The more she tried to hide it, the more curious Hongli became. "Then tell me what it is, and I won't look at it."
Su Yushan replied ambiguously, "It's just a portrait!"
He knew, of course, that it was a portrait; the key was its content: "Who is it?"
Her bright eyes darted around, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "It's a drawing of myself."
"Really?" Hongli stared at her suspiciously. "Why does the painting of yourself keep glancing in my direction?"
"You're my man, what's wrong with me looking at you? Is it a crime?" Her self-righteous demeanor made Hongli chuckle.
"It's not illegal, you can look as much as you want. If you're not satisfied, I can even undress you for a look."
She had only said it casually, but he had already misinterpreted it. Su Yushan's cheeks immediately flushed red, and she gave a soft, coquettish laugh.
"Shameless! This is your place for handling official business, don't talk nonsense."
He continued to pester her to see the painting, but Yu Shan reiterated that she would only show it to him once it was finished; otherwise, there would be no surprises.
She insisted on not showing it to him, so Hongli had no choice but to wait until she finished painting it before he could appreciate it.
After finishing his official duties, and with the day still early, Hongli took her for a stroll around the market street.
Upon arriving at this street, Yu Shan couldn't help but recall her chance encounter with Yu Chan here last year. Now, a year has passed, and she wondered how Yu Chan was doing and whether her in-laws had mistreated her.
The two spent the entire afternoon together, and had dinner at Yanbo Zhishuang Palace that evening.
After the meal, Su Yushan planned to go back, but Hongli wouldn't allow it, saying, "You'll stay here with me tonight."
Su Yushan looked at him in surprise, "You're not planning to let me live here indefinitely, are you?"
"Otherwise what? Do you want to go back and see Granny An's sour face?"
Su Yushan shook her head repeatedly, "Of course I don't want to!"
"Then stay here obediently. Her token can only be used to enter Huanbi Island, not my palace."
As he continued, Hongli's expression gradually turned ruthless. "Anyone who dares to trespass will be killed without exception!"
Yu Shan believed that Granny An didn't have the guts, but what about the Empress Dowager? "If I continue to live here, and the Empress Dowager finds out, she'll probably be angry again..."
Hongli didn't want to listen to the Empress Dowager's nagging, which is why he didn't argue with her. But if the Empress Dowager came looking for trouble again, he wouldn't back down or be afraid.
"She deliberately caused you trouble, and I'm angry about that! She doesn't care about my feelings, so why should I care about her feelings?"
He insisted on this, and Su Yushan couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she had no choice but to stay. However, there were no clothes prepared for her here, so she asked Yunfang to go to Huanbi Island to get some necessities.
Meanwhile, Granny An waited and waited on Huanbi Island until the stars came out, but Consort Chun did not return. She only saw Yunfang's figure.
Yunfang returned alone, entered the West Warm Pavilion, and came out shortly afterward, summoning two eunuchs to carry a large box out.
Upon seeing this, Granny An immediately stepped forward and blocked their path.
Where are you going? What are you taking with you?
Chang Yue was gentle and kind, and would treat her somewhat politely, but Yun Fang didn't take her seriously at all, giving her a disdainful look and coldly retorting:
"What's it to you? This is the Emperor's order; mind your own business!"
"I am under the Empress Dowager's command..." Granny An was interrupted by Yun Fang before she could finish speaking.
"The Empress Dowager put you in charge of the meals, but not anything else. If you want to know, go ask the Emperor yourself."
Granny An had served in the palace for decades and was a close associate of the Empress Dowager. All the palace maids respected her greatly, and even lower-ranking concubines treated her with courtesy. Yunfang's audacity in rolling her eyes at her infuriated Granny An, who angrily retorted:
"You little hussy, you're really too arrogant!"
Yunfang didn't want to waste time with her, but upon hearing this, she immediately straightened her face and said, "Who are you cursing? Try cursing again!"
"So what if I'm scolding you?" Granny An looked up and teased, "Don't think you're superior just because your partner is Li Yu! In the end, he's just a eunuch, what's so great about him!"
"Li Yu was just an ordinary eunuch, serving the emperor dutifully and cautiously. He was unlike some people who, relying on their master's power, acted arrogantly and domineeringly!"
Yunfang's veiled insults only fueled Granny An's anger. She widened her eyes and raised her voice, demanding, "Who are you calling a bully?"
Enraged, Granny An not only spoke but also physically assaulted Yunfang, shoving her directly.
Granny An was sturdy, but she was quite old. Yunfang was tall and strong, and Granny An wouldn't have been able to push her over. But Yunfang had a sudden idea and saw this as a good opportunity. She deliberately fell onto the stone steps beside her, letting out a cry of pain.
"Ouch! My leg hurts so much!"
A palace maid rushed over to help her, but Yunfang pretended to be in great pain, forbidding them from touching her. Then, she squeezed out tears and sobbed:
"Granny An, how cruel you are! I was only acting on the Emperor's orders, why did you stop me and even injure me!"
"Nonsense! What does it have to do with me if you can't even stand up straight?"
To prevent her from continuing to pester her, Granny An turned to leave, but Yunfang, with the help of a palace maid, stood up and grabbed Granny An.
"Don't go! Let's go to the Emperor and settle this matter!"
"I said it's none of my business, I have things to do! Don't block my way!" Granny An turned and left, unwilling to argue any further.
The young palace maid helped Yunfang up, her face full of worry, "Aunt Fang, you've hurt your leg, let me go and fetch the imperial physician for you!"
Yunfang said there was no need, "It's alright, I'll go and report to the Emperor and the Empress first."
Afterwards, Yunfang limped away from Huanbi Island and headed towards Yanbo Zhishuang Palace.
As soon as she entered the hall, Su Yushan noticed that she was walking strangely. "What's wrong with your leg? Why did you suddenly limp?"
Seeing that the Emperor was also there, Yunfang took the opportunity to cry and complain that Granny An had injured her.
Upon hearing this, Li Yu hurriedly asked her where she was injured, and Yun Fang only said that she had sprained her leg.
Su Yushan was extremely worried and hurriedly ordered someone to summon the imperial physician. She then anxiously inquired, "Besides the leg, are there any other injuries?"
Yunfang choked back tears and said, "It seems like I twisted a tendon in my wrist too."
Li Yu was heartbroken. If he were injured, he could bear it, but Yun Fang was injured. This matter could not be left unresolved. Li Yu disregarded etiquette and went to ask the Emperor for instructions.
"Your Majesty, Granny An has gone too far! Yunfang has suffered an undeserved calamity. We beg Your Majesty to do justice for Yunfang!"
Before Li Yu could even speak, Hongli was already furious. "Yunfang is a person close to the Imperial Concubine, yet Granny An dared to lay a hand on her. This shows that she doesn't respect the Imperial Concubine and she doesn't respect me!"
"Guards! Bring Granny An here; I want to interrogate her myself!"
At Hongli's command, the guards immediately went to carry out the order and went to Huanbi Island to deliver it.
Granny An was indignant, secretly scoffing at Yun Fang for making a mountain out of a molehill and deliberately causing her trouble, but she dared not disobey the emperor's order and could only go with the guards.
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