After Su Xiuyi came in and paid her respects, she sat quietly, looking quite inconspicuous. Sometimes she would only agree with Concubine Shu Gui when she was speaking, which made people wonder if she and Concubine Shu Gui were cousins.

Zhuang Luoyan looked at Concubine Shugui carefully. This woman gave her a pitiful and harmless feeling, but there were two extreme types of women in her heart. One was the kind of woman who was really pitiful like Lin Daiyu, and the other was the kind of woman who was cruel and ruthless. Concubine Shugui could have reached this position and still stood firm, so she was definitely not the former type.

The more harmless a woman appears, the more terrible she becomes when she harms others.

"I thought Sister Zhao Chongyi would not come today," Concubine Shu Gui looked at Zhuang Yuyan with a smile, and then glanced at Concubine Yan with a meaningful look, "I remember that on Sister Yan Guipin's birthday last year, she was too weak to come and pay her respects to the Empress."

Hearing this, Concubine Shu Gui seemed to have no good intentions towards Concubine Yan Gui, but no woman would be happy to see someone else following her steps to climb up the social ladder. Zhuang Yuyan smiled at Concubine Shu Gui but did not reply.

The concubines looked at the three of them, but no one spoke at this time.

"How could you forget, sister? Concubine Yan has always been in frail health, and the Empress spared her from paying respects out of pity for her." Su Xiuyi took over the conversation.

These words were not very nice. If someone didn't know the truth, they would think that the empress was partial and treated Zhuang Yuyan and Concubine Yan differently.

Zhuang Yuyan chose to speak at this moment, "Sister, you are late. I don't know if the Queen has exempted me from paying my respects. But I am not in good health and can't sleep even if I lie down. It would be good for me to come to the Queen's place and talk to the sisters."

"It shows that you are well-behaved," Concubine Shu Gui also heard something wrong in Su Xiuyi's words, so she did not let Su Xiuyi continue the conversation, and added as if she was praising Zhuang Luoyan very much, "No wonder the Empress likes you."

Zhuang Yuyan sneered in her heart, this Concubine Shu was killing two birds with one stone, not only did she harm Concubine Yan, but she also caused her to lose her sight, and she also exposed the Empress and made the other concubines hostile to her.

"How can it be just Zhao Chongyi?" The Queen seemed not to notice the confrontation between the concubines, and said lightly: "As long as it is in accordance with the rules, the Emperor, the Queen Mother and I will like it. But you only said that I like Zhao Chongyi. Does that mean I will treat you badly?"

"The Empress naturally loves me, but I am narrow-minded. Seeing you being nice to other people, I couldn't help but make fun of you. Please don't be offended, Sister Zhao." Concubine Shugui did not show any fear because of the Empress' words. Instead, she said this in an intimate tone.

"Your Majesty is straightforward, and I am not a petty-tempered person," Zhuang Yuyan still just smiled.

The queen picked up the teacup and said, "Well, you guys just love to tease each other like this. It's getting late, and you won't feel comfortable when the sun gets too hot. Let's go."

As soon as the queen spoke, everyone stopped talking, whether they wanted to speak or not, stood up, bowed and left.

After leaving Jingyang Palace, Zhuang Yuyan found that Concubine Yan looked a little unwell, and the palace maid who was supporting her also lowered her head. She really didn't have the majesty she had when she tied up Concubine Ma a few days ago. It was obvious that Concubine Shu Gui was still very intimidating to Concubine Yan.

"Zhao Chongyi, why don't we go together?" Concubine Jiang Xian was walking behind her and suddenly called her.

"Sister Jiang," Zhuang Yuyan turned around with a smile, and stopped when she saw Concubine Jiang Xian called her.

Concubine Jiang Xian walked to her side and stopped, looking up at the cloudless sky, and sighed, "The weather is getting hotter."

"It's almost June, so it's getting hotter," Zhuang Yuyan took the round fan from Yunxi's hand and waved it gently, while walking side by side with Concubine Jiang Xian, "Why don't I see Concubine Wang today?"

"She wasn't feeling well the day before yesterday, and the imperial physicians have been treating her these past two days but to no avail," Jiang Xianpin said in a heavy tone, "and it's hot today, I don't know when she'll be well again."

"Sister Wangpin is a blessed woman, so you don't have to worry," Zhuang Yuyan then remembered that she really hadn't seen Wangpin in the past two days. It might be because Wangpin was not favored and didn't talk much on weekdays, so she didn't pay much attention to it.

Concubine Jiang Xian smiled, which seemed to be a bit dull. She lived in the same direction as Taoyu Pavilion, but later than Taoyu Pavilion. She was not very favored since she entered the palace. She relied on her status and seniority to rise to this level. I couldn't help but turn my head to look at Zhao Chongyi, who was now more favored. How did this woman climb up?

Although she is beautiful, she is not the most beautiful. Her skills in music, chess, calligraphy and painting are not special in the harem. Moreover, she is not as good at dancing as Concubine Shugui, nor as good at music as Concubine Rou. What is it about her that makes the emperor love her so much?

"That's all," Jiang Xianpin retracted her gaze. Others must have their own ways to be favored. If she could see that, she wouldn't have been doing nothing in this harem for several years.

The two walked a distance away and unexpectedly met someone who rarely walked around the Yu Garden.

"I have seen the emperor." Concubine Jiang Xian had never expected that she would run into the emperor in the Yu Garden. For a moment, even her voice trembled.

"Are your two beloved concubines coming from the Empress?" Feng Jin's eyes swept over the two of them and finally landed on Zhuang Yuyan. He reached out to help her up and said, "Why are you there too?" After he said that, he saw the woman in front of him blushing and she didn't even dare to look him in the eye.

"After the emperor left, I woke up..." Before she finished speaking, her face turned even redder. "The Empress Dowager has been busy with the affairs of the harem, so it is only natural for me to pay my respects to her."

Concubine Jiang Xian lowered her head and just happened to see the delicate hand being held in the emperor's palm. She was dazed for a moment and seemed to not hear clearly what Zhuang Yuyan said.