The emperor walked over, bent down and put his hand in the water, tested the water temperature, and then sat down on the shore of the hot spring.

Zhen Huan looked a little shy, after all, she had never slept with the emperor yet.

"Your Majesty, are you trying to emulate Emperor Cheng of Han? I, your concubine, would never dare to be like Zhao Hede."

"How dare you compare me to Emperor Cheng of Han."

"Your Majesty is so wise and intelligent that Emperor Cheng of Han cannot even come close to him."

Seeing this, I said what the oleander spirit had taught me:

"My sister and I are blessed by the Emperor's grace, a blessing earned in our past lives. Your Majesty rules the empire, and while his concubines are undoubtedly more beautiful than Feiyan and Hede, their virtue surpasses Ban Jieyu's. This shows that Emperor Cheng's blessings are far inferior to yours."

The Emperor's expression froze slightly after hearing what I said, but then he smiled with satisfaction and said:

"Haha. My Concubine Wan and Concubine An are both eloquent, far superior to Feiyan and Hede, who are only beautiful. I am more fortunate than Emperor Cheng of Han."

I continued to talk:

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Although Emperor Wu of Han possessed great talent and vision, he could not escape the loneliness of his later years. Your Majesty is not only blessed with the country and the people, but also with the company of his close friends. This is truly a great blessing. I dare to offer my sincere gratitude to Your Majesty. If there is anything in Your Majesty's heart, I am willing to be like the moonlight, silently illuminating and fulfilling every one of Your Majesty's deepest feelings and wishes."

A hint of surprise and admiration flashed in the emperor's eyes. He clapped his hands lightly and said with a smile:

"Rong'er is truly becoming more and more considerate and generous, which is very comforting to me. Such a broad mind is truly rare in the harem."

After saying this, the Emperor turned his gaze to Zhen Huan, and said with a touch of tenderness:

"Wan Changzai, look at An Changzai, isn't she becoming more sensible?"

Zhen Huan smiled slightly, her eyes lingering on me for a moment, her tone gentle and sincere:

"Sister, you have indeed changed a lot. Your generosity and understanding are truly a role model for us. Your Majesty is fortunate to have a confidant like you."

The emperor nodded, seeming to agree with Zhen Huan's words:

"Yes, Concubine Wan and Concubine An each have their own merits, and both are my favorites."

After saying this, the Emperor stood up and prepared to leave:

"Mrs. An, I will come again tomorrow to drink tea and discuss philosophy with you. Today, I will go back with Mrs. Wan."

I bowed slightly, my heart still trembling, but my face remained calm.

"I respectfully bid farewell to the Emperor and my sister. May the friendship between the Emperor and my sister last forever, like the warm and enduring waters of this hot spring."

After saying that, I stayed alone in the hot spring. The mist and warmth seemed to wash away all the dust and worries.

I closed my eyes and let the warm water wrap around me, but my heart was filled with mixed feelings, a sense of relief and a subtle sadness.

......

That night, I couldn't sleep.

In the storms of my previous life, I was like a small boat, of humble status, like dust, washed away again and again by the ruthless waves of the palace, without the emperor's favor, and without anyone to rely on.

During those days, I experienced the fickleness of human nature and the cruelty of the world. I was often looked down upon and bullied by others. The scars in my heart were like fallen leaves in autumn, layer upon layer, difficult to heal.

However, the wheel of fate did not stop because of this. It brought me through time and into this life.

In this life, I made a firm vow that I would gain the emperor's favor, let the supreme power and glory be my protection, improve my status, and make those who once bullied me never dare to underestimate me again.

However, only I know the deepest desire in my heart.

This pursuit of power and desire for status are nothing more than a line of defense I have built for myself, a line of defense to resist the cold gazes and ruthless words that have hurt me in the past.

I always have a yearning for true feelings.

I long for someone who can see through my superficial toughness and disguise and see my true self. I long for a relationship that is like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, warm and pure, illuminating the forgotten corners deep in my heart.

That's why I am the most jealous of Zhen Huan.

Zhen Huan has the friendship of Shen Meizhuang, the sisterhood of Huanbi, and the loyalty of Liuzhu and Jinxi.

From then on, the emperor treated her differently from other concubines and showed his favor in a tactful way.

And I am just alone.

Once upon a time, I had my mother, my only mother. Now she has left me, leaving behind only a handkerchief to express my longing.

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my cheeks.

I also took out the white handkerchief unconsciously.

I want to ask a question now, this is the first time it is not related to palace fighting:

"Oleander Fairy, I want a sincere friendship to accompany me."

"Ding! Congratulations, An Lingrong. You have now unlocked a new module - 'Xiao Tao's Companion'."

This was the first time I asked this intelligent elf questions about emotions, and it responded to me in such a unique way.

"Xiao Tao's companion", this name sounds very friendly.

The oleander elf continued:

"'Xiao Tao' will become your best friend. No matter where you are, it will be by your side, listening to your heart and sharing your joys and sorrows. It will be loyal to you and will never betray you, freeing you from the emptiness and loneliness in your heart."

I seemed to see a new world opening up to me, where I had Xiaotao's company, warmth and understanding, and I was no longer alone.

I smiled gently, and the desire in my heart seemed to be responded to, and the emptiness seemed to be filled by some gentle power.

The Oleander Elf continued to introduce:

"To fully unlock 'Xiao Tao's Companionship', you need to upgrade the system, which costs 10,000 taels of silver. You must also patiently wait three months to ensure that all data packs are perfectly loaded, so that every communication is filled with depth and warmth.

During this time I will go into hibernation and cannot wake up enabled.

However, to give you a taste of the magic of "Xiao Tao's Companionship," I'm offering a trial. For just one hundred taels of silver, you can enjoy three days of companionship. This trial is only available once, so you can consider purchasing the full version after you've completed the trial.

Do you want to start the trial version now?"

Ten thousand taels? I exclaimed in my heart.

All the cash I have now is less than ten thousand taels.

Even if he went back to find Huang Guiquan and sold his things, he would only get a little more than 10,000 taels. If he upgraded, most of the money he had worked so hard to earn would be gone.

But I am very curious, what kind of companionship would cost ten thousand taels?

So I said:

"Start the trial version now."

"Okay, An Lingrong. One hundred taels have been deducted. Xiao Tao will be here soon."

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