Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 172: Legend of Zhen Huan 44

The arrogance that Wan Guiren had developed because of the emperor's exclusive favor was dispelled by Yi Xin using Huanbi. From then on, she became much more obedient and low-key. However, when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, she couldn't help but analyze Yi Xin's every move after she entered the palace. She always felt that Yi Xin was unreasonably proud. She was even shocked to realize that even the emperor didn't take Yi Xin seriously!

Concubine Wan was well-read and had read a lot of history books, so she was able to read the emperor's words and expressions to please him, and she could also give him advice when he was troubled.

Even though she was proud to think that she was as good as men in her heart, she actually knew that in such a patriarchal background, her talent, which was as good as men's, could only be reduced to a tool to please the emperor. Even though she felt that this was wrong in her heart, she could not escape it.

But Yi Xin is different. She always treats the women in the harem with the attitude of "I won't offend anyone unless they offend me". She will only fight back when she is offended.

Ever since Concubine Wan moved into Chengqian Palace, she saw very clearly that although the emperor treated Yi Xin differently, it seemed that there was no difference between men and women, so the emperor seldom stayed overnight in Yi Xin's room. However, he valued the Sixth Prince more and more, and even personally enlightened the Sixth Prince.

Even though Yi Xin didn't have much time to see the emperor, it didn't affect her at all from having fun with Yue Guiren. Both of them seemed to not care about the emperor's favor and managed their lives very well, which made her very envious.

The only connection that Concubine Wan has in the palace now is Su Peisheng, who is interested in Cui Jinxi, and the other is Wen Shichu in the Imperial Hospital.

But Su Peisheng was the chief steward in front of the emperor. In order to avoid suspicion and to win over Cui Jinxi, she could only trouble Su Peisheng as little as possible. As for Wen Shichu, he was now half useless because Yi Xin suggested that the emperor change the rules of the Imperial Hospital. The current rule was that the imperial physician could not move alone after leaving the Imperial Hospital, especially when taking a pulse, at least two people had to act together, so she and Wen Shichu actually had no chance to meet alone.

Before long, everyone in the palace knew that Huanbi was sent to the northwest to reunite with the Zhen family. This was the result of Yi Xin inviting Concubine Jing to go to the Qianqing Palace together.

Of course, it was impossible for Concubine Wan to simply hate Yi Xin, just like she hated Concubine Hua. She had to rely on Yi Xin to avoid Concubine Nian's calculations. At that time, she exposed the truth about Huan Yixiang in front of Concubine Nian, but she didn't expect Yi Xin to get the news in time. Not only did she go to Yiku Palace in person, she also informed the emperor, making the emperor completely disgusted with her.

She didn't get along with Yi Xin, but she also knew that Yi Xin was more difficult to deal with than the former Concubine Hua or the current Concubine Nian. Even all the women in the harem combined could not match her.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Concubine Wan no longer dared to cause any trouble during the greetings. Instead, she waited until the end of the party before asking Cui Jinxi to ask Xizhu, who was standing beside Yixin, if she could talk to Yixin alone for a while.

Yi Xin was not interested in Concubine Wan at all. She refused Concubine Wan's request to stay longer and casually gave her a plate of freshly baked egg yolk pastry from Chengqian Palace.

Cui Jinxi was carrying a plate of snacks. She could faintly smell the salty and fragrant aroma through the food box. She comforted Wan Guiren and said, "The Imperial Concubine had something else. She sent us a plate of fresh snacks and said that if you like, you can go to the small kitchen and order some. It seems that the Imperial Concubine took revenge on the spot and won't worry about it later."

Wan Guiren smiled bitterly: "I really regret that I was in such a hurry and didn't tell the Imperial Concubine before moving into Chengqian Palace. I had already offended the Imperial Concubine to death, and later I hurt Yuyin because of my momentary anger. I really let my parents down completely."

Concubine Wan felt as if she was torn into two halves. One half was worried every day about her parents, younger sister in the northwest, and Yu Yin who was leaving the palace. The other half was smiling sweetly and accompanying the king with a gentle and virtuous look on her face.

She couldn't figure out what she really wanted, because it was true that she was worried about her parents and sisters, and it was true that she had fallen in love with Prince Guo. But she could also hear that when she played the zither and flute with the emperor, she still had an inseparable feeling for him.

Lipin had been somewhat shaken ever since Nian Gengyao was purged and Concubine Nian was imprisoned, but one day when she met the distraught Concubine Wan in the imperial garden, she could not help but step forward and vent her fear to her.

Concubine Li was the type of person with a gorgeous appearance. If she wasn't so stupid, anyone with a slightly undecent temperament would have thought of her in a wrong way. But although her not-so-smart brain suppressed her beauty a little, she wouldn't make people think of her in a wrong way. She was the only person in the palace whose appearance could be compared to Concubine Nian.

She was afraid of Concubine Duan, Concubine Nian, Yi Xin and the Emperor, but she had no fear of Concubine Wan, whom she had always defeated. So she walked up to her and waited for Concubine Wan to salute her, while she even criticized Concubine Wan's rules and etiquette.

"Oh, these people really have no rules at home. They can do such things as marrying a criminal girl. Exiling them to the northwest is also a mercy of the emperor."

It was only when Concubine Nian, who was still Concubine Hua, that Concubine Wan squatted for a while longer when she was performing the ceremony. Concubine Li was not Concubine Hua, and even Concubine Nian was not as good as Concubine Hua. Concubine Wan stood up and sat down in her original seat. Without waiting for Concubine Li to make trouble, she smiled and said to her, "Madam Concubine Li, let me tell you a story."

As she spoke, Wan Guiren said to Lipin in front of all the palace maids and eunuchs, "In the past, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, married Empress Lü Zhi, the daughter of the Lü family, as a commoner. Later, when Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty became successful, he looked down on Empress Lü, who had accompanied him through hardships and given birth to his eldest son and eldest daughter. He only favored Concubine Qi and even wanted to depose Empress Lü's legitimate son, Emperor Hui, and make Concubine Qi's illegitimate son the crown prince."

"But Empress Lü was very clever, and in the end her son Emperor Hui inherited the throne, while Lady Qi's son Liu Ruyi was driven out of the palace and sent to a fiefdom. Lady Qi herself was also demoted by Empress Lü to pound rice in the Yongxiang."

"Oh, by the way, the Yongxiang in the Han Dynasty was also where the palace maids who made mistakes went, just like the Xinzheku in our palace."

"But Madam Qi was simple-minded. She actually sang while pounding rice, 'My son is the king, and I am a captive. I pound rice all day and night, always with death. We are three thousand miles apart. Who should I tell you?'"

"The meaning is simple. The son became a prince, but the mother was a prisoner. She had to pound rice until sunset every day, and she was always worried that she would be killed by Empress Lu. However, her son was three thousand miles away, and she had no way to pass on the news."

"Later, this ballad reached the ears of Empress Lü, who was furious and turned Concubine Qi into a human pig, cutting off her hands and feet and leaving only her head. She then put Concubine Qi in a water jar, and the jar was filled not with water, but with night fragrance!"

Concubine Li was really frightened by Concubine Wan's description. She was timid to begin with, otherwise she would not have been so frightened as a frightened bird when Concubine Nian fell. Concubine Wan told the story in a very light-hearted manner, but she could not help imagining everything Concubine Wan described in her mind. She had nightmares all night when she returned home and eventually scared herself crazy.

The ruthlessness of Concubine Wan also made Concubine Duan look at her sideways.