Although Emperor Chunjia had been on the throne for eight years, he had not yet taken over the imperial affairs personally. In addition to spending time in the Imperial Harem every day, he only went to the Imperial Study, listening to lectures given by some great scholars who were appointed by the Empress Dowager.
Maybe for this reason, he seemed not grave or peremptory, with long eyebrows and bright eyes, full of modest. He was like a jade. For the noble ladies who entered the palace, he attended the fete in the Ancestral Temple for having children, and he came here directly after that, wearing the imperial robe and crown of the emperor. Without his exquisite clothes, he was more like a rich man full of knowledge.
“Lianniang.” The Emperor was slightly surprised when he saw the messy scene right after he entered the palace, “What’s happening?”
Consort Yue’s infant name was Lianniang. Since she joined the Imperial Harem, only Queen Mother Yuan and Emperor Chunjia called her like this.
Consort Yue was aggressive originally, after hearing this, her eyes became red, and the arm she had just raised was immediately put down. She didn’t intend to act as a virtuous person in front of Chunjia, but felt wronged, “Congratulations, Your Majesty has beautiful women again! An old, ugly, and yellow-faced woman like me who doesn’t know how to play the coquetry should has asked to leave the palace earlier. In that way, I don’t have to be bullied in public by a little Bao Lin who just entered the palace!”
Before the words ended, Yun Fenghuang had already stepped out of her side, got a few steps forward with her knees, and kowtowed to Emperor Chunjia as she wept, “I don’t dare! I am wronged!”
Knowing that Consort Yue was difficult to serve, Yun Fenghuang didn’t dare to dress herself too exquisite when she came here to serve the meal for Consort Yue, but wore like a maid at first sight. However, she was a born beauty, and the tears made her like an apricot blossom dipping in spring morning. And it was easier for others to notice her white skin and teeth, black hair, and red lips under such an occasion.
Being timidly trembling, explaining and kneeling on the ground, she looked more pitiful as others saw the distress in her eyes. Not only did Chunjia stare for a moment, but Consort Yue, who was just talking angrily. Looking down, she could not help but feel heart ache that she was indeed not that young ... at least not as young as the flower-like little girl!
“Don’t you dare to seduce your Majesty in front of me, bitch?!” Consort Yue’s heart hurt, and she was even more reluctant to let Yun Fenghuang go. She kicked without thinking, scolding, “Even if you had learned no rules in your family, haven’t you learnt the palace rules these days?!”
Although Consort Yue said that Yun Fenghuang was a sister of Noble Consort Shu’s tribe and she didn’t dare to offend her when they first met, she didn’t care about this actually. In particular, Yun Fenghuang looked very soft and easy to bully, so she was even more abusive at this moment.
However, who could expect that right after she lifted her leg a little, Yun Fenghuang had been crying for tears and begging for mercy, saying “Please forgive me, My Lady”, but her hands were unambiguously pulling Consort Yue’s skirt violently. Consort Yue staggered without preparation, and the next moment, a more embarrassing thing happened. Accompanied by the falling of the pomegranate dress inlaid with gems and jade gold, the peony and hibiscus skirt with embroidered purple grapes on the bottom couldn’t handle it, and slipped down!
The main hall of Hu Zhu Palace was silent for a moment!
Even Emperor Chunjia of supremacy showed an incredible expression. How could he imagine that things would develop like this???
“...” Suddenly her legs were cold and naked in public. Consort Yue’s brain went blank. For a while, she didn’t know what to do. But the initiator, Yun Fenghuang, after a short shock, took a breath, suddenly stood up and went straight out of the hall!
Seeing this, Consort Yue returned to herself, without lifting her skirt, shouting sternly, “Get me that bitch —”
She wanted her to be cut into pieces. But before she finished, she heard a sound of a heavy object falling into the water. One of the servants came in panic to confess, “Your Majesty, My Lady, Bao Lin Yun has jumped into the water!”
The anger that Consort Yue was about to explode was stuck in her throat instantly. Although she was known as the childhood sweetheart and fiancée of Emperor Chunjia, and she wasn’t virtuous and amiable, she had retained her title as Consort after years of experience. That was to say, she was not a person who didn’t know when to size up the situation.
Therefore, since Yun Fenghuang was just the so-called adoptive daughter of Yun’s Family, she could embarrass her or spite her to some extent. But if Yun Fenghuang was dead on the first day she entered the palace, the hostess of Tong Xia Palace, Noble Consort Shu, would take it as an excuse. Even if she didn’t feel sorry for her so-called sister, she would fight for the dignity of Yun’s Family, and insist that she had to give an explanation for it!
What’s more, compared with Noble Consort Shu, who was also a Consort, the head of the Imperial Harem, Empress Ji, hated Yuan Lianniang more.
… In short, once this matter became serious, no matter what would happen to Yun Fenghuang, Consort Yue was bound to be in trouble!
“Bao Lin Yun was unfamiliar with the paths of the palace, stepped on the lake stone sloppily, and accidentally fell into the water. Don’t you hurry up and save her?” When the servant entered the palace to report, Emperor Chunjia had quickly taken off his outmost robe to cover Consort Yue. At this moment he said slowly, “Bao Lin Yun was young. When she heard that I came over, she mistakenly turned the wine and dishes, and stained the Consort’s skirt...”
When Consort Yue heard him here, she could not help feel angrier because she knew what he meant!
She was definitely reluctant to forgive Yun Fenghuang. But if this incident spread out today, then even if she killed that bitch with rob punishment, she would also become the joke in the Imperial Harem—even the Empress Dowager, Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji would call her for reprimand and ask why she did not fasten the belt? Why it dropped so easily ... And her skirt even fell in front of the Emperor. What was she up to?!
For Consort Yue’s education background, she might hang herself if she was insulted in that way!
Therefore, she could only knock her teeth down and swallow them in her belly. She admitted that Yun Fenghuang just clumsily served for her meal, staining her dress... helping this bitch to cover up this scandal!
Consort Yue was born in a noble family, Fuyang County. She had been spoiled without suffering any grievances ever since she was a child. But the degree of torture right now was almost comparable to the time when her empress title was taken away!
After all, Ji’s power was really incomparable then that of Yuan’s Family. Without Ji’s Family, the former Princedom of Fuyang County could not become the emperor. So, she had nothing to complain about this. But Yun Fenghuang ... Who the hell was she?! On the point of identity and title, she was not even worth mentioning in front of her, Yuan Lianniang!?
But she had to follow Chunjia’s words to minimize the case, “Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will never argue with this little Bao Lin who does not understand the rules!”
The words “never argue with” were spoken through her teeth reluctantly.
Therefore, an hour later, Bao Lin Yun, who poured soup to the Consort who was recognized as the worst in the Imperial Harem, and made Consort Yue naked in public on her first day in the palace, was already refreshing and contented on the soft cushion of Xi Xing Building. Seeing Nian Xuan hastily bringing ginger soup, she said in disgust, “You still don’t know the ability of your Miss? Just a while in the lotus pond. Not a big deal! Take it away!”
Nian Xuan’s tears came down instantly, “Miss, your fate is so hard. It’s just the first day we got here, and we encountered such a thing ...”
She was crying so sincerely, as if the person who was going mad at this moment was her Miss, not Consort Yue.
And she also had a lot of reasons to wash her face with tears, “Although Consort Yue did not punish you for the sake of her dignity this time, the maid who brought you back just now told me that Consort Yue thought you were scared for falling into the water and asked you to rest for a few days. You don’t have to pay respects to Queen Mother Ji and the Empress tomorrow, and she will give you a leave of absence. But who knows what she will say in front of them? What if they misunderstand that you are arrogant and rude?”
“Furthermore, I heard that during the recuperation period, you could not serve His Majesty for fear of infecting the Emperor.”
At first, they were blank enough to enter the palace. But here in this position, they couldn’t count on Noble Consort Shu. Besides, the hostess of their palace was not only ruthless, but also just offended by Yun Fenghuang. The only way out was to win the favor of Emperor Chunjia. But Consort Yue deprived her chance directly. What should they do now?
The more Nian Xuan thought about it, the more she felt that her Miss was in danger, and she cried continuously. In the end, the complacent smile on Yun Fenghuang’s face gradually disappeared. She felt that she must have been a fool to bring the passive girl into the palace. It would have been better to buy a girl with a sweet mouth!
She turned over, with the back of her head facing her personal maid, and her whole back was showing her disgust to the maid.
“I really don’t know what’s in Duke Yi’s mind.” Nian Xuan didn’t even realize that her Miss had regretted taking her into the palace, and was still loyal, trying to figure out a solution, “Since they want you to help Noble Consort Shu in the palace, why didn’t they tell her to take care of you? What does that mean? Or is Noble Consort Shu too powerless to help you out?”
Yun Fenghuang rolled her eyes towards the wall impatiently.
Nian Xuan continued, “Miss, how about I ask about the location of Tong Xia Palace tomorrow, and we can ask the Fourth Miss Yun for help, ah no, it is Mei Ren Yun. We can count on her to make good words for you in front of Noble Consort Shu?”
“You think the palace is our home, and you can run around freely?” Yun Fenghuang couldn’t bear to turn around and remind this stupid girl, “Especially your Miss, I, just offended Consort Yue. You think Consort Yue, as the hostess of Hu Zhu Palace, cannot spite me to death. What about you? You are just a new maid who entered the palace for the first day. Besides, if you don’t resort to Qingman, you think she will not help me?”
The stupid maid stared at her with tears in her eyes, as if her Miss was not with a high bed and soft pillow now, but was in a cold palace, and she might be given a cup of poisonous wine someday. Yun Fenghuang could not bear it, “Don’t be stupid. We haven’t been assigned to Tong Xia Palace. It is right to come to Hu Zhu Palace. If we really go to Tong Xia Palace, that would be bad!”
“Why?” Nian Xuan was confused.
Yun Fenghuang was about to explain. But Nian Xuan suddenly opened her eyes and asked happily, “Are you saying Consort Yue actually allied with Noble Consort Shu? Did she just play a show today? No wonder Consort Yue is known as a fierce person, but she forgave you that easy. If not, for her own sake, the most merciful thing for her to do is to not punish you in public.”
Yun Fenghuang was speechless
Was it too late to kill such a stupid girl???
Taking a deep breath and holding back the impulse of killing the maid, Yun Fenghuang looked expressionless, “Because we did not enter the palace voluntarily, we were brought in by Yun’s Family intentionally. They even forcibly changed my last name... If we are arranged to Tong Xia Palace, and get protection of Noble Consort Shu from the beginning, do you think we will be grateful to Noble Consort Shu and Yun’s Family?”
This was impossible indeed. Even when the imperial power didn’t fall to others’ hands, not everyone wanted to join the Imperial Harem. Not to mention the heirless royal family was a place with imperial relatives, imperial clans, powerful ministers, eunuchs fighting against each other. Anyone with a little knowledge knew how hard it was to survive from Emperor Chunjia’s harem. Yun Fenghuang was inexplicably pushed into this fire pit, and it would be lucky for them if she didn’t hate Yun’s Family. How could she be grateful?
“If we got in this place unwillingly and had Noble Consort Shu’s protection at the very beginning, we might take it for granted and even still hold resentment towards Yun’s Family. But after all the torment by the hostess of Hu Zhu Palace, as frightened as we are...” Yun Fenghuang sneered at this time, “Facing the helping hand stretched out by Noble Consort Shu, I’m afraid we would only cry with joy?”
If only she were just a girl of a normal family who had grown up to fifteen years old.
The expression on Nian Xuan’s face gradually changed from ignorance to panic, “They...”
“They may not have thought about crossing the river to dismantle the bridge, at least not for the time being.” Yun Fenghuang pointed her cheek with her forefinger, thinking while saying, “Otherwise, they didn’t have to take all these troubles to win me by her side at all. After all, considering the title and qualifications of Noble Consort Shu and the important role of Duke Yi’s Mansion, even if I give birth to a prince, so what? Therefore, it seems that our future in here is not promising. In fact, Noble Consort Shu is still keeping an eye on us. For example, His Majesty came to Hu Zhu Palace today coincidentally. It’s quite possible that she plotted this!”
Otherwise she wouldn’t dare to treat Consort Yue like that...?
Hmm, after thinking with her conscience, Yun Fenghuang retracted this word.
Yes, even if there was no background like Noble Consort Shu, she would do exactly what she did just now.
After all, before her sister’s affair, she was spoiled by her family and even her fiancé’s family since she was born. With a large number of elders’ blind love, regardless of her reputation outside being gentle and virtuous, it couldn’t conceal her nature of being domineering and refusing to suffer losses.
It was easy to change rivers and mountains, but difficult to change one’s nature. For Yun Fenghuang, it was impossible not to make trouble, impossible in this life.
Especially now she was known as the daughter of Yun’s Family, anything she did would not affect her real family, Xie’s Family, so she could let herself go!
“Hurry up and go to sleep!” She waved easily at the moment, “We will have a lot of fun in the future!”
The next morning, Consort Yue led several low-grade concubines other than Yun Fenghuang to Yan Fu Palace to pay their respects. Before she asked for leave for the new Bao Lin, Noble Consort Shu had already asked where her sister was.“She got a cold for falling into the water yesterday and couldn’t get up this morning.” Consort Yue gave her a slanting glance and smiled lightly, “Sis, you know me. If it is someone else, I will be absolutely reluctant. After all, for a new Bao Lin who just joined the Imperial Harem, how could she miss seeing the Queen Mother and the Empress? But since she is your younger sister, I could not make you embarrassed, could I? So, I allowed her request.”These words mostly made it clear that Yun Fenghuang was indulgent and self-willed, and since she thought that she was the sister of Noble Consort Shu, she neglected to see the Empress... Well, rounding it up, it also showed that Noble Consort Shu was not so respectful to the Empres
Yun Qingman thought that Noble Consort Shu’s words were too harsh. She felt so sorry for Yun Fenghuang because Duke Yi made her join the Imperial Harem without her permission. At this moment, she was afraid that Yun Fenghuang would feel embarrassed, so she pulled Noble Consort Shu’s sleeve secretly, saying in a low voice, “Sister!”“Do you think that Queen Mother Ji is as accessible as me?” Noble Consort Shu gave her a disdainful look, but her tone softened. Before she was about to say a few soft words, Yun Fenghuang said directly, “It’s true I fell into the water, but no one pushed me.”“What?” Yun Qingman broadened her eyes and said, “Fenghuang, you dare...” Dared to frame a consort in public, the hostess of the palace she lived!Although Yun Qingman knew Yun Fenghuang was quite bold, she couldn’t help taking a cold breath to hear this!Not only Yun Qingman, Noble Consort Shu also frowned slightly, and said, “You are quite bold,
Hearing this, Noble Consort Shu froze for a moment, but Yun Qingman immediately agreed, “Yes, sister. You said yesterday that Fenghuang is different from other concubines, because the Empress Dowager personally issued the imperial decree to cordially invite her to join the Imperial Harem. So, Consort Yue must dare not hurt her. But the current situation is: Consort Yue is narrow-minded, and Fenghuang is unfortunately involved in the fight between the two groups. One is Queen Mother Ji and the Empress, the other is Queen Mother Yuan and her niece Consort Yue. What will Fenghuang’s future be if she can’t leave Hu Zhu Palace?”“... Let’s go back to Tong Xia Palace first.” Noble Consort Shu glared at Yun Qingman reluctantly. She then took a deep breath and berated her in a low voice, “Consort Yue is the hostess of Hu Zhu Palace. It’s okay for me, a Noble Consort, to privately judge her, but not for you, a Mei Ren to do the same thing. I have told you the Imperial Harem is n
Yun Fenghuang thought for a moment, looked up and asked, “Although My Lady can’t get me out of Hu Zhu Palace now, what about later in the future?”“If there is a chance in the future, I will get you out. I surely don’t want my aunt and Qingman to be sad.” Noble Consort Shu looked at her with appreciation and her tone softened, “Although you are not the daughter of Yun’s Family, you are my aunt’s niece, which makes you my cousin. We are relatives. I don’t want to make things difficult for you if I could.”“My Lady,” Hearing this, Yun Fenghuang felt like being in relief inwardly and was more daring. She asked tentatively with bright eyes, “Although Hu Zhu Palace seems to be a dangerous place, Consort Yue is not a forgiving and kind person, and I offended her greatly now... Now that you are willing to tell me the truth in detail, My Lady, does that mean I still have a chance to live?”Otherwise, she had no need to tell these things to a person doo
Yun Fenghuang gave a reward to the little eunuch who passed on the message, and awarded some silver to the inferior maids who came to congratulate her and the eunuchs who ran errands. After that, she urged Nian Xuan to serve her to bathe, dress and make up.Although she knew that Emperor Chunjia might be unwilling to name her to sleep with him...However, every man loved beauties. Even if the Emperor might be unhappy to come over, he might relent after seeing her so beautiful.She was very confident in her appearance!In addition, the Imperial Harem had the hidden rules that the low-grade concubines would be advanced after they slept with the Emperor. However, Yun Fenghuang had only seen Emperor Chunjia once, and was not clear about his character. What should she do if he deliberately found her fault, blamed her in the name of misconduct and bad service, and then demoted her grade and expelled her out of Hu Zhu Palace?
Since Consort Yue, the hostess of Hu Zhu Palace, was still grounded, Yun Fenghuang went to Tong Xia Palace with Nian Xuan after dressing up.“Be careful later.” Noble Consort Shu let her in right after hearing the reporting, enjoining her while dressing, “The Empress has planned and informed Mei Ren Xue, the one lives in Zhao Yuan Ji’s palace, to be the first one among all of you to sleep with My Majesty. However, the Emperor suddenly said that he was going to see you. I don’t know about Mei Ren Xue’s temper since she is new here. However, the hostess of her palace is tough.”If Mei Ren Xue (Ms. Xue) was an ordinary person, Zhao Yuan Ji might not be so concerned about her. While Ms. Xue, who got the title of Mei Ren firstly like Yun Qingman, was not ordinary. Her father and brother were prominent. Moreover, she was Zhao Yuan Ji’s cousin. There was a big chance that she would stand up for Ms. Xue.Yun Fenghuang was aggrieved, “I didn’t expect My
“Although I am humble, I’m still cordially invited to join the Imperial Harem.” Yun Fenghuang calmly said, “At this moment, both your servants can speak. Why can’t I?”She turned to the Empress, and respectfully saluted, saying, “I just think that Your Highness has a prominent family. Getting married with His Majesty at a young age, you are regarded as a born phoenix (queen) with nobility. As noble as you, Your Highness, how could the homophonic sound of my name offend you? If this name truly offends you, what about those people who make phoenix-shaped hairpins and robes with phoenix pictures? Should all people whose surnames are Long (dragon, as a symbol of the Emperor in ancient China) or Feng (phoenix, as a symbol of the Empress in ancient China) change their names?”“You want me to avoid the taboo. Come on. Let’s do it together.” Yun Fenghuang thought.Long and Feng as surnames had existed for many dynasties. No former emperor or empress ha
“What are you doing here?” A maid of Ning Bi Hall was mad to see Yun Fenghuang and Nian Xuan, “Consort Yue has no time to talk with you. Just leave and mind your own business.”Yun Fenghuang smirked and walked around her in a circle, tiding her sleeves, and indifferently said, “You didn’t even get in to report. How do you know that My Lady has no time? Are you trying to bully her when she is grounded? How dare you, a little maid, to make the decision for your master?”The maid was enraged, and thought to herself, “So, you do realize that Consort Yue is still grounded!”Although there was no explicit stipulation in the palace that the people grounded couldn’t summon anyone, the hidden rule was that the one who was grounded could meet nobody except for her personal servants. In this way, she could show that she was penitent and had no time to handle other things. Thereby, she didn’t need to hear any report of the arrivals. Moreover, it would be f