Chapter 0007: Various Probes

Chapter 0007: Various Probes

Yun Li saw her smile, smiled back, and only after the Noble Consort's procession had gone far, did she slowly start to head back.

The Empress, dressed in casual attire, listened as Ruyi commented, "I noticed Hua Baolin seemed to be avoiding the Noble Consort. Yesterday, the Noble Consort slapped her, yet she dared not speak of it."

"She's just a Baolin, not particularly favored. How could she dare to speak? As for the Noble Consort, putting on a show while striking her own sister," the Empress scoffed.

"Even when you asked, Hua Baolin, unaware of her own good fortune, remained silent," Ruyi said.

"Staying silent is the right move. What good does spilling everything do? If she can hold back, it means she's still useful. The Qi family is under the Noble Consort's father's control, and Hua Baolin's father relies on her older brother. What could she dare to say?"

"That's also good. Over time, she won't be able to hold back. Even the deepest sisterly bond can't withstand such torment. Moreover, given their age difference, they probably weren't that close to begin with. Toppling a Noble Consort is hard, but climbing from a Baolin to a Noble Consort is even harder. Let them fight it out," another maid, Songlu, said.

The Empress playfully tapped Songlu's head, "You're quite astute. Since that's the case, we should keep an eye on Hua Baolin. It wouldn't be fun if she gets suppressed by the Noble Consort too soon."

"Empress Mother, why bother with this? Just a word from you... In the harem, aren't there many who despise the Noble Consort? Look at Wu Xiurong, when did she become so talkative?" Songlu said.

The Empress laughed, nodding meaningfully.

Indeed, Wu Xiurong had lost two pregnancies, one of which was a well-developed male fetus. Did she not hate the Noble Consort?

The past was not simple, but Wu Xiurong had fixed the blame on the Noble Consort, and that was enough.

It wasn't that the women of the harem were too idle; everyone was plotting.

Who wouldn't want to climb higher? After all, a higher status meant endless glory, while a lower one with no favor or offspring meant a long, difficult life.

Thus, others' conflicts were opportunities for oneself.

Yun Li understood this all too well.

She never wanted to be tied to the Noble Consort, not even in pretense.

That's why, since entering the palace, she had been willing to visit Yuzhi Palace.

This time, what harm would it do to exchange a slap for the attention of the entire harem?

Displaying her anger and discontent would only seem contrived. Her current demeanor, where everyone sympathizes with her perceived grievance yet she remains silent, is what truly resonates.

In the afternoon, Li Mu from Zhengyang Palace came again, this time summoning Hua Baolin to the Imperial Garden.

"His Majesty and several noble ladies are there," Li Mu said with a smile.

"Then I must change quickly, I can't keep His Majesty waiting," Yun Li replied, appearing delighted.

Li Mu nodded and smiled, thinking to himself that she was just an addition to the gathering and not important enough to make His Majesty wait.

Yun Li changed into a tender yellow dress, not redoing her hair but swapping a few pieces of jewelry. These were exactly the ones gifted by the Emperor last time.

Not too many, just appropriate.

In the Imperial Garden, where flowers bloomed profusely, Emperor He Jinli and his entourage were seated in the Fuxiang Pavilion. There was a pomegranate tree nearby with tender red blossoms, and not far away was a lake with lotuses blooming, not yet at their peak but still charming.

Yun Li saw that besides the Emperor, Song Jieyu, Lady Li, Hua Baolin, and Sun Baolin were in the pavilion.

Approaching, she first paid her respects to the Emperor, then to Song Jieyu and Lady Li.

She also greeted Hua Baolin and Sun Baolin with a nod.

"Sister Qi truly is a beauty, eclipsing even the pomegranate flowers," Lady Li said with a laugh.

Lady Li, beautiful and outspoken, was known for her fiery personality, a beauty of the 'Phoenix Spicy' kind.

She was wearing a bright crimson dress, radiantly outshining the flowers.

"Oh? Let me see," Emperor He Jinli turned his attention towards Yun Li.

Yun Li in her light yellow dress, her hair simply yet elegantly styled with the golden pin and pearl flowers he had gifted.

Her face was barely made up, just a touch of rouge on her lips, making them look exceptionally beautiful.

Her overall

"In my view, she does not surpass my beloved concubine in outshining those pomegranate flowers," Emperor He Jinli then looked at Lady Li.

Yun Li pouted, "Lady Li's status is most fitting. Sister Li is truly a beauty. I admit, I'm envious."

"Each has their own charm; I see them all as beauties," Song Jieyu laughed.

"Oh, right, now that Sister Qi has met His Majesty, it's time to voice any grievances. Otherwise, it might be construed as deceiving the Emperor," Lady Li teased with a laugh.

Her tone was playful, but mentioning the crime of deceiving the Emperor left little room for Yun Li to lie.

At this point, Yun Li realized that it must have been Lady Li who summoned her today.

"My beloved concubine has suffered injustice? What is it? Speak up, and I will stand up for you," Emperor He Jinli also said with a smile.

Yun Li thought to herself, 'Emperor, what are you pretending for? Is there anything you don't know?'

"Your Majesty... I... it's just a trifle..." Yun Li bit her lip, looking troubled.

"If sister is really troubled, it's okay not to say. The Emperor is just being considerate," Song Jieyu sighed.

"No, no..." Yun Li sighed, "It's just that yesterday, the... oh no, the Noble Consort... in the garden with me... she... she said a few words. It's nothing, she's my sister, and it's okay for her to say a few words." Her last sentence sounded like she was convincing herself.

"Words are words, but she shouldn't have resorted to hitting. Who wouldn't pity such a delicate face?" Lady Li shook her head.

"Oh? The Noble Consort struck Hua Baolin?" Emperor He Jinli raised an eyebrow.

"Your Majesty, I... I'm fine, please don't ask anymore, it's really nothing," Yun Li was distressed.

"Enough, I invited you to enjoy the flowers, not to scare you," Emperor He Jinglei said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

Yun Li breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

But it was supposed to be about admiring the flowers.

Unless Emperor He Jinglei intended to offend the elders, there was hardly any role for the three newcomers.

Although they occasionally joined in the conversation, they all stepped back a bit.

Especially Hua Baolin, who shared a similar demeanor with Noble Lady Song – quiet, reserved, and well-educated.

She had every right to be so; her grandfather was the Imperial Tutor, highly respected even after retirement.

Her father, a Grand Scholar of the Wenyuan Pavilion, was renowned for his learning.

Women in Great Jin were progressive, engaging in reading, writing, horseback riding, and archery, no different from men.

Before marrying, the Empress had even led troops.

So, family background was very important.

Among this group, Lady Li and Sun Baolin had the least prestigious origins.

However, Lady Li was favored and now, she shared the limelight equally with Consort Lan and Noble Lady Song.

Among the newcomers, only Hua Baolin stood out.

For now, at least. But harem rivalries were ever-changing; who knew who would be next?