The palace hostesses were still on their way to Yan Fu Palace. Among the concubines in the side halls, the highest grade was Pin, Deputy Third-Grade, followed by Rong Hua, Fourth-Grade, Gui Ren, Deputy Fourth-Grade, and then Mei Ren, Fifth-Grade.
Since there were a small number of concubines in Emperor Chunjia’s harem, there was only one Pin called Ms. Yan who entered the palace in the Emperor’s wedding day and stayed with Fu Ren Yaoning. There were two Rong Hua. One was Ms. Dong who had been with the Emperor for many years in Consort Xin’s palace, just like Ms. Yan. The other one was Ms. Wei who was cordially invited in Yi Jia Palace recently. It was said that there were two Gui Ren before. Given they both “had died suddenly” in Hu Zhu Palace, there was no Gui Ren in the harem now. There were also several Mei Ren before. But because of various reasons, they had died. The existing three Mei Ren, namely, Yun Fenghuang, Yun Qingman and Mei Ren Xue were newly promoted this
The Empress clearly saw the three people’s expressions on her seat. Rong Hua Wei and Cai Ren Gui of course gloated. Yun Fenghuang felt stunned. Then she seemed to be aggrieved and thought for a while. She pretended to act as if nothing were on her mind. Then she lowered her head and expressed gratitude to the Empress.“She is patient.” The Empress thought to herself, “I thought she will continue to say she is innocent because she is favored by His Highness.”She had planned that if Yun Fenghuang dared to keep arguing that she was innocent, she would keep up her efforts and demote her from Mei Ren to Cai Ren... However, Yun Fenghuang accepted the punishment.The Empress secretly regretted it, glanced at those concubines and servants who were kneeling a little farther to her, and casually ordered her leading maid to rebuke them. The reason was that “You indifferently watched Rong Hua Wei and Cai Ren Gui have a quarrel with Mei Ren Yun. The harmon
Getting out of Mian Fu Palace, Yun Fenghuang thought that Noble Consort Shu would call her to stop, but Noble Consort Shu didn’t even look at her. She hurriedly stepped on her sedan and ordered to return to Tong Xia Palace.She did not even ask Yun Qingman to be back with her.“Fenghuang, let’s go together.” Yun Qingman sighed when she saw it, and turned to look for Yun Fenghuang, but she only saw that Yun Fenghuang had come to Wei Hengyan.She was in a blank, and then she went over in a hurry, for fear that the two would fight in front of the palace of Queen Mother of Honor. When she walked beside them, she heard that Yun Fenghuang said to Wei Hengyan, “...The outcome is definitely settled. There is no use to blame me. The most important thing now is to calm Queen Mother of Honor’s anger, rather than continue to argue who should be blamed!”Wei Hengyan said angrily, “It’s easy for you to say that. If you have the ability to calm h
“...” They looked at each other. After a while, Yun Fenghuang said wistfully, “It turns out that the Majesty is so weak. An outsider can enter his palace freely.”Gongxiang Xiao looked at her indifferently and said, “Do you want to break the promise?”“How is it possible?” Yun Fenghuang said, “I was promoted yesterday. Her Highness hasn’t even said anything about adding servants to me. I can’t directly ask Her Highness for that, can I? What if Her Highness suspects me? After all, I have always been clever and gentle in front of Her Highness...”“Are you clever and gentle? Why did you quarrel with other concubines at the side hall in Yan Fu Palace?” Gongxiang Xiao laughed scornfully and interrupted her, “Are you still clever when you quarreled with others in front of Mian Fu Palace?”Yun Fenghuang sighed, “I have no choice. After all, although I am clever and gentle, I can’t stand the repeated provocations from others.”
“Importance?” Gongxiang Xiao couldn’t help laughing at himself. “I do not know who can help me, so, I choose to look for your help. You can imagine how low my status is in my father’s mind.”After he said this, he was regretted. Although he was in a bad situation, he was still the heir of Prince Regent. Yun Fenghuang was just a concubine. She did not deserve to listen to his complaints.He was about to change the subject. At that time, Yun Fenghuang said, “Do you think your father attaches more importance to your brother now? But have you ever thought that it will be foolish for your father not to take advantage of the power of his wife’s family? Just as the saying goes, with the skin gone, to what can the hair attach itself? If something happens to Prince Regent, can you still be safe?”Gongxiang Xiao smiled sarcastically and did not answer her question. He only said, “You don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me what you plan to do.”
Empress Ji returned to Yan Fu Palace after the midday.When Empress Ji was about to get out of her sedan after passing through the palace gate, the leading maid, left in the palace before, stepped forward to support her. The maid reported, “Your Highness, Mei Ren Yun has been here before midday, saying that Xin Qing, a maid, disappeared suddenly when they were on the way back from Mian Fu Palace. She said that she has searched Xin Qing nearby but found nobody. She dared not to go back Hu Zhu Palace, so, she came here for your decision.”Empress Ji frowned, “Disappeared suddenly? What’s the matter?”“Mei Ren Yun said that Xin Qing walked behind her and everything was okay on the way. When approaching Hu Zhu Palace, she wanted to order something to Xin Qing, so, she turned back but found nobody was there!” The leading maid continued, “I have sent someone to investigate, and it turns out that Rong Hua Wei and several maids indeed had seen Xin Qing
Emperor Chunjia stared at Yun Fenghuang for a while, and then smiled suddenly, “The Empress has really spoiled you. Shouldn’t you be grounded for a month? Why do you go around casually?”If he didn’t say that, Yun Fenghuang would almost forget that she was grounded.After all, when she went to Yan Fu Palace just now, Empress Ji did not mention it at all.If things happened as what she had discussed with Gongxiang Xiao, it was likely that even if she would stay at Hu Zhu Palace obediently a few days later, the Empress would not agree.“Your Majesty, you misunderstood me. I dare not to disobey Her Highness’s order.” Yun Fenghuang pretended to protect the Empress’ dignity, so, she changed her mind, “Here is the thing. Queen Mother of Mercy asked Nian Xuan to work for Chun Yong Palace, so, I had to let Xin Qing be with me. However, Xin Qing disappeared on the way to Hu Zhu Palace from Mian Fu Palace! I was so scared that I went to Yan
“... Aren’t you afraid?” On the way to Yan Fu Palace, Rong Hua Wei wanted to ask something a few times but failed. In the end, she couldn’t help but whisper to Yun Fenghuang, “I even dare not sleep tonight, for I may have nightmares after falling asleep.”Yun Fenghuang said calmly, “Xin Qing disappeared for a short time, so, she looks the same as she was before, except the livor mortis. If one is soaked in water for several days, it is really terrible to see.”Hearing this, the maid who led the way looked back. Rong Hua Wei even opened her eyes wider and said amazedly, “Have you seen it?”Yun Fenghuang said, “Of course.”“How could you see that?” Rong Hua Wei looked at her suspiciously, and there was even a hint of admiration in her eyes, “That kind of scene... Your family allowed you to see?”“You probably don’t know what a corpse looks like on hot days after being soaked for half a month?” Yun Fenghuang smiled slight
The trial at Yan Fu Palace that day ended without any results. Consort Xin was very unhappy when she left, and her skeptical eyes almost swept everyone. She came from a disinterested family. Affected by her family culture, she had acted inconspicuously since entering the Imperial Harem. She consciously disdained to fight with other concubines, but it didn’t mean that she was timid!The result, however, was not satisfactory. She led a peaceful life at Cheng Yue Palace by playing the qin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument in some ways similar to the zither) and making tea, but someone still framed her up!They thought she was a coward, didn’t they!Empress Ji noticed Consort Xin’s facial expression, comforting her perfunctorily, “I know you well...”“Because of languor, I often stay at Cheng Yue Palace and contact little with sisters in other palaces.” Consort Xin smiled unexpectedly and said indifferently, “You might not really kn