Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

"Go get it."

Lady Wen looked at her maid with a firm gaze.

"Yes."

Jinqin finally bowed and responded, and after a moment she took out a square box with mother-of-pearl plum blossom pattern.

Lady Wen took it and opened it. Inside was a black jade pendant. The design was not very impressive and the patterns on it seemed to be random.

But when Lady Wen took the jade pendant out of the box, the sunlight shone through it, and the light and dark lines on the jade pendant came together to form the ancient Chinese character "Wen".

The characters were originally hidden in the lines, and not many women in the harem could recognize ancient characters. If one did not look carefully, no one would know that this was the Wen family's token.

"Since you came to me for help today, you must have agreed to what I said the other day. This black jade pendant is a token of the Wen family. With it, you can make the Wen family members in the harem do things for you without having to go through me."

Lady Wen stuffed the jade pendant into Gu Youning's hand without saying anything.

Gu Youning looked down at the jade pendant in her hand. To be honest, it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. No matter what the Wen family's intentions were in wanting to befriend her, Lady Wen had always been sincere towards her.

"Thank you very much."

Gu Youning did not refuse and accepted it with a smile.

"These days, Madam Cen has been leading people to deal with the manpower on my uncle's side. They should have almost finished it by now. I'll have someone send you another booklet later."

When Lady Wen saw that Gu Youning did not pretend to be polite and refuse, her face became even happier.

"it is good."

Gu Youning agreed with a smile, then thought of what happened outside, looked around the room, and asked, "The silver charcoal in your room is burning hotter than mine. Is the one sent by the Shanggong Bureau enough?"

"That little allowance is certainly not enough. I put extra money into the Shanggong Bureau."

If it were someone else, Lady Wen would definitely retort, but she knew that Gu Youning was not the kind of person who liked to make sarcastic remarks.

"I have something to remind you of."

Gu Youning's face suddenly turned serious. Knowing that Lady Wen was impatient, she didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I just saw Shanhu, the senior palace maid next to Lady Lin, outside the door. Isn't this the first time she's come to you to cry and complain?"

"That's right. These past two days, it's like she's been visiting her husband every morning and evening. She comes crying every morning and every night. The master shouldn't have been soft-hearted and allowed Lin Yunv half a basket of silver charcoal the first time."

Speaking of this, Jinqin forgot her previous grudge against Gu Youning, and her face was full of annoyance.

"I don't need that half basket of charcoal. I wanted to send him away, but who knew that Shanhu was so shameless."

Because she treated Gu Youning as her own, Lady Wen did not complain out of turn.

"Half a basket of charcoal can last at least three to five days. There's no need for coral to beg outside the door every day."

Gu Youning's previous guess was correct. Lin Yunv was indeed planning something.

"You mean Lin Yu did this on purpose?"

Lady Wen said in surprise.

Gu Youning sighed secretly. It was no wonder that Lady Wen was so straightforward. If he had not been reborn once, he would not have been able to immediately see that Lin Yunv was so thoughtful.

"As far as I know, silver charcoal isn't in plentiful supply in the palace during winter. If one place has more, another might be short. Even though you spent the money yourself, others might think you're stealing someone else's share. Especially since everyone in the harem knows you have a feud with Lady Lin, and you were reprimanded by the Empress for it. Using some money to punish Lady Lin, someone you dislike, seems reasonable."

"Is she trying to use a self-torture tactic?"

After hearing these words, Lady Wen came to her senses.

"Master, this isn't the first time Lady Lin has done this. Last time, she was clearly on a diet and practicing dancing hard in her room, which made her look so frail. But everyone else thought it was because you, who live in the same palace with her, treated her harshly."

Jinqin couldn't help but feel indignant.

"I know you're not afraid of these words, but it doesn't make sense for you to let others step on you to gain benefits."

"It just so happens that I don't need that much silver flake charcoal. When the Shang Gong Bureau comes to deliver charcoal in the future, I'll ask them to move some to your place. But don't make it public, or Lin Yunv will just think you're still buying charcoal from the Shang Gong Bureau."

"That way, no matter how she tries to harm you in the future, you'll have something to say with this leverage."

Lin Yunv took refuge with the Queen and caused a scene at the birthday banquet. It is impossible for her to keep a low profile like she did in her previous life, so she will definitely try her best to make a comeback.

As for Gu Youning, not to mention that she had always been disgusted with Lin Yunu, the fact that Lin Yunu had taken refuge with the Queen was bound to cause a fight between them.

"I'll listen to you and stop asking for more charcoal from the Shanggong Bureau, but I won't need the silver-plague charcoal you have..."

"Don't mention that I don't like to heat the house too high. You need this silver charcoal more than I do. I wasn't polite to you at all just now."

Gu Youning interrupted Lady Wen's refusal with a smile.

At first she thought that Lady Wen loved to enjoy life, so she heated the house so warmly. But after sitting there for a while, she was sweating all over, and Lady Wen's hands were still a little warm and cool, probably because of the serious damage done to her health by what happened that year.

"That's settled then. I have a lot to do right now, so I can't stay here for too long. I'll go back first."

Gu Youning pretended not to see the moisture in Miss Wen's eyes, and after saying this, he stood up and said goodbye.

"Be careful on your way back."

Lady Wen turned her head and blinked before she stood up to see him off.

"Master, although Concubine Gu seems to be a good person now, there is no need for you to give away the token given by the master so easily. After all, people's hearts are hidden. What if..."

After Gu Youning left, Jinqin complained in a low voice in front of the couch.

"Jinqin!"

Lady Wen interrupted her complaint in a harsh voice.

"Don't say these words again."

"Do you think Concubine Gu has to be from our Wen family?"

Seeing that her chief maid was still unconvinced, Lady Wen's face turned cold.

"Master, although Concubine Gu has an eldest prince and is now favored by the Emperor, the Emperor is still in his prime, and there will surely be many more princes born into the harem in the future. Putting aside the question of princes, as flowers do not last forever, after the selection in two years, when another person enters the palace, Concubine Gu may not be as favored as she is now."

Jinqin still felt that her master had suffered a loss.

"so what?"

"No one can predict the future, and every choice carries risks. For Concubine Gu, our Wen family is indeed the most suitable ally. However, for the Wen family, Concubine Gu is our only and necessary choice. Otherwise, my father and brother would not have sent a message asking me to befriend her."

"Besides, my days in the palace will be more interesting with such a bright and lively person by my side."

Jinqin was surprised to find that her master was actually smiling. It was not the cold and sarcastic smile of the past, but a comfortable smile.

She almost forgot that her master had been so cold and arrogant from the beginning. When she first entered the East Palace, her master was also bright and charming. Thinking of what Nanny Cen had said, Jinqin could no longer say any words of persuasion.

The master is so heartbroken. If Concubine Gu can make the master happier in the palace, then the token of trust will be worth it.

"Go to the cold palace and look for Madam Cen..."

When Lady Wen thought of what Gu Youning had just said, her face became much more energetic.