Chapter 105 - Picking two blind people for me!

After a while, the former maid came back to tell Yun Fenghuang that new concubines were waiting outside.

“It’s too hot today. Call them in.” Hearing this, Yun Fenghuang sipped tea and commanded with a smile.

Soon, a line of concubines in colorful clothes came in.

Yi Xing’en, who had been famous in the Imperial Harem in the past two days, stood in front of others. Although the girl behind her was less beautiful than Yi Xing’en, she was also charming and cute. It was Qu Hongzhuan that Wei Hengyan mentioned.

Although the others were all beautiful women in the eyes of ordinary people, they were still inferior to Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan.

Obviously, all the Cai Nv had learned the etiquette of saluting the hostess. After entering the hall, they lowered their heads, walked slowly in an obedient manner to the red steps, knelt down and said sweetly, “Jie Yu Mao, wish you young and lucky forever!”

“Rise.” Yun Fenghuang looked at Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan in appreciation. Regardless of their characteristics, their faces and figures were really delightful.

Therefore, Yun Fenghuang, who was originally not in a bad mood, was gentler, “Have a sit.”

Then she asked Liu Hong, “Serve them with ice with honey to get rid of the heat.”

“Cai Nv Yi and Cai Nv Qu.” Seeing her spoke slowly, Wei Hengyan couldn’t help but ask straightforwardly, “I heard that both Noble Consort Gui and Noble Consort Shu wanted you. Why did you come to Xuan Qing Palace?”

She was a little envious when she asked this question, because she felt that Empress Ji was partial to Yun Fenghuang. Although everyone knew it in the Imperial Harem, Yun Fenghuang also paid the price. Under the circumstances that hostesses in the Imperial Harem tried to get them, Yun Fenghuang did nothing and got the two beauties for the sake of her backer, which made her jealous inevitably.

Not only she thought like this, even Yun Qingman, who was silent, thought so.

However, Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan hesitated, and said at the same time, “My Lady, I asked Her Highness to arrange me in Xuan Qing Palace!”

Even Yun Fenghuang was surprised by this, not to mention Wei Hengyan, who was not reconciled, “Why do you come to Xuan Qing Palace?”

Maybe these women knew that Yun Fenghuang had difficulties in giving birth. Therefore, even if they gave birth to imperial heirs in the future, they could be treated kindly by giving them to Yun Fenghuang. But, you idiots! They just thought that Yun Fenghuang couldn’t be pregnant, and she could only treat others’ children as her own. But, how couldn’t they think that she might kill them after they gave babies?

Since they joined the Imperial Harem, these Cai Nv took a glance at the Emperor in audition. Although Wei Hengyan admitted that Emperor Chunjia was indeed handsome and could charm ignorant girls at the first sight, even when he was a puppet Emperor, it didn’t mean that these girls would love him so much and were willing to give birth for him regardless their own life!

If one of Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan did so, Wei Hengyan could think that she met an ignorant and innocent girl.

But both of them did this… Could they exchange their beauty with their wisdom of generations?

As she was curious, and thought they might say that they fell in love with the Emperor at the first sight and were crazy about him. However, she heard a more incredible answer, “Because… because Jie Yu Mao is kind and generous. When we took a quick glance at you in Xiu Zhuo Palace that day, we felt that Jie Yu Mao…”

Before she finished her words, Yi Xing’en thought she was wrong, and suddenly wore a little timidity. She stammered, and rubbed her clothes nervously, “I… I am not saying that you are not good. But… but we just joined the Imperial Harem and are not familiar with all ladies. We only know that Jie Yu Mao is kind and tolerant, beautiful and virtuous…”

She managed to think of some words, and tried to express the reason why they chose Xuan Qing Palace without offending Wei Hengyan. Wei Hengyan, Yun Qingman and maids in Huan Hua Hall looked at Yun Fenghuang silently.

They were all embarrassed.

For a long while, Wei Hengyan asked in a dismal mood, “Who said that Sister Mao… um… who told you that Sister Mao is virtuous?”

That kind of people must be so shameless to describe Yun Fenghuang like that!

Weren’t they afraid of punishment?

She thought originally that the two came to Xuan Qing Palace probably for the sake of the Empress. Now it was impossible, because Empress Ji should not be so shameful. Even if she wanted to arrange them in Xuan Qing Palace, she didn’t have to find such an excuse.

“… Some of my companions who came to pay respects that day fell to the ground.” Yi Xing’en replied timidly, “Jie Yu Mao sent maids to help.”

While the other consorts remained indifferent after the Emperor forgave them.

“That’s it?” Wei Hengyan was dumbfounded.

Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan nodded together, and carefully explained that they absolutely did not feel that other consorts were bad. After all, Cai Nv misbehaved in front of the Emperor first and it was fortunate that these consorts didn’t care about that. But because of that, they just remembered Jie Yu Mao… Well, they believed that the hostesses of the Imperial Harem were all beautiful and kind!

… But Wei Hengyan didn’t feel very well at all.

“Did you think these girls from non-aristocratic families are stupid?” After returning to Yi Jia Palace and seeing the maid in her palace, she felt uncomfortable and pulled her trusted attendant to ask, “Such a small favor, they actually remembered, and even said Yun Fenghuang was a kind person… How could they be still alive? It is said that evilness comes from poor families and kindness comes from rich families, right?”

At this time, the upper level’s main perception of the lower level was not that the “poor people were the most simple and kind ones”, but “poor people had bad intentions and rich people had good intentions”.

Such high-ranking noble girls as Empress Ji and Wei Hengyan, of course, despised girls from good and non-aristocratic families. But they didn’t think that these people were simple and stupid. Instead, they thought that these people had bad backgrounds and narrow visions, and didn’t get any education and training about the rules. Also, they thought that they were not virtuous… In short, they didn’t deserve to get along with.

Seeing these people who followed her easily for a small favor just like Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan, Yun Fenghuang herself couldn’t believe that she could get these girls so easily just because of her fate, not to mention Wei Hengyan. It was just a casual move that she let Xi Le and Liu Hong help Cai Nv that day.

Furthermore, at that time, the Emperor forgave them. Even if she did not do so, Empress Ji would also do something.

Wasn’t it a natural thing that she, as the Empress’s pawn, took the initiative to deal with these trivial things so as to let the audition go on?

Anyway, she never thought that she would have such a “reward” just because of a simple order that day.

Even if these two were really easy to be coaxed and moved…

However, Noble Consort Gui, Noble Consort Shu and other consorts who wanted them must tell them something bad about Jie Yu Mao after she joined the Imperial Harem.

Anyway, Yun Fenghuang gently talked to the newcomers. After giving them welcome gifts, she ordered maids to lead them to take a rest in their places respectively. Then she called Xi Le, and let her watch them and make some investigation by the way, “It took me lots of efforts to be a Jie Yu. I don’t want to be demoted because of them. Or, I am afraid you would also live a bad life.”

Xi Le nodded her head and promised, “I will let my people be careful!”

In the evening, when Emperor Chunjia came to Xuan Qing Palace, he first went to Huan Hua Hall. As Yun Fenghuang saw him, she complained in a coquettish manner, “Your Majesty, you are going to see the new concubines, aren’t you? Why did you come here?”

Emperor Chunjia said, “Wherever I go, no one dislikes me, except you.”

“How could I dislike you?” Yun Fenghuang did not admit, “I am glad to meet you. But as soon as I think about that you don’t come to see me, I am so sad.”

As she said this, she ate a bowl of cold delicacy that took from the well just now. It was so delicious that everyone who saw it had a good appetite. Emperor Chunjia knew that she was not uncomfortable, and shook his head, “You always lie, and say it as if it is a truth every time.”

Then he asked Xi Le, “Give me a bowl of it. I will have a taste.”

The cold delicacy was made of crystal rice, longjing powder, longnao powder, and milk. Then it was in the well or ice pool in a golden pot. It tasted sweet, delicious and cool after cooling down and was popular among women and children.

But for Emperor Chunjia, he didn’t think it was delicious after eating some. Then he put it aside, took the handkerchief from Liu Hong, wiped the corner of his mouth, and chuckled, “Now, new concubines have come. Your palace will be bustling.”

He deliberately emphasized the word “bustling”, apparently implying that since Yun Fenghuang had got Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan, he was afraid that it would not be too peaceful. He took that as pleasure.

However, Yun Fenghuang said lightly, “It’s good to be bustling! The Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother had both said that there are a few concubines and heirs in the Imperial Harem in these years, so, it is desolate! We do need lots of people, and then we can be fortunate. Did you feel that my palace is warmer than before, Your Majesty?”

Emperor Chunjia couldn’t help but persuade her, “The key is that you should be kind.”

“If I am not kind, how can they come to Xuan Qing Palace?” What he said just was what Yun Fenghuang wanted to flaunt. She left the rest of the cold delicacy, wiped the corner of her mouth, and showed off with excitement, “Because they feel that I am kind, tolerant, beautiful, and virtuous, they asked Her Highness to let them come here while ignoring invitations of other consorts.”

The Emperor hadn’t received the news yet. When he heard it, he was stunned and immediately sneered, “They were arranged here for bad luck. To avoid making you angry, they lied, but you actually believed them!”

“It is not true, Your Majesty!” Yun Fenghuang glanced at him, and said, “Even if Her Highness refused Noble Consort Shu for me because of her favor to me, could she refuse Noble Consort Gui and Jie Yu Yue who are pregnant? It can be seen that they were sincere and Her Highness couldn’t refuse.”

“…” The Emperor was quite speechless, turned around and asked. Seeing that Xi Le and others proved that Yun Fenghuang’s words were true, after a moment of silence, he said, “Forget it. I will sleep in Huan Hua Hall today…”

Seeing Yun Fenghuang was puzzled, he said slowly, “I remember that the first few requirements of the audition are that there should be no disability and hidden diseases… What did Concubine Messengers do? They actually picked two blind people for me! How could they serve me? Fine, since I’m here, I’ll sleep in Huan Hua Hall. Tomorrow, I will call Yan Yin to deal with the group of Concubine Messengers who lied to me!”

Yun Fenghuang was speechless.