The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

Summer, the 29th year of Longqing.

The third prince attempted rebellion, but was executed after his attempt failed. His family was relocated to the imperial manor in the Western Hills and was not allowed to leave until their death. The crown prince was demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the imperial courtyard in the mountains, also not allowed to leave for life.

Prime Minister Lu Dan was corrupt and used his cronies to exploit the emperor's power. He even implicated the second and third princes in a scandal, defying the emperor's authority. His property was confiscated, he was dismissed from office, and the entire Lu family was sent back to their homeland. His descendants for three generations were also barred from taking the imperial examinations.

Dingyuan Earl Zhao Duan was rewarded with 1,000 taels of gold for his meritorious service in rescuing the emperor, and his title was passed down to three generations.

Amidst the sound of rain, Lu Yun, Dashou, and Roujia sat opposite each other, sipping tea. Caihe entered, holding an umbrella, followed by Ah Tao, carrying a food box. Lu Yun didn't want to get up, so Caihe placed the food on the small kang table.

During the days of recuperation, they ate these light but nourishing meals. Lu Yun only touched her chopsticks twice before putting them down. Roujia ate a lot, her face full of nostalgia. "This Eight Treasures Soup is only available in the palace. Empress Zhao does have it in the palace, but she thinks it's too nourishing and not good for her health, so she only makes it when my father passes away."

Hearing this, Lu Yun touched the flesh on her cheek and asked, "Have I gained weight?" During the period of recuperation, she missed morning classes, and the imperial kitchen found different ways to deliver meals to her. There was no interruption in snacks and ginseng soup, and she spent the whole day lying down except eating.

After dinner, Caihe led people to pack their luggage. The master said that his injury was almost healed and it was time to return to Xishan.

You wouldn't know until you sorted it out, but once you did, you'd be shocked to find that the few boxes had swelled to over a dozen. Among them were gifts from His Majesty, gifts from various places in the palace, and gifts from the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion. They filled up several boxes.

Roujia casually picked up a scroll beside her and asked, "What is this?" After seeing the contents of the painting, she raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Lu Xiaosan, who is this?"

Lu Yun yawned. "This eagle-like man is the young Prince Muha of Cao State."

Roujia narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone almost firm. "This painting was given to you by Empress Li."

After the palace coup, Emperor Longqing issued an edict to demote Consort Li to a third-rank concubine and move her out of Ronghua Palace. She now lives in Jing'an Hall, not far from Xianfu Palace.

Lu Yun did not deny it, and rolled up the painting and threw it aside. "Caihe, this painting is no longer needed. Let A Tao return it to Jing'an Hall later."

"Eagle?" The woman took the painting, glanced at it, and then threw it aside expressionlessly. She then picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup of tea for each person. Suddenly, she cried out, "Ouch!" and the entire cup of tea splashed onto the face of the man in the painting.

"Sister, the painting is dirty. I can't keep it."

Biyu was quick and nimble, quickly taking the painting away. "Princess, the painting is wet. I'll take it to the tea stove to dry it."

Roujia recited silently in her heart and counted to the tenth time.

Biyu held up a stick that was still smoking. "Princess, please forgive me, I accidentally burned the painting."

Roujia coughed lightly and suppressed the smile on her lips. "Biyu didn't mean it. I'm afraid Empress Li doesn't have the heart to care about these things now."

Lu Yun nodded helplessly. "It's not that I'm afraid she'll blame me, but Taoists believe that portraits of living people should be returned to their original owners."

Unexpectedly, I didn’t go to the mountain, but the mountain came to me.

On the second day after the coup, Cai He sent Biluo out to work as a maid. When Biluo brought Concubine Li in, the rain had stopped and Lu Yun was walking in the yard to stretch her muscles.

Compared to the imperial concubine's gorgeous clothes, Concubine Li now only wears a simple and elegant green orchid brocade palace dress, with a few gold hairpins and pearl flowers made of millet beads on her head.

She had lost a lot of weight, which was visibly evident, and it was clear that she had not been having a good time these days.

After all, he was an elder, so Lu Yun bowed slightly, led him into the house, sat him down, and served him tea.

Concubine Li looked at the furnishings in the room. There was a double-layered organdy curtain with crane and lotus patterns, tied to the moon-shaped door with a double-strand tasseled gold rope.

The floor was covered with a blue carpet with lotus patterns, and the incense burner with a hollow gold ring foot was filled with the four-season incense that was only used by the main seat of each palace. The fragrance was rich and lingering.

The six-panel carved sandalwood brocade screen depicts Taoist scenes of burning incense, listening to the zither, praying to heaven, and blessing the gods. Even the tea set on the table is a priceless Eight Immortals famille rose jade covered bowl.

It is a world of difference from the previous Xianfu Palace, and of course the people in this palace are even more so.

Li Shufei picked up the tea bowl, unable to hide the complex emotions in her eyes, "What a great tea!"

Lu Yun resisted the urge to touch her nose; this really didn't sound right.

Concubine Li picked up the teacup but didn't drink. "My princess is in good health now. I came here today because I have a question. I hope my princess can help me solve it."

Lu Yun: "Your Majesty has lived in the deep palace for a long time, so you should be able to understand the emperor's intentions better."

Concubine Li carefully examined the features of the person opposite her. "My princess is from the common people. Your Majesty, why would you demote me to a concubine just because I plotted to marry you off? The talented and powerful men of Cao State are renowned. This is a win-win situation."

Lu Yun was calm and composed. "Those who are not of my race must have different hearts." Your Majesty cannot understand the punishment Your Majesty has given you, so you certainly cannot understand why the State of Cao would exchange five thousand fine horses for a princess who changed her ways, right?

Concubine Li stared at the tea bowl beside her. "Yongle often said that the people of Cao were foolish and straightforward, and could not be judged by common sense."

Lu Yun: "Your Majesty, is Princess Yongle doing well in Cao State?"

Speaking of her daughter, Concubine Li felt a little relieved. "The court of Cao State was divided into three parts, and one of them belonged to Yongle."

Judging from her expression, it was probably more than that. Lu Yun said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Princess Yongle is not from the Cao Kingdom. I wonder how much I am worth in the eyes of Your Majesty?"

Concubine Li was stunned and fell into deep thought. After a moment, she stood up and left without saying a word.

Lu Yun waited for a while, and Caihe came in from outside with the palace maids.

"Master, this was sent by Consort Li."

Lu Yun looked at the tray in the palace servant's hand. It contained a pair of green jade ruyi with bamboo and phoenix patterns, a red coral pedestal, a pair of large porcelain vases with famille rose glaze, a box of pearls, a box of gemstones, and a pair of fifty-year-old wild ginseng bottles.

After thinking about it, he asked Caihe to take the purse and reward them one by one.

Cai He was puzzled. "Master, the gift from Lady Li is too heavy. I am worried that—"

Lu Yun shook her head. "Nothing. It would be bad if I didn't accept it."

Concubine Li sent people to deliver so many gifts to herself with great fanfare, only one of which was an apology, and the rest were for show, and to do her a favor at the same time.

The Purple Palace still held the solemn and majestic atmosphere of a royal palace, the bloody atmosphere of the past completely vanished. The air was filled with the refreshing fragrance of agarwood.

The original four-legged enamel incense burner, with its engraved dragon and pearl pattern, had a chip on it, so it was replaced with a bronze incense burner with a gold-engraved ring foot and nine dragons chasing the sun. The burner was personally selected by Eunuch Wang; it was large and heavy, and especially resistant to drops.

Emperor Longqing lay by the south window, a pile of memorials beside him. "Did Ning'an accept them all?"

Eunuch Wang replied carefully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Emperor Longqing put his hand to his mouth and coughed a few times, his swollen face flushing slightly. "Is Xiaowu still in Huaizhou?"

Eunuch Wang brought a bowl of medicine and said carefully, "The drought in Huaizhou has been alleviated, thanks to the grain and potatoes donated by the princess. Although Huaizhou is suffering from drought, the people will not have to starve again this summer. Therefore, the Fifth Prince has delivered the news and is on his way back. This old servant estimates that he will arrive in three days."

Emperor Longqing laughed, "You old fellow, you've talked too much today." He coughed a few times before continuing, "It's boring to force a cow to drink water."

However, a girl of destiny who has conflicts and prejudices against the royal family of the Qin Dynasty should think about it.

"When will Ning An leave the palace?"

"Your Majesty, in three days."

"Three days later, before Ning An leaves the palace, please ask her to come see me."

Eunuch Wang responded in a low voice.