Yuyao's eyes sparkled with a playful glint, her eyebrows and eyes conveying a smile as she softly laughed, "How could I dare to be jealous of the emperor? The emperor is the Supreme Ruler of all, with three thousand beautiful concubines in the palace. If I were to be jealous of them all, wouldn't I turn green with envy?"
Emperor Jing listened to her words and laughed heartily, his expression full of joy. He released his hand that had been holding her chin and gently rubbed his nose with his thumb, "Your little mouth is really becoming more and more skilled. Alright, I'll let you have this time."
The head eunuch of the Jingshi Office, An Hai, watches the interaction between the two of them and surreptitiously looks at Yu Yao with hidden curiosity.
The mouth around the palace is incredibly tight; not a single piece of news has been leaked.
According to the attitude of the emperor towards this palace maid, it is obvious that he has been treating her well for more than a day or two.
The harem may soon have a new mistress.
An Hai was unaware of Yu Yao's true identity and did not recognize her, thinking instead that she was just one of the palace girls serving in front of the emperor or one of the concubines at Taihe Hall.
She thought to herself, she would go back and ask around to see if she needed to prepare a green headboard in advance.
Given the emperor's attitude, it will not be long before she is elevated.
Emperor Jing was unaware of An Hai's thoughts, so he teased Yu Yao a few times and then let her go, turning his gaze to the eunuch, "Bring it up."
Upon hearing this, An Hai knew that the emperor was about to choose a new concubine, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly called for one of the people behind him to pass over the green headboard.
Emperor Jing's gaze swept over the row of green headboards, eventually lingering on the headboards of Zhenfei and Lili. He seemed to be indecisive about choosing between the two.
Yu Yao saw this and subtly glanced at the two green headboards, noticing the characters for "Zhenfei" and "Lili" inscribed on them. She realized that these two were favored concubines.
"Zhen" means "precious," indicating that this woman holds a special place in Rongyuan's heart.
"Lili" means "beautiful," implying that her appearance must be quite stunning, as she wouldn't have been given the title of "Lili" otherwise.
She had thought that Emperor Jing would draw a name from either of the two, but to her surprise, his gaze swept over the two green headboards and he flipped over the one for Yun Fei, saying, "Tonight, it will be her. Go to Yun Fei's quarters."
She did not know who Yun Fei was, nor did she have much knowledge of the emperor's harem. However, being able to secure the first night's stay as a concubine during the new emperor's inauguration was enough to show that this person was no ordinary person.
Yu Yao did not understand the reason, but those in the Jingshi Office had a good grasp of it.
Yun Fei's appearance was not particularly striking, only being decent. She was also not particularly favored by the emperor in everyday life, and kept a low profile. She never formed any enemies and appeared to be insignificant on the surface.
Yet, she is the only woman in the emperor's harem who has genuinely smiled.
Although the child was aborted before three months, it at least proved that Yun Fei was capable of bearing a child.
Who knows, the emperor is over twenty years old and has no son or daughter. Fortunately, the emperor is young, otherwise, the imperial clan would have had to submit a memorial to urgently request an heir.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
An Hai respectfully replied and quickly led the people from the Jingshi Office away.
Yu Yao didn't feel too disappointed. After all, she doesn't like Emperor Jing and had no intention of courting him.
Yu Yao's demeanor, as observed by Emperor Jing, seemed like a forced smile, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of compassion. He gently took her hand and said in a soft voice, "Go back first. Tomorrow, I will bestow upon you a rank."
Although she knew that Emperor Jing would eventually bestow a rank upon her, she still felt delighted by this. She bent forward and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing her in such a manner, Emperor Jing felt even softer in his heart. He pulled her hand over and gently spread open her palm, using his fingertips to write the characters for "Wenjun" (a rank below a concubine) on her hand.
Smiling and speaking softly, he asked, "Do you like it?"
Feeling the warmth and the texture of the characters on her palm, she knew that he had written the words "Wenjun" (Venerable Consort), indicating his intention to bestow upon her the rank of Wenjun.
Yu Yao gently lowered her eyes, the rank of Wenjun may be in the sixth level of the Zong Bencheng, but it still belongs to the category of low-level concubines and officials.
However, for her status, it was already quite satisfactory.
The previous owner had been an Anqing (a lower rank) when she first entered the harem of the former emperor. Even after the former emperor's death, she was only promoted to the rank of Renren (a concubine).
"As a slave, I am extremely grateful for Your Majesty's honor. I will certainly adhere to my duties and fulfill your majesty's favor."
She withdrew her hand and bowed again, with an excited expression, saying.
Emperor Jing was very pleased with her attitude, and after a few words, he allowed her to leave.
She bowed and left the emperor's chambers, returning to her quarters. She was quite discreet about it.
This night, the harem would have many sleepless nights. The concubines all anxiously awaited, eagerly wondering who would be the first to receive the emperor's favor after his coronation and the end of his mourning period.
Being the first person to be chosen by the emperor holds a significant meaning.
Only when the edict was received did the imperial carriage carrying the divine seal and auspicious symbols go to Yun Fei's Chinsan Hall, and did the concubines in the harem know that the emperor had chosen Yun Fei as his concubine for the night.
All the concubines gritted their teeth and shattered countless vases in their respective quarters, their curses echoing constantly.
Yingyue Palace.
Lili's palace, grandiose and opulent, was brightly lit with lamps that shone upon her alluring and radiant face, much like the brightest moon in the night sky.
She wore a luxurious palace dress embroidered with golden lotus flowers, every step she took swaying gracefully, showcasing the elegance of a peerless beauty.
She opened her red lips, but the words she spoke seemed like the biting cold of the winter and summer solstice, piercing to the bone.
"How dare Yun Fei flaunt her power in front of me, using her beauty as an excuse. Just a concubine who has not given birth to an heir, yet she dares to overshadow me."
Her eyes flashed with severity, and her voice was bitterness.
"Slap"
A beautifully carved porcelain vase was shattered into pieces.
The close servant Cuivi saw the situation and cautiously stepped around the shattered porcelain pieces, approaching to comfort her:
"Please, my lady, do not be angry. Yun Fei had once carried the emperor's child, but she was not fortunate enough to keep it. The emperor turned her favor now only because she has the potential to bear children. As long as you are with child and continue to enjoy the emperor's favor, you will be the most important concubine in the harem in the future."
Lili listened to Cuivi's words and narrowed her eyes slightly, her long lashes casting a shadow in the candlelight. "What you said is reasonable. I have been drinking the pregnancy tonic all along, but there is still no sign of pregnancy in my belly."
She gently touched her flat abdomen, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
Without an heir, all the favor and affection is futile. She need not worry about beauty fading or favor being lost, but she has nothing to rely on should she fall out of favor one day.
Once the emperor passes away, all concubines without heirs must commit suicide to accompany the emperor in death.
No matter how grand and shining one is during their lifetime, the result will still be the same.
This is the ancestral tradition of Daguan State, and no one can change it.
Cuivi looked at the dowager's melancholic eyes and her eyeballs twitched as she whispered, "Madam, perhaps you can consult a doctor to recalibrate the formula, or make some adjustments to your diet. I've heard that the new chef from the Imperial Kitchen has a great deal of expertise in nourishing cuisine and maybe he can create some dishes that are conducive to conception."
Lili nodded slightly upon hearing this, "You are a clever girl. Your suggestions are indeed thorough. You will arrange it tomorrow."
Jing Fei's Jing Shuang Palace.
Jing Fei is incredibly beautiful. Her skin is as delicate as jade, and she has a petite, slender face with almond-shaped eyes that curve slightly upwards, full of emotion.
Beautiful, fragile, and sentimental, she is unforgettable at first glance.
She sat gracefully on a delicate carved chair, her face slightly pale.
She held a delicate jade bowl in her hand, filled with the black-colored pregnancy pill.
She furrowed her brow and drank the bitter potion in one gulp.
After drinking the medicine, she placed the bowl heavily on the table and coldly snorted, "Yun Fei really had her lucky streak. Despite her mediocre appearance in the harem, she still managed to catch the emperor's eye."
Her close palace maid, Xiangguo, approached cautiously and said softly, "Please don't be angry, my lady. The winds of fate always turn in the palace. You are young and beautiful, and the emperor is also very fond of you. You must definitely have a greater chance to give birth to an heir than Yun Fei."
Jing Fei bit her lip, "Hmph, let's hope so. Go get the Buddhist scriptures that I copied a while ago and take them to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. Tell her that I pray for the emperor and for her every day."
Tonight is fine if it's Yun Fei, but it's just that that little slut has carried the child of the emperor.
But if Lizhi that bimbo manages to get ahead of her, then she will become a laughingstock in the harem.
Upon hearing this, Xiangguo immediately understood her lady's intention and respectfully said, "Yes, my lady."
She quickly withdrew to do her tasks.
In a certain courtyard near the side palace of the Taohedian, Yu Yao is unaware of these things and doesn't care.
After returning, Yu Yao washed and brushed her teeth, quickly sinking into a deep sleep, sleeping soundly.
