The emperor just doesn't treat everyone equally, and it's none of my business!

On September 9, the Double Ninth Festival, the emperor and empress's procession set out from the palace early in the morning. The concubines in the harem saw the emperor and empress off at the palace gate.

After the emperor and empress left, the concubines walked back in groups of three or four.

Although Gu Shijin has been in the palace for three years, she has been staying in Ningyu Pavilion and rarely goes out. She is not familiar with anyone in the harem, let alone chatting with them.

She walked away from the crowd and went to Ningyu Pavilion alone with Xingzhu and Xingyue.

"The Queen is the Queen. Some people, no matter how favored they are, cannot go beyond the rules. Only the Queen can accompany the Emperor on the mountain climb to worship his ancestors."

The direction of these words was too obvious. Although the voice was low, it was said right next to Gu Shijin. It was hard for her not to hear it, but Gu Shijin was too lazy to pay attention.

It's just that she doesn't want to care about others but doesn't want to let her go.

"Lady Jin, what do you think?" Concubine Rou stood in front of Gu Shijin and asked with a weak face.

This is the white lotus.

Gu Shijin could only stop, bowed, and said with a smile: "The Queen is the Emperor's legal wife, so naturally she should accompany the Emperor."

After saying that, Gu Shijin took two steps forward, leaned close to Concubine Rou's ear, and whispered, "I just don't know if Concubine Lan knows these words. If Concubine Lan knows, she will definitely say that Concubine Rou knows the rules."

A trace of panic flashed in Rou Guipin's eyes. She was just mocking Gu Shi, but if Concubine Lan knew, she would not let her off easily. Everyone in the harem might want to be the queen, but only Concubine Lan did not hide her ambition and wrote it on her face. She often ignored the queen because of the emperor's favor.

However, Concubine Lan did not rely solely on the emperor's favor. Her father was the Prince of Dingnan, her brother was the General of Zhennan, and they had a good relationship with the emperor. Concubine Lan had such a backstage to oppose the queen.

If the Empress Dowager hadn't disliked Concubine Lan, she would have been the Fourth Concubine or the Imperial Concubine long ago.

Concubine Rou took a step back and patted her chest as if she was frightened: "Sister, I just told you the truth, don't be angry."

"Sister Rou, what's wrong with you?" Li Xiuyuan followed Concubine De over and asked with concern.

"Greetings to Concubine De, Li Xiuyuan." Concubine Rou and Gu Shijin paid their respects together.

"My sister was just telling sister Jin that the Queen will accompany the Emperor to the mountain to worship their ancestors, and asked sister Jin not to worry." Concubine Rou said softly with red eyes.

Concubine De glanced at Gu Shijin with contempt in her eyes: "The Empress is the Empress, she is not comparable to Concubine Jin, a noble lady. Don't think about things you shouldn't think about."

There was no surveillance in ancient times, so people could just talk nonsense. Concubine Rou was good at it, and so was Gu Shijin.

Gu Shijin opened his eyes wide, full of innocence and confusion: "Sister Rou, how could you lie to Concubine De and Sister Xiuyuan? Didn't you just tell your sister that you envied the Empress for being able to accompany the Emperor to Tianshan to worship the ancestors, and it would be great if you could go too?"

Concubine Rou did not expect that Gu Shijin would change his expression so quickly, and he was even better at pretending to be weak and innocent than her.

"I didn't realize that Concubine Rou was so arrogant." Concubine De looked at Concubine Rou's face which turned pale in an instant with even more disdain.

"Lady Jin, what nonsense are you talking about?" Concubine Rou said angrily.

Gu Shijin smiled, not understanding at all: "Sister just repeated what sister just said, how can it be considered nonsense? Even if it is nonsense, sister was the one who spoke nonsense first."

"you……"

"That's enough!" Concubine De glanced at the two of them and said, "The Emperor and Empress have just left the palace, and you two are arguing in the palace. How can this be allowed?"

"Rou Guipin has been in the palace for many years, how can she still be so tactless in her words and actions?"

"Empress Defei, I never said those words." Concubine Rougui lowered her head.

Unfortunately, Concubine De was not the emperor, and he could not feel any sympathy for her weak appearance, and was even quite annoyed.

Concubine De couldn't stand the fact that Gu Shijin was favored by the emperor, but her dislike for Concubine Rou was long-standing.

"Last time, Concubine Sheng was punished by the Emperor to copy Buddhist scriptures because of Concubine Rou. After she came out, she became much more stable." Concubine De looked at Concubine Rou and said, "Concubine Rou should also copy the Ksitigarbha Sutra ten times. I believe that this outspoken habit can be corrected."

"Your Majesty, I, your concubine..."

"Before leaving the palace, the Emperor and the Empress issued an order for me to temporarily take charge of the affairs of the six palaces. Does Concubine Rou have any objection?" Concubine De glanced at Concubine Rou lightly.

"I dare not. I obey your command."

Gu Shijin lowered his head and remained silent.

"And Concubine Jin." Concubine De turned and looked at Gu Shijin.

Gu Shijin bowed and said, "Mrs. Defei."

"While the emperor is away from the palace, Concubine Jin should stay in Ningyu Pavilion and avoid going out too much."

"Yes, ma'am."

After Concubine De left with a group of people, Concubine Rou stared at Gu Shijin with her eyes as if they were filled with poison: "Gu Shijin, there is a long way to go, let's wait and see."

At this moment, there was no more tenderness on Concubine Rou's face, only viciousness remained.

"My lord, are you okay?" Xingyue supported Gu Shijin and asked with concern.

Gu Shijin smiled slightly: "What can I do?"

Today's incident really didn't have much impact on her, and she even wanted to thank Concubine De. Now that the emperor was not in the palace, it didn't matter whether she went out of Ningyu Pavilion or not. She could avoid trouble by staying in Ningyu Pavilion.

After all, there is a pregnant concubine in the palace now, and Gu Shijin cannot afford it if something happens.

But... the concubines in the harem are far different from what Gu Shijin had imagined.

However, Gu Shijin will not take it lightly. The ones she is facing now are all of low level. Those who are trained by aristocratic families, Gu Shijin has never faced them before.

The women who were raised by ancient noble families with all their strength should not be underestimated. No matter their talent or knowledge and ability, they are not comparable to Gu Shijin, an orphan who grew up in an orphanage in her previous life.

Only by acknowledging the excellence of others can you become stronger. This is what Gu Shijin believed in his previous life, and he still believes this in this life.

No woman in the harem should be looked down upon. Even ants can cause a dam to break, let alone a person with ideas.

Xing Zhu asked, "My lady, are you going to the chrysanthemum viewing banquet hosted by Concubine Lan today?"

"Of course not." Gu Shijin felt happy just thinking about it. What's so good about seeing a group of women competing for beauty? It would be better to sleep in Ningyu Pavilion.

"Xingzhu, go to Changle Palace and explain the situation to Concubine Lan."

"Yes, my lord."

Yonghe Palace

As soon as she stepped into the room, Concubine De slapped Li Xiuyuan twice in front of Concubine Shun.

Li Xiuyuan's face instantly became red and swollen.

The sound of slaps was particularly harsh in the huge palace.

Li Xiuyuan didn't know why Concubine De was angry, but she fell to her knees with a bang.

"Your Majesty, I wonder what I have done wrong?" Li Xiuyuan looked up at Concubine De.

"Don't you know what you did?"

Li Xiuyuan started thinking quickly, wondering what Concubine De had discovered.

"It seems that you have done a lot of bad things." Seeing her look, Concubine De sneered, "Then I will remind you."

"Gao Yi."