Wei Shuyi could not blame the maidservants around him. After all, the emperor's order was difficult to disobey. Shaking his head and refusing for a concubine he had never met was the most foolish behavior.
Therefore, after learning the truth, she simply said, "I am your master, and this cannot be changed for now. If you receive any orders in the future, you must inform me immediately. This time, let it go."
Jing'an and Jingning thanked her profusely and left, leaving her alone leaning against the table, full of thoughts.
She took out the paper hidden in the ancient book, added a few words on it, and then recalled it carefully -
Empress Meng, the second daughter of the current Prime Minister, held a high position of power. When Wei was in trouble, it was Prime Minister Meng and his powerful faction who demanded her immediate and severe punishment. They didn't even allow her a chance to defend herself, their anxious attitude betraying a strange aura.
Noble Consort Jin, surnamed Qu, was the eldest daughter of a 5th-rank imperial official and a favorite of the emperor. During the imperial selection process, she far surpassed her peers, achieving the rank of Shunyi. She subsequently became the exclusive favorite of the imperial concubines, rising through the ranks within a few months, leaping several levels! Even without a child, she was exceptionally promoted to Noble Consort, a testament to the emperor's deepest love!
Even such a minor official was able to speak out for justice when the Wei family was implicated in the conspiracy case. Although the results were minimal, she is still grateful to this day.
Especially after meeting Concubine Jin in person, her gentle and virtuous image once again saved her and deepened her favor for her.
"The current Empress's maternal family has always been loyal to the Emperor and patriotic, eager to eliminate the Wei family immediately. The only one who dared to dissent and demanded a thorough investigation by the Emperor was a minor official."
King Lian’s words are still fresh in my mind.
Just as she was lost in thought, the ink condensed on the tip of the pen dripped onto the paper, and with a "pa" sound, it submerged the middle word of "Noble Concubine Jin".
"What are you doing?"
The smell of ambergris wafted in, and Xie Yanci reached out to take the paper. Seeing the scattered concubines on it, he couldn't help but feel curious.
Wei Shuyi hurriedly got down from the bed and saluted: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May Your Highness live long and healthy."
"Sit down, no need to be so formal."
She sat down as instructed and glanced at the paper in the emperor's hand. "I have a bad memory, so I can only use a crude method to remember the ladies I have met. When I have nothing to do, I recall their appearance over and over again. The next time I see them, I won't mistake them for someone else and cause trouble for no reason."
"If Ah Shu wants to know, just ask me directly. Why bother with so much trouble?"
"Your Majesty is the one who handles the major affairs of the world. I dare not bother you with such trivial matters." Wei Shuyi retreated into her respectful body and answered in a serious tone, "But Your Majesty... why did you come to Lin'an Palace?"
Xie Yanci said nothing, put down the paper, and began to look at her carefully.
She was still wearing the same plain long dress, a crescent-white hue that didn't quite match her fair complexion. A few touches of light pink added a touch of allure. The cross-collared skirt had a wide neckline, and a few strands of her hair, casually gathered up, dangled and explored the gap, inviting the imagination.
"emperor?"
Wei Shuyi didn't hear a response for a long time. Puzzled, she looked up and happened to meet his dark eyes. A faint crimson hue appeared, causing her heart to skip a beat. She subconsciously recalled the night she stayed in Changsheng Palace.
Because of this, a blush appeared on her cheeks, making her look particularly cute!
Xie Yanci's eyes swept across her clothes that tightly bound her fullness: the creamy touch, the long hair like a waterfall, and the afterglow of several passionate emotions all entered his mind.
His throat rolled, and he looked at the candlelight in front of him unnaturally: "I heard that Song Wanyi was angry today, so I came to see her."
"It was my fault for being impolite and causing Sister Wanyi's anger. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"You need to change this habit of kneeling before others." He was the first to support her body. "You are no longer a palace maid. You are the master. Don't kneel easily."
She stood up hastily like a frightened little rabbit, and the silk slipped away from his hands quickly, leaving only a wisp of fragrance.
"I understand, thank you, Your Majesty."
Wei Shuyi's secrets were touched upon again.
As a lady from a noble family, she was always the one to be bowed and saluted by others. How could she have developed this habit?
The Wei family fell apart overnight, and she was forced to live a miserable life, learning to read people's expressions. Kneeling down and apologizing in time had become a way of survival.
As an emperor who ascended the throne smoothly, he didn't understand.
"In that case, I will leave first. You can have a good rest."
"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell."
Song Wanyi was summoned to the emperor's palace, and she scolded the servants less often. When she saw Wei Shuyi on weekdays, she changed her attitude of wanting to beat her with a stick to vent her anger when they first met, and instead became much closer to her.
Meanwhile, He Changzai also found opportunities to visit Sang Yuxuan, always bearing gifts. Unable to refuse, she carefully selected a few treasures from the storehouse and, after having them examined by the imperial physician, dared to return the gift.
Jing Ning said with a smile, "My lady, you are being too cautious! He Changzai is the kindest person in our Lin'an Palace. Not only the servants in her palace, but even us have received her favors to some extent. She would not have any bad intentions!"
"It won't happen with Concubine He, but it might not happen with others." Jing An wiped the vase and took over the conversation, "Now that she is pregnant, there are so many eyes in the palace watching her! What if someone uses the young lady's hand to do something and murder the heir, then..."
"That's right! I thought the matter was too simple!"
Wei Shuyi listened to her personal maid chatting, but her mind was elsewhere.
During these days of getting along, He Chang appeared to be good-natured, smooth-talking, and never offending anyone. In reality, he was constantly, intentionally or unintentionally, revealing to her what was going on in the palace. Whenever she wanted to ask him about it, he would change the subject and talk about other things, or make excuses to evade the question.
The person at the center of the topic is Song Wanyi, the mistress of Lin'an Palace.
"Her father, I heard, works for the Emperor. Although his position is not high, he has considerable power!"
"All the concubines in the palace who have been promoted to the fifth rank or above have either relied on the help of their relatives from the previous dynasty or their own efforts. Only our Wanyi is different—"
"It seems like the Empress is her backer. As long as we listen to Sister Wanyi, we will naturally benefit!"
…
The fragmentary information pieced together the forces behind the arrogant Song Wanyi.
Unfortunately, the current queen was involved again.
Wei Shuyi was staring at the painting in a daze when he heard the eunuch outside report: "My lady, people from Shoukang Palace are here."
"Please come in!"
The person who came was Yin Zhu: "Liu Ying! Ah, you see, I still can't change my words... Min promised, the Queen Mother sent invitations to all the palaces, you must come!"
She took the flowery paper and glanced at it briefly: "Is the winding water flowing smoothly?"
"Exactly! The Queen Mother loves poetry and prose, as you know. Coincidentally, the weather is getting warmer, so she specially called the concubines in the palace to hold a banquet. This is a great opportunity! If you win the jackpot, your position might even be promoted—"
For others, it may be a good thing.
But this goes against her original intention.
Seeing that she was silent, Yin Zhu waved her hand: "Come, come closer! The Queen Mother also said..."
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