“Mother, if you have any instructions, just enjoin a eunuch to tell me.” Empress Ji frowned first when she heard Queen Mother of Mercy came, but her expression immediately turned to be respectable and affectionate and then she went out to greet Queen Mother of Mercy, “You elder don't have to come here in person. This is really my fault.”

Queen Mother of Mercy, who was called “elder” by her was actually not old. She was between forty to fifty years old and looked younger because of the superior living environment and the recipes for keeping youth.

“You are busy taking charge of the Imperial Harem.” Ms. Yuan supported by the Empress got off the sedan, and patted the back of the Empress's hand, saying softly, “I have nothing to do now. We are both in the Imperial Harem, and my residence is not far from here, so, it doesn't matter.”

She had a very different temperament from Queen Mother of Honor, Queen Mother Ji. Queen Mother Ji's majestic manner was formed naturally, and people could tell that she was a n.o.ble woman who was a motherly model of the nation at first glance. However, no matter in appearance or makeup, Ms. Yuan looked like a kind and tender elder from a common n.o.ble family. Besides, Ms. Yuan spoke softly and tenderly. So, instead of having royal majesty, she only made people feel amiable.

Following the Empress's footsteps, Yun Fenghuang looked on coldly. Even for a moment, she saw the similarities between Ms. Yuan and her biological mother Ms. Jiang.

… It seemed that Emperor Chunjia had had been bad days in the Imperial Harem. Queen Mother Yuan and Queen Mother Qu were closer mothers for Emperor Chunjia, but they not only were too low-key to hear their news at ordinary times, but also dared not put on airs as Queen Mothers even if they occasionally came out.

Even Queen Mother Yuan's pride and n.o.bility as the wife of Lord Duan of Fuyang County and the legitimate mother of former Princedom Fuyang (now Emperor Chunjia) hadn't even existed anymore.

Yun Fenghuang thought that it was really good.

When she was criticizing inwardly, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the royal family had entered the inner hall and sat down in a kind, polite and harmonious manner.

They were expected to be polite and modest when they chose the seat. Empress Ji found an excuse that Queen Mother of Mercy was both honorable and elderly, so, she planned to let Queen Mother Yuan sit the Empress's throne. Of course, Queen Mother Yuan was tactful, so, she didn't agree at all and pretended to be angry to leave. In the end, they accepted a suggestion from a maid of Yan Fu Palace that another throne could be set up beside the Empress's throne so that they could sit down on an equal footing.

The mother-in-law seemed to be kind and the daughter-in-law seemed to be filial.

Seeing that both of them had seated finally, Yun Fenghuang came forward to salute and paid respects to Queen Mother Yuan.

Queen Mother Yuan took the cup handed by a maid, looked her up and down for a few seconds, and asked the Empress with a smile, “Is this Cheng Gui in Lianniang's palace? She's really beautiful.”

“Yes.” Empress Ji also smiled, “Mother, you had personally made a request before, so, how couldn't I take it serious? Among the concubines cordially invited this time, Cheng Gui Yun is one of the most outstanding ones… Speaking of this, since these young sisters joined the Imperial Palace, His Majesty hasn't slept with other concubines except for Cheng Gui Yun so far. It can be seen Cheng Gui is so sensible and well-behaved that His Majesty likes her very much. If there is good news in a few days, I will congratulate Mother and Sister Consort Yue!”

Yun Fenghuang underneath hurriedly kneeled more carefully to respond to the Empress's words for one reason. For another, considering Queen Mother Yuan had no way to do anything to the Empress, she wasn't unwilling to see Queen Mother Yuan get angry at her.

Fortunately, although Queen Mother Yuan was the legitimate aunt of Consort Yue, her temperament was much more stable than Consort Yue's. Hearing this, she not only did not get angry, but also showed praise, “Empress, you are virtuous. I'm relieved that the Emperor has you be his wife.”

Empress Ji said, “Mother, I don't deserve the praise.”

Until now, the Empress waved her hand to let Yun Fenghuang leave.

“Since Cheng Gui Yun is in Lianniang's palace, let her stay here.” When Yun Fenghuang stood up, saluted, and was about to leave after she heard the Empress's words, she heard Queen Mother Yuan said, “After all, the matter of Jiang Lan has something to do with her.”

Empress Ji laughed and said, “Okay.”

Then Empress Ji enjoined her maids to prepare a seat for Yun Fenghuang.

Yun Fenghuang then sat respectfully on one third of the stool surface, held her breath in deep concentration and were all ears for their communications.

Queen Mother Yuan noticed her conducts and laughed lightly, “This Cheng Gui behaves well.”

“Grandmother always likes well-behaved concubines. If one concubine is wayward and spoiled, and looks kind-hearted but is wicked, she will not be accepted in the Imperial Harem!” Empress Ji made a perfect smile, and people could not tell whether she aimed at Consort Yue or not, “It's a pity that Sister Consort Yue is inconvenience to go out these days, or if she had more chances to get along with Cheng Gui Yun, she would understand why His Majesty favors Cheng Gui Yun, and would like to be with Cheng Gui Yun, too.”

“It's nice to be born in a strong family.”

Yun Fenghuang sitting underneath and concentrating on their communications thought bitterly. No matter whether Queen Mother Yuan's intention was good or not, at least she hadn't taken the initiative to be directed against the Empress so far. How about Empress Ji? Although she seemed to abide by etiquette, in fact, almost all her words were offensive if they were tasted carefully.

But the Emperor was a puppet while Empress Ji had a powerful family, so, what could Queen Mother Yuan do?

She could only bear it.

If Yun Fenghuang had been still in the north, and Xie Fenghuan hadn't done that kind of thing… she could have lived such life… It was really difficult to start from scratch…

When she was distracted for a moment, the Queen Mother and the Empress had ended greetings and gotten right to the point. Queen Mother Yuan said emotionally, “… If I had known that he is such a man of self-a.s.sertion who acts recklessly, it's impossible for me to let him stay around the Emperor, not mention to serve the Emperor!”

“Mother, you have been regarding His Majesty as your biological child. If anyone say you deliberately harm His Majesty, I am the first not believing it!” Empress Ji comforted her, “Jiang Lan is of the most heinous guilt, and you should not blame yourself for this… I believe that His Majesty has the same idea as me.”

Queen Mother Yuan had been pretending not to realize her implications, and sighed, “I have enjoined guards to flog thirty strokes to Jiang Lan, expelled him out of the Imperial Palace and banished him to the north… But now, the Emperor needs someone to serve him, so, you need to pay more attention to select a proper man.”

The Empress frowned slightly, seeming to be dissatisfied with the punishments to Jiang Lan, “Mother, please allow me to put up with my thoughts. Jiang Lan has been with His Majesty for more than ten years. As the old saying goes, 'One has really put in a lot of sweats if not efforts.' Although what he did this time goes too far, fortunately, Cheng Gui Yun is fine now. Now that you have punished him to be flogged by thirty strokes, I think we can allow him to continue to stay around His Majesty to expiate his crime by good deeds.”

After saying that, she glanced at Yun Fenghuang, “In the final a.n.a.lysis, he was His Majesty's trusted attendant, and was appointed by you. If he is banished to the north and suffers from hards.h.i.+p and difficulties just because of a fault, and if this piece of news is pa.s.sed out, not only His Majesty's reputation will be affected, but Cheng Gui Yun will also feel uneasy.”

Yun Fenghuang wouldn't feel uneasy. Not to mention Jiang Lan was only to be exiled to the borderland, even he was directly put to death by hanging, she wouldn't feel pity.

But since the Empress said so, though she was reluctant inwardly, she had to kneel immediately and said that she would be uneasy and requested Queen Mother Yuan to take back the order.

“You are all good girls.” Queen Mother Yuan sighed. She didn't look at Yun Fenghuang, but only said to Empress Ji, “But I'm really sad… Isn't His Majesty generous enough to Jiang Lan? Am I not trustful enough to him? Aren't you tolerant enough to him? Gui Yun Cheng was a concubine who joined the Imperial Harem not long ago, so, how was she able to offend the Emperor's trusted eunuch? I'm so disappointed at him!”

Queen Ji pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and then said, “Mother, in this case, I will obey your instructions… As for the vacancy after Jiang Lan's departure, please give me some advice.”

“What advice?” Queen Mother Yuan shook her head, “The Emperor was still young before. So, I had to worry about him. But now he grows up and has such a virtuous and capable wife to a.s.sist him, so, I'm relieved to live a peaceful life in my old age. It is up to you to deal with these trifles.”

Empress Ji said, “Mother, I'm young and inexperienced, so, you have to make the final check at least.”

“My insight isn't comparable to Sister Ji.” Queen Mother Yuan chuckled, “You just go to Mian Fu Palace every day. Maybe you can ask Sister Ji for advice? Sister Ji had taken charge of the Imperial Harem before, she has more experience than me on handling such things. If you can't make the decision, the best way is to ask Sister Ji!”

Since the Empress took advantage of this incident to expel Jiang Lan, she definitely didn't want Queen Mother Yuan to give any advice on the selection of the Emperor's next trusted eunuch.

At this moment, since the Empress had said the polite formulas, she took advantage of this opportunity to agree, “Then I will report to Mother Ji and Mother Qu tomorrow… I hope they can give me some advice.”

Besides, even if Queen Mother Yuan didn't want to give advice, she said, “After I select the eunuch, I will go to Chun Yong Palace to pay respects to you. After all, the one will take care of His Majesty in the future, so, please have a look.”

If Queen Mother Yuan refused her again, she seemed to pay a little emphasis on Emperor Chunjia. If she was his biological mother, it didn't matter, but she was only his former legitimate mother. Therefore, she had to agree with a smile and pretended to blame the Empress, “You bad girl, I just praised you, but you began to a.s.sign jobs to me. I have no excuse to be lazy now.”

After she said this, she continued suddenly without waiting for Empress Ji's answer, “By the way, Cheng Gui Yun didn't come back for a whole night. She must be scared…”

“Mother, don't worry.” Empress Ji immediately said, “I know that Cheng Gui Yun has been aggrieved. Therefore, I said just now to raise her grade to be Cai Ren tomorrow.”

Yun Fenghuang felt bad hearing this. The Empress had promised to upgrade her grade from Cheng Gui to Cai Ren yesterday, which was the reward of betraying Duke Yi's Mansion. Besides, the Empress hasn't awarded her for helping the Empress frame Jiang Lan just now. How could the Empress still merely upgrade her grade to Cai Ren?

As the old saying went, “To be in the king's company is tantamount to living with a tiger.” And there was another saying, “The husband and wife are one.” Although it seemed that the grace of the Emperor was not reliable, the shelter of the Empress was not reliable, either?

Right, just like betraying n.o.ble Consort Shu, it was time to consider betraying the Empress…

“Thanks for Your Highness and Queen Mother of Mercy's grace, but I have little talent and learning, so, I don't deserve the t.i.tle of Cai Ren.” She had already considered how to frame the Empress, but she pretended to be calm and said without hesitation, “Your Highness, please take back the blessing!”

Queen Mother Yuan gave her a glance, turned to the Empress, and asked with a smile, “I remember that Cai Ren is Deputy Fifth-Grade?”

Empress Ji frowned slightly, but she had to answer, “Mother, exactly.”

She could guess what Queen Mother Yuan was going to say next, so, she added, “When Cheng Gui joined the Imperial Harem a few days ago, she was Bao Lin. Her grade had already been upgraded once.”

“There are a few high-ranking concubines in the Imperial Harem.” Queen Mother Yuan said softly, as if she hadn't heard the Empress's last sentence, “When I came from Chun Yong Palace just now, I saw many gorgeous palaces, but there are few people there. The palaces look too deserted. Cheng Gui Yun was cordially invited by Empress Dowager's imperial decree, so, presumably she is a n.o.ble lady born in a n.o.ble family and living an extravagant life before. It's just an empty gesture to give her a t.i.tle of Bao Lin. The concubines selected by Concubine Messenger are impossible to be comparable to her…”

Empress Ji thought for a while and said, “Mother, that make sense. How about upgrading her grade to Mei Ren?”

She explained, “It's not because I am stingy and don't want to promote her to be a high-ranking concubine, but because Gui Cheng Yun joined the Imperial Harem with Mei Ren Yun, n.o.ble Consort Shu's half-sister, together. Although Mei Ren Yun is the daughter of a concubine, she is personally raised by d.u.c.h.ess Yi, so, she has the similar ident.i.ty as n.o.ble Consort Shu in Duke Yi's Mansion. Besides, she and Cheng Gui are good friends before they joined the Imperial Harem. If Cheng Gui Yun's grade exceeds Mei Ren Yun's, not only their friends.h.i.+p may be affected, but also Duke Yi's Mansion will lose face.

The Empress said indifferently, “After all, Cheng Gui Yun is only the adoptive daughter of Duke Yi's cousin. Thanks to you, she can gain the special blessing to have the same grade as Duke Yi's biological daughter.”

“You are considerate.” Empress Yuan smiled, seeming to realize it just now, and then apologized, “It should be your power to decide concubines' grade. I was really a dotard just now.”

“Mother, it's my honor to have your advice. If you don't put up with any advice as before, I will be worried.” As usual, Empress Ji offended Queen Mother Yuan impliedly with a smile, and then raised her jaw to Yun Fenghuang who was still kneeling, “Cheng Gui Yun, appreciate Queen Mother of Mercy quickly.”

Cheng Gui Yun kowtowed carefully, “Thanks for Your Highness's grace! Thanks for Queen Mother of Mercy's grace! I must try my best to serve His Majesty in the future!”

Queen Mother Yuan had been calm, but hearing the last sentence, her eyes twitched, and laughed again, “Empress, it's good that you're not angry with me… I have promised to make Yulu Cake for Kunze, and the time now is…

Empress Ji immediately said, “Mother, I hadn't seen you for several days and wanted to have dinner with you. But since you have promised to Sister Kunze, I dare not delay your time.”

Afterwards, the Empress led a group of maids to send Queen Mother Yuan away.

As soon as Queen Mother Yuan's sedan went far away, Empress Ji who had been smiling just now became angry immediately. She went back in a huff to the hall first. Seeing Yun Fenghuang still kneeling carefully, she didn't let her stand up. Instead, she walked fast to sit on her throne and took up the warm tea to take a sip. After that, she said coldly, “Weren't you shrewd to follow me to greet Queen Mother of Mercy quickly just now? Why don't you send her now?”