The Rebirth of Li Fei: The Strongest Palace Fighting System

After a full month, I finally got through the postpartum period.

During this month, the gifts from the Emperor, the Empress Dowager and the concubines in the palaces came one after another and filled my bedroom.

However, since Zhen Huan left the palace to practice, the emperor seemed to have lost his previous interest in lingering in the harem and rarely set foot in the residences of us concubines.

Amidst the turbulent circumstances in the harem, I became increasingly aware that the Queen had become my most formidable opponent.

In order to seek more allies in this deep palace, I came up with an idea - to visit Nian Shilan, who is now pregnant, and try to persuade her to put aside her past grudges with Concubine Duan, and join hands to fight against the common enemy, the Queen.

......

Stepping into the Yiku Palace, a sense of loneliness cannot be concealed amidst the luxury. Every detail in the palace seems to be telling the story of past glory and present desolation.

Just as I was immersed in this complex emotion, I suddenly heard Xiaotao's low voice muttering:

"My lady, this place is so big, but why does the atmosphere feel a little weird?"

I shook my head slightly.

Unexpectedly, the emperor was also present. He sat quietly by the window, his eyes deep, as if penetrating the long river of time, staring at the swaying shadows of trees outside the window.

I was slightly startled and quickly stepped forward, bowing according to standard court etiquette:

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May you live a long and healthy life and have everything go well."

The emperor turned his head, a hint of surprise and tenderness flashed in his eyes:

"Oh, it's Concubine Li. No need to be polite."

I stood up and was about to mention the purpose of my trip, but Xiao Tao became restless again. She quietly approached me and said in a voice that only I could hear:

"Your Majesty, look at Concubine Nian. Why is she acting like nothing happened? She neither greets you nor pays any attention to the Emperor."

Then, I spoke gently:

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I am fortunate to be out of my confinement today. Thinking that Concubine Nian is already two months pregnant, I have come to visit her. I hope she will recover soon and bring more children to the royal family."

After hearing this, the emperor's eyes flashed with approval, and he was obviously pleased with my thoughtfulness.

However, Nian Shilan sat still like a sculpture.

Her current position is lower than mine, but she neither stood up to greet nor said a word, and seemed extremely indifferent to the presence of me and the emperor.

Her indifference was not only directed at me, but also at the emperor, making the atmosphere in the entire Yiku Palace even more depressing.

Xiaotao was stunned watching from the side. She secretly tugged at my sleeve, her eyes full of confusion and puzzlement.

Finally, the emperor broke the heavy silence, his voice gentle but firm:

"Shilan, I will not take my anger out on you for the mistakes of your brother Nian Gengyao. I will treat you as always and ensure that you can safely give birth to a child."

As soon as the words fell, Xiaotao's soft murmur rang in my ears.

"Your Majesty, look, the Emperor's words are exactly the same as what he told Zhen Huan a month ago: 'I won't take the Zhen family's mistakes out on you!' Do you think the Emperor would say this to every concubine who falls out of favor?"

I sighed inwardly, yes, Zhen Huan and Nian Shilan are both arrogant people.

Zhen Huan left the palace to practice cultivation in a fit of anger, and how would Nian Shilan react to the emperor's "gift"? The emperor's words seemed magnanimous, but in fact they were more like alms, a way to appease the concubine who had fallen out of favor.

I tilted my head slightly and glanced at Nian Shilan out of the corner of my eye, only to see that she still maintained that indifference and alienation, with no emotion on her face.

I know in my heart that for Nian Shilan, this "gift" may not be as precious as the emperor thinks.

In this harem, favor and neglect are often just a matter of thought, while true emotions are often obscured by power and interests.

However, at this moment, Nian Shilan suddenly spoke, her voice cold and sharp, with a sneer on her face:

"Then, I must thank Your Majesty for your grace. The Huanyixiang you bestowed upon me is truly a supreme grace. Perhaps the child I lost while in the palace was also another 'special grace' from Your Majesty, right?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor showed an expression of disbelief:

"Who told you about Huan Yi Xiang?"

Nian Shilan raised a mocking smile:

"It doesn't matter who told me this. What matters is that I already know the truth. My sincere heart towards the Emperor has been wasted, only to be trampled upon like this!"

The emperor did not respond to Nian Shilan's words immediately, but fell into deep thought, as if he was weighing something.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, but turned to mentioning another matter: "I heard from Su Peisheng that when you were in the cold palace that day, it was Ran Dong who came to visit you... Could it be the Queen?"

The emperor's words revealed his suspicion of the queen, and also hinted at his vigilance against the complicated situation in the harem.

Nian Shilan's words were like a sharp knife, severing the already fragile emotional bond between him and Nian Shilan, and the figure of the queen quietly emerged in the vortex of this power struggle.

I watched all this quietly from the side, feeling mixed emotions.

In the harem, favor and suspicion coexist, true love and calculation are intertwined, and everyone is seeking a way to survive in this silent war. And where should I go?

Nian Shilan stared at the emperor, her tone filled with unquestionable determination:

"I am pregnant now. Could it be that the Emperor cannot tolerate me and this child?"

The emperor's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was weighing something, but he finally made a promise:

"Just rest assured and take care of your baby. I will protect you well."

Then, the emperor's eyes fell on me, and his voice was steady and powerful:

"Nianpin is pregnant and needs rest and recuperation. The Empress... the Empress has had frequent headaches lately and is unable to cope. Noble Concubine Li, since you have recovered from your confinement and have a reputation for virtue, I will grant you the authority to assist in the management of the six palaces. You must assist the Empress and take good care of Huapin's child."

I was overjoyed. This sudden grace caught me off guard. I quickly knelt down, my voice filled with gratitude and humility:

"I thank Your Majesty for your grace! However, when it comes to being 'the first among all concubines,' I truly do not deserve the title. In terms of seniority and virtue, Noble Concubine Duan is definitely more suitable. Noble Concubine Duan has the most experience and has always been a role model for the harem."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor smiled faintly, his voice filled with unquestionable authority:

"If I say you are worthy of this, then you are. Imperial Concubine Duan is frail and has to take care of the Fifth Prince, so she is already overwhelmed. There is no need to discuss this matter further."

After saying this, the emperor turned to look at Su Peisheng beside him, his eyes revealing an irresistible command:

"Su Peisheng!"

Su Peisheng quickly stepped forward and bowed:

"The slave is here."

The emperor said in a deep voice:

"Issue this decree: From now on, Imperial Concubine Li will assist in the management of the six palaces and ensure the peace and tranquility of the harem. She will also personally oversee the safety of Concubine Hua's pregnancy."