CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: QIU LIE ESCORT LIST

Xue Ya didn’t dare to respond, Yun Jiao answered, "Is there anything wrong with talking like this?"

"Speaking like this easily offends people."

"So, do you resent me?"

Consort Ji turned her face away, and Yun Jiao walked directly in front of her, forcing her to respond, "...I’m not someone who repays kindness with betrayal."

Originally caught in the fear and sadness of being pushed into the water by her sister, she found herself distracted by this fool’s jests, easing her worries significantly. Her pale face regained some blood, with an unexpectedly touching fragility. Seeing Yun Jiao staring eagerly at her, Consort Ji said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

"It’s quite embarrassing," Yun Jiao said with a cheeky look, "I’m just curious about what happened between you two..."

"Aren’t you afraid that Lady Shufei will silence you now?"

Yun Jiao pretended to look at the distant scenery.

Still seeing her as her savior, Consort Ji said, "Lady Shufei didn’t really want to kill me; she felt I was useless and got impatient waiting around. It’s been too long since the Emperor visited Yanxi Palace, so she tried this strange tactic. If one girl from the Ji Family fell into the water and another caught a cold saving her... the Emperor would eventually have to come by and take a look."

All that, just for an audience with the Emperor, pushing a sister who can’t swim into the water.

Tears welled up in the eyes of Consort Ji.

Yun Jiao felt she was vastly different from when she was in Chuxiu Palace; then, even if anxious, she had vigor. Now, she only appeared fragile and begrudging, even under the bright sun appearing as if standing in a light drizzle flowing endlessly from the corners of her eyes. She didn’t want to cry; tears are useless in the palace. She awkwardly wiped them with the back of her hand and resentfully blamed Yun Jiao: "When you entered the palace, you rose quickly, gained a title, and enjoyed unrivaled favor and prestige; you must feel your wishes fulfilled."

"Gaining favor is not my wish."

Yun Jiao said.

Without needing further explanation, Consort Ji believed her; this fool carried an air of carefreeness about everything.

Heaven loves to toy with people; sometimes, the more you desire, the harder it is to obtain.

The things you don’t seek often chase you, feeding you even when you aren’t hungry, truly infuriating a person.

Yun Jiao countered, "Do you most want to gain favor?"

Consort Ji said she wanted to go home, but she couldn’t anymore.

Once you enter the palace, it’s like walking a deep narrow path where women can only move forward, with no room to turn back.

Consort Ji sniffled, seemingly making a resolution: "The Emperor will choose those going to the Qiu Lie at the end of the month. If you want to go, you should ask the Emperor as soon as possible; otherwise, Attendant Lady and Servant Consort generally have no chance of going."

Qiu Lie really shouldn’t be scheduled just before winter sets in.

Previously, the Emperor had delayed Qiu Lie due to other matters, and everyone thought it wouldn’t happen this year.

This is one reason why Lady Shufei was anxious; she feared the Emperor wouldn’t take her along.

Having no other means of repayment, she shared the only current news as a form of gratitude.

...

Before parting, Consort Ji said, "Even though you saved me, if I meet any opportunity in the future, I’ll help you as well. But it’s best we don’t get too involved; I have no interest in making close friends in the harem."

"Mm-hmm."

Yun Jiao responded while bringing up the social network interface.

Friendship: Attendant Lady Sun, Consort Ji

Consort Ji’s name appeared much darker than Attendant Lady Sun’s, indicating higher favorability.

Yun Jiao stood silently for a moment, unable to suppress a smile.

...

When Yun Jiao returned to Xianfu Palace, Lady Shufei’s reward was also delivered to the western room.

The palace maid sending the reward had to first visit Concubine Li in the main hall, who did not dare to stop Lady Shufei’s people, but vented unhappily, "I should not have given her the Jade Bracelet; she ended up clinging to Lady Shufei. Whatever Lady Shufei rewards her with must be a hundred times better than what I have! Oh well, I didn’t expect her or the Sun Family to side with Xianfu Palace anyway."

Concubine Li did not avoid being overheard when she said this, and Xue Ya dared only to lower her head, pretending not to have heard.

After Yun Jiao thanked the guests and closed the gift box, she found inside a beautifully crafted gold inlaid with pearls and jade hairpin, perfectly suited for her status. The palace maid delivering the reward was courteous, saying it was to thank the little mistress for accompanying Lady Shufei’s sister for a pleasant stroll. Xue Ya, privy to the inner story, felt a mix of emotions: "Lady Shufei is hinting to the little mistress not to speak recklessly."

"Such generosity really runs in the family, both sisters are very generous."

But Yun Jiao did not mind; she admired it in her hands for a while before asking Xue Ya to place it on the dressing table: "When you go to pay respects tomorrow, wear it so Lady Shufei can see it; she’ll be reassured."

After finishing, she noticed two palace maids turning their heads simultaneously to stare at her.

Perplexed, Yun Jiao asked, "What is it?"

Gong Mei appeared gratified, "I didn’t expect the little mistress to understand human nature so well."

Yun Jiao: "..."

Though not openly stated, Yun Jiao felt underestimated.

Consort Ji was the one harmed; how to handle the matter should be up to her decision. Yun Jiao certainly would not meddle; she planned to bury what she learned deep in her heart, never mentioning it to a third person.

But, she wasn’t the only one who caught onto the matter.

The ever-shadowy Hidden Guard Qing Zhou was also aware and reported the entire process to the Emperor immediately.

"I understand."

Lady Shufei’s cherished reputation was irrelevant in Xie Zhixing’s eyes.

Providing a win-win approach to draw his attention certainly wasn’t a bad strategy, but it was unfortunate that Consort Ji was aquaphobic—when the late Emperor was deciding succession, the princes each devised creative schemes to compete for their father’s favor, quite similar to this: "Lady Shufei’s actions lacked thoroughness; having Attendant Lady Xi witness the scene was her biggest error."

After Xie Zhixing’s evaluation, his focus shifted to Consort Ji informing the Yun Family about the Qiu Lie business.

Well done.

If the Yun Family wanted to attend Qiu Lie, she would have to come into his spotlight.

The Emperor has prepared himself mentally; he eagerly awaits to see what immortal tactics she would use to enchant him!

...

Xie Zhixing waited three days, yet nothing happened.

He deliberately increased his walks in the harem without avoiding being seen, making a statement with his whip—there wasn’t a dog passing by that didn’t know the Emperor was present. If the Yun Family would only rewind time once, she’d be able to catch him, and he would graciously remain in one place for her.

But it was all in vain.

He encountered all of the concubines in the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards, yet never saw the Yun Family.

When asked about the Yun Family’s whereabouts? She stayed put in Xianfu Palace, not stepping out.

Xie Zhixing chuckled in exasperation, as she ignored an opportunity others would beg for.

Upon reflection, he thought this might represent an immortal’s disposition.

If the mountain won’t come to me, then I will go to the mountain. Embracing this, Xie Zhixing personally added Attendant Lady Xi’s name to the traveling list.

When the Empress received the list, she forced a smile and asked, "Bringing Attendant Lady Xi along while some of those with higher status aren’t going, wouldn’t that cause dissent?"

In the flickering candlelight, Xie Zhixing glanced over calmly, "Then before departure, I’ll promote her to Consort."

"I was just joking, how could the Emperor take it seriously with me?"

"I thought the Empress genuinely had considerations for Attendant Lady Xi."

The Empress dared no longer displease him, letting the matter drop.

However, Xie Zhixing had never expected that when the announcement of the entourage was made, time would indeed be rewound.