Chapter 367: The Concubine Who Was Buried with the Emperor VS The Ruthless and Romantic Emperor 15
Here, Jin Xuan hurried back to Fengyi Palace. She walked around the garden corridor and went straight into the main hall.

The queen was leaning on the couch taking a rest, with two little palace maids standing behind her, fanning her gently.

Hearing the noise, the queen slightly opened her eyes, looked at Jin Xuan who came in, and asked, "Can you give the reward to Concubine Qin?"

Jin Xuan bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, it has been delivered."

She paused, thinking of Yu Yao's attitude, and a feeling of dissatisfaction welled up in her heart, so she exaggerated and said: "Your Majesty, that noble lady Qin relied on her beauty and didn't know how high the heaven was and how deep the earth was. I kindly reminded her to be careful in her words and deeds in the palace, but she put on the airs of a young lady, and she seemed to be dissatisfied with your majesty in her words."

Upon hearing this, the queen's eyes suddenly became sharp, and her voice was slightly cold, "What else did she say?"

Jin Xuan was so scared that he knelt on the ground, but he was very happy in his heart, thinking that Concubine Qin was about to get into big trouble.

So, she added fuel to the fire and said, "She also said that although the queen is the master of the six palaces, she can't escape the erosion of time, and she can't compare to the young and beautiful newcomers."

"Did she really say that?"

The queen frowned and stared sharply at Jin Xuan who was kneeling on the ground. She didn't believe that there would be such a stupid woman in the harem.

Even if he really thought so in his heart, he would not say it out loud, let alone in front of Jin Xuan.

Jin Xuan's scalp tingled under the Queen's sharp gaze, but she still said, "Your Majesty, everything I said is true. That's what Concubine Qin said."

Upon hearing this, the queen did not get angry. Instead, she retracted her sharp gaze and curled up the corners of her mouth into a smile, which concealed some depth and calculation.

"Newcomer? Beauty is like a flower, but it is also fleeting. Jin Xuan, just wait and see how far she can go in this harem."

Jin Xuan was stunned. She had never expected the queen to react like this. She felt annoyed, but she had to bite the bullet and said, "Yes, I am stupid and failed to understand the queen's deep meaning."

The queen slowly sat up and waved her hand, asking the maids behind her to leave. She stared at Jin Xuan and asked, "Tell me, how does Concubine Qin compare to Concubine Li and Concubine Zhen?"

Jin Xuan did not dare to continue lying, and said carefully: "She is three points better than both Concubine Li and Concubine Zhen."

"More than three points?"

The queen repeated these words over and over again, and suddenly she laughed, "She is beautiful but stupid. If I can use her for my own benefit, it would be a great move."

When Jin Xuan heard this, he immediately understood the Queen's plan and regretted it to his heart's content.

She just wanted the Empress to dislike Concubine Qin and make it difficult for her to take a single step in the palace. Why did the Empress want to use her for her own benefit?

"My lady, Concubine Qin..."

Jin Xuan looked anxious. She wanted to say that Concubine Qin was not really stupid, but when the words came to her lips, she couldn't continue.

She had just spoken ill of Concubine Qin in front of Her Majesty, causing Her Majesty to mistakenly believe that Concubine Qin was brainless. Now she is saying that Concubine Qin is not a stupid person. Isn't that contradicting herself?

"what happened?"

The queen frowned and looked at her. "If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you hesitating?"

Jin Xuan's face turned pale, and she said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I want to say whether Concubine Qin is really stupid or not is still unknown. Maybe she pretended to be like this on purpose in order to confuse Your Majesty's sight."

The queen nodded slightly, "You are right. This matter needs to be observed."

Guanju Palace.

The veil dances lightly, the fragrance of flowers fills the air, but it cannot conceal an inexplicable restlessness.

The afternoon sun shone through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows on Concubine Yu's delicate makeup, adding a touch of anger.

"This queen is really getting better and better at acting."

Imperial Concubine Yu held an exquisite round fan in her hand and gently patted her palms, her tone full of disdain, "A mere palace maid of high rank is actually worthy of such respect from her. What kind of reward is this?"

Upon hearing this, Furong, the personal maid beside her, dared not utter a word, for fear of offending the Imperial Concubine.

Concubine Yu's beautiful eyes flashed with ruthlessness, and she ordered in a cold voice: "Go to the storehouse and pick out some good things to send to Yihe Palace. Remember to give three times more than the Queen's reward, lest Concubine Qin be tempted and side with the Queen."

If the marriage had not been arranged by the late emperor, the position of empress would never have fallen to Changsun Ningyan.

As a result, when she entered the Eastern Palace, she could only be a concubine, and was much shorter than that old woman.

Even though her cousin made her a noble concubine after he ascended the throne, no matter how honorable a noble concubine was, she was still not the legal wife and was still a concubine in the final analysis.

"Yes, your concubine."

Furong responded respectfully and quickly took the order to deliver the reward.

As soon as Furong went out, she heard hurried footsteps entering the hall.

"Mother, it's not good."

A young eunuch rushed in in a panic and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the Queen Mother has ordered that if any palaces break porcelain again, they will not be replaced and must purchase new ones on their own."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yu's face turned pale instantly, and she slammed the round fan in her hand on the table with a "bang" sound.

"Changsun Ningyan, you bitch, you are holding chicken feathers as your authority, do you think I can't punish you?"

She gnashed her teeth, stood up, and paced back and forth in the palace, cursing: "This old woman is deliberately targeting me, damn it." Yu Guifei was furious, and ordered the maid Haitang beside her: "Let's go to the Cining Palace. I want to ask the Queen Mother to judge the case."

"Yes, your concubine."

Haitang didn't dare to say much. She responded respectfully and followed closely.

At the same time, in Ningshuang Palace and Yingyue Palace, Concubine Zhen and Concubine Life each received news that the Queen had sent a reward to Concubine Qin.

He also ordered people to send rewards to Yu Yao.

However, they were not as bold as Concubine Yu who dared to openly challenge the Queen.

Instead, he instructed the palace maids around him that the rewards they gave should be three points less than those given to the empress, and should not go beyond the empress's.

With the Queen, Concubine Yu, Concubine Zhen, and Concubine Li sending rewards, other concubines in the palace also sent rewards to Yu Yao.

Of course, for those whose positions are lower than Yu Yao’s, it cannot be called a reward, it can only be called a gift.

In the Yihe Hall, Yu Yao received so many gifts that she was overwhelmed. Instead of feeling happy, she felt very annoyed.

She didn't dare use the things these women gave her. Who knows if there were any additives in them.

She doesn't have the time to check them one by one.

"Amber, throw these things in the corner of the warehouse, separate them with something, and don't take them out for no reason."

Yu Yao gave instructions to Amber who was busy at the side.

Although Amber felt it was a pity as they were all good things, she became wary again thinking that they were given by the concubine.

She even didn't dare to touch those things. She wrapped them in a clean cloth and put them in the warehouse, blocking her breathing the whole time for fear of inhaling some bad things.

Royal study room.

When Emperor Jing heard that all the women in the harem gave gifts to Yu Yao, he knew that it was the Queen who started this and he was very satisfied.

Although it is a custom in the palace, at least on the surface the harem appears harmonious.

"Come here, go to the storehouse and pick out some good things for Concubine Qin, and tell her that I will come to see her in the evening."

Emperor Jing was sitting at his desk dealing with memorials when he suddenly spoke to Lu Xi who was waiting beside him.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lu Xi received the order and went down.

But in her heart, she was thinking that although the Emperor seemed to favor Concubine Qin, he also pushed Concubine Qin to the forefront, which was not a good thing for Concubine Qin.

He came to the storehouse and picked out some precious and beautiful jewelry and fabrics according to Concubine Qin's preferences. He ordered the eunuchs to pack them carefully, and then took people to the Yihe Palace to deliver the rewards.

The east hall of Yihe Hall.

Yu Yao was leaning on the couch with her eyes closed, dozing off. The room was filled with silence.

At this moment, Liuli hurried in, glanced at the young lady who was dozing on the couch, and said respectfully: "Young lady, the eunuch Lu Xi who is with the emperor is here."

She opened her eyes and looked at Liuli, "Where is the person?"

Liuli glanced at her and said respectfully, "We have arrived at the entrance of Yihe Hall."

She nodded slightly, stood up from the couch, straightened her clothes, and when she saw that nothing was wrong, she walked out.

As soon as I walked into the yard, I saw Lu Xi coming in with a few young eunuchs. Each of the young eunuchs was holding a tray covered with red silk, so it was impossible to see what was inside.

"How come you have time to come here today, sir? But what does the emperor want?"

Yu Yao went up to him with a smile on her face.

Lu Xi stopped in front of her, bowed respectfully, and said with a smile: "Lady Qin, the emperor misses you and has ordered me to select some good things from the storehouse and send them to you."

As he said this, he asked the eunuch behind him to unveil the red silk, revealing a dazzling array of jewels, precious jewelry and cloth. The jewelry was beautiful and exquisite, and the colors of the cloth were very bright.

She glanced at him quickly and quickly looked away. She was in a good mood and bowed. "Thank you, eunuch. Please thank the emperor for me."

Lu Xi smiled and said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will tell the emperor."

After he finished speaking, he suddenly leaned forward and whispered in Yu Yao's ear: "My dear, the emperor said he would come to see you in the evening, please get ready early."

Her face flushed slightly, and she showed her joy at the right time, and said excitedly: "Thank you for telling me, father-in-law. I know now."

She winked at Amber.

Amber understood what he meant and smiled as she stuffed a purse into his pocket. "Father-in-law, you have worked hard on the journey. I will buy you some tea."

Lu Xi knew that this was the rule in the palace, so he did not refuse and accepted it naturally.

He chatted with Yu Yao for a while longer, then left with his people.