SFL Chapter 47

Even though Noble Consort Sun had experienced the ups and downs of the inner palace for many years, she had never seen a woman like Empress Wang Huijun.

After all, the late emperor had many concubines, leading to frequent disputes and covert conflicts. However, there had never been a public showdown.

Noble Consort Sun had encountered her fair share of dead bodies in her lifetime, but being openly used as an example to warn others was something that truly frightened her.

She still remembered the disdain on Wang Huijun’s face after dealing with those people. “Do you see? As long as I remain the Empress, even if all of you belong to others, what does it matter? You will still serve me.”

Noble Consort Sun felt a chill in her heart at her words. Yes, as long as Wang Huijun remained the Empress, whether they were her people or His Majesty’s people, they would have to treat her well, and they could not afford to openly confront the mother of a nation.

Noble Consort Sun had forgotten how Wang Huijun managed to find the Phoenix Seal and bring it back. She only remembered the cold smile on Wang Huijun’s face, which was unlike any other concubine she had dealt with before.

After all, Wang Huijun was the mother of the Empire, and perhaps only the Empress Dowager could understand her confidence and methods.

When she entered the palace, the Empress Dowager’s position was already as solid as a mountain, and she would not act as Wang Huijun did.

Thinking of this, Noble Consort Sun could not hide her disappointment and despair.

“The Empress’ actions are indeed somewhat radical, but there is nothing seriously wrong. After all, what’s the point of keeping servants who betray their master?” The Empress Dowager spoke up for her daughter-in-law, Wang Huijun.

The people behind those servants were just a few individuals, and those who could be killed in front of Noble Consort Sun naturally had some connection to her.

The Empress Dowager, as the former head of the harem, did not want to see Noble Consort Sun’s influence extend so far.

Noble Consort Sun did not expect the Empress Dowager to help her seek justice. Her actions were meant to test the waters with Yun Jingli, as everyone around Wang Huijun was either her person or the emperor’s. If Wang Huijun could treat her this way today, she could naturally treat his people the same way in the future.

If it were the former emperor, who was suspicious by nature, Empress Wang Huijun might have really had a hard time.

But Yun Jingli, the current emperor, hoped that Wang Huijun would replace all those who were disloyal, so she naturally would not follow Noble Consort Sun’s lead.

Compared to Noble Consort Sun and Yun Jingli, Wang Huijun was the least affected. “Mother, I have retrieved the Phoenix Seal, but I am still inexperienced. Can I come to you more often in the future for guidance?”

The Empress Dowager was very pleased with Wang Huijun’s attitude. “If the Empress is willing, she can come to me at any time.”

Noble Consort Sun felt a bit embarrassed. She had suggested that Wang Huijun could learn from her, but Wang Huijun had refused, apparently looking down on her as a mere concubine.

However, Noble Consort Sun quickly recovered and joked, “Your Majesty, now that the Empress is going to start handling palace affairs, will she neglect Your Majesty’s side?”

Her words caused a stir in the hearts of both the Empress Dowager and Wang Huijun. Yun Jingli was the Empress Dowager’s own son, and as a mother, she naturally did not want to see her son dominated by a woman. However, because it was still early days, the Empress Dowager had not made any moves yet. But it was impossible for her not to have some resentment towards Wang Huijun.

On the other hand, Wang Huijun was more straightforward. She directly classified Noble Consort Sun, who had always tried to please her in the past, as someone to be dealt with among her enemies.

“During the previous dynasty, there were so many state affairs, it’s because I neglected the Empress,” Yun Jingli said lightly.

When the Empress Dowager heard Yun Jingli mention state affairs, her brows slightly relaxed. After all, besides being a bit clingy and jealous, the Empress had not actually delayed the emperor in handling state affairs. Of course, it would be even better if the two could give her a grandson.

Noble Consort Sun could not have imagined that Yun Jingli would speak up for Wang Huijun. For a moment, her heart sank to the bottom.

The mind of an emperor was unfathomable. She had not deeply understood this before, as she could often guess what was on the emperor’s mind. But now, she found that she seemed unable to read him.

Yun Jingli seemed to have grown from a child into an adult in an instant. He was still the same person, but more mature and profound.

Noble Consort Sun was perhaps the person in the palace who understood Yun Jingli the best. The others, such as the Empress Dowager, his birth mother, and the Empress, his wife, actually did not understand this emperor very well.

Now that Yun Jingli has sealed the gap with Noble Consort Sun, the others naturally won’t be a problem.

After finishing dinner with the Empress Dowager, Yun Jingli left with Wang Huijun. Noble Consort Sun, however, was left behind by the Empress Dowager, who smiled and said that the two sisters should cherish the memory of the late emperor.

It’s fortunate that Yun Jingli is not the original master, otherwise, the original master’s heart would surely have been pierced.

The Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Sun shared the same husband, but they were from completely different age groups. The Empress Dowager was able to secure her position in the late emperor’s harem not because of a deep affection for him, and the same was true for Noble Consort Sun. Even though she might love the supreme imperial power, she couldn’t admire the late emperor with a face full of wrinkles.

Noble Consort Sun knew that the Empress Dowager was making excuses to keep her.

Sure enough, as soon as Yun Jingli left, the Empress Dowager’s face no longer showed the previous kindness, but instead, a cold expression. “Kneel down!”

Noble Consort Sun’s teeth trembled slightly as she knelt at the Empress Dowager’s feet, feeling humiliated.

The Empress Dowager looked at her coldly and questioned, “Noble Consort Sun, who gave you the courage to interfere in the affairs of the Empress in the Inner Palace?”

Who gave her the courage? Her own son.

“Your Majesty, this was a moment of foolishness on my part. I just thought that with more people, I could better understand the Empress. After all, as a concubine, I will have to rely on the Empress’s favor in the future.” Noble Consort Sun’s face was tearful as she spoke, her long nails digging into her palms. She resented deeply. She was not much younger than the Empress, yet the Empress had a man while she had to remain a widow until death, how unfair.

After hearing Noble Consort Sun’s words, the Empress Dowager’s expression softened slightly, and she said, “It’s good that you can think like this. Recognizing your position early will make your future days easier.”

The Empress Dowager never doubted Noble Consort Sun’s intelligence, but she still felt that Noble Consort Sun was a bit too clever for her own good.

Of course, the Empress Dowager probably never imagined that Noble Consort Sun’s true intention was not with Wang Huijun, but with her own son.

Having narrowly escaped the Empress Dowager’s scrutiny, Noble Consort Sun returned to her own chamber, only to receive another piece of bad news—her spies planted with Wang Huijun had all been exposed.

She had not expected Wang Huijun to act so quickly.

Noble Consort Sun did not know that Yun Jingli had also helped in this matter, otherwise, she would have been even more frustrated.

Inside the empress’s palace, Yun Jingli helped Wang Huijun clear out those who needed to be removed, and also transferred away the spies the original master had planted, replacing them with a new batch of temporary palace servants. When Wang Huijun had her own people in place, she could decide whether to keep or remove them as she pleased.

Watching Yun Jingli’s unusual actions, Wang Huijun couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of unease. While the previous Yun Jingli would also say sweet words to her, Wang Huijun didn’t think Yun Jingli would really care about her. Otherwise, why would she be so nervous about the other women around Yun Jingli?

Jealousy was one aspect, but the lack of security was another.

“Your Majesty, will you stay tonight?” Wang Huijun stood calmly beside him and asked.

Yun Jingli lowered his gaze to look at her and noticed that Wang Huijun’s small face and lips were tense, showing none of the joy she had when she invited him last time. He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, “No need.”

He didn’t want to take advantage of her before she had feelings for him.

As Yun Jingli walked away, Wang Huijun subconsciously reached out, but for some reason, she suddenly stopped, feeling an unprecedented sense of restlessness and unease.

This was a feeling she had never experienced before because she could sense that something about Yun Jingli had changed.

Even though it was the same face and he had become more tolerant towards her, Wang Huijun just couldn’t shake off this feeling of discomfort.

This discomfort made her subconsciously resist and reject Yun Jingli.

This was something Wang Huijun had never experienced before.

That night, Wang Huijun tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

In the emperor’s bedchamber, Yun Jingli slept soundly. He had never hidden the differences between himself and the original host. If Wang Huijun truly liked the original host, she would naturally be able to tell.

“This is too good to be true. I can’t still be unable to find a partner, right?” Yun Jingli doubted.

Although Wang Huijun’s current progress of 100% could allow him to take her away, he didn’t see the point of bringing back a daughter-in-law who still had feelings for another man.

As the saying goes, failure in love, success in the workplace. Yun Jingli decided to focus all his thoughts on his former career.

With the emperor not visiting the harem, not only Wang Huijun and Noble Consort Sun, who had a close relationship with the original host, but even the palace maids in the harem felt that the atmosphere was as cold as winter.

Wang Huijun had a stiff expression and hadn’t been sticking to Yun Jingli as usual in the past few days. Noble Consort Sun was naturally delighted. If it weren’t for Yun Jingli treating her impartially, she would have been overjoyed.

On the contrary, the Empress Dowager was very concerned about Wang Huijun’s unusual behavior. “Have you and the emperor had a quarrel?”

Although it was inappropriate to describe the emperor and empress as having a quarrel, with the empress being the only one in the emperor’s harem, the Empress Dowager couldn’t think of any other reason.

“No, Mother, the emperor has been busy these days, and I have to take care of palace affairs. I didn’t dare to disturb him, so we haven’t seen each other much.” Wang Huijun smiled.

Of course, if she really wanted to see him, they could still meet. She just needed to stick to him as she used to.

But inexplicably, Wang Huijun didn’t want to do that this time.

Noble Consort Sun, on the other hand, wanted to take advantage of this period when Wang Huijun wasn’t paying attention to make a move on Yun Jingli, but Yun Jingli didn’t give her the chance.

As an outsider, she naturally sensed that there seemed to be a rift between the emperor and empress, and it was heading in a bad direction. If it weren’t for her subordinates being scattered by Wang Huijun, she would have known long ago why the emperor and empress were having a conflict.

Despite wanting to watch the show, Noble Consort Sun also wanted to use Wang Huijun to guard against those ambitious palace maids.

After all, she had such intentions. She didn’t even care about her own status as a concubine, let alone those innocent palace maids.

On Yun Jingli’s side, he did encounter quite a few temptations. It seemed that sensing the Empress’s laxity towards the emperor’s side, many palace maids became restless.

Adding fragrance to the red sleeves was just the basics, but when Yun Jingli wanted to rest, there even appeared a pair of twin sisters on his bed.