Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 155 - 131:

The Emperor had spoken, and Concubine Li had no choice but to convey his message.

She felt like a slightly higher-grade pigeon, the only difference being that pigeons got corn and peas, while she, she received rare materials, among them a prized pomegranate red peacock-patterned brocade, which she adored beyond words.

"The master has been receiving more rewards than before recently."

The Chief Palace Maid remarked with a hint of sentiment, understanding the underlying situation.

"Talking to the Emperor a lot more too. Who would have thought the Emperor would indulge in love affairs more than my own dear mother," Concubine Li whispered, fearing someone might hear and accuse her of disrespect, though she couldn’t hide the laughter welling from her throat: "He didn’t throw her into the storm but even kept me for a meal, this honor might just be the only one in the palace!"

This singular honor failed to move Yun Jiao.

Even when Concubine Li mentioned the Emperor to her, she took him as just another recent frequent visitor, not bothering to pay heed.

Upon glimpsing the Emperor’s considerate side, Concubine Li understood more clearly that what she previously received was merely favor, not true affection.

Concubine Li raised her head, the palace walls slicing the sky into squares: "I want to make a new set of clothes from that peacock-patterned brocade."

"I’ll take a trip later, what tailoring does the master desire?"

She felt somewhat discontent; when she first received her title, she also dreamed of being the favorite in the harem, but that dream shattered swiftly. The Emperor was amiable to concubines. Women who had served him were always granted a portion of affection, yet he never engaged in the games of love and sentiment with the concubines, hardly speaking much at all, making it difficult to foster illusions of being loved. Even before entering the palace, Concubine Li hadn’t truly loved anyone, yet the ability to discern these matters seemed innately present.

"Go back and discuss with Concubine Xi, she said she wants to wear the same new clothes as me, a sister outfit, she says."

"Lady Concubine Xi is really... other masters would fear wearing the same clothes as others, afraid of being outdone, yet she is fine with it."

"It’s just the child’s nature, why bother with it,"

Concubine Li said lightly, yet the corner of her lips curled up: "The Emperor invited me for a meal, and she even asked me to pack some leftovers for her, should someone with bad intentions hear about this, what would they think of her? Thinking the Emperor wanted her to eat leftovers? Then what would I become?"

Noticing her master was merely grumbling, the palace maid didn’t retort, only pursing her lips with a smile.

Even so, didn’t the master still mention it to the Emperor?

And the Emperor also agreed.

What was supposedly leftovers, was actually specially prepared, placed in exquisite boxes.

It’s just that the menu was chosen from the Emperor’s daily feast, selecting only the dishes that Yun Jiao loved.

...

Upon returning to Xianfu Palace, before Concubine Li even stepped into the main hall, Yun Jiao had caught wind and came out to meet her: "Sister Concubine Li, where’s mine?"

"What’s yours?"

Concubine Li raised an eyebrow.

Yun Jiao pursed her lips: "My thing, Concubine Li sister surely couldn’t have forgotten it!"

Her face was clearly small, with distinct features, yet when she pursed her lips, it reminded Concubine Li of a flat-faced cat she once kept, with a tigerish head, especially pitiful when aggrieved, so inviting to tease. Who could resist?

"The leftovers you wanted?" Thus, Concubine Li deliberately said: "I was having such a pleasant chat with the Emperor, I completely forgot about it, you won’t blame me, right?"

"I won’t blame sister."

The leftovers were gone, leaving Yun Jiao a bit disheartened, yet she immediately pinpointed the core issue: "Blame the Emperor instead."

If there’s a fault, it’s not the friend’s fault. It must be some ill-intentioned man meddling and messing up their plans.

Concubine Li couldn’t help but laugh and instructed the palace maid to hand the boxed meal to Xue Ya beside Yun Jiao: "I wasn’t teasing! Of course, I brought it for you, the Emperor had never heard of such a request..."

Before she could finish, Yun Jiao had already leapt into her arms in a hug.

"Sister Concubine Li is so good."

In her past life, Yun Jiao often watched dramas in the hospital, seeing parents pack rare tasty dishes after banquets to bring home for children. Somehow, this left a deep impression on her heart, and she really wanted to try it once, experiencing that feeling of being thought of.

Concubine Li pondered: "The imperial feast has many dishes, it’s the Emperor who chose them."

"Oh."

Concubine Li observed her closely yet didn’t see any special gratitude on her face, so she added: "The Emperor said he can play the zither, better than me."

This time Yun Jiao perked her ears.

She stopped in her tracks, speaking resolutely: "Thinking he plays better than Sister Concubine Li, but actually doesn’t."

No matter how mighty a ruler, he couldn’t surpass her best friend.

Concubine Li felt both amused and helpless, grateful that ever since Yun Jiao conceived, Xianfu Palace had been rid of outsiders’ spies. Those whose mouths were unguarded or did sloppy work were dealt with by the Empress Dowager’s sent mammas, preventing any more gossip. She dared not claim her playing was better than the Emperor’s!

... And all through the process, the Hidden Guard overseeing it relayed every word to the Emperor.

Xie Zhixing listened, sneering intermittently.

The next day, finding some free time, he went to Xianfu Palace, sitting boldly, beginning to teach Yun Jiao how to play the zither.

As he spoke cold and hard, she didn’t enjoy listening, wanting to coax him away swiftly: "The Emperor’s zither skills are extraordinary, it’s a waste to use it to teach me."

"Extraordinary?" Xie Zhixing sneered a bit, slowly repeating her words: "Thinking he plays better than Concubine Li, but actually doesn’t."

Yun Jiao almost jumped: "How does the Emperor know that?"

"Everything said and done escapes not my sight, since you said and did so, why fear acknowledging it."

He said calmly: "I know many things, I advise you to confess honestly, recount the disrespectful words you spoke, and I won’t hold you accountable."

In terms of maneuvering, Xie Zhixing was a notch above, Yun Jiao, looking like a student caught by the teacher with a phone, slouched her head: "I shouldn’t have spoken about you having a loose tongue behind your back."

So there’s another layer? Xie Zhixing hadn’t known.

"When did I speak too much?"

"Your letters are almost piling up the chest beside my bed."

This was a unique affection, yet she didn’t appreciate it, Xie Zhixing felt defeated, wanting to properly reprimand her, but to not write to her more... that was impossible, to not visit her, to give her the cold shoulder... would that be punishing her or himself instead? Feeling his conscience, he found himself truly at a loss, only hoping she wouldn’t despise him, and would think of him more often: "Do you find it annoying?"

Xie Zhixing maintained a stern demeanor, seemingly unchanged from his usual self, yet inwardly, he felt secretly aggrieved. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"For you to think of me amidst your busy schedule is an honor for me."

Yun Jiao first spoke the formal tone, then added: "It’s just that the Emperor’s letters are all about state affairs, things I don’t understand, why not say something more amusing!"

With just a few words, she pushed the Emperor into a state of introversion.

He remembered the Grand Emperor was particularly fond of amusement, finding beauty, poetry, and the cycles of seasons fascinating, spending more than half the year in gardens, disliking the constraints of the Imperial Palace. Even the third brother and others knew the art of play, yet he, solely buried in the mountainous memorials, what interesting matters could he daily encounter?

In the end, in her eyes, he turned out to be a boring man?

Yun Jiao glanced at him, he lowered his eyes, his long lashes concealing all his thoughts and desires.