Yan Wan is reborn as a legitimate wife: Curing Ruyi's Douyi syndrome

紫禁城

Jingqin and Jingse talked with Hongli.

Hongli: "Jingqin, I am leaving the palace this time, and the government will be handed over to you."

Jingqin nodded and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. It's a pity that I can't accompany you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan."

Hongli smiled and said, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Jingse, you should follow Jingqin in the palace and help her out."

Jingse: "Don't worry, Father Huang, when you come back, remember to bring me some little things from Jiangnan."

Hongli said with a smile: "You little girl will do something naughty, don't worry, I will let Yuhu take care of you two."

Jingqin and Jingse smiled at each other, and Jingqin said, "Father Emperor, the auspicious time has arrived. Please get into the sedan chair and don't delay."

Jingse: "I wish you all the best on your journey, your wishes will come true, and everything goes well."

Hongli smiled and nodded, then got into the sedan chair. The imperial carriage left the palace in a grand procession. Jingqin and Jingse watched the carriage go away and returned to the palace hand in hand.

Canal Wharf

The imperial carriage arrived in Hangzhou. Even though the queen did not come this time, Ruyi still rode on the same boat with the concubines.

Hongli got off the boat alone, Ruyi and the concubines followed behind Hongli, and officials on both sides of the strait knelt down.

Hangzhou Palace

Ruyi and Han Xiangjian went out to relax. Han Xiangjian was promoted to concubine by Hongli some time ago.

Han Xiangjian: "Let's go all the way south. I think the Queen still likes Hangzhou the most."

Ruyi nodded and said, "I've been thinking about Hangzhou since I was a child, so naturally I like it."

Han Xiangjian said, "Hangzhou is nice. But this place is called Gushan, which sounds rather unpleasant."

Rong Pei: "Your Highness, Concubine Rong, you may not know this, but there's a saying in Hangzhou: Lonely Mountain is not lonely, Broken Bridge is not broken."

Ruyi said hoarsely, "The Broken Bridge is not lonely, my heart is broken; the Lonely Mountain is not lonely, but your heart is."

Rong Pei interrupted hurriedly, "Your Majesty, please don't say such unlucky words."

Ruyi, however, spoke to herself, "I remember that time when I first became the Imperial Noble Consort and followed the Emperor to Hangzhou on his southern tour. It seems like a long time ago."

Han Xiangjian: "I remember the Queen once told me that the Emperor was your young lover, why did he change?"

Ruyi said calmly, "Love always changes, but some people's love becomes deeper, while some people's love becomes weaker."

Ruyi continued walking after she finished speaking, while Han Xiangjian was still standing there without reacting.

Hangzhou Palace, the Emperor's Residence

Han Xiangjian came in and bowed, "Your Majesty."

Hongli was puzzled and asked, "Princess Rong, I asked Wang Qin to call you over, why did it take so long?"

Han Xiangjian said calmly, "Your Highness and I were admiring plum blossoms on Lonely Mountain. Your Majesty also knows about it."

Hongli frowned and said, "I called you, so you came here. How can you act like a concubine like this?"

Han Xiangjian seemed oblivious to Hongli's anger and said calmly, "If the Emperor likes that, why not just find someone else? I heard that the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort once traveled to the south of the Yangtze River together. How could that love have faded now?"

Hongli: "The Imperial Noble Consort told you? Did she say that the Empress and other concubines were also on the southern tour with us? I didn't take her with me on the southern tour alone, so where does the affection come from? And the Imperial Noble Consort..."

Han Xiangjian was a little confused about Ruyi hiding something from her, but she still helped Ruyi and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to talk about the Ling Yunche incident? Do you really believe it?"

Besides, does Your Majesty have to ask the Imperial Concubine here while being angry with the Imperial Concubine?"

Hongli was furious and laughed, "Why can't I believe it? Why do you have to believe it? Did you hear it with your own ears and saw it with your own eyes, just like me? Rongpin, don't rely on my favor to be so unrestrained."

Han Xiangjian was not afraid either. She stood up and said, "Your Majesty has three palaces and six courtyards. Wherever you go, officials from all over the country will naturally present singing girls and dancing girls. If Your Majesty thinks I am really presumptuous, there will be people who will flatter you. I will take my leave."

Hongli said coldly: "Stop."

Han Xiangjian didn't care and walked away with her back straight.

Hongli: "Wang Qin, send a pigeon and tell Jingqin to send troops to attack the Han tribe."

Wang Qin: “Yeah.”

Han Xiangjian turned around suddenly and said, "Your Majesty, didn't you say you would treat my Han tribe well?"

Hongli said coldly, "Rongpin, you've been in the palace for a long time. There are some things I shouldn't be teaching you. But now I'll teach you one more: thunder and rain are all the emperor's grace! I can treat anyone coldly or favor anyone I want, and it's not your turn to make fun of me."

Han Xiang saw that she had no choice but to lower her head and say, "Yes, I know I was wrong."

Hongli: "Go back to the palace, kneel before me for two hours, recite the palace rules, and learn the palace rules well!"

Han Xiangjian whispered, "Yes."

Han Xiangjian pleaded for Ruyi but was punished. Now everyone knew that Ruyi was really not liked by Hongli, and the favorite concubine was also punished.

When local officials learned that Han Xiangjian was under house arrest, they began to have ulterior motives. Some bold officials knew that Hongli was lustful, so they took the risk and started sending singing and dancing girls to him.

Hangzhou Palace

The women were led into the back corridor by the palace maids. Hongli sat by the lake drinking tea, unmoved.

Jinzhong flattered, "Your Majesty, these women were carefully selected by local officials. Concubine Yan has reviewed several of them and found them quite desirable. Does Your Majesty have a crush on any of them?"

During this southern tour, Hongli brought along many Mongolian concubines who had never been here before, and several of Su Lujun's old friends from the palace were left behind.

Ruyi was disliked by Hongli and was unable to take charge of affairs, so the important tasks were handed over to Concubine Yu and Concubine Yan. However, Concubine Yu was not familiar with palace affairs, so Concubine Yan took advantage of the opportunity.

Hongli was bored: "A woman who stays in the palace or the boudoir for too long will be bound by the rules and become dull and boring. Even the concubines I bring with me are like this."

Jinzhong understood.

Residence of Concubine Yan in Hangzhou Palace

Lin Ruoyao was surprised and asked, "Does the emperor really mean that?"

Jinzhong laughed and said, "Which man in the world doesn't have such thoughts? The emperor neither turns over the names of the concubines nor looks down on the women sent by the officials. It's time to find a big entertainment for the emperor."

Lin Ruoyao was still hesitant and asked, "If the Imperial Concubine and the Queen Mother knew about this..."

Jinzhong smiled and said, "The Emperor will naturally remember your kindness and appreciate your thoughtfulness if his wish is fulfilled. Besides, the Emperor himself would have kept this matter a secret, so how could it have leaked out? Who would have thought it was you who arranged this?"

Lin Ruoyao was a little skeptical. When it came to the deer blood wine incident, the emperor pushed her out without mercy to vent his anger on Ruyi. The emperor was a coward, so how could he remember her kindness?

Lin Ruoyao was still wavering, and said in confusion: "This...what if..."

Jinzhong continued to tempt him, "After all, you gave birth to a prince. Don't you want to go any further?"

Lin Ruoyao's eyes widened, thinking that Jinzhong was trying to instigate her to fight for the throne. She quickly waved her hands and said, "This... I can't do that... The princess knows everything about me... I dare not go against her."

Jinzhong continued to bewitch him, "That's not what I meant. Think about it, although the position of concubine is full, isn't there still a Consort Yu? Don't you want to be a Noble Consort? An Imperial Noble Consort?"

Lin Ruoyao was a little moved and asked, "What about the princess?"

Jinzhong smiled and said, "The princess said, come with us, the queen mother won't stop you."

Lin Ruoyao lowered her guard and nodded, "If that's the case, then let's do it. You have to pick the person yourself. First, they have to be someone who has never served anyone before, and second, the emperor must know that this is my good intention."

Jinzhong: "I understand."

Hangzhou Palace by West Lake

Jinzhong led Hongli with a mysterious look on his face, and Hongli followed.

Hongli was puzzled and asked, "What kind of trick is this? Bringing me here in the middle of the night?"

Jinzhong said mysteriously, "This is Concubine Yan's new idea. We invite the Emperor to go on a night boat trip on the lake."

Hongli showed little interest and waved his hand, saying, "Although the spring nights at West Lake are beautiful, it's boring if it's like this every night."

Jinzhong flattered, "Just looking at the night is boring. Your Majesty, please wait a moment."

Hongli waited patiently until a flower boat came up on the lake. Interested, Hongli nodded and motioned for Jinzhong to continue. Jinzhong welcomed Hongli aboard and opened the door. Inside, a woman stood behind a gauze curtain.

Jinzhong closed the boat door and led Hongli in.

Hongli asked doubtfully, "So mysterious?"

Jinzhong said cautiously, "Your Majesty, if she were just a common woman, she wouldn't be worth being mysterious about."

Hongli walked closer thoughtfully, and his eyes widened after seeing the face clearly.

The Emperor's Residence at the Hangzhou Palace

Hongli has been obsessed with the flower boat these days. He lies on the couch listening to his daughter singing and playing the guitar, and he doesn't have much energy.

Hangzhou streets and alleys

Shui Linglong was carried back to the building in a gauze sedan chair in a high-profile manner. Her lower body was not covered by the gauze curtain, revealing the jade bracelet bestowed by the emperor on her hand and the dragon pattern embroidered on the hem of her dress. Everyone was talking about it.

In another attic, the Empress Dowager summoned Hongli and the concubines to watch a play. Hongli actually fell asleep after watching for a while.

The Queen Mother cried out, "Emperor? Emperor?"

Hongli woke up with a sleepy look on his face and asked confusedly, "Empress Dowager?"

The Queen Mother said helplessly, "Why is the Emperor so sleepy after coming out? If you are tired, just go back. There is no need to accompany me to watch the show."

Lin Ruoyao explained on Hongli's behalf, "In reply to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor was reading the local chronicles of Suzhou and Hangzhou last night to learn about the local customs and practices, so he felt a bit tired."

Hongli: "Yes, Empress Dowager, since I'm here, I want to learn more about the local customs and people."

The Queen Mother said calmly, "The Emperor has worked hard."

Lin Ruoyao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, may I help you go back and rest?"

Hongli nodded and said, "Very well, Empress Dowager. I will take my leave now."

The Queen Mother: "Go ahead."

Ruyi sat aside, her face full of disbelief, but she couldn't ask directly, so she suppressed the question and hinted to Rong Pei to follow and inquire.

Unexpectedly, that night, Hongli made an exception and promoted Concubine Yan to Concubine Yan.

Day 2: Streets of Hangzhou

With Hongli's permission, Ruyi went to the countryside in disguise.

Ruyi walked in the streets with a swagger, and Rong Pei followed carefully beside her. She was not worried that Ruyi would be discovered, but mainly because Ruyi looked like a nouveau riche, and she was really afraid that Ruyi would be robbed!

Ruyi: "What's the fashion trend this year? Why are people putting floral foil on the backs of their hands?"

How could Rong Pei know? She could only perfunctorily say, "Perhaps the daffodils are blooming now, in late winter or early spring."

Ruyi was very satisfied with this answer and nodded, saying, "As expected, everyone here is elegant and refined."

Rong Pei felt itchy all over because of the strange looks from the people around her. She advised, "Your Majesty, you are of noble status. It is really inappropriate for you to come out like this. Let's go back."

Ruyi, however, continued leisurely, "What's inappropriate about this? It's not like we've come out like this before. This place is still as charming and lively as ever."

Storyteller: "Beyond the mountains, green hills, beyond the buildings, the singing and dancing at West Lake never cease. They say that Emperor Zhengde of the past enjoyed himself with dragons and phoenixes, and how he envied the elegant and graceful scenes of West Lake on moonlit nights today."

Everyone started to make noises, "It's really a romantic and elegant thing." "Hahahahahahahaha"

Ruyi was very curious, so she leaned over to listen and ask questions, and her face became darker the more she listened.