the Empress for the future Crown Princess Consort.
She dared not show negligence.
Nanny Qin greeted Lady Nalan with respect, "Greetings, old Lady Nalan!"
"No need for such courtesy!"
Lady Nalan invited Nanny Qin to sit. Nanny Qin smiled and, after taking a seat, said, "Old Lady Nalan, my young lady will not be entering the palace tomorrow. Regarding the Empress, just say that the young lady is unwell!"
"Is she ill? How did she fall ill out of the blue?" old Lady Nalan asked.
She felt a bit annoyed at heart.
Are all the maids and servants in this courtyard dead?
Nalan Jinlian fell ill, and no one had informed her.
They didn’t realize that news from Qinglian Garden was impossible to obtain, and even when it was, it was mere trivial gossip.
"The young lady is just a little fatigued, and perhaps she just doesn’t want to enter the palace!" Nanny Qin stated bluntly.
She was a senior maid by the Empress’s side and had served since the Empress was still a concubine. Over the years, she had developed a keen insight.
Yet she never expected that the Crown Prince would implore the Empress to let her serve a girl.
A girl brought back by the Crown Prince from Tianchu Country through great effort, with unmatched beauty and elegance.
Nanny Qin knew what Nalan Jinlian was previously named and who she was, so facing her in her current naive state, Nanny Qin felt a pang of pity and fondness.
"As long as she’s not truly ill, it’s fine. But isn’t it unwise for her not to enter the palace?" old Lady Nalan asked tentatively.
"No, the Empress is most kind. She merely wishes to meet the young lady. Lady Nalan can still take the other young ladies into the palace tomorrow and need not concern with other matters!"
"All right!"