Chapter 160 Chapter 160

[Chapter 160]

The sound of the piano fell intermittently in the Ju Yin Xuan, and the expression on Miss Shu's face was almost frozen.

Her eyes turned to the emperor sitting opposite her, but the emperor was listening intently at this moment.

He wanted to win her favor, but he had no piano skills, yet he still wanted to win her favor.

Lady Shu had never seen such a scene before, and she felt extremely embarrassed sitting on the couch for a moment.

Lan Shu gently pulled Shu Meiren, and she gradually came back to her senses. The sound of the piano outside was still drilling into her and the emperor's ears. Shu Meiren forced a smile and pretended to be calm, "Your Majesty, may I help you bathe?"

Yan Shiyu put his hands on his legs, his eyes closed, as if listening to the sound of piano outside.

When Lady Shu was about to give up, she heard Yan Shiyu say, "Prepare some water."

After he finished speaking, Yan Shiyu opened his dark eyes and looked at Wei Maoyuan lazily.

Concubine Shu's whole heart was on the Emperor, so she had no time to pay attention to Wei Maoyuan's actions beside her.

"I will serve the Emperor?" After Lady Shu said this, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

She stretched out her hand, her fingertips almost touching the emperor's sleeve.

Yan Shiyu's eyes fell on her hand and he said calmly, "No need."

Although Miss Shu felt disappointed, she still obediently withdrew her hand.

Before she entered the palace, her aunt had told her that all men in the world like gentle and obedient women. Even the nanny who came in the afternoon had said that the emperor's actions might be rough tonight and she just had to be patient.

She just wanted to help the emperor bathe, but it was too embarrassing to even say that. Now she could only watch the emperor enter the bathing room.

When the emperor's back disappeared, the shyness on Lady Shu's face gradually faded away, and was replaced by jealousy, "Let's go and take a look!"

She was the first of the new concubines to serve the emperor in bed. No matter who wanted to ruin her plans tonight, she would not let that person go!

Although the sound of the piano was not continuous, it was coming from the same direction. Shu Meiren went straight to the direction where the sound came from.

Ying Ning saw a person from a distance. This person did not look like the emperor, so Ying Ning said softly, "Your Majesty, someone is coming."

Ruan Yun raised her almond-shaped eyes slightly, but soon put them down again. Her hands did not stop moving, and her fingertips plucked the strings, making crisp sounds.

Lady Shu stood outside the pavilion, looking at Ruan Yun.

Although her appearance was ugly, she was dressed very simply. Her dress was also very ordinary. She only wore a jade hairpin on her head, and the earrings she wore were just a pair of ordinary lacquer earrings, which showed that she was of ordinary social status.

Lady Shu winked at Lan Shu, and Lan Shu stepped forward immediately, "How dare you! Who is playing the piano here and seeing Lady Shu, didn't even come over to greet her?"

Ruan Jun slowly put down her hand and then looked straight at Lady Shu.

The candlelight in the pavilion was dim, and Lady Shu's exaggerated dress caught Ruan Yun's attention.

She didn't move, but just turned her sore wrist as if she was bored.

Shu Meiren was furious. "Why have I never seen you before? Which palace are you from?"

Seeing Ruan Yun's calm demeanor and some of the rumors, Shu Meiren felt a little flustered.

Could this person be the imperial concubine?

But soon, Shu Meiren denied her own idea.

It's not like there are no beauties in the palace. Although this person is beautiful, there are only two people serving her, and there is no formal guard.

Moreover, the noble concubine has already fallen out of favor. Even if she is bold, why would she come near the Suyinxuan and disturb the emperor's peace? Does she want to die?

Thinking of this, Lady Shu became bolder and said, "I asked you a question, why didn't you answer it?"

Ruan Jun couldn't help but laugh at his arrogant look, but to Lady Shu, it sounded sarcastic.

"How dare you laugh at me?" Shu Mei was furious. "Do you know who I am? I am sleeping with you tonight, why don't you stay in your palace and come here to play the piano? What's your intention?"

Ruan Yun's voice was gentle, falling in the evening breeze, calming people's hearts, "I practice the piano here, what does it have to do with you? Is it because this place is close to Lady Shu's palace that others can't come?"

Without getting an answer from Ruan Yun, Lady Shu was instead stumped by Ruan Yun's question.

She blinked her eyelashes slightly, and the helplessness in her eyes fell into Ruan Yun's eyes.

Ruan Yun's almond-shaped eyes were indifferent. "Does Lady Shu have anything else to say? If not, please go back. After all, the emperor is still waiting for Lady Shu, isn't he?"

Before Lady Shu could think of what to say, she heard what Ruan Yun said and said in a sharp voice, "No! You can't be here!"

She did not forget the emperor's reaction when he first heard the sound of the piano. No matter who that person was, she could not stay here.

She must not be allowed to be seen by the Emperor!

"I'm asking you, who are you?" Looking Ruan Yun up and down, Shu Meiren was quite sure in her heart, "The emperor never paid attention to you before. You've been in the palace for so long, but I haven't seen a little master like you get any favors. Do you think that tonight, the emperor will look at you with a higher regard?"

Yingning and Tingxu glanced at Concubine Shu, and the expressions on their faces showed that she was Concubine De's sister after all, but they didn't expect her to be so stupid and not learn even a bit of Concubine De's wisdom.

Ruan Jun raised her almond-shaped eyes, "You don't even know who I am, and you dare to let me leave?"

Lady Shu was somewhat frightened by Ruan Jun's words, and somewhat afraid of Ruan Jun's identity.

Lan Shu said softly, "My lady, I'm afraid the emperor is about to finish his bath."

After hearing this, Lady Shu no longer cared about anything and said in a loud voice: "Who are you, Master? Get out of here right now! I will give you a way to live!"

Taking a step forward, Lady Shu pretended to overturn Ruan Yun's zither.

She wanted to see how this person could act like a seductress without Qin!

Ruan Yun held down her own zither, and how could Lady Shu agree to her request?

"Let me go!"

Ying Ning took a step forward and said, "Madam Shu is too nosy. Does the emperor like Madam Shu to be like this?"

Lady Shu was completely enraged by the master and servant. She exerted force with her hands, but unexpectedly the strings of the zither broke.

Ruan Yun put her hand on it, and her fingertips were cut by the strings, and blood immediately seeped out.

She groaned, and in the dim candlelight, Lady Shu could also see clearly what was happening in Ruan Jun's hands.

A smug smile appeared on her lips. Her hand was injured. How could this vixen seduce the emperor?

She turned around and wanted to leave, but then she thought of something and turned around, "Although I don't know who you are, but looking at your appearance..."

His eyes fell on Ruan Yun's zither again. "And this unsightly zither of yours, I guess your rank is lower than mine. You just disrespected the superior, I will definitely punish you severely!"

Looking to the side, I happened to see a lot of flower branches trimmed by a craftsman on the grass.

"Kneel down there for me. When you learn the rules, stand up again!"

Ruan Jun found it interesting and pinched her fingertips with a handkerchief, thinking that the time was almost up.

It had been a long time since she had heard such words. Miss Shu really opened her eyes.

Ruan Yun stood still. Seeing that Ruan Yun did not move, Lady Shu said to Lan Shu behind her, "What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear what I said?"

Lan Shu stepped forward immediately and just as he was about to grab Ruan Jun's sleeve, he saw that Ruan Jun's expression changed instantly.

Ruan Jun's eyes were filled with pity, and tears welled up in her almond-shaped pupils in an instant.

Yan Shiyu's voice was cold, "What?"

When Lady Shu heard the emperor's voice, she was startled. She didn't care what Ruan Yun was doing beside her. She turned around and said, "Your Majesty, I came to see who is playing the zither here and dares to disturb your peace."

Ruan Jun looked towards Yan Shiyu, tears welling up in her bright almond-shaped eyes.

She was dressed simply and looked even thinner than the last time I saw her.

Yan Shiyu's eyes fell on Ruan Jun's pinched fingertips and the broken-stringed zither.

"What did you see?"

When Lady Shu heard what the emperor said, she smiled instantly. She stepped forward and hugged the emperor's arms. She blushed and pressed her snow-white peaks against the emperor's. "Your Majesty, look, I don't know which sister who entered the palace in the past is so ignorant of the rules. Your Majesty obviously doesn't like her, but she dared to confront me. I just wanted to see her zither, but she wouldn't let me. Your Majesty, look at my hands, and she made them red."

Yan Shiyu's eyes did not fall on Lady Shu, but he only saw Ruan Jun's increasingly red eyes.

Wei Maoyuan shook his head silently behind him. Concubine Shu was really stupid. The most taboo thing in the palace was to make enemies everywhere. It happened that Concubine Shu had only slept with the emperor for the first night. Not to mention that the person in front of her was the imperial concubine, even if she was not, Concubine Shu would only be disliked if she did this.

Yan Shiyu asked calmly, "What do you want?"

Shu Meiren's face instantly lit up with joy, and she let go of her pride, "I thought, this is just her first offense, so I'll just let her kneel on the grass over there."

Yan Shiyu's gaze fell on the place that Lady Shu mentioned. There were a lot of flowers and branches on it. It was midsummer now, and the skirts and clothes were thin. If he knelt there, the flowers and branches might hurt him badly.

The aura around her suddenly turned cold. Concubine Shu was smug and wanted to say something, but Yan Shiyu suddenly pulled down Concubine Shu's hand. Concubine Shu almost lost her balance for a moment. She didn't know what was going on and was at a loss, "Your Majesty..."

Yan Shiyu said coldly: "You are disrespectful to the emperor and have evil intentions! You will kneel before me tonight! Who gave you the courage to speak disrespectfully to the imperial concubine?"

Shu Meiren stood there in a daze, unable to believe what she heard.

But thinking of what the emperor said, Concubine Shu felt a wave of fear, her face turned pale in an instant, "Your Majesty...I, I am not..."

Yan Shiyu was about to leave in a huff. Seeing this, Ruan Yun ignored the pain in her hands and quickly stepped forward to grab the emperor's sleeve.

With the corner of his eye he saw her soft hand falling on her sleeve, and Yan Shiyu moved a little too much, pulling the wound on Ruan Jun's hand.

The wound, which was not bleeding originally, started bleeding after being rubbed by the cloth.

Ruan Yun frowned slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Your Majesty, are you still angry with me?"

She pressed harder on her finger bones, and the rouge on her fingertips was rubbed onto Yan Shiyu's bright yellow dragon robe.

He lowered his eyes to look at Ruan Yun's tightened hands, pinched Ruan Yun's wrist, and took her away directly.

Seeing this, Shu Meiren wanted to follow, but Wei Maoyuan blocked her way and said, "My lady, the emperor said that you must kneel on the branch tonight."

Her body was trembling slightly, and Shu Meiren bit her lower lip, feeling at a loss.

But I knew that I was finished.

She could never have imagined that the person was actually the Imperial Concubine. Everyone said that the Imperial Concubine had fallen out of favor, but looking at the Emperor's expression, it seemed that he still had feelings for the Imperial Concubine.

Her body softened and she fell to the ground, her eyes dimmed.

Wei Maoyuan looked up, and the eunuch behind him walked forward and led Concubine Shu towards the grassland.

Ruan Yun was led away by the emperor for a distance. Looking at the imperial staff in front of her, she moved her wrist slightly and took her hand out of the emperor's palm while the emperor was distracted.

There was still the burning heat from the emperor's palm on her fair wrist, and she was so hot that she put her other hand on it and slowly kneaded that place.

Yan Shiyu looked at Ruan Jun coldly, and when he saw that there was still a little red on her fingertips, his black eyes darkened instantly.

Ruan Yun said in a muffled voice: "My zither was damaged by Lady Shu."

Yan Shiyu closed his dark eyes slightly and chuckled, "I don't know when you have the leisure to do this."

Ruan Yun's eyes were filled with grievance, "Even the Emperor hasn't heard it yet."

Yan Shiyu opened his eyes, took a quick look, and then stepped onto the imperial staff, saying lightly, "You play the instrument so wrongly, where did you learn that?"

Ruan Yun just stood there and watched the emperor leave.

Tingxu stepped forward in confusion and asked, "Madam, are you just going to let the emperor go like this?"

Ruan Yun wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "It's only been a short time. There's no rush."

Her piano was broken, so naturally she needed a new one.

As for whether the emperor was willing to listen, she didn't know.

Turning around, although Shu Meiren's figure could no longer be seen, Ruan Jun's lips still curled up slowly, "It's been a long time since I heard someone dare to make me kneel down."

If Huazhi knelt for a night, she would be half exhausted the next day. How could she serve him in bed? Where did Lady Shu get the dignity to do that?

…

Next day

Although the queen was not feeling well, she still forced herself to stand up.

I looked at Miss Shu's empty seat and heard about what happened last night.

The most satisfied among them was undoubtedly Lady Tong.

I heard that last night, Concubine Shu accidentally bumped into the Imperial Concubine. Although I don't know what happened exactly, the Emperor actually ordered Concubine Shu to kneel all night. The Emperor's intention is really obvious.

The Queen smiled faintly, "Sisters, you have just entered the palace, so you must remember the palace rules. I don't want to see what happened to Lady Shu last night again."

The seven newly-entered concubines stood up and said, "We will obey the instructions of the Empress."

The queen glanced at Concubine De and said, "Since Concubine Shu is Concubine De's sister, even though she made a mistake, she has just entered the palace. If you have time, you should go and see Concubine Shu."

The expression on Concubine De's face was extremely indifferent, and one could even see a hint of disgust, "I understand."

Ruan Yun's seat has been vacant all the time and she didn't come today.

Ji Zhaoyi glanced towards Ruan Yun's position and frowned.

…

Jingzhang Palace

When Concubine De returned to the palace, she smashed a set of teacups and said, "You idiot, what a shame!"

Why did she bother to provoke Ruan Jun for no reason?

She had originally thought that entering the palace would help her secure his favor, but she didn't expect that the emperor's favor had not yet left its mark on her. Instead, she no longer had to look forward to the emperor's visit in the future.

De Fei was in a state of great emotional turmoil. She threw the teacup on the ground in anger and asked, "What happened last night?"

Wang Yi knelt down and said, "The person in front of you was too tight-lipped. He only said that Shu Meiren bumped into Gui Fei last night. He couldn't get any other information."

De Fei put her hand over her heart and said, "It seems that the trick used by the noble concubine is very effective. How did she fall out of favor? In my opinion, she was the one who used those low-class tricks!"

Wang Yi frowned, "Madam, do you want to go see Lady Shu?"

Concubine De said in a cold voice, "How can I not go? The Queen has said so herself. If I don't go, it will be embarrassing for the Queen. If the Emperor hears about it, I will lose face too."

Wang Yi understood that this was a dilemma. If the queen went to Suyinxuan, the emperor would be unhappy when he knew about it. But if she didn't go, the queen would lose face in public, and the emperor would definitely reprimand the queen when he knew about it.

He had no choice but to accompany Concubine De to Suyinxuan. As soon as he entered, he saw Concubine Shu lying on the bed with swollen eyes.

Seeing Concubine De coming in, Shu Meiren was a little nervous, "Sister..."

Concubine De was extremely emotional, and she stepped forward and slapped Concubine Shu hard, "Idiot!"

Lady Shu was beaten so badly that she dared not move. Her face felt burning with pain, and it seemed as if something was flowing down.

Concubine De pointed at Lady Shu's nose and said, "I thought you could help me when you entered the palace, but I didn't expect that you would be the first one to sleep with me among the new concubines, and you turned things out like this. You are really useless!"

Tears kept falling down Shu Meiren's face, but she didn't dare to wipe them away.

De Fei's face was full of disgust. "Since you can't get the emperor's favor, you will just die in the palace. You have offended the noble concubine. What kind of life do you want? And your concubine in the mansion, I think there is no need for her to stay."

Shu Meiren panicked instantly, not caring about the injuries on her body, and knelt in front of Defei, "Sister, no, I will listen to you in everything. I won't dare to do it again!"

When Defei slapped her just now, the armor accidentally scratched Shu Meiren's face. Fortunately, the injury was not serious and nothing could be seen.

De Fei said in disgust: "As long as Gui Fei is here, you will never be favored by the emperor in your life."

After saying that, he left directly, but the anger in his heart had not subsided yet.

Wang Yi saw the queen's expression and said softly, "Calm down, queen, and don't take the same view as Lady Shu."

De Fei snorted coldly, "I hope she is a smart person."

…

When Ji Zhaoyi brought the little princess to the Zichen Palace, the emperor was handling state affairs.

The little princess obediently greeted Yan Shiyu, "May your Majesty be well and safe."

Yan Shiyu put down his brush and waved to the little princess, "Xin'er, why are you here today?"

The little princess said in a childish voice, "Xin'er went to see Empress Ying's palace today. She wanted to play with my third brother, but when Empress Ying heard my third brother, she burst into tears. Xin'er also saw that Empress Ying had many wounds on her hands, which was different from before. She told Xin'er that she had to come to Zichen Palace to see my third brother."

"Xin'er." Ji Zhaoyi interrupted the little princess, "Xin'er is young and doesn't understand these things. Your Majesty, please don't blame Xin'er."

Yan Shiyu glanced at Wei Maoyuan, who stepped forward and said, "The Third Prince is in the side hall. Can I take the little princess over there?"

The little princess nodded and left with Wei Maoyuan.

Yan Shiyu watched the little princess leave without saying a word, just glanced at Ji Zhaoyi calmly.

Ji Zhaoyi couldn't help but think of the time when she first entered the palace. The emperor would make her nervous just by looking at her.

After so long, she has changed a lot compared to before.

Ji Zhaoyi walked forward holding up her skirt and used her delicate hands to grind ink for the emperor.

The inner palace was extremely quiet. After a long while, Ji Zhaoyi said, "Sister Ying has been in a bad mood recently. She cut her hands a lot because of practicing the piano. Today, before I entered the palace, I heard Sister Ying crying. After seeing the little princess, Sister Ying is feeling better now."

Yan Shiyu suddenly threw the pen onto the table and asked, "Did I ask you to talk about her?"

Ji Zhaoyi took a step back slowly, bowed and said, "Sister Ying was once held in the emperor's hands. I don't know what sister Ying did wrong, but since the emperor decided to favor sister Ying, why is he sharing this favor with someone else now?"

Yan Shi said sternly, "I am the emperor. Do I have to look at her face to decide who I favor?"

Ji Zhaoyi said calmly, "I dare not, but Sister Ying has only recognized the emperor since she became his concubine. No one else will be in Sister Ying's eyes anymore."

After a pause, seeing that the emperor did not speak, Ji Zhaoyi continued:

"Today, I went to Lin Xuan Palace, and Sister Ying talked about the year when the Emperor celebrated her birthday in the temporary palace. She said that she didn't know if she didn't believe the rumors at that time, that the couple would be happy after the love lock was hung, but the Emperor was really cruel and didn't want to pamper her anymore."

Yan Shiyu suddenly stood up and walked straight out of the inner hall.

Ji Zhaoyi stood up, looked at the emperor's back, and a smile appeared on his lips.

…

Ruan Yun held in her hand the belt that had been embroidered long ago. Her embroidery skills were not as good as those of the embroiderers in the palace, and neither could the other concubines.

But when looking at the belt in her hand, Ruan Jun showed a hint of smile in her eyes.

Ying Ning entered the palace and said to Ruan Yun, "Your Majesty, Ji Zhaoyi has already gone to the Purple Palace."

Ruan Yun sighed softly, "Ji Zhaoyi is smart, I just hope that the emperor can understand what I said. I have troubled Ji Zhaoyi a lot these days."

Ying Ning smiled and said, "I see that Ji Zhaoyi always hopes to do something for the queen."

Ruan Yun said nothing, and then asked, "Is Jingzhang Palace okay today?"

Ying Ning shook her head and said, "The Empress Defei went to the Suyinxuan in a rage, and then returned to the Jingzhang Palace and smashed everything."

"If it wasn't her own wish, the Shu family wouldn't have sent another daughter into the palace." Ruan Yun said calmly, "I think Concubine De felt that she needed another person by her side, so she chose Concubine Shu."

But I didn't expect that Miss Shu would be so stupid.

Lady Shu really had no idea what the harem was.

Even if her position was really lower than Shu Meiren's, Shu Meiren's actions would only displease the emperor.

"Dongdong has been kept in Zichen Palace for too long."

She should let those concubines who have unrest in their hearts know who is sitting in the position of noble concubine and who is the biological mother of the third prince.

Since giving birth to Dongdong, her temper has improved a lot, which makes people mistakenly think that she is someone who is easy to bully.

A little beauty dares to dominate her head. What should she do in the future?

…

After receiving the emperor's order, Wei Maoyuan suddenly remembered something and asked, "Is there anything else we need to prepare?"

Then he thought of something and said, "It's almost the Qiqiao Festival, and it's very lively outside the palace. I think there will be a lot of people."

Yan Shiyu raised his head and said, "No need, that's all."

Wei Maoyuan calmed down and couldn't help but click his tongue. If it was still the Imperial Concubine who was capable, other concubines who dared to do this with men outside would have been sent to the cold palace long ago. But although the Emperor was angry with the Imperial Concubine, it seemed that it was not anger.

During the time that the Third Prince was in the Zichen Palace, the Emperor held the Third Prince in his arms, and his favorite thing to do was to look at the Third Prince's face in a daze.

The third prince is now one year old and has grown up. His face looks very much like the imperial concubine.

Wei Maoyuan had an idea in his mind and asked Xiao Muzi to do the job.

He went to Linxuan Palace in person, saw the imperial concubine, bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, the Emperor will come to Xuan Palace tonight. Please be ready to receive him."