This imperial edict was not given earlier or later, but at this time.

This is like a teacher in school giving students a surprise test without giving them time to review. This imperial edict lying on the desk was like a mountain pressing down on Concubine Yi.

Ning Heyu did not understand the hardships of Concubine Yi, and she did not know how vigilant Concubine Yi had to be when dealing with the Empress, Imperial Noble Concubine, and Concubine Rou.

She only knew that her cousin had obtained a privilege, a privilege to choose the emperor's bedmate.

It was raining outside and the road was muddy, but Ning Heyu braved the rainy night to come and see Concubine Yi.

She didn't even have time to change her shoes, and her body was soaked with sweat, so she stumbled into the inner room.

Concubine Yi's bedroom was covered with felt carpets brought into the palace from Persia. She had just come out of the bathroom and her hair was wet. Wen Qin took a handkerchief and twisted her hair.

The palace maid outside tried to stop Ning Heyu, but Ning Heyu pushed her away and shouted, "Who dares to stop me? I want to see my cousin. Get out of here!"

Concubine Yi rubbed her throbbing temples and said, "Tell her to wait."

"Yes." Wen Qin retreated, but before she could say anything, Ning Heyu rushed in. Her shoes were covered in mud, and the snow-white felt carpet was left with a series of dirty footprints.

Concubine Yi stood up from the dressing table. She was barefoot and stood with her back to Ning Heyu.

Ning Heyu did not realize the seriousness of the matter and kept walking forward.

"Cousin, can you arrange for me to be the first one to sleep with you?"

"No." Concubine Yi refused firmly.

Ning Heyu sneered: "Our family has raised you for ten years, providing you with food and clothing, but you turned against us the moment you entered the palace."

"What Concubine Rou said is indeed correct. You are an ungrateful wolf that can never be tamed."

Concubine Yi repeated her words, "Ungrateful?" She seemed surprised that such words would come out of Ning Heyu's mouth.

Wen Qin looked at Ning Heyu with pity. Her eyes were like those of a living person looking at a dead person, full of regret.

Some people are still alive, but she is dead.

"You keep mentioning Concubine Rou in every sentence, and you even call me an ungrateful person. You are truly my good sister."

"I don't want to be your sister. I hate you. Since you came to the Ning family, my parents have always given in to you. I am their biological daughter. Why should you share my parents' love for me?"

"Why didn't you die with your uncle and aunt?"

Concubine Yi grinned, tears streaming down her face.

"These are your true feelings."

"Yes, these are my true feelings. From now on, I will no longer consider you my cousin. Let's go our separate ways."

Ning Heyu left. After she said these farewell words, she turned and walked into the rain.

"Well done... Have a safe journey!"

Concubine Yi bent over, holding the dressing table with both hands. Wen Qin stood at the door and ordered the palace maids to come in and change the felt blanket. Concubine Yi combed her hair in front of the mirror, and a thin figure was reflected in the mirror.

After Concubine Rou learned about their breakup, she drank three bowls of sweet wine in a row.

The palace maid came to report that Ning Heyu had arrived. Concubine Rou hurriedly ordered someone to invite her in, greeted her in a gentle voice, and gave her clothes and jewelry.

Ning Heyu was dizzy from the bombardment of these sugar-coated bullets, and said everything she should and shouldn't say to Concubine Rou.

Concubine Rou ordered someone to pour her some wine. Ning Heyu was drunk. Concubine Rou asked, "What business does your family run?"

"My family makes a living by selling timber."

When Ning Heyu said this, Concubine Rou's face changed. She was born into a merchant family, so it was no wonder that she was not worthy of being accepted by the upper class.

"There's no money to be made selling timber, is there?"

"You can make money." Concubine Rou's eyes lit up and she called the palace maid over. The palace maid took paper and pen and secretly recorded it.

"My father transports firewood, flowers, and spices from Dali and resells them to the capital, making a handsome profit every year."

"Thirty years ago, the temple collapsed and the skilled craftsmen died. Their pensions... I can't tell you about this. If I tell you, I'll lose my head."

"Come on, Empress Rou, keep drinking. Don't leave until you're drunk."

Ning Heyu was so drunk that her tongue was tied and she kept shouting for more drinks.

Concubine Rou smiled as she walked away from her, went around to the back of a pillar, and instructed the maid, "Send the things I just wrote down to the Jin family. Tell my parents to investigate thoroughly and make good use of this opportunity."

"Wei Shuangxiao, without the Ning family, I wonder what you can use to fight me."

Wei Shuangxiao was Concubine Yi's name. The harem paid great attention to hierarchy and never addressed others by their full names. Concubine Rou mentioned Concubine Yi by name, which showed that she hated her very much.

Concubine Rou accompanied Ning Heyu in eating, drinking and having fun. After five days, she could no longer get any useful information from Ning Heyu, so Concubine Rou gradually distanced herself from Ning Heyu.

Concubine Yi has already drawn up a list of people who will serve in the bedchamber, and Ning Heyu is not among them. The beauties of Cangzhu Palace are sitting down one after another to prepare for the bedchamber. There is an endless stream of people going to Concubine Yi to give gifts every day, and everyone wants to get a number first.

Ning Heyu noticed that Concubine Rou was not as warm to her as before.

She calmed down and thought, and was shocked to realize that Concubine Yi had broken up with her, Concubine Rou was estranged from her, and she was in a predicament of being isolated and helpless.

Concubine Yi would never arrange for her to sleep with her, and Concubine Rou would not treat her sincerely. She had no future just like Qi Gengyi.

Gu Yingxia sent five hundred taels of silver to Chunxi Palace, and Concubine Yi agreed to rank her fifth.

Gu Yinwei fed the tabby cat goat milk, and Gu Yingxia reached out to touch the kitten's head.

"Little Lihua, stay with your sister for me. I'll go make some money to buy you some dried fish."

The tabby cat pressed its head tightly against Gu Yingxia's arm, nodding its head in a coquettish manner towards her.

"Do you really want to be a favorite concubine?"

"Nonsense, I know the Favored Concubine Manual by heart, how can I not be a Favored Concubine?"

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!