Afternoon.
His Majesty was going to Qin Zheng Hall to review memorials.
Empress was going to meet the families of the military generals who had returned to the capital with Qin Ye this time.
"Jin Zhi, come with me. Meet your aunts; they are the families of your grandfather's brothers and nephews who guarded the border with him."
Qin Jinzhi lay sideways on a chair. "I won't go. I'm afraid seeing my aunts will make me feel uneasy."
Empress was a little puzzled. "Why?"
Qin Jinzhi jumped off the chair and spun around in front of Empress.
"Imperial Grandmother, even if I haven't been to the border, I know that place is terribly harsh. Their husbands, sons, and brothers are fighting on the battlefield, and a lifetime's salary isn't enough to buy half of my clothes. Don't you think they might feel resentful?"
Empress smiled and said, "Although it's true that your clothes are made of Yun Jin, that's from my private treasury. His Majesty gave it to me, and I can give it to whoever I want!"
Qin Jinzhi squatted beside Empress and laughed, "That's true in principle, but they don't know that. Besides, my grandfather is still their leader; it's not good for unity. I, this scoundrel, won't go and cause trouble for him."
Empress laughed, "You sly one. Then you stay here obediently and don't run around. Imperial Grandmother will make you delicious food tonight."
Qin Jinzhi nodded obediently, thinking that if she stayed with Imperial Grandmother for a month, her waist would definitely get much thicker.
Watching Empress leave the sleeping quarters, the smile on Qin Jinzhi's face faded.
"Feiyan, tell Li Momo and Mama Zhao to meet me in the small garden. Also, call Liuying."
The small garden was a summer retreat specially built by the Emperor for Empress behind her sleeping quarters.
In the middle, a sizable lotus pond was dug.
In summer, it was covered with lotus flowers. When she was little, Empress often brought her here to pick lotus seeds.
There were many large koi ponds by the pond, big enough to hold four or five adults.
Qin Jinzhi stood by a koi pond, casually scattering fish food.
Soon, Feiyan brought two old Mommas to the small garden, followed by Liuying.
"Greetings, County Princess."
Li Momo and Mama Zhao were very happy to see Qin Jinzhi. "How have you been, County Princess? We two old women often think of you."
Qin Jinzhi quickly helped them up. "Three years apart, why have Mommas become so distant from me? I've always worn the clothes Mommas made for me close to my body."
Mama Zhao and Li Momo were old retainers by Empress's side.
They had served Empress even before she entered the Imperial Palace. It was said that they had even gone to the battlefield with Empress.
The two remained unmarried and stayed by Empress's side. When Qin Jinzhi was little, her personal clothes, shoes, and socks were all handmade by these two.
Now that they were old, they lived out their retirement in the Imperial Palace, occasionally teaching new palace maids.
The two Mommas were also very pleased to see Qin Jinzhi's increasingly stunning face.
Then the two stood to one side. When Feiyan came to call them earlier, she had also called an outsider.
The two understood that County Princess had not called them simply to reminisce.
Qin Jinzhi turned around, looking at Liuying's face, examining her very carefully.
Beautiful, truly beautiful. Her skin was like congealed cream, and the wrist that Qin Jinzhi had reddened at noon was now particularly noticeable in the sunlight.
Qin Jinzhi lifted her wrist. "I accidentally injured Sister Liuying's hand at noon, and I've been worried about it. But Sister, your skin is truly delicate, turning so red with just a light pinch."
Liuying said, a little overwhelmed, "This servant's skin has been very delicate since childhood; it marks easily with a touch. County Princess doesn't need to worry about such a small matter."
Saying that, she took out a handkerchief and wiped her forehead, which was slightly sweating from the sun.
Qin Jinzhi smiled. "Li Momo, Mama Zhao, Sister Liuying seems a bit hot. Help her cool down, don't let her get sunburnt."
Li Momo and Mama Zhao exchanged glances and, without hesitation, stepped forward and grabbed Liuying's arms.
Before Liuying understood what was happening, she was pushed headfirst into a koi pond.
She struggled to break free but to no avail, only able to continuously twist her head.
In just a few breaths, she was roughly pulled out of the water, her chest heaving violently. Before she could even catch her breath, she was mercilessly pushed back into the water again.
This was repeated five or six times.
When she was pulled up again, her hair was completely disheveled and plastered to her face.
Li Momo and Mama Zhao threw her to the ground.
Liuying began to cough frantically.
She looked pitiful, like a frightened fawn.
"Liuying doesn't know how she offended County Princess to be treated like this."
Qin Jinzhi squatted down, playfully stroking Liuying's cheek with the back of her hand.
"Look at this little face, truly endearing. Even a person with a heart of stone would feel tenderness upon seeing it."
Her tone was very gentle, but Liuying still shivered uncontrollably.
Qin Jinzhi slowly pinched her face, her gaze level with hers, her smile becoming very mischievous.
"Want to climb the Dragon's bed?"
At these words, everyone present changed their expressions.
Li Momo, Mama Zhao, and Feiyan immediately glared at Liuying with angry faces.
Liuying's face turned pale, but she still said stubbornly, "Liuying doesn't understand what County Princess is saying."
Qin Jinzhi chuckled softly, "I heard that you found the hair ornament I gave to Imperial Grandmother in this pond, and even fell seriously ill because of it."
Liuying swallowed, "This is all Liuying's duty."
Qin Jinzhi threw her face aside, stood up, and casually grabbed a plump koi from the koi pond.
She put her fingers to her mouth and whistled.
Suddenly, the pond water, covered with lotus leaves, began to churn.
Qin Jinzhi threw the koi into the air.
From the churning water, a giant turtle suddenly leaped out!
Just as the koi fell, it bit the koi in half with one gulp.
Then it fell back into the water.
Liuying's face immediately changed.
This turtle was a tribute from a small country near the sea.
When Qin Jinzhi was little, she accidentally discovered that this turtle could understand her commands, so she kept it until it grew too large and she put it in Empress's lotus pond.
After she left the capital, Empress ordered that no one was allowed to enter this pond.
She was afraid that this giant turtle would harm people.
Liuying looked at the enormous creature leaping into the air, and her body couldn't help but tremble!
The turtle was three or four times the size of a koi pond, and its gaping maw looked like it could crush her head in one bite.
Why was there such a monster in this pond!
Li Momo and Mama Zhao were also a little surprised. So the turtle County Princess raised when she was little was here. No wonder Empress ordered no one to pick lotus in the pond.
Thinking of this, the two immediately looked grim. "You said you went into the pond to retrieve the hair ornament County Princess gave to Empress. Did you see this giant turtle in the pond then?"
This pond was not shallow; to find the hair ornament, one would have to dive to the bottom, so she must have known what was in the pond.
But Liuying's expression just now had already betrayed her; she was lying!
Li Momo immediately stepped forward. "You dare to deceive Empress, what are your intentions!"
Liuying's mind went blank; she hadn't expected her lie to be exposed.
Qin Jinzhi tilted her head and looked at her.
"Actually, I was just going to throw you in to feed the turtle."