The news that Concubine Jin was punished by being forced to reflect on her mistakes and copy scriptures quickly spread throughout the Yonghua Palace.
After the meeting was dismissed today, Concubine Wen caught up with Wei Shuyi and said, "Sister, what a good plan! It's not easy to get the emperor to personally punish you."
"Sister, you're overpraising me. In truth, I didn't do anything. The Imperial Concubine's current fate is entirely her own fault and has nothing to do with me."
"Sister, you don't have to be so modest. I know everything in my heart!" Noble Lady Wen couldn't help but sigh. "I know part of the inside story. I certainly couldn't achieve such an effect just by planning alone. It's better to tell you everything, sister, and get twice the result with half the effort!"
Wei Shuyi stopped and looked around: "What did you find out, sister?"
"My eldest sister has always been adept at moving people with her emotions. I heard she's planning to dance for the Emperor, reenacting the scene of their first encounter!" Noble Lady Wen fiddled with the gold bracelet on her wrist. "On the Qixi Festival, if they have sex at midnight, they will surely give birth to a gifted prince. Sister, do you believe this prophecy?"
"I don't believe it."
"I've seen my sister kneeling down to worship the gods and Buddhas, performing rituals more than once, and I thought she was similar to the Empress Dowager, taking those invisible and intangible statues as her refuge. Why don't you believe it?"
Wei Shuyi smiled and responded, "As long as her beautiful dream is shattered in one fell swoop, the prophecy will become false. Why should I believe it?"
"So, sister has already figured out what to do?"
"Yes, there is an outline, but it has not yet been finalized." She asked Lady Wen seriously, "If I make a mistake this time, my sister will not avoid suspicion again, right?"
"Sister, what are you talking about? I was confused before and didn't see the situation clearly. With your ability alone, even if I have to mobilize the power of my Qu family to help you out, it's worth it."
"Then I'll be relieved."
When they reached the fork in the road, Concubine Wen went left to the Yanx Palace, while Wei Shuyi ordered the palace servants carrying the sedan chair to go to the Yonghe Palace.
Wen Yu followed beside her: "Miss, are you planning to cooperate with her? I am always worried that she will change her attitude according to the situation and may betray you at a critical moment to save herself."
"Then drag her into this as well. Once she becomes an accomplice, she won't be able to completely clear herself. Then, no matter how reluctant she is, she will have to run around for me."
Before they could say a few words, they arrived outside the gate of Yonghe Palace.
Just then, Zhen Changzai was leading the attendants inside——
"Sister Zhen!"
"Hmm? Why is Jia Wanrong here? I pay my respects to Jia Wanrong."
The other party still insisted on being polite. There are rules of etiquette that cannot be changed, whether in front of others or behind others.
Wei Shuyi took her arm and continued to walk inside: "There are some things I want to talk to you about."
"Is it urgent? You never come directly to my palace after your morning and evening visits."
"Yes, not even a little later."
Tong Jun understood the seriousness of the situation and decisively closed the main door of the main hall. He and Wen Yu stood guard outside on either side to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
Wei Shuyi sat next to Zhen Changzai: "I don't know if it's my illusion, but I always feel that my sister is particularly concerned about Wei's affairs..."
"I've said all the things that didn't happen. I'm only saying this because I'm interested in the conversation."
Compared to the panic last time, Zhen Changzai was obviously prepared, and the answer he gave was understandable.
She saw through the hidden flaw and said to herself, "I have never seen such a story. However, I have heard news related to the Wei family's legitimate daughter from different people, including the emperor."
As expected, Zhen Changzai's gaze changed again. She wanted to ask about the truth immediately, but she didn't know how to start, so she could only sit there anxiously.
"I've read in a storybook that the Wei family only had one legitimate daughter and son; the rest of their children were born to concubines. The Duke and Duchess of Wei devoted their entire lives to educating them, which led to them becoming outstanding individuals at a very young age..."
The further he spoke, the more unconcealed the longing on Zhen Chang's face became.
Wei Shuyi asked with some amusement: "Sister, why do you remember other people's family affairs so clearly?"
"Because I want to meet this girl." As soon as she finished speaking, she hurriedly looked for a way out. "But unfortunately, the late emperor wiped out the entire Wei family, so I will never have the chance to meet her."
"Just want to get to know me? Don't you want to take my place?"
Zhen Changzai was shocked: "What, what?! She's already dead! What role am I supposed to take?"
"If my guess is correct, the Emperor is acquainted with the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, and they had a childhood sweetheart relationship." Wei Shuyi patiently persuaded her, "And the Major General also mentioned to me that the Duke of Wei had brought his legitimate daughter into the palace many times and had a close relationship with the princes and princesses. This should be true. My sister is eager to learn about the past, but asking someone like me will definitely not give her the answer. If we can find out from the Emperor..."
"No, I can't. I am of little influence and have only been summoned a few times since entering the palace. Moreover, the affairs of the Wei family are taboos in the palace. How could the emperor possibly tell me this?"
Wei Shuyi held her hand and explained gently, "You are intelligent. You would not be so foolish as to ask directly and displease the Emperor. What you lack now is a favor. Once you have the Emperor's favor, will you still be afraid of his hasty words and flattery?"
Zhen Changzai had already begun to waver.
Her purpose of entering the palace was to fulfill her father's wish and find the orphan of the Wei family in the huge Yonghua Palace.
But her power was too weak. An unfavored concubine could only command the servants of the courtyard. To find a woman hiding her identity in such a place, she could only achieve her goal by relying on the power of the king.
"Jia Wanrong, what I'm about to say isn't self-deprecation, but rather a fact I've witnessed for days." She sighed, "Everyone says the Emperor isn't a womanizer, and I agree. But every time he returns to Yonghe Palace, he goes straight to Concubine Xu's gentle embrace, indulging himself in her pleasures. Does this mean the women he loves share a similar temperament to Concubine Xu? Someone like me simply can't attract the Emperor, and that's why I'm left to fend for myself in this West Wing Palace."
"That's not the case." Wei Shuyi denied such speculation. "After all, he is the emperor with three thousand beauties. If the woman is not particularly favored by him, he will not take the initiative to visit her. Sister, you are too conventional. If you don't take the first step, how can you expect the emperor to look back and see you?"
"Is that so?"
"I've accompanied the Emperor on numerous occasions, so my guess about what the Emperor likes is naturally more accurate than yours."
Zhen Changzai felt relieved and asked softly, "Then...what should I do?"
"Come closer and listen."
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