Chapter 62: The Self-Cultivation of a Favored Concubine

She’s the Emperor’s favorite concubine, she has the Emperor’s support, she doesn’t need to come to me.” Ning Wanyin said listlessly.

One Tang Miaoling, a cousin bound by blood, that’s fine.

Outsiders, she didn’t want to deal with.

“Cousin, maybe she thinks the same as I do, that the Emperor is unreliable!” Tang Miaoling was quite clever sometimes.

Ning Wanyin naturally knew that Wei Yingya had gone through a great change and had seen the Emperor’s indifference and cruelty, so it was normal for her to think that the Emperor was unreliable.

But…

The fewer people, the less risk.

There were more than just her choices in the palace, Wei Yingya could also turn to the Xue family.

Ning Wanyin didn’t intend to form an alliance with her.

“I really need to go to Changchun Palace, please go back, cousin.” Ning Wanyin looked at her and said.

Tang Miaoling got up in a daze, “Okay, you go ahead, cousin!”

…

June arrived.

The concubines in the palace were all busy.

Because June 9th was the Emperor’s birthday.

“Mistress, the sachet you made, you put your heart and soul into every detail, His Majesty will definitely like it.” Lianrui smiled.

“It’s my duty to serve His Majesty with all my heart.” Ning Wanyin looked at the sachet in her palm, carefully finishing the last stitch.

It was made of the soft jade silk that the Emperor had bestowed upon her, and Ning Wanyin had personally embroidered a lotus leaf pattern.

Needlework was a basic skill for noble ladies, her embroidery skills were not stunningly brilliant, but they were exquisite and beautiful.

In addition, Ning Wanyin had also invited two imperial physicians to concoct a fragrance formula.

Lotus flowers were the main ingredient, with several fragrant herbs as secondary ingredients.

The lotus flowers were taken from the lotus pond in Lingsxue Pavilion.

It was now the season for the flowers to bloom.

Lianrui brought in dried lotus petals and fragrant herbs and presented them to Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin put the petals and herbs into the sachet.

She then took out a peace charm from her own pouch and put it in as well.

This was a peace charm she had prayed for a few days ago when the palace invited a master from Bifeng Temple to perform a blessing ceremony.

Bifeng Temple was the most prosperous temple in the capital, it was said to be very effective.

It was difficult to obtain a charm, it all depended on sincerity.

Fortunately, Ning Wanyin had received many rewards since entering the palace, her wealth was abundant, and she was very sincere.

“Mistress, this peace charm, was it originally for His Majesty?” Lianrui asked in surprise.

Ning Wanyin nodded slightly.

“Mistress is so devoted to His Majesty, His Majesty will definitely be moved!” Lianrui said moved.

Ning Wanyin lowered her eyes, she didn’t care whether the Emperor was moved or not.

How he would deal with the sachet after receiving it didn’t matter much either.

The most important thing was to let the Emperor see her “sincerity” and not let him think she was neglecting him.

With the treatment of a favored concubine, Ning Wanyin always did what a favored concubine should do.

…

Yixiu Palace, Jinguizhai.

“Mistress, the Emperor’s birthday is approaching, what kind of birthday gift are you planning to prepare for His Majesty? His Majesty always likes the novel things you make, if you can make another one, you will definitely regain his favor!” Dongwu suggested.

Since Wei Yingya came out of the Cold Palace…

She hadn’t gone to Qianxin Palace, and the Emperor hadn’t called on her.

It was common in the palace for a concubine who was once favored to be forgotten after a while.

And this kind of concubine, as long as she caught the Emperor’s attention again, she could easily regain his favor.

Everyone knew Wei Yingya’s endless methods of competing for favor.

They didn’t think she would lose favor.

“Heh—”

Wei Yingya lay lazily on the bamboo couch, letting out a cold humph with an ambiguous meaning.

If it were before, she would have started preparing for the Emperor’s birthday a month in advance.

First, she would make him a nine-tier birthday cake, then personally sing him a birthday song, and finally accompany him to blow out the birthday candles.

But now…

Did the Emperor deserve it?

Heh.

“No rush.” Wei Yingya replied perfunctorily.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration.

Ah, right, birthday…

What about Ning Wanyin’s birthday?

“Dongwu, go to the Thin Affairs Department of the Internal Affairs Office and find out Ning Jieyu’s birthday. Then go and find out what kind of fruit she likes to eat, what kind of flowers she likes, and if she has any dietary restrictions?” Wei Yingya excitedly sat up straight, her eyes getting brighter and brighter.

Dongwu looked at her with a puzzled expression, “Ah?”

“Go quickly!” Wei Yingya urged, “If you do a good job, I’ll reward you with one hundred taels of silver!”

Dongwu didn’t care why Wei Yingya wanted to check this, she immediately bowed and said, “This servant accepts the order!”

…

June 9th, early morning.

The palace servants helped Helian Qi put on his dragon robe, and Ning Wanyin, who was lying on the couch, also got up with the help of her maids.

The Emperor’s birthday was a three-day holiday.

Today, His Majesty didn’t need to go to court.

But at the hour of Chen, there was a birthday banquet in the palace, all the civil and military officials and concubines would attend to celebrate His Majesty’s birthday.

“It’s still early, you can sleep a little longer.” Helian Qi looked at Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin took a brocade box from Lianrui’s hand and presented it to Helian Qi, bowing and greeting him:

“This concubine congratulates Your Majesty on your longevity. Your Majesty has been worried about state affairs recently, this concubine specially asked the imperial physician to concoct a fragrance formula to calm the mind, and made this sachet, hoping that Your Majesty will have less worries and your body will be healthy.”

“The lotus petals in the sachet are from the lotus flowers in Lingsxue Pavilion. Your Majesty gave this concubine a pond of lotus flowers, this concubine is very happy, in this concubine’s heart, this is the flower that symbolizes Your Majesty and this concubine’s love. I only wish to share this pond of lotus fragrance with Your Majesty.”

Wang Degui quickly stepped forward to take the brocade box.

He thought, Ning Mistress is really clever.

First, she expressed concern for His Majesty’s health, wishing him well.

Second, she thanked His Majesty for giving her lotus flowers, and returned the lotus fragrance, implying their love.

There was so much care and affection, what man wouldn’t like it? Even he, a eunuch, felt that Ning Mistress truly loved His Majesty.

“You’re thoughtful, I like it.” Helian Qi’s thin lips slightly pursed, he reached out to personally help Ning Wanyin up, “I met with the ministers this morning to discuss state affairs, I’ll go first.”

He felt a little happy, but for the Emperor, it was only natural for the concubines to go to great lengths for him.

He was only a little happy, he didn’t take it too seriously.

However, he was willing to express his joy at the gift from his favored concubine, giving her face.

Seeing that he said he liked it, Ning Wanyin’s eyes were filled with smiles, “This concubine sees Your Majesty off.”

After the Emperor left.

Lianrui helped Ning Wanyin up and reminded her, “Mistress, how could you forget to mention the peace charm?”

“I prayed for his safety, if I said it, it would be too deliberate to seek credit.” Ning Wanyin shook her head.

“Then how will His Majesty know… It’s a pity that His Majesty can’t know your intentions.” Lianrui felt a little regretful.

Ning Wanyin twitched the corner of her mouth. How could the Emperor not check the things he received?

Especially something like fragrance, he would definitely ask the imperial physician to carefully examine it, even a single hair could be detected.

The Emperor would naturally know her “intentions”.

A silent prayer was just right.

“Serve breakfast. There’s a palace banquet today, choose some bright clothes and jewelry to dress up.” Ning Wanyin said.

“Yes.” Lianrui accepted the order.

Helian Qi didn’t go to court today, but he did meet with several important officials to discuss state affairs.

After the discussion, Helian Qi had breakfast served.

“Your Majesty, the sachet that Ning Jieyu sent, this servant had the imperial physician examine it… The fragrance is excellent, and a peace charm was also found.” Wang Degui presented the opened sachet and a peace charm.

Helian Qi picked up the peace charm and opened it, inside was a prayer written by a high monk: Praying for the longevity and well-being of the Great Yan Emperor… and so on.

Concubines couldn’t directly address his name, even in a prayer, they could only use honorifics.

“Your Majesty, some time ago, the palace invited Bifeng Temple to perform a blessing ceremony, this is a peace charm from Bifeng Temple.” Wang Degui said with a sigh: “Ning Mistress truly has deep feelings for Your Majesty, she even secretly hid a peace charm.”

Helian Qi saw the peace charm and felt a little touched, he said, “My sachet is old, change it to this new one.”

Wang Degui knew that His Majesty’s old sachet had only been used for a month, how could it be old? This was because he was moved by Ning Mistress, he deliberately wore it to make her happy.