After Chu Yunlan punished Liu Yunxuan, Xiao Yichen was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
But the turbulent changes in the imperial harem are never easily stopped.
Another year of imperial concubine selection took place, and a man named Shen Yifeng entered the palace. He was handsome with striking eyebrows and bright eyes, and possessed a refined and scholarly air. As soon as he entered the palace, he attracted the attention of many.
Shen Yifeng was well aware of the ways to survive in the harem. On the surface, he did not compete with anyone, but in secret he was observing the situation and looking for a force he could rely on.
He recognized Xiao Yichen's standing in the Empress's eyes and tried to befriend him.
Xiao Yichen was initially wary of him, but Shen Yifeng was sincere and meticulous in his work, and gradually won Xiao Yichen's trust.
However, all of this was observed by the old man in the palace.
Murong Jin, who had always harbored resentment towards Xiao Yichen, seized the opportunity to sow discord, saying that Shen Yifeng was merely using Xiao Yichen to get close to the Empress and would surely turn on her in the future.
Xiao Yichen became suspicious and began to distance himself from Shen Yifeng.
Shen Yifeng was confused and anxious.
At this time, a flower-viewing banquet was held in the palace.
Chu Yunlan was in high spirits and went on an outing with the concubines.
Murong Jin deliberately mentioned the recent discord between Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng in front of Chu Yunlan, drawing Chu Yunlan's attention.
Chu Yunlan summoned Xiao Yichen to inquire about the reason. After hesitating for a long time, Xiao Yichen finally voiced his concerns.
Chu Yunlan smiled slightly and said, "My judgment of people is never wrong. I have also observed Shen Yifeng, and he is not a wicked person. Don't be swayed by the words of others."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Xiao Yichen regretted his excessive suspicion.
Meanwhile, seeing that his plan had failed, Murong Jin devised another scheme.
He bribed a palace maid to tamper with Shen Yifeng's food, causing Shen Yifeng to behave improperly in front of the emperor.
Chu Yunlan was furious and wanted to punish Shen Yifeng.
At the critical moment, Xiao Yichen stepped forward to plead for Shen Yifeng and pointed out that there must be something fishy about the matter.
Chu Yunlan calmed down and ordered a thorough investigation. It was eventually discovered that it was Murong Jin's conspiracy.
Chu Yunlan was completely disappointed in Murong Jin and banished him to the cold palace.
After this incident, Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng became even closer, and together they assisted the Empress, bringing a rare period of peace to the harem.
After this incident, the inner palace appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents were surging.
Shen Yifeng was deeply grateful to Xiao Yichen for his pleas and to the Empress for her keen insight. He resolved to serve the Empress and assist Xiao Yichen with utmost loyalty.
His talent gradually became apparent in the harem. He was not only proficient in poetry and prose, but also offered unique insights into court affairs, which made Empress Chu Yunlan look at him with new eyes.
However, this aroused the vigilance of Wei Ziling, a male concubine who had long held a high position in the palace.
Wei Ziling had been in the palace for many years and had a powerful family background, making him very influential and well-established within the palace.
He was handsome and charming, and his eloquence and flattery won him the support of some palace servants.
He worried that Shen Yifeng's favor would threaten his own position, so he decided to strike first.
Wei Ziling first spread rumors in the palace that Shen Yifeng was secretly colluding with a certain minister in the court and intended to interfere in the affairs of the court.
Then, he deliberately mentioned the matter casually in front of Chu Yunlan, arousing Chu Yunlan's suspicion.
Xiao Yichen realized Wei Ziling's plot. Knowing Wei Ziling's treacherous methods, he decided not to sit idly by and wait for his death.
On the one hand, he secretly collected evidence of Wei Ziling spreading rumors, and on the other hand, he reminded Shen Yifeng to be careful.
Shen Yifeng was well aware of his difficult situation, but he was not afraid at all.
At a palace banquet, Wei Ziling deliberately stirred up a topic, trying to embarrass Shen Yifeng in front of everyone.
Shen Yifeng, however, cleverly dealt with Wei Ziling's difficult questions with his wit and talent, and won the praise of more people instead.
Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity to present the evidence of Wei Ziling's crimes that he had collected to Chu Yunlan.
Chu Yunlan was furious after reading it and immediately ordered a thorough investigation.
Faced with the evidence, Wei Ziling had no way to refute it and was ultimately stripped of his title and imprisoned in the palace.
After this incident, Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng's positions in the palace became even more secure.
But they also understood that the struggles within the harem would never cease, and only by remaining vigilant and staying true to themselves could they survive in this complex environment.
Through these events, Chu Yunlan gained a clearer understanding of the true nature of the people in the harem.
While managing the harem, she also relied more on the support and companionship of Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng.
As the days went by, the imperial harem faced new challenges.
A prince from a foreign land came to pay tribute as an envoy, and Chu Yunlan hosted a banquet in his honor.
This foreign prince was handsome and charming, and could sing and dance well, which immediately attracted Chu Yunlan's attention.
The prince's name was Amir. He harbored ulterior motives and attempted to obtain secret information about the Night Dynasty by getting close to Chu Yunlan.
He used his charm to quickly build connections with some powerful figures in the palace.
Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng noticed Amir's unusual behavior and secretly investigated.
They discovered that Amir was in close contact with some of the palace maids and eunuchs, and seemed to be plotting something.
Just before Amir was about to take action, Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng made a decisive move and handed over the evidence they had gathered to Chu Yunlan.
Chu Yunlan was furious and ordered Amir to be expelled from the country and severely punished the palace servants who colluded with him.
After this series of events, Chu Yunlan's trust in Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng deepened.
The three of them joined hands to safeguard the peace and stability of the Night Dynasty's harem.
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