An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

The political situation in the harem changed quickly. In less than half a month, it was rumored that the emperor had lost interest in Lady Xia.

That's not surprising. What is surprising is that the Lady Miaoyin who replaced Lady Xia in the favored concubine is not the one that An Lingrong used to know.

Early in the morning, the Emperor issued an edict to the inner palace, promoting the palace maid Yuan to the rank of "Da Ying" and bestowing upon her the title of "Lady of Wonderful Sounds." In order to please the Emperor, the Empress did not bring up the palace rules to dissuade him. Instead, she added a small stage to Zhongcui Palace, where Yuan lived, and ordered the Imperial Household Department to select several musicians with good looks and skills to be sent to Zhongcui Palace.

It is said that when the Empress Dowager learned of this matter, she simply said, "It's good that the Emperor has some youthful spirit," which can be considered as tacit approval.

When the news reached the inner palace, it immediately became lively.

This beautiful lady was chosen by the emperor from Consort Xia's palace.

Because this incident happened in An Lingrong's palace, she knew more about it than others.

Since that day when she coughed so badly in the Empress's palace, and the imperial physician diagnosed her with acclimatization problems and the need for rest, Consort Xia kept pestering the Empress to agree to move An Lingrong to another palace.

Unfortunately, Yanxi Palace was simply too large. Besides the main hall where Empress Fucha resided, and the side halls where Consort Xia and Consort An lived, there were several other rooms available for living. Previously, the Empress's harem was full and had housed many concubines, but now that the current emperor's harem was smaller, it was empty.

Because of this, the Empress did not agree to let An Lingrong move out of Yanxi Palace, but instead allowed her to move to a slightly more secluded palace to recuperate.

However, this Consort Xia was far too restless, and she repeatedly cried and begged the emperor about this matter.

The emperor was thoroughly annoyed by the crying and fussing. It is said that on that day, Lady Xia brought up the matter again, crying and sobbing. The emperor, unwilling to listen any longer, left in anger.

As if by some strange twist of fate, I discovered that the plum blossoms in Yanxi Palace had formed buds. So I followed the path and walked further in, following the plum blossoms. After a few more steps, I heard someone humming a little tune, which I vaguely recognized as a scene from "The Story of Washing Silk".

The emperor stopped and listened, and sure enough, the play was about Xi Shi's thoughts.

Palace maids entered the palace around the age of 13 and were allowed to return home at the age of 25. During this period, they basically had no opportunity to go home, so it was normal for them to feel homesick. However, the emperor never expected that there would be such a wonderful voice in the harem, able to express these tender emotions so beautifully and poignantly.

It is said that the emperor did not disturb her that day, but stood in the cold wind and listened to the palace maid finish singing before having her brought out. Seeing that she was exceptionally beautiful, he immediately bestowed upon her the title of "Consort" and took her back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

In fact, An Lingrong's secluded courtyard was not far from where the palace maid had appeared. She and Baojuan had both vaguely heard the palace maid singing and guessed that someone might have some ulterior motive. They just never expected that fate would arrange things this way.

On the second day after she was summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, she was promoted to the rank of Changzai and given the title of Miaoyin Niangzi.

When the imperial edict reached the inner palace, Consort Xia was so angry she almost vomited blood.

However, this matter is truly strange.

First, this palace maid was always registered under Xia Dongchun's name, yet Xia Dongchun herself had never seen this maid serve in the palace. Second, the timing of this palace maid's appearance was far too coincidental. The Emperor had chosen her that day, but his sudden departure from the palace in anger was quite unexpected; how could he have just happened to run into this little vixen? Could it be that someone was deliberately waiting there to take advantage of him?