“Yú Yīng’ér, this name is truly fitting. No wonder your voice is so pleasant to the ears.”

When the Emperor likes someone, he always finds the right words to praise them. Zhēn Huàn couldn’t even remember how many times the Emperor had complimented someone’s name before.

Hearing the Emperor praise her, Yú Yīng’ér’s heart bloomed with joy: “This servant thanks Your Majesty for the compliment.”

The Emperor, seeing how well Yú Yīng’ér responded, laughed heartily: “Lift your head, let me take a look.”

It was clear to anyone that the Emperor had become very interested in Yú Yīng’ér.

He stared at her intently, not even blinking.

Yú Yīng’ér obediently lifted her head.

After inspecting her, the Emperor blinked his lips repeatedly: “The performance is beautiful, and so are you!”

He raised his hand toward Yú Yīng’ér: “In this costume, it’s really hard to bow properly. Quickly, get up.”

After thanking him, Yú Yīng’ér stood up and moved to the side.

Only then did the Emperor remember there were still many people standing behind him. He smiled and walked over to Zhēn Huàn, taking her hand:

“Guàn Guìrén, you actually have someone like her by your side. Suì Yù Xuān really is a place full of hidden talents!”

Wasn’t he just trying to ask me for someone? And now he’s trying to flatter me? I’ve seen through his intentions already!

If you want her, then I’ll make it hard for you!

Zhēn Huàn thought this to herself but said aloud:

“If His Majesty hadn’t been absent from the palace recently, I would have been so bored that I decided to hold this competition. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have discovered how outstanding Yú Yīng’ér is.”

The Emperor chuckled and turned to look at Yú Yīng’ér: “It seems Heaven didn’t want her to go unnoticed.”

As he spoke, the Emperor glanced at the people standing around:

“Ān Chángzài can sing, Yú Yīng’ér can perform, and I also have you, my intelligent confidante, and Méi’ér, my close companion. I truly feel that Heaven has treated me well.”

The Emperor’s schemes were clearly coming together, and surely, the Empress sitting in Jǐngrén Palace could hear all of this!

When the Emperor wants something, who can compete with him? Zhēn Huàn wanted the Emperor to personally ask her for someone so that it wouldn’t be rumored that she was flattering him.

However, Zhēn Huàn didn’t expect the Emperor to return so early, since it was a few days ahead of the timeline from her previous life.

She had originally planned to introduce Yú Yīng’ér to the Emperor during their visit to Yuánmíng Yuán, but now the Emperor had walked in on it by chance!

It must be Yú Yīng’ér’s good fortune!

Zhēn Huàn frowned and said: “Your Majesty, I haven’t yet said I’d part with her, but now Your Majesty is so eager to add Yú Yīng’ér to the list. I can’t agree to that!”

“Yú Yīng’ér? Then I’ll take that as your agreement!” The Emperor replied, his voice filled with excitement.

Since when did the Emperor, who had always kept his desires hidden, ask someone for a woman?

Zhēn Huàn thought back to her previous life, when it wasn’t until she returned from Gānlù Temple that the Emperor started consulting her about everything. But now it was happening so early?

“Then what position should she hold?”

Sū Péi Shèng reminded him: “Your Majesty, palace maids who are promoted should begin at the rank of ‘official women,’ they can’t skip ranks.”

The Emperor thought for a moment: “Then she’ll be an official woman. Grant her residence in Zhōngcuì Palace. Sū Péi Shèng, go make the arrangements and have her moved in tonight.”

Yú Yīng’ér was stunned—she really made it! She glanced at Zhēn Huàn and quickly knelt down:

“This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great favor.”

The Emperor laughed heartily and extended his hand to help her up: “I enjoy watching you perform. Sing for me some more.”

Yú Yīng’ér, having received the order, returned to the stage to continue singing.

The Emperor also had everyone sit down to accompany him in listening to the music. Yú Yīng’ér truly was impressive, delivering one outstanding performance after another, making the Emperor extremely pleased.

Zhēn Huàn watched the Emperor, who was completely absorbed in the performance, and thought to herself: If Huá Fēi knew that the person she had sent to spy on Suì Yù Xuān had become the Emperor’s woman, would she be furious?

This drama was really getting more and more interesting!

Huá Fēi had sent someone to monitor the actions of Suì Yù Xuān, mainly to see if Yú Yīng’ér had been chosen by Zhēn Huàn.

The informant had seen the Emperor enter and noticed Sū Péi Shèng coming out, which gave him some clues, so he quickly returned to Yì Kūn Palace.

Huá Fēi was lazily lying on the bed, letting Sòng Zhī knead her shoulders, looking completely relaxed.

When she saw the informant return, Huá Fēi didn’t even open her eyes: “Did she get chosen?”

“She… she got chosen.” The informant answered hesitantly.

Huá Fēi smiled brightly: “She really got chosen? Yú Yīng’ér didn’t disappoint me.”

The informant looked at Huá Fēi, trembling, and cautiously replied: “Yes… Yes, she was chosen by the Emperor.”

“What?” Huá Fēi suddenly shot up from the bed. She grabbed the informant’s clothes and glared at him fiercely: “Say what you just said again!”

The informant couldn’t handle Huá Fēi’s anger, shrinking his head and trembling with fear: “The Emperor… the Emperor returned to the palace today and went to Suì Yù Xuān. After a while, I saw Sū Gōnggong leading several little eunuchs out, as if instructing them to prepare Zhōngcuì Palace, saying it was for the new official woman, Yú Yīng’ér.”

After hearing the informant’s report, Huá Fēi’s eyes filled with tears. She abruptly released her grip on his clothes and shouted angrily: “Get out! All of you get out!”

“Niángniáng…” Sòng Zhī, full of worry, wanted to comfort her but was afraid Huá Fēi would be even angrier. So, she nervously stayed by her side.

Huá Fēi, in a daze, walked into the palace, but after only a few steps, she stopped:

“Yú Yīng’ér, the official woman, I only regret not killing her earlier.”

“With Zhēn Huàn before, that wasn’t enough, and now there’s another one. What’s worse, I personally sent her in, hahaha…” Huá Fēi said, then laughed maniacally.

To Sòng Zhī, this laugh sounded like a heart-wrenching cry of sorrow.

No one knew better than Sòng Zhī how much Huá Fēi loved the Emperor. She had seen countless moments when Huá Fēi was heartbroken because of him.

“Niángniáng, don’t be too upset. Actually, this isn’t so bad.”

“Good? All the women in the harem are fighting for the Emperor’s favor, and now even a lowly palace maid can climb into the Emperor’s bed…”

Sòng Zhī helped Huá Fēi sit down while massaging her shoulders, speaking with reasoning:

“Niángniáng, think about it. Yú Yīng’ér is one of ours. If she wins the Emperor’s favor, she can help you take some of Guàn Guìrén’s favor. As for her… isn’t it still up to you?”

“Moreover, don’t forget, on the surface, Yú Yīng’ér is Guàn Guìrén’s person. In the future, won’t it be much easier for us to act?”

Sòng Zhī’s words were logical, and after hearing them, Huá Fēi tightly gripped the armrest of her chair. Her fingers almost bled as she gritted her teeth and said:

“Zhēn Huàn, we’ll see about that!”