After traveling through time, I became the aunt of the loyal dog emperor

"Empress Yi, why did you bring me here?"

At this time, the two were in Concubine Yi's room. When she heard Wan Ning's question, Concubine Yi did not rush to answer, but motioned Wan Ning to sit on a chair beside her. After she sat down, Concubine Yi took two steps back and suddenly bowed to the princess without any warning. Wan Ning was so scared that she immediately stood up and helped her up.

"Empress Yi, you are my elder. How can I deserve such a great honor? Please get up quickly."

After Wan Ning insisted, Concubine Yi stopped insisting and stood up and spoke slowly, her face still gentle and intellectual. She said, "I have a request for you today. If you feel embarrassed, you can just refuse."

Although Wan Ning is kind, she hates being threatened, whether it is a threat of force or moral kidnapping in the name of kindness. So when Concubine Yi said this, she felt uncomfortable and wanted to hear what it was about. If it was reasonable, she would naturally support it. If she wanted to use her kindness to retreat in order to advance, she didn't care who the other party was.

"Concubine Yi, tell me what's going on."

"I heard that the Empress Dowager will hold a beauty contest for the Emperor after the new year. Is it true or not?" Concubine Yi asked very gently.

Wan Ning nodded: "Yes, it is true. Concubine Yi is well-informed. I wonder if anyone has recommended you?"

Concubine Yi smiled bitterly and shook her head: "No, I live here now and I'm afraid that people outside are hiding too late, so how could they want to get involved with us?"

"What's that?"

"According to past practice, the organizer of the beauty pageant has the right to arrange accommodation for the concubines, and can also arrange for the unselected concubines to leave the palace. Concubine Xia has been in the palace for a short time, and she was arranged to live in the Nameless Palace before she was canonized. No one has mentioned her for nearly a year. So we have been waiting for an opportunity, and when everyone in the palace has forgotten her existence, we will try to send her out of the palace. Whether she gets married or does some business to support herself, it is better than staying here."

"Empress Yi, what do you mean?"

"I would like to ask for help, Princess. Can we send Concubine Xia away during the selection? Don't worry, not many people in the palace remember her, and she has not yet been registered. So even if someone remembers her in the future, we can think of a reason in advance to get rid of the matter. Are you willing to take the risk?" Concubine Yi pleaded.

Wan Ning did not reply immediately but fell into deep thought. It was not that she was unwilling to do so, but she did not dare to go back to Concubine Xia's previous home after sending her away. Besides, where should she, a teenage girl, go?

Seeing that the princess did not answer, Concubine Yi's eyes dimmed. She also knew that her request was really risky. Even if the princess refused, she would have nothing to say. She just wanted to fight for the youngest sister in the palace. Wan Ning thought for a while, suddenly raised her head and looked at her and asked, "Are you only sending Concubine Xia away? What about the other sisters, and Concubine Yi?"

Concubine Yi smiled with relief, turned around and sat on a chair beside her, and said, "I have been in the palace for many years and am now this old. Life outside the palace is really unfamiliar and I am tired of it. As for the other sisters, their situations are different from Concubine Xia. They have all been canonized and registered. It is really difficult to send them out together. Even if they succeed, if they are tracked down in the future, I am afraid it will affect you, Princess. We are grateful to send the young Concubine Xia out first."

Wan Ning stood up and paced back and forth beside the table. She suddenly asked, "Empress Xia is young. Do you have any plans for life after leaving the palace?"

Concubine Yi shook her head, and although she looked miserable, she still explained very gently: "Concubine Xia's mother died early, and her father married another wife. Although the new wife did not beat or scold her, she was indeed not attentive and often felt that she was a nuisance at home. As a result, Concubine Xia was sent by her father to the palace for selection at a young age. Now even if she goes out, it may be inconvenient for her to return home. But if Concubine Xia does not seize the opportunity of this selection, it will become increasingly difficult for her to escape. At such a young age, she can see everything for the rest of her life. It is really sad to continue like this."

Wan Ning stopped and looked at Concubine Yi, who was telling her story. Time had left traces on her face. She seemed to see Concubine Yi, who was lonely and desolate in the Wuming Palace, and she also saw through her appearance that it was Concubine Xia, who was so energetic, sitting here. Wan Ning really couldn't bear it, but once she promised them, she had to do it. If she found a way to travel back to her own time in the process, then what should they do?

Is it better to never have hope at all than to have hope dashed again?

Concubine Yi saw through the princess's tangle, so she stood up quickly and continued to speak gently, "If the princess feels that this matter is difficult to do, it doesn't matter. We can think of other ways."

Wan Ning waved her hands, thinking that she was the eldest princess of Chu State after all, and Concubine Yi's words were underestimating her. If she couldn't do it well, what about them who were trapped in Wuming Palace and were powerless?

"It's not difficult, but we need to think about this matter carefully and don't act rashly. We need to send her out safely and arrange her life outside the palace properly. We can't just get out of the fire pit and into the tiger's den. It's good that Concubine Xia is here to protect her. If someone bullies her outside, no one will be able to help her."

Seeing that her wish was fulfilled, Concubine Yi was a little excited, and her voice unconsciously rose a little. She thanked her again and again: "Thank you Princess Le Yan for your help. We can plan the details, but as long as you agree to this, we will be halfway to success. Wuming Palace has no way to repay you. If the princess needs Wuming Palace in the future, we will definitely repay you."

"Empress Yi, you're too polite. There's still some time before the talent show, and if we want to be perfect, we need to plan slowly. Please don't tell anyone about this for now," Wan Ning requested.

Concubine Yi smiled and nodded, and replied: "Of course, everything is up to your arrangement, Princess."

Wan Ning smiled, remembering that they had been in the room for an incense stick of time. If she went out now, she was worried that it would arouse other people's suspicion. She looked around the room. Concubine Yi's room was fresh and elegant. In addition to writing brushes, inkstones, paper and inkstones, there were also many musical instruments. She remembered that she had heard Concubine Ru say that Concubine Yi was proficient in everything from playing the zither to chess, calligraphy and painting. She stared at the zither in the room and asked, "Madam Concubine Yi, we have been alone in the room for so long. Will it arouse other people's suspicion if we go out like this?"

"Well, princess, do you have any good ideas?"

Wan Ning walked quickly to the guqin, pretending to pick it up, and said, "Why don't I just say I'm here to learn from you?" As she picked it up, she realized that the guqin was heavy and big, and it was inconvenient to carry it around, so she put it back. She explained, "Forget it, this guqin is inconvenient, and Wan Tao can play the guqin, so I can't convince people that I'm going to learn from you."

Seeing her so silly, Concubine Yi couldn't help laughing. She turned around and took out a long and thin box from the bookshelf. After opening it, an exquisite jade flute appeared.

"Princess, what do you think of this flute? My mother prepared it for me when I entered the palace. She said that I could teach my child to play the flute when I have my own child. I'm afraid I won't have the chance in this lifetime. If you don't mind, you can tell others that you want to learn to play the flute from me."

Wan Ning took it happily and said, "Of course I won't mind. I will often come to you, Concubine Yi, to 'learn' from you in the future. You shouldn't be annoyed."

After that, the two looked at each other and smiled, reaching a consensus.