Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 73

Chapter 73 “Will Today Do?”

Liu Yunu ceased hostilities and awkwardly retreated back to her seat.

Yun Si and Qiu Baolin exchanged a glance without leaving a trace. Very quickly, Yun Si lowered her eyes, lightly sipped a mouthful of tea, and along with the movement, her sleeve slid down, revealing a section of fair, white wrist.

The bright red agate bead bracelet on her wrist was especially eye-catching.

Rong Zhaoyi inadvertently caught sight of it out of the corner of her eye, and suddenly paused. She couldn’t help but sit up straight, looked closely at Yun Ni’s wrist, and when she clearly saw the color of the bead bracelet on her wrist, her expression changed several times in an instant. Her gaze landed fixedly on Yun Si’s wrist, and she spoke,
“In the past, I’ve never seen Yun Jieyu wearing this bracelet.”

A short sentence attracted everyone’s gaze.

A trace of surprise floated across Yun Ni’s brows and eyes. She made no attempt to conceal anything and directly stretched out her hand for Rong Zhaoyi to see, her voice delicate and soft. “Your Ladyship Zhaoyi is referring to this string of agate beads?”

The emotion in Rong Zhaoyi’s eyes turned cold.

Yun Si seemed as if she didn’t notice Rong Zhaoyi’s change in expression, or rather, she did it on purpose.

She had always known how to stab straight into the heart.

Didn’t Rong Zhaoyi like Tan Yuanchu? Liked him to the extent of being able to bear harming the little princess, how could Yun Si possibly not make some use of that?

In the entire imperial palace, Yun Si didn’t have much malice toward the other consorts. At most, verbal confrontation was just due to differing stances. Only Rong Zhaoyi, Yun Si loathed her to the extreme.

The Empress also saw that splash of red. A trace of understanding flashed across her eyes. No wonder Xu Shunfu had left Kunning Palace for a period last night.

Yun Si withdrew her hand, her cheeks tinged with a flush of red. As her gaze dropped, it added a trace of bashfulness that made one’s heart flutter.

“It was given to this concubine by His Majesty yesterday. This concubine was delighted, that’s why I couldn’t wait to wear it today. Ladyship Zhaoyi, do you think it looks good?”

In this dynasty, red was considered noble. The word “noble” represented many meanings.

The agate bead bracelet might not be priceless, but for Tan Yuanchu to permit her to wear red, was already enough to make people envious.

Rong Zhaoyi clearly sensed Yun Si’s malice. She clenched her palm tightly and said coldly,

“As long as Yun Jieyu likes it, whether or not this palace thinks it looks good is unimportant.”

Yun Si fiddled with the bead bracelet. Upon hearing this, she hooked the corner of her lips, seemingly obedient as she echoed: “This concubine thinks so too.”

Everyone in the hall, listening to the exchange between the two, couldn’t help but look at Yun Ni in astonishment, only feeling that she truly dared to speak.

Everyone could hear that Rong Zhaoyi was being perfunctory and spoke unwillingly. Yet Yun Si actually responded earnestly and even agreed with the words. It was unclear whether she meant that Rong Zhaoyi’s opinion didn’t matter, or that Rong Zhaoyi herself didn’t matter.

Perhaps both.

Someone couldn’t help but sigh inwardly on behalf of Rong Zhaoyi. In the palace, it was always said that Rong Zhaoyi dominated the harem, but there had been Yang Jieyu who once shared favor with her, and later Su Jieyu was also quite favored for a time. Now there had emerged a Yun Jieyu.

The grievances between Yun Jieyu and Rong Zhaoyi even surpassed those with Yang Jieyu in the past. Moreover, His Majesty’s attitude toward Yun Jieyu was clearly different, making it impossible for Rong Zhaoyi to suppress Yun Jieyu through rank.

Everyone couldn’t help but feel a bit of lament.

In the end, it was still because His Majesty gave Yun Jieyu too high a rank. The favoritism was so obvious that it easily stirred up imbalance in people’s hearts.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall was becoming a bit stiff, the Empress easily broke the silence:

“Yun Jieyu has fair skin. Wearing such bright colors suits her best. This palace has a red jade hairpin with vermilion tips, which matches this agate bracelet very well. After the morning greeting is over, this palace will have someone send it to Panju Hall.”

Yun Si couldn’t help but widen her apricot eyes. She was completely confused. She was indeed intentionally provoking Rong Zhaoyi, but red was, after all, a bit taboo. The Empress not minding was one thing, but she even wanted to add more?

Yun Si was a little flustered by this turn. She blinked her apricot eyes and quickly declined,

“This concubine has done no merit nor labor, how could I accept Your Highness’s reward?”

The Empress interrupted her, “A fine thing matches a beauty. That red jade hairpin suits you best. You wear it beautifully, it’s better than it collecting dust in this palace. This palace feels pleased just looking at it, so don’t refuse.”

Once things had been said to this point, even if Yun Si still wished to refuse, she could only swallow the words back. She widened her apricot eyes with delight and somewhat overwhelmed by the favor, rose to her feet to give thanks.

“Your Highness cherishes this concubine. If this concubine keeps refusing, it would be failing to appreciate kindness. In that case, this concubine will respectfully obey rather than decline.”

The other consorts could only look on with envy at this scene. What did it mean by most suitable for Yun Si?
That kind of beautiful vermilion hairpin, who wouldn’t look good wearing it?

Tracing it back to the root, it was because His Majesty doted on Yun Jieyu, so the Empress also followed in favoring Yun Jieyu.

Thus for today’s morning greeting, Yun Ni came gracefully and empty-handed. Not only did she provoke Rong Zhaoyi a round, she also obtained a vermilion hairpin from the Empress.

A harvest indeed.

By evening, word came from the imperial front, Panju Hall summoned for bedchamber service.

Yun Si lifted her eyelids and couldn’t help but remind herself: Look at that, this man was still grieving and sleepless just the night before. In just two days’ time, he had already adjusted his mood.

Su Jieyu miscarried, and he hadn’t gone to see her even once.

Yet he could summon someone for bedchamber service as usual, how could heartless even begin to describe it?

If one truly fell for such a person, wouldn’t it be falling into a pit with no way back? Entrusting all joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness to such a person, likely one would spend every day just having their heart broken. What talk would there be of glory and wealth?

Qiu Yuan saw that she was still sitting on the soft couch and asked doubtfully,

“Mistress isn’t going to freshen up a bit?”

When His Majesty first came to Panju Hall, Jieyu had already instructed Songfu early to prepare hot water. Her attitude was far more enthusiastic than now.

Yun Si rested her cheek on one hand, slowly and calmly shook her head.

“No hurry.”

“You tell Song Fu to take people and first put away all the brightly colored items in the hall.”

Qiu Yuan realized what she was trying to do and hesitated to speak, “Mistress, allow this maid to speak bluntly, His Majesty should already know what kind of nature you have. Doing these things may all be in vain.”

She had still worn that bright red agate bead bracelet today to provoke Rong Zhaoyi, and now she was putting on this delicate and sentimental act.

Who wouldn’t guess that she was just pretending?

Yun Si lightly lifted her chin and said to Qiu Yuan,

“Whether I’m sincere or not doesn’t matter, the attitude must at least be shown.”

In this palace, how many people are truly sad over Su Jieyu’s miscarriage? More often, people don’t even bother to pretend.

Qiu Yuan could only instruct people to put away all the brightly colored items in the hall. Some palace maid bumped into something, and a crisp sound rang out.

Yun Si turned her head and saw that a small bell had fallen at the tip of her toe.

She paused, and something suddenly came to her mind.
She bent down and picked up the bell.

When Tan Yuanchu arrived at Panju Hall, what he saw was a layout in the hall that was extremely plain, with not a single bright color to be found. Tan Yuanchu’s steps suddenly paused for a moment.

The next moment, Tan Yuanchu stepped past the screen and saw the woman seated on the soft couch. Her hall had a pot of white camellias, the buds just about to bloom, already touching and lovely, just like her.

The woman saw him and was momentarily stunned. She rose from the soft couch, bowed down, her delicate voice carrying a trace of grievance,

“Your Majesty came, why didn’t you let someone give word beforehand?”

Before she could kneel, Tan Yuanchu pulled her up, and casually answered her question.
“Got used to it.”

When she was in Yangxin Hall, whether she entered Yangxin Hall or he went to her room, there was never any announcement.

Tan Yuanchu glanced at her without leaving a trace. She seemed completely unaffected by yesterday, the corner of her lips carried a soft, gentle smile. Tan Yuanchu’s gaze deepened slightly.

All signs pointed to it, what happened yesterday, in the end, was something he overthought.

He had once again rushed too eagerly.

Tan Yuanchu let go of her hand and asked lightly, “What were you doing just now?”

When he came in, she had her head down, doing something. He just hadn’t had time to see clearly before she stepped down from the couch.

Upon hearing this, Yun Si didn’t say anything. She hooked Tan Yuanchu’s little finger, seeming a little lingering and entangled, and said softly,

“You hold this concubine.”

As the words fell, Tan Yuanchu paused. He couldn’t help but raise his brow.

Her intimacy with him had always been a bit bolder only when there was no one around. Yet now, with people all around the hall, she actually said such words?

Xu Shunfu hurriedly lowered his head and led the palace attendants out.

Very soon, only Yun Si and Tan Yuanchu were left in the hall.

Tan Yuanchu lowered his eyes to look at her. After a long time, he finally reached out and embraced her. He felt a kind of unspeakable grievance in his heart, his emotions carried a bit of it, rather indifferent, as if wanting to see what she would do. The next moment, he saw her lift her foot and step on the top of his shoe. Her whole body was very fair, and her feet were the same, born snow-white and delicate.

She was very light, but she had weight after all, and just like that, stepped on him.

Yet she even felt uncomfortable, softly complaining,

“A bit on tiptoe.”

Tan Yuanchu was almost amused to laughter by her, and then saw her lift her foot and gently sway it. A string of bell sounds rang out in the quiet hall.

Tan Yuanchu suddenly paused, lowering his gaze to look.

He didn’t know when a string of bells had been tied to her ankle, tied loosely, drooping over the top of her foot. When she moved, there would be a light sound. Feet were always a woman’s private part, and now they were just laid bare before his eyes.

Someone was deliberately seducing him. In the hall, incense was burning, the curling white smoke added much romance to the space. Every scene was full of color and scent.

Tan Yuanchu lightly closed his eyes.

Someone raised their hand to climb around his neck, even adding fuel to the fire. Her voice seemed very innocent,

“Your Majesty said no yesterday, then is it okay today?”

Before he could speak, she had already jumped down. Tan Yuanchu opened his eyes and saw her wearing a thin summer dress, her two fair long legs faintly visible between the hem of the skirt, barefoot, stepping lightly on the carpet.

Each step, a sound.

Tan Yuanchu’s gaze gradually darkened. When she once again passed in front of him, he stopped her, both hands trapping her at the waist, his voice somewhat hoarse.

“Yun Si, who taught you these things?”

She raised her head, innocent and puzzled: “Even bells can’t be worn?”

Can be worn, why not?

Just a simple string of bells, yet inexplicably evoked the word debauchery.

When Tan Yuanchu untied her belt, he still asked her with some sarcasm,

“Putting away all the bright colors in the hall, yet doing this kind of posture, can’t you at least pretend more thoroughly?”

Yun Si lightly blinked her apricot eyes, very easy to talk to.
“Then otherwise, how about, you don’t touch this concubine?”

Someone suddenly pinched her waist.

Yun Si immediately swallowed her voice.

When the bed curtains were lowered, Yun Si, by the candlelight, saw clearly the look in his eyes, which made her heart involuntarily tighten. Yun Si couldn’t help but clutch the brocade quilt, why did she feel like she seemed to have brought trouble upon herself?

Her premonition was not wrong.

The red candle kept burning, wax drops gradually falling, swaying along with the bed curtains.

Someone did not allow her to remove the bell, so, in the hall, there was always the sound of the bell ringing. Yun Si was forced until her apricot eyes were wet and red, burning hot tears rolling down her cheeks. Only then did she belatedly realize, the clear and crisp bell sounds filling the hall were also bit by bit tainted with shame.

In the depths of passion, he used his fingertips to flick the bell, unhurriedly asked her,

“Does it sound nice?”

Yun Si couldn’t speak.

Who said that using bells during intercourse was a good idea?

Yun Si had merely happened to see the bell, got momentarily excited, but now deeply regretted it.

In the middle of the night, the darkness was so thick it almost couldn’t dissolve. Tan Yuanchu carried the woman to wash. Once the palace servants had all withdrawn, Tan Yuanchu noticed someone had kicked him.

It didn’t hurt, didn’t itch, just happened to land on his calf.

Tan Yuanchu lowered his eyes. The woman had burrowed into the brocade quilt, only revealing a head. Her black hair still had a bit of dampness, scattered over her shoulders. Her apricot eyes looked at him wet and glistening, filled with indescribable annoyance, and also carrying traces of lingering spring tides.

Especially alluring.

Tan Yuanchu couldn’t help but lower his head and kiss her apricot eyes, somewhat itching to move again. She seemed to be frightened, hurriedly reached out to push him, her voice carried a bit of a sobbing tone, only her strength was very light, so light it could be ignored.

Such a pitiful little appearance.

Tan Yuanchu, in the end, let her go.

It’s just that someone was pushing their luck, under the brocade quilt, she lifted her leg and kicked him again. Her delicate toes brushed past his thigh and abdomen. Tan Yuanchu couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, then suddenly let out a low laugh.

“Wasn’t it you who asked me earlier if I could or couldn’t today?”

Yun Si choked back sobs bit by bit: “…No one bullies people like you do.”

What time was it already?
Xu Shunfu had brought in hot water three times, and by the last time, it was even Lu Yuan himself who brought it in!

In the end, his fingertips played with the bell, inch by inch approaching, and still leisurely asked her whether it sounded nice.

She clearly couldn’t hear anything, yet had no choice but to answer him.

Just thinking back on it made Yun Si’s scalp tingle, the spring tide in her bones seemed yet to have faded, still carrying a faint, bone-gnawing itch.

Tan Yuanchu lowered his head to kiss her, denying her words.

“Didn’t bully.”

Her apricot eyes turned red, and only then was he willing not to bully her.

—

Panju Hall had called for water yesterday — this news could not be kept secret.

In Qingyu Courtyard, a set of teacups was smashed. Su Jieyu clenched her palm tightly, hating to the point her heart ached. She gritted her voice.

“She couldn’t even endure for a moment?!”

Bai Shao didn’t know what to say. Yun Jieyu had the opportunity to attend to the Emperor, how could she not seize it?

If positions were reversed, and it was her master who had the turn to serve in bed, would her mistress feel pity for Yun Jieyu and thus give up the opportunity?

The mistress wouldn’t.

Naturally, Yun Jieyu wouldn’t either.

Su Jieyu closed her eyes. She took a deep breath for a long while before forcing down her emotions and asked,

“How’s Her Highness’s investigation going?”

Bai Shao shook her head and spoke in a low voice, “Her Highness said, what’s most important now is for the master to nurse her health well, and wait for news.”

Su Jieyu slowly clenched her palm, and she couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.

“Wait?”

Her Highness clearly knows who harmed her, yet refuses to tell her, what exactly is she scrupling over?!

Bai Shao saw through her thoughts, her lips moved, but in the end she said nothing.

Ever since her mistress had the miscarriage, her emotions had been unstable. If she found out who the culprit was, no one could say what she might do in a moment of impulse.

Someone whom even the Empress must treat with caution, such a person’s status definitely wouldn’t be low.

The only ones Bai Shao could think of were just those few.

And the status of those few, there’s no way her mistress could shake them. To seek revenge in a short time, how could it be easy?

She could only, like the Empress, scheme bit by bit, wait for the opportunity.

Unless her mistress went all out, disregarded even her own life, and perished together with that person, but which woman in the palace could truly afford to go all out?

Tug one thread and the whole web moves, if it really came to that, the one implicated would be the entire maternal clan.

—

Yun Si didn’t know what Su Jieyu was thinking. She woke up late today, and when she opened her eyes with difficulty, Tan Yuanchu was once again not in the hall.

Yun Si looked around the room, didn’t find him, and asked, “Where is he?”

Qiu Yuan was a bit puzzled, and answered earnestly, “Half an hour ago, His Majesty returned to the imperial front.”

Yun Si’s breath got stuck in her chest. They were going to the temporary palace tomorrow, so there was definitely no morning court today. Tan Yuanchu running off so early, he was clearly feeling guilty!

Yun Si couldn’t help but bash the soft pillow in shame and anger. Seeing this, Qiu Yuan didn’t dare tell her that before His Majesty left, his whole person seemed to carry a sense of satisfaction.

Yun Si was completely different. When she went to Kunning Palace to pay her respects, she was a bit listless, yet her brows and eyes still carried a trace of unshakable spring charm.

Today’s greetings ended very quickly. Yun Si’s whole body was sore and weak, she had no mind to linger, and directly returned to Panju Hall.

Song Fu brought back a piece of news when he went to the Imperial Kitchen to fetch lunch.

“Mistress, this servant saw Rong Zhaoyi’s procession heading toward the Imperial presence on the way back.”

Yun Si swallowed a mouthful of soup. Upon hearing this, she didn’t even lift her eyes, and lightly instructed Qiu Yuan, “Go to Yangxin Hall and invite His Majesty. Just say that after I returned to the palace today, I closed my doors to visitors, and ask His Majesty to come over once.”

She spoke very softly today, but if one listened closely, they would notice that her voice was slightly hoarse, inexplicably carrying a bit of delicate cuteness.

Qiu Yuan was a bit puzzled.

Yun Si’s voice was low and cold. “She goes to the Imperial presence at this time, most likely to use the summer retreat as an excuse to take the little princess back from Kunning Palace.”

Yun Si narrowed her eyes, hiding the coldness in them. She very subtly tugged at the corner of her lips.

“I just won’t let her have her way!”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuan said nothing, bowed, and turned to leave.

Yun Si finished a bowl of soup, then unhurriedly looked at Song Fu.

“Clear away all the dishes.”

She glanced at the food box, and added, “Put them back into the food box and wait outside.”

Yun Si didn’t say much, but Songfu understood her meaning. Lunch had just been laid out, and the master had only touched a bit of soup. Putting it back would make it seem as though it had just been brought in, no flaws could be seen.

Qiu Yuan hurried all the way to Yangxin Hall. She glanced around, and sure enough, saw Rong Zhaoyi’s procession outside the hall.

Xu Shunfu was guarding the door outside. When he saw her, he couldn’t help saying, “Why are you here?”

Qiu Yuan frowned. She didn’t show much expression, but it was obvious she was a bit anxious.

Xu Shunfu’s heart thumped, afraid something had happened to Yun Si. He quickly asked in a flustered voice, “Did you turn mute after leaving Yangxin Hall? Speak, did something happen to Yun Jieyu?”

Qiu Yuan pressed her lips and spoke in a low voice,

“Mistress has been shutting herself in the hall not seeing anyone since she paid respects this morning, not even eating lunch. This servant was worried and came to ask His Majesty to go over once.”

Xu Shunfu felt a bit numb; he somewhat understood why Yun Jieyu was unwilling to see people.

Embarrassed, obviously.

Xu Shunfu had heard the sound of the bells last night. Yun Jieyu had always been thin-skinned. Now it was clear she was too embarrassed to face anyone.

Xu Shunfu rubbed his nose, thought of the person in the hall, and hesitated a bit.

Qiu Yuan seemed to just notice the ceremonial escort at the side. She frowned slightly
“If His Majesty is busy with matters, this servant will return first.”

She turned to leave, but Xu Shunfu quickly pulled her back. The two had known each other for many years, so he was not polite.

“Look at you, what are you in such a hurry for!”

Xu Shunfu recalled how the other night after Yun Jieyu turned and left, in the middle of the night, His Majesty still had to make him deliver an agate bead string to coax her, not daring at all to let Qiu Yuan return like this.

Otherwise, if Yun Jieyu threw another tantrum, what would he have to deliver in the middle of the night?

Xu Shunfu pushed open the door and entered the hall. Yun Si had guessed correctly, Rong Zhaoyi was talking with Tan Yuanchu about the matter of the little princess. She was using the excuse of the summer heat in the palace, wanting to have Tan Yuanchu agree to let her take the little princess to the summer palace to escape the heat.

The Empress was not on the list of people going to the summer palace.

If the little princess were to go, she would have to return to Rong Zhaoyi’s side. When she came back to the palace, naturally, Rong Zhaoyi would take her back to Changchun Palace.

Tan Yuanchu had not yet responded when Xu Shunfu pushed open the door, interrupting their conversation.

Rong Zhaoyi frowned imperceptibly. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she always felt that the attendants before the throne were no longer as respectful to her as they once were.

If it had been in the past, how would Xu Shunfu dare to push open the door and interrupt while she was inside the hall?

Xu Shunfu noticed Rong Zhaoyi was looking at him. He didn’t dare raise his head and respectfully said in a low voice,

“Your Majesty, Qiu Yuan from Panju Hall says that Yun Jieyu has stayed shut in all day and hasn’t even eaten lunch. She hopes you can go over and persuade Yun Jieyu.”

Rong Zhaoyi’s face suddenly turned cold.

Shut in the whole day not going out?
What nonsense is that?
During morning greetings, Rong Zhaoyi had still seen Yun Si, just one short hour ago, was it really necessary to come request an audience with the Emperor?

Saying Yun Si didn’t do it on purpose, Rong Zhaoyi simply didn’t believe it.

Yun Si didn’t care whether she believed it or not, her intention was precisely to make Rong Zhaoyi feel stifled, it would be best if Rong Zhaoyi thought she did it on purpose.

As soon as Xu Shunfu finished speaking, Tan Yuanchu immediately furrowed his brows.

What Xu Shunfu could think of, Tan Yuanchu naturally could as well, there were plenty of times when Yun Si had thin skin. Maybe just a moment ago she still made one grind their teeth in anger, but in the next moment, she could suddenly flush red-eyed with shame.

Yesterday, it was indeed Yun Si who deliberately drew attention at the start, but later on, he had indeed gone a bit too far.

Tan Yuanchu stood up. Seeing this, Rong Zhaoyi had a bad premonition in her heart, and she suddenly opened her mouth to stop Tan Yuanchu. “Your Majesty, this concubine was speaking to you about the little princess.”

“Recently it’s been hot in the palace, and the little princess is delicate, unable to endure such high temperatures. Your Majesty, please let the little princess go with this concubine to the summer palace, I beg you.”

The reason Rong Zhaoyi could remain favored all along was of course because her appearance was overly beautiful, her brows and eyes all carried a hint of coquettishness. Her tone was light and soft, with a bit of coyness, few could refuse such a beauty.

She had always interacted with Tan Yuanchu like this, and she also knew what kind of demeanor Tan Yuanchu liked from her.

But now, Tan Yuanchu only gave her a glance.

Rong Zhaoyi felt a bit flustered, and she instinctively brought up the little princess, because she knew Tan Yuanchu cared most about the two imperial heirs in the palace. It seemed that seeing him say nothing, she somewhat dejectedly lowered her gaze, and said,

“This concubine truly knows her wrongs. When I went to Kunning Palace today, the little princess kept crying, cried so much my heart was breaking. I beg Your Majesty, please don’t be angry at this concubine.”

Rong Zhaoyi had always been able to lower herself in front of Tan Yuanchu. She didn’t care that Xu Shunfu was still in the hall, she blurted out all the apologetic, yielding words in one go.

The beauty’s eyes were a little red. A proud person yielding like this would only make others feel even more pity.

Xu Shunfu stood in the corner of the hall with lowered brows and obedient eyes. When he heard Rong Zhaoyi repeatedly mention the little princess, he felt it was not good.

Sure enough, Tan Yuanchu opened his mouth and asked lightly,

“When you soaked her in cold water, and heard her crying and calling you ‘Mother Consort,’ how did you not feel heartache?”

Rong Zhaoyi looked up in disbelief. When she met Tan Yuanchu’s gaze, her whole body suddenly froze in place, and a chill spread from the soles of her feet.

She suddenly remembered, the little princess’s wet nurse was arranged personally by the Emperor, those people had never been loyal to her from the start.

Tan Yuanchu indifferently withdrew his gaze.

“Rather than begging me, it’s better to spend more time by the little princess’s side. When the little princess is willing to get close to you again, only then will she return to Changchun Palace.”

After speaking, Tan Yuanchu no longer paid her any attention, directly stepped past her and went down the steps. His tall and slender figure quickly disappeared inside the hall.

Rong Zhaoyi stared blankly at his back. He walked without the slightest hesitation.

Once she no longer had the little princess, would he not even be willing to look back at her once?

Tong Yun looked at her with worry. Rong Zhaoyi turned her head. It seemed she raised her hand to wipe her face, and when she turned back around, her expression had already returned to normal. She looked in the direction of Panju Hall and tugged her lips with a light sneer.

“When he favored this Concubine back then, it was far more than just this.”

Without needing Tong Yun’s consolation, Rong Zhaoyi had already adjusted her mindset and sneered coldly, “This Concubine still has a little princess. Even if fallen out of favor, it’s only temporary. And as for her, how long can she stay favored!”

As for Tan Yuanchu, when he arrived at Panju Hall, what he saw was the tightly shut hall doors, the food box placed at the entrance, and Song Fu pacing back and forth at the doorway with a distressed expression.

Seeing him was like seeing a savior; his eyes suddenly lit up.

“Your Majesty, You’ve finally come!”