Chapter 0001: The Harem

Chapter 0001: The Harem

Yun Li woke up to find that the light rain had already stopped outside.

The palace maid Zhi Fu came over: "Has Bao Lin woken up? Would you like some tea?"

Yun Li shook her head and got up.

Zhi Fu hurried over to assist her: "It's just past the hour of Shen, and it's still hot outside."

Yun Li acknowledged and went to the cleansing room to wash her face: "Call Zhu Ding in."

"Okay." Zhi Fu replied and went out to call Zhu Ding, who was waiting in the corridor.

Zhu Ding, a eunuch assigned to Yun Li in the palace, was only in his twenties and looked clever.

"Greetings, Bao Lin."

"Did you complete the task I gave you?" Yun Li asked.

"In response to Bao Lin, everything has been brought back. When would you like to deal with it?" Zhu Ding inquired.

"Do it now, let's finish before it gets dark," Yun Li said, rising to head to the courtyard.

She currently resided in a small loft in Le An Palace, not having a place of her own. The advantage was that this place currently had no main occupant and was only inhabited by her.

It had been over two months since she entered the palace.

This shabby loft needed some changes, so in the morning, she paid out of her own pocket for Zhu Ding to go to the Nei Shi Province to get window screens and mosquito nets.

Naturally, these things varied in quality, and since she had paid, she naturally wanted the best.

Zhu Ding, along with the other eunuchs, began to work.

When Yun Li entered the palace, she was part of a group selected in a draft, the first major selection after the Emperor's mourning period ended. Naturally, there were many people, with twelve remaining in the end.

There were also seven or eight from the Crown Prince's residence.

After the selection, everyone was either a ninth rank or without rank.

Yun Li was fortunate to be ninth rank, serving as an Imperial Woman, but after serving in the Emperor's chamber, she became known as Bao Lin.

However, rising further in rank was difficult.

As she sat waiting in the corridor, she saw someone approaching from the main gate, wearing eunuch attire distinctly different from Zhu Ding's.

Though he entered with a smile, there was an air of superiority about him.

"Your servant greets Bao Lin."

"What brings you here, Eunuch Zhang?" Yun Li asked.

"In reply to Bao Lin, the Noble Consort invites you to visit," Zhang Maolin said with a forced smile.

"You can tell my sister that before entering the palace, my great uncle instructed me otherwise. I won't be going. When it's time to go, I shall," Yun Li said indifferently.

Zhang Maolin, not knowing the full story, didn't dare to argue.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yes, then I shall relay your message to the Noble Consort," and left.

Yun Li lowered her gaze, concealing the mockery in her eyes.

She was not concerned about this matter.

About half an hour later, only half of the gauze window had been covered. Then, someone else arrived.

This time, it was someone from Zhengyang Palace, specifically the eunuch Li Mu from there.

"Greetings to Bao Lin."

Yun Li smiled as if genuinely delighted: "Eunuch Li’s arrival must mean good news."

Li Mu chuckled, "Indeed, His Majesty has summoned you. Shall you get dressed and ready? I will wait for you."

"Thank you for the trouble. Come, quickly make tea for our brother Li," Yun Li said cheerily as she stood up to change and comb her hair in the inner chamber.

The attire was not overly complicated; it was mid-May, and she changed into a light pink, bead-embellished dress, simply tying her hair in a bun adorned with a gold pin and pearl flowers.

Naturally beautiful, in the prime of her sixteen years, she needed little embellishment.

She drew a delicate half-flower on her forehead, its pink hue charming. Dangling pearl earrings graced her ears, swaying gracefully.

Li Mu, watching her, thought it's no wonder the Emperor was weary of the Qi family’s continuous attempts to send daughters to the palace, yet still favored Qi Bao Lin. She was indeed a rare beauty. Though the palace had many beauties, someone like her was uncommon.

Her cousin, the Noble Consort, was beautiful, but not in this way. No wonder, despite her high status, she had not captured the Emperor’s heart…

Lost in thought, they left Le An Palace, where a sedan chair was waiting.

Yun Li boarded the sedan chair and soon arrived at Zhengyang Palace.

The sedan could only stop outside; after several twists and turns, they reached the back hall of Zhengyang Palace.

The current Emperor of the Great Jin was twenty-four and in the fourth year of his reign.

He was the legitimate son of the late Emperor, but not born of the Empress, rather he was the son of a succeeding Empress.

Back then, it was a fierce struggle to secure his position as the Crown Prince and ascend to the pinnacle.

As for the Emperor, aside from anything else, he indeed possessed a handsome appearance. Yun Li, confident in the lack of true feelings in the harem, did not entertain genuine emotions herself. But his attractive appearance was indeed pleasing to both himself and others.

Otherwise, all pretenses would be disgusting.

"Your concubine greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy peace," Yun Li said sweetly.

He Jinglei raised an eyebrow: "My beloved, no need for formalities."

Yun Li stood up and thanked He Jinglei, then tilted her head: "Your Majesty, it has been over ten days since I last saw you."

"In the harem, there are many who haven't seen me for months. Are you complaining, my beloved?" He Jinglei asked with a smile.

His question was gentle, but Yun Li knew this man was neither gentle nor kind.

So, she pouted: "Your Majesty is so mean. I was merely expressing my longing for you, and you say this. What if I, not knowing better, actually complained? Would I not be in the wrong?"

He Jinglei smiled: "Considering your young age, I won’t blame you."

"Your Majesty is the best," Yun Li smiled again.

Her beauty was striking, with long, enchanting eyes that were especially captivating when she smiled.

He Jinglei raised his hand, lifting her chin: "What have you been doing these days without seeing me?"

"I've been very good lately, hardly going out. Aside from paying respects to the Empress daily, I’ve just been in my loft," Yun Li replied.

"Really? Didn’t you visit the Noble Consort?" He Jinglei asked.

"I didn't want to go," Yun Li frowned.

"Oh? The Noble Consort is your biological cousin. What, are you angry with her?" He Jinglei sat down and pulled her onto his lap.

Yun Li inwardly sneered, 'Cunning man, trying to test me?'

"I'm not angry. I just find her tedious..." She paused, then added, "I didn't say my sister was bad..."

It was a classic case of letting something slip, then feeling obliged to retract anything negative about her sister.

She resembled a child who had misspoken but then caught herself.

He Jinglei pinched her nose in response.

He thought to himself that this woman was indeed good at pretending.

"Go on, what do you find tedious? I won’t mind," He Jinglei said.

"It's nothing much, just that she's always nagging. There are already so many palace rules which I diligently learn and remember. But... she still interferes too much."

Yun Li sighed.

He Jinglei smiled, "The Noble Consort is dignified and virtuous, a model of propriety."

Yun Li nodded outwardly, but inwardly, she scoffed.

'Ah, Qi Qingluan, Qi Qingluan, should I say it's tragic or funny? As a Noble Consort, your situation is really...'

'You, a Noble Consort, why strive for dignity and virtue? You're taking over all the Empress's duties, so what’s left for the Empress to do?'

"Would my beloved like to learn from the Noble Consort? As sisters, you should have some similarities, right?"

He Jinglei looked down at her.

He was much taller than her; even with her sitting on his lap, she was still shorter.

"Your Majesty is so wicked, I wouldn't want to be that rigid... It's exhausting," Yun Li collapsed into his embrace, "You're just wicked. Utterly wicked."