Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

The night was deep and everything was silent, plunging the entire Forbidden City into a thick darkness. The footsteps of the patrolling guards in the palace echoed, and the chirping of insects among the grass roots under the trees rose and fell continuously.

At this time, Lan Qi was wearing a black cloak, which just covered her beautiful face, leaving only a pair of bright eyes. She walked lightly and silently on the quiet palace road, heading towards the Cining Palace.

Fu Jia, who was guarding outside the Cining Palace, saw Lan Qi approaching in a black robe and immediately went to greet her, bowing and saying, "Miss Lan?"

Lan Qi stepped forward, took off her cloak, revealing her face, and said with a smile, "Aunt Fujia, it's been many years since we last met. I hope you are doing well."

Fujia smiled lightly, "Thanks to my lady, I am doing well."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Fu Jia, Lan Qi got down to business and asked, "I'd like to see the Queen Mother. Could you please let her know, Auntie?"

Fujia hesitated for a moment and said respectfully, "My lord, please wait a moment while I go and report to you."

Lan Qi nodded and watched Fu Jia enter the Cining Palace.

Zeng Huan was standing by the window, looking up and teasing a colorful parrot. Seeing Fu Jia come in, she asked, "Fu Jia, who were you talking to outside just now?"

Zeng Huan tapped the birdcage gently with the silver spoon in her hand.

Fujia stepped forward quickly and bowed to report, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, it is Lady Lan who requests an audience."

Zeng Huan paused, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes before she regained her composure. Her tone was even, making it impossible to tell whether she was happy or angry. "Oh? What is she doing here?"

Fu Jia lowered his head, not daring to presume to guess what his master was thinking, and could only answer truthfully: "In reply to the Queen Mother, Little Master Lan did not say anything."

Zeng Huan was silent for a moment before she slowly said, "Let her in."

"Yes." Fuga took the order and retreated.

After a while, Lan Qi walked up to Zeng Huan.

She knelt before Zeng Huan and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your humble servant, Niu Hulu, pays respect to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed with good health."

Zeng Huan didn't let Lan Qi get up. Instead, she gave her a cold look and continued feeding the parrot. "Lady Lan, are you willing to come see me now?"

Lan Qi lowered her head, feeling the pressure emanating from Zeng Huan, and couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. She was just borrowing Lan Qi's body, but she didn't know anything about Lan Qi's life, so she didn't even know Zeng Huan's feelings for Lan Qi.

However, if she wants to gain a foothold in the harem, she must have a strong backer. This person can be the emperor, but there are so many women in the harem. Today, she can win the favor with the help of Lan Qi's face, so in the future, the concubines can still become the favorite concubines with their beauty.

Since the emperor is unreliable, the empress dowager is the best supporter.

Lan Qi sobbed softly, "Aunt, please forgive me, I...I just..."

Zeng Huan looked at the useless Lan Qi lying on the ground and interrupted her without mercy. "Just what?" Zeng Huan sneered. "Hmph, I guess you're scared of being bullied by those dogs in the Old Summer Palace, so you only remembered me now."

Lan Qi knelt on the ground, her body trembling slightly, but she didn't dare to refute a word.

It turns out that Zeng Huan was not really cruel. She was waiting, waiting for Lan Qi to come to her one day when she could no longer hold on. Sure enough, that day finally came.

"I asked you to be my spy at the beginning, but you refused. How come you have thought it through now?" Zeng Huan said in a sharp tone.

Lan Qi was shocked, but could only feign composure. She kowtowed and said aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, I have spent three years in the Old Summer Palace, and indeed was often bullied by the eunuchs there. Others may not understand why I refused to stay by the Emperor's side and serve him, but Your Majesty, don't you understand?"

Zeng Huan sarcastically said, "I don't understand what Noble Lady Lan said."

Lan Qi bit her lip and continued, "Your Majesty is naturally suspicious, and I am of the Niuhulu clan, and I have a close relationship with you, the Empress Dowager. You recommended Shupin, and you have seen her favor. If I want to gain your trust, I must sever all ties with the Cining Palace."

Zeng Huan looked at Lan Qi with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She dropped the silver spoon and, supported by Fu Jia, sat down on the couch. "You are quite clever. Come on, get up."

Lan Qi prostrated herself on the ground, still refusing to get up. "Empress Dowager, I beg for your protection."

The Queen Mother looked at Lan Qi and finally couldn't bear it. She said, "Since that's the case, I will give you this chance. You can go back first."

Seeing that Zeng Huan had given in, Lan Qi realized that her goal had been achieved. After kneeling in greeting, she returned to Guanju Palace.

Fuga listened to the conversation between the two and fell into deep thought.

She half-knelt in front of Zeng Huan and gently massaged her calves.

After a long while, Fujia finally asked, "Queen Dowager, do you believe in Lady Lan?"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Huan smiled with a faint mockery, "Believe it? Haha, this palace is full of scheming. Fu Jia, you've been with me all this way, and you've seen all kinds of hardships. Even though we're both my own children, if Lan Qi is willing to be my spy, I'll naturally not treat her unfairly in the future. Well, I'm tired. Fu Jia, help me into the house to rest."

"Yes."

Fujia reached out to hold Zeng Huan's hand.

It was late at night when Lan Qi returned to Guanju Palace.

Ji Tao had been guarding the palace gate. Seeing Lan Qi return, she hurried to greet her, "My lady, you are finally back. I was so worried."

Lan Qi smiled and said, "It's okay, let's go inside and talk. Be careful not to be seen by others."

Ji Tao said nothing. After Lan Qi entered the house, Ji Tao stuck her head out again out of concern. After making sure that no one saw them, she closed the palace door and followed Lan Qi into the main hall.

Lan Qi took off her black cloak. Ji Tao took the cloak from her and placed it on the couch. Then she poured a glass of water and handed it to Lan Qi.

Ji Tao walked around behind Lan Qi and massaged her shoulders, wondering, "My lady, I really don't understand. We've suffered so much in the Old Summer Palace for so many years, and the Empress Dowager hasn't even said a word. You've finally gained favor, so why are you secretly going to see the Empress Dowager? What if the Emperor finds out and gets angry and sends us back to the Old Summer Palace?"

Lan Qi took a sip of tea and gently put down the teacup. "I have my own plans. By the way, how has Yingsi been these days?"

Ji Tao thought for a moment and replied, "Yingsi works very efficiently, and her injuries are almost healed. She listens to the young lady very well and has always worn a veil and never left Guanju Palace. She is also grateful for the young lady's kindness."

After hearing Ji Tao say this, Lan Qi finally felt relieved.

"My dear, when I went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect my salary today, who do you think I saw?"

Lan Qi's lips curled up slightly, and she jokingly said, "What? Did you see Eunuch Jinzhong again?"

Lan Qi was an experienced person, so how could she not see through Ji Tao's little girlish thoughts? Lan Qi and Ji Tao had also been together for a while, and she knew that Ji Tao was a good girl with a simple mind, but Jin Zhong was not a good man. It seemed that she had to find an opportunity to nip her little thoughts in the bud.

Hearing Lan Qi mention Jinzhong, Ji Tao's face instantly turned red, and she said coquettishly: "My lady, this servant has something urgent to tell you."

"It's Consort Xian and Consort Yu. They came out of Xianfu Palace."

Lan Qi raised her eyes and put away the smile on her face.

This Xianfu Palace was the residence of Huixian Imperial Noble Consort during her lifetime. Since her death, the Xianfu Palace has been empty and no one lives there. Why did these two people go to the Xianfu Palace for no reason?

Lan Qi knew a little about the grudge between Gao Xiyue and Ruyi during her lifetime. She didn't think that Ruyi and Hai Lan went to Xianfu Palace to miss Gao Xiyue.

"Later, I saw Consort Zhenshu and Consort Zaixian sneak into Xianfu Palace after they left. My lady, don't you find it strange?"

Lan Qi frowned slightly when she heard this. I'm afraid this matter is not simple.

She vaguely remembered that Gao Xiyue had a maid named Mo Xin who died of smallpox in her lifetime. It seemed she had died within the past few days, and Mo Xin was the only survivor in Xianfu Palace. Lan Qi quickly connected the dots with Yong Cong's smallpox tragedy in her previous life.

She covered her mouth in surprise and murmured, "Could it be that Yongcong's illness is related to them?"

Lan Qi's inexplicable words left Ji Tao confused. She scratched her head and asked, "What are you talking about, young master?"

Although Lan Qi was reborn, she did not have any so-called golden fingers. There were many things she did not know in her previous life. Although she suspected that Ruyi and Hai Lan killed the Seventh Prince, she had no evidence.

Helplessly, she had to ask Ji Tao to keep an eye on the movements in Xianfu Palace and not to alert the enemy.