CHAPTER 752: CHAPTER 752: NURTURED WITH GOOD FOOD AND DRINK BY HIS MAJESTY

They had seen it! No less than eighty varieties, if not a hundred, the arrows clanging and spinning at the mouth of the pot, the sight so tense that one dared not even breathe heavily, and just when it seemed they would fall out, they miraculously entered the pot. Heaven knows whether it was luck or just coincidence, but in any case, they all lost miserably. Not even a group strategy could gain them any advantage. They could never have imagined that someone with a twin pregnancy could have such boundless energy, but now they had all witnessed it firsthand.

Alas...

Beauty Zhao, thinking back to earlier events, felt heartbroken beyond measure. Each piece of the jewelry she had lost was her best, and the thought that they would no longer belong to her twisted her heart like a knife, filling her with regrets. Yet, when considering other aspects, she comforted herself by thinking that wealth was, after all, an external thing and that it wasn’t all loss; it must have been worth it, she supposed...

That was how things had unfolded, so when Lian Hua openly divided the golden melon seeds in front of everyone, the other concubines watched with flames in their eyes, their complexions growing uglier by the minute.

Returning to the present, after Lian Hua distributed a round of golden melon seeds to her own people, she flashed a set of small white teeth, smilingly sweeping her gaze around and noticing the other concubines’ increasingly ugly expressions.

She furrowed her brows, sensing that things were not so simple. It was, after all, a day of great joy, so how could she let them sulk? Thus, after a moment’s thought and despite the pain it caused her, she grasped a small handful of golden melon seeds, counting them out one by one, and ordered Xiao Jizi to deliver them. It was proclaimed as sharing joy with everyone rather than enjoying it alone, but the amount given to each master was barely one golden melon seed, a stark contrast to the generous sharing with Concubine Fang Pin and the others earlier.

The complexions of these concubines turned even uglier. Were they people who lacked just one golden melon seed? Did Beauty Lian truly know how to behave, or did she not? Even the servants received more than they did. Whom was she trying to humiliate? It was maddening, and what was even more infuriating was that they had to force smiles of thanks and even choke out a few compliments through tears.

By the heavens above, they had truly tried their best, their very best to get along with Beauty Lian, but they just couldn’t do it!

Beauty Lian was really too infuriating; every single time, they were so enraged they could spit blood. Looking at the jewelry on the table, their hearts bled. Those beaded hairpins and bracelets were their treasured possessions, and for today they had all brought out their most cherished jewelry, which they usually could not bear to wear. But, in an unguarded moment, their minds heated up...

Lian Hua graciously accepted their thanks, not minding that their smiles were forced and pale, and was very pleased with herself, thinking she was really a generous person.

In the end, she shook the bag in her hand, feeling it was a little light, and subconsciously glanced at the golden melon seeds in the hands of the other concubines.

This gesture made each of the concubines wary. Their hearts skipped a beat, wondering if the gifts given could possibly be taken back. Although it seemed unlikely, given their understanding of Lian Hua as someone who didn’t play by the rules, cared little for face, was quite cunning, and recognized no taboos, it might actually happen. Hadn’t she just unflinchingly won so ferociously earlier? And the tea that had been poured out before, wasn’t it poured back again?

They hurriedly tucked away the brightly shining golden melon seeds in their hands. They had lost everything in this round, and even a small golden melon seed would be a small consolation to comfort their bleeding hearts.

Lian Hua sighed, realizing that being generous always led to endless regrets. She stuffed the remaining golden melon seeds and the bag into Kong Yinyin’s hands. "Xiao Yinyi, this is for you. Here, take it."

Kong Yinyin, who had initially felt a bit left out seeing that everyone else had received a share except for her, was actually quite happy, though only slightly disappointed. Suddenly being handed half a bag of golden melon seeds, she was surprised and pleased, hurriedly trying to refuse: "Elder Sister Lian, I... I haven’t done anything. I don’t deserve any credit, I really don’t."

The remaining golden melon seeds, at least half a bag, had been divided between Concubine Fang, Lian Hua, and the others who received rewards; together, they’d shared just over half a bag. The bulk of it all went to Kong Yinyin.

Those concubines all looked over in unison, some of them about to leave the palace were also included, and their eyes burned with desire.

Lian Hua said casually, "Why would there be no merit? Without your encouragement, we wouldn’t have won so much. Ask Sister Fang if it isn’t so?"

Concubine Fang was pleased; she felt everything Lian Hua said and did was to her liking. When Lian Hua sought her opinion, her happiness grew, and with a smile in her eyes, she chimed in, "Exactly, Sister Kong, just take it. Sister Lian and I both have our palace allowances in the palace and we lack for nothing. We just took part for luck and good cheer, right, Sister Lian?"

"Uh, this, this..." Lian Hua blinked, disagreeing with that statement. After all, the more silver the better, and she was in need, very much in need of silver. All her considerable amount of silver had been given to the Emperor to "repay debts" for her family...

However, the urgent task at hand was to persuade Kong Yinyin to accept it. Lian Hua could tell that Kong Yinyin was in dire straits, so she lied against her conscience, "Sister Fang is right. Just take it. Aren’t you leaving the palace the day after tomorrow? Some silver would be good to have on you. Sister Fang and I in the palace have no worries about food and drink."

The last part was true; she wasn’t lying. Right now, she was being well cared for by His Majesty with plenty to eat and drink and she spent very little. Furthermore, she had taken a share of the golden melon seeds, which would be enough until the next distribution of allowances.

Feeling both awkward and touched under the gaze of so many, Kong Yinyin still declined.

She said softly, "I appreciate the kindness of you two sisters, but... but I feel uneasy. I cannot accept so many golden melon seeds. I heard that His Majesty will bestow a reward when I leave the palace..." Though her voice was soft, her tone was very resolute.

Her heart was filled with gratitude, but she knew this was not hers to take. Even if leaving the palace meant they might never see each other again, she would remember the kindness shown to her and could not take it for granted.

Both Concubine Fang and Lian Hua could tell what she meant. Concubine Fang looked at Lian Hua with a faint trace of sorrow in her eyes. While she could compose poetry, persuading people was not her forte.

Lian Hua also felt a momentary concern, but spotting the jewelry, her eyes lit up, "Oh dear, Xiao Yinyi, it’s just these few golden melon seeds I’m giving you, look, aren’t there many beaded hairpins as well? Those can be exchanged for silver and are worth much more than this bag of golden melon seeds."

The more she spoke, the happier she became. In fact, she had already figured out how to exchange those useless beaded hairpins for silver. She had kept silent earlier, fearing others might become wary of her intentions. But now that they had won, she was not afraid to speak outright.

Kong Yinyin looked at those beaded hairpins and jewelry, puzzled. Could they really be exchanged for money? She hesitated and still wanted to decline.

Moved to near tears, Concubine Fang, standing to the side, thought how wonderful Lian Mei Mei was. To help Sister Kong, she even resorted to such far-fetched reasoning. Her heart swelled with tenderness as she gazed at Lian Hua, seeing her as both generous and kind, as if she glowed with brilliance. The more she looked, the more admirable she seemed. Truly, Lian Hua was a friend indeed.