Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

On the day Ruyi was canonized as Imperial Noble Consort, the Yikun Palace wasn't as lively as she'd imagined. Most of the people in the palace were flatterers, bullying the weaker. Having lost Hailan, Ruyi's popularity wasn't as good as before, and she didn't even have anyone to confide in. The concubines sent their gifts and left without lingering. But Ruyi didn't care. Compared to these sycophants, she cared more about Hongli.

In the morning, Li Yu came to announce the imperial decree, saying that Hongli would come to Yiku Palace for dinner in the evening.

Hongli did not break his promise. After coming out of the Cining Palace, he went directly to the Yiku Palace to accompany Ruyi.

The day of the enthronement was also the day when Yongrong was sent to Yonghe Palace. Fearing that Lujun would be upset, Lanqi and Yanwan came to Zhongcui Palace early to visit Lujun.

Lujun was embroidering. She smiled and handed the embroidery to Wanyin. "My Lady Wan, do you think my tiger head embroidery is good?"

Wanyin took it, smiled and nodded, "It looks good. Your Majesty's handicraft is no less than Hai..."

Wanyin realized that she had said the wrong thing and immediately covered her mouth.

Lujun continued embroidering as if she hadn't heard anything, muttering, "I wonder if Yongrong will like it."

Seeing this, Yan Wan leaned close to Lan Qi's ear and whispered, "Sister, do you think Concubine Chun is heartbroken?"

Yanwan's voice was soft, but Lujun heard it. She wasn't upset, but instead had Kexin bring up some fine tea and pastries. She said cheerfully, "I know why you've come, but I'm really fine. Even though Yongrong won't be able to grow up under my wing, he's still my son. Blood is thicker than water, and I'm sure Meipin won't treat him badly."

Lujun has figured it out these days. After all, there is nothing more terrifying than separation from loved ones and death.

After all, she still has two children, Yongzhang and Jinyan.

During the time she was ill, Lujun would occasionally think of Yonghuang. When Hongli sent Yonghuang to her, he was only eight years old. Now, in the blink of an eye, he has started a family.

Maybe she really was an unqualified mother. Although she had selfish motives, Yonghuang had never called her mother. Now she had harmed Yonghuang because of her selfish motives.

Lujun felt extremely uncomfortable when she thought of this.

Yesterday, when Lujun heard that Yonghuang was ill in bed, she was worried, so she asked Kexin to take some high-quality medicinal herbs out of the palace to see Yonghuang.

But no matter how much she did, it could not make up for the debt she owed to Yonghuang over the years.

Lujun stopped what she was doing, a stream of clear water seemed to flow out of her eyes, and she sighed deeply.

Lan Qi patted her hands and said, "I'm glad you can figure it out, sister."

Lujun smiled and squinted her eyes at Yanwan. "Your Highness, I'm so sorry for what happened before. It's all my fault. I believed Hai Da Ying's slander and demoted you to the flower room without any proof..."

Yan Wan was stunned. She never thought that she would be able to hear Lu Jun's apology in her lifetime. Her heart was warmed and she couldn't even speak clearly. She only murmured: "No, it's nothing serious. It's all in the past. I have forgotten it."

Su Yun held Rui Ji's hand and walked into Zhongcui Palace. She couldn't hide the smile on her face. When she saw Lu Jun, she bowed and said, "This concubine pays her respects to the Imperial Concubine Chun."

Seeing Rui Ji, Lan Qi and Yan Wan also stood up and saluted, saying in unison: "Concubines pay their respects to Concubine Mei."

Lujun stepped forward, shook Ruiji's hand, and said with a smile, "No need to be so polite, sister. Yongrong will still rely on you to take care of him in the future."

"Don't worry, sister. Since the emperor has entrusted Yongrong to me for upbringing, I will definitely treat him as my own son and will not neglect him in the slightest."

After hearing Ruiji's words, Lujun finally felt relieved.

She asked Ruiji to take back the clothes she had made these days, and Ruiji was not polite.

Near noon, everyone left one after another, and Lujun tried to keep Lanqi.

Lan Qi said, "Sister Chun, is there anything else?"

Lujun turned and looked at Kexin, "Kexin, please go out first. No one is allowed to enter the palace without my order."

"Yes, my lady." Ke Xin leaned forward and stepped back.

The palace door was closed, and after making sure that they were the only two people in the room, Lujun secretly took out a cloth bag from a cabinet.

She handed it to Lan Qi and said, "Lan Qi, take this."

Lan Qi took the cloth bag with doubt in her eyes. She opened it layer by layer until a broken doll appeared before her eyes. She asked, "What is this?"

Lujun pulled Lanqi to sit on a stool. After a moment's mental struggle, she finally spoke, "This was Yongzhang's favorite doll when he was a child. Lanqi, there's something I've been holding back on my heart for a long time. Do you know the cause of Prince Duanhui's death?"

Lan Qi nodded. Of course she remembered that Yonglian had asthma since his mother's womb because he caught a cold. Later, for some unknown reason, petals flew into the room, blocking his breathing and causing suffocation to death. However, Lan Qi didn't understand why Lujun suddenly brought up this matter.

Lujun held Lanqi's hand, but her eyes never left the doll in Lanqi's hand.

Lan Qi was shocked, she already had the answer.

Is it...

She covered her mouth in fear. This was a serious crime that would involve the execution of all nine generations of her family.

Lujun's eyes were bloodshot as she explained, "Back then, Empress Xiaoxian harmed my Yongzhang, and I wanted to take revenge on her. Yongzhang came to me with this rag doll, wanting me to mend it. I wanted to get Yongzhang a new one, but Hailan offered to mend the doll for him. I had no reservations at the time, thinking Hailan was the best embroiderer, so I gave the doll to her. Later, Hailan sewed flying catkins into the doll that would easily float away. She told me she wanted to punish Empress Xiaoxian and make Yonglian's illness heal more slowly. I believed her, and Yonglian died not long after. I've been holding this matter in my heart for a long time. Sister, I really don't know if Hailan deliberately wanted to use me to kill Yonglian, and I don't know if Ruyi was behind this. I'm scared and terrified that if the Emperor finds out about this, it doesn't matter if I die, but what will happen to my Yongzhang and Jingyan?"

Lan Qi was quite shocked when she heard this. She thought for a moment and said, "Sister, what do you want me to do for you?"

Lujun shook her head. "I know my sins are grave. I am willing to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures to reduce my sins in this life. Yongrong has already found a good place. It is my Yongzhang..."

"I know Yongzhang's abilities are not enough to earn him a place in the elite circles. I don't want to think about anything else now. I just hope my children are safe."

As she spoke, Lujun began to sob softly.

Lan Qi held the doll and asked, "Does Hai Yingying or the Imperial Concubine know that this doll is still in your hands?"

Lujun picked up the handkerchief and shook her head. "After the incident, Hailan asked me for the doll. I was afraid that she would bite me if the truth was revealed, so I asked Kexin to make a fake one for her overnight. Hailan said she burned the doll."

Lan Qi put the doll away and said, "It's not surprising that Hai agreed. Don't worry, sister. I will definitely make good use of this doll to pull the imperial concubine off the throne of the queen and avenge you. Naturally... this matter has nothing to do with you."

Lujun was overjoyed, "Really? Sister, are you willing to help me?"

Lan Qi nodded: "Sister, just wait for the day."

After returning to Guanju Palace, Lan Qi asked Ji Tao to put away the rag doll that Lujun gave her, and asked her to find Su Lian who was pretending to be Yingsi.

Su Lian, dressed as a low-ranking palace maid and wearing a veil, appeared before Lan Qi. She saluted and said, "Master Cheng, are you looking for me?"

Lan Qi played with the handkerchief in her hand, turned sideways to Su Lian, and said lightly: "Su Lian, do you still remember how Prince Duan Hui died?"

Su Lian's pupils trembled. How could she not remember? Flying catkins floated in and she suffocated to death.

Lan Qi asked again, "Do you still remember who went to Xiefang Palace that day, or who was taking care of Prince Duanhui?"

Su Lian thought about it carefully and replied, "I remember that Concubine Chun brought the Third Prince to see the Crown Prince that day, and also... Lian Xin stayed with the Crown Prince at night, but..."

Su Lian bit her lip. She didn't understand why Lan Qi asked about this. Could there be something else behind Prince Duanhui's death?

Could it be Lianxin?

There were no cattails around Xiefang Palace, and they guarded it so strictly every day, how could cattails be allowed to float in? Unless someone did it on purpose, but the person guarding the palace that day was Lianxin. She was so loyal that she didn't even hold a grudge against Empress Xiaoxian for giving her to a eunuch as his wife. She would definitely not do such a thing.

Lan Qi understood. She stared at Su Lian. Hai Lan had fallen out of favor and there was no possibility of regaining her favor. If she rashly took out the reed doll, Hai Lan would definitely take all the blame on herself and would not hurt Ruyi at all.

Maybe it will also implicate Lujun.

Lan Qi felt that now was not the best time to take action.