The resentment in Qi Rong's heart was like a raging fire, which had been tormenting her for a long time. Even the former close friend in front of her made Qi Rong uncomfortable.

They were sitting together before, but the gap gradually widened after marriage. Qi Rong, Zhao Lanhui, and Princess Baoqing, the three of them were the top noble ladies in the capital, and their every word and action led the fashion of the Beijing ladies' circle. The three of them formed a small circle of their own, and outsiders could not even envy them, but now, Qi Rong felt a sense of crisis. Her close friends were still in this circle, but Qi Rong was about to be squeezed out.

Princess Baoqing was originally a daughter of the royal family, and it didn't matter who she married, and Zhao Lanhui also became a princess. The troubles Zhao Lanhui and Qi Rong told each other about were clearly boasting to Qi Rong.

Qi Rong had always been raised as an imperial concubine by her family, and she was proud of this status. However, when the crown prince suddenly arranged a marriage, the Zhenbei Marquisate was surprised, but it was still able to maintain its position. After that, the old lady Qi had been fighting with the young Queen Qi for the other two princes' wives, but seeing that Zhao Lanhui arranged a marriage to Prince Lu, although Prince Lu did not say anything, she saw that the young Queen Qi had made up her mind. The Zhenbei Marquisate finally gave up at this point, and now it has arranged for Qi Rong to see a man from outside.

But Qi Rong had been in and out of the palace since she was a child. Her two aunts were both empresses, and the crown prince and the third prince were her cousins. Qi Rong was used to the royal family's honor, so how could she be interested in men from ordinary official families? Even if she studied well and had a bright future, she would still have to work for the emperor in the end. As for being born into a noble family, it was even more ridiculous. No matter how good their family background was, could it be better than the royal family?

Qi Rong was deeply unwilling. She was as beautiful as her aunt, and her two aunts could be empresses, so why should she marry an ordinary person? Moreover, Baoqing was originally a princess, needless to say, and Zhao Lanhui could be a princess. Why should Qi Rong marry an ordinary man and have to perform a formal ceremony when she returned her handkerchief in the future?

Qi Rong absolutely could not tolerate such a gap. As for the troubles Zhao Lanhui talked about, Qi Rong listened quietly on the surface, but in her heart she sneered. He got the advantage but still sold his kindness, Qi Rong thought so in her heart.

In fact, Qi Rong still liked her cousin the prince the most. The Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion had two queens, and Qi Rong almost grew up in the palace, and she was not much worse than the princess. They, the royal relatives and palace companions, were also a circle. Since childhood, Qin Yi was the smartest and most dazzling existence in the circle. It was just a pity that Qin Yi seldom participated in their affairs, and he didn't seem to like these. Even so, people in the circle were very concerned about Qin Yi's every move and looked up to him from afar.

Learning archery on the parade ground, Qin Yi had a high talent for the sport. He could get started after just one instruction and immediately became the best among all. Qin Yi also memorized quickly and could be far ahead without much effort. Qi Rong and others did not dare to approach him, but secretly they all admired Qin Yi, the eldest prince of the emperor. Later, Qin Yi went further and further out of their sight. He was taught individually, and later, he became the prince.

Qi Rong and others could no longer see Qin Yi. However, even so, there was still no shortage of news about Qin Yi. They could often hear praises for the prince from the adults at home. Until Qin Yi was sixteen years old, he was exiled to the frontier for offending Xiao Qi, and Qi Rong secretly cried for this. But Qi Rong was not worried. She was still favored by Xiao Qi and enjoyed the glory and wealth in the capital, because she knew Qin Yi would definitely come back.

He did come back, but the marriage proposal came before that.

The position of Crown Princess that Qi Rong had been waiting for for a long time changed hands without any warning. If Qi Rong could still comfort herself, the Crown Princess had always been a hard job, which was hard and thankless. But when she saw Qin Yi being so good to another woman, so good that it was beyond everyone's imagination, Qi Rong was surprisingly upset. If she had

known this, she would never have missed such a good opportunity. Zhao Lanhui continued to complain a lot. Suddenly she found that her friend did not respond. She asked curiously, "Qi Rong, what's wrong with you?"

Qi Rong came back to her senses, "Nothing. By the way, are you going to follow Prince Su to the fiefdom?"

Zhao Lanhui sighed when she heard this, "That's right. We don't know what the situation in Qingyang is yet. I have never left the capital. My mother and family are all in the city. I really don't want to leave at all."

Qi Rong could fully understand. If she were in his place, she would not want to leave the capital either. However, Qi Rong asked this question not out of sympathy for her friend who was about to leave her hometown, but for another purpose: "Since Prince Su is gone, will Prince Lu also go to Luoyang after the New Year?"

"Most likely." Zhao Lanhui sighed, "The emperor relies heavily on the prince, the Eastern Palace is stable, and the prince himself is not easy to mess with. Who dares to stay?"

Qi Rong said "Oh" thoughtfully. Her eyes moved slowly. If that's the case, then in a few years, wouldn't the prince be the emperor for sure? By then, all the wives and concubines in the Eastern Palace will naturally ascend to the throne. It is said that when the new emperor ascends to the throne, the old people in the Qiandi Mansion, regardless of their background, can at least be given the title of concubine. If she is a daughter of an official, it is normal to be made a concubine in one stroke. This is why officials in the court do not mind the shame and send their daughters to princes and princes as concubines. Can a concubine of the royal family be called a concubine? How much capital and luck does a family need to provide for a concubine, but if the pressure is right in the early stage, it can turn things around in one stroke. It is

better to be a concubine of the royal family than a wife of a poor family. Qi Rong's eyes gradually became firm. Under the exquisite sleeves, Qi Rong's hands gradually clenched, because she was too strong, the red nails even pierced into the flesh.

The summer was quiet, and there was only the sound of cicadas in the palace.

In the servants' side room of Qide Hall, Erhua was doing needlework out of boredom. Erfeng came in through the curtains and saw what she was embroidering. He smiled and said, "Oh, you are crazy, you are embroidering lotus flowers."

Lotus flowers are famous for couples, and in the East Palace, only the Crown Princess is qualified to use them.

Qide Hall is the residence of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess in the temporary palace. After hearing what You Feng said, Yi Hua dropped her things with a bang and cursed: "Who are you to make a fuss? If you don't speak, no one will think you are mute."

"Why are you pretending to me?" Youfeng glanced at Youhua and said scornfully, "You have the ability to show off to Youxue. She is a popular person in front of the princess and is very important. If you don't dare to offend her, just come and show off your prestige with me."

Speaking of this, Youhua became more and more angry. The four of them were all first-class in appearance and were sent to the East Palace as concubines. But six months have passed, and they haven't even touched the hem of the prince's clothes, and he is still a virgin. Erhua watched the prince go in and out of the East Palace every day, and she was already impressed in her heart. The prince was of noble status, held great power, and was young, handsome, and tall. Not to mention Erhua, a palace maid from a commoner family, even the ladies from outside the family and the young ladies of learning would turn their backs and blush when they saw the prince. To be a woman for such a handsome man, even if there was no official status, there were still many women willing to do so. But Erhua was a concubine of the prince, but she was not accepted for a long time. The prince only stayed in the room of the princess every day, and the four beauties were becoming more and more a joke. Erhua said angrily, "Don't mention Erxue, the traitor, to me. She is smart and has already joined the Crown Princess. She has abandoned us sisters in distress and even wants to suppress us." Erfeng

smiled without saying anything. He looked at Erhua and said, "If you are not convinced, you can go with us. Everyone in the palace knows that the Crown Princess has a lot of weight in front of the Crown Prince. One word from the Crown Princess is more useful than a thousand words from others."

Erhua knew that many people in the East Palace were trying their best to please the Crown Princess, but she knew it, but she just couldn't lose face. She was also a beauty. Although she was not as good as the Crown Princess, she was not bad either. Er Feng looked at Er Hua's face and casually said, "The Crown Princess is also lucky. She is favored by the Crown Prince, which is why she is where she is today. It's a pity for us. We are also the Crown Prince's people, but we don't have the fate of the Crown Princess. Instead, we have to be looked down upon. If we had one tenth of the Crown Princess's favor, I'm afraid we would be able to gain a foothold in the harem."

Erhua sat for a while holding her handkerchief, and said unconvincedly: "It's not necessarily that we are not as pretty as others. If the Crown Princess wasn't jealous and didn't allow anyone to get close to the Crown Prince, we wouldn't necessarily fall behind."

Men have a desire to conquer women, and so do women. Erfeng laughed and said: "You are ambitious, aren't you afraid that I will tell the Crown Princess about your words?"

"That's how it is, and you won't let anyone tell it?"

"Well, since you have such high aspirations, I might as well tell you something." Er Feng motioned Er Hua to come closer and whispered, "When I just came back from outside, I saw the Crown Prince sitting alone in the pavilion behind the lotus pond in Qinghe Palace. He was accompanied by only a few eunuchs, but no one from the Crown Princess's side."

Er Hua opened her mouth in surprise. Er Feng gently pushed her and said, "If you really have plans, wouldn't it be a good time to do it now? The Crown Princess is now setting up the cage in the palace. She will be there in a while." I also have to go and receive the ladies who come to pay their respects, so I can't get away for a while. If you can be accepted by the prince during this period, your life will be completely changed! You also know that the Eastern Palace is ruled by His Highness, so as long as the prince accepts you, the Crown Princess will have to give you a status no matter what. We dare not compare with the Crown Princess, but as long as the prince treats you one thousandth as well as he treats the Crown Princess, who in the Eastern Palace dares not to give you respect?"

Erhua's heart started beating violently when she heard the news. She was so nervous that she even stuttered, "But, His Highness is so predictable and majestic, how can I..."

"You are stupid!" Er Feng hit her on the forehead in anger, "Before the Queen sent us here, the maid in Kunning Palace taught you so much, have you forgotten everything? No matter how high and mighty the Crown Prince is, he is still a man. You can hide some perfume in your collar and wear thinner clothes when the time comes. Are you still afraid that things won't work?"

This was like a wake-up call. Erhua was overjoyed. Er Feng simply helped Erhua dress up and hid some special spices for her before he covered her up as she left.

Er Feng watched Er Hua walk away with his own eyes. When he was sure that he would never see her again, Er Feng sneered, packed up his belongings, and went to the outside of Qide Hall to secretly meet someone: "Please tell Miss Qi that I have arranged for someone to go there."

Qi Rong was very proud when she received the message from the maid. The scapegoat had been found, and it was her turn to take the stage.

The corridors of the palace were winding, and Qin Yi suddenly stopped when he saw a large lotus pond not far away.

The messenger was surprised: "Your Highness?"

"You said the Crown Princess is here?"

"Yes." The eunuch who delivered the message said carefully, "The Crown Princess was touring the palace and saw the lotus flowers here, which were very spectacular, so she came to invite the Crown Prince to enjoy them."

Qin Yi looked up at the lotus field in front of him, and seemed to smile, but it was all fleeting. The eunuch who delivered the message was still wondering if he had seen it wrong, and then he heard Qin Yi say: "In this case, lead the way." The

green lotus leaves overlapped layer by layer, almost forming a green ocean, with fiery red or pure white lotus flowers dotted in it. A small pavilion stood in the green waves, with bamboo curtains hanging around it. The breeze blew gently, and the tassels under the bamboo curtains swayed gently. It is extremely elegant to enjoy the lotus in such a place.

When Qin Yi walked onto the stone bridge, the messenger stepped aside, not daring to disturb the prince and the princess. Xiao Linzi, who was accompanying him, felt something was wrong and was about to go in with Qin Yi, but was stopped by Qin Yi with a wave of his hand: "Since she said so, you stay outside for now."

Xiao Linzi thought that the "he" referred to the messenger, and the eunuch thought so too. A group of people stepped aside respectfully, and Qin Yi walked into the pavilion alone and opened the bamboo curtain with one hand.

An elegant beauty sat behind the gently swaying bamboo curtain, brewing tea. Such a beautiful scenery, coupled with a beautiful woman brewing tea with bare hands, is really a pleasing sight.

Qi Rong waited silently for a long time. She changed her clothes and dressed up carefully for a long time. Looking at herself in the mirror, Qi Rong also thought she was very beautiful. In such an elegant place, vaguely glimpsing a fresh and beautiful girl, which man would not be moved? After Qi Rong heard the faint footsteps behind her, she knew that Qin Yi was coming. She waited for a long time with shyness and joy, but there was no movement behind her for a long time.

Qi Rong turned around without knowing why, and saw Qin Yi standing leisurely at the entrance of the pavilion, with a sarcastic look in his eyes: "What do you mean?"

The prince cousin was not surprised by the profile she carefully selected? Qi Rong was startled, and deliberately stood up slowly and gracefully, lowered her head and smiled coquettishly, "Cousin."

This cousin was long and gentle, and although she didn't say anything, it seemed to contain endless girlish thoughts, and any man would be half melted after hearing it. Qi Rong lowered her head shyly, and the angle was particularly good, ensuring that her most beautiful and gentle side profile with her head down was presented to Qin Yi. Unfortunately, Qi Rong's efforts were in vain. She was still fine-tuning the angle when she heard Qin Yi say coldly: "Call me the prince."

Qi Rong was stunned: "What? Cousin..."

"Didn't hear it?"

Qi Rong could only lower her head aggrievedly and whispered: "Yes, Your Highness the Prince."

Qi Rong secretly complained why Qin Yi was so unromantic and didn't know how to cherish women. But she remembered her purpose today, so she didn't dwell on this for too long. She gently held the hem of her sleeve, revealing a section of her white wrist, and said softly, "Crown Prince cousin, I just learned how to make tea, please try it."

Qin Yi took the teacup, turned it in his hand, and didn't move. He looked at Qi Rong and said, "What crime should you be punished for falsely conveying the Crown Princess's message?" "

Cousin!" Qi Rong pouted and called out, and said coquettishly, "Crown Prince cousin, we are cousins, childhood sweethearts, and have always been the closest people. Now that we have grown up, we are more distant than when we were children."

Childhood sweethearts, the closest people? Qin Yi didn't even move his eyebrows, and said coldly, "Why don't I remember such a thing?"

Qi Rong was repeatedly confronted, and now she was choked and couldn't speak. She simply made up her mind and summoned up the courage to shout: "Crown Prince, Rong'er admires you!"

Qin Yi never thought that he was just wasting some time trying to figure out what Qi Rong was up to, but ended up hearing such words. Qin Yi was really disgusted and turned to leave. Qi Rong got anxious and rushed to Qin Yi, saying anxiously: "I know that Crown Prince has married, but men have three wives and four concubines. Rong'er is willing to serve my cousin together with the Crown Princess! As long as the Crown Princess tolerates me, Rong'er will never be jealous and will not compete for favor with the Crown Princess. As long as I can stay with my Crown Prince, Rong'er is willing to suffer grievances."

Qin Yi sneered, and he really felt that The world laughed at him: "Be wronged? Who are you? Why would I wrong the Crown Princess for you? She is your cousin's wife, but you have such thoughts. Aren't you ashamed?"

Qi Rong was about to cry: "Crown prince cousin, how can you say this to me? Rong'er has admired you since she was a child. Now I don't ask for a name, I just want to serve you. Cousin, this is just my little wish, and you are not willing to agree to me?"

Qi Rong looks like Xiao Qi Hou, with a small face the size of a palm, and she looks even more pitiful when she cries. She is very beautiful, and now she is expressing her love with deep affection. When combined with their childhood sweetheart relationship, Qi Rong really can't think of any man who can bear to reject such infatuation. When she saw Qin Yi's skirt move, she thought Qin Yi was going to hug her and coax her, so she immediately burst into laughter and lowered her head to wait. But when she lowered her head, she saw Qin Yi's skirt passing by her, as if he was afraid of getting anything on it. Qi Rong looked up in astonishment, and saw Qin Yi holding the tea she had just brewed, directly opening the incense burner, and pouring it all in.

The incense burner is small and exquisite, and it is naturally placed here for elegance. Qin Yi poured the whole cup of tea into the incense burner without mercy. The incense burner made a slight hissing sound, and the curling smoke immediately died out.

Qi Rong saw this, and her face changed completely: "Prince cousin..."

"You are also the legitimate daughter of the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion. I have always given you face for the sake of my mother, and you did such a despicable thing?" Qin Yi poured out the incense burner with special seasonings, and when he looked back at Qi Rong, his eyes were full of disappointment and sarcasm.

It was so ignorant that she actually played such a despicable trick in front of him. This fragrance has aphrodisiac elements, and there are many people in the rich and powerful families who use this as a concubine's interest. But Qi Rong dared to use it on him.

Qin Yi looked at Qi Rong as if he was looking at a dead object: "I really don't know whether to say you are brave or stupid. I really should let the Marquis of Zhenbei come over to take a look at these things and see what kind of daughter he has raised."

Qi Rong was frightened and took a step back. She was not afraid of Qin Yi calling him the Marquis of Zhenbei. After all, Qin Yi was the only son of her aunt, and he would not really make a fuss about such a thing. What really made Qi Rong shudder was the look in Qin Yi's eyes when he looked at her. That kind of contemptuous look without a trace of emotion.

Qi Rong was also spoiled since she was a child, how could she tolerate this. She was so angry that she rushed forward regardless of everything and grabbed Qin Yi's sleeve tightly: "Why? I am obsessed with you, why don't you accept me?"

Qin Yi did not expect Qi Rong to be so shameless, and he was also completely angry: "Let go."

"No! Why don't you accept me, we are childhood sweethearts, you can't not like me! Yes, it must be the Crown Princess, she must be instigating behind the scenes. Cousin, you are the Crown Prince, how can you be deceived by her sweet words? A woman should be virtuous and generous, and she is the Crown Princess, she should set an example, she is so jealous, how can you tolerate her?"

"Shut up!" Qin Yi was furious. His eyes were as dark as the sky. In the unknown depths, there seemed to be a vortex that could destroy the world. Just one glance could scare people to the soul. "What qualifications do you have to mention her name? You don't deserve it."

Qi Rong was frightened by such a look and took a step back. Her hands loosened unconsciously. After she reacted, she completely collapsed: "Why! I am not as good as her in any way. Why can she do it, but I can't?"

This question sounded ridiculous to Qin Yi. He frowned and shook off the sleeve that Qi Rong had just grabbed, and walked out with a cold face. He was about to lift the bead curtain when he suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside. It sounded like there was more than one person. Qin

Yi's face sank and he looked at Qi Rong with a bad look. Sure enough, she wiped her tears fiercely and looked at him provocatively.