Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

Jinzhong quickly stepped forward, picked up the ring, and blew on it at his lips. Looking at Yanwan's lost appearance, he had never seen her like this before. It was as if she had lost all hope and her whole body was drained away, as if the one wandering on the palace road was just a shell.

He stared at the ring in his hand, hatred surging in his heart. He knew that this was the token of love that Ling Yunche gave to Yan Wan. He wanted to smash it immediately, but it was Yan Wan's thing, and he couldn't bear it, so he handed the ring to Lan Qi behind him.

Jinzhong presented the ring with both hands and said flatteringly, "Empress Chengpin has a really good plan. Not only has she made Concubine Ling give up on Ling Yunche, but she has also alienated the relationship between Li Yu and Ling Yunche. If the Emperor knew that Ling Yunche's heart wasn't with惢心, but with the Imperial Noble Consort, I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to stay on the throne for long."

Lan Qi gestured to Ji Tao to take the ring.

She looked at the plaque of Yikun Palace and smiled slightly, her red lips like a delicate flower just beginning to bloom, and her eyes flickered with a hint of teasing, "The fun has just begun."

When Ling Yunche entered, Ruyi was looking down at the green plum blossoms Hongli had given her when she left the cold palace. Ling Yunche just stood quietly at the doorway, watching her. It was only after Shuizhi reminded her that Ruyi realized he was here. The sun shone brightly, and Ruyi smiled, as if her whole body was glowing. She said, "Ling Yunche, you're here."

Ling Yunche came to his senses, walked over to Ruyi, and presented her with a bunch of red plums he had just picked. Ruyi accepted it without hesitation, seeming to enjoy the feeling. She smiled and said, "Thank you, Guard Ling, for bringing me red plums every now and then."

Seeing Ruyi smile, Ling Yunche couldn't help feeling happy, because he felt that Ruyi was happy because of him.

He looked down at the pot of bare green plums and said, "What's this, Madam?"

Ruyi put down the red plum and continued watering, saying slowly, "This is the green plum that the Emperor specially brought back from Jiangnan the year I was exonerated and released from the cold palace. Unfortunately, it only bloomed that year and never bloomed again. Now I have no choice but to take it out and carefully nurture it, hoping it will bloom again."

Ling Yunche was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "The flowers will eventually bloom."

As he looked at Ruyi's profile, Ling Yunche suddenly felt a surge of protective desire. Yes, he wanted to protect Ruyi. He was a bondservant from the Lower Three Banners, living under someone else's roof since childhood. Everyone had always looked down upon him. Wei Yanwan had been kind to him before, but her kindness wasn't pure; she exploited him, even abandoned him. Only Ruyi never used her master's status to pressure him, comforting him when he was heartbroken and promoting his career. Perhaps they were more like one another.

He had completely forgotten all the heartfelt words Lan Qi had spoken to him that day. All the stories about being forced to do something, or having to save herself, were just lies she had made up to deceive him. Betrayal was betrayal, and nothing she said could erase the fact that Wei Yanwan had abandoned him.

His eyes were filled with deep love.

Upon returning to Yongshou Palace, Yanwan discovered she had lost her ring. Distraught, she immediately returned with Lancui, searching the grounds for it. But in the end, they found nothing. She was utterly disappointed. Perhaps their fate had truly ended. Love was so beautiful, yet it had brought her nothing, and now even the last hope she had was gone. Yanwan wept helplessly.

After waking up from crying, she was the emperor's concubine again, the noble lady.

The harem was quiet for a while. Hongli hadn't visited Yuyan in Qixiang Palace for a long time because of Prince Yu's affairs. However, Yongjin was born weak, and she was too busy to serve the emperor.惢心's injuries hadn't healed yet, and now was the critical moment for Ruyi to become the empress. She couldn't make any mistakes. She was afraid of too much gossip in the palace and that she would end up being known as a harsh maid. So she would stay in惢心's room whenever she had free time. However, since惢心 became disabled, she spoke less, sometimes not speaking to anyone for a whole day. Ruyi finally had some free time and sat down to stare blankly with惢心.

Lujun spent her days in Anhua Hall, fasting and chanting Buddhist scriptures, praying for her children. Ruiji would occasionally take Yongrong to Zhongcui Palace for a short visit. Lanqi, Yanwan, and Yihuan would sometimes get together to play chess and chat, their days passing in a pleasant and carefree manner.

It had been a long time since he had visited the Yikun Palace to see惢心. He didn't know how惢心 was doing, and Li Yu was extremely worried. He tilted his head to glance inside the room. The emperor was taking a nap. If he went to the Yikun Palace during this time and returned before the emperor woke up, he shouldn't be discovered, right?

After much hesitation, Li Yu planned to sneak away, but bumped into Jinzhong who was returning with snacks and tea.

Jinzhong didn't hold the tea firmly and all the tea in his hand spilled on himself.

Looking up and seeing that it was Li Yu, he instantly suppressed his anger, dusted off the tea leaves on his body, and said, "Master, where are you going in such a hurry?"

Li Yu had a stern face, as if saying, "Mind your own business."

He pulled Jinzhong aside and whispered, "The emperor is taking a nap. Speak softly. I feel a little uncomfortable in my stomach. If the emperor wakes up, tell him I went to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine."

Ever since he told Jinzhong his true feelings, Li Yu didn't know why, but he always felt that the emperor was staring at him, and it even made him feel a little scared.

What Jinzhong said to him before was not without reason. After that day, he never went to Yikun Palace to see惢心 again. Taking advantage of the friendship between the two of them, he tried his best to be good to惢心. Although such a good girl's heart did not belong to him, Li Yu just wanted to be good to her unconditionally. He sincerely hoped that惢心 would be happy.

Although he couldn't see惢心 for the time being, he occasionally encountered Jiang Yubin when he came to check on the emperor's pulse. He would always quietly pull Jiang Yubin aside to ask about惢心's injuries, and only felt relieved when Jiang Yubin said she was fine. To help惢心's injuries heal faster, he often took out his salary and gave it to Jiang Yubin, telling him not to be polite with him and to tell him if惢心 needed anything. He would help her even if it cost him his life. Jiang Yubin was deeply moved. He would always remember this kindness.

But today, Li Yu really couldn't help wanting to see惢心, which gave Jinzhong the opportunity.

The hazy dream still lingered between his brows, like an abstract painting. Hongli gently stretched out his arms, his fingertips touching the warmth of his forehead. With a hint of laziness and comfort, he called out in a hoarse voice, "Li Yu."

Jinzhong came in with a smile on his face and helped Hongli stand up. "Your Majesty, I will serve you."

Hongli's gaze lingered on Jinzhong, and he asked, "Why is it you? Where is Li Yu?"

Jinzhong, with his back hunched and his eyes raised, took the dragon robe beside him and put it on Hongli. Without stopping his hands, he slowly said, "Eunuch Li has abdominal pain. To avoid losing face in front of the palace, he went to the Imperial Hospital."

After putting on his dragon robe and fastening the buttons on his wrist, Hongli gave Jinzhong a meaningful look and sneered, "When did Li Yu's health become so poor?"

"Never mind, never mind. I've been busy these past few days and haven't visited the Imperial Noble Consort for a long time. Jinzhong, please call the imperial sedan chair. I'm going to the Yikun Palace."

Jinzhong hesitated for a second. The emperor would definitely meet Li Yu if he went to Yiku Palace at this time. Let's see how Li Yu escaped this disaster. Without Li Yu, with Lan Qi as a chess piece, he, Jinzhong, would be the next chief steward of the imperial court.

He was so happy that he immediately stepped back and passed on the imperial sedan chair.