Crossing the Palace Fighting Fox Harem

After finally convincing Yizhen to stop crying, it was already past noon.

When Concubine Kang saw Yizhen calm down, she consoled her carefully with a few words and then said goodbye and left.

The other concubines were also in their rooms preparing their attire for tonight's banquet. There was no one in the courtyard of the Concubine's Palace, only the occasional sound of maids running quickly in the corridor.

The clumsy Ji Anni didn't know what else she could do except wipe Yizhen's tears.

"Yizhen, it's getting late..." Ji Anni wanted to remind Yizhen to get dressed quickly, but she felt heartbroken when she saw Yizhen's messy hair. She took out a comb and combed Yizhen's hair while comforting her: "Yizhen, Princess Tianning has that kind of temper... Don't argue with her. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to play cards with me..."

Ji Anni couldn't help but feel guilty, and she gradually slowed down the process of combing Yizhen's hair. She thought that if she hadn't dragged Yizhen into the card game without thinking, Yizhen wouldn't have suffered the same anger from Princess Tianning.

Yizhen just listened quietly, holding the pearl hairpin gently in her hand. Her pale face showed a trace of pain and sadness. She was not like Ji Anni who would make a scene or cry when she was angry. She always kept her grievances and sadness in her heart and refused to reveal them to others. So even if Ji Anni wanted to comfort her, she didn't know where to start.

At this time, there were soft footsteps outside the door.

As soon as Ji Anni looked up, she saw Hua Rong standing by the door.

Hua Rong was panting slightly, probably because she had been jogging all the way here. After her breathing became a little calmer, she called out, "My Lady."

"Where is the princess?" asked Ji Anni.

"The princess is still angry and is locking herself in her room smashing things." Hua Rong said as she walked into the room and reminded Ji Anni, "Don't forget, Madam, from today on, Hua Rong is your maid. After tonight, Hua Rong will serve you personally. Wherever you go, Hua Rong must follow."

If Hua Rong hadn't reminded her, Ji Anni would have almost forgotten about it.

In the past, she always saw the two beautiful sisters following the princess closely. Now, one of the twins was assigned to serve her. Ji Anni didn't know what the queen mother was thinking behind such an arrangement.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Can you let me comb your hair and change your clothes?" Huarong said anxiously.

"Don't worry about me, help Yizhen to put her hair up first." Ji Anni pulled Huarong behind Yizhen.

"My lady, I am here to serve you." Hua Rong seemed a little reluctant. There was not much time left. If she helped Yizhen to finish her things, she might not have time to dress up Ji Anni.

"What do you mean by serving me or not? Can't you just consider it as helping me?" Ji Anni handed the comb to Hua Rong and said, "Help Yizhen to put her hair up like when she first came this morning."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I don't know how to do Concubine Su Cong's hair..."

Yizhen was served by a palace maid, and it must have been the maid who helped her tie her hair that morning. The palace hair buns were nothing more than a few similar styles. As a palace maid who seemed to have some status, Huarong could not have not known how to tie a palace hair bun. After being rejected so thoroughly by Huarong, Ji Anni's instinctive reaction was that Huarong obviously knew how to do it, but she didn't help. So she said with some disappointment: "Huarong, I misjudged you. I thought you were bold and straightforward, but I didn't expect you were unwilling to help with this small favor."

Huarong's expression immediately revealed a bit of grievance. Without waiting for her to explain, Yizhen spoke for her: "Xiao Zhao, don't blame her, she really can't..."

Ji Anni asked Yizhen in disbelief, "Why not?"

Yizhen paused and said softly, "I tied my hair in a Nanhu County folk bun this morning. I'm afraid only the maids from Nanhu County can do it. It's not Huarong's fault that she can't do it."

"Where is the palace maid? Why doesn't she help you comb your hair?" Ji Anni suddenly discovered an important problem. The other concubines were served by palace maids to dress up in their rooms, but why was there no sign of the palace maid who served Yizhen?

Speaking of which, Ji Anni still doesn’t know the name of the palace maid who serves Yizhen or what she looks like.

Yizhen seemed reluctant to say more. She was silent for a long time before she said, "Xiao Zhao, don't ask any more questions."

Yizhen got up and left.

Ji Anni chased for a few steps, but seeing that Yizhen was not in the mood to respond, she stopped and watched Yizhen return to the room.

***

By the time Huarong finished dressing Ji Anni, the sky had already become dark.

She knocked on Yizhen's door. It was Yizhen who opened the door. There was no maid in the room, but Yizhen had already dressed up. She was wearing a willow-colored long dress and a light yellow short jacket. She was natural and elegant, generous and dignified. The white earrings on her ears could be vaguely seen through her hair. There was only one pearl hairpin on her head, which was the one given by Concubine Baogui. Although her bun was not as complicated as the palace style, it showed the purity and loveliness of a beautiful girl from a small family. Ji Anni liked her more and more.

The two of them walked together towards the Xuantian Palace.

Hua Rong did not go with them, because according to the palace rules, the maids would not be able to serve their masters until after tonight. As a maid, Hua Rong was not qualified to attend the dinner specially prepared for the concubines tonight.

When Ji Anni and Yizhen arrived at Xuantian Palace, more than ten concubines had already arrived.

Ji Anni glanced at the crowd and didn't see Shui Furong. She thought that Shui Furong was really strange and was always late for everything.

Shui Furong was not present, but her natural enemy, Liu Yingying, had already dressed up and chatted with several other concubines. Liu Yingying was the daughter of the governor of Cangzhou, and her official position was the same as Shui Furong's father, the governor of Qingzhou. The two of them had been competing since they were young, and even this time when she entered the palace, Liu Yingying followed Shui Furong in after she heard that she had signed up for the selection.

Shui Furong and Liu Yingying are the leading figures in the East and West Concubines' Palaces respectively. Both of them are outstanding in appearance and talent, and their families are rich. They feel superior to all the concubines. The biggest similarity between the two is that they don't know how to be restrained and always like to stand at the forefront. But the biggest difference between the two is that Shui Furong is only eye-catching among the concubines. The emperor has not seen what she looks like so far. It seems that Shui Furong deliberately avoids meeting the emperor. Liu Yingying likes to show up in any occasion.

Today she wore a water-colored long skirt and a small top with golden lace. Her hair was all tied up in a bun, leaving only two strands of hair by her ears. Her bun was adorned with several jade hairpins, which shone brightly under the afterglow of the setting sun, showing her elegance.

Although it is gorgeous and expensive, I always feel that the splendor is superficial and the expensiveness is false.

Perhaps this is because Liu Yingying's temperament is not calm enough.

In comparison, Shui Furong was more elegant. When she was silent, she looked calm, worthy of the noble status of the governor's daughter. But as soon as Shui Furong got angry, she immediately became like Liu Yingying, losing all her elegance and becoming a rude woman in the market.