Chapter 112 - The question was still that…

“You think I am cheating you?” Noble Consort Gui couldn’t help laughing, “I just said your character was like my uncle’s when he was young… But you seem not to know how my uncle came to today’s position.”

Yun Fenghuang was really unclear about it.

However, Noble Consort Gui did not mean to introduce it at this moment, but just said leisurely, “I don’t know what method you use to get Rong Hua Yun into your palace, but you broke the tacit agreement to get the grade of Jie Yu by ‘giving birth to a child hardly’. Afterwards, it’s difficult for you to go further. The most important thing is that you don’t have any very reliable backer to ensure your safety in the Imperial Harem.”

“What happened today is a vivid example!”

Today, everyone, including Yun Fenghuang, suspected Noble Consort Gui most, but no one mentioned her tacitly.

However, Xue Xiaoge repeatedly tried to involve Noble Consort Shu into this matter, but was repeatedly rejected and warned by her legitimate cousin’s legitimate cousin, Empress Ji. Didn’t Empress Ji want to target at Noble Consort Shu? Did she deliberately make her relative lose face? Did she really believe that Noble Consort Shu was innocent?

Of course not.

The problem was that Noble Consort Shu was backed by Duke Yi’s Mansion, which was a firm royalist. Now the Emperor had already taken over the reins of government, and Ji’s Family chose to temporarily evade, wait, and hesitate, so Empress Ji couldn’t rashly accuse Noble Consort Shu.

Otherwise, it would be easily interpreted by the Imperial Court as that Ji’s Family would start from the Imperial Harem to trigger a new round of conflicts.

Therefore, even if the evidence was clear on the surface, Yun Qingman didn’t have a particularly powerful argument, and the flaws in her words almost involved Noble Consort Shu into this matter… finally, under the hint of the Empress, a group of concubines condemned a maid to commit crimes, while Yun Qingman was just degraded a level to give people an account.

This matter just passed in this way.

At least until there was a major change in the Imperial Court, the truth on the surface was that all concubines were good, and the demons were all the servants.

This was a tacit understanding in the Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem. Every concubine had a backer, so they fought back and forth. Unless their backers were not reliable, or it was at the juncture of life and death, winning or losing didn’t involve the hostesses themselves so as not to make the situation uncontrollable.

Yun Fenghuang who gained the grade of Jie Yu by surfacing herself to take the contraceptive just lacked such confidence.

At present, the matter at the summer banquet had not completely subsided, and the Emperor’s future was unknown. In addition, the Empress needed a consort to do things for her after Ji Muzi was degraded to a Pin. Therefore, Yun Fenghuang’s status was still stable.

But she also had to temporarily put down her resentment against Chao Jingyou and tried to make the clans in the north join hands, so as to add support to herself.

However, as what Yun Fenghuang had worried before, the alliance of the clans in the north was definitely not a thing that could be achieved in a short time. Besides, it was difficult for those clans to compare with the forces such as Ji’s Family and Prince Regent’s Mansion after the alliance.

The regular palace fighting methods such as fighting for the Emperor’s pampering or the mother’s honor increasing after giving birth to a child were not feasible in the Imperial Harem in this dynasty.

Without an honorable family, a concubine’s life and death were only decided by the thoughts of high-grade consorts.

As for concubines with a powerful family background such as Ji Muzi and Yuan Lianniang, no matter how bad things did they do, they at most temporarily retreated. Just after a while, they could return to the high grade easily.

Yun Fenghuang compressed her lips without saying a word, and then smiled gently for a moment, “So? My Lady, are you planning to let me worship another man as my adoptive father?”

When she said that, she quickly thought about the method of rejection.

That was right. Zheng Ju’s status and power were now guaranteed. After worshipping him as her adoptive father, she could quickly make up for her shortcomings. In terms of both the reputation of a powerful eunuch and the benefits she would gain, Zheng Ju was better than the cheap ally, Gongxiang Xiao.

But just because Zheng Ju’s identity and power were extraordinary, and he was a character who could be comparative to Prince Regent and was much superior to Gongxiang Xiao, Yun Fenghuang didn’t not want such an adoptive father.

As for the ally, Gongxiang Xiao, she was compelled against her will in that situation when she really needed such a local villain in the Imperial Harem. Besides, the most important reason was…

Yun Fenghuang thought Gongxiang Xiao was not so threatening.

He was only a member of the imperial clan without power. Even if he was under the name of Shizi of Prince Regent, Yun Fenghuang didn’t care much about his threats anymore after she was promoted to Jie Yu. On the contrary, Gongxiang Xiao was a little worried that she would betray him after taking advantage of him…

But Zheng Ju was different.

Just in terms of Zheng Ju’s scheming, not to mention his power, he became the General-in-chief of the Cavalry step by step from a kid of a poor family who was sold to the Imperial Harem. He held the military power, and had experienced three dynasties with continuous glory… Facing such a character, unless Yun Fenghuang was a fool, she would never think that she had the ability to play tricks with him.

If she couldn’t play tricks, she had no initiative…

If so, it would be better for her not to care about life and death, and to live as she liked. In that way, she could have a good time.

“It’s impossible.” Just as Yun Fenghuang’s imagination gradually developed towards the direction of helplessness, Nobel Consort Gui couldn’t help laughing again. “Jie Yu Mao, you have natural parents but were forced to be an adoptive daughter of Duke Yi’s Mansion. You are wronged. Although I am not a kind-hearted person, I can’t do such a thing!”

She quietly belittled Duke Yi’s Mansion, and said again, “Jie Yu, I mean that you want to raise the prince born by Rong Hua Yun to threaten Duke Yi’s Mansion… This move is certainly amazing. But as long as Noble Consort Shu does not die, there is a hidden danger! After all, as long as Noble Consort Shu also gives birth to an heir, or raises an heir, the heir of Rong Hua Yun must be less important than hers for Duke Yi’s Mansion.

Noble Consort Gui raised her eyebrows and sneered lightly, “Jie Yu Mao, if you want your plan to be conducted smoothly, Noble Consort Shu must die!”

“…” Yun Fenghuang looked at Noble Consort Gui puzzledly, but she was terrified in her heart. These words had already been almost all of her intentions!

The problem was that she never told anyone this important plan!

Even when she took the matter of Yun Qike to force Noble Consort Shu to put Yun Qingman in Xuan Qing Palace, she was also in the name of revenge.

The servants such as Xi Le all thought that she asked for bringing Yun Qingman here because she wanted to humiliate her more conveniently. To this end, Chen Zhu specifically instructed those who served in the side hall to make trouble for Yun Qingman from time to time to please his master.

How could Noble Consort Gui… know that?!

“… My Lady, I don’t understand what you are talking about.” Thinking carefully, Yun Fenghuang didn’t admit in the end, but kept her voice low and continued to pretend to be confused.

Noble Consort Gui smiled meaningfully, “Jie Yu Yue is His Majesty’s sweetheart, and her grade hasn’t been less than yours so far. When you just joined the Imperial Harem, regarding to grade, experience, family background or backer, was you comparable to her? But you were unwilling to be aggrieved at all. You returned the humiliation from Yuan Lianniang to her on the spot, and it has been difficult for her to get over it so far!”

“Let me tell the truth. Jie Yu, you are a person who seeks revenge for the smallest grievance. If Rong Hua Yun really offends you so much that you want to bring her to Xuan Qing Palace to torment her… how can Rong Hua Yun’s life was so comfortable these days? Oh, don’t say that she doesn’t live well in the side hall. You and me are both the hostesses, so I’m aware very much that those petty things don’t matter at all! If you really want to torment her, she would have long since been miserable.

“After all, we are good friends.” Yun Fenghuang fanned herself with a circular fan, calmly retorting, “How could Yuan Lianniang be comparable to Qingman?”

Noble Consort Gui sneered slightly, “How about Ms. Chao? Chao Jingyou and you grew up together since childhood. Even though your relationship has never been harmonious, you are fellow countrymen after all, aren’t you?”

Yun Fenghuang said quietly, “That bitch’s family harmed my sister. With this hatred, of course, she cannot be comparable to Qingman!”

“…” Noble Consort Gui didn’t expect that Yun Fenghuang would still have chicanery at this moment, so she couldn’t help laughing, “Then let me tell you another piece of evidence. Jie Yu, you originally had no intention to join the Imperial Harem, but you are here accidently due to the trick of Yun’s Family. You even took the contraceptive for a promotion… According to my understanding about you, even if you don’t want to make all members of Yun’s Family infertile, you will at least make Rong Hua Yun who has already controlled by you infertile, right? But…”

Not only didn’t Yun Fenghuang do this, but she even used the prescription that Ms. Jiang taught Nian Xuan to secretly nurse Yun Qingman’s health while instructing servants to monitor her.

Well, she wanted to make Yun Qingman easy to be pregnant and have a son.

“… I originally thought that although my plan was a bit whimsical, it was possible to succeed.” Hearing Noble Consort Gui’s words, Yun Fenghuang was silent for a moment, and in the end showed a helplessness on her face. She sighed, “But My Lady, after I heard your words, I seemed to see the ins and outs with my own eyes… All in all, I have a low background and limited horizon, so that I looked down the people in the Imperial Harem! No need to mention this matter again.”

If she admitted immediately, even though it was certainly what Noble Consort Gui had expected, there were no accidents or surprises.

She didn’t admit it until now, which showed that she finally admitted that she couldn’t be comparable to Noble Consort Gui. Although Noble Consort Gui was shrewd and cautious, she couldn’t help being a little proud, so she said with a smile, “Jie Yu Mao, don’t be frustrated. I have said that your plan is great. The reason why I come here today is to help you!”

Yun Fenghuang pondered, “My Lady, do you want to…?”

She subconsciously glanced at Noble Consort Gui’s belly while speaking.

Noble Consort Gui nodded flatly, “My child’s fate can’t be changed anymore. I’m incompetent as a mother, and I haven’t even known my enemy so far… However, I can’t make these months of pregnancy useless!”

“My Lady, you treat me so kindly and generously that I don’t know what to say.” Yun Fenghuang thought about it for a while, and replied slowly, “However, My Lady, please forgive my direct speaking. Jie Yu Yue also had a miscarriage before, but she is still pregnant now, right? Maybe you have no predestined relationship with the heir in your uterus now, but you can recuperate a few days later. You are more hopeful than me, aren’t you?”

Yun Fenghuang thought, “You could be pregnant again!”

“You thought that your kid had no hope, so you took advantage of it to frame Noble Consort Shu even the Empress. I could understand you. But I couldn’t understand why you want to help me?!”

“Because I am 23 years old now. Although I can be pregnant…” Noble Consort Gui looked at the young concubine not far away. Yun Fenghuang’s fair and flawless skin glowed faintly under the candlelight. Even the best powder in the world couldn’t be comparable to that kind of youthful brilliance.

However, what made Noble Consort Gui more envious of was the hard and sharp sense in the corners of Yun Fenghuang’s eyebrows.

This was the freshness that only the youth had. The freshness was so full that no lethargy could be tolerated.

Noble Consort Gui sighed quietly, “Jie Yu, your determination is firm. When you joined the Imperial Harem not so long, you dared to be infecund by yourself. It can not only be a step to promote your grade, but also avoid the sad things like mine… Unfortunately, I was not as sober as you when I was at your age.”

She lowered her head to stroke her lower abdomen, and said softly, “For His Majesty, this is an heir that he didn’t expect, or even didn’t want at all. I don’t blame him. After all, he had no affection for me. Besides, in that case, having a prince might not be a good thing for him… But for me, the life in the deep Imperial Harem is so long. Isn’t it precious for me to have a biological family member? Over the past few months, I have been so happy but frightened… I really have done everything possible to make my baby safe…”

Noble Consort Gui sighed, “Jie Yu, you are young. It is difficult for you to understand my mood unless you are in my age. In short, I do not want to experience similar things again. If I had known the result today early, I would have given up the idea of giving birth to a child personally, and directly adopted the child of others. If so, I would not only be comfortable, but also not need to experience the great sorrow when I lose my baby!”

She said these words in a very calm tone, but the emotions hidden in them were deep and unpredictable.

However, Yun Fenghuang was hardhearted and untouched at all, so she said lightly, “My Lady, I still don’t understand.”

Noble Consort Gui thought it was too painful to have a baby in person if there were something wrong, and Yun Fenghuang totally understood her! But there were so many concubines in Yan Lan Palace, so Noble Consort Gui could let them give birth babies, and then adopt one… But the question was still that why did she come to Xuan Qing Palace to invest in Yun Fenghuang???