"Yao Hua Palace!"
Soon after Zhao Guifei woke up from her midday nap, she heard Jin Si hurry to report that Yu Yao had been brought back to the palace by the emperor and was arranged to serve in the Taide Hall.
"Is it really true?"
Zhao Guifei stood up from the bed and looked at Jin Si with a frown, asking coldly.
Hongyu, who was kneeling on the ground and tapping Zhao Guifei's legs, paused for a moment and then continued.
But he was listening intently with his ears perked up.
Jin Si couldn't help but glance at Hongyu on the ground, then turned to Zhao Guifei and reported truthfully:
"The concubine Yu Yao was brought back to the palace by the emperor and was arranged to serve in the Taide Hall, but I'm not sure which specific duty she is responsible for," said Jin Si, reporting to Her Majesty.
"Indeed, this slut has impressive skills; even after being thrown into the arena, she could still entice the emperor."
Zhao Guifei reached out to touch her hairpin, her eyes flashing with malevolence.
Hongyu kept tapping legs, listening to the Guifei's swearing, without any particular expression on her face.
She did not know that Yu Yao was the palace maid who had been supplanted in her favor.
Otherwise, she would not be so calm.
Jin Si didn't say anything, but her eyes swept over Hongyu beside her, full of glee.
That slut was brought back to the palace by the emperor. Now watch how you, the imposter, handle it?
Zhao Guifei also thought of this, lowering her eyes and looking at Hongyu, her deep-blue eyes furrowed together.
Although the emperor has been very fond of Hongyu recently, which has displeased her, and she's been trying various ways to make her uncomfortable, ultimately Hongyu is still one of hers.
She's still much better than that slut, Yu Yao.
What she worried about was whether the emperor had discovered the truth of this matter.
If the emperor found out that she had hidden the truth and substituted a false past...
Zhao Guifei's heart palpitated, and she dared not continue thinking.
Her expression became tense and even scared.
Hongyu noticed the fear in her mother's eyes and furrowed her brow.
I don't understand what the Consort is afraid of?
However, a sudden stroke of insight flashed in her mind, and she remembered something.
Could it be that Yu Yao is the person the emperor is truly looking for? And is that peach hairpin also Yu Yao's?
On thinking about it, Hongyu was also afraid.
Since Yu Yao has returned, what should she do?
Had the emperor discovered it? Would he kill her?
No, she has worked hard to become a court consort and hasn't even enjoyed the glory and wealth yet. How can she die?
Hongyu naturally doesn't want to die. Then, only Yu Yao has to die.
And once she's dead, nothing can be found out, and she will still be the emperor's woman.
Zhao Guifei had the same thought, and both of them wanted to kill Yu Yao to ensure there would be no evidence against them.
However, for a time, they couldn't think of any good ways.
Jin Si could tell that Hongyu and her mother had the same idea. She couldn't help but remind Zhao Guifei: "Madam, that whore has gone to serve in the Taide Hall. We might not be able to make a move."
Although she really disliked Yu Yao, she also knew it was not advisable to continue taking action.
Otherwise, the Guifei Mother might be discovered.
"You're right. At present, it's not advisable to act rashly!"
Zhao Guifei quickly calmed down, but the desire to take revenge on Yu Yao lingered in her mind.
"Madam..."
Hongyu was anxious, her gaze falling on Zhao Guifei, wanting to say something.
But before she could finish, Zhao Guifei kicked angrily and said angrily: "Shut up, you whore! Do you want to kill this palace lady?"
Hongyu was unprepared and was knocked over to the ground, looking quite embarrassed.
She didn't care about the pain in her body and quickly crawled up and kneeled again, frightenedly saying: "Madam, please forgive me! My lady, I have no intention of harming you, please understand!"
Even though she was now a concubine, in the presence of the Guifei Mother, she still had to refer to herself as a slave, and even came to serve every day at sunrise.
But even so, the Guifei Mother was still not satisfied with her, constantly teasing and abusing her in various ways.
Only because the emperor has been frequently summoning her, causing her to be favored instead of the Guifei Mother.
Zhao Guifei glared at her with malevolence, her anger not abating, and she picked up a teacup from the desk and threw it at her angrily: "Shameless wretch, you dare not do anything. What else are you afraid of? You have seduced the emperor to ignore me."
"I don't want to see you. Get out..."
Another furious scream!
The teacup landed heavily on Hongyu's shoulders, making her almost scream out in pain.
But upon hearing the Guifei Mother's command to leave, she felt as if she had been granted absolution and quickly said, "Yes, Madam Guifei, I will withdraw!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left the Yao Hua Palace, leaving no trace.
"The Consort doesn't need to be angry, madam. If you truly do not like Hongyu, then in the future, you should not let her come here."
Jin Si stepped forward to comfort her.
Zhao Guifei turned to look at Jin Si and sighed, "Jin Si, do you think I should have pushed Hongyu out?"
She also wondered what the emperor liked about this cheap concubine. Ever since she was promoted to the position of Concubine of Chai, the emperor has frequently summoned her.
Instead, she herself has been gradually neglected by the emperor, attracting countless jokes behind her back.
Jin Si's expression turned embarrassed upon hearing this. As a slave, she dare not respond to such words, even if the Guifei Mother made mistakes, it was not something a slave could say.
If she were to speak, even if the Guifei Mother wanted to replace Yu Yao by pushing someone out, there was no need to choose someone so beautiful.
It would have been enough to find a loyal palace maid with average looks.
Hongyu's thoughts were already big, and she was also very beautiful. It was natural for the emperor, being a man, to be attracted to her.
Zhao Guifei saw that Jin Si didn't respond, knowing she dare not answer the question, suddenly feeling bored, waved her hand and let her go down.
...
Just as Zhao Guifei was secretly hurt, the entire palace knew that the emperor had brought back a small palace maid from the arena and had arranged her to serve in the Taide Hall.
It was said that the maid was originally from Zhao Guifei's palace, but later she didn't know what she had done wrong and was sent to the laundry department.
But the little palace maid who was supposed to be in the laundry department was found outside the palace, and she was chosen by the emperor and brought back.
No one knows what happened, but everyone feels that something abnormal is going on, and they secretly speculate.
The empress in the Cening Palace also heard about this, but she didn't take it seriously.
A little palace maid isn't worth her attention.
She only cares about when the emperor will give her a grandson.
In an ordinary family, she would have been surrounded by her children and grandchildren at this age. However, the emperor is still childless up to now, not to mention a prince or even a princess.
With frequent rumors of adoption from the front court, and court officials constantly submitting memorials, how could she not be anxious?
The empress just thought about the countless concubines in the palace, but not one of them could produce an heir. She was frowning with dissatisfaction.
All of them are useless.
"Qiu Yun, convey the imperial command to summon the emperor for a meal tonight!"
The empress was half-reclined on the eight-treasure Ruyi Soft Mat, flicked her eyelid, and spoke to the old maid beside her in a tone that wasn't very pleasant.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
An old maid came out, answered respectfully, and then quickly withdrew.
...
Over there, Yu Yao met Zhu Xiang as soon as she arrived. Zhu Xiang saw her and remained expressionless, but she didn't cause any trouble either; she just let her follow her to get accustomed to the environment.
Yu Yao naturally wouldn't argue, and thus became Zhu Xiang's little shadow, following her the whole way.
Of course, she also met other palace people in the Taide Hall, some were responsible for serving tea, others were responsible for arranging bookshelves, and there were also those who were responsible for the emperor's desk...
These palace girls who served in front of the emperor were all very beautiful, and they were no less handsome than the concubines in the harem.
