Chapter 34 Divide and Divide

With the Emperor gaining a new favorite, one can imagine what his life would be like from now on. Eight out of ten days would be spent with Zhen Huan by his side. In the past, the concubines in the palace could at least get one day every one or two months, but now they wouldn't even get that.

Even Consort Hua had difficulty getting an audience with the Emperor, let alone anyone else.

That day, Hongzhao returned to Yongshou Palace from the Imperial Study early again, as he had done for several days in a row. Lü Yingfeng secretly noted this down and asked casually, "What interesting things have happened in the Imperial Study these past few days? You'er comes back early to chat with Mother."

Hongzhao understood the unspoken meaning in his mother's words, and obediently walked to her side and sat down next to her. He looked at his mother with some loneliness and said, "Father Emperor has hardly come to the study to ask about my studies in the past two months, nor has he practiced calligraphy with me. Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well come back and keep Mother company."

Lu Yingfeng listened without saying anything, but lovingly hugged her son in her arms, gently stroking the shiny little head in her arms with her warm, soft hands without any protective armor.

You'er is not even four years old yet, but she has already shown extraordinary abilities and talents, and everyone who has seen her praises her.

She no longer cares so much about the Emperor's favor now that she's so young, but her son can't. If he doesn't spend more time with his father while he's still young, who knows if the Emperor, with his cautious and suspicious nature, will be wary of her son when he's old and strong?

No one can stand in You'er's way.

She wasn't the only one who thought this way.

Consort Hua held the Imperial Household Department's files in her hands, looking at the pages filled with the name "Consort Wan" for the past two months.

The paper creased from the pressure of his fingers. He slammed the notebook shut with a "snap" and read through gritted teeth, "The day before yesterday, Consort Wan served dinner and attended to the emperor in bed. Yesterday morning, Consort Wan accompanied the emperor and attended to him in bed. Today, she is in the Hall of Mental Cultivation again!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Songzhi boldly took the file, changed the cup of warm tea, and handed it to Nian Shilan. "His Majesty has visited our Yikun Palace twice this month, and even Yongshou Palace only once, and he left without staying overnight. It is clear that His Majesty still misses Your Majesty."

It would have been better if this hadn't been brought up, as it only fueled Consort Hua's rage. She slammed her teacup down on the table, and with a sharp crack, the cup shattered. But at that moment, no one in the hall paid any attention to it.

"You only came twice! And once you left in a hurry after having dinner! You went to Yongshou Palace to see the children, but you're with that vile woman every day. How can I be at peace with you!"

Songzhi shrugged, rolled her eyes, and leaned closer to smell—"Your Highness, this servant will go and invite Consort Cao over so she can give us some advice."

Seeing that Nian Shilan remained silent, she took the tacit approval and turned to invite her.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Consort Hua suddenly spoke up to stop her, and after a moment of contemplation, she gritted her teeth and said, "Go to Yongshou Palace and call Consort Xin here."

Songzhi nodded in agreement and quickly walked out.

Nian Shilan calmed down, then thought for a moment and instructed Zhou Ninghai, "Go and summon Consort Shen. Didn't the Emperor ask her to learn how to manage the six palaces? I will teach her properly."

Since they can't touch Zhen Huan now, they'll target her best friend instead.

In winter, darkness always falls exceptionally early. By the time Consort Xin slowly entered Yikun Palace, it was already completely dark. The room was dimly lit by only a few candles, and Lü Yingfeng blinked uncomfortably upon entering.

"When did your Consort Hua's palace become so frugal that you can't even bear to light candles?" she teased as she approached.

"Greetings, Consort Xin."

The sudden sound of greetings from the corner startled her. Looking closely, she saw a figure standing in the shadows, who appeared to be Consort Shen bowing to her.

There was only a table in front of her, no chair in sight, and only a few candles flickering. Looking at the paper and pen with the ink still wet on the table, Lü Yingfeng understood everything. She raised her hand to signal her to get up.

She walked straight in without any formality, parted the beaded curtain and entered the inner palace. Seeing that Consort Hua was still pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed and did not make a sound, she sat down on the armchair to the side.

Consort Hua was not truly asleep. Hearing Lü Yingfeng sit down next to her without saying a word, she opened her eyes in annoyance, rolled her eyes at her, and then propped herself up to lean against Lü Yingfeng.

Lu Yingfeng rested her chin on her hand, watching her movements with amusement. "Did Consort Hua summon me here to watch you sleep?"

Consort Hua ignored her words, turned her head to look at Shen Meizhuang standing outside writing, and gestured for Songzhi to lower the bamboo curtain.

Looking at the now-isolated inner palace, Consort Hua said with a mournful and indignant tone, "I won't beat around the bush with you. I called you here today to ask for your advice. The Emperor has been spending two months with that slut. You need to think of a way to cut off that slut's favor."

Lu Yingfeng could guess that the reason she had been summoned today was for this matter, but she never expected the woman to be so blunt. She suddenly straightened up and looked at her with amusement—"Consort Hua is so powerful, that she actually needs my advice? If you want to see the Emperor, isn't it simple? Just go and invite him yourself. Why drag me into it?"

Consort Hua was even more annoyed upon hearing this, but because they were too close, she couldn't raise her voice. She could only suppress her anger and say to her, "Do you think I didn't go to invite him? I invited him three times and he only came once, and he left in a hurry after having dinner. It must be that slut who seduced him!"

In her eyes, the emperor would never stop loving her; he was just temporarily bewitched by the vixen. She had to find an opportunity to deal with Zhen Huan, that scoundrel, so that the emperor would remember how good she was to him.

Seeing her like this, Lü Yingfeng stopped trying to persuade her. She shook her head and looked at the hazy figure outside through the two curtains—"If you're going to deal with Zhen Huan, what does it have to do with Chen Meizhuang? Why bother her?"

Consort Hua followed her gaze and snorted coldly, "Zhen Huan is a vixen, and this Noble Lady Shen may not be any better. She has only been in the palace for a few days, and she is already trying to seduce the Emperor into interfering in the affairs of the six palaces. Doesn't she want to learn? Then I will naturally teach her a lesson."

After hearing this, Lü Yingfeng couldn't help but chuckle, which made Nian Shilan turn her head to look at her, asking in confusion, "What are you laughing at?"

"Of course I'm laughing at you for unnecessarily giving the enemy an ally." Lü Yingfeng shook her head, covered her face with her handkerchief, and laughed heartily. Seeing that Nian Shilan's gaze was becoming increasingly hostile, she stopped keeping him in suspense.

"Although Consort Shen has a past grudge against you, it was just a matter of being late for the morning and evening greetings. It wasn't a serious injury. But if you actually carry out those methods in your mind, you'll just be pushing everyone towards Consort Wan for no reason."

Consort Hua looked at her without saying anything, only giving her a haughty look that hinted that she should continue.

Lu Yingfeng lowered her voice and said, "Most of the women in the harem enter the palace for their families, for their fathers and brothers. Even if Consort Shen and Consort Wan are old friends, there are still degrees of closeness. When it comes to important matters, which one of them would be willing to risk their family's future and their father's or brother's life for the other?"

"You mean..." Consort Hua hesitated, a rare occurrence for her.

"What I mean is, as long as there is no common enemy, the two of you cannot stay closely connected forever. Among the newcomers, Consort Fucha is not very smart. It seems that the only ones who stand out are Consort Wan and Consort Shen. If you push them too far, you will certainly not be as comfortable as before."

Under Consort Hua's suspicious gaze, Lü Yingfeng calmly finished her last sentence: "Dividing and resolving the issue is the best strategy."