CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 83: PALACE POLITICS INSTRUCTOR

Qiankun Palace.

"Emperor, Concubine Xi is outside seeking an audience."

"Send her back..."

Xie Zhixing paused with his pen, frowning: "Concubine Xi?"

These days, not a few have been sending soups and snacks to Qiankun Palace.

Apart from those from the Lady, everything else ended up in the eunuchs and palace maids’ stomachs. Some dared to seek an audience directly, attempting to charm him, so Xie Zhixing developed the habit of sending them back whenever the eunuchs announced their presence.

"Yes, Emperor, Concubine Xi just came over from Changle Palace. Should we send her back to Xianfu Palace?"

"...Let her in."

Outside, Yun Jiao circled past the screen wall, entering the inner hall, where a glimmer of light seeped through the lattice window.

"Emperor, Concubine Xi has arrived,"

Ying Lu stopped: "Lady, please enter."

Yun Jiao lowered her head and hastily stepped forward, greeting with a bow.

Xie Zhixing observed her through the soft glow. During the days he didn’t visit the harem, she seemed to live well; there was no grief in her expression. He set aside the vermillion pen: "What brings you to see me?"

He deliberately pretended not to notice the food box she carried.

Hmph, now you remember me.

"Emperor, I’ve brought you soup."

Xie Zhixing snorted: "Quite opportune; I happened to be hungry. Did you make it yourself?"

"...This afternoon, I was called by the Empress Dowager for conversation; it is the Empress Dowager who instructed me to bring it over, not by my hand."

Yun Jiao spoke with particular sincerity.

Were the Empress Dowager to hear this, her low blood pressure might be cured.

Why is it necessary for a concubine to be so honest? She could simply say she made it herself; the Empress Dowager wouldn’t expose the ruse!

Yun Jiao laughed, saying: "Since the Emperor is hungry, it’s perfect."

The Emperor remained silent.

Ying Lu thought to himself that this wasn’t good; though the Emperor wasn’t furious, he was certainly displeased.

Filial piety is paramount, but having drunk enough of his mother’s soup since childhood, he just wanted the one Concubine Xi made.

As expected, Xie Zhixing said: "I’m not hungry anymore."

"Even if the Emperor isn’t hungry, he should taste it; after all, it’s the Empress Dowager’s gesture."

Ying Lu really wanted to cover Concubine Xi’s mouth.

Or perhaps add, "It’s the Empress Dowager’s and my gesture." Why attribute all the credit to his mother?

"If it’s Mother’s intention for you to deliver it, what do you think it signifies?"

Xie Zhixing toyed with his thumb ring, asking calmly.

"I dare not guess the Emperor’s intentions; perhaps they find me expedient for delivery—quick at bringing things."

The more she spoke, the tighter the Emperor’s lips pursed.

Never mind the Empress Dowager; even his low blood pressure might be cured.

Yet, though lacking the ability to rewind time, the young lady before him is a rare beauty, with innocent doe-like eyes that make it hard to chastise her. With such beauty, why need she understand flattery and vying for favor?

"Come here."

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Yun Jiao, who had bowed deeply, rolled forward twice to the Emperor’s side, stopping steadily: "Here I am."

Xie Zhixing: ...

Just whom is he really quarreling with?

He smiled wryly, the smile breaking his irritation, as he pulled this beloved concubine into his arms, lifting her chin: "The Empress Dowager sending you with the soup meant to bring you before me."

"Yes, that’s why I’ve come."

Yun Jiao adjusted her position in his embrace, like a docile cat displaying its white belly when held.

However, she soon sensed something amiss.

My goodness, it wasn’t there a minute ago!

"You..."

The next moment, time rewound.

Precisely before the Dragon Vein engine ignited.

Blood rushed back to the brain, reason reluctantly reclaimed its ground, yet he was firmly held back.

"Since your promotion, you haven’t seen me," Xie Zhixing looked at her: "Do you not miss me at all?"

"I think of the Emperor every day."

He made a noncommittal sound, clearly skeptical: "You think of me, yet don’t come to see me?"

Not only does she not come, but when he sought her out, she returned the gesture.

Yun Jiao smiled sweetly:

"Who in the harem doesn’t think of the Emperor? I just thought, what if the Emperor doesn’t wish to see me?"

If the Emperor treats her well, she accepts it.

If he doesn’t visit, she lives her own life.

Xie Zhixing pinched her cheek, soft and pleasant to the touch, feeling a surge of discontent.

"You visited the Empress Dowager today."

"Since I was sensible, others told me that I hold the position of the eldest legitimate son. What does this mean? It means I may not inherit the throne, but the new Emperor will surely see me as a threat, and I must excel."

Xie Zhixing suddenly spoke of the past, a hoarseness in his low voice.

Yun Jiao composed herself, expecting a poignant tale from the heartless imperial family, but his tone shifted: "Indeed, I’ve excelled greatly, unmatched by any Prince in both culture and martial arts."

This is not the teary tale I was expecting; it’s the scholarly overachiever reminiscing.

"Even if Father didn’t wish to see me, I’d become the most outstanding one for him to notice."

"Since my brothers fought for the throne, why shouldn’t I be the victor?"

Xie Zhixing grasped her hand, urging her to focus on him.

"You entered the palace as a Servant Consort, now you are a Concubine; what shouldn’t you aspire for? If I don’t wish to see you, find a way to make me wish to see you."

One could rewind time repeatedly, ensuring I must notice you.

Xie Zhixing couldn’t explain his intent explicitly.

He simply couldn’t bear to see her idle in Xianfu Palace.

For Yun Jiao, it felt like stumbling into a motivational seminar by a legitimate winner, not a deceptive speaker.

After hearing the Emperor’s triumphant life story...

Yun Jiao just felt he was quite exhausted; this is not what a relaxed soul should hear.

"Honestly, being a Concubine is satisfying enough for me," she said.

"Even if one day the Emperor forgets me, as long as my stipend is sufficient, I’m happy to live out my days in the Deep Palace."

Yun Jiao expressed.

It’s fine not to attend, but the pay must be fully provided.

"Do you wish to settle for a corner?"

Xie Zhixing raised an eyebrow, smiling plainly: "Rid yourself of this thought early; after reaching the Concubine position, even if you want peace and avoidance, countless troubles will find you. Only by firmly grasping favor and power is true stability. Do you understand?"

Yun Jiao was profoundly shocked.

Why are the Emperor and Empress Dowager teaching her palace intrigue today!!

If there’s guidance, perhaps it’s worth considering.

After some thought, Yun Jiao sincerely asked: "I don’t understand; why not explain the matter of vying for favor and ranks in detail?"

"Ah, which aspect do you wish to know?"

Yun Jiao saved her progress before asking: "For instance, how can one become the Empress?"