After Chu Yunlan banished Lin Wan'er to the Cold Palace and severely punished her family, Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng's prestige in the harem became unmatched for a time.
However, they knew very well that a tall tree catches the wind, and such a prominent position would inevitably attract more jealousy and scheming.
Not long after, a woman named Zhao Yan'er stepped into the palace gates.
She was born with a pitiful appearance that made people feel sorry for her, but in reality, she was ruthless, vicious, and cunning.
Before entering the palace, Zhao Yan'er was well aware of Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng's prestigious positions and secretly vowed to bring them down from their high positions.
She first spread various rumors about Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng among the palace maids and eunuchs, vividly describing how they were arrogant and domineering towards the servants in the palace.
Then, seizing the opportunity, she put on a delicate and innocent act in front of Chu Yunlan, teary-eyed, implying that she was being harassed by Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng in the palace and that her life was miserable.
At first, Chu Yunlan did not take these rumors to heart and firmly believed in Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng's character.
But as the rumors spread more and more, and more and more people were talking about them, she couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.
Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng keenly noticed the subtle change in Chu Yunlan's attitude, and knew that someone must be up to something behind the scenes.
So, they began to secretly investigate Zhao Yan'er's background and all her actions in the palace without making a sound.
After careful investigation, they discovered that Zhao Yan'er had a close and intricate connection with a wealthy merchant outside the palace.
This wealthy merchant had been eyeing a certain important trade right of the imperial court, and attempted to realize his ambitions through Zhao Yan'er's influence in the palace.
Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng knew that they had to gather all the evidence before Zhao Yan'er could succeed in her scheme again.
They secretly dispatched their most trusted confidants to monitor Zhao Yan'er's every move day and night.
Finally, on a dark and windy night, they successfully caught Zhao Yan'er red-handed while she was secretly meeting with someone from outside the palace.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Zhao Yan'er had no way to deny it, no matter how eloquent she was.
Upon learning of this, Chu Yunlan was furious and immediately ordered Zhao Yan'er to be severely punished in order to rectify the atmosphere in the harem.
After experiencing this series of twists and turns, Chu Yunlan felt deeply guilty towards Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng.
To express his apology and unwavering trust, Chu Yunlan specially prepared and hosted an extremely grand and luxurious banquet in the palace.
At the banquet, in front of everyone, she solemnly declared the irreplaceable importance of Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng in her heart.
At the banquet, there was singing and dancing, laughter and joy, and a lively and peaceful atmosphere.
However, Xiao Yichen and Shen Yifeng dared not let their guard down for a moment. They knew that in this seemingly calm harem, a storm might break out again at any time.
Just as the banquet was about to come to a successful conclusion, a mysterious woman suddenly appeared at the palace gate.
Her gaze was as deep as a pool, and her expression as cold as frost, making it difficult to fathom her intentions.
Even more unexpectedly, this woman claimed to possess a keepsake of Chu Yunlan's long-lost sister, and also claimed to hold a shocking secret concerning the Night Dynasty's harem and even the entire dynasty.
Her appearance was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up waves in the Ye Dynasty's harem and shrouding the future situation in mystery.
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