Chapter 9: Rivals Meet
Yonghe Palace.
When Xue Youli arrived, many concubines had already gathered in the hall.
She walked in quietly and was about to sit down when someone called her, "Sister Xue, I didn't expect that we would meet again in the palace."
Xue Youli turned around and saw that the person who greeted him was Song Jingsi.
That scumbag Meng Xingzhi dumped the original owner just because he wanted to climb up the big tree of the Song family through Song Jingsi.
After all, the palace examination is imminent, and Song Jingsi's grandfather is the imperial tutor of the current dynasty. If he can get some guidance from him, he will definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Unfortunately, Song Jingsi was not as stupid as the original owner. While keeping Meng Xingzhi hanging, she submitted the list into the palace. After learning that she was selected, she kicked Meng Xingzhi, the gigolo, without hesitation.
Meng Yishu suffered a great loss at the hands of Shen Ruolan, so the first thing she did after arriving at Yonghe Palace was to cling to Song Jingsi.
At this time, Meng Yishu stood beside Song Jingsi like a little follower. After meeting Xue Youli's gaze, she gave her a vicious look.
Xue Youli ignored her and politely saluted Song Jingsi, "Meet Sister Song. I haven't seen you for a long time. You look even more radiant than before."
As he spoke, he also praised Song Jingsi's outfit today.
Once you enter the palace, you have to learn to judge the situation. Song Jingsi's status is higher than hers, and there was no substantial conflict between the two before they entered the palace. At this time, if she flatters him appropriately, Song Jingsi will naturally not deliberately make things difficult for her.
As expected, Song Jingsi was flattered by her praise and even forgot to find fault with her. He suppressed the corner of his mouth and snorted, "It seems that you have some taste."
Xue Youli smiled, "It's mainly because my sister has good taste." Flattery never wears out.
Xue Qingyao, who was sitting opposite them, couldn't help but darken her eyes when she saw the two of them talking happily.
On the way to pay her respects, she timed it perfectly and deliberately instigated Shen Ruolan to attack Meng Yishu in order to create hatred for Xue Youli.
She originally thought that with Meng Yishu as a troublemaker, Song Jingsi and Xue Youli would definitely be extremely jealous when they met.
Who would have thought that they would get along so well!
Is this reasonable?
At this time, with the sound of rapid footsteps, Rong Qingyue sat down in the main seat surrounded by palace ladies.
Everyone stood up and greeted her, saying in unison, "Greetings to Concubine Rong, long live the Queen."
Rong Qingyue glanced at everyone and smiled kindly, "Sisters, please get up."
Xue Youli's position was neither high nor low, she sat among the concubines. She raised her eyes and looked towards the main seat.
[Name: Rong Qingyue, 22 years old, was canonized as Rong Fei after Murong Che ascended the throne. Currently, she is the woman with the highest status in the harem and the mother of Princess Changle.]
Rong Qingyue has gentle and dignified facial features. She wears a royal blue Shu brocade palace dress embroidered with large auspicious clouds. It is gorgeous yet dignified, highlighting her noble status and majestic aura.
She was one year older than the emperor. The two had known each other since childhood and had a deep relationship. She was the first concubine the emperor married and the only concubine in the harem who had children.
"The sisters who entered the palace this time are all more beautiful than each other. They are all top beauties and really lovable." Concubine Ning looked at these young and beautiful faces, tilted her head and glanced at Concubine Li who was wearing a luxurious long dress with white and gold embroidery.
Concubine Li lazily raised her eyelids and scanned the faces of these newcomers. "They are just okay in appearance. Only two or three of them look acceptable."
Concubine Ning smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Sister, you are already very beautiful, so your standards are naturally higher than ours. I wonder which ones have caught your eye?"
Concubine Li raised her nail polish-applied hand and pointed at Xue Youli and Xue Qingyao, "Those two sisters are pretty."
Concubine Chun suffers from heart disease and is weak, so she seldom goes out. However, she came for this occasion today.
She listened to the conversation between the two and nodded with a smile, "The two sisters are so beautiful at such a young age. Not to mention the emperor, I am also very happy to see them."
Rong Fei, who was sitting on the main seat, waved to Xue Youli and Xue Qingyao and asked with a smile, "What are your names? Come forward and let me see them."
Xue Youli and Xue Qingyao immediately stepped forward to salute.
The two of them were wearing light green palace dresses of the same color. One was beautiful and charming, and the other was bright and cute. When they stood together, the entire hall became brighter.
"My concubine, the noble lady Xue Qingyao——"
"The beautiful concubine Xue Youli - pays homage to the Empress Rong!"
Some of the new concubines in the palace also boasted of their beauty. When they heard them praising Xue Youli and Xue Qingyao's beauty, they all looked at them sideways.
Dozens of eyes fell on the two of them at once, and then they lowered their heads silently.
They are indeed beautiful, one is a charming beauty, the other is a pure and lively beauty, they are incomparable.
Rong Fei asked curiously, "You both have the surname Xue, so are you sisters?"
Xue Qingyao, "No."
Xue Youli, "Yes."
Rong Fei listened to their completely different answers and raised her eyebrows, "Why are your answers different? Is there a secret between you two that we can't know?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall became inexplicably tense.
The other concubines sensed something unusual in the two's answers and craned their necks to stare at them, their curiosity stirring.
Xue Qingyao originally thought that Xue Youli would be like her and would sever their relationship without hesitation.
When Xue Qingyao saw Xue Youli nod just now, her heart was in her throat.
Although her identity as the daughter of Lingzhou prefect was concealed perfectly by that man, how could she forget that Xue Youli knew her dirty past very well!
Once her false identity is exposed, it will be a capital crime of deceiving the emperor!
Xue Youli was very close to Xue Qingyao, and was able to quickly catch a glimpse of panic in Xue Qingyao's eyes.
Oh!
It turns out she still knows how to be afraid.
Concubine Li was not afraid of the excitement. She pursed her red lips and looked at Xue Qingyao with a smile, "Mr. Xue, do you know each other?"
Although Xue Qingyao was reborn, Xue Youli was the biggest variable after her rebirth.
This woman was going against her and clearly wanted to kill her.
She had just entered the palace and had no foundation or backing, so she could not offend anyone for the time being.
She weighed the matter in her mind and decided to deny it to the death.
If Xue Youli dared to expose her past, she would drag her down with her even if it meant dying together with her!
With the determination to burn his boats, Xue Qingyao suddenly calmed down a lot.
She bowed to the four concubines and spoke softly, "Before I entered the palace, I had never met Lady Xue!"
"But Lady Xue claims that you are sisters. What's going on?" The one who asked the question was Concubine Ning, and she looked at Xue Youli with a puzzled look in her eyes.
Xue Youli replied calmly, "Sister Xue is right. I did not know Lingzhou's most talented woman before entering the palace. But after entering the palace, we both serve the emperor. Aren't we sisters?"
Concubine Li was stunned at first, then she laughed, "Lady Xue is such a wonderful person!"
Xue Qingyao couldn't help but sneer in her heart when she saw that Xue Youli had won Concubine Li's favor with just a few words.
Originally, she thought Xue Youli was difficult to deal with, but she didn't expect that this idiot would be targeted by Concubine Li, the most arrogant and domineering of the four concubines. She will have a hard time in the future!
She lived her life again, and she would no longer be trapped by love. She took advantage of that man's power to enter the palace, and her goal was to become the empress.
She wants to seize the initiative, firmly grasp the emperor's heart, and become the most noble woman in all of Jiuzhou!