Chapter 75 - I hoped you stay away from me!

Xue Xiaoge was closely related to Zhao Yuan Ji. The place she lived in when she joined the palace, Chou Hua Pavilion, was next to the main palace of Su Rong Palace. She did not move to a new and grander place after her promotion. As its name suggested, Chou Hua Pavilion was full of flowers of all colors, and the branches and leaves were luxuriant, while the pavilion itself was completely hidden in it.

If one did not get near the pavilion, the person might not be able to see the buildings inside.

“Greetings to Sister Pin Yun!” After getting the news that Yun Fenghuang would come, Xue Xiaoge greeted her at the door. Xue Xiaoge was gorgeous and charming. She looked aggressive and it seemed that she was hard to get close, but she was very polite. “I was about to pay respects to you when I just heard that you came to Su Rong Palace. But I was afraid that I would disturb your conversation with Zhao Yuan Ji. I didn’t expect that you would come to me in person at this moment.”

Yun Fenghuang smiled and helped her up, “In the words of Zhao Yuan Ji, we are all here to serve His Majesty. We share similar age. Why bother being so polite?”

The two greeted each other, and Xue Xiaoge invited her in.

Yun Fenghuang didn’t stay there for long. She only generally talked about some unimportant topics with Rong Hua Xue and then left when the time was up.

People in Su Rong Palace did not suspect Yun Fenghuang’s visit. After all, just like yesterday, only Wei Hengyan and Yun Fenghuang received the congratulation of the whole harem. In the harem where the power of the Emperor was not strong and the family background mattered, the concubines’ treatment totally depended on their grades.

Both Zhao Yuan Ji and Xue Xiaoge thought it was reasonable that Su Rong Palace was naturally one of the three places where Yun Fenghuang should personally visit to express her gratitude.

What Yun Fenghuang did even get a little favor from them.

However, they didn’t know that Yun Fenghuang had already started counting the days on her way back to Hu Zhu Palace. In her plan, she would make Su Rong Palace take the blame for her future abortion in a proper time.

“Pin Yun, Princess Jinyun asked someone to send you a box of pastries just now.” After Yun Fenghuang returned to Hu Zhu Palace and entered Zi Quan Hall, Chen Zhu came up and told her, “The one sending the pastries also said that His Majesty will practice riding and shooting with the guards today. He must feel toilsome.”

“Got it. Ask someone to inquire about Princess Minghui’s whereabout. If she is also there, I will go to join them.” Yun Fenghuang nodded and asked maids to change her clothes and dress her up. She asked, “Did anyone from the main palace send any orders today?”

Hearing the question, Chen Zhu lowered his voice slightly and said, “I went out in the morning and asked the maids cleaning the palace near Ning Bi Hall. They said that Jie Yu Yue got mad last night… The noise was quite loud. His Majesty went to Ning Bi Hall later, and it took a long time before she finally became quiet. When His Majesty left in this morning, there was no smile on his face!”

Xi Jing, standing beside her, guessed, “Perhaps His Majesty was angry because Jie Yu was still annoying at night.”

Yun Fenghuang held a golden hairpin and looked at it in the mirror as she tried to put in on a right position. She said, “If His Majesty was really annoyed, would he go to Ning Bi Hall in the evening? I think he should be worried about her. Jie Yu Yue has already lost a royal heir, but she keeps making troubles after she is pregnant again. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse for her in the future?”

“Jie Yu Yue doesn’t seem like a person who has blessings.” Xi Jing said with a smile. “It is said that a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit, but Jie Yu stubbornly insists on her own prejudices even after she suffered great losses.”

Xi Jing must be very loyal to Empress Ji. Every word she just said was blaming Yuan Lianniang.

Yun Fenghuang smiled and didn’t continue the topic. She stuck the hairpin steadily in her hair, stood up and said, “Show me the purple palace dress.”

After she dressed up, Chen Peng, who was sent by Chen Zhu to inquire about Princess Minghui’s whereabout, also returned. He said that Princess Minghui had arrived at Tai Chu Palace a few minutes ago. At this time, she was watching Emperor Chunjia and his reading partners playing a wager game for guessing a staff while drinking.

“Then let’s go there too.” Yun Fenghuang pulled the Pibo over her shoulders, and chuckled lightly, “If I’m late, I will miss the fun.”

Although she set off immediately, when she arrived at Tai Chu Palace, the game was over.

Fortunately, they had not yet left, but were all invited by Emperor Chunjia in a side hall for tea and snacks.

Seeing Yun Fenghuang coming in, they put down the tea cups and snacks in their hands, bowed their bodies and lowered their heads to avoid looking at her.

“Pin Yun, why are you here?” Emperor Chunjia always “favored” Yun Fenghuang in front of people. At this moment, he smiled and beckoned to let her sit next to him, “I plan to meet you later.”

Yun Fenghuang took a round silk fan in her hand and shook it slowly. She said, “I felt boring when I returned to Zi Quan Hall. Hearing there is something fun in Tai Chu Palace, I come here to bother you, or I would be stuffy in my hall.”

When she turned around, she saw Princess Minghui sitting beside Emperor Chunjia, while Princess Jinyun was also by their side, but the youngest Princess Penglai was not there. Yun Fenghuang walked towards them to salute. She said, “Greetings to Princess Minghui and Princess Jinyun. You are here too.”

Princess Minghui was a little absent-minded. She raised her head and smiled at Yun Fenghuang after heard her words. Then she bowed her head as if she was thinking something.

Jinyun did not say much when she saw it, but she deliberately looked at the man that was diagonally opposite her… Ji Minggan was sitting there.

Yun Fenghuang shook the round silk fan, glanced inadvertently, and then the fan in her hand almost fell!

Princess Jinyun had said that the six reading partners of Emperor Chunjia did not gather in front of the Emperor all the time, but have shifts to accompany the Emperor. But the Emperor did not take over the reins of government yet. Except for lingering in the harem, he would inevitably feel boring when reading and writing. Occasionally, it was understandable for him to call the reading partners who were not on duty to accompany him.

Therefore, Yun Fenghuang did not feel surprised when she saw Ji Minggan sit beside Gongxiang Xiao.

But…

Why did Qi Jiulu in blue clothes stand behind Gongxiang Xiao?!

“Taste this.” Yun Fenghuang was thinking a lot. At this time, Emperor Chunjia pushed a dish of pastry to her, smiled and said, “Didn’t you specifically ask Jinyun for the water lily crisp in mother’s palace last time? This lotus cake is made by the same cook. If you like it, I will tell Mother and let the cook send it to you later.”

If Qi Jiulu was not here, Yun Fenghuang would accept it.

But at this moment, although her former fiancé bowed his head in accordance with the rules, avoiding looking directly at the concubine of the Emperor, he just stood not far away… She forced a smile and pushed the dish of lotus cake towards the Emperor, “Thank you, Your Majesty. In fact, I was joking last time. I am not so greedy.”

Emperor Chunjia said lightly, “Don’t you like it? It’s okay. If there is anything you like, just tell me.”

… I hoped you stay away from me and shut up now. How did it sound?

Yun Fenghuang just felt that she was on thorns, and regretted that she didn’t ask clearly before she came. When she was wondering whether she should find an excuse to leave quickly, Princess Jinyun interjected, “Brother, you are biased towards Pin Yun. My elder sister and I have sat here for a while, but you did not even give us any pastries.”

“These pastries are made by the cooks in mother’s palace. If you want to eat it, it is more convenient for you to eat it. Why bother asking me to give you some?” The Emperor did not even raise his head, focusing on his play to show others that he “favored” Yun Fenghuang. Looking at Yun Fenghuang, he suddenly laughed warmly, “Pin Yun, don’t take what Jinyun just said to heart. She is being childish.”

Jin Yun made a grimace toward them, “Look, Pin Yun, my brother shows partiality to you.”

Yun Fenghuang did not want to make fun of them at this moment. She forced a smile and changed the topic, “Just before I came in, I heard that you are talking. What were you talking about? Did I disturb you?”

“We were talking about spending a holiday at a summer resort.” Princess Minghui looked at Ji Minggan from the corner of her eyes, and suddenly said, “The temporary Imperial Palace is built in the mountains. The temperature there is lower, but the terrain is rugged. It is not as flat as the palace. Pin Yun should be careful when you walk at night in the temporary Imperial Palace. I fell off the cliff accidentally a few years ago when I played with my sisters. Cousin Ji found me and saved me.”

She blushed for shyness and said shyly, “Speaking of that, thank you, Cousin Ji.”

However, Ji Minggan directly said when he heard the words, “Don’t you feel awkward? The place where you fell off the cliff was originally blocked by nets, for fear that someone might fall off while playing. However, you were so heavy that you broke three layers of nets. Thank goodness, the cliff is not high. Otherwise the maids serving you, and even Jinyun and Penglai would be tied down because of you… Ouch!”

Ji Minggan kept talking vigorously, but suddenly his arm was pinched. Subconsciously Ji Minggan screamed out and was about to get angry, but Ji Minggan saw that Gongxiang Xiao who was sitting beside him withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened. And he even calmly took a cup of the steaming tea.

Ji Minggan hesitated to question him but gave up in the end.

After all, Gongxiang Xiao was holding the cup of tea but did not drink it. It seemed that he would smash Ji Minggan in the face with the tea bowl if he dared continue to talk nonsense…

Although Gongxiang Xiao stopped him, Princess Minghui was already embarrassed. She pressed her lips together, and her eyes were filled with tears. She tried her best to hold back her tears because there were many people in the side hall.

There was a moment of silence in the side hall. Finally, Emperor Chunjia said, “I know that kind of nets. It would be dilapidated in a few days after exposing to the weather for several days. Even if there were three layers of nets, a person could easily break them. Moreover, Princess Minghui dropped off a cliff. This momentum is much stronger than the weight.”

Then he ordered the servants to tell the ones responsible for the palace repairs to be more careful and set up a few more nets. He also said, “After all, among the concubines companying me this year, there are many concubines, such as Pin Yun, who have never been to the temporary Imperial Palace before. I hope nothing goes wrong by then.”

Princess Jinyun took the opportunity to sprinkle some cake crumbs on the clothes of Princess Minghui and went out with her sister who had already wanted to cry with the excuse of changing clothes.

After the two princesses came to the back of the hall, people there heard a repressed whimper.

Yun Fenghuang was lack of a reason to leave. When she heard that, she whispered to the Emperor hurriedly, “My Majesty, shall I go and see?”

Emperor Chunjia chuckled, “Jinyun is with her and she knows how to comfort Minghui. They grew up together.”

Seeing Yun Fenghuang’s expression, he said, “But Pin Yun, if you are still worried about Minghui, just go and see her. Didn’t you say that it is so stuffy in Zi Quan Hall and you want to have some fun in my palace. After checking her, you should come back. I’ll take you to a funny place later.”

“I thank you for your kindness! I will thank you forever!” Yun Fenghuang thought to herself.

Yun Fenghuang pretended not to hear what he said later. She said to herself that she wouldn’t come back after she left. Later, she would say that she felt uncomfortable and would go back to Zi Quan Hall directly!

Hiding her intentions, she stood up and said, “I will leave.”

When she turned and left, she glanced at Qi Jiulu. Qi Jiulu also looked up. They saw each other briefly and quickly moved away their gaze at the same time. Regardless of what Qi Jiulu thought, Yun Fenghuang felt distressed for no reason.

She was very determined when she refused to elope with Qi Jiulu on Kong Que Hill. When she felt alone occasionally in the past three years, she had sometimes imagined what kind of life she would have if she agreed at that time.

However, she believed that she did nothing wrong at most of the time.

Therefore, she tried to persuade him to forget the past in the last two private meetings with Qi Jiulu.

She thought she was the first to move on.

But at this moment, she accompanied the Emperor as his beloved concubine, while Qi Jiulu was an entourage of the Shizi of Prince Regent’s Mansion. They seemed to stand close to each other, but actually they were thousands of miles apart… The sense of loss which was suppressed and buried by her finally broke out completely.

Fortunately, she was there with her back to them at the palace. Closing her eyes and hiding the emotions, she was just about to go out, but a reading partner sitting beside Ji Minggan suddenly yelled softly and said, “Shizi, the gentleman you brought into the palace is so rude. How can he peep at a concubine of His Majesty?”