Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

The sun, like a fireball, hung in the clear blue sky. Early in the morning, the clouds seemed to be burned by the sun and disappeared without a trace.

Looking at the intelligent Lan Qi, Yu Hu nodded with satisfaction. "My Lady Lan, you have learned very well. You have learned everything you need to learn. I have nothing more to teach you. If you are alright, I will return to Qinghui Pavilion to report."

Seeing Yu Hu was about to leave, Lan Qi stood up and bowed to her, then took out some silver and asked Ji Tao to present it. "Thank you for your care these days, aunt. I hope you won't despise this small token of my appreciation."

Yu Hu smiled but didn't take it: "My lady, you don't have to be polite. This is what I should do."

After seeing Yu Hu off, Lan Qi changed into a light green palace dress with elaborate flowers under the help of Ji Tao. Her black jade-like hair was simply tied into a bun. There were no expensive jewelry on the dressing table, so Ji Tao had to pick up a few velvet flowers and pin them on Lan Qi's bun.

Ji Tao looked at Lan Qi in the mirror and complained softly. Her mistress was obviously the master, but she looked like a poor palace maid.

While combing Lan Qi's hair, Ji Tao asked, "Where are you going, young lady?"

Lan Qi paused and said, "Let's go to Changchun Xianguan."

In Qinghui Pavilion, Hongli was practicing calligraphy with his hands behind his back. When he saw Yu Hu coming, he immediately sent Li Yu away.

Li Yu understood and immediately left with the palace maids and eunuchs, not forgetting to close the palace door before leaving. In an instant, only Hongli and Yu Hu were left in Qinghui Pavilion.

When Hongli asked about Lan Qi's condition, Yu Hu remembered the humble and polite Concubine Lan and replied, "This servant has lived up to your expectations. Concubine Lan is intelligent and has learned the palace rules. I don't think she will offend the Empress."

Hongli nodded slightly.

After a while, he asked again, "Has anyone from the Empress Dowager's side visited Concubine Lan in these years?"

Yu Hu shook her head. "No, but I heard that Lady Lan hasn't had a good life these past few years, often being bullied by eunuchs and palace maids..."

Hongli's face suddenly changed. He suddenly remembered that every time he saw Lan Qi these days, she was always dressed plainly, even worse than Hai Lan back then. It turned out that she was bullied.

Hongli threw the brush in his hand and said angrily, "These dogs and slaves, Lan Qi is my woman after all, how dare they be so harsh and neglectful? They deserve to die. Yuhu, find out who has bullied Concubine Lan and punish them with dozens of strokes of the cane. Let's see who dares to bully the concubines of the Old Summer Palace in the future."

Yu Hu nodded and asked, "Your Majesty, do you wish to grant Concubine Lan some contraceptive soup?"

Hongli thought about it, and finally waved his hand and said, "No need."

"Yes." Yu Hu agreed softly. Just as she was about to turn around and leave Qinghui Pavilion, Hongli called her back, "By the way, Yu Hu, go to the warehouse and pick out some good supplies for Concubine Lan."

"Yes." Yu Hu leaned forward and stepped back.

Lan Qi stepped on the bottom of the flower pot and walked on the path of the imperial garden holding Ji Tao's hand.

Ji Tao frowned, feeling a little uneasy. "My lady, do you think the Queen will make things difficult for us?"

Lan Qi smiled. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell onto her fair face, making her look even more charming. "Don't worry, silly girl. The Queen is known for her virtue and will definitely not embarrass us in public."

"I have been serving the Queen for a while now. If I don't go and pay my respects to her, I will be criticized. Do you understand?"

Lan Qi didn’t understand it before, but in her previous life, she stayed with Yan Wan for a long time, and naturally knew some of the survival rules of concubines in the harem.

Ji Tao nodded, not quite understanding.

She held Lan Qi's hand and felt that Lan Qi had changed. Ever since she fell into the water, she noticed that there was light in Lan Qi's eyes, and her whole body seemed to radiate confidence. She was no longer the timid Lan Guiren.

Seeing Lan Qi being favored, Ji Tao was happy for her from the bottom of her heart.

All the concubines arrived at Changchun Xian Pavilion early in the morning and sat on yellow pear wood carved chairs according to their rank, drinking tea and chatting, waiting to pay their respects to the queen.

Ruyi was wearing a dark red Manchu dress, which made her look old-fashioned. At this moment, she was leaning lazily on the chair, her eyelids heavy, as if she was about to fall asleep.

Except for Ruyi, everyone else was chatting in unison.

"The emperor hasn't come to the harem for several days. I wonder if you sisters know what the emperor has been busy with recently?" Yuyan was wearing a light red Manchu dress, with exquisite makeup. There was an ambiguous smile on the corner of her mouth, and her pair of phoenix eyes swept over everyone present intentionally or unintentionally.

Lujun sat across from Ruyi with dignity and grace. Upon hearing Yuyan's words, she simply smiled and shook her head, "Even Imperial Concubine Xian can't see the Emperor, let alone us."

"A few days ago, when I went to the Yangxin Palace to deliver ginseng soup to the emperor, I seemed to hear a woman's voice coming from inside. However, the emperor did not summon me at that time, so I did not dare to go in." Bai Ruiji took a sip of tea and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.

Ever since she lost her child, her health had deteriorated and she had lost a lot of weight, but her face was still pretty and charming, and her voice was thin and soft, but it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves.

"Oh? Really? Isn't that voice charming?" Yuyan put down the teacup in her hand, looked at Yanwan with a smile, and there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Seeing this, Yan Wan immediately lowered her head, tightly grasped her handkerchief, her nails digging deep into her flesh, but she dared not say a word.

"Concubine Wei is very clever. The palace maid climbed onto the dragon bed. Maybe she has come up with some other way to win the emperor's favor." Yuyan covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone full of disdain.

"Empress Jia, please be careful with your words." Yihuan put down the teacup in her hand, her brows cold and her tone indifferent.

Because Yihuan helped Yanwan out of the predicament, Yanwan smiled at her gratefully.

Yuyan felt a little unhappy, "Shupin, are you going to go against me for Wei Changzai?"

Ruyi was awakened by the voices. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and yawned, as if she didn't hear them talking. She turned her face and continued to sleep with her eyes closed.

At this time, Langya, supported by Su Lian and Lian Xin, walked out of the inner bedroom and sat in the main seat.

"Your servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health." Upon seeing this, everyone stood up and saluted.

惢心 gently tugged at the corner of Ruyi's clothes, and Ruyi finally came to her senses and followed everyone in paying their respects.

Langya placed her hands on her knees and smiled gently, "Everyone, get up. I just heard you arguing. What are you discussing so intensely?"

Langya picked up the teacup and gently blew on the tea leaves floating on it. Her tone was gentle, but with an air of majesty that came from not being angry.

Yuyan sat back in her chair and said with a smile, "In reply to the Empress, I haven't seen the Emperor for a long time and I miss him very much, so I asked you sisters what he has been busy with recently."

"Yes, the emperor hasn't been to the harem for a long time, and I don't know..." Lujun agreed, looking up and secretly glancing at Langya.

Langya put down the cup, touched the drooping tassel, and said lightly, "Well, someone from the Imperial Household Department came to report to me yesterday that the Emperor favored Concubine Lan."

"So the Emperor should be with Concubine Lan these days."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

Ruyi's face turned pale, and she asked anxiously, "Is this someone the Emperor suddenly bestowed upon her as a noble?"

Langya smiled and kept her gaze on Ruyi.

She hated Ruyi, hated Ruyi's hypocritical behavior, and hated her even more for pretending to be in love with the emperor every day and monopolizing the emperor. So whenever Langya saw Ruyi sad, she would feel a lot happier. However, she was the legitimate wife and the queen, so she could not be jealous.

Langya patiently explained, "Lady Lan, she was originally the emperor's concubine, so there's nothing to be surprised about. It was just that due to health reasons, the emperor arranged for her to stay in the Old Summer Palace. Now that she's better, she'll naturally be brought back to the palace."

Ruyi widened her eyes, looking incredulous.

She originally thought that Hongli really didn't come to see her just to give her a surprise as Li Yu said, but Langya told her that Hongli didn't come to her palace because he was busy accompanying another woman. How could she accept this?

Ruyi lowered her head in disappointment.

"There is one more sister in the harem. I hope the harem can live in harmony."

At the same time, Lan Qi, supported by Ji Tao, walked into Changchun Fairy House.

Lan Qi brought Ji Tao to Langya and said, "Your concubine, Niuhulu, pays her respects to the Empress. May the Empress be blessed with good health." Lan Qi bowed gracefully with a soft voice and elegant posture.

Everyone's eyes were focused on her, with surprise, curiosity, jealousy, and disdain.