This was the first time Xu Meiren had heard such a tricky way of responding, and she was so angry at Li Yunyan that she almost fell over backwards.
Is it that she doesn't want to? Or is it that His Majesty simply doesn't come to her?
"You! You vixen!"
Li Yunyan nodded seriously: "Thank you for the compliment, Sister Xu. His Majesty also praised me for being beautiful!"
Pshaw! Was I praising you?!
Consort Xu's beautiful eyes widened in surprise. "You're truly eloquent and persuasive! I wonder what His Majesty sees in you?"
With a powerful family backing her up, and relying on her good relationship with the Empress, Consort Xu is also easily excitable. Provoked by Li Yunyan, she dares to blurt out anything.
The Empress merely frowned upon hearing this, pretending to drink her tea, and did not stop her.
Li Yunyan wasn't angry at her words. Playing the tongue was all about finding the other person's sore spot to humiliate them, but if the opponent had no sense of shame, these words would have no effect whatsoever.
"Sister Xu, do you really not know why?"
Li Yunyan's voice was calm and beautiful, her beautiful eyes seemed to sparkle. She smiled slightly, her slender hands cupping her overly beautiful face, "Of course it's because of my sister's face!"
Her series of movements were so fluid and graceful that even some of the more composed concubines were mesmerized!
With that face, that voice, that figure, let alone His Majesty, even they would find it hard to resist!
Xu Meiren was rendered speechless by her retort. The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. A few clear swallowing sounds were particularly noticeable. They quickly picked up their teacups to cover up their embarrassment.
Seeing Xu Meiren's stunned expression, Li Yunyan smiled and raised her eyebrows at her provocatively.
Xu Meiren could no longer hold back. She slammed her hand on the armchair and pointed at Li Yunyan, yelling, "Li Yunyan! Don't think that just because His Majesty favors you, you can disregard us! You're just pretty, that's all. In a few years, you'll be old and faded just like everyone else!"
After saying that, he didn't forget to flatter the Empress: "I can't compare to Your Majesty the Empress. Your Majesty is dignified, noble, and knows how to behave properly. That's why you've been a long-lasting presence in the harem!"
Many voices echoed this sentiment, their glares piercing Li Yunyan's back, wishing she would be so ashamed that she would disappear immediately!
Li Yunyan slowly finished eating a pastry, then patted the crumbs off her fingertips and took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth.
Many people noticed that the handkerchief in her hand was actually made of Yun brocade!
Immediately, quite a few more people broke their fingernails!
A piece of Yun brocade that is extremely rare, if they were lucky enough to get their hands on it, they would want to wear it on their heads every day. Yet Li Yunyan was willing to use it to make a handkerchief!
What a waste!
Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the azure-colored gauze dress with gold thread embroidery that Li Yunyan was wearing today, as light as mist and as graceful as a dragon, was actually made of dragon silk!
My heart is even more heavy.
I feel an urge to vomit blood.
It's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy!
After wiping her mouth, Li Yunyan looked at Xu Meiren with a sharp gaze. Her voice, no longer as soft as before, became slightly serious. "Xu Meiren, please watch your words!"
Her gaze shifted to the Empress, carrying a clear and resolute air. "Your Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation, naturally dignified and proper. How can we, as concubines, compare our dignity to Her Majesty's? Could it be that Consort Xu is coveting Your Majesty the Empress...?"
After saying that, she realized she had spoken out of turn, so she quickly covered her mouth with a brocade handkerchief and said in a sullen voice, "Oh dear! I accidentally revealed what Lady Xu was thinking. I really didn't mean to! Please forgive me, Lady Xu!"
Consort Xu hurriedly said to the Empress, "Your Majesty! I didn't!"
After saying that, he pointed at Li Yunyan and said, "Li Yunyan, you bitch! How dare you frame me!"
Li Yunyan muttered to herself, "Speaking of which, I'm supposed to be a concubine, right? How come I'm being bossed around like this by a beauty? I wonder if there are any rules in this harem at all?"
Seeing that the fire was about to spread to her, the Empress immediately spoke up to stop it: "Alright! We're all sisters, let's keep the peace and say less!"
Seeing that Li Yunyan was staring straight at her with an air of relentless determination, the Empress reprimanded Consort Xu, "Consort Xu has committed insubordination. She is to be confined to her quarters for half a month and to copy the palace rules one hundred times!"
"Your Majesty the Empress!"
Consort Xu was indignant and was about to complain when the Empress glared at her fiercely, turning her into a quail.
She gripped the back of the chair tightly, her eyes glaring fiercely at Li Yunyan, all because of that bitch Li Yunyan!
She will avenge this humiliation!
The Empress punished Consort Xu, and seeing that Li Yunyan was no longer looking at her, she softened her tone.
"Consort Li, please don't blame Consort Xu for her slip of the tongue today. We are all serving His Majesty. If one side receives more favor, the other side will naturally receive less, which will inevitably cause some dissatisfaction. As His Majesty's favored consort, you should still advise His Majesty to distribute his favors evenly and to continue the family line as soon as possible!"
Li Yunyan lowered her head and replied respectfully, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I understand!"
"Sister Li is so sensible, no wonder His Majesty likes her! It's so nice that everyone is getting along so well! The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, all of you sisters should think carefully about how to please His Majesty!"
"Your Majesty understands!"
That evening, when He Beiyi came to Chonghua Palace again, he was stopped at the palace gate by Li Yunyan, who refused to let him in no matter what.
She was already fed up with him. No matter how many pills she had, she couldn't keep using them up like this every day! If she spent money without earning anything, even a mountain of gold and silver would be gone!
"Yan'er, what's wrong? Did I offend you in any way?" Right now, He Beiyi's eyes and heart are only on Li Yunyan, and he can't even look at the other concubines.
Li Yunyan looked indignant. "Your Majesty, you'd better not come to my place anymore, lest people call you a vixen. If you were to be murdered without a trace one day, you wouldn't even know where to turn to cry!"
He Beiyi grabbed her hand that was pushing him away, and kissed it. "Yan'er, were you wronged today? Tell me, and I'll get revenge for you!"
"I'd rather not." Tears welled up in Li Yunyan's eyes. "I don't want to be scolded all the time."
"Who dares to insult you! I have them dragged out and beheaded!"
With her slender hand covering his lips, Li Yunyan shook her head in disapproval, saying, "Your Majesty is a wise ruler; you cannot do such a thing for the sake of your concubine!"
He Beiyi felt a pang of heartache and hugged her at the gate, kissing her forehead tenderly. The palace servants around them all lowered their heads in response.
"How can Yan'er be so well-behaved? It breaks my heart."
Li Yunyan endured his kisses a few times, then pushed his chest away forcefully, saying in a tearful voice, "Your Majesty should bestow your favors equally! From now on, please come to Chonghua Palace less often!"
After saying that, he covered his face with his sleeve and ran into the hall.
Hearing her sobbing, He Beiyi felt an overwhelming pang of heartache, while his chest burned with rage.
He shouted coldly, "Find out exactly what happened today!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
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