As night fell, the palace lanterns in every palace were lit early in the morning.

Inside Yongning Palace, several palace maids, carrying palace lanterns, retreated backwards from the hall.

The hall grew much darker. A woman took Ah Li's hand and said, "My dear sister, I have been in the palace for many years but have never been favored by the emperor, as have the other concubines in the palace."

So, this person wanted to leave the palace and found a sister who looked exactly like her to impersonate her.

Ahri slowly lowered her head and said, "Sister, go in peace. I will play your part well."

The woman hugged Ah Li, her hand covered with long nail guards resting on Ah Li's back. She said, "Don't worry, sister. The Emperor won't step into the inner palace for a year or two. I've tried to curry favor with him, but the Emperor's heart is unpredictable."

"For other matters, just instruct the head palace maid Qiu Gu to handle them. She is someone my sister brought in from outside the palace, so you can trust her to do so."

After Consort Tong Jiajia finished speaking, she had Ah Li exchange clothes with her.

Ali was very obedient. After changing his clothes, Tong Jiajia nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad."

Tong Jiajia also put three long nail covers on Ali's hands, saying, "You must remember, from now on you will be a Noble Consort. Those of lower status than you cannot and dare not look you in the eye. There are no ones of higher rank than you yet, because the Emperor has not yet established an Empress."

"The rest is up to you. Be smart, understand?"

After Tong Jiajia finished speaking, she took two steps back and then called out to Ali, "Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Ah Li, holding a handkerchief, looked at Tong Jiajia.

Tong Jiajia said, "At this time, you should say, 'Rise.'"

Ah Li then said, "Rise."

Tong Jiajia taught her a few more things, and seeing that Ali had memorized them all, she put on her veil, gave Ali a curtsy, and then left.

After Tong Jiajia left, the head palace maid Qiu Gu came in and asked, "Why has Her Majesty summoned the Second Miss to the palace these past few days?"

Ahri waved her hand wearily and said, "It's been so many years. I've missed you, so I wanted to see you."

Seeing that Ah Li was tired, Qiu Gu went over to her, helped her to the dressing table, and helped Ah Li remove her hairpins, earrings, and other jewelry.

The palace maids outside also came in; some fetched water, some made the bed, and others lit incense.

With Ah Li's eyes closed, Qiu Gu loosened Ah Li's hair, then helped Ah Li wash up, helped her to lie down on the bed, and even lowered the bed curtains.

Qiu Gu still had to keep watch at night, and a young palace maid had already helped her prepare her bedding for the night.

When all was quiet except for the faint flickering candlelight, Ah Li slowly opened her eyes.

At that moment, a woman dressed in palace attire floated in front of Ahri.

With tears streaming down her face, she said, "I messed up the task my sister entrusted to me. The Emperor gave me poisoned wine, and I lost my sister's status as a Noble Consort. Our mother's memorial tablet was also removed from the Tong Clan Ancestral Hall. Please help me, help me to successfully complete the task my sister entrusted to me."

"good."

Ah Li agreed, and the man wiped away his tears, turned around, and went to be reincarnated.

The original owner was timid, but her older sister was bold. In order for their mother's memorial tablet to be placed in the Tong family ancestral hall, her sister entered the palace.

After entering the palace, the original owner's older sister, who was ambitious and had several chance encounters with the emperor, was made a concubine.

On one hand, the Tong family had connections in the previous dynasty, and on the other hand, the original owner's older sister was adept at handling affairs and could understand the emperor's intentions.

However, people's hearts can change in the ten years since they entered the palace.

The original owner's older sister was unwilling to waste her prime years like this. She wanted to become the emperor's favorite concubine, and she also wanted a child.

In the imperial harem, having no children is a tragic thing.

The original owner's older sister started to have chance encounters with the emperor and even bribed the eunuchs around the emperor to find out where the emperor was going as soon as possible.

However, she wasn't the only one who did this; other concubines in the harem also did it.

As a result, no matter how much they fawned over him, the emperor still did not set foot in the inner palace.

The original owner's older sister was tired, so she wanted to leave the palace to take a look.

However, she was a concubine and couldn't just leave whenever she wanted.

She then thought of her younger sister, whom she had left on the estate, who had the audacity to send her to the palace to impersonate her and guard Yongning Palace.

Because the Tong family mansion was full of wolves and tigers, her younger sister was timid and without her protection, she might perish within a few days.

Therefore, before she entered the palace, she arranged for the original owner to live in a manor outside the city, where all the people left behind by their mother were sure to protect her.

Now that she is a Noble Consort, everyone in Yongning Palace is her person. As long as her sister stays in Yongning Palace quietly, she will definitely be fine.

Little did they know that one day, a banquet would be held in the palace.

The original owner, as a concubine, sat in the position closest to the emperor.

But suddenly, an assassin rushed over.

The original owner panicked and couldn't stand up because her legs went weak.

When the emperor reached her and tried to help her up, she suddenly pushed him in front of the assassin.

Fortunately, the commander of the Imperial Guards was no fool and managed to save the emperor in a very dramatic way.

Later, he led his men to kill all the assassins, leaving no one alive.

The original owner was almost scared to death at that time. When the emperor asked her questions, she didn't know how to answer or defend herself.

Some even brought fabricated evidence, claiming that the original owner and the assassin were in cahoots.

The original owner was terrified. She had no idea what was going on and had no evidence to prove her innocence.

Then, the emperor bestowed upon him a cup of poisoned wine.

Because, regardless of whether the original owner was in cahoots with the assassin.

In front of everyone, under the watchful eyes of all, the original owner did indeed push the emperor towards the assassin; this is an undeniable fact.

Those members of the Tong family who served in the previous dynasty were also dismissed from their official posts. However, because they were genuinely unaware of the truth, they were spared their lives and sentenced to exile.

Ah Li looked up at the sky speechlessly. Someone like the original owner was indeed not suitable to live in this harem; she was easily schemed against.

Later, the original owner's older sister had to take over the original owner's identity, but she escaped on the way to exile, and no one knows where she went.

Ah Li pulled the blanket back up. She didn't want to maintain the original owner's persona, which was a headache. She was now playing the role of the original owner's older sister... a concubine.

So, in the days that followed, Ali followed Tong Jiajia's old ways, acting all elegant and noble. He would either have his nails painted or have someone read him stories and say funny things.

Sometimes Qiu Gu would meet with a few eunuchs outside and give them silver.

Ah Li knew that Qiu Gu had people inquire about the emperor's whereabouts, and sometimes she would even have people send soup or pastries to the emperor in the name of the imperial concubine.

On this day, Qiu Gu was dressing up Ah Li and said, "These days, the eunuchs have been bringing things to the Emperor and have left some impression on him. It's time for Your Majesty to make a trip there."

"Okay, that's fine."

Ah Li adjusted the pearl hairpin in her hair, stood up, and walked out with Qiu Gu by the hand.