Chu Huashang lowered her eyes, and slowly exhaled a mouthful of stagnant air from her nose and mouth. Her tone remained sharp: "Hui Jieyu is getting more and more clever with her words in front of the Emperor."
Although she was born as a concubine, growing up in the Chu General's mansion with humility and modesty, but now Chu Huashang is the emperor's favorite concubine, Zhen Huang, whose aura is unintentionally emitted, not inferior to Yun Xiurong who was once favored and arrogant.
"Oh? It seems that Princess Taenniang's words have a hidden meaning." Lin Yuanyuan smiled brightly, with a clear and calm expression.
Chu Huashang clenched her fists, her eyes filled with suppressed anger: "I underestimated you! I thought that since the Jingren Palace fire, you had nowhere to vent your anger, but instead you found another way to make the Emperor suspect me!" She couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart when she thought of Tuoba Hong's icy expression today. She had become the Emperor's pawn, and all she could rely on was the Emperor's trust. But if the Emperor were to find out about her private dealings with Chang He Guifei, what would be the consequences?
The emperor initially rushed to support her, precisely because of Changhe's pregnancy, the emperor wanted her to become a favored concubine to restrain Shangguan. Although she did achieve that, at the critical moment when Changhe was about to leave, she went to visit Linji Palace instead. If the emperor found out... knew that she disobeyed his will...
The emperor wouldn't listen to her explanation, nor would he care that she had sought the help of the imperial concubine in order to compete with Lin Yu. All the emperor knew was that she had entered the gates of Lianji Palace! The imperial concubine had been recuperating behind closed doors for several days, and now she appeared at Lianji Palace at this time, her purpose could only be to secretly plot something. A disobedient pawn...
I really don't dare think about it anymore!
The only fortunate thing was that she did it very carefully, at the time she disguised herself as a charcoal servant girl to enter Linji Palace, for which she endured humiliation and stained her hands and face with charcoal. Changhe Empress saw her and laughed contemptuously, saying "She can bend and stretch, worthy of being a concubine from the Chu family." In the end, no one discovered her, not even the emperor's pawn planted in Linji Palace.
The emperor suspected her, but the only basis was Lin Wan's words, and there was no evidence to prove that she had been to Lianji Palace! It's just that the emperor is suspicious, and he will definitely investigate this matter in the future. He can't help but find out that the fire in Jingren Palace was caused by her, which makes him even more suspicious of her and the imperial concubine...
Chu Huashang thought about it and was frightened, hating Lin Yuan even more.
Lin Wan's eyes were fixed on Tian Pin, her pale face, and met her gaze: "The flames in Concubine Tian's eyes are the same as those I saw on Mid-Autumn Festival night, they have never been extinguished."
Chu Huashang coldly smiled and said, "That day you helped me, I also helped you. However, we will eventually stand in positions opposing each other, I had long expected that."
"Let bygones be bygones." Lin Yu walked up to her and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Your sister is still struggling in the Cold Palace, and if that matter comes to light, it will not be beneficial for either of us."
She finished speaking and walked away without looking back.
nb***
Chu Huashang's angry remark in the Shanglin Garden came true, and that night, Tuoba Hong indeed summoned Lin Yuan to serve him in bed.
On a winter night, the north wind was blowing outside, but in the bedroom of Jianzhang Palace, there was a warm and cozy dragon-shaped brazier, Lin Yin wore thin pajamas and stepped on it, feeling warm air rushing to her face, very comfortable.
Tuoba Hong lazily leaned against the window, half-reclining, his voice and expression as intoxicating as wine: "Yuanni, I see you standing in the hall, just like a beautiful woman in a painting. Yuanni, have all your wounds healed? You haven't served me for two months now."
In the winter, her nightgown was not as thin as a cicada's wing like in summer, and Lin Yuan's collar could not be seen through. She walked forward and sat beside Tuoba Hong, taking his hand and placing it on her chest: "There is still some scab that has not fallen off, it's very ugly, Your Majesty shouldn't look. Has Your Majesty ever heard of Emperor Wu of Han and Lady Li? The concubine doesn't want Your Majesty to see the concubine's ugly appearance."
Li Furen was a concubine of Emperor Wu of Han, who died of illness. Before her death, Emperor Wu wanted to see her for the last time, but she refused, saying that she had become disfigured by her illness and did not want to sully the emperor's eyes. Although Emperor Wu was angry at the time, after Li Furen's death he greatly rewarded her family because whenever he thought of Li Furen, he remembered her as a beautiful woman in the prime of life, without any blemishes.
Tuoba Hong listened and scowled with feigned anger: "How dare you! Does the Emperor have such a lecherous reputation?"
Lin Wan just smiled: "Your Majesty, calm your anger, let the concubine play a 'Qing Yu An' for Your Majesty to make amends, how about that?"
He went behind the screen and took out his zither, plucking a few strings with ease. The sound was crisp and clear, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. Emperor Taizong of Northern Wei had already turned around with a smile, his eyes filled with surprise: "I've never heard you play the zither before."
Lin Yuanyu smiled: "The last time the emperor wanted to see me paint, it was really bullying, and I ended up losing face. Fortunately, I'm not a complete failure, as a daughter I learned piano for a few years, today I must not be underestimated by the emperor."
The sound of the guqin was like flowing water, brushing past a room filled with spring light. Lin Yu had studied the guqin in her previous life, but she only learned this one piece and passed the amateur tenth level exam. In this era, noblewomen were considered beautiful if they excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Compared to women who had studied these skills for 15 or 16 years and made them their specialty, Lin Yu was still far inferior.
The days in the palace were boring, and Lin Wan sometimes used her zither to pass the time, which was more diligent than in her previous life. "Qing Yu An", a gentle and lingering melody, when Lin Wan played it, even a cold and hard heart had a melancholic feeling. When the song ended, Tuoba Hong applauded and said with a smile: "Very good, worthy of the word 'exquisite'."
"In terms of musical skills, the queen and Zhao Shuyuan are far superior to the concubines. The emperor is the Son of Heaven, he must have heard the most beautiful music in the world, what's the value of a concubine's little talent?" Lin Yu stood up and leaned against Emperor Tuoba Hong's chest: "However, the emperor really knows how to flatter people, the concubine is delighted."
Tuoba Hong clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "I knew you were a boastful one. The Empress's mastery of music is superior to yours, but the emotions in your music surpass hers. Before the melody is even composed, there is already emotion; Ah, my dear, I alone love the sound of your zither." He said, still not satisfied: "Why don't you play another piece, 'Tian Xian Zi'? You're so beautiful, playing 'Tian Xian Zi' would be most fitting."
Lin Wan stretched out her hand and gently pushed him: "Having an inch of progress! The emperor wants me to play the zither, what reward is there?"
"Oh yeah! Just wait and see, I'll be sure to 'reward' you..."
The two of them pulled up the bed curtains and immediately heard a "thud thud" sound on the door, followed by a sharp, delicate voice calling out: "Your Majesty."
"What's the matter? Come back tomorrow!"
The eunuch did not retreat, but rather plucked up his courage and said: "Your Majesty, there is indeed an urgent matter..." Lin Yu heard him say this and advised Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei: "It seems like it's a truly important matter. Could it be a state affair? Please don't mind me, Your Majesty; quickly summon the person to come in."
Tuoba Hong personally tucked in the corner of Lin's bed and only then did he get dressed and sit up. Because there were palace maidens serving as attendants, the eunuchs did not dare enter the inner chamber but instead knelt outside in the outer hall with its yellow silk curtains and loudly replied: "Your Majesty, the mistress of Huayang Palace has woken up."
Tuoba Hong stood up at this time and walked over in big strides: "Wei Zhaoyi of Huayang Palace? What's going on, just woke up?"
nb***
As soon as the news of Huayang Palace came out, Tuoba Hong was about to set off immediately, and Lin Yu's night was ruined.
Lin Wan had always known that Wei Zhaoyi held a certain position in the emperor's heart. Lin Wan was accustomed to being magnanimous and didn't mind the imperial favor for one night - Wei Zhaoyi wasn't being unscrupulous in trying to win over the emperor, having been unconscious for five years, how pitiful. It was only normal that the emperor would be delighted to visit her after she woke up. After being escorted back by the palace attendants, Lin Wan even instructed them to prepare some gifts and send them to Huayang Palace the next day.
Although it was late at night, the news of Wei Zhaoyi's awakening spread like willow catkins on a spring day, filling the entire palace overnight. The next day, everyone got up early to pay their respects to the empress, and not three sentences were spoken without mentioning Wei Zhaoyi, as if she was the newly favored imperial concubine.
Liáng Cáirén was selected into the palace with Lín Yuàn last year. Like many others who entered the palace late, she had never seen Wei Zhao Yi before. Liáng Cáirén was still young and looked curious and admiring, asking the consorts beside her: "Our emperor really dotes on Consort Wei! She must be a very beautiful person..."
One side, Wu Guiren had been serving the emperor for ten years. She sat quietly like a wooden stake, but couldn't withstand Liang Cairen's curiosity, so she replied: "In a few days you will know, this Zhaoyi Niangniang... Since the two noble consorts are not here, I'll just say one sentence, her favor at that time was no less than that of the Noble Consort."
"Later on, didn't the second imperial son die?" Su Guiren also chimed in. Since Shen's death, Su Guiren had fallen to the point of being ignored like mud, and even a favored concubine like Lin Yuan wouldn't bother with her anymore. Only those who were out of favor and lowly ranked, like Liang Cairen and Wu Guiren, could still speak with her: "The second imperial son died just a few days after birth. The Empress Dowager was exhausted from the difficult labor and fainted upon seeing the child's death. She never woke up again. At that time, I had only been in the palace for a year, and the Emperor was extremely grieved by this event, even granting the second imperial son a posthumous rank. If it were anyone else, an imperial prince who didn't live past a year wouldn't be given a ranking."
The queen sat lazily, not paying attention to the whispers of the people below. After a while, she put down her tea cup and the clear voice made everyone quiet. Her phoenix eyes scanned the crowd, smiling: "Zhaoyi's recovery is a joyful event. Don't forget to return to the palace to prepare gifts to be sent to Huayang Palace. Also, Zhaoyi has been seriously ill for many years, and her spirit is not very good after just waking up, so she can't leave the house now and can only rest quietly. When you go to visit her, don't make a loud noise or disturb her."
The many concubines all nodded in agreement, their eyes hiding different expressions - some jealous, some disgusted, some curious. After all, they did not want another favored concubine to join the struggle, having just sent off the Noble Consort, only to have a new Zhaoyi appear.
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