Chapter 70 - Love could overcome everything

On the way back to Xi Xing Building that night, Yun Fenghuang was absent-minded. Xi Le didn’t say anything at first. When they were approaching Xi Xing Building, she comforted Yun Fenghuang carefully, “You can rest assured, Gui Ren. Shizi is a reliable person.”

Yun Fenghuang just smiled.

Did the maid think she was worried that after Gongxiang Xiao came to power in the future, he would not help her?

In order to stop Qi Jiulu looking for Yun Fenghuang, Qi’s Family had used a lot of methods several years ago.

As a Zongzi, he was grounded in family temple for half a year. He could not go out unless he admitted his mistake. Many people thought that at most after three to five months, Qi’s Family would give up first for their few offspring. But in the end, Qi Jiulu compromised first.

Although there was Ms. Jiang’s plan, it also showed the determination of this tribe.

They placed great expectations on their Zongzi, so they would never let him be dominated by the emotions of the teenager.

But even so, now Qi Jiulu still took his bride to Dijing passing through thousands of miles, and even entered the Imperial Harem by relying on Prince Regent’s Mansion.

For him, even if they were separated by the mountains and seas, he could destroy them and come to see her.

He never lacked the courage to go all out for her.

But she was afraid to respond him with the same courage…

The tradition of Xie’s Family was that a small stream flowed far. After all, it might be too full to be kept. Yun Fenghuang remembered that when she had been very young and still ignorant, she had followed her brothers to listen to the tutor’s lectures in the school.

The old tutor was also a member of Xie tribe, explaining the meaning of the tradition for the younger generations.

Everything too glorious and fierce in this world was hard to last. Even if it was unstoppable, it would inevitably fade away as time went by.

Therefore, it was said that flowers could not bloom for a hundred days, and no one could be fortunate forever.

It was often difficult for people to get rid of their notable memory of younger life. At least as for fifteen-year-old Yun Fenghuang, as she thought of the madness of Qi Jiulu, she always thought of the tutor’s teaching in the school that year.

She actually wanted to tell Qi Jiulu that she had regretted at the moment when Qi Jiulu had turned around on Kong Que Hill three years ago.

As for these two meetings, in fact, when she turned around and left, she regretted.

But even if she regretted for thousands of times… she still said “no” almost instinctively.

She wasn’t afraid that the exposure of their affair would make her have the same fate as her sister, and bring greater harm to her family. Instead, she was worried that Qi Jiulu’s fierce and firm passion would fade away and even become indifferent in the near future as the tutor said that it was too full to be kept.

Would the man, who had vowed to be with her even if he had to go through thousands of rivers and mountains, not be interested in lifting her veil one day?

… In the final analysis, Xie Fenghuan’s experience left deep harm to the entire Xie’s Family and Yun Fenghuang, who had the closest relationship with her.

Xie Fenghuan tried her best to get a chance to marry the son of Wang’s Family, but finally she had such an ending.

For the sake of this older sister, even though Yun Fenghuang was proud of her mind and beauty, and grew up with Qi Jiulu, she still didn’t believe that he would never leave.

She was still uneasy.

In the past three years, Yun Fenghuang felt that she was walking alone through the wilderness in a snowy day in north all the time.

Everywhere was white, and maybe there was quietness, or there was already ambushes on all sides.

She huddled up helplessly like a beast. Even though she was so scared that her hair stood up, there was still nothing she could do.

She was lonely and had nothing to rely on. Qi Jiulu’s enthusiasm and heart were only temporary shelters, but she did not know how to find it her sense of safety.

“Maybe I am wrong.” Yun Fenghuang hesitated and thought with a trace of hope secretly, “His Majesty always has a great affection for Yuan Lianniang. The man of Wang’s Family is disloyal, but not all men in the world are the same. At that time, Wang’s Family was not as good as Xie’s Family. The man treated my sister well because he wanted to get many fortunes. But now, Qi’s Family is superior to Xie’s Family and even I have joined the Imperial Harem, which are harmful for Qi Jiulu, but he still doesn’t give up… Maybe I should trust him more.”

She tossed and turned for a long time before going to sleep, and after a short while, she got up to prepare for paying respects.

Xi Le was tired after she had accompanied her in and out for the past two days, so she called Xi Jing to take her turn this morning.

“Gui Ren, can I put on the make-up for you?” After she got her lessons repeatedly from Yun Fenghuang, at this moment, she was very well-behaved, observing her lady’s expression, and asking for advice softly, “Peach makeup is popular in these two days. Would you like to have a try?”

In fact, looking at Yun Fenghuang’s dark circles under her eyes, she wanted to cover them for her.

But because Gui Ren was beautiful and young, with natural snow-white skin and pink cheeks, she usually didn’t need powder and just swiped her eyebrows and applied a little lipstick every day. Xi Jing couldn’t help worrying about that if she warned her directly, it would annoy her, so she had to rack her brains to make excuses.

“OK.” Yun Fenghuang glanced at her, knowing that maybe the maid thought she couldn’t sleep at night because of the pressure brought by Yuan Lianniang’s pregnancy.

Not only did Xi Jing think in this way, but when she arrived at the side hall of Yan Fu Palace, all concubines smiled in an ambiguous way, and their eyes seemed to fall on Yun Fenghuang’s face from time to time. Afterwards, they would whisper and discuss… Wei Hengyan, however, thought she was quite familiar with her, just got close to her and couldn’t wait to ask, “Tell me, what’s going on? Are you okay yesterday?”

Yun Fenghuang glanced at her, and said with a smile, “Of course I’m okay. Why?”

“I heard that…” Wei Hengyan lifted her chin in the direction of Hu Zhu Palace, trying not to show a trace of sympathy, “the one is pregnant?”

“So, I said okay.” Yun Fenghuang chuckled, “His Majesty has no offspring. It is a piece of good news, right?”

It blocked what Wei Hengyan was going to say, and she had to nod, “Yes.”

She felt that Yun Fenghuang pretended to be strong. As a result, after a long while, the maid came to notice that concubines could wait at the main palace. After a while, Empress Ji came out happily, and announced the news of Yuan Lianniang’s pregnancy personally, “As Noble Consort Gui was pregnant before, she was exempted from paying respect to Queen Mother of Honor and me. At this time, Jie Yu Yue has the same right.”

These words explained why Yuan Lianniang was not here after being released.

Then Empress Ji said, “His Majesty and I married eight years ago, but we have no child, not even a daughter. I am so anxious, not to mention Empress Dowager Ji and the three Queen Mothers. After new concubines joined the Imperial Harem, Noble Consort Gui and Jie Yu Yue both are pregnant, which shows that the new concubines are favored by fortune and destined to have babies.”

Therefore, she ordered all the new concubines to be promoted with a grade!

As soon as these words came out, regardless of the consorts’ response, the low-grade concubines were overjoyed and immediately knelt to the ground, complimenting repeatedly that the Empress was virtuous.

Empress Ji smiled and glanced at Yun Fenghuang, saying, “Gui Ren Yun lives in Jie Yu Yue’s palace, and has always been favored by her. Now Jie Yu Yue is pregnant, and Gui Ren Yun should share the same happiness… then you should be promoted with another grade as Pin.”

Yun Fenghuang was originally a Deputy Fourth-Grade Gui Ren, and after all of them were promoted with a grade, she was a Fourth-Grade Rong Hua, and now she was Deputy Third-Grade Pin Yun after another promotion.

For a time, these happy concubines all wore complex expressions: it seemed that Deputy Third-Grade was not high. But the requirement of being a hostess of a palace was a Third-Grade Jie Yu at least, which was only a grade higher than Pin!

These people had only joined the Imperial Harem for a few days, and Yun Fenghuang was a member of last group to pay respect to the Empress Dowager and had the lowest grade.

But now?

Rong Hua Wei, who had the highest position at that time, according to the rules, was promoted as Pin Wei after she served the Emperor.

After the Empress ordered, she was the first one to be ranked as the hostess… But Wei Hengyan had a good background!

Before she joined the Imperial Harem, the Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem had actually reached a consensus that Yi Jia Palace was reserved exclusively for her.

Xue Xiaoge and Yun Qingman were originally in the position of Mei Ren. They were promoted as Gui Ren after served the Emperor. Now, they were just promoted as Rong Hua by the Empress.

Xue Xiaoge was the daughter of Ji’s relatives by marriage, and her father and brothers were important courtiers in the Imperial Court. Besides, her legitimate cousin, Ji Muzi, was in a position of Zhao Yuan, who was also a legitimate younger sister of the Empress; Yun Qingman was the lovely daughter of Duke Yi, who was an important one among the loyalists, and her half-sister was Noble Consort Shu.

But now they were all left behind by Yun Fenghuang!

And seeing from the tendency the Empress cultivated Yun Fenghuang…

Maybe Yun Fenghuang would be a hostess of a palace before them!

“Time is almost up. Let’s go.” Empress Ji sat high, noticing everyone’s thought and expression clearly, but she only smiled, and stood up slowly, “Don’t let Mother wait for too long.”

All of them arrived at Mian Fu Palace with different thoughts. Queen Mother Ji, who looked thinner after a few days, maybe was upset for Princess Minghui’s marriage, with a trace of worry on her face.

Seeing the concubines coming over, she was indifferent, and just said something with the Empress and Noble Consort Shu. And then she asked about Yuan Lianniang’s pregnancy, “Is there a proper person to take care of her now?”

Empress Ji said respectfully, “A mammy of Queen Mother of Mercy is taking care of her.”

“Just one? I am afraid that she couldn’t take good care of her.” Queen Mother Ji said quietly, “Go back and talk to the people in charge of Chun Yong Palace. Let her send another two maids, or you should arrange it. Yuan Liannaing was pregnant earlier, but later she miscarried.”

After saying this, she smiled indifferently with a bit of irony in her tone, “I said she was so aggressive at the time, not a person who could save the blessing… But His Majesty likes her. Since she is pregnant again, it can’t be as before that people in the Imperial Harem expected for a few months, but were disappointed in the end!”

The Queen Mother sighed slightly, rolling her eyes, showed a trace of sadness, patted the back of the Empress’s hand, and said, “We are okay. Although we are sad, we still can overcome it after a long time. But the Empress Dowager is gets on in years, I am afraid that she could not afford it if that happens again.”

“You are right, Mother.” Of course, Empress Ji took her order respectfully and said that she would go to Chun Yong Palace in person and tell Queen Mother Yuan later.

Queen Mother Ji agreed and said, “OK, just go back. I am tired.”

The Empress and Noble Consort Shu quickly cared about her with a few words, and then retreated.

After leaving Mian Fu Palace, Empress Ji let everyone go as before. But this time, Noble Consort Shu and others all greeted Wei Hengyan before leaving. They were no longer arrogant, but approachable. Even Jie Yu Lu and Jie Yu Jia called her “sister”.

Obviously, in the environment where the Emperor’s favor was not as superior as the family background, there was a big gap between the hostesses and non-hostesses.

Even if she had a good background, as long as she didn’t squeeze into the top three grades, she would not be recognized.

Wei Hengyan was quite emotional about this and accepted it well. After Noble Consort Shu and others left, the remaining concubines stepped forward to congratulate her. She was restrained a lot immediately, but still treated Yun Fenghuang like before.

“Her Highness supports you like this, and you will be the hostess sooner or later.” She also invited Yun Fenghuang to go back together specially and said, “The main palaces of Xuan Qing Palace and Han Su Palace beside Yi Jia Palace are empty. I always pass by on the way to paying respect, and think that the two palaces are well-regulated, and I’ve heard the scenery inside is also beautiful. Do you want to live next to me by then?”

Yun Fenghuang said with a smile, “Although Pin is only a grade lower than Jie Yu, it is unknown whether I can be promoted again or not. If there is a chance, and Jie Yu Wei will not give me up, I am absolutely willing to accept it.”

Wei Hengyan was very pleased and took the initiative to hold her arm and whispered, “Noble Consort Gui, Noble Consort Shu, Consort Xin, Fu Ren Yaoning, Jie Yu Lu and Jie Yu Jia, all of them were born from aristocratic families and joined the Imperial Harem eight years earlier than us. Besides, now Noble Consort Gui and Jie Yu Yue are pregnant. If our newcomers are not united, in the Imperial Harem, we couldn’t even defend ourselves.”

The two said all the way as they walked. Before they were separated at the fork of the road, they had reached a preliminary consensus on alliance.

Of course, this alliance was loose. No one could count on each other once something bad happened… In fact, they agreed that when both parties became the hostesses in the future, as the concubines of the same group, they would stand in the same team to contend with the old concubines to seek their rights to speak.

Yun Fenghuang returned to Xi Xing Building today and ordered to move. After all, they had cleaned Zi Quan Hall. If it wasn’t for the three princesses who had called her to the Imperial Court yesterday, she should have lived in the side hall last night.

However, right after the servants began to act, a maid from Ning Bi Hall came. Instead of being obedient before, she didn’t let them move with an almost arrogant attitude and said, “Jie Yu Yue is just pregnant. You are so noisy that people in the palace all have heard it! If it affects my lady’s baby, can you afford it?”

Xi Xing Building was quite far away from Ning Bi Hall, which was because Yuan Lianniang didn’t want to see the newcomers.

The movement here was of course a little bit noisy, but in fact, it was unlikely to affect the main palace.

Obviously, the maid was sent here to make trouble.

For a time, Xi Jing, Xi Le and others looked at Yun Fenghuang, wondering what their lady would do.