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

Chapter 4: Promotion to Noble Lady (rank of concubine in the harem)

"My young lady..." Xingyue stood beside, hesitant to speak, her eyes flickering.

"You look so conflicted, just say whatever you want to say." Gu Shijin put down his chopsticks and said in a calm voice.

Xingyue recounted what Xiaolin heard when he went to the imperial kitchen to pick up the meal at noon, and became more and more excited as she spoke.

"My Lord, these people are going too far..."

Gu Shijin looked at Xingyue and shook his head. This girl was still too impetuous.

It is not her fault that people outside gossip about her. From the current perspective, she is indeed like a "joke" as she fell out of favor just after she came into favor.

"Why are you panicking?" Gu Shijin looked outside the door. It was so hot at noon that it made people panic. "In this palace, you have to be calm when doing anything. How can I be at ease when you are so impatient?"

"There is no shortage of gossip in this palace. What is mine today will be someone else's tomorrow. Why take it to heart?"

The most important thing is that Gu Shijin felt that the emperor was satisfied last night and did not issue an order to come, so he was afraid that he was delayed by something.

"Yes, my lord."

"Your Majesty, Concubine Liu is here." At this time, Xiao Linzi ran in and said.

"Oh, my sister, this Ningyu Pavilion is really nice. It's quiet, the environment is good, and most importantly, my sister lives alone."

Before Gu Shijin could say anything, Concubine Liu walked in on her own.

Huh~ Gu Shijin took a deep breath, suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart, stood up and walked two steps, bowed and said: "My concubine greets Sister Liu Guiren."

"Oh, sister, what are you doing!" Lady Liu said this, but she didn't let Gu Shijin get up immediately. Instead, she looked around the room before walking forward to help Gu Shijin up, pretending to be surprised and saying, "Why haven't you gotten up yet, sister? Get up quickly."

"You and I are sisters, don't mind these empty formalities."

After Gu Shijin stood up, he told Xingyue to make tea.

"Sister, this Ningyu Pavilion is really comfortable. You can live alone without any restrictions." Liu Guiren said as she sat down on the couch.

In the harem, one palace often houses several of the emperor's concubines. Generally, the one with the highest rank is the head of the palace and has the right to manage the palace.

Concubine Liu currently lives in Yufu Palace, and the main seat of Yufu Palace is... Concubine Rong.

Gu Shijin followed and sat down on the other side of the couch: "My place is remote, how can it compare to my sister's Yufu Palace."

Concubine Liu sighed leisurely, "Sister, I am not the head of Yufu Palace. The head is Concubine Rong. I am sure you have heard about Concubine Rong's temper... Alas."

Gu Shijin did not respond to her words, but continued: "Yufu Palace is close to His Majesty's Chengqian Palace. Sister must be deeply loved by the emperor. The emperor wants to see sister often, so he lives in Yufu Palace."

These words probably touched Lady Liu's heart, and the smile on her face suddenly became much more sincere: "Sister, you have such a sweet mouth."

"Sister came here today to congratulate my sister."

Concubine Liu waved to her personal maid: "Lianxin."

Lianxin walked over slowly, holding a tray covered with a red cloth.

"Sister, this is my gift to you." Concubine Liu said, taking out a jade necklace from Lianxin's tray.

Gu Shijin took a look and refused, "This is too expensive."

Concubine Liu patted Gu Shijin's hand and said, "Sister, you are naturally beautiful and have fair skin. This jade necklace is just right for you."

Gu Shijin wanted to refuse, but Concubine Liu was firm, so she had to accept it and thanked her, "Thank you, sister. I accept your gift."

"That's right, you and I are sisters, you're welcome."

"My sister is so lucky. She has been in the palace for three years and is still favored by the emperor." said Concubine Liu.

Concubine Liu didn't need Gu Shijin to answer and just continued talking about her own things.

Noon is the hottest time of the day. Gu Shijin is a talented person, so his share of ice is naturally very small. Sometimes there is none at all. For example, no one brought him ice today.

Concubine Liu couldn't stand the heat and soon asked to leave.

Gu Shijin had wanted her to leave for a long time, so he naturally didn't try to keep her. He stood up, bowed, and sent her off.

As soon as she left Ningyu Pavilion, Concubine Liu's face, which had been smiling just now, suddenly turned cold. She looked back at Ningyu Pavilion and chuckled.

Lianxin, the palace maid beside her, stepped forward to support Concubine Liu and whispered, "My lady, didn't Concubine Rong say that she came to cause trouble for Concubine Gu? Why are you..." and giving her a gift?

Concubine Liu raised her hand to adjust her hairpin, glanced at Lian Xin, and said, "This Concubine Rong obviously wants to use me as the first one to come forward. Does she think I'm a fool?"

But she lived in Yufu Palace after all, so she had to give face to the main concubine Rongfei.

"It's hard to explain what's going on in the harem. Who knows what the emperor is thinking? We can't let others catch us."

Lian Xin: "My lady is smart, I understand."

"Alright, let's go back quickly. It's getting hotter and hotter. This Ningyu Pavilion is really remote and there's not even any ice."

In Ningyu Pavilion, Gu Shijin picked up the jade necklace given by Concubine Liu and looked at it carefully, then handed it to Xingyue and said, "Take it away and put it away."

Xingyue looked at Gu Shijin, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"My lady, this necklace is so beautiful, won't you wear it?"

Gu Shijin looked at Xingyue and shook his head secretly. Xingyue was still too young. She didn't understand the affairs of the palace clearly and was not careful. She still needed a calm and steady maid in charge.

In the past, she lived in Ningyu Pavilion and didn’t need these things, but now it’s different.

Gu Shijin pointed to the dark pattern on the necklace: "This dark pattern can only be worn by people of rank six or above."

"Ah!" Xingyue was startled and quickly put the necklace away.

Although Gu Shijin traveled through time, the place she traveled to was a hell of a place, so she has been learning the rules of this dynasty. It is better to be safe than sorry, and now it comes in handy.

It is Gu Shijin's habit to plan ahead.

But Concubine Liu is also quite interesting. Giving her such a necklace, is it to tell her that she can never wear it and will always be a talented person?

Lu Junze had been discussing matters with ministers in the imperial study all morning today. Now that he had returned to the Qiankun Palace, his chief eunuch Su Deyuan was helping him change his clothes.

Don’t be fooled by how glorious being an emperor looks. The dragon robe alone is extremely heavy.

After changing his clothes and drinking two sips of tea, Lu Junze finally felt relaxed and remembered his business.

Lu Junze: "The Gu Shijin who served me last night seemed to be a talented person?"

He couldn't remember Gu Shijin's position, but she remembered his name clearly.

Su Deyuan: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Go and convey the imperial decree, promoting Gu Cairen to the rank of noble and granting him the title of Jin." Lu Junze paused and continued, "Award him ten ounces of gold and ten pieces of silk and satin."

"Also, I remember there is a jade hairpin with a Ganoderma lucidum bamboo pattern in the storeroom. It's very nice. You can give it to her."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Su Deyuan was shocked. This was not just dislike, it was obvious that he liked her very much.

Su Deyuan was the chief eunuch in the palace, so he naturally heard about what happened in the palace.

PS: Level of concubines in the harem

Super product: Queen

Special: Imperial Concubine

First rank: Imperial Concubine

From the first rank: four concubines (Xianfei, Defei, Shufei, Huifei)

Second rank: Concubine (with title > without title)

Second rank: Zhaoyi, Zhaoyuan, Zhaorong, Zhaohua

The third rank: Xiuyi, Xiuyuan, Xiurong, Xiuhua