"Your Majesty, Zhao Xianrong requests to see you." Gao Dezhong walked in and reported in a low voice.

Feng Jin was listening to a court musician playing Xijiangyue at this time, and he raised his hand and said, "Let her in."

When Zhuang Yuyan entered the room and saw the emperor listening to music, she knew that he must be in a good mood. She stepped forward and bowed, then glanced at the beauty who was playing the pipa and said, "You play Xijiangyue very well."

"My beloved concubine also appreciates this piece of music?" Feng Jin gave Zhuang Luyan a seat and listened to her comments on the piece of music. He asked with interest, "I didn't know. Why don't you tell me about it, my beloved concubine?"

"I listen to beautiful music, watch beautiful dances, appreciate beautiful people, and love beautiful flowers. It has nothing to do with elegance or vulgarity. How can Your Majesty not know how I am?" Zhuang Luoyan curled the corners of her mouth. "Liking something should have nothing to do with whether it is noble or vulgar. If you judge whether it is noble or vulgar first and then say you like it, how can you really like it? If you like everything that is noble and hate everything that is vulgar, then your liking for it will be a bit hypocritical." After saying this, she showed a righteous expression.

"You are a vulgar person yourself, but you still talk about so many twisted ideas. I really don't know what to say to you," Feng Jin smiled. It was just that Zhuang Yuyan's twisted ideas made him think of Xu Zhaorong for some reason, and then he inexplicably agreed with Zhuang Yuyan's twisted ideas.

The two of them admired Xijiangyue, then Feihua Diancui, and then Jakes playing in the water. Feng Jin saw that Zhuang Yuyan's originally round eyes had turned half round. He finally waved his hand to stop the pipa player and asked, "My beloved concubine, is there anything you need to come for?"

Zhuang Yuyan glanced at the beautiful woman playing the pipa standing beside her, "The emperor has seen through my little thoughts."

Feng Jin smiled and said, "How could I not understand what you are thinking? Tell me about it." Even if he didn't understand 70%, he still understood 30% of it.

"I'm here to ask for grace on behalf of my sister," Zhuang Yuyan stood up and saluted the emperor. Although the emperor's expression did not change, Zhuang Yuyan was sensitive enough to notice that the emperor's mood had changed subtly. "My sister and I have always had a bad relationship, and it has become even worse since I entered the palace."

Feng Jian didn't expect Zhuang Yuyan to be so blunt and frank without even a hint of euphemism.

"I am the legitimate daughter, and my sister is the illegitimate daughter. Her biological mother was born in a very low class, but she was very capable. When I was young, I watched my mother secretly crying for her biological mother for a long time. It was not until my father found out that her biological mother wanted to plot against my mother that he gave up." Zhuang Yuyan's tone was filled with some lingering sadness. "Now that the past is over, the relationship between me and my sister has not eased. Later, I entered the palace, and many unpleasant things happened between me and my sister. We are sisters in name, but our relationship is not as good as that of ordinary people."

"My sister blamed me, and I didn't like her either. But now that she is gone, I am not happy at all. Maybe it's because her current situation has something to do with me, or maybe her surname is also Zhuang. I don't ask much for my sister. I just ask the emperor to give my sister some grace and give her an honorable burial." After Zhuang Yuyan finished speaking, she slowly knelt down.

Feng Jin thought that Zhuang Yuyan might come to ask for mercy from Mr. Zhuang and play the role of a loving sister in front of him, but she didn't expect that Zhuang Yuyan did ask for mercy, but her words didn't contain any hint of sisterly love. Instead, she seemed to be doing it for the sake of being a family.

Zhuang Yuyan's honest words made Feng Jian at a loss for a moment. There were many women in the harem, but it was really strange that one could speak so bluntly in front of him.

"Did you know that I have already said that your sister should be buried according to the rules for nobles?" Feng Jin looked at Zhuang Yuyan without changing his expression, and his face could not tell whether he was happy or angry.

"I know. I have put the emperor in a difficult position." Zhuang Yuyan kowtowed.

"Forget it. I understand your feelings to some extent." He was also a legitimate son, and had suffered from the illegitimate son before he ascended the throne. However, on the day when the King of Dirty really died, he was not necessarily satisfied or happy in his heart. "Since you insist on pleading for her, I appreciate your feelings and will posthumously confer her the title of Concubine Jieyu and bury her with the specifications of a fourth-rank Depin."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace," Zhuang Yuyan raised her head and kowtowed again.

Feng Jian sighed and reached out to help her up, "The ground is so comfortable, why can't you get up after kneeling down?"

“I just feel that I have put His Majesty in a difficult position…” Zhuang Yuyan seemed a little moved and a little guilty, and she didn’t even dare to look the emperor in the eye.

Feng Jian laughed instead and pulled the woman into his arms. This woman, at certain times, was just to his liking indescribable ways.

In the afternoon of that day, all the concubines in the harem had already known that after Zhao Xianrong went to Qianzheng Palace, Zhuang Wanqing, who was originally not allowed to be posthumously conferred the title of Jieyushi, was posthumously conferred the title of Depin, and was even buried with the specifications of Depin.

This unexpected change once again made everyone in the harem sigh at how favored Zhao Xianrong was, but at the same time they also felt it was a bit ironic. Zhuang Wanqing probably never thought until her death that the one who allowed her to leave in glory would be the sister she hated the most.

The queen was a little confused. Why did Zhuang Yuyan come to the emperor to ask for mercy? Did she want to play a good show of sisterly love so that the emperor would think she was loyal and righteous? Such a trick was a bit clumsy. The emperor was not a man of sentimentality.

"He Yu, ask someone to invite Consort Xian Gui." The Queen spoke. Things in the harem were becoming more and more complicated. Several new people were about to enter the palace. Who knew how chaotic the harem would get.

In fact, not only the Queen didn't understand, even the people serving Zhuang Yuyan didn't understand.

Yunxi and Tingzhu were even more puzzled when they saw that their master changed into a light-colored dress and took off her gorgeous hairpins after asking for mercy from Qianzheng Palace, and then went to Duanbenzhai.

Because the emperor issued an edict to posthumously confer a title on her, the mourning hall originally built for Zhuang Wanqing looked shabby. The people in the Palace Department were flexible and quickly made the entire mourning hall into the standards of Depin, complete with palace maids and eunuchs to cry at the coffin. Even the somewhat shabby Duanbenzhai looked much tidier and cleaner.

When Zhuang Yuyan arrived at Duanbenzhai, there were some concubines of lower status offering sacrifices. When they saw Zhuang Yuyan, they all came forward to greet her, without even the courage to be negligent.

Zhuang Yuyan glanced at the entire mourning hall without much expression on her face. She took some paper money and threw it into the copper basin. She watched the flames rise without deliberately making a sad expression. She stood there for a while, glanced at the coffin in the hall, and turned around to leave Duanbenzhai.

After leaving the temple, Tingzhu couldn't help but ask, "Madam, what are you doing?"

"As sisters, we should do something." Zhuang Luyan answered casually, but only she knew that this was a risky move. If she made the right move, the emperor would feel that they were both destitute. If she made the wrong move, the emperor would be disgusted with her. Fortunately, she made the right move.

"Isn't this Empress Zhao Xianrong?" Su Xiuyi sat on the sedan chair and looked down at Zhuang Yuyan first, then slowly got off the sedan chair, bowed to Zhuang Yuyan, and glanced at her back, "Are you back from Duanbenzhai, Empress?"

"Su Xiuyi has good eyesight," Zhuang Yuyan smiled, not taking Su Xiuyi's neglect seriously at all.

"Your Majesty and Concubine Zhuang really have a deep sisterly love," Su Xiuyi said with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "Not only did she ask for mercy for Concubine Zhuang, but she also came to pay her respects in person." This woman is really good at acting. Zhuang Wanqing died in such a short time, could it be that she has nothing to do with it?

"Don't Su Xiuyi and Concubine Shu Guifei have the same deep sisterly love?" Zhuang Luoyan smiled tenderly, as if she could not hear the sarcasm in the other person's words.

"My cousin and I have a deep sisterly bond." After Su Xiuyi finished replying this, she realized that there was something wrong with Zhuang Yuyan's words. She wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say. She wanted to leave in anger, but her status was not as good as hers, so for a while she could only stand there with her neck stiff.

When Zhuang Luoyan saw Su Xiuyi's appearance, she began to wonder why Concubine Shu Gui kept such a cousin by her side. Was she using her as a reference to show off her superior intelligence?

"The sisterly relationship between Su Xiuyi and Concubine Shugui is naturally beyond doubt," Zhuang Yuyan smiled more tenderly, "I'm sure Concubine Shugui also takes good care of Su Xiuyi on weekdays." If it weren't for Concubine Shugui's protection, with such a brain, who knows how many people she would have offended.

Su Xiuyi could not help but hear the sarcasm in Zhuang Yuyan's words, but she could not refute it. In this harem, she was not considered high-ranking, nor was she particularly favored. The other concubines were afraid of her and avoided her, wasn't it because of her cousin? But even so, she still felt a little unwilling in her heart.

"I have something else to do, so I'll go back to the palace first. Su Xiuyi, please feel free to do as you please." Zhuang Yuyan nodded and smiled at him, then held Yun Xi's hand and slowly left.

Su Xiuyi stared at Zhuang Yuyan's back with hatred, wishing she could rip the hateful smile off her face, because such a smile made her feel worthless.

"Master Su, the Queen wants you to come to Anqing Palace as soon as possible." At this time, a palace maid came hurriedly and said while bowing, "The Queen wants to see you for something."

"I understand," Su Xiuyi replied in a not-so-good tone.

The palace maid quickly stepped aside, but she could hear the reluctance and anger in Su Xiuyi's tone.

Not far behind the flowers, Concubine Xian Gui held the hand of a palace maid, watching the scene with a smile. After Zhuang Yuyan and Su Xiuyi left, she slowly spoke: "What Zhao Xianrong said is right. The Su family sisters are just like sisters with deep affection."

"Your Majesty, why did Zhao Xianrong try to sow discord between the two of them?" the maid beside Concubine Xian Gui asked in confusion.

"Perhaps Su Xiuyi's words were too impolite," Concubine Xian raised her eyebrows, "Not to mention when did Zhao Xianrong instigate it? There is nothing wrong with what she said just now. If there is any problem, we can only blame the obedient person for not listening and thinking too much because of his evil mind."

The maid said nothing more and thought for a moment before saying, "Oh, by the way, Your Majesty, the Empress just sent someone to tell you to go to Jingyang Palace when you have time."

Concubine Xian Gui said calmly, "In that case, you should send someone back to Jingyang Palace to tell them that I feel a little unwell today and will go there early tomorrow morning."

The Queen is always like this, treating me like a dog in her hands, coming when she wants and sending me away when she wants. After all these years, it's time for her to take a break.

Besides, who wants to be a dog forever?

In Jingyang Palace, after the Queen received Consort Xian Gui's answer, she looked at the maid in front of her, and only spoke slowly after she saw an uneasy expression, "Since your mistress is not feeling well, let her rest well." After that, she called He Yu over, "He Yu, send the tonic herbs in my storehouse to Consort Xian Gui."

After He Yu left, the queen said to the kneeling palace maid, "Also, go back and tell your master to get more rest. You don't need to pay respects to me tomorrow. Taking good care of yourself is the most important thing."

The Queen's tone was gentle and full of concern, but the palace maid kneeling on the ground was trembling with fear and didn't know what was going on.

When He Yu came back with the herbs, the Queen lazily leaned on the Concubine's couch, letting two young palace maids massage her legs while she asked, "How seriously ill is Concubine Xian?"

"Your Majesty, Concubine Xian Gui asked me to tell you that her illness is not serious and that she made you worry. She also said that paying respects is a rule and if you care about her, you can't skip paying respects." He Yu answered calmly.

"She is very polite," the queen said lightly, and then a sarcastic smile appeared on her face.

He Yu looked at the Queen hesitantly, "But I see that Concubine Xian seems to have just come back from outside, because there are still some mud marks on her feet."

"Oh, maybe he felt uncomfortable on the road." The queen closed her eyes, and the smile on her face became more obvious, but with a coldness.

Now that she has grown stronger, it won't be easy to go against her.