Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

Langya smiled slightly, her eyes and eyebrows showing the dignity and grace of a queen mother. She said in a gentle tone, "No need to be so polite, Noble Lady Lan. Please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lan Qi stretched out her hand, and Ji Tao immediately stepped forward to help Lan Qi to her seat.

Ever since Lan Qi entered the room, Ruyi's eyes have never left Lan Qi's face. Seeing her beautiful eyes full of brilliance and her red lips with a faint smile, she knew that she was indeed a natural beauty.

This instantly made Ruyi feel a sense of crisis. She gripped the handle of the chair tightly, but when she glanced at Yihuan, she finally felt relieved.

Yihuan was recommended by the Empress Dowager, yet Hongli was wary of her, even sending her contraceptive soup in various ways. Let alone Lanqi, the Empress Dowager's great-niece. Ruyi refused to believe Hongli wouldn't be wary of Lanqi, and she remained convinced that she was the Emperor's true love. No one could threaten her position.

After Lan Qi took her seat, Yu Yan covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled softly, but her eyes and eyebrows showed undisguised contempt. "Oh, Concubine Lan, this method is really clever. We have only been in the Old Summer Palace for a few days, and the emperor is staying overnight. It seems that we sisters should ask Concubine Lan for advice in the future."

Lan Qi was not annoyed. She smiled at Yuyan and was about to speak when she heard a "bang". All the concubines looked at Langya at the same time and saw that the teacup in her hand was thrown on the table and the water in the cup spilled all over the floor. Seeing this, Su Lian immediately stepped forward to wipe it.

Langya's face was gloomy, and the palace suddenly fell silent, with all the concubines in panic.

"Empress Jia, please be more careful with your words." Langya spoke sternly, her eyes sweeping across Yuyan. "Noble Lady Lan was originally the Emperor's concubine. She had to stay away from the palace due to health reasons. Now that she has recovered, it is only natural that the Emperor favors her more. As a concubine, you don't set an example, but instead you are here to spread rumors and insult her wantonly. How disrespectful!"

Yuyan was so frightened by Langya's sudden scolding that her face turned pale, but she had to suppress her dissatisfaction and nodded in agreement.

However, when Yanwan saw Yuyan being humiliated by the Queen, she lowered her head and smiled secretly.

Langya looked around and said in a serious tone, "I will say this one last time. The most important thing in the harem is to live in harmony. If I hear similar rumors again, don't blame me for being rude."

Upon seeing this, all the concubines were silent as a mouse and nodded their heads in agreement.

Although Yuyan was unwilling in her heart, she also knew that Langya was really angry and did not dare to do anything else. She could only glare at Lanqi fiercely and swallow all her anger and jealousy.

After paying their respects, the concubines all stood up and took their leave.

Lang Ya rubbed her aching temples and was about to get up and return to the inner hall to rest, but she saw Lan Qilian walk lightly towards her and lean over and say, "Empress..."

Lan Qi glanced at Su Lian and Lian Xin.

Langya understood and said with a sidelong glance, "I have something to say to Lady Lan. You all should go down."

After saying that, Langya took Lanqi into the back hall.

"Does Lady Lan have anything to say to me?" Langya turned around and asked.

"My concubine..." Lan Qi bit her lower lip, and suddenly knelt down as if she had mustered up her courage.

Langya was startled. "What is Lady Lan doing? If you have anything to say, just get up and talk."

Lan Qi knelt motionless, her eyes slightly red, her voice choked with sobs, "This concubine is not trying to win favor as Concubine Jia said, it's just...it's just that life in the Old Summer Palace is really hard, and this concubine has no choice..."

As she spoke, she reached out to tidy up the loose hair on her temples, revealing her smooth forehead with a shocking scar on it.

That was the scar left by Lan Qi when she accidentally bumped into the water before, but now she is using it as a tool to gain sympathy.

Lan Qi continued, "I know my status is humble, and I dare not ask for the emperor's favor. I only hope to find a place to settle down in this harem..."

Langya covered her mouth, looked at Lan Qi's plain hair and clothes, then looked at the scar on her forehead, and couldn't help feeling a trace of pity in her heart.

She sighed softly, took off a pearl and tourmaline hairpin from her bun, and put it on Lan Qi herself. "Okay, get up. Concubine Jia has always been outspoken, so you don't have to take her words to heart."

As we are both women, why should we make things difficult for a poor woman?

Lan Qi heard this, a trace of gratitude flashed in her eyes, she slowly stood up, leaned forward and said: "Your Majesty, the Queen, thank you for your grace."

"Since you entered the palace, you are now my sister." Langya helped Lan Qi up and said softly, "Don't worry, as long as I am still here, I will not let you suffer any injustice."

Lan Qi raised her head and looked at Lang Ya with a determined gaze. "Thank you, Her Majesty, for your protection. I will do my best to help Her Majesty in the future."

Langya nodded with satisfaction. "I'm glad you're so kind. It's getting late. You should go back to the palace first."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Lan Qi leaned over again, walked out of the inner chamber, and left with Ji Tao.

As soon as she left Changchun Fairy House, Lan Qi saw Yan Wan step forward to block Ruyi's way.

Ruyi asked impatiently, "What is Concubine Wei doing here?"

Hailan and Yihuan behind her also frowned and looked at Yanwan.

Yan Wan lowered her head and humbly asked Ruyi, "Empress Xian, do you hate me so much?"

Ruyi turned around, her face gloomy, and replied in a bad tone, "I don't understand what Concubine Wei said."

Yan Wan raised her eyes, her pretty face full of grievance. She defended herself, "Your Highness has always believed that I am someone who is trying to climb the social ladder and has no regard for past relationships. That's why she has often been cold to me. But she doesn't know that I also have my own difficulties."

Ruyi looked at Yanwan with a condescending attitude and said disdainfully, "I have seen every step you have taken to get here. What is your motivation?"

Yan Wan blushed, but continued, "I heard that Your Majesty is from the Ulanara clan. This family is both an honor and a burden. I believe that when you suffered in the cold palace, you must not have forgotten your family, so you worked hard to rise up. I am the same. How can someone of your noble status understand the various scorns and hardships that I have endured for my background? But I share the same heart for not forgetting my family..."

Ruyi interrupted her, "Not forgetting your family isn't the only way to go. Your current choice has ultimately let down someone who truly loves you."

Look, this is Ruyi, the future queen who will rule the country.

Say the most hurtful words in the most calm tone.

Yes, she was high and mighty, the emperor's beloved, but what had Yan Wan done wrong? Because she looked a bit like her, she was tortured by Jin Yuyan for five years, while Ruyi acted as if nothing had happened.

She truly loves the emperor, but she flirts with a guard, and says that she has feelings for Ling Yunche that go beyond those between men and women. What kind of feelings are those?

To put it bluntly, it means cuckolding the emperor.

Lan Qi's stomach churned.

"My lady, let's go." Ji Tao's voice rang out, and Lan Qi came back to her senses.

Lan Qi walked out of the palace and went towards Ruyi.

"Sincerity? What is sincerity?" Lan Qi walked forward with Ji Tao and asked with a smile.

"It's Concubine Lan." When Ruyi saw Lan Qi, her face suddenly turned ugly.

Because the positions of the people in front of her were higher than hers, Lan Qi had to bow, "Your concubine greets the Imperial Concubine Xian, the Imperial Concubine Yu, and the Imperial Concubine Shu."

After completing the ceremony, Lan Qi stood up straight, her tone still neither humble nor arrogant, "Originally, when the Imperial Concubine reprimanded me, I should have learned my lesson, but I just don't understand what the Imperial Concubine said."

Lan Qi took Yan Wan's hand and sighed, "What a delicate pair of hands! But in the past five years, do you know how much torture she has endured in Concubine Jia's room?"

Yanwan pursed her lips, tears in her eyes.

She didn't expect that someone would stand up for her despite her shameful past.

Yan Wan pulled her hand away and called out softly, "Lady Lan."

Hailan stared at Lan Qi nervously, fearing she might do something inappropriate. She stepped forward to protect Ruyi behind her and looked at Lan Qi warily, "Lady Lan, what do you want to say?"

"Puchi," Lan Qi laughed, covering her handkerchief. "What can a concubine say? The Imperial Concubine probably doesn't know that it was Concubine Yu who made the invaluable contribution in sending Concubine Wei to the Dragon Bed."

"Although I'm not in the palace, I can always hear some fun stories among the maids and eunuchs in the Old Summer Palace. If you hadn't whispered to Concubine Chun and spread the rumor that Wei Changzai was the second A Ruo, she might not have had this blessing."

"So, Wei Chang, the person you should be most grateful to is Concubine Yu."

"Lady Lan, you—"

Ruyi's face turned the color of liver with anger.

She glared at Hailan fiercely, snorted coldly, and walked away.

"Sister..." Hailan saw this and immediately trotted after her.

Yihuan looked at the two people's backs as they left, frowned and shook his head, then smiled slightly at Lanqi and Yanwan and walked in the opposite direction.

After they left, Yan Wan cast a grateful look at Lan Qi and whispered, "Thank you, Noble Lan, for speaking on my behalf."

Lan Qi smiled slightly and said, "It's just a small favor. You don't have to be polite, Wei Changzai."

"But I don't know how you know what happened to me when I was a palace maid." Yan Wan asked puzzledly.

Lan Qi smiled faintly and said, "Eunuch Jinzhong told me."

Only after hearing Jinzhong did Yanwan feel relieved.

She looked at Lan Qi, and for some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had known an old friend for many years.

On the other side, Hai Lan finally caught up with Ruyi.

She held Ruyi's hand and explained, "Sister, please listen to my explanation. I had my reasons for doing that at that time."

Ruyi suddenly stopped, turned around and asked, "Why?"

Indeed, at that time she was afraid that the emperor would find a replacement for Ruyi and forget about Ruyi in the cold palace. After all, the emperor was ruthless, and she saw through it all.

Seeing that Ruyi was finally paying attention to her, Hailan patiently explained, "Sister, don't you think this is strange? Lanqi has been in the Old Summer Palace for so many years, how could she possibly know what's going on in the palace?"

"You mean, there's someone behind her?" Ruyi asked back.

Hailan nodded, "Sister, we must not fall into the enemy's divisive tactics."

Ruyi understood, but still felt resentful about Hailan mistakenly sending Yanwan into the dragon bed, and avoided Hailan for several days.