The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

After Concubine Shen finished her mourning, she took advantage of the break to run to Showa Palace to find Xie Run.

His eyes were still red, but he looked very energetic.

She didn't know the inside story yet, so she just complained to Xie Run: "Ms. Xue is so ostentatious. The emperor is gone, but she still wears a gold hairpin in her hair."

"Who among those kneeling in front of the mourning hall is not of higher status than her? Even Consort Jingshu is dressed in plain clothes, yet she is so foolish and arrogant."

"Her thoughts are easy to guess. She just wants to dress up nicely so that the emperor will look at her differently."

"The Emperor has seen her now, but this punishment is worse than ordering her death."

Xue Cairen had served the emperor twice in less than a year since entering the palace.

Before his good days even began, he was stripped of his position, labeled a criminal, and banished to the cold palace.

It seems like the rising sun has not yet risen, but life has been shrouded in darkness, and from now on I can only live miserably and lonely.

Xie Run sat aside and listened silently, and he already knew how Xue Cairen was punished.

She asked softly, "Did Consort Xue used to be so ostentatious? Wearing a gold hairpin in the Emperor's mourning hall, was there no one to stop her?"

Concubine Shen thought about it carefully and said, "Actually, she is also unlucky."

"Although mourners are forbidden from wearing gold and jade, the Empress Dowager was the first to break the rules, so there are always some concubines who are trying to take chances."

"In the past, as long as people didn't dress up too ostentatiously and occasionally wore one or two pieces of gold and jade jewelry, no one would say anything."

"Honest people in the palace naturally follow the rules, but she is a bit ostentatious and likes to dress up, so she was noticed by the emperor."

The Empress Dowager has always refused to accept her old age.

During the period of mourning for the retired emperor, she dressed up every day, but not as gorgeously as usual.

But it is absolutely impossible to let her not wear a single piece of gold or jade hair ornaments.

There were many court officials who had opinions, but when they reported them to the emperor, it was not easy for the emperor to control what jewelry his own mother wore.

Besides, the emperor had already gone to great lengths to get the empress dowager to attend the funeral of the retired emperor, and he didn't want to deal with her again at all.

Things in the previous dynasty and the harem have always been followed by the superiors.

The Queen Mother is no longer following the rules, and the concubines under her are even more restless.

Until now, Concubine Shen and others have believed that Concubine Xue was punished because she was the first one to be shot and was killed by the emperor to serve as a warning to others.

Xie Run knew the inside story and just mentioned it briefly.

She asked, "I heard Xi Chongrong is sick. Have you visited her?"

Concubine Shen shook her head: "Where is the time?"

"There have been two major mourning events in a row. These past few days, I have to go to the mourning hall of the retired emperor and the mourning hall of Concubine Hui. I am exhausted from walking back and forth between the two places."

"I have no contact with Xi Chongrong. Unless she dies of illness, it is difficult for me to set foot in her palace."

Concubine Shen said boredly: "Thank you, sister, you are too kind. You still worry about her."

Xie Run smiled and said, "When you have time, please pay attention to the Duke of Su's Mansion. If you hear anything, don't tell anyone else."

Concubine Shen's expression turned serious. "Thank you, sister, but what happened?"

"It's hard to tell you for now."

Concubine Shen wisely stopped asking.

There are many people in the harem who share the same idea as Concubine Shen.

Xi Chongrong was not a favored person. When there were two funerals in the palace, no one had the time to visit her. At most, they would send their personal attendants to deliver a gift.

Bai Fu, who only lived in Fanghua Palace, felt a little uneasy, as she always felt that Xi Chongrong's illness was too sudden.

Caiyue advised, "Master, Xue Cairen has just been punished, and the Emperor doesn't want to see anyone causing trouble. If you go to see Xi Chongrong now, you'll inevitably be seen by those with ulterior motives."

Bai Fu frowned slightly, as if lost in thought, and didn't hear a word of Cai Yue's words.

After a while, she stood up by holding the table and said, "No, I need to go and take a look."

"Xi Chongrong has always been very kind to us. Now that she's sick, how can I not go see her?"

Bai Fu said this to comfort herself.

Caiyue was listening with a confused look on her face.

Since when did my master have a relationship with Xi Chongrong?!

Bai Fu caught a glimpse of Caiyue's expression and gently held her hand. "Caiyue, I know you have many doubts and disagreements."

"But now that we've entered the palace, we're as one in honor and disgrace. No one can stop me from doing what I want to do. Instead of being entangled and afraid, it's better to listen to me wholeheartedly."

"After all, if I make a mistake, can you still escape?"

Caiyue's face turned pale with fright after hearing Bai Fu's words.

She should have known that her master was not as gentle and calm as he appeared, and that his every behavior was full of hidden ambitions.

Caiyue was scared and panicked, not knowing what to say.

Bai Fu said gently, "It might not be surprising that Xi Chongrong is ill, but Concubine Xue was suddenly banished to the cold palace. Do you really think that she disliked the emperor because she wore a gold hairpin too ostentatiously?!"

"At the funeral hall, I looked around quietly and saw that Xue Cairen was not the only one wearing a gold hairpin."

"Xue Cairen and Xi Chongrong have always been good friends. It's a coincidence that one of them got into trouble, but it's so unfortunate that both of them got into trouble in such a short period of time!"

Bai Fu was very perceptive and became suspicious when Xi Chongrong suddenly fell ill.

Now that Concubine Xue was in trouble again, she was 100% sure that the two of them had done something to make the emperor hate them.

Caiyue understood, "But Master...what does this have to do with you?"

"If they commit a serious offense and the Emperor is prepared to quietly punish them, then the Master should stay out of it."

"It's okay." Bai Fu lowered her eyes, "I just want to confirm Xi Chongrong's condition."

After being reborn, Bai Fu has always been honest and has never overstepped the boundaries.

But in this harem, honest people have no chance to make a name for themselves.

She had endured for so long and had even survived the Queen's funeral, but who would have thought that the Emperor would die again.

When the queen dies, the emperor does not necessarily have to observe mourning.

But when the retired emperor died, the emperor and the concubines in the six palaces had to observe mourning!

After waiting for a year or two, how could she ever have a chance to come forward?

In fact, Bai Fu could tolerate it.

But this kind of ninja is different from the previous life.

The forbearance of the previous life means hope and countless unknown possibilities.

But now she could not see any hope. Instead, she felt that she was sinking little by little in the harem, gradually becoming numb and becoming a useless person.

Suddenly hearing that Xi Chongrong was ill, Bai Fu's hidden string was touched, and she couldn't help but think of herself in her previous life.

But she didn't dare to think too much.

It was not until Xue Cairen was punished that Bai Fu was suddenly awakened.

She can no longer deceive herself!

How did Xi Chongrong become ill?

Bai Fu must figure it out!

After talking to Caiyue, Bai Fu went straight to Yongning Palace.

When Concubine Jingshu heard the palace maid report that Bai Baolin from Fanghua Palace came to visit Xi Chongrong, her eyes turned.

"This is a fox who's good at finding good fortune and avoiding disaster. Why did he rush to Xi Chongrong to bring bad luck?"