Chapter 61: Cousin: Me too!

Tang Miaoling rambled on for a while before leaving, mainly trying to express her loyalty by showering her with concern.

“Mistress, this servant thinks that the young lady is truly sincere in wanting to join you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said those things about His Majesty, if you told His Majesty, she wouldn’t have a good ending…” Lianrui said.

Ning Wanyin rubbed her temples, “Hmm… Have Xiazi pick a reliable and clever person from his subordinates and send him to Tang Miaoling.”

“Mistress, what are you…?”

“Plant a spy.” Ning Wanyin’s eyes were deep.

The enemy could use Tang Miaoling to deal with her, but she could also turn the tables.

Ultimately, it all came down to their skills.

She had already warned Tang Miaoling about the risks of being too close to her.

Since Tang Miaoling wasn’t afraid, then so be it.

If Tang Miaoling became her enemy in the future, then she would be an enemy. If she chose the Emperor, they would just clear their relationship and go their separate ways.

But if she was determined to join her, then having another person to drink tea and chat with in the palace for the next few decades wouldn’t be bad.

“Mistress, Ping, the old woman from Linlang Palace, has arrived.” Xiaogui came in to report.

Ning Wanyin immediately said, “Please invite her in.”

This Ping was the Emperor’s childhood governess, she was extraordinary and couldn’t be slighted.

“This servant greets Ning Jieyu.”

Ping came with two eunuchs carrying gift boxes.

She entered Lingsxue Pavilion, politely bowed to Ning Wanyin, and said respectfully, “Thanks to Ning Jieyu’s timely discovery of Fang Zhaoyi’s conspiracy, Empress Zhuang was saved from being framed. Empress Zhuang is very grateful to you, she specially ordered this servant to bring a heavy gift to express her gratitude.”

Actually, Empress Zhuang did remember Ning Wanyin’s favor.

But on the surface, she didn’t want to have anything to do with Ning Wanyin at all.

Therefore, Ping was asked to personally deliver the gift to express her gratitude, but she refused to come, so Ping came in person to express her sincere gratitude.

“Empress Zhuang is thoughtful. This concubine was just taking care of Shunbin, it’s my duty… It’s a trouble for Ping to come here in person.” Ning Wanyin smiled.

She guessed that this couldn’t be Empress Zhuang’s arrangement.

“Ning Jieyu is too polite, you have resolved a crisis, you have made great contributions.” Ping praised her.

She had known that the Emperor’s personality meant that the concubines he favored were extraordinary.

But after this interaction, she understood even more why the Emperor liked her.

Everyone knew that Ning Jieyu was arrogant and domineering, spoiled and pampered, but Ping felt that she was clearly the one who understood the most about propriety and retreat.

In the palace, they needed someone with such skills and temperament to control the situation.

The Emperor needed her.

And the fact that the Emperor needed her, this Ning Jieyu truly had amazing skills.

It seemed that Ning Jieyu’s days of being favored were still long.

…

The next morning.

Tang Miaoling excitedly brought a box full of gifts and came to visit again.

She had run away too quickly yesterday, she had forgotten to give her cousin a gift to express her gratitude.

Just so, the Emperor had given her a set of Ru kiln porcelain, and she immediately brought it to offer as a gift.

This reward was because she had been wronged and imprisoned for so long, it was a form of appeasement.

The Emperor needed to be fair in rewards and punishments, this was a consistent rule.

She heard that Ying Meiren received the same reward as her. They were both Meiren, so it was normal for them to receive the same treatment.

Tang Miaoling had just arrived at the gate of Yonghe Palace,

She saw a palace concubine wearing a veil standing at the door, with two eunuchs carrying a large box.

She looked exactly like her.

“Who are you?” Tang Miaoling asked in confusion.

Wei Yingya’s cheeks were swollen from being slapped, so she deliberately wore a veil to cover her ugliness. Seeing Tang Miaoling here, she thought, Tang Miaoling really has a deep bond with Ning Wanyin.

As long as she could get close to Ning Wanyin, she would also be close to Tang Miaoling.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to approach Tang Miaoling directly…

But Tang Miaoling was currently a concubine with no power or favor, if she approached her rashly, the other party would definitely be suspicious, and it might backfire.

On the other hand, Ning Wanyin was the most favored concubine in the palace.

Countless people wanted to curry favor with her, so it wouldn’t be strange for her to be among them.

Moreover, Ning Wanyin had just helped her a great deal. She also sincerely wanted to thank her.

And using this as a starting point, she would gradually get closer to Ning Wanyin and befriend Tang Miaoling, this was a long-term plan.

“Tang Meiren, I’m fine, my name is Wei Yingya.” Wei Yingya smiled and replied.

“Ah? You are…” Tang Miaoling stopped halfway through her sentence.

You are the one who drowned in the previous life.

Tang Miaoling looked at Wei Yingya, her eyes were subtle.

Maybe she drank less water this life and was saved?

It’s quite magical.

Wei Yingya felt uncomfortable being looked at by her, so she took the initiative to strike up a conversation, “Tang Meiren, are you also here to visit Ning Jieyu?”

“Hmm…” Tang Miaoling came back to her senses, she looked at her with hostility, “What are you doing here? You were so rude to my cousin!”

“That was all because I was young and ignorant before, after going through this ordeal, I’ve learned a lot. I was wrong before.” Wei Yingya said with a guilty expression.

While they were talking, Xiaogui, who had gone in to announce them, came out and said, “My mistress invites both of you in.”

…

In Lingsxue Pavilion, the reception hall.

“This concubine greets Ning Jieyu, thanks to Jieyu for catching Fang Zhaoyi and clearing this concubine’s name, your great kindness is beyond words. This concubine has prepared a small gift, please accept it.” Wei Yingya bowed and greeted her.

Tang Miaoling was speechless, you stole the words I wanted to say!

What should I say then?

Tang Miaoling thought for a moment, she couldn’t come up with anything new, so she could only say, “Me too!”

“Ying Meiren, you’re too polite. Fang Zhaoyi did many evil deeds and was punished accordingly, you are innocent, I was taking care of Shunbin, it was a coincidence that I caught Fang Zhaoyi, I didn’t deliberately help you.” Ning Wanyin said calmly.

Wei Yingya said sincerely, “But without Ning Jieyu, I would still be suffering in the Cold Palace. Jieyu has saved my life! I will repay Jieyu’s kindness with my life!”

Tang Miaoling listened, thinking, isn’t this the same conversation I had with my cousin yesterday?

She’s really a talented woman, her words are much more elegant than mine!

“Me too!” Tang Miaoling quickly added another sentence.

Ning Wanyin: …

“Ying Meiren, you don’t have to worry about this. It’s getting late, I still have to go to Changchun Palace, I won’t keep you two.” Ning Wanyin politely sent them off.

Wei Yingya understood that no one would easily trust others, it was normal for Ning Wanyin to be wary of her, just take it slow.

Wei Yingya stood up and said, “Ning Jieyu doesn’t mind, but this concubine can’t not mind, I will definitely remember Jieyu’s kindness! Also, there is one more thing, this concubine wants to apologize to Jieyu, I was ignorant and foolish before, I was rude to Jieyu, now I have gone through a great change and I understand the warmth and coldness of human relationships. This concubine is very regretful…”

Ning Wanyin didn’t take this little matter to heart. There were countless people in the palace who mocked and provoked her, but none of them had won in an argument.

“This concubine won’t disturb you anymore, this concubine will take her leave.” Wei Yingya bowed and left.

Tang Miaoling looked at her retreating figure and said in surprise:

“Cousin, does she mean to join you?”

Lianrui took over and said, “This servant heard that she and Wei Meiren are at odds, yesterday she was just released from the Cold Palace and was beaten. So she wants to find a backer in the palace?”