Chapter 99 The truth about joining the Imperial Harem

Therefore, a little while later, Yun Fenghuang arrived at Tong Xia Palace with two maids. She said, “I thought my sister would not see me anymore, so I didn’t dare to come to Tong Xia Palace. Now since you are not mad at me, and no matter how far we are apart, I shall come to pay respects to you, not to mention that we are in the same palace.”

Noble Consort Shu thought she would not come, so she asked Yun Qingman to go back to Small Jiao E Building. When she heard Yun Fenghuang’s words, she looked down at a maid. The maid understood and went out quietly and immediately.

Noble Consort Shu smiled faintly, and asked her to sit down, “No wonder Her Highness likes you. There are a lot of mild-mannered concubines in the palace, but among them, there are few honey-lipped concubines like you.”

Noble Consort Shu said ironically, but Yun Fenghuang did not care about it at all. She said with a smile, “If I had been smooth-tongued enough before, I wouldn’t have had a rough time. As the saying goes, a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. I have to behave well.”

“Really?” Noble Consort Shu felt that she put an alternate meaning behind everything she said. She raised her eyebrows and asked, “I heard you have always been lovable. Isn’t that so?”

Yun Fenghuang smiled and said, “If I were lovable enough, the wife of Shizi Yun would not hate me.”

“…” Noble Consort Shu’s face suddenly clouded over when she heard Yun Fenghuang’s words. She lifted her chin to ask the servants to leave, and then looked at the two maids behind Yun Fenghuang.

“You two also leave.” Yun Fenghuang waved her hand carelessly.

At that moment, only the nominal sisters of the same clan were in the palace. Noble Consort Shu snorted softly and said, “When I heard that Miao Cai had accompanied you to see my little brother before she died, I know you already know the truth about your joining the Imperial Harem… What do you want to do?”

“It depends on you, My Lady.” Yun Fenghuang shook her round fan lightly and said lazily, “It is an unalterable principle that a murderer must pay with his life and a debtor must pay his debt. I am still alive now, and I am not overly stubborn. Peace or war? Please show me your choice.”

“…” Noble Consort Shu pursed her lips and subconsciously clenched her fists in her sleeves. She said, “Does it make sense that I choose peace or war?”

Before Yun Fenghuang opened her mouth, she said, “Moreover, do you think I will believe that you will keep your promise in terms of what you have done since you joined the Imperial Harem?”

“People of Duke Yi’s Mansion have ruined my life. I haven’t cried out my grievances, while now you suspect me?!” Yun Fenghuang almost laughed out loudly. She looked askance at Noble Consort Shu and said sneeringly, “You say that Qingman regards me as an intimate friend, so I should protect Qingman from disasters. You also said that you cannot help me because you are fighting with Her Highness… You have always been beating about the bush. And? What is the truth?”

“The truth is that people of Duke Yi’s Mansion are all brute people!”

Yun Fenghuang cursed unkindly, “Shizi Yun had already married his cousin, but he also coveted the friend of his sister whom he accidentally met! The wife of Shizi looked virtuous but had an evil heart. She egged her mother-in-law on scheming me to join the Imperial Harem and did not care that my parents and brothers in the north would be heartbreaking when they knew it! Duke Yi was so noble that he knew everything, but he still indulged his wife and his daughter-in-law to do such a malicious behavior. In the future, because of this, it is reasonable that Yun’s Family will be confiscated the property and exterminated. None of you are qualified to call for grievances!”

“Well, I almost forget Qingman.”

She recalled the past and sneered, “When I came to Dijing City that year, although I did have a deliberate flattery for her in order to join the group of ladies, I never did anything harmful to her. I also politely taught her how to mediate with others and win the favor of Duke Yi and Duchess Yi! She treated me as a sister and she was intimate to me until the summer banquet… Hoho, that’s how she treated me.”

“… It’s not what you think.” Noble Consort Shu was angry when she heard that. If anyone had dared to evaluate Yun’s Family like this, she would have lost her temper!

However, Yun Fenghuang was too good at making troubles. Nowadays, the situation of the Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem was very complicated. She had the weakness of Yun’s Family and went to Noble Consort Shu. Although Noble Consort Shu hated her, she dared not offend Yun Fenghuang openly.

Noble Consort Shu had to take a deep breath to hold back her anger. She explained patiently, “In fact, my father, Qingman, and I did not know it at first!”

… Noble Consort Shu thought that it was a strange combination of circumstances. Yun Fenghuang followed Yun Qingman after coming to Dijing City, so although she was very cautious at the time, she often went to Duke Yi’s Mansion, and sometimes she met some men of Yun’s Family.

Then Yun Qike had a crush on her.

At that time, Yun Qike hadn’t married Ms. Han, and he privately mentioned that he wanted to marry Yun Fenghuang with his parents. Of course, he was rejected. After all, they were not well-matched in social and economic status. It was impossible that Duke Yi and Duchess Yi agreed.

They originally planned to let Yun Qike do something to make more achievements first and then get married. For this reason, they sent betrothal gifts and money over to Ms. Han. They thought Yun Qike would give up the idea forever. However, in the second half of last year, when Ms. Han was about to marry him, Yun Qike snatched the purse that Yun Fenghuang gave Yun Qingman.

Although he kept saying that the purse must be embroidered by Yun Qingman, and Yun Qingman refused to give him the purse, so she said that it was embroidered by Yun Fenghuang… Of course, Duke Yi and Duchess Yi could read his mind.

However, they loved their son and felt that it didn’t matter because it was just a purse. Anyway, since they discovered Yun Qike’s thoughts, they suggested the servants that they should not allow Yun Fenghuang to come here. This was also the reason why Yun Fenghuang did not go to congratulate them when Duke Yi’s Mansion received the imperial decree. She did not know anything at that time, but she felt that people in Duke Yi’s Mansion did not welcome her suddenly, so she would not go there if she had nothing particular to do.

Duke Yi and Duchess Yi told Yun Qingman privately that she should not show Yun Fenghuang’s things in front of Yun Qike.

Originally everything got back on track. The insiders remained silent, and Yun Qike made no further move. It seemed that it was all over.

However, Yun Qike married Ms. Han. Ms. Han had a good relationship with Yun Qingman. Somehow, Yun Qingman even told her that Yun Qike had tried to marry Yun Fenghuang.

Ms. Han pretended not to care about it. After she knew that the royal family was going to cordially invite noble girls, she asked Duchess Yi to add Yun Fenghuang’s name to the list as well.

Her reason was very high-sounding, “Sister Fenghuang is excellent, but her sister Xie Fenghuan is really… However, these outsiders don’t know it. They believe Fenghuang is similar to her sister. Qingman is not sensible, and has been playing with Fenghuang for years. If she didn’t enter the palace, Noble Consort Shu would be involved when the rumor spreads out after Fenghuang marries someone. It will make people believe that daughters of Yun’s Family act evilly in collusion with the daughter of Xie’s Family. Otherwise they will not be so intimate.”

If Yun Fenghuang joined the Imperial Harem, she would be the Emperor’s concubine. Could ordinary people talk about her casually?

In this way, the reputation of the girls coming from Yun’s Family could be protected.

“I know you are smart, and since you already know something about the truth, I will not deceive you. Ms. Han did this mainly because she felt that you could not marry a high-ranking big family for your family background.” Noble Consort Shu sighed, “She would have no way if my younger brother couldn’t let it go and continued to connect with you. However, to end his love to you, she could introduce you to a man from a powerful family, but she did not want to do it and she also had not ability to do it.”

Then the best method was to send Yun Fenghuang into the palace.

Even if she got the lowest grade Cai Nv, she was also the Emperor’s concubine, and Yun Qike was not allowed to covet her.

What’s more, because of the turbulent undercurrents in the harem of this dynasty, it was more impossible that Yun Fenghuang, a concubine with no family background, would not be killed. Perhaps someone would forestall the future trouble for Ms. Han.

In short, Ms. Han persuaded her aunt who was also her mother-in-law, and Duchess Yi persuaded Duke Yi and his daughter to let Yun Fenghuang join the Imperial Harem with the excuse that “Yun Fenghuang could give birth to a boy.” Noble Consort Shu sighed and said, “You must think what I said is to shirk responsibility and make Ms. Han a scapegoat, but in fact, when I knew the whole story, you had received the imperial decree. I could not stop it… I knew it when my brother managed to ask someone to send me the message after the imperial decree was issued.”

Yun Fenghuang said, “Therefore, you arrange me to Hu Zhu Palace to make use of me to get rid of Yuan Lianniang.”

“Although you don’t even know that my younger brother has loved you, let alone knowing what Ms. Han did. We have already hurt you, and we can’t let you leave the palace as if nothing had happened… If we do not manage to get rid of you, we will be in danger.” Noble Consort Shu calmly said.

She glanced at Yun Fenghuang, and said with some pity, “As it is now.”

As the saying went, it was better to make friends than to make enemies. The problem was that whether their grudge could be solved.

Yun Fenghuang was a young miss. She had been cherished and had a childhood sweetheart who loved her and was very loyal to her. She had never considered joining the Imperial Harem to win the Emperor’s favor. What’s worse, in the Imperial Harem of this dynasty, the personal strength was much less important than the family background. Her original future would have been much better than her current situation.

Noble Consort Shu thought if she were Yun Fenghuang, she would also never let go of those who hurt her!

Therefore, before she knew Ms. Han’s real intentions, she might treat Yun Fenghuang as a clan sister sincerely. After knowing this, she could not tolerate Yun Fenghuang anymore.

It was just that whether Ms. Han, Duke Yi’s Mansion, or Noble Consort Shu had never thought that Yun Fenghuang, who was lovable, docile, and was the example of a virtuous girl in their impressions, after joining the Imperial Harem, changed greatly. At the first day in the palace, she made her hostess Yuan Lianniang furious. She kept making troubles. Then she got the support of the Empress… Noble Consort Shu who had thought that she had rooted Yun Fenghuang out was…

Noble Consort Shu was very, very regretful.

If she had known that Yun Fenghuang was like this, she wouldn’t have pretended to be an amiable elder sister to make use of Yun Fenghuang. However, no one knew that Yuan Lianniang, the famous “concubines killer” in this dynasty, was finally defeated by the newcomer Yun Fenghuang.

Moreover, she was defeated so fast!

If she had asked Yun Fenghuang to live in Tong Xia Palace and kept a close eye on her early, perhaps Yun Fenghuang would not have been given the promotion of Jie Yu and would not have been able to threaten her like this!

Noble Consort Shu sighed quietly, suppressed her complex emotions, looked at Yun Fenghuang not far away, and said, “Well. Now it does not make sense to say this. You just tell me your requirements. However, although we hurt you, we will not allow Yun’s Family to be trampled upon. You do not need to say those outrageous demands.”

“Yuan Lianniang.” Yun Fenghuang didn’t force her to confess and apologize. She came here and showed her hand to make a bargain. Anyway, both Noble Consort Shu and she knew that it was impossible for them to get along in harmony when she knew the reason why she joined the Imperial Harem, because she would not be tolerant of them, and Yun’s Family would not believe that Yun Fenghuang would forgive them!

At most, they had concerns and had to take a step back to reach a temporary agreement.

In the future, whenever there was a chance, both of them would immediately tear up the agreement and try to put the other party to death.

“Okay. Then after this event, there is no more grudge between you and Yun’s Family…” Noble Consort Shu was relieved and was about to nod, but Yun Fenghuang sneered, “You wish. Does Yuan Lianniang have no personal animosity towards you?! Do you want to avenge yourself in the name of compensating me? Do you feel ashamed?!”

Noble Consort Shu changed her expression slightly. She asked with anger, “What else do you want?”

“How about let Yun Qingman go to my palace.” Yun Fenghuang smiled at her and said with the round fan in her hand, “After all, people in the Imperial Harem know that although you are Qingman’s sister, you are considerably older than her and you and Qingman are not born of one mother. When it comes to the quality time and friendship, she is closer to me, her sister of the same clan! Before, both Qingman and I did not have a high grade, and we could not live in the same palace together. Now I am the hostess of Xuan Qing Palace which has many empty rooms. I want to invite Qingman to live with me. Can I?”

“… It’s impossible!” Noble Consort Shu said in exasperation, “What do you think Qingman is?! Even if she is the daughter of my father’s concubine, she is still a member of Yun’s Family!”

Yun Fenghuang stopped fanning herself and looked at her coldly, “Do you think that I’m discussing with you? Qingman must move to my palace! Or I’ll go to Yan Fu Palace immediately! It has been a few days since the summer banquet and I have gone out of Small Ying Zhou for several days. Don’t you think that I have done nothing except for moving to Xuan Qing Palace these days?! I go to Tong Xia Palace today and I never think I will leave empty-handed!”

“Shizi Yun or Qingman. Take your choice!”

When she saw that Noble Consort Shu breathed faster and glared at her angrily, she sneered, “Zhao Yuan Ji of Ji’s Family was degraded to be Pin Ji. You must have contributed a lot to it. Guess what will Ji’s Family, Prince Regent, and General-in-chief of the Cavalry do? His Majesty just takes the reins of power. What his situation will be?”