If we were to find a normal person among these people, it would probably be only Mu Han.

The kiss at that time was as light as a feather, but it was hotter than the desert

The gesture of finally breaking up is more heroic and beautiful than the music

Being unhappy is always happier than not having your smile.

What disappears always makes me yearn for it, the petals that always bloom, is there enough love?

The best prescription for all ages, reminiscence makes me live in the midsummer

Forget about the other ugly things.

Thank you for the past, which covered the wilderness in my dreams with lotus flowers

I shed all my tears just because I am glad that the past is worth the care

No matter how terrible the world is, you are always there, and I still care about you.

I always keep you, still worth caring about

The candlelight illuminates the old violin, making it impossible for me to be hypocritical

The warm feeling of the ice bar did exist and cannot be erased

Happy memories are more fascinating than actually being together

Unhappiness becomes beautiful and disappears in the protagonist who creates God

There is no decay, memories make me live in the midsummer

In the sad and gentle melody of "Lotus", Yu Yan's ethereal and soft voice also sounded just right.

As soon as he opened his mouth, he attracted the attention of everyone in the audience.

Anyone who has heard this song will be immersed in the memories of the past.

People who had never heard of this song, or those who had heard of it, all widened their eyes and looked at Yu Yan in disbelief.

Is this the legendary divine song, "Lotus"?

This song was very popular at that time. Although Du Yunge released the lyrics and music score, there were only a few people who could play and sing it in its entirety.

Even among the few songs, there are still some pitfalls, but it’s not because the song is difficult.

Instead, it is completely different from the style of current music, and without anyone's guidance, it can be said that the song is neither a good song nor a good tune, which is a complete insult to the song.

But Yu Yan is different. Judging from her performance, she has completely immersed herself in the artistic conception of the lyrics. Her sad brows, delicate and sincere voice, and even Du Yunge's difficult transition between true and false voices were perfectly displayed.

Such an ethereal voice shocked everyone as soon as it opened, especially Qiu Zhen and Wei Yuchen.

Mu Han watched coldly, taking in the expressions of both men.

Qiu Zhen narrowed her charming eyes, and murderous intent suddenly appeared.

Wei Yuchen stared at Yu Yan, with a layer of light frost on his handsome face.

Suddenly, the entire Nuanyu Terrace was so quiet that even breathing stopped...

Compared with the reactions of the emperor and Concubine Zhen, others were immersed in this slightly sad song.

It is said that this song was composed and written by the late queen herself for the emperor.

Before this song was created, the late queen and the emperor had had an unpleasant experience, which almost led to their separation.

The late queen also wrote this song with this mentality, hoping that the other party would have a better life after breaking up.

Precisely because this song is of extraordinary significance and was written for the emperor, it is a song that shocked the world.

Looking at the title of this song, it is not difficult to guess why Yu Yan chose this song to play.

Corresponding to Qiu Zhen's "Ink Lotus" painting, this poem "Lotus" can definitely be said to complement each other.

It is particularly worth mentioning that there are twin lotus flowers among the black lotus, and the lotus is full of the late queen's memories and prayers for the emperor, which has extraordinary meaning.

With the help of the late queen's divine song and Nong Yue's great assist, Yu Yan won beautifully and well-deservedly!

After the song ended, the audience burst into warm applause, led by Wei Yuchen with a complicated expression.

The sentimental Concubine Xi even shed tears of emotion.

On the other hand, Qiu Zhen looked at Yu Yan with a complicated expression, his heart filled with shock and confusion. How did she do it?

How on earth did she do it?

"Why did you choose this piece of music? Did you choose this piece of music from the very beginning?"

After the enthusiastic response of praise, Wei Yuchen suddenly uttered these words lightly, seemingly casually, but in fact every word was precious.

From the moment she chose this song, Yu Yan knew what she was going to face, so she was not nervous. She looked at Wei Yuchen with clear eyes and answered honestly.

"Yes, ever since Concubine Zhen asked the question, I wanted to choose this song to respond. However, at that time, I simply wanted to play music and didn't think about singing. But when I saw Nong Yue, I suddenly thought that it would be better if I responded with the famous song of the late Queen. So, I did it."

"Where did you learn this song?"

Wei Yuchen stared at Yu Yan with a sharp and intimidating look.

Yu Yan looked normal, without any nervousness in her response.

"Your Majesty, the late queen's Lotus has long been circulated throughout the world. There are many lyrics and scores available, and some people have sung it. Although it is intermittent, one can still get the general idea of ​​it."

"I have no other talents, but I love zither music. This song is my favorite. I studied it for a long time before I was able to sing it perfectly. Today, I am singing this song to accompany Nong Yue, as a sign of my respect for the late queen."

"Is that true?"

Obviously, Wei Yuchen had strong doubts about Yu Yan's identity.

"Whether it is true or not, Your Majesty, please go ahead and investigate. Yu Yanxing has always walked the right path, and is not afraid of his own shadow, or ghosts knocking on his door!"

Yu Yan's eyes were clear and she spoke every word carefully, looking at Wei Yuchen very seriously.

Wei Yuchen had his own doubts in his heart, but he didn't intend to pursue them further here, and nodded slightly.

"My beloved concubine, how can I not believe it? But... do you know what this song means to me and the late queen?"

Yu Yan naturally understood the circumstances under which this piece of music was created. She nodded immediately, walked out gracefully from behind the piano table, and knelt respectfully in front of him.

"Your Majesty, I know that 'Lotus' has a special meaning. I am of such a lowly status that I am not worthy to sing this song in front of Your Majesty. But I also know that because this song contains the late Queen's respect and love for Your Majesty, I should sing it with Nong Yue on this occasion."

Wei Yuchen raised his eyebrows and motioned for her to continue.

Yu Yan took a deep breath, not looking at Qiu Zhen's resentful expression that looked like he wanted to eat her, and said expressionlessly.

"Firstly, I am using Nong Yue to sing the late queen's old works with the utmost respect to commemorate her."

"Secondly, the sentiment contained in 'Lotus' echoes the twin lotuses in Empress Zhen's painting 'Ink Lotus', and together they express the respect that I and my sisters have for the emperor."

…

"Yu Yan, you are bold enough!"

Wei Yuchen's voice was neither hot nor cold, but his tone was mocking and sarcastic.

How could Yu Yan not hear the chill in his words?

He just lowered his head and knelt on the ground respectfully: "If I have offended you, please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Wei Yuchen looked at her quietly for a moment, curled his eyes, and smiled meaningfully.

"This song is well sung. I have a reward for you. A big reward. What do you think?"

"You deserve a reward. Although this Lotus is not as perfect and moving as the late queen's, it also has its own characteristics. Lady Yu's voice is soft and beautiful, which adds a bit of playfulness compared to the late queen's majestic and sharp voice. I like it very much."

"I dare to speak for Lady Yu. Your Majesty, it is thanks to Lady Yu's singing of the Lotus that I can recall the moments I spent with the late Queen more clearly and deeply through this tune."

"Although it's a little inappropriate to sing 'Lotus' on this occasion, since the late Queen made this song known to the world, she wanted everyone to witness the deep love between her and the Emperor. The late Queen once said, 'Every love story is made after countless setbacks.' Doesn't this song express that?"

Concubine Xi is indeed a loyal supporter of the late queen. Look, such a high evaluation surprised Yu Yan greatly. What's more, she even personally pleaded with the emperor on her behalf, which really surprised and delighted Yu Yan.

"Empress Xi, how can I, your concubine, be worthy of your kindness?"

Concubine Xi gave her a kind smile, and looking at the face that looked similar to Yun Ge, Concubine Xi's eyes gradually blurred.

After reading this, is there anything Wei Yuchen doesn’t understand?

He immediately bent down and helped Concubine Xi up with his own hands: "You, aren't you exempted from the kneeling ceremony? You are not feeling well, get up quickly."

"Then Your Majesty, Lady Jade..."

"You have said so much. If I refuse again, wouldn't it be a waste of your kindness? Okay, Beauty Yu, get up too."

Concubine Xi's face lit up with joy. She quickly turned around, helped Lady Yu up, and looked at her affectionately.

"It's very quiet there. I haven't heard such a moving piece of music for a long time. When you have time, come to my Yangde Palace."

"I will never let your majesty down!"

Yu Yan hurriedly stepped forward and kowtowed to Concubine Xi to express her gratitude.

Next, it was Concubine Lan and Concubine Yi's turn. They both expressed their gratitude and tried to please Yu Yan one after another. Only Qiu Zhen looked at Yu Yan with an unexpected expression, feeling very complicated.

Yu Meiren's unexpected performance brought the banquet to a climax, and this lotus-viewing banquet specially held for her also made Yu Yan herself the biggest winner.

Although Wei Yuchen had many questions in his mind, he couldn't ask them in front of so many people. He could only quit while he was ahead and leave early.

After the emperor left, the dignified image of the concubines instantly fell.

Concubine Xi has never liked various gatherings in the harem. As soon as the emperor left, she followed him away on the grounds of feeling unwell. Before leaving, she did not forget to express her goodwill to Yu Yan. In the eyes of other concubines, this scene was absolutely naked jealousy.

Everyone knows that although Concubine Xi never goes out all year round, no one dares to underestimate her status and position.

The emperor also respected her very much. Even though she was devoted to Buddhism and didn't care about worldly affairs, the emperor would stay with her for two or three days every month.

Looking at the entire harem, the only ones who could enjoy such treatment were Concubine Xi and Concubine Zhen.

If Concubine Xi was an alternative existence in this harem, then Concubine Zhen was the symbol of favor in this harem.

Zhenfei's favor was not just for a day or two, but remained the same for twelve years, which was definitely not an ordinary favor.

However, whether she was truly favored, perhaps only Zhenfei herself knew.

Immediately afterwards, Concubine Lan and Concubine Yi, two concubines who had a certain status and position in the harem, also felt that there was no need to stay any longer, so they nodded slightly to Concubine Zhen and Concubine Jing, and then left leisurely.

Then, among the remaining concubines, only Concubine Zhen and Concubine Jing had the highest ranks. As the host of this Lotus Banquet, Concubine Jing hurriedly greeted everyone and let the programs arranged in advance appear one by one.

Zhen Fei was about to leave, but when she saw the beautiful lady Yu sitting there calmly, she suddenly became interested and sat down again.

As soon as Zhenfei sat down, the other concubines who wanted to leave had to suppress their restlessness and sit down.

However, in the following process, without the emperor present, naturally no concubines were willing to perform on stage. Basically, everyone gathered in groups of three or four and chatted.

Among them, Yu Meiren had just arrived and no one spoke to her.

Concubine Zhen and Concubine Jing have never gotten along, so naturally they couldn't get along.

In addition to Zhenfei's status, Zhenfei and Yu Meiren were the only ones left in the whole venue and no one paid any attention to them.

Qiu Zhen has never been a passive person, she likes to take the initiative.

Therefore, under such circumstances, she stood up slowly and walked to the side of Jade Beauty, with her beautiful face full of friendliness.

"Sister Yu, it's boring to just sit here. There are many beautiful sights near Nuanyu Terrace. Are you interested in going there with me?"

Since you, Concubine Zhen, have come to invite me personally, who would dare not give you face?

Yu Yan heard this and raised her beautiful face calmly: "Empress Zhenfei has invited me, I dare not disobey, please."

Qiu Zhen curled the corners of his lips, as if he was very satisfied with her ability to know the current situation. He nodded slightly and walked out of Nuanyu Terrace first.

Seeing this, Concubine Jing opened her mouth and was about to speak, but she suddenly remembered something and swallowed the words back.

He watched Yu Yan leave quietly without saying a word.

The other concubines were not too surprised when they saw this.

Yu Yan is now the emperor's new favorite. As the most powerful woman in the harem, how could Concubine Zhen let her go?

Anyway, it's none of their business how these two people fight. Some even say without hesitation that if they fight, the people below can just reap the benefits, so why not?

Then, when he looked at Yu Yan's expression, there was more of sympathy. Who didn't know Qiu Zhen's temper?

She has always been the most jealous woman around the emperor, especially today when Concubine Zhen lost face with Yu Yan. If she is asked to go out now, I am afraid that even if Yu Yan does not lose her life, she will be skinned alive.

Perhaps the expressions of these women were too real, so Qiu Zhen couldn't help but curl his lips in self-mockery after seeing them, and looked back at Yu Yan with a smile: "Why, aren't you afraid?"

Although the woman in front of him had a smile on her lips, there was no smile in her eyes. Especially since these seemingly heart-to-heart talks actually contained various traps, Yu Yan knew very well that it was only a matter of time before she would confront Qiu Zhen.

But she didn't expect that the other party would think so highly of her. He asked her out when they met in public for the first time. Now, he even asked her why she was not afraid?

Is she scared?

No, she is not afraid. As early as when she first entered the palace, she had already forgotten her life and property. Her existence is just for revenge, revenge, revenge!

That’s right, she, Yu Yan, was also one of the survivors among the many officials who were implicated in the Du family’s massacre. There were many people like her in the Zihuang Palace, all with the same goal of fighting against Wei.

She knew clearly that the woman in front of her was the illegitimate daughter of the Du family, an illegitimate daughter who could not be seen in public.

It's funny to say that although Qiu Zhen's identity has never been made public, the fact that she is Du Ruhui's illegitimate daughter is known to everyone in the harem, and it has even become a secret that cannot be spoken but is known in everyone's heart.

Yu Yan couldn't explain how she felt about the Du family.

Say you hate them, but the Du family died a hundred times more miserably than them.

It’s hard to say that they don’t hate them, but all of them were implicated because of the Du family.

However, when mentioning the people who adopted them twelve years ago, that is, the people behind the current Zihuang Palace, it seems that they are people with deep roots in the Du family.

It was because of the Du family that they risked their lives to save them from the enemy's guillotine, allowing them to be reborn. Now they are still alive, all thanks to the Du family.

Therefore, no one can understand their inner conflicts, but what is certain is that the Wei family is the unanimous target of everyone in the Zihuang Palace.

What Yu Yan didn't know was that the Zihuang Palace twelve years ago was not the Zihuang Palace of today at all, and it didn't even have anything to do with Shangguan Qingxi, who was just a day old at that time. What could a child who was just a hundred days old do?

Unless she is really insane, or the people who obey her orders are crazy, no one would take a little kid seriously.

At that time, she was still a baby lying in someone else's arms and drinking milk. How could she possibly save the people who were implicated by the Du family?

All of this was done by Mu Han behind Qiu Zhen and the forces behind her.

After the person was rescued by them, he was taken away from Siyou Kingdom for five full years.

Five years later, these people were released back to Siyou Kingdom.

At first they were very scared, afraid that they would be hunted down by the royal family again.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they landed, an organization called Zihuang Palace took them in.

During these ten years, they grew up under the protection of the Purple Phoenix Palace, acquired a skill, and had the minimum qualifications to take revenge.

As for Mu Han's secret, unless she wants to tell it, even Shangguan Qingxi will not be able to know her secret.

Yu Yan probably could never have imagined that the Mu Han standing behind her at this moment was actually the savior who saved them back then.

As for Mu Han, he obviously had no intention of revealing his plans.

Although the rules of Zihuang Palace are very strict, there are still traitors, so she cannot afford the risk.

This Yu Yan, if she has ability, she will live, if she doesn't, she will die. Survival of the fittest has been extremely cruel since ancient times. Even she can't help at all.

"Your Highness, you are joking. It is an honor for Yu Yan to accompany you for a walk here. How can I be afraid? Yu Yan is not afraid."

"Oh? Didn't you see the expressions of those people just now? Haven't you heard of my personality? Why do you trust me so much?"

Yu Yan shook her head calmly: "They are them, Yu Yan is Yu Yan. If I have done anything wrong, it is only natural for Her Majesty to punish me. If I have done nothing wrong, even if Her Majesty deliberately throws dirty water on me, I can do nothing about it. The harem is such a cannibalistic place."

"I thought about this before entering the palace, but... the only thing I forgot was that I was just here to see a doctor, but I became the emperor's concubine!"

Yu Yan's helpless and straightforward words really left Qiu Zhen dumbfounded.

"You are so bold! Do you know what you are saying? It is your blessing that the emperor likes you. But your words are alluding to something."

Even Qiu Zhen couldn't say what to say next, but when she met Yu Yan's clear eyes, she actually felt that it was the truth. Could it be that the emperor really forced her to stay in the palace?

No, that's absolutely impossible. If this is true, isn't it too much of a coincidence?