The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

"Linglong, what time is it?"

Changle Palace.

At the four corners of the inner hall stand palace lanterns depicting cranes holding spring, emitting bright and soft light.

The virtuous concubine was wearing a casual soft silk dress with scattered flowers. She leaned her elbows on the headboard of Luohan's bed, and her long hair flowed like water on the floral pillow.

The gentle sigh is like the wind blowing across the water, spreading quietly and invisible.

"My Lady, it's already midnight. Would you mind going to bed early?"

Linglong entered the room carrying a tray with a green jade bowl covered with peach branches on it. She knelt on the footstool and opened the bowl.

The virtuous concubine glanced at the calming soup in the bowl.

He sighed again, his interest growing dull: "I don't want to drink anymore."

"My Lady, drink it. You haven't slept well in days. Please take care of yourself."

Linglong looked at the dark circles under her master's eyes, which were very obvious after she took off her makeup at night, and felt very distressed.

The virtuous concubine's face was filled with undisguised dejection. "Do you think I can fall asleep just by drinking? Every day I didn't drink, it was all for nothing. I'm only twenty-one, am I that old? You're actually trying to imitate that old woman, the Empress, and present the new bride to His Majesty. How can I sleep?"

Today she sent Yu Sujin to Chenqian Palace. Although it was her initiative to alienate Yu Sujin and Fei Wan, she wanted to prevent the two sisters from becoming a team and help the powerful Fei Wan.

But, after all, she was giving a woman to her man, so how could she be willing to do that?

Yu Sujin was different from Lan Zhaoyi and the others who were originally concubines. She had recruited Lan Zhaoyi and the others to her advantage, which was to build up her power, but Yu Sujin was a true newcomer. Helping Yu Sujin gain favor was equivalent to taking away the already scarce imperial favor.

Ever since Yu Sujin left, Concubine Xian dismissed the palace maids and sat alone in the inner hall for a long time.

"My lady..."

Linglong didn't dare to say it. In fact, the queen was not old. She was only three years older than the empress.

But inside the palace, new people kept appearing one after another, all in their teens, each more delicate than the other, making those in their twenties look old...

Besides, if you don't send them off, they will come to you on their own.

It’s better to pick a few and use them.

Looking at her heartbroken master, Linglong could only advise, "Don't be sad. I've seen your majesty's interest in those newcomers is just a passing fancy. He'll just let them go after a few days. It's no different from just a toy. Ultimately, the one your majesty can never forget, the one who matters most to you, isn't it? Otherwise, why would he let the queen recuperate and leave you to manage the harem? You're now a co-consort."

Although Concubine Xian didn't completely believe what she heard, she felt a little better.

But there was a thorn in her heart, and she said quietly: "Doesn't Concubine Zhao also have the power to assist in managing the harem?"

"What's the point of Noble Concubine Zhao?" Linglong advised again. "Not to mention that her position is far inferior to yours, even though Minister Yu took credit for the victory in Ningcheng, His Majesty only conferred her the rank of Noble Concubine. Just look at her assistant position. I privately suspect His Majesty is worried you'll be overworked, so he's looking for someone to share your burdens. Noble Concubine Zhao has only been in office for a short time. She used to be just like me, even worse than me. How could she possibly understand what an assistant is?"

The virtuous concubine shook her head.

"I know you're trying to comfort me, but please don't say such foolish things. We've watched Concubine Zhao grow from a maidservant to where she is today. Don't forget how the Queen fell."

That was gradually overcome by Concubine Zhao.

Linglong was silent. It was indeed the case.

Although it was the Queen who always plotted against Concubine Zhao, and Concubine Zhao fought back, she was able to successfully fight back every time and escape unscathed, and even benefit from it, which is not something that ordinary people can do.

This is secondary. The main thing is that His Majesty really favors Concubine Zhao.

The exquisite pearls and jade she saw in Chunxi Palace must have been a new gift from His Majesty. Previously, items of that quality were only given by His Majesty to Changle Palace and Imperial Concubine Qing during festivals, and even the Empress rarely received them.

Finally, Linglong could only say, "Your Majesty, the soup is almost cold, please drink it. No matter how great Concubine Zhao is, she still has to honestly acknowledge you as her master. She has no foundation, and the Yu family is a small family. No matter how great her achievements are or how much she is rewarded, how can it compare to what we have in our mansion? Once the hype of her visit and the title she receives wears off, and she hits a few walls, she will have to put away her pride and return to serve you obediently."

The virtuous concubine straightened up, picked up the bowl and drank the calming soup.

She flung the jade cup onto the tray, not caring if it would get bumped or dented. She had grown up in luxury, so these things were commonplace and didn't care.

She smiled faintly and said, "Let her take a few days off. If she is too arrogant to come and pay her respects to me, then let her continue to be arrogant. I see that there are many people in this palace who are jealous of her. The Yu family and she are not on the same page, so she will have a lot of trouble in the future. When she is desperate, since she has helped me before, as long as she is willing to bow her head, I will help her."

"My Lady, that's exactly what happened. Just be at ease. I don't think Consort Yu is an honest person. Let the sisters have some fun first."

The virtuous concubine snorted, "This time, Consort Yu will remember my kindness in recommending me, and Your Majesty will also think that I am virtuous and tolerant. Moreover, the person I recommended to the imperial court is Concubine Zhao's sister. This is a good opportunity for Your Majesty to see that I and Concubine Zhao get along well, and I won't feel uncomfortable because Concubine Zhao is helping to share power."

Your Majesty will value her more for this.

Even though Concubine Zhao is in power now, she will turn the situation around little by little in the future!

Both the master and the servant, Concubine Xian Linglong, looked down upon Fei Wan.

Even though they had Fei Wan's help at the birthday party and escaped the disaster, one thing is for sure. Fei Wan threatened the status of Changle Palace, so they had to punish her.

Tonight's plan of killing three birds with one stone is to give Fei Wan a small warning.

"Okay, let's settle it."

The virtuous concubine got up lazily, washed herself briefly, and went to bed to rest.

Linglong lowered the curtain for her and went out, but quickly returned.

With a look of surprise, he said, "Your Majesty, someone has come from the Imperial Court. They have brought back the jade ruyi that we sent over, and also delivered a message..."

Xian Fei immediately sat up and lifted the curtain. "What did you say?"

"Your Majesty said..." Linglong observed her master's expression and repeated carefully, "Your Majesty said - there is no need to send Ruyi. If Concubine Xian behaves herself, I will be able to sleep peacefully..."

She didn't want to make her master angry or upset, but the person who came said that His Majesty had ordered that the message must be passed on.

Seeing the virtuous concubine's face suddenly changed.

Linglong said anxiously, "Your Majesty, this must be Consort Yu deliberately pretending to surrender, colluding with Concubine Zhao, and deliberately slandering you in front of His Majesty, causing His Majesty to misunderstand you!"

The virtuous concubine closed her eyes.

He said in a deep voice: "It is very likely."

She was careless for a moment and was deceived by the Yu sisters!

"Where is Consort Yu now? Has she gone to Chunxi Palace?"

"No, Madam, I heard that she returned to the palace very quickly after leaving Chen Qian Palace."

The virtuous concubine opened her eyes and sneered: "Call her over to me!"

Dare to plot against her.

If I can’t touch Concubine Zhao for the time being, can I also not touch a little selected concubine?