Chapter 109: The Emperor’s Affection for Her

Jingxi Palace.

Lady Shu sat in front of the Buddha statue, chanting scriptures and tapping the wooden fish.

“Lady, Ning Wanyin has really made a big fuss, she’s placing people everywhere…” Pearl reported Ning Wanyin’s arrangements one by one.

“Remember all the people she arranged, be careful.” Lady Shu’s expression was slightly cold, no matter how much she chanted scriptures, she felt restless.

Originally, she was the one who had the final say in the palace.

Now there was Ning Wanyin…

How could she be at ease.

Moreover, Ning Wanyin had placed so many people in the palace, it was clear that she was going to do something big…

“Remind our people, the accounts must be done beautifully. Ning is cautious, don’t let her discover anything…” Lady Shu instructed.

She had been in charge of the palace for three years.

Money flowed like water in front of her, naturally, she had to take some.

How many people in this world are not greedy for money?

“Lady, rest assured, the accounts are sent to the imperial court for verification every year, every account is meticulously done, there is absolutely no problem.” Pearl said.

Lady Shu paused and said, “Bring the pigeon soup that was stewed for His Majesty in the small kitchen, accompany this concubine to pay our respects to His Majesty.”

Helian Qi was reviewing memorials.

He summoned Lady Shu.

Lady Shu presented a scroll of palace maid names, “These are the palace maids newly selected by Ning sister recently, a total of eighty-six people. Please take a look, Your Majesty.”

“You can decide this matter yourselves.” Helian Qi said without looking up.

Lady Shu smiled faintly, “Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty, allowing this concubine and Ning sister to manage the six palaces. Ning sister is worthy of her noble background, she acts decisively, she just recruited people and has already sent them to various places to serve… She said she’s learning the palace rules while working…”

“This concubine thinks that when this concubine was young, she was far less courageous than my sister, she always had to ask Your Majesty for guidance…”

These words were ostensibly praising Ning Wanyin…

But every sentence was a trap.

Nobles sending their own people to be placed in various palaces, wasn’t this what the Emperor most disliked? Moreover, Ning Wanyin was young and acted rashly, she would inevitably make mistakes. Unlike her, she used to report everything to His Majesty…

But what Lady Shu didn’t know was that Ning Wanyin had already reported it…

“You think you’re not as good as her, then you should learn more.” Helian Qi didn’t look up, he continued reviewing the memorials.

The smile on Lady Shu’s face froze.

The Emperor’s annoying mouth! It was infuriating.

But Helian Qi actually trusted Ning Wanyin so much…

It was truly unexpected.

The Emperor, who was so cold and indifferent, actually had such affection for someone.

“Your Majesty is right…” Lady Shu could only maintain the stiff smile on her face, she said:

“In a few days, it will be the winter hunt, this concubine thinks that Lady Zhuang and Lady Zhao will definitely go, Lady Cen and Lady Xue will also go as usual, I wonder if we should add Lady Shun…”

Helian Qi remembered that Ning Wanyin had stayed in the palace and didn’t go out during the last summer hunt.

She didn’t like going out, and it was freezing cold now…

Ning Wanyin was very afraid of the cold.

In winter, her palms were icy cold. When she slept at night, she would always wrap her arms and legs around him…

She always carried a hand warmer in her palm when she stayed in the warm pavilion.

But even with such a cold nature…

Every time he went to Lingxue Pavilion, Ning Wanyin would be standing at the gate of Yonghe Palace, looking out, her little face flushed red in the cold wind, but she still smiled with curved eyebrows.

Helian Qi thought of Ning Wanyin,

He was lost in thought for a moment.

Lady Shu quietly waited beside him.

After a while, Helian Qi came back to his senses and said, “We’ll discuss this later.”

“Yes…” Lady Shu was slightly surprised.

In the past, the Emperor would make decisions on these matters casually, according to his own whims. Now he was considering things?

…

That day, Helian Qi chose Ning Wanyin’s name.

Lingxue Pavilion began preparations in the afternoon as usual…

Ning Wanyin had never been negligent in welcoming the Emperor.

The new palace maids who were holding the zither were seeing this kind of scene for the first time, but they were all familiar with their master’s temperament, listening to her instructions, they arranged everything in an orderly manner.

At dusk, the Emperor and his concubine sat facing each other by the window.

“These new palace maids you recruited are quite well-versed in the rules.” Helian Qi glanced at the newcomers in the room and said casually.

Ning Wanyin smiled faintly, “There’s one more thing I need Your Majesty’s help with. Can these two matrons be recorded under the imperial court…”

She was promoted to Lady Zhao, and she had four more palace maid slots.

But there were two more people…

“These two matrons are experienced. Although this concubine is not yet pregnant, she is also looking forward to it, she thought she would prepare everything in advance, in case this concubine is blessed with a child…” Ning Wanyin lowered her eyes, her eyes filled with shyness.

She didn’t trust the midwives in the palace, even those who were the Emperor’s people.

Helian Qi’s gaze unconsciously fell on Ning Wanyin’s abdomen, he favored Ning Wanyin the most, but she had never been pregnant.

Perhaps it was because she was cold-natured, having children was a bit difficult.

Helian Qi wasn’t in a hurry about her pregnancy, but seeing her so eager, he nodded and said:

“Let Wang Degui record them under the imperial court.”

“By the way, do you want to go to the winter hunt?”

Ning Wanyin was truly surprised this time.

Helian Qi was always decisive and acted according to his own will. He wouldn’t consider anyone else’s thoughts, he only cared about his own happiness.

The people he liked, he would bring them along. Or if there was a beneficial arrangement, he would also bring them along.

Considering whether a concubine wanted to go or not…

That was truly rare.

Like the last summer hunt, he hadn’t considered Ning Wanyin’s thoughts…

But now he was asking.

Ning Wanyin keenly sensed a slight difference in the Emperor’s treatment of her.

He cared about her thoughts, he cared about her feelings.

The Emperor did have some affection for her.

But Ning Wanyin also knew that the Emperor’s feelings were insignificant compared to his interests.

Of course, she would have to be crazy to stand against the Emperor’s interests.

Most of the time, the Emperor’s affection, the Emperor’s favoritism, was enough for her to live a good life.

“This concubine is afraid of the cold, I’m afraid that if I go out, I’ll get sick and worry Your Majesty…” Ning Wanyin looked troubled, she hesitated slightly:

“But this concubine doesn’t want to be away from Your Majesty for so long, everything depends on Your Majesty’s decision.”

Helian Qi said in a deep voice, “I’ll only be gone for seven or eight days, then I’ll return. You’re weak, just stay in the warm pavilion and wait for me to come back.”

“Yes.” Ning Wanyin nodded obediently. She was once again certain…

The Emperor did have some affection for her.

The next day, Helian Qi finalized the list of concubines accompanying him on the winter hunt.

Lady Shu, Lady Zhuang, Lady Cen, Lady Xue, Lady Tang.

Finally, the Emperor added Lady Ying.

The Emperor was always vengeful when it came to causing trouble for people.

As soon as this list was released, the six palaces were in an uproar.

Why wasn’t the most favored Ning Wanyin going?

Why did her two good friends suddenly become favored?

As soon as Tang Miaoling and Wei Yingya heard the news, they rushed to Lingxue Pavilion.

“Did the Emperor write the wrong name? He should take you, why take me?” Lady Ying was confused.

She didn’t want to go hunting in the middle of winter!

She couldn’t ride or shoot, she couldn’t enjoy the joy of hunting, but she would suffer the cold, she would suffer greatly.