Chapter 14: Will His Majesty Come?

“I greet Jieyu Li. May Jieyu be well,” Ning Wanyin bowed in greeting.

Jieyu Li’s gaze swept over Ning Wanyin from head to toe, a hint of frustration rising in her heart. Ning Wanyin was stunningly beautiful, compared to her, she seemed plain and ordinary.

She had originally planned to steal the Emperor’s favor.

It was just that the Emperor hadn’t been to Yonghe Palace these days, leaving her with nothing to do.

Now it seemed that stealing his favor wouldn’t be easy.

The only thing that could surpass Ning Wanyin was her rank.

“Ning Meiren is truly a beauty. No wonder His Majesty favors you so much,” Jieyu Li didn’t let Ning Wanyin rise, her face beaming with praise. “Oh, this butterfly hairpin is so beautiful…”

Seeing that she was about to continue talking endlessly, Ning Wanyin interrupted, “It’s getting late. I’m in a hurry to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait a minute—” Jieyu Li wanted to stop her.

“Jieyu might not be in a hurry, but I dare not be negligent.” Ning Wanyin looked apologetic:

“Please forgive me, Jieyu. I’ll take my leave.”

Jieyu Li choked. You’re in a hurry, you dare not be negligent, she’s not in a hurry, doesn’t that mean she’s neglecting the Empress Dowager?

What a mouth, so good at putting the blame on others!

Clearly, the only one who is truly negligent and dares not pay her respects to the Empress Dowager is you!

Jieyu Li was speechless with anger, but she didn’t dare to stop Ning Wanyin anymore, lest she be accused of disrespecting the Empress Dowager.

…

The palace walls stretched endlessly, the heavy doors were deep and imposing.

As dawn broke, Lianrui lit a lamp to guide the way, looking worriedly at Ning Wanyin beside her:

“Mistress, I’m afraid that today, it won’t just be Jieyu Li who makes things difficult for you.”

Ning Wanyin knew this. She had taken on the title of favored concubine, and she didn’t know how many people envied her.

But if she didn’t act like a favored concubine, the concubines with higher ranks would stop her, and it wouldn’t just be a few words of verbal harassment, but arbitrary trampling.

She wasn’t afraid of schemes behind her back, she was afraid of being suppressed by power.

“It’s alright, we’ll meet force with force, and water with earth.” Ning Wanyin replied.

Most of the concubines in Jingxi Palace had arrived early.

Everyone stretched their necks, waiting to see this legendary Ning Meiren.

The morning sun shone on the jade steps in front of the palace, a figure in crimson red walked into the palace.

Her steps were leisurely, her pendants jingled. Her face was beautiful, her figure graceful and elegant.

In her raven hair, a golden butterfly crafted with exquisite skill fluttered as if about to fly, lifelike.

She was like this butterfly in her hair, exquisite and flawless, dazzlingly beautiful.

“I greet Noble Consort Shu! I greet Consort Zhuang!” Ning Wanyin bowed respectfully.

Noble Consort Shu had a gentle smile on her face, “Get up quickly. I’ve been wanting to get closer to you, Sister Ning, but unfortunately, you’ve been unwell. It’s a pleasant surprise to see you today.”

“Everyone else is fine, only you are particularly delicate.” Consort Zhuang had been staring at her since Ning Wanyin entered, seeing her beauty made her even more unhappy:

“Since you’re so frail and weak, I don’t think you’re suitable for serving His Majesty.”

One was subtly critical, the other was blatant, both were finding fault with her for not paying her respects after serving the Emperor.

Ning Wanyin was unhurried, she smiled faintly, “Consort Zhuang is right, but His Majesty favors me, how can I disobey his grace? I can only try to nourish my body, take care of my health, and hope to live a long and healthy life, to accompany His Majesty for a thousand years.”

“Perhaps the palace is a place of good fortune, I’m much better now. Thank you, Noble Consort Shu and Consort Zhuang,”

Consort Zhuang rolled her eyes in anger. You, accompanying the Emperor for a thousand years? What are you? She sneered:

“One should know their place. Did you not wake up this morning? You actually dare to dream of accompanying the Emperor for a thousand years.”

Noble Consort Shu smiled and said nothing, the concubines watched the show.

Consort Zhuang slapped her in the face, not giving her any face at all.

“Your words are a lesson. Future events are uncertain, like dreams. But His Majesty’s affection for me is deep, and I can’t help but have expectations. Perhaps one day I will lose favor, and I will be as clear-headed and rational as Consort Zhuang, without any wishful thinking.” Ning Wanyin spoke every word earnestly.

Silence filled the palace.

Consort Zhuang was stunned for several breaths before she reacted, and she pointed at Ning Wanyin in disbelief, “You said I lost favor! You dare to curse me!”

“Your Majesty, please calm down, I’m talking about myself…” Ning Wanyin explained with a feigned seriousness.

“You, you, you… You’re clearly talking about me! You’re being sarcastic, you’re hinting at me…” Consort Zhuang’s limited vocabulary poured out one after another, she was furious.

Noble Consort Shu almost laughed. That’s right, Ning Wanyin was being sarcastic and hinting, but she praised her for being clear-headed and rational, without mentioning that she lost favor.

Consort Zhuang was good at everything, hitting the mark every time, but she was simply no match for Ning Wanyin.

Forget it.

Anyway, the person who hated Ning Wanyin the most hadn’t appeared yet. Someone would naturally deal with her.

Noble Consort Shu smiled to smooth things over, “Alright, alright, Consort Zhuang, you misunderstood. It’s getting late, we should go and pay our respects to the Empress Dowager. Who hasn’t arrived yet?”

“Zhaoyi Xue,” Fang Zhaoyi replied.

“Then we don’t need to wait. The Empress Dowager summoned Zhaoyi Xue early this morning, let’s go.”

Everyone arrived at Cining Palace and paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.

This was the second time Ning Wanyin had seen the Empress Dowager. Last time, Empress Dowager Xue hadn’t even remembered Ning Wanyin…

But this time, she had obviously seen Ning Wanyin’s portrait beforehand, her gaze fixed on Ning Wanyin, her smile was not genuine:

“Ning Meiren, how did you learn your etiquette? You’re clumsy and unladylike. You’re the Emperor’s concubine, how can you be so lacking in manners? Go kneel outside and reflect.”

Ning Wanyin’s etiquette was impeccable, every move was perfect, there was nothing to fault.

The Empress Dowager was simply looking for an excuse to punish her.

Noble Consort Shu and the others looked at Ning Wanyin. Earlier, she had fearlessly fought back against Consort Zhuang’s provocation.

She had also arrogantly refused to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, seeming to be someone who was spoiled and willful.

This time, she would surely clash with the Empress Dowager!

Many concubines who were watching the show gloated, waiting for a chaotic scene.

But Ning Wanyin said nothing, she bowed respectfully, “I accept the punishment.”

Then she left Cining Palace and went to kneel outside.

Everyone was stunned. Ning Wanyin didn’t make a fuss?

Empress Dowager Xue was also stunned, she didn’t expect Ning Wanyin to be so obedient.

She had originally wanted Ning Wanyin to make a fuss so she would have a sufficient excuse to punish her with a beating, venting her anger.

Ning Wanyin’s submissive response was like punching cotton.

Empress Dowager Xue didn’t keep the concubines for long, and soon, the concubines left.

Every concubine saw Ning Wanyin kneeling by the door.

Most people just quietly looked at her, their eyes varied, and they didn’t speak.

Only Consort Zhuang walked to Ning Wanyin with a smug look, “Humph, you’re so lacking in manners, the Empress Dowager punished you well.”

Ning Wanyin was lost in thought and didn’t pay attention to her.

Consort Zhuang saw that she ignored her and said unhappily, “I’m talking to you, how dare you ignore me?”

Ning Wanyin came to her senses, raised her eyes to look at her, her deep dark eyes were as dark as the night, her expression unreadable, “Please forgive me, Consort Zhuang, I’m reflecting on my misconduct today, and I dare not be distracted. If you must speak to me, why don’t you ask the Empress Dowager first? Whether I, in my state of self-reflection, can chat casually with you.”

Consort Zhuang was choked again. The Empress Dowager didn’t like her either, would she go and humiliate herself?

Damn it!

She’s kneeling, and I can’t win against her!

Consort Zhuang was both angry and annoyed, and she couldn’t do anything about Ning Wanyin, so she angrily left.

Meiren Song saw this scene and couldn’t help but think of herself being harassed by the Empress Dowager some time ago. She should have felt sympathy, but for some reason, she only felt a sense of anxiety and apprehension.

Will His Majesty come to save her?

She hoped His Majesty wouldn’t come.