The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

Ruyi was full of helplessness and whispered: "We have just made contact with a young eunuch in Jinghua Tower. The other party doesn't know it's us yet, but if we miss this opportunity, it will be difficult to contact him again in the future."

Concubine Li looked at him and said, "How long has she been in the palace? She has already managed Jinghua Tower like a rock?"

"It's my fault that I'm incompetent..." Ruyi apologized quickly, "The palace maids assigned to Jinghua Tower that day were handled by the Empress Xianfei and the Empress Shufei. His Majesty also specifically instructed that they must be loyal and honest..."

Concubine Li could only blow out air through her nostrils in resentment. She once again realized how much the emperor valued Xie Yu. He did not even want to let his beloved concubine down in such matters as sending palace maids to serve as servants. As for Qiu He, who had displeased Xie Yu on the day she entered the palace... she was still pounding rice in the palace. Concubine Song Shu, who had made the new favorite concubine uncomfortable, was not punished afterwards. Instead, she was still favored as before.

The two favorite concubines did not continue to pester each other, but stopped at that point tacitly, allowing the emperor to smooth things over and enjoy the happiness of having two wives with him.

While Concubine Li was still sulking, the Second Princess was already chatting with Xie Yi.

"Where are you from, little sister? Why have I never seen you before?" The second princess has longed for a sister who could play with her for a long time, but the eldest princess was dignified and steady, and was only focused on getting married; the third princess was taciturn and read all day; and the fourth princess was too young and weak, so the second princess did not dare to provoke her easily.

As for the princes...the reasons are basically the same as above, none of them can get along with the second princess.

Xie Yi was still dressed up like a little red envelope today. At his age, it was hard to tell the difference between male and female. In addition, he had a feminine appearance. When he stood there, he looked like a pretty girl. "Xie Yi, your majesty has graciously allowed me to enter the palace to accompany my mother. I'd like to meet the princess."

"Thank you?" When the second princess heard this unfamiliar name, she did not connect him with Xie Yuzhen for a moment. She knew that her father was very fond of a woman named Xie, but Concubine Li was not in a hurry to let her daughter know that Xie Yuzhen had married into the palace and had a son with her ex-husband.

"Is your mother in the palace?"

Xie Yi glanced at Xia Zhi and the others who were half-kneeling and paying their respects. The Second Princess finally reacted and raised her hand to ask them to stand up: "I recognize you. Aren't you the female official of Xie Cairen? Is this the niece of Xie Cairen's mother's family?"

"......This young master is the eldest son of the talented lady. He was previously raised outside the palace. After the lady became pregnant and missed her family, His Majesty graciously allowed the young master to be raised in Shouning Palace." Xia Zhi softly introduced Xie Yi's gender and identity.

The second princess' eyes gradually widened as she listened. She looked at Xie Yi, then at Xie Yuzhen who was standing in the distance and didn't come over but seemed to be enjoying the scenery. She couldn't help but turn her head to ask her mother for help, but found that her mother was also standing far away, and she didn't know what she was saying to Ruyi.

The second princess, who had to rely on herself in the end, raised her hand and scratched her head: "I'm sorry, I didn't know, well, you're a boy." She looked down and saw the little horse whip that she liked recently, and an idea flashed, "Sister, can I give this to you as an apology?"

Xie Yi looked warily at the second princess who handed over the horsewhip. The whip was very small, with gold and silver threads crisscrossing the whip body. The handle seemed to be made of the bones of some animal, carved and inlaid with gems, and a few small and exquisite golden bells hung at the end. It was obvious at first glance that it was a precious toy.

Xie Yi had never seen many toys. He grabbed Xia Zhi's skirt and shook his head: "Thank you, Princess. I can't have this. You didn't offend me. You don't need to apologize."

Unexpectedly, the second princess' eyes lit up even more: "You are so young, and you know how to talk so much?"

She simply stuffed the whip into Xia Zhi's hand and said, "Tell Xie Cairen that this is my gift to you."

"This..." Xia Zhi was a palace servant and could not refuse the reward from her superior.

The second princess put her hands on her hips and felt that she had handled the matter very well. After she got married, it would be impossible for the situation her mother was worried about, that her husband's family would dislike her, to happen.

Since you don't like him, why do you ask a princess like me to surrender?

Do you understand what the difference between a ruler and his subjects means?

Or maybe what the emperor taught was straightforward enough. What the mother taught was about being filial to the father-in-law and mother-in-law, and being friendly to the sisters-in-law and uncles... The second princess is disdainful of this. The emperor said that when a princess marries a prince consort, it is not called marrying, but consorting; and when a prince consort marries a princess, it is not called marrying, but marrying the princess. In the princess's mansion, he is the master inside and outside. If they can't stand this kind of life, or dare to be rude at first and respectful later, and treat the princess as a daughter-in-law who can set rules for them after marrying her... then they will all be beaten!

The Second Princess was so troubled by her marriage recently that her thoughts wandered off without her realizing it. She only vaguely heard the child say, "Thank you, Princess, for your reward." After she came back to her senses, she saw that the child had completely hidden behind Xia Zhi.

The second princess put down her hands from her waist and said, "Children in our palace must not be so shy. They must be more generous." She began to teach Xia Zhi in a very professional manner.

Before she finished her words, she saw Xie Yuzhen slowly walking towards her. She looked at Xie Yi, who was hiding behind Xia Zhi and frowning, with amusement, and touched the boy's hair: "What are you talking about, Second Princess?"

The second princess stopped talking: "Xianqiong has met with Lady Xie. I'm telling your Xiazhi to take little Xieyi out for a stroll more often. The Imperial Garden is fun. Don't be so shy."

"On behalf of Tan Nu, I thank His Highness for his kindness. He is young and has suffered many misfortunes, so he has become more introverted."

"Don't worry, talented person. The child will change as he grows up. You can ask him to come and play with me more often. I will definitely raise little Xie Yi to be as lively and generous as me, so that the emperor will praise him!" The second princess puffed out her chest, patted her hands generously, and assured Xie Yuzhen, "You can also come with us. There are not many people in Dexin Palace. My mother is so lonely!"

This way, I can have a playmate and my mother won't have the energy to discipline me. It's a win-win situation!

When Concubine Li saw Xie Yuzhen walking towards her daughter, she heard the last sentence as she was walking towards him.

It was true that only the mother and daughter lived in Dexin Palace at the moment. Other concubines had lived there before, but some moved away, and some died of illness... But... how was she lonely? !

How comfortable it would be to live alone in such a big palace. There are some topics that cannot be discussed with the palace maids. Wouldn't you go find other concubines?

My goodness! I haven't even started to make any progress in destroying Shouning Palace, but my troublesome daughter has already taken the initiative to let the wolf into the house!

Concubine Li walked over anxiously. She didn't like to educate her children in front of outsiders, so she just frowned and glanced at the Second Princess, then put on a reluctant smile: "What nonsense are you talking about, child? Concubine Xie and the young master have been separated for a long time. It's time for mother and son to kiss each other. It's almost time for you to go out for some fresh air today. You still have two pages of big characters to write!"

After hearing what her mother said, the Second Princess, who was originally full of energy, suddenly deflated and reluctantly followed Concubine Li away.

Before Xie Yuzhen could get a word in, she saw Concubine Li hurriedly leading her daughter away, so she pulled Xie Yi out from behind Xia Zhi and said, "Why, are you really shy?"