Chapter 384 – Bestowing Favor

Chapter 384 - Bestowing Favor

Yun Li listened to the melody, allowing herself a rare moment of emptiness.

Lately, her mind had been preoccupied with many matters, leaving her exhausted.

When the musician finally finished playing, she stood up.

"You've worked hard. I have a reward for you. Your performance was excellent; I will summon you again in the future," Yun Li said.

"Your humble servant thanks Her Excellency Xian Fei for your gracious gift, but your melody far surpasses mine," the musician replied.

"My playing relies more on tricks than true skill. It cannot compare to yours. Diligent practice is the proper way, but alas, with so many complicated thoughts in my heart, it's impossible for me to focus solely on playing. In the end, I've sullied this art," Yun Li chuckled.

"Humbly, Your Excellency is too modest. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a pure melody. If one loves it, it is good. If not, no matter how beautiful the sound, it would still be considered shallow. Sharing your thoughts through music is not a bad thing," the musician responded.

Yun Li smiled. "Your interpretation is excellent. I thank you for it."

The musician rose to her feet. "Your humble servant dares not."

She accepted her reward and left.

The women in the Joyful Mansion didn't have fortunate destinies, but some genuinely fell in love with the art of music and dance once they entered its gates.

This musician was one of them.

After enjoying the snow scenery to her heart's content, she returned to the palace and heard Zhuyu say, "Your Highness, Lady Liu was sent back from the Zhengyang Palace after delivering a sachet to His Majesty."

Yun Li couldn't help laughing. "His Majesty is rather insensitive, isn't he?"

Zhuyu chuckled. "That's always been his way."

Indeed, He Jincheng disliked people being too eager around him.

" Lady Liu is quite attractive, but there are quite a few among her cohort who are also pleasing to the eye." The pregnant Lady Jiang wasn't particularly outstanding among them.

"The ladies that His Majesty took on his tour were all decent, but when it comes to looks, no one can compare to Concubine Yun." Yet, His Majesty just wouldn't take a fancy to the breathtakingly beautiful Concubine Yun...

Where could one seek justice for such matters? It was all fate, after all.

In the evening, He Jinli came over and said, "You haven't started packing yet?"

"I've packed some things away. The main hall is still untouched, and it's not ready yet. Why the rush? We can move in before New Year's Eve," Yun Li replied nonchalantly.

"No, we must move in by the twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month. This year, I want to give you a proper birthday celebration," He Jinli declared.

Yun Li raised an eyebrow.

People of the Great Jinn Kingdom didn't place much importance on birthdays, so they didn't celebrate unless it was a milestone year.

Both He Jinli and the Empress didn't usually make a big deal of it. In previous years, they would only host a small banquet for other concubines, and truly extravagant celebrations were rare.

"You're giving me a palace and throwing me a birthday party. What will people outside say?" Yun Li asked.

"Do you fear that?" He Jinli took her hand and asked.

Yun Li smiled. "I'm not afraid, just bothered by the hassle."

He Jinli chuckled. "I'll have someone take care of everything properly. You don't need to worry. Just listen to me."

Yun Li glanced at He Jinli with a roll of her eyes. What was so good about being obedient? Forget it, she would just let him have his way.

Seeing her reaction, He Jinli shook his head. "You, how can I ever read you? Others would jump at the chance to show off, yet you're not even interested."

"I suppose it's because I've had my fair share of the spotlight. For others, it might be a rare opportunity," Yun Li replied.

He Jinli shook his head again. "I heard you played the zither in the snow today? The melody sounded melancholic, were you troubled?"

Yun Li chuckled. "How did this... get out? If I'm still melancholic, who else in the palace would be happy?"

"I didn't play myself for long, I summoned a master musician."

He Jinli didn't believe she would be upset and hide away by herself.

"By the way, the New Year is almost here. I plan to send a few princes out of the palace to inspect the city's defenses. Let's send the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Princes."

Yun Li nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Inspecting the defenses around the capital would require quite a journey.

This is a matter of great importance.

Ordinary princes wouldn't have been entrusted with such a task.

Hao Jinli chose four princes to avoid complications, but now, outsiders would speculate about which of the four he favored the most.

"Hmm, speaking of which, your brother has been unjustly accused. It wouldn't be right for me not to offer some comfort. Now that you're the Virtuous Consort, it's inappropriate for your family not to hold a title. I've considered granting a title, but if I were to bestow it upon Minister Qi... the Empress might not be pleased. Therefore, I've decided to give the title to your brother. What do you think?" Hao Jinli inquired.

Yun Li looked up at him and said, "First, you offered me a palace, then a birthday celebration, and now a title for my brother. Does His Majesty truly cherish me or are you putting me on a pedestal to be burnt?"

"It's simply because I've spent the most time with His Majesty these past few years, and the entire harem wishes they could strangle me. Now, if you were to grant a title to my family, my uncle is already the Chancellor, and several members of the Qi family hold official positions. On the surface, this would seem like an immense honor, but as they say, all good things must come to an end," Yun Li explained.

Hao Jinli fell silent for a moment.

He hadn't thought that deeply into it.

He just wanted to give her and her family what they deserved.

"I only feel that you've been wronged," Hao Jinli replied.

"Your Highness's generosity, I truly appreciate it. But I've had a decent upbringing since childhood, even if not as the eldest daughter of the main house, my life has never been difficult. I've witnessed the height of the Qi family's glory in my youth. Therefore, I don't hold much desire for those things now. Perhaps my family would enjoy them, but if Your Highness genuinely cares for me, there's no need."

"My younger brother, though he's taken up an official position, lacks experience and isn't particularly knowledgeable. Bestowing him a title would disrupt the harmony within the Qi family."

Whose word would they follow then? One is the Empress's own blood brother, with a noble title to his name.

The other is Qi Tongxi, the long-standing head of the Qi family.

Hao Jinli shook his head. "Forget it, I'm not as clear-headed as you. In that case, I'll confer honorific titles upon your mother and siblings."

That was acceptable.

Yun Li expressed her gratitude.

Hao Jinli pulled her down to sit. "You really don't care about anything, do you?"

"Nonsense, of course I care. I care more about you. If others were to send you scent pouches or handkerchiefs, should I, being no spring chicken, go confront them?" Yun Li huffed.

Hao Jinli tsked. "I didn't even glance at them, yet here you are, feeling jealous."

Yun Li shot him another disdainful glance. "I want vinegar, we're having dumplings today. With old black vinegar."

He Jinli accepted her response.

That night, he naturally stayed.

The next morning, when the concubines paid their respects at Fengyi Palace, a newcomer attempted to undermine Lady Liu.

"Some people really don't know their place. His Majesty has always forbidden anyone from casually visiting Zhengyang Palace. What doesn't that palace have? Why bother sending a sachet? They really don't know their priorities," Jiao Lady sneered at Lady Liu.

Lady Liu bit her lip but said nothing.

"Exactly, they went out of their way to send it, who even cares?" Qu Lady huffed.

When a few junior concubines started bickering, the higher-ranking ones usually didn't intervene.

Of course, there were exceptions, and Wu Zhaoong was one of them.

Looking at the Empress' strained expression, the Consort noticed the heavy layer of powder on her face that still couldn't conceal her exhaustion.

It only accentuated the oddity of her face, with its yellowish complexion concealed beneath heavy layers of powder. It seemed utterly incongruous.

"Has Her Majesty the Empress been unwell these past few days? If so, it would be improper for us concubines to continue disturbing her daily."

"Due to an appointment at the hospital today, the update will be later than usual. I'll take a day off tomorrow, but regular updates will resume the day after."