Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Attending 3

The night was dark and rich, with flowers intoxicating.

It was late, and it was time to attend to some important matters.

Helian Qi reached out and swept the petite woman in front of him into his arms, heading straight for the bed curtains.

Ning Wanyin let out a low cry, hastily wrapping her arms around his neck to steady herself. Her pretty face flushed with a hint of red, “I should go change into my nightclothes…”

“No need, I’ll take care of it for you.”

The curtains fell, and the room was filled with the scent of incense.

The shadows of the red candles danced, filling the room with a romantic atmosphere.

At dawn, when the clouds were still misty, Helian Qi and Ning Wanyin finally rested.

Ning Wanyin’s eyes welled up with tears, and her whole body ached as if she had been crushed.

Helian Qi had a face that seemed cold and restrained, but in bed, he was a completely different person…

It seemed that being a favored concubine was indeed a physically demanding job.

She would definitely eat an extra bowl of breakfast.

The eunuchs and palace maids came in to attend to Helian Qi’s dressing and prepare him for the morning court. Ning Wanyin immediately curled up under the thin quilt, only exposing her watery eyes.

Helian Qi looked down at her, and the woman’s hair was disheveled, her eyes were like a deer’s, and her cheeks were flushed with a hint of red. She looked clear and shy, with a charming allure.

For a moment, he felt that the dawn had come too quickly, and he hadn’t had enough time to indulge in the pleasure. However, he never got too caught up in such matters. Ning Wanyin was just one of the many concubines in the palace.

She was currently useful to him, that’s all.

Helian Qi looked at Ning Wanyin and said, “You rest well. Wang Degui…”

“I’m here, Your Majesty!” Wang Degui quickly stepped forward.

“Send someone to Cining Palace to report that Ning Guiren is unwell today and won’t be able to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager,” Helian Qi said, looking at Ning Wanyin with a hint of a smile in his eyes, giving the illusion of deep affection.

All the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall were stunned.

Ning Guiren hadn’t gone to Cining Palace to pay her respects yesterday, and now she wasn’t going again?

The Emperor truly favored Ning Guiren to the extreme!

“Yes!” Wang Degui received the order and quickly sent a eunuch to Cining Palace to report the news.

When Helian Qi left Lingxue Pavilion and got into his imperial carriage, he suddenly asked the attendants beside him, “What’s Ning Guiren’s given name?”

Wang Degui was taken aback and quickly replied, “Ning Guiren is the daughter of the Shou’an Count. Her given name is Wanyin.”

He felt a bit puzzled.

It was normal for the emperor not to remember the names of his concubines.

He just needed to ask her directly.

But why did the emperor ask him instead of asking her directly?

Wang Degui couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but he felt that it was strange.

However, since the emperor had specifically asked about her name, Wang Degui felt that she was an extraordinary concubine.

After all, most concubines in the palace wouldn’t have their names specifically asked by the emperor.

Helian Qi didn’t want to ask Ning Wanyin directly because she had said that he was fond of her.

If he couldn’t remember her name, it would be embarrassing.

Helian Qi was willing to pamper a obedient and useful concubine, giving her some face.

Let her be a favored concubine in the eyes of the world, deeply loved by the emperor.

The emperor left.

Ning Wanyin finally relaxed completely and lay lazily in bed, not wanting to move a finger.

“Guiren, do you want to continue resting?” Dan Li asked with a smile.

At first, she thought Ning Wanyin would soon be in trouble and wanted to switch to serving a different master. But now, with the emperor’s support, she immediately changed her attitude.

Not paying respects to the empress dowager was nothing.
From now on, Lingxue Pavilion would be the first in the harem.

“Go to the Imperial Kitchen and get some breakfast. Eat first, then sleep,” Ning Wanyin said, forcing herself to stay awake.

She not only wanted to eat something nourishing but also wanted to observe the news from Cining Palace.

She didn’t know how the empress dowager would react today. If something unexpected happened, she wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity while she was sleeping.

“Yes, I’ll go get breakfast for you!” Dan Li quickly went to arrange it.

Lian Rui and Lu Ju attended to Ning Wanyin’s grooming. After she finished grooming and eating breakfast, the concubines who had gone to Cining Palace to pay their respects had already returned.

Cining Palace was calm and peaceful today. The empress dowager had seen the person sent by the emperor to report Ning Wanyin’s absence and hadn’t sent anyone to trouble her again.

Ning Wanyin determined that everything was normal and lay down to rest.

For five consecutive days.

The emperor favored Ning Wanyin exclusively every night, showering her with gifts and rewards.

As the most favored person in the harem, the other concubines hadn’t seen her since she started attending to the emperor.

The emperor had reported her absence to the empress dowager every day, using the same reason.

This kind of unprecedented favor had even reached the court, where people were talking about a seductive concubine in the harem who had captivated the emperor.

Soon, officials from the Xue and Cen families submitted memorials criticizing the Shou’an Count for “failing to manage his household properly.”

This was a veiled attack on Ning Wanyin, implying that her father had failed to raise her properly, resulting in her becoming a “wicked daughter.”

When the news reached Lingxue Pavilion…

Lian Rui couldn’t help but worry about her mistress, “Mistress, I’ve heard that many officials in the court are criticizing the Count. What should we do?”

Ning Wanyin sat in front of the window, her slender hands holding a wolf-hair brush as she carefully copied a cluster of ink bamboo. She spoke calmly, “Don’t worry, I’m fine, and my father will be fine too.”

Those courtiers were actually accusing her. As long as she was safe and sound, her father wouldn’t be in trouble.

“You’re right. With you here, if you just say a few nice words to the emperor, I’m sure he won’t make things difficult for the Count,” Lian Rui said, misunderstanding the situation.

Ning Wanyin couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Me, saying nice words to the emperor?
When did I have that kind of influence?

However, in the eyes of the world, she probably did have that kind of influence.

“The emperor’s decisions are absolute, and can’t be swayed by a mere woman. What the emperor decides to do doesn’t require my input,” Ning Wanyin said, dipping her brush in ink and looking at Lian Rui, reminding her, “Don’t say such things again in the future.”

Lian Rui immediately fell silent. She realized that her words could be misinterpreted as asking her mistress to “whisper sweet nothings” to the emperor, which wouldn’t be good for her mistress’s reputation if it got out.

But she had never seen the courtiers so united in their attack on the count. She couldn’t help but worry about her mistress.

“Guiren, Eunuch Wang has come to announce the imperial decree!” Xiao Guizi hastily came in to report.

Ning Wanyin put down her brush and went to the courtyard to receive the decree.

“Imperial decree: Ning Guiren is promoted to Meiren for her gentle and virtuous nature, and her pure and kind heart,” Wang Degui announced.

Ning Wanyin received the imperial decree with both hands and bowed, “Thank you for the emperor’s kindness.”

“Congratulations, Ning Meiren! You’re the first concubine to be promoted this year, which shows the emperor’s favor towards you!” Wang Degui said with a smile, offering his congratulations.

“Thank you for coming, Eunuch. Please have some tea,” Ning Wanyin said, handing Wang Degui a heavy pouch of silver as a reward.

Wang Degui didn’t accept silver from just anyone. But he did see potential in Ning Wanyin, so he accepted her silver and whispered, “I’m sure you’ve heard about the courtiers accusing your father. Don’t worry, the emperor saw those memorials and immediately issued the decree promoting you. He wants to reassure you!”

“Thank you for the emperor’s kindness,” Ning Wanyin said, looking moved.
“Thank you for telling me, Eunuch.”

After sending Wang Degui off, Ning Wanyin followed the usual protocol and rewarded the servants in Lingxue Pavilion, ordering them to properly store the imperial decree.

Everyone was joyful.

Lian Rui finally felt relieved and said happily, “Mistress, the Emperor is so considerate. He really cares about you!”

Ning Wanyin was deep in thought.
If the emperor liked her, he would have promoted her earlier…

The fact that he promoted her after seeing the courtiers’ memorials clearly meant that the promotion was for the empress dowager’s to see.

However, she was exactly the kind of person who would benefit from the emperor and the empress dowager’s game.
She was happy with the outcome.

Being promoted was a good thing, and it would improve her treatment and status.

Soon, the Imperial Household Department sent over more exquisite decorative items, such as screens and vases, which were fitting for a Meiren. Two more palace maids were added to her service, which was also fitting for a Meiren.

Lingxue Pavilion was filled with joy and celebration for a day.

In Qianxin Hall…

Wang Degui returned to report to the emperor, “Ning Meiren is very happy and grateful to the emperor.”

Helian Qi’s hand paused as he was reviewing the memorials, and he said calmly, “Oh.”

He pictured the woman’s smiling face, but his gaze soon turned towards Cining Palace.

The courtiers were submitting memorials?

Oh, then promote her.