Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

Lin Xier entered the palace filled with joy and anticipation, and was assigned to the Jinxiu Palace. This palace was richly decorated with carved beams and painted rafters. Upon entering, Lin Xier felt she was one step closer to becoming empress, and she couldn't help but feel elated.

After entering the palace, Lin Xier quickly found out Feng Qingyue's whereabouts. She thought to herself that the lesson she'd received previously wasn't enough, and she needed to meet this woman, whom Jun Lingyuan cared about, again to let her know who would be the future master of the harem.

One afternoon, Lin Xier and her personal maid, A'lu, dressed in their finery and went to Feng Qingyue's residence. Feng Qingyue was tending to a few pots of flowers in the yard. She was wearing a plain silk dress, with only a simple jade hairpin in her hair, yet she exuded a unique tranquility and elegance.

Lin Xier stepped into the courtyard and saw Feng Qingyue's appearance. She secretly mocked her for pretending to be noble. She deliberately raised her voice and said, "Oh, this is my sister. I came to pay my respects to you today."

Feng Qingyue slowly stood up, patted the dirt off her hands, and looked at Lin Xier calmly: "You're too polite, sister. I'm not worthy of being called sister."

Feng Qingyue thought to herself, I hadn't approached you about the previous matter, but you came to me on your own. It's a bit of a pity that I have to maintain the dignity of the original owner.

Lin Xier's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her smile: "What do you mean, sister? I heard that you are quite favored by the emperor, so I should come and ask you for advice." As she spoke, a hint of provocation flashed in her eyes.

Feng Qingyue chuckled softly, "I'm not worthy of your advice. I'm just an ordinary concubine of the Emperor, and our relationship is just a coincidence. Unlike my sister, I didn't enter the palace with so many expectations."

Lin Xier was furious, feeling that Feng Qingyue was mocking her decision to enter the palace. She gritted her teeth and said, "Sister, you're so calm. But don't try to feign composure in front of me when you've fallen out of favor."

Feng Qingyue raised her eyebrows slightly. "Sister, you seem to be very concerned about my favor. However, in this palace, favor is like the clouds in the sky, unpredictable. Instead of worrying about me, you should think about how to please the emperor."

Seeing that she couldn't gain the upper hand with words, Lin Xier rolled her eyes and suddenly pretended to twist her foot, bumping into the flower pot next to her, shouting, "Sister, why did you push me?"

She had expected Feng Qingyue to panic, but she only looked at her coldly, showing no sign of panic. Lin Xier's collision actually hit the flowerpot, breaking it and scratching her skirt a little.

Seeing that Feng Qingyue wasn't fooled, Lin Xier simply sat on the ground and started to rage, "Sister, you can't tolerate me like this. If the Emperor knew about this today, I'm afraid it wouldn't be easy for you."

Feng Qingyue remained calm and collected. She squatted down, looked directly into Lin Xier's eyes, and said, "Sister, your acting skills are quite good, but unfortunately, they are used in the wrong place. There are many eyes in this palace. If your behavior today gets out, I'm afraid your reputation will be in jeopardy."

Lin Xier was shocked. She hadn't expected Feng Qingyue to be so calm and even threaten her. Just as she was about to speak, Feng Qingyue continued, "Sister, you just arrived today, and you're already so anxious to trouble me. Didn't the Prime Minister teach you to be careful with your words and actions in the harem?"

Lin Xier was both angry and frightened when she heard the Prime Minister mentioned. She knew that if her father's tactics at court were dragged into the harem, it would be troublesome.

Feng Qingyue looked at Lin Xier's expression and laughed in her heart. She stood up, clapped her hands and said, "Sister, you'd better go back early. Don't lose your status in my little courtyard."

Lin Xier was embarrassedly helped up by her maid Ah Lu and left Feng Qingyue's yard in disgrace. As she walked, she secretly swore that she would find an opportunity to take revenge on Feng Qingyue.

After returning to Jinxiu Palace, Lin Xier became increasingly angry. She felt she couldn't let this go. So she began to plot how to discredit Feng Qingyue in front of Jun Lingyuan. However, she didn't realize that her every move in front of Feng Qingyue was being observed by the secret guards assigned by Jun Lingyuan.

Jun Lingyuan listened to the secret guard's report in the imperial study, his lips curled up slightly, and his heart admired Feng Qingyue even more. He knew Feng Qingyue was smart, but he didn't expect her to be so comfortable in the face of Lin Xier's provocation. Unconsciously, his feelings for Feng Qingyue deepened.

Lin Xier had been unable to get over the setback she had suffered from Feng Qingyue. Knowing that Jun Lingyuan cared about Feng Qingyue in an unusual way, she became even more eager to find an opportunity to get close to him, wanting him to see her good qualities while also fabricating Feng Qingyue's faults in front of him.

That day, Lin Xier heard that Jun Lingyuan would be passing through the Imperial Garden on his way to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. She carefully dressed early, donning a peach-colored palace dress. The vibrant color accentuated her beauty. She and her maid, A'lu, were waiting by the Imperial Garden's path.

Soon, Jun Lingyuan slowly approached with several attendants. Seeing this, Lin Xier's eyes lit up, and she hurried to greet him, bowing prostrate: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor."

Jun Lingyuan frowned slightly. He knew that Lin Xier's action was deliberate, but out of courtesy, he said calmly, "Stand up."

Lin Xier stood up with a shy smile on her face: "Your Majesty, I have been in the palace for many days, but it is rare for me to see Your Majesty. The flowers in the imperial garden are in full bloom today. Your Majesty, will you enjoy them with me for a while?"

Jun Lingyuan was feeling a bit impatient, but he remained calm on the surface: "I have something important to do at the Cining Palace, so let's do it another day."

Lin Xier bit her lip, a hint of unwillingness flashed in her eyes, and she said with a turn of her eyes: "Your Majesty, I have heard some things about Sister Feng recently, and I don't know whether I should tell you or not."

Jun Lingyuan immediately became alert upon hearing this, but his expression remained calm: "What's the matter? Feel free to tell me."

Lin Xier was secretly delighted, thinking this was her chance. She feigned worry and said, "I heard Sister Feng often secretly interacts with people outside the palace in her courtyard. This... this seems to be against palace rules."

Jun Lingyuan snorted coldly: "I believe Qingyue would not do such a thing. Don't believe the rumors and make random speculations."

Lin Xier hadn't expected Jun Lingyuan to defend Feng Qingyue so much. She was furious and anxious, but she refused to give up. "Your Majesty, I'm also concerned about the peace of the harem. Sister Feng..."

Jun Lingyuan interrupted her: "Okay, I know what's going on. Don't make trouble in front of me anymore." After that, he hurried away with his servants.

Lin Xier stood there, stamping her feet in anger. The maid A Lu whispered to comfort her, "Miss, don't be angry. Let's think of other ways."

A few days later, Lin Xier learned that Jun Lingyuan would be in the imperial study late at night reviewing memorials. She personally prepared a plate of exquisite snacks, intending to use the excuse of giving them to get closer to Jun Lingyuan.

Late at night, Lin Xier came to the outside of the imperial study. When the guard was about to inform him, she whispered, "Don't inform him. I want to give the emperor a surprise." The guard hesitated for a moment, but let her in.

Jun Lingyuan was concentrating on reviewing the memorials. He looked up when he heard footsteps. Seeing that it was Lin Xier, he felt a little unhappy: "It's so late, what are you doing here?"

Lin Xier held the snacks in her hands and said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, I see that you work day and night, so I specially made some snacks to relieve your fatigue."

Jun Lingyuan looked at the plate of snacks without showing any interest: "Put it down, go back and rest."

Seeing that Jun Lingyuan was so cold to her, Lin Xier felt aggrieved. She mustered up the courage to walk to Jun Lingyuan. Just as she was about to speak, she accidentally knocked over the ink on the table, and the ink splashed onto the memorial that Jun Lingyuan was reviewing.

Jun Lingyuan's face darkened: "Why are you so clumsy!"

Lin Xier was so frightened that she knelt down hurriedly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't mean it."

Jun Lingyuan took a deep breath and said, "Forget it. Go back now. Don't bother me in the imperial study anymore."

Lin Xier was taken out of the imperial study by the servants crying. She felt that she was extremely unlucky. Every time she tried to get close to Jun Lingyuan, she failed so miserably.

Feng Qingyue, in her own quarters, listened to the secret guards' reports of Lin Xier's antics and simply shook her head. She hadn't wanted to get involved in these pointless fights, but with Lin Xier's relentless insistence, she had to be on guard. She knew Lin Xier wouldn't give up easily, and her future would be filled with uncertainty.