Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 161 - 135:

On the canvas was a painting of ten thousand chrysanthemums for the Longevity Festival, expertly crafted with vivid detail. The only blemish was that the chrysanthemum petals seemed to lack color, appearing dull at a glance, truly a "half-finished" piece.

Yun Jiao had saved her progress beforehand and sat beside Consort Ji, one playing the zither, the other the flute.

Before Consort Ji took her seat, she wanted to encourage Yun Jiao, only to hear her muttering: "Potato... potato..." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Do you want to eat a potato?"

"No, I’m envisioning the audience below as potatoes."

Consort Ji smiled warmly.

Lady made a masterful stroke, her coloring technique differing from Yan Chi’s mainstream style. Her depiction of landscapes and flower petals was bolder and more carefree, using jade green to delineate mountains and verdant green for the water, her gentle hand illuminating the mountains and rivers, allowing the chrysanthemums to bloom.

Her effortless strokes were backed by countless days and nights of hard work.

While Yun Jiao seemed to lead an effortlessly easy life, at this moment, she was drenched in sweat.

Played a wrong note, restart!

Played too slowly, falling behind Consort Ji’s rhythm, restart!

Yun Jiao felt like a clumsy player being called onto stage at a comic convention to perform a high-difficulty rhythm game, surrounded by knowledgeable scholars while she, an illiterate, performed helplessly. She habitually looked towards Concubine Li, seated at the table, only to find her averting her gaze, pretending not to know her.

Even more helpless was Xie Zhixing, seated at the head table.

In others’ eyes, Concubine Xi’s musical skills, though not stunning, were at least well-practiced and without flaw.

In his ears, however, it was like a child practicing the zither with a stuttering music player effect.

Yun Jiao’s skill wasn’t advanced enough to notice her own imperfections.

Fortunately, Yun Jiao discovered that Concubine Wei was the best error detector in the room.

Whenever Concubine Wei furrowed her brows and turned to complain to the person beside her, Yun Jiao would replay that section of the piece. Her stuttering restarts, to guests unaware of the truth, sounded rather pleasant.

An official next to Yun Jiao’s father struck up a conversation: "Concubine Xi’s musical talent is remarkable, Mr. Yun truly taught his daughter well... huh, how come you’re sweating all over in this weather?"

Yun Yuan knew all too well his daughter’s true abilities.

He once held dreams of raising a talented daughter, only to realize she was indeed his own child, with talents as limited as his.

...

Lady presented the "half-finished" painting, intending for the chrysanthemum flowers to bloom in full glory before the Emperor to the accompaniment of music, illuminating the mountains and rivers.

Such delicate thought undoubtedly earned the Emperor’s high praise, granting her a weighty reward along with the words: "Lady has managed the Longevity Festival well; despite the many obligations, she found the time to prepare this painting for me... it must have taken some time!"

Lady bowed affectionately and mentioned that it was thanks to Concubine Wei and Concubine Feng’s reliable help, sharing her burden considerably.

The two being mentioned were surprised by the honor and quickly stood to humbly refuse.

Yet their blushing faces couldn’t hide their true happiness.

On this joyful day, the Emperor didn’t skimp on rewards, granting each of them a bolt of magnificent brocade.

Xie Zhixing knew that the organization of the Longevity Festival was almost entirely managed by Lady.

Wei and Feng wouldn’t dare to compete with her, yet she didn’t forget to praise them while she was in the spotlight. She sought real power without monopolizing the limelight. Upon seeing this, other concubines knew that working with Lady had its benefits and naturally trusted her more.

The work being done beautifully, he was satisfied.

Today was the Longevity Festival, and he could only stay overnight at Jianzhang Palace, with the Empress wanting to talk to him several times, but only receiving the reply that he had to rise early the next day.

Then came the New Year, with the harem in a state of busy chaos.

Yun Jiao was pregnant, and no one disturbed her. She leisurely spent her days with her mother, except for frequently replying to the Emperor’s letters, leading her life blissfully. She became more reliant on her mother. Lady Yun would return home for two days every ten days, which Yun Jiao missed dearly: "If only Mother could live with me in the palace, it would be great to have everyone serve us. My mother agrees too."

She said this in front of Xie Zhixing, adding: "But unfortunately, he doesn’t agree."

"Who doesn’t agree?"

Yun Jiao replied pitifully: "Her husband doesn’t agree."

Isn’t Lady Yun’s husband her father?

Xie Zhixing chuckled: "I’ll accompany you."

"Does the Emperor want to be my father?"

She looked up, alert.

At this moment, she still wore the tiger-eared hat he had previously given, feeling as majestic as a fierce tiger.

Xie Zhixing stroked her tiger ear and said, "I just want to spend more time with you."

Yun Jiao felt it was he who needed her company.

Seeing him becoming increasingly clingy, she couldn’t help but suspect that even though she had replayed and overwritten his confession events, his affection level remained high.

Soon, Yun Jiao had no time to worry about these matters.

Because the flood named morning sickness crashed over her, leaving her unable to eat.