Chapter 017 Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The lights are on in Yixiang Pavilion.
When the news came out, Shen Chongyi was holding the little princess and talking to Concubine Shu in Qingyi Palace.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu suddenly threw the teacup in her hand away. The little princess was so frightened that she burst into tears immediately.
Shen Chongyi covered the little princess' ears, not daring to make a sound, and could only shake her body to coax her, "My queen, please don't be angry."
"Don't be angry?" Concubine Shu sneered, "The Emperor came to my palace for lunch today, and even turned over that bastard's name card in the evening. How can I not be angry?"
The little princess cried louder and louder. Concubine Shu was impatient, "When the emperor came to your palace in the past, I was very happy to see you two!"
Shen Chongyi knelt in front of Concubine Shu and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The little princess is still young, so the emperor will be more caring towards her. I have absolutely no other thoughts."
The little princess hugged Shen Chongyi's neck tightly and refused to let go even though she was sobbing.
Shen Chongyi bit her lower lip and said softly, "The emperor will go to the palace tonight to select concubines, but it is only because of that slave girl. If that slave girl is gone, Your Majesty will still be able to enjoy the emperor's favor. Then why are you afraid that the emperor will not come?"
The little princess curled up in her arms. Shen Chongyi had no choice but to say such words. She kept covering the little princess' ears with her hands, hoping that the little princess could not hear what she said.
Concubine Shu smiled contemptuously, stood up gracefully, squatted in front of the little princess, and wiped the tears from her face with an embroidered handkerchief. "Such a beautiful face, if it just disappears, it will be a pity."
…
When the imperial carriage arrived at Yixiang Pavilion, Concubine Ji was already waiting outside.
Yan Shiyu calmly asked Ji Xuanshi to stand up, which made Ji Xuanshi feel a little disappointed. She had seen the interaction between Concubine Shu and the Emperor in Yuechun Palace that day, and there was always a difference between the two.
However, Concubine Ji quickly put on a smile. She didn't know how to get along with the emperor, so she could only ask cautiously, "Has the emperor had dinner yet?"
Yan Shiyu closed his eyes, his brows revealing fatigue and alienation, "It's already the 12 o'clock."
Concubine Ji was shocked by the emperor's words and immediately said, "I forgot for a moment."
Yicui came back from the kitchen carrying soup, and was relieved when she saw a faint light coming from Ruan Yun's ear room.
Ji Xuanshi placed the soup next to Yan Shiyu's hand and said, "Your Majesty has been tired all day, why don't you drink some soup and I will massage your shoulders to relieve your fatigue?"
Yan Shiyu raised his eyes and glanced at her, "No need."
The emperor stroked the white jade ring on his hand and immediately felt bored. He glanced around the hall but did not see the person he wanted to see.
After a long silence, Concubine Ji didn't know what to say, and was even more afraid that saying too much would displease the emperor.
The pain in his heart became even worse. After seeing the dark emotions in the emperor's black eyes, he realized that he was no exception. If he had not handed the cloak to Ruan Yun, would his situation today be so different?
Concubine Ji smiled bitterly in her heart, but if that was really the case, she would probably have difficulty seeing the emperor.
Yan Shiyu knocked on the table and saw a collection of leisurely poems on the table. He whispered, "Do you know how to read?"
Concubine Ji nodded hurriedly, "I understand."
Yan Shiyu tapped the couch with his hand and said, "Read it to me."
Ji Xuanshi picked up the book, but wanted to give up after turning one page. It was just a collection of wild poems that she usually used to pass the long morning hours in the palace, but she didn't expect the emperor to want to listen to it.
He stuttered as he read, and the poems lost their original charm. Yan Shiyu frowned, called Wei Maoyuan, then stood up and went into the bathroom.
Ji Xuanshi was still holding the poetry collection in her hands, and tears were falling uncontrollably.
Yicui hurriedly wiped away Ji Xuanshi's tears, "My lady, please don't cry. When the emperor comes out and sees..."
Ji Xuanshi handed the collection of poems in her hand to Yicui and said, "Put it away and never take it out again."
Yicui was angry and said, "Young lady is the master. I will chase her away tomorrow and will not allow her to stay in Yixiang Pavilion anymore."
Concubine Ji tried to hold Yicui back, but she was just a small concubine and had no right to be the master of a noble in the palace. It was a blessing for her to be able to see the emperor now.
The night fell like a tide, and when the clouds and rain stopped, the emperor left without mercy, taking with him the warmth he had shown towards Concubine Ji.
"Your Majesty." Wei Maoyuan tried to keep his voice as low as possible, hoping that Ji Xuanshi had fallen asleep. "The Concubine Shu said that she was frightened at night and wanted to ask Your Majesty to come over."
Concubine Ji suddenly opened her eyes and saw that the emperor beside her had reacted. She subconsciously grabbed the emperor's sleeve, her face still flushed. The strands of hair at her temples were wet with sweat and she wiped them with a handkerchief, leaving them slightly damp.
There was a pleading look in her clear round eyes. Yan Shiyu gently pinched Ji Xuanshi's soft hand with his big hand, "I'll go and take a look."
It was clearly a tender gesture, but it made Ji Xuanshi's body feel a little colder.
The hand that was holding Yan Shiyu's sleeve gradually loosened, and Ji Xuanshi's face was left with only desolation. She wanted to stand up and help the emperor get dressed, but Yan Shiyu held her shoulders and said, "You are asleep, no need to get up."
After the emperor left, the warmth on the other side of the bed completely disappeared. Ji Xuanshi hugged Yicui and cried loudly, venting all the grievances she had experienced that night.
Yicui said distressedly, "My lady, please don't cry like that, be careful not to hurt your eyes."
Ji Xuanshi held Yicui's hand and said, "Your Majesty, tonight, it is my name card that is chosen. It is me who will sleep with you."
Yicui comforted her, "There is a long time to come. My lady, are you still worried about your future? Flowers do not last forever. The Concubine Shu is arrogant now, but who can predict the future?"
Ji Xuanshi thought more. She was the daughter of a minor official. She had no family background and no children. The thing that was most lacking in the palace was beauties, but she was not even beautiful, only pretty. If she was snatched away once, she could still comfort herself that there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, but would the emperor still remember her in the future?
Yicui wanted to say more, but seeing that Ji Xuanshi looked tired, she had no choice but to help her master go to sleep.
In the morning, An Jixuan arrived later than usual. The Concubine Shu, who usually came the latest, was already sitting in her seat this morning.
Concubine Shu raised the corner of her lips and glanced at Ji Xuanshi, then looked away as if nothing had happened.
But this one glance made Ji Xuanshi inexplicably flustered, and she didn't even take to heart what the Empress said afterwards.
Many people knew that the Emperor had left Ji Xuanshi's palace last night, and many people looked at Ji Xuanshi. Ji Xuanshi tried hard to remain calm, but her hands hidden in her sleeves had already moved rapidly.
Zhou Xuanshi entered the palace together with Ji Xuanshi. Her family background was better than Ji Xuanshi's, but she was on equal footing with Ji Xuanshi. During these days in the palace, Ji Xuanshi had slept with her more times than her. However, after last night, Ji Xuanshi had become a joke.
Selected Concubine Zhou looked at Concubine Shu with concern, "I heard that Concubine Shu suddenly had a fright last night. Is she feeling better today?"
Concubine Shu was in a lazy posture, her hand stroking the golden and wooden hairpin on her temples, and she dozed off in the misty mood, "After the emperor left, he naturally felt better."
Zhou Xuanshi said hurriedly: "Your Highness is truly favored by the Emperor. Some people, even if they were chosen, would not be so lucky."
Concubine Shu smiled as she glanced across Concubine Zhou's face without saying another word.
Ji Xuanshi's face turned pale. If someone didn't know, they would have thought that she was the one who was sick last night.
No one knew how she walked out of Fengyi Palace, but Ji Xuanshi walked towards Yixiang Pavilion in a frivolous manner. The palace maids passing by stopped to greet her according to the rules, but she couldn't help but shudder, as if everyone was laughing at her.
As soon as she walked into Yixiang Pavilion, she saw quite a few people standing in the courtyard.
Liu Yu went forward and greeted Ji Xuanshi, "My lady, how are you?"
Ji Xuanshi looked behind Liu Yu and asked, "Aunt, are you here today for something?"
Liu Yu's face was filled with apology. "Last night, the young lady was supposed to sleep with the emperor, but the Empress Shufei was unwell and the emperor went to the Qingyi Palace. My queen specially ordered me to bring some fabrics to the young lady and let me apologize to her in person."
Four or five people came here and there, each holding a serving plate in their hands.
Although Liu Yu said this, there was no guilt on her face. She was a servant, but her attitude was higher than Ji Xuanshi's. Ji Xuanshi didn't need to think deeply about who would do such a thing.
The corners of Ji Xuanshi's lips twitched for a long time, but she couldn't force a smile. "Thank the queen for me."
Watching them put all the things into Yixiang Pavilion, Ji Xuanshi stared at the dresses and skirts on the table. Each piece was covered with dust, just like Yixiang Pavilion. If no one came for a long time, it would eventually look like this.
Yicui was so angry that tears fell as she stamped her feet, "Madam Shufei is too bullying! My young lady didn't say anything today, but they still wanted to use what happened last night to ridicule me. Today, they even gave me a dress made of such material, as if they thought we were nothing!"
Yicui was about to throw everything on the table away, but Ji Xuanshi pulled Yicui back and said, "Without your love, I can't even protect myself."
After only one night's sleep with the Emperor, Concubine Shu gave her such a warning. Lady Ji suddenly thought of Wen Yunu, who was still under house arrest. A woman with such family background and talent might have been forgotten by no one nowadays. She could not stop the arrows and attacks from the harem.
"Let Ruan Yun come over." Ji Xuanshi sat down slowly, picked up the scissors, and inserted the scissors into the fabric to cut it without even closing her eyes.
It was at this time that Ruan Yun entered the hall. The clothes she had tailored were cut into two pieces, and she bowed with a blank expression.
Ji Xuanshi stood up and walked to Ruan Yun, "I know that the emperor has taken a fancy to you."
Ruan Jun raised her eyes softly, her eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to speak, but was stopped by Ji Xuanshi, "I help you, and I also help myself."
…
Moving herself slowly, Ruan Jun actually didn't want to go before the emperor. Even though it had been a long time since the little princess fell into the water, if the emperor investigated carefully, he would probably know what happened. If the emperor knew that she was involved, she would probably suffer again.
Moreover, although Yu Ronghua is under house arrest now, it is obvious that Shufei is much more ruthless than Yu Ronghua. While thinking about this, Ruan Jun had already arrived at the Zichen Palace with the soup in her hand.
Wei Maoyuan was not outside. Ruan Yun was just about to speak and ask the eunuch in front of him, when the palace door in front of him suddenly opened.
When Yan Shiyu's steady footsteps were heard, Ruan Jun suddenly knelt down in panic. Her action was quite large and it caused the emperor to look at her.
Her chin was suddenly lifted up, and the white jade ring in Yan Shiyu's hand was placed on her chin. Ruan Jun's eyes were full and her figure was graceful and slender. Anyone who saw her would be moved.
Wei Maoyuan had ordered everyone to move away from the corridor as soon as he saw Miss Ruan Yun. The emperor was about to go to the palace of Concubine Shu, so it was just a coincidence.
Ruan Yun was shy and angry, her emotions fluctuating under her neatly tied dress:
"Your Majesty, this servant is in pain."
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