Chapter Thirty-Nine: This King Does Not Want To Disturb

  "Rong'er, you don't say it, but I also know that these years have been hard on you," Yunfei suddenly put away her smile and looked at the fourth lady with a worried face.

  "Quickly, don't say that, these years Master has not been unkind to Rong," said the Fourth Mistress, her voice barely above a whisper, but Yunfei could naturally hear it.

  "Alas," but Yunfei let out a soft sigh, gazing at Shui Lianyue who was eating snacks, and suddenly said with a tinge of melancholy: "All these years, the hardships you've endured, I'm well aware of them, but I'm powerless to help. The harem isn't something that can be controlled by just one person, fortunately Ruo'er has been making progress in recent years, at least allowing me to secure a foothold in this deep palace, the taste of which, Rong'er, you should understand."

  "These years have been hard on you too, Mother," the Fourth Mistress heard a few words from Yun Fei and suddenly had tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain, as if all the grievances she had accumulated over the years in the Water Palace were pouring out in front of Yun Fei.

  At that time, the eldest daughter of the Chu family and the eldest daughter of the Shui family entered the palace together to participate in the imperial concubine selection. The eldest daughter of the Chu family was elegant and gentle, with a noble and generous demeanor like an empress dowager. She stood out among many candidates and became the best candidate for the empress in the heart of the empress dowager. In the harem, it is natural that there will be no shortage of intrigue and struggle, but who has the most clever means will be the winner.

  As expected, soon Chu Tinglan, the eldest daughter of the Chu family, was crowned empress by the empress dowager. The empress proved to be very capable and became pregnant with an imperial heir the following year, giving birth to a crown prince the next year. Her position as empress was as stable as Mount Tai, and no matter how intense the palace struggles were, no one could shake her status.

  Yun Fei, if she didn't have some means and abilities, wouldn't have been able to gain the emperor's favor for many years. At that time, she was born with a beautiful face and figure, without makeup, she already had a charming appearance, her temperament was like a lotus flower emerging from the water, making the emperor who was used to seeing all kinds of beauties in the palace fall in love at first sight, as for what happened afterwards, Shui Lian Yue didn't need to think about it to know.

  Perhaps because the wedding was approaching, the fourth lady told all the things she knew at that time to let Shui Lianyue understand the inner court and be cautious in her words and deeds, not offending those who should not be offended.

  As for why Yunfei had been childless for many years, no one knew, not even Yingrong, who was a female official in the Yunzhao Palace at that time. However, one thing was certain: Yunfei's body was healthy.

  She ate snacks and drank tea while quietly sizing up the interior of Yunzhao Hall, where pearls and precious stones were everywhere to be seen, with gold carvings and silver ornaments. Although she had never been to the Phoenix Palace of the Empress, it was easy to imagine that this Yunzhao Hall was not much inferior to the Phoenix Palace.

  Just as the Fourth Mistress and Yunfei were chatting happily, a palace maid walked in from outside the gate, "Reporting to Concubine Yun, Prince Yu's mansion has come to pay respects to Concubine Yun."

  "Oh? Yu'er has arrived? Quick, welcome him in." Yunfei's face lit up with joy upon hearing that Prince Yu had come, and the gloom she had shown to the four consorts just a moment before vanished without a trace.

  Nan Gong Yu wore a magnificent python robe, with golden silk hooks and black satin python embroidery. A pair of black eyes that were once dark and profound now shone with a hint of smile, dispelling the chill and majesty from his body. He stood quietly outside the hall, waiting, accompanied only by Qing Heng.

  After a while, the palace maid slowly walked out and made a curtsy to Nan Gongyu, "Reporting back to Your Highness, today there is an honored guest in the palace, so I had to report and announce your presence. Please forgive me, Concubine Yun invites you to enter."

  "Oh? A noble guest has arrived at the palace? Who is it?" Nan Gong Yu slightly hesitated, then asked in a calm tone.

  The palace maid smiled and replied, "To answer the king's question, it was the fourth lady and fourth miss of the Water Mansion. This morning, Her Majesty mentioned that she wanted to summon them into the palace for a reunion. Just after lunch, she ordered someone to go invite them over."

  "Is it her? Nangong You's black eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, but his words were very proper: "Since Aunt has guests, I won't disturb you. Tell Aunt that I'll come to pay my respects at dawn."

  The palace maid gazed at the back of Nan Gong Yu as he left, and for a moment she was dazed. Today, Nan Gong Yu had finally come, but just as she heard the mother and daughter, he left again. She hadn't seen him in several days... Thinking of this, the palace maid swept her eyes over the temple gate, and a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes.