Chapter 31: First Blossom of White Lotus
Zheng Baolin became unprecedentedly nervous.
This is her only chance.
If she fails this time, Su Xiuyi will not let her go, and she will not even be able to face Zhaohua Palace again.
Zheng Baolin leaned forward, with a slender and graceful figure. Because of her movements, the dress not only half exposed her shoulders, but also revealed a little bit of white.
Just a moment after she came out of Zhaohua Palace, she reapplied the ointment on her sleeve. It had a faint orchid fragrance. When she moved slightly, the fresh fragrance came with the wind.
"Zheng Baolin." The cold and stern voice of the emperor sounded.
His Majesty called her, and His Majesty finally stopped ignoring her...
Zheng Baolin was trembling a little and his heart was beating faster.
She slowly raised her eyes, and her eyes, which seemed to be full of autumnal waves, were very charming and stunning in the night.
She looked at the cold and handsome emperor and made up her mind.
So, when she stood up, she seemed to accidentally step on the hem of her skirt, her body swayed, and she fell straight towards Xiao Chenglan.
Fu Wanquan closed his eyes unable to bear it, and Fulin closed his eyes unable to bear it.
Xiao Chenglan walked forward with a calm expression, while Zheng Baolin...
Fell to the ground.
At that moment, what Zheng Baolin felt was not pain, but fear that arose from the bottom of his heart.
His Majesty didn't catch her, did she fail? No, she couldn't fail!
She turned around and grabbed Xiao Chenglan's clothes.
"His Majesty!"
Xiao Chenglan paused and looked back at her.
At this moment, Zheng Baolin's eyes were filled with crystal tears and he was about to cry. He looked even more pitiful than the pitiful look he had pretended to have just now.
"I accidentally stepped on the hem of my skirt and seem to have twisted my ankle. Could you please, Your Majesty, take me back..."
With the fall just now, half of her off-shoulder dress slipped down and was about to fall on her fair arm.
Moreover, she covered half of her arms in front of her chest with a shy look on her face, which made her look indescribably reluctant.
If anyone else saw this scene, their blood would boil, but Xiao Chenglan still maintained his unmoved standing posture.
However, he finally smiled and said, "White suits you very well."
Zheng Baolin was stunned, and infinite joy surged in his heart.
However, before she could thank him for the compliment, she heard His Majesty utter a few more gentle words.
"You look like a newly opened white lotus."
Zheng Baolin's whole body froze, and as her blood ran cold, she found a shadow cast in front of her.
His Majesty walked up to her, his face even colder than the night they first met, and even with a hint of disgust.
"I gave you a chance, but you deliberately threw yourself into my arms. I didn't bother with you, but you didn't know how to restrain yourself."
"Zheng Baolin, Concubine Jia treats you sincerely and hates any trouble. But she rescued you from Concubine Lu's clutches that day, and for that she bore a grudge against you. Yet you try to step on her and steal her favor. How vicious!"
Zheng Baolin was so ashamed that he felt embarrassed.
She felt sorry for Jiang Yingli, but she had no choice...
It was Su Xiuyi who forced her...
If it weren't for Su Xiuyi, how could she treat Jiang Yingli like this?
"Your Majesty, I really didn't mean it! I am suffering..."
"That's enough." Xiao Chenglan interrupted her. "You want to tell me that you have your own difficulties? Ask yourself, if no one forced you, would you really be innocent and have a clear conscience towards Concubine Jia?"
Zheng Baolin froze, his heart seemed to be cut open without reservation, and all those hidden thoughts were seen through and judged.
She shuddered suddenly.
From this moment on, she was truly afraid of the emperor in front of her.
She didn't dare to make any unnecessary movements. She pulled her clothes together, climbed up, and knelt down properly.
"Your Majesty, calm down..."
Xiao Chenglan glanced at her indifferently, "I don't want to punish you in Zhaohua Palace, so you'll have to take care of yourself."
Fu Wanquan waved speechlessly at Zheng Baolin lying on the ground, signaling her to leave quickly.
Zheng Baolin got up from the ground and looked at Xiao Chenglan's indifferent back as he walked away. He felt as if his mind was drawn out and his steps staggered twice.
What will be the consequences of going back? I don’t know.
"Zheng Baolin."
Suddenly, a sweet female voice was heard from a distance. Zheng Baolin looked up and saw that Jiang Yingli had left the hall at some point and was standing not far away.
She smiled and waved at her.
"You left something behind, come get it."
Under such gazes, Zheng Baolin felt that the ugliness in her heart had nowhere to hide. She suddenly wanted to escape from here.
"Baolin, what are you standing there for? Lady Jieyu is calling you." Fulin repeated.
Zheng Baolin lowered his head and walked over with legs that felt like they were filled with lead.
Jiang Yingli pulled her into the hall.
Xiao Chenglan had already sat down, and seemed to have completely ignored her arrival. He didn't say a word about what had just happened, and drank his tea calmly.
Jiang Yingli placed a butterfly-shaped hairpin in her palm and squeezed her five fingers.
"It just so happens that Your Majesty is here, and I have a humble request." Jiang Yingli said.
Xiao Chenglan put down the teacup and said, "Go on, I'm listening."
"I've been getting along really well with Zhen Baolin these past few days, but she lives in Xiyan Pavilion in Qixiang Palace, which is too far from Zhaohua Palace. It's inconvenient for her to move around frequently. Your Majesty, please make the decision and move Zheng Baolin to another palace."
The moment Jiang Yingli finished speaking, Zheng Baolin suddenly raised his eyes, his eyes full of surprise.
Moving the palace...
If she didn't have to live in Qixiang Palace, would she not have to suffer from Su Xiuyi's abuse?
But what if Su Xiuyi discovered her intention to escape and hated her even more?
Xiao Chenglan raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Yingli, his expression somewhat calm as expected. He said calmly:
"There are quite a few empty side halls near Zhaohua Palace. Since you have this intention, I will issue an order."
Jiang Yingli bowed happily, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Then, when she turned to look at Zheng Baolin, she saw that her face was pale and she looked terrified.
"Zheng Baolin, what's wrong with you?"
Zheng Baolin was brought back to her senses by the voice. When she met Jiang Yingli's gaze, she suddenly felt uneasy.
Jiang Yingli wants to move the palace for her. Does she already know something...Does she already know that he is approaching her to steal her favor?
But, if that's the case, why should she help her?
Because of her favor, she asked His Majesty to punish her with a stick or confine her to her house, and His Majesty would agree to her request.
But she requested to move to another palace...
Zheng Baolin's hands were shaking so badly that she felt ashamed to stay here for another second.
She clenched the hairpin in her hand and bowed hurriedly. "I'm afraid it will cause criticism if I move to another palace after just entering the palace for less than half a month. I appreciate your Majesty and the Concubine's kindness. It's getting late, so I'll return to the palace first."
"Hey——" She walked so fast, as if she was escaping, that Jiang Yingli didn't have time to stop her.
Fu Wanquan looked at Zheng Baolin who was running out of the hall and shook his head with an indescribable feeling.
This is really stupid.
Lady Concubine has asked His Majesty to make the decision, so how come she is so helpless?
Jiang Yingli stood there for a moment, and suddenly felt a hand holding her from behind.
"Stop looking, come and sit with me."
Jiang Yingli sighed, withdrew her gaze, and obediently let Xiao Chenglan lead her to sit on the chair.
Xiao Chenglan stroked her slightly furrowed brows and said, "If she doesn't appreciate it, don't waste your attention on her anymore."
Jiang Yingli didn't know that Xiao Chenglan had noticed the essence of the matter. She just thought he was talking about being rejected when he moved to the palace. She was unable to explain for a moment, so she snuggled into Xiao Chenglan's arms with a sad face.
Xiao Chenglan held her in his arms without saying a word, his gaze fixed on the night outside the palace, deep and distant.
He didn't need to investigate why Zheng Baolin did this today, as Su Xiuyi's thoughts were obvious.
The atmosphere of bullying the weak in the harem has not changed for a thousand years.
The late emperor could have turned a blind eye, but he couldn't.
He selected people to enter the palace. Although he could not give them his favor, the most basic stability had to be guaranteed, and the atmosphere of harsh treatment and abuse had to be eliminated.
The person who assists him in managing the harem must have the ability to distinguish between good and evil and help the weak and the poor. In this regard, no one else can match Jiang Yingli.
Song Zhaoyi was intelligent, but her background was too privileged to allow her to have empathy and sympathy for lower-ranking concubines.
Jiang Yingli is the most suitable.
However, she was still too immature. Once he had cleared some obstacles for her, she would have grown up.
Xiao Chenglan's eyes were up and down, and it was difficult to tell the beginning and the end.
Su Xiuyi, Su family...
If you want to kill someone, make him crazy first.
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