Chapter 98 - Sounding out each other

The next day, when they got out of Mian Fu Palace, Yun Fenghuang walked close to the Empress’s sedan and whispered, “Your Highness, I want to tell you something.”

At this time, the weather was very hot. Although in the Empress’s sedan there was an ice basin, the Empress could not take this anymore after walking from the entrance of Mian Fu Palace. She said, “You can tell me in my palace.”

A moment later, Yun Fenghuang’s sedan following the Empress’s sedan stopped at Chong Chang Hall. They walked in one after the other. The maids had already prepared to give them cool hand kerchiefs and the ice-cold drink which was made by soybean, sugar and ice. They felt refreshed.

Yun Fenghuang couldn’t help but said, “How clever and capable the maids are in your palace! My maids are not like them. When I go back in such a hot day, they are so busy that they don’t even know what to do, let alone giving me cool handkerchiefs and the ice-cold drink.”

“So you come here to enjoy this treatment?” Empress Ji smiled and made fun of her, “You go to my place just for this kind of thing. When it is spread out, people will say that you are wronged by me.”

“I know you cherish me.” Yun Fenghuang said, “Or, I dare not to behave like this.”

After chatting and laughing, she said with a severe countenance, “Your Highness, I think Jie Yu Yue does not have many other blessings.”

Empress Ji raised her eyebrows, felt unexpected, and said, “What do you mean?”

“How can she give birth to an imperial heir?” Yun Fenghuang snorted and showed her disdain upon Yuan Lianniang. “Otherwise, how did she have a miscarriage? Furthermore, His Majesty handles ruling affairs personally. If Jie Yu Yue gave birth to a boy, His Majesty would be more powerful. Therefore, Hu Zhu Palace should not continue to be peaceful!”

Empress Ji took a sip of sugar and ice drink, and said with a kind and pleasant countenance, “I can feel that you are loyal to me when you say this. It’s just… Tell you the truth. His Majesty seems to be gentle and harmless and hold himself aloof from the world over the past eight years, but actually he has deep thoughts. He must have taken measures to protect Jie Yu Yue and his unborn child. He didn’t say anything, but I know he is always on guard against me. It is inconvenient for me to do it.”

“As for asking others to do it… Muzi is… I even don’t want to mention her. She is muddleheaded. She can’t even tell between people on our own side and outsiders! She hurts you a lot!”

She made an apology for Ji Muzi politely and said, “I think you are the most suitable person, but…”

The Empress sighed and whispered, “You have to think about it! Although the concubines all belong to His Majesty, everyone knows that Yuan Lianniang is his sweetheart!”

“Your Highness, because of this, we can’t allow her to give birth to an imperial heir!” Yun Fenghuang said firmly, but her heart sank. “Otherwise, it would not matter if she gave birth to a girl. If she gave birth to a boy, no one would gain a firm footing in this palace.”

Although she was not free when she was detained in Small Ying Zhou before, she was not badly treated.

At that time, she thought it was because the Empress was her patron. She also thought although the Empress was sophisticated, she still trusted and protected her.

However, after she came out, she knew the whole story. Especially Duchess Ye, the Empress’s grandmother, died tragically in front of Empress Dowager. Emperor Chunjia took over the reins of power in a hurry, while the Empress’s cousin, Ji Muzi, was degraded to Pin Ji… After such a disastrous defeat, the Empress had no doubt about her who directly certified Emperor Chunjia’s innocence, and she even trusted her more than before…

Yun Fenghuang was totally frightened.

After thinking about it, she decided to use Yuan Lianniang to sound out the Empress. The Empress had said that when she tried to sound out the Emperor, she should not do it so clearly, because there were few people for her to use.

It was not dangerous to sound out the Emperor who has a good temper and was not be able to act arbitrarily. However, it was much more dangerous to plot against a pregnant concubine, especially Yuan Lianniang, the Emperor’s childhood sweetheart. Moreover, if she made it, the Emperor and Queen Mother Yuan would not let her go.

If the Empress didn’t doubt her, she would not ask Yun Fenghuang to do it even if she wanted Yuan Lianniang to have a miscarriage.

After all, as the master of the Imperial Harem with strong foundation, the Empress had many ways to deal with Jie Yu Yue who was unwise. What’s more, there were so many people in the palace who resented Yuan Lianniang, and there might be no need for the Empress to do it herself.

Why let her confidant take risks?

However, now Empress Ji not only agreed, but meant that she would leave it to Yun Fenghuang…

Yun Fenghuang thought quickly, but she didn’t change her expression. She said with a firm look, “Moreover, Jie Yu Yue was a consort before. Although she is now at the same grade with me, she is favored by His Majesty and His Majesty will give her a promotion to be a consort, or even a Noble Consort once she gives birth to an imperial heir. At that time, even if you are willing to protect me, I cannot always be under your protection.”

Empress Ji pondered over this for a while. She had discussed with her maids to sound out Yun Fenghuang with Yuan Lianniang’s pregnancy. But now Yun Fenghuang took the initiative to put forward it, so she was a little hesitant. Yun Fenghuang was so cunning and she was not a person of principle. She never hesitated when she betrayed people. Now she vowed solemnly, but the Empress doubted her honesty.

“What are you going to do?” The Empress thought for a while, and finally did not directly take a clear-cut stand, but asked, “Although you are now at the same grade with Jie Yu Yue, since you moved out of Hu Zhu Palace, it is difficult and conspicuous for you to go back.”

Yun Fenghuang smiled and said, “Your Highness, I have moved out of Hu Zhu Palace, so what happened there has nothing to do with me or with you!”

Seeing Empress Ji frowning slightly, she blinked, “I used to go to Ning Bi Hall when I was in Hu Zhu Palace!”

“Do you plant a spy in Ning Bi Hall?” The Empress said unexpectedly, “It’s just that Yuan Lianniang had a miscarriage earlier. This time she is on guard against the people around her. Most of her trusted attendants came from Chun Yong Palace. Mother Yuan’s ability to nurture servants is much better than that of Yuan Lianniang.”

Yun Fenghuang said with a smile, “Please forgive me to keep it secret. I will come back to ask you for rewards after it is achieved.”

“…” The Empress looked at her and nodded, “Then I will wait for your good news!”

After Yun Fenghuang left, Empress Ji’s face darkened with anger. She said, “It has nothing to do with me? She is really spoiled by me. How dare she threaten me?”

The trusted attendant advised her to calm down, “She is just a Jie Yu. If you do not like her, I will ask someone to kill her.”

“No.” Empress Ji sighed and shook her head. “It’s a pity to let her die at this moment. Just leave her alone. Send someone to keep a close eye on Ning Bi Hall. If she does not lie to me, then I will turn a blind eye to her charade. If she… It will not be late to kill her later!”

After they were out of Yan Fu Palace, Yun Fenghuang and Xi Le were also talking in a whispers, “My Lady, even if you are not in Hu Zhu Palace now, the imperial heir is of great importance. When someone investigates thoroughly, I am afraid… Anyway, you are already a hostess. Why do you do that to Jie Yu Yue?”

“Do you believe that I have planted a spy in Ning Bi Hall?” Yun Fenghuang rolled her eyes to Xi Le and chuckled. “Even Imperial City Division may not be able to retreat after doing it, let alone me. I just say it for fun.”

“What?” Xi Le was stunned and immediately puzzled, “How do you report on your mission to the Empress?”

Yun Fenghuang smiled, “Don’t the Empress allow me to tell her after achievement of mission?”

Xi Le stammered, “But… but this… This can only be delayed for a while.”

“Therefore, I shall take this opportunity to give something to the Empress!” Yun Fenghuang sighed and suddenly turned around on her sedan, looking at the distant Yan Fu Palace, smiled and said, “There are so many people in the harem. She should not pay all her attention to me all the time.”

She went back to Xuan Qing Palace for lunch, and after a short rest, she asked Liu Hong to go to Tong Xia Palace and ask Yun Qingman to come over to Xuan Qing Palace.

“I do not allow you to go to her palace!” It happened that Yun Qingman was with Noble Consort Shu. When Yun Qingman heard a maid’s report, she subconsciously wanted to ask for leave. However, after she spoke, she was stopped by Noble Consort Shu. “Do you forget what I have said to you recently? That bitch can even harm herself, not to mention you. From now on, you are not allowed to be with her!”

Yun Qingman was embarrassed, and said, “But…”

“But what?!” Noble Consort Shu said impatiently, “Do you keep what I said to your mind?! Do you think that she gets the promotion of Jie Yu because she is lucky? She just takes the opportunity and gets the promotion based on you! After all, Yun’s Family already has me, and then there is a Jie Yu Mao. Do you think that people of the Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem will allow that there are three consorts from our family?!”

“Especially now Ji’s Family controls the harem!”

“However, it was Zhao Yuan Ji, no, Pin Ji’s servant who put the contraceptive medicine into these gifts sent by Pin Ji.” Yun Qingman whispered, “Fenghuang’s family background is not powerful. What’s the benefit of taking the contraceptive medicine? At that time, father was willing to arrange her into the palace because he also thought that Fenghuang was able to give birth to children for you.”

Noble Consort Shu sneered and gave her a fierce glance. She said indifferently, “You believe those excuses that only ignorant people can believe?! His Majesty joined forces with me to degrade Zhao Yuan Ji. However, do you think that Ji’s Family will agree to give Yun Fenghuang a promotion only because of this? In this palace, all those who can claim to be ‘I’ have powerful and noble people to be their patron. To someone who doesn’t have a patron, no matter how pretty, smart, understanding, and empathetic she is, she has no right to say a word but to be quiet and obedient!”

“Why make an exception for her?!”

“Let me tell you. It’s all because of you!”

Yun Qingman was confused, “Because of me?”

“It had been already decided that you would be a consort before you joined the Imperial Harem. With our father’s status, even Ji’s Family is not satisfied with it, they cannot stop it.” Noble Consort Shu said indifferently, “However, Yun Fenghuang, in the name of our sister from our clan, sought refuge with Her Highness. Then she framed Ji Muzi and made a big fuss by taking the opportunity of the summer banquet… It seems that Ji’s Family has suffered a lot and has to promote her to be a consort, but in fact, this is what Ji’s Family exactly wants!”

Yun Fenghuang was recognized as one of the Yun’s Family by Duke Yi. Therefore, after she got the promotion of Jie Yu, Ji’s Family had the reason to prevent Yun Qingman from getting the promotion of consort in the future. There were two concubines coming from Yun’s Family, which could show that Yun’s Family had received abundance of grace, but Yun’s Family still wanted Yun Qingman to be another consort. Was this too ambitious?!

How high the status of Ji’s Family was! There were only the Empress and Ji Muzi coming from Ji’s Family!

The key point was that Yun Fenghuang was known as one of Yun’s Family, and the grace of getting the promotion of Jie Yu was all counted towards Yun’s Family. In fact, Yun Fenghuang only had hatred for Yun’s Family. She was flattering the Empress, which meant that Ji’s Family made use of Yun’s Family’s grace to cultivate their own helper, so why not?

“I have agreed with His Majesty before, and when the limelight of this incident passes, we will kill Yun Fenghuang.” Noble Consort Shu glanced at her dazed sister, and said indifferently, “I will get you a position of Consort at that time… Therefore, don’t lose your mind at this moment. Yun Fenghuang is cunning and malicious. She hasn’t paid attention to us after returning from Small Ying Zhou for a long time. Now she suddenly invites you to come. She must have bad intentions!”

Then she remembered one more thing, “By the way, Miao Cai, the maid came with you when you joined the Imperial Harem, had an accident after her maid. Do you believe it is a coincidence? It must be her who made it! She did not even let your maid off, not to mention you.”

Before Yun Qingman could speak, she asked a maid to send Liu Hong away. She said, “Just find an excuse. If Jie Yu Mao really misses Qingman, I believe she doesn’t mind coming to Tong Xia Palace in person!”