Both worlds are like dreams

The maid next to her immediately responded with a look in her eyes: "My queen is Concubine Li of Jinhua Palace."

Concubine Li was one of the most favored concubines in the harem. Although she had no children, she was still deeply loved by the emperor.

Xue Huang and Mo Xingyue had heard of her when they were gossiping. She was quite powerful in the harem, even Imperial Concubine Rong, who had a higher rank than her, was not as good as her.

Xue Huang didn't expect to meet her here, and her camp was not clear, so she didn't know what her purpose was.

\"It turned out to be Concubine Li. Changle is being rude.\"

\"It's okay. I was just passing by here. I didn't expect to meet you here. Are you leaving Princess Xingyue?" Concubine Li looked at her with a smile on her face. No wonder she could make those royal nobles obsessed with her. Such a beauty was indeed amazing.

"Yes." Xue Huang smiled. "I'll read with her."

"The two princesses are not real sisters, but they are better than real sisters."

Xue Huang smiled and said, "Maybe we have similar interests."

Concubine Li narrowed her eyes slightly, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth: "It should be said that we share the same ideals."

"What do you mean, Madam?"

"I heard that you danced and played together at Concubine Rong's banquet, and your collaboration was so amazing that it shocked everyone. Who else in the country can rival you? If you don't share the same ideals, how can you have such a tacit understanding?"

"I also didn't expect her music to have reached such a level. Perhaps once that level is reached, everything will fall into place naturally."

Concubine Li smiled and said, "Then I wonder if I have the honor to be a like-minded person with Princess Changle?"

"Your Majesty is of noble status, how dare Changle marry you?"

Concubine Li saw that she had a neither humble nor arrogant expression and had a certain demeanor, so she knew that she was definitely not the kind of person who would be controlled by power.

She was not in a hurry to win her over, and just said: "Princess Changle is a princess of two countries, so I am marrying up."

Xue Huang thought to herself, who can save her? She didn't want to get entangled with her any more. The feeling of having hidden meanings in her words was really tiring.

She had no choice but to continue speaking politely, "Your Highness, you are too kind to me."

"I will ask His Majesty for permission to hold an elegant gathering in the harem someday and invite all the noble ladies in Shangyang City to attend. Princess Changle will definitely honor me."

Xue Huang had also heard of the so-called elegant gatherings in Shangyang City, where a group of people gathered together to burn incense, arrange flowers, taste tea, or recite poems, hang paintings, play the piano, etc. These were activities mostly enjoyed by literati and daughters of wealthy families.

They, the people in the martial arts world, would sometimes get together, but there was only one thing they could do, and that was to exchange martial arts, make friends through martial arts, and discuss philosophy with swords.

Xuehuang likes the latter very much, but the former gives her a headache just thinking about it.

She politely declined, "Your Majesty, Changle comes from the countryside and is not good at elegant and interesting things like elegant gatherings. I am afraid that I will disappoint your kindness."

Concubine Li smiled, with a cold and noble air, "It was my negligence."

Before Xue Huang could say the next word, she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Changle has something else to do, so I'll take my leave now and visit you another day."

"Okay!" Concubine Li smiled meaningfully. "When is the date? I can make preparations in advance."

Xue Huang thought: Is this possible?

She smiled and was about to speak when she heard Gu Qinglan's voice behind her, "Greetings, Concubine Li."

"Why is Prince Gu here?"

"Your Majesty, I am here for Princess Changle."

Concubine Li glanced between him and Xue Huang, "I forgot that Master Gu and Princess Changle are very close friends."

"Princess Changle saved my life."

Concubine Li's smile became a little strange, "The grace of saving my life is indeed different."

"Your Majesty," Xue Huang said, "Changle will take his leave first."

Concubine Li raised her eyebrows, "Then I will invite Princess Changle to the palace another day, and I hope the princess will show me the favor then."

Xue Huang nodded, responded to her, and left with Gu Qinglan.

On the carriage, Xue Huang breathed a sigh of relief, "This Concubine Li should also support the Third Prince's party, right?"

Gu Qinglan frowned slightly. "She was one of the girls captured by Shen Congfeng when he was fighting on the border many years ago. There were thirteen of them in total, and they were all presented to His Majesty. After so many years, she is the only one who has been favored by His Majesty. On the surface, she is not involved in party affairs, but she usually interacts with officials and princes and princesses. Most of these people are from the Third Prince's faction."

"So she is the spy arranged by the Third Prince?" Xue Huang raised her eyebrows.

"It's just a suspicion, but there is no substantial evidence."

"What she said to me just now was full of hidden meanings." Xue Huang smiled, "Even though she supports the Third Prince's faction, I'm afraid she is still serving Shen Congfeng."

"Concubine Li is very capable in the harem, so you must be careful when interacting with her." Gu Qinglan said.

"Yes, whether it's Concubine Li or Concubine Rong, their words seem to have other meanings and they all seem to have some purpose. It's really tiring to talk to them."

"The previous dynasty was full of swords and sabers, and the harem is also full of intrigues. I know you don't like this kind of life, so you don't have to deal with them in the future. Just be yourself happily." Gu Qinglan looked at her seriously. He only hoped that she would always be that quirky girl, ignorant of the world, always happy and at ease. Even if she was caught in this storm, he hoped that she would be the one to shoulder more.

Xue Huang smiled. She really didn't like this kind of life, but she wanted to stay in this city and protect the people she cared about. How could she stay out of it? Perhaps she had no way to get out three years ago, and those three years away were just an escape. Now it was time to face it.

"Don't worry," Xue Huang said with a smile, "I don't believe anything they say to me. I only trust you, Second Uncle, Fifth Brother, and Xingyue. If anyone embarrasses me, I will only use one method, and that is the rule of our Guigu Sect."

Gu Qinglan smiled, with a hint of doting in his eyes, "Okay."

The two returned to the Wei Mansion. It was just noon. Xue Huang did not let him leave, but stayed to have dinner together.

She also called Zhuo Yang over, explained the matter of Tan Zheng to him, and asked him to investigate carefully.

Wei Yunzhou and Mo Ruilin set out early in the morning. Considering the time and distance, they would reach Guyan County by dark. However, most of the accompanying guards were from the Third Prince's faction and Shen Congfeng's people. Mo Ruilin only had a few personal guards around him. I hope everything goes well.