Chapter 0033: Family

Chapter 0033: Family

Attendants quickly cleared the table and brought fresh tea.

"Pure yet unpretentious, I've always loved lotus flowers. I come to see them every year, even in the heat," Song Jieyu smiled.

"I can't compare with sister; I just think about how delicious lotus roots are. Honestly, I'm much less sophisticated than sister," Yun Li laughed.

Song Jieyu covered her mouth, laughing, "Everyone has their preferences. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying food. Who says appreciating flowers is refined and liking food is vulgar? In my opinion, not many truly love flowers. Otherwise, why does no one care for withered blooms? Once fallen, lying in the mud, they’re no longer loved, right?"

Yun Li agreed with a smile, but thought to herself, actually, I know a girl named Lin who loves even the fallen flowers, and would even bury them.

After sitting a while longer, Yun Li and Hua Baolin excused themselves. Song Jieyu, however, decided to stay a bit longer.

"Why is Hua Baolin always with Qi Baolin these days? Qi Baolin seems a bit impulsive, yet she gets along well with Hua Baolin," Mulan said to Song Jieyu while pouring tea.

"Heh, you think she's reckless? She should be laughing at you for being foolish," Song Jieyu gently fanned herself.

"Ah? But she defied the Noble Consort and flattered the Empress... Doesn't that look bad to others? How can she, a woman from the Qi family, be at odds with her own sister upon entering the palace?" Mulan was puzzled.

"Naive. If she were in harmony with her sister, let alone whether the Emperor likes it or not, the Empress would be the first to deal with her. Can she even tolerate her? Don't underestimate her; in this batch, watch and see. Qi Baolin will go far. She’s extremely clever. Supposedly, she was just sent by the Qi family to vie for the Noble Consort’s favor and bear children, but look at her now. What path is she taking? She's a Qi family pawn, yet she’s helping Hua Baolin. And who is Hua Baolin? Someone the Emperor wants to promote."

"The Emperor's repeated rewards to her signify his approval."

"Remember, this is the harem. A single word separates it from the Eastern Palace, yet the difference is like heaven and earth. Women who enter the harem must use all their wits if they want to live well."

"Yes, I understand now. The Qi family will be disappointed, sending a pawn who's not easily controlled. If Qi Baolin is really that smart, won’t they regret it?"

"A controllable one, if truly restrained by the Noble Consort, would the Emperor even bother with her?" Song Jieyu asked with a smile.

Mulan finally understood: "I'm truly dull-witted, it's Jieyu who sees things clearly."

Song Jieyu lightly waved her fan, "Observe more, think more, and ponder more, speak less. Life in the harem moves slowly, there's a lifetime to figure things out."

Meanwhile, after parting with Yunli, Hua Baolin returned to her quarters.

"Although Lady Li is favored and Song Jieyu is somewhat overshadowed due to her low profile, now it seems her words are quite comforting," Zhifu commented.

"Did you notice her fan?" Yunli asked.

"I did, is there something peculiar about that fan?" Zhifu inquired.

"That fan, with a jade handle and silk face, is a fine piece. It's one of the tribute items from Anluo Kingdom. The silk produced there is extremely rare. It's not enough for making clothes since these silkworms can hardly survive outside Anluo, so they're mainly used for small items like fan faces. The material is translucent and even the breeze from it feels cool."

"Moreover, it's resistant to sunlight. Ordinary silk deteriorates within a year, but this material lasts for several years. Just a small piece costs about one or two gold coins. Such a fine item is rare even in the harem."

"I remember a few years ago, my great aunt got one and was overjoyed. Now, with such an item, can Song Jieyu's favor be considered lesser?"

"I was ignorant, thinking it was just an ordinary jade-handled fan. It turned out to be this. I heard that both the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort have one. I don't know about the others."

"At His Majesty's birthday, the Empress gifted a jade-boned fan. Although it was a folding fan, not using this kind of fabric, one can imagine that even if the Empress wanted to, she couldn't produce it immediately," Yun Li said with a smile. "Who His Majesty favors is not necessarily determined by who serves him in bed more frequently."

"Yes, I'll remember that," Zhifu said.

Just as the master and servant returned, they saw Zhang Maolin anxiously waiting at the entrance: "Ah, you're back! The Noble Consort has sent a message, asking Baolin to come. Someone from the house has arrived."

Yun Li glanced at Zhang Maolin, "Then let's go."

Zhang Maolin thought she would dawdle, but she agreed smoothly.

It made sense, as she was probably considering her family.

Yun Li had anticipated this development. With her rebellious behavior, it was inevitable that her family would have to send someone.

In Yuzhi Palace, the Noble Consort sat in the seat of honor, with two noble ladies sitting at the lower end.

One wore court attire, the thick, bright red fabric clearly uncomfortable in this weather. Despite the heavy headgear, she sat upright.

The other also wore red, but her court attire was noticeably lighter, revealing a difference in rank.

They were the Noble Consort's mother, Jiang, the legitimate wife of Qi Tongxi, the head of the Qi family, and Yun Li's mother, Lin, the legitimate wife of Qi Tongkang, the fourth son of the Qi family.

Yun Li entered, glancing around before bowing to the Noble Consort.

Jiang and Lin both stood up and bowed back to her.

Jiang, always strictly adhering to protocol, would never consider herself too superior to bow.

Seeing Yun Li, Lin's eyes reddened, but it was not the place to speak.

"Baolin has been in the palace for some time now. Are you accustomed to it?" Jiang asked.

"Thank you for your concern, great-aunt. I am doing well," Yun Li replied with a smile.

Jiang looked at Yun Li, dressed elegantly, feeling somewhat uneasy. Her silence was profound.

Her beauty, now even more radiant and vibrant than when she was at home, emanated from her.

"Sixth Sister has her own mind now. I can't really say much or interfere. Now that Fourth Aunt is here, hopefully, she can advise her. Remember, the Qi family comes first," the Noble Consort said indifferently. "Someone, escort Fourth Aunt and Sixth Sister to the side hall."

Yun Li smiled, "Thank you, sister."

She and Lin went to the side hall. After the attendants served tea, they all left.

Yun Li gestured for Zhifu to leave too.

"Lili, are you alright? The people in the harem, they haven’t been giving you trouble, have they?" Lin asked anxiously, grasping her hand.

Yun Li didn’t pull away, looking at Lin's belly, "Mother, are you pregnant?"

"Yes... I was already pregnant before you left... I didn’t know at first. Found out later, it’s been six months," Lin replied.

"Congratulations, Mother," Yun Li said.

"Lili... don't talk to your mother like that," Lin said, wiping her tears.

"The Noble Consort's people came back to the house, saying you've had a few disputes with her? I know you're not happy, but she's the Noble Consort, your elder sister..."

"Mother, what did I say the day I left home?" Yun Li suddenly asked.

"Ah? You..." Lin recalled that day.