Chapter 21 The plot is different

When the ranking of the newly selected concubines was decided, Meng Yan was combing Doukou's hair in the house.

Although Doukou is young, her hair is very beautiful, black, shiny and thick, and it feels as smooth as a piece of satin in the hand.

Meng Yan tied two small buns for her and put a peach blossom-shaped silk flower newly sent by the Imperial Household Department on her head.

The little girl was very well-behaved. She sat on the chair without moving, and Meng Yan enjoyed dressing up her daughter.

"...Daughter of the Prince of Nanping's mansion, Lin Yanrong, was granted the title of Sixth Rank Consort."

When Meng Yan heard Ruizhu read this sentence, she paused slightly.

"A sixth-rank official? Are you sure?"

How could it be just a permanent one?

She remembered clearly that when Lin Yanrong entered the palace, because of the stunning encounter in the imperial garden, Lu Haozhi made an exception and made her a noble lady, and even personally bestowed upon her the title - Pure.

What was going on now? Lin Yanrong's rank had been demoted, and her title had been lost.

"Your Majesty, this is the imperial decree sent by the Imperial Household Department. It is clearly written in black and white. How could this servant have made a mistake?"

Ruizhu said with some helplessness that she really couldn't understand her master now.

Last night, the Emperor finally managed to find some free time in his busy schedule and even expressed his intention to stay the night. Your Majesty should strike while the iron is hot and properly win him over. With the newcomer entering the palace imminent, it's also a good opportunity to solidify your favor.

The Empress not only drove the Emperor away, but also angered him.

Last night, watching the emperor walk away in a huff, Ruizhu was almost terrified. She entered the room, her soul in a trance, and saw the empress sitting there blankly, her arms folded around her knees. No matter how she asked, she refused to say a word.

Afterwards, the queen sat beside the little princess' bed and watched her all night without sleeping.

Ruizhu thought something serious had happened, but when she woke up this morning, the queen seemed to be fine again. She washed and served meals as usual, talked and laughed with them, and amused the little princess.

Your Majesty... do you really not care about the Emperor?

Meng Yan was stunned for a moment, then immediately came to her senses, took the mirror and looked at herself in front of Doukou.

"Cardamom, does it look good?"

Doukou clapped her hands and giggled.

Ruizhu looked at her master's indifferent expression and became a little anxious. She stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I've heard that the Emperor has no other plans after court today. He will probably go to Changyin Pavilion to listen to music."

According to Ruizhu's idea, the emperor came last night because he still cared about the empress. The empress was good at playing the guzheng, and if they met by chance while playing music in Changyin Pavilion, things might turn around.

Meng Yan glanced at her confidant who came with her as a dowry. Was she a little too smart?

Last night he took Doukou away on his own initiative, and today he came up with this idea again.

Indeed, if it were the girl in the book, she would have been overjoyed and willing to do it. However, she was different now.

"Have the arrangements for the new arrivals been completed? Some rooms have been uninhabited for years and are a bit rundown. Instruct the Imperial Household Department to ensure they are kept tidy and that no expenses are shortchanged. They should not be treated unfairly in their first visit to the palace."

Although she might have offended Lu Haozhi severely yesterday and she had no intention of vying for favor, she still had to behave like a virtuous concubine so that she could have more peace in the future.

"My Queen!"

"Why, are you teaching me how to do things?"

Meng Yan looked at Ruizhu with cold eyes.

Ruizhu felt a chill and immediately knelt down.

"I dare not."

"It's good that you don't dare. You have always been cautious and careful. Don't lose your advantage."

Meng Yan turned around and looked at her quietly.

Ruizhu knelt on the ground, lowered her head, and said nothing, looking a bit pitiful.

After all, she was his maidservant who had served him faithfully in his previous life. She was only coming up with these ideas based on her past temper and for her own benefit.

Meng Yan's heart softened unconsciously. She stood up and went over to help her up personally.

"I know you're doing this for me. But you have to understand, flowers don't stay in bloom forever, and people don't stay beautiful forever. This new batch of people is about to come in. If I act rashly now, not only will I be criticized, but I'll also earn the Emperor's dislike. Besides, if any of them become successful in the future, they'll be a nuisance."

Ruizhu sniffed and choked with sobs, "I just don't believe that those little girls can really climb over the head of the Empress! The Emperor must only have the Empress in his heart!"

Meng Yan smiled helplessly. She was so confident in the book, but later she became a joke in Lin Yanrong's mouth.

Who made her not the heroine?

"There's been a rumor in the palace lately...that Lin was already favored before she was even selected...and she's bound to rise to prominence in the future...I just can't accept it. How could the Emperor..."

Meng Yan was speechless. So Ruizhu was angry about this?

This incident had happened before in my previous life. But that was after Lin Yanrong entered the palace. Hearing the rumors that were spreading everywhere, he was furious and personally led people to cause trouble for Lin Yanrong.

This scene was witnessed by Lu Haozhi who happened to pass by. Of course, he ended up being scolded by the emperor for being jealous and hot-tempered. This also made Lin Yanrong look even more weak, helpless and pitiful.

She just wondered how this matter could have happened so much earlier in this life.

Lin Yanrong has not yet entered the palace, and this rumor will not do her any good.

But thinking about this incident, she roughly understood why Lin Yanrong's status was not as high as in her previous life.

Rumors were spreading and everyone was talking about it. How could Lu Haozhi not know?

With his temper, he couldn't tolerate any sand in his eyes. Moreover, Lin Yanrong's background was sensitive to begin with, so it was understandable that she was implicated in this matter.

Meng Yan smiled and pinched Ruizhu's nose.

"I'm not angry, so why are you? There will be more of these things in the future. If you keep getting angry about them one by one, you'll be mad to death, and then I won't have any useful maids! Now, go wipe your face, it looks like a harlequin cat."

Ruizhu burst into laughter immediately, but seeing her master's carefree attitude, her originally anxious and gloomy mood also became cheerful.

Meng Yan walked to the door and looked at the clear blue sky outside the window, a faint smile on her fair face.

Since it doesn't belong to her, she won't ask for it.

She had no interest in what Lu Haozhi was thinking.

Even though Lu Haozhi might have annoyed her last night, he would soon be drawn to Lin Yanrong and no longer care about herself. She wasn't worried that this incident would bring disaster upon herself.

She will never compete with Lin Yanrong for the emperor again in this life, and Lin Yanrong will never harm her.

In this life, she will never do anything wrong again. I don’t believe she can’t have a good ending!

After the eunuch read out the imperial edict at the post station, Lin Yanrong's gentle and pretty face almost collapsed on the spot.

A sixth-rank official?!

What is going on!

Why is her position completely different from what is written in the book?!