C2

After walking for an entire day, the car finally entered Shang Jing City.

The color of the sunset was everywhere, and the sun was setting. More than half the sky was bright red, which was in contrast with the nearby Searing Clouds.

The carriage stopped steadily at the entrance of the prince's mansion. Lan Xin had long been waiting there with her servants. You Xin jumped down from the horse and turned around. Xiao Man helped Yao Yue off the carriage.

"This servant pays his respects to Master," a group of people kneeled on the ground. As for Xudao, he hurriedly stepped forward, tears shining in his eyes as he looked at You Xin. "Master, you've returned!"

You Xin just nodded and didn't say anything else. Yao Yue swept her gaze over Lan Xin. Beside her stood a little boy. His delicate face had a little baby fat on it. His pair of large eyes were like black gems. He looked at Lan Xin with fear and trepidation. A trace of pleasant surprise flashed across Yao Yue's face. She looked at Lan Xin, "Is this the pool?"

You Xin's eyes moved as she looked in the direction of Yao Yue's voice. The little boy seemed to have inherited his mother's full face. She was delicate and pretty, with red lips and white teeth. She was a beautiful child. Seeing that everyone was looking at him, her small body moved and hid behind Lan Xin.

Yun Chi had been born twenty-eight years ago, and was now two years old.

You listen to the pool, a different feeling in the heart, this, is his son.

From birth until now, he had only seen him once when he was in mourning for his mother, but back then, he had been too preoccupied with his grief to care about the child at all. In his mind, he tried his best to recall what he looked like back then, but his face had long since lost all traces of his blurry memories.

He turned out to be so beautiful.

Seeing that You Xin and Yao Yue were both looking at Yun Chi, Lan Xin smiled kindly at him. Then she lowered her head and knelt down gently. With a gentle voice, she said, "Yun Chi, this is father."

Seeing so many strangers around, even though he was still afraid of the tiny Yun Chi, he remembered what his mother had told him before. This was his father, and he wanted his father to love him dearly.

His black gem-like eyes darted around the floor as Yun Chi walked out from behind his mother and staggered to a stop in front of You Xin.

The sun was setting in the west, and the rays of the evening sun were shining down with golden light. He tried his best to raise his head, but he could not see his father's face clearly. In the shadows of the light, his father's silhouette was as unfamiliar and distant as the setting sun.

Yun Chi forgot the etiquette his mother had taught him and just stood there looking up at his father. A trace of warmth flashed through You Xin's eyes as she smiled at the child. Then, she bent down and picked up Yun Chi.

Yun Chi's body suddenly flew into the air. A trace of panic flashed across his face, but he bit his lips and did not let out a sound. You Xin held him up high, her delicate face parallel to his. The light that was originally covered up suddenly blossomed above their heads.

After being fiercely pierced by the ray of light, Yun Chi involuntarily closed his eyes. However, when he opened them again, he was surprised to find that his father's face was so distinct.

He had thick black eyebrows. His eyes were sparkling, like black pearls, emitting an alluring luster. He grinned at him, a bright smile, like a summer sun, bright and dazzling.

His mother said that his father was the most beautiful person in the world and that he had the warmest smile in the world.

Yun Chi felt his heart thumping like the rattle his mother played for him when he was a child. She shyly lowered her eyes as Yun Chi whispered anxiously, "Daddy."

You Xin pinched Yun Chi's cheek and looked at Lan Xin, a trace of indifference in her eyes. "You've worked hard these past few days."

Lan Xin lowered her eyes and smiled gently like a purple wisteria flower in summer. "I must be joking. Compared to me and my master, I am already enjoying myself and Yun Chi's life."

This kind of scene was very warm, but also a little dull. Yaoyue raised her head to look at the setting sun and smiled as she walked forward, "Let's not stand here and talk. If you don't know anything, just take it as a farewell."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, and then You Xin led everyone into the mansion.

The Phoenix Nest Wu was still the same, in perfect order, without the slightest change. Xiao Man held Yao Yue as they entered the door. Immediately, Yao Yue's face showed signs of fatigue. The Tai Ling County was much colder than the capital above, and in the end, it was not a place for fortunate people to stay.

While Yaoyue was washing up, Xiao Man and her servants quickly cleaned up the room. Although Lan Xin had cleaned up well before they came back, Xiao Man knew Yao Yue's habit, so she rearranged the room and sprinkled some Jade hairpin pollen into the incense burner. A faint white smoke rose into the air with a 'chi la' sound, dispersing the cold and ethereal atmosphere in the room.

Leaning on the small bed by the window, Yao Yue let out a long sigh of relief.

Finally back.

Xiao Man walked in from the outside, the blue and white porcelain bowl still emitting heat. Looking at Yao Yue's pale complexion, she couldn't help but feel her heart ache, "Miss, are you tired?"

She didn't know what to say now. It could be said that Yao Yue's health wasn't that good, but she had never been seriously ill. In a year in the Mausoleum of Tailing, other than the occasional cold, everything else was normal. But it could be said that her body wasn't in a good condition. Over the years, whether it was cold or hot, Yaoyue's complexion had always been pale, especially her hands.

The doctor had said that Yaoyue's vitality had been damaged and her body was nearly empty. It would be impossible for her to return to the past.

She remembered the look on You's face at the time, wide-eyed and sad and resentful.

"Miss, I've been warming this ginseng soup the whole way. I just went to the kitchen to warm it up, so let's drink it while it's hot."

Xiao Man shoved the medicine bowl into Yaoyue's hands. Yaoyue looked at the pitch black food in front of her and helplessly said, "When can I not eat this? We've been eating for almost a year now, and it still hasn't had much effect. "

"The doctor said that Miss's body is weak and cannot be heavily nourished. She can only make up for it with her daily diet." Xiao Man resolutely shook her head, and pushed the bowl into her hands. "Prince said it before, when your complexion will recover, there's no need to drink this soup anymore."

Looking at Xiao Man's expression, Yaoyue knew that it was useless to say anything more. She could only sigh and drink.

A few maidservants flashed past the outer room. There were some who were familiar with him, but there were also some who were unfamiliar with him as they busily packed their luggage. After pondering for a while, she called for Xiao Man to come over, "Hurry up and tell them. Pick a few girls to order around my room. Now, let them do the rest."

Xiao Man's eyes turned as she asked hesitantly, "Miss, what do you mean?"

"We are probably leaving Shang Jing for the last time. Since the Emperor gave me such a job, I can't not be on guard."

"Miss?"

It seemed like this was the first time Yao Yue said such a thing. Xiao Man was a little surprised, so she asked, "Are you worried about Madam Lan Xin?"

"I found out the last time I went to Shang Jing. She was alone for most of the time in this prince's mansion. I coldly looked at her. The servants in the mansion treated her with great respect. Although she is Yun Chi's biological mother and should be like this, in the end, she is just a lady, a concubine. She does not have the authority to manage the prince's mansion. "

Yaoyue didn't continue speaking. The relationship between her and You Xin was already a mess. A woman who could get in between them and have a place in the Prince's Mansion wasn't simple in and of itself.

In the future, there would be many other women within the prince's mansion. Although she didn't care about them, it didn't mean that she would just ignore them. Besides, there was such a terrible secret between her and You Xin. If someone did this in the name of being loved, she would lose all face to face with the Jiang Dong elders!

After chatting for a while and giving proper instructions, Yaoyue was already exhausted along the way, and thus rested early. Early in the morning the next day, Xiao Man served Yao Yue until the sky was still dark.

Today was the day they would return to the palace to see Her Majesty, and she had to be careful.

After the imperial concubine and the empress, the six palaces were dispirited and the emperor's personality had changed drastically. Many of his concubines had been reprimanded innocently, leaving behind only the imperial concubine, who was trembling all day. The empress dowager had no choice but to take over the imperial harem. She had watched over the imperial court from time to time, afraid that the emperor would randomly stir up trouble again. They had come back this time on the orders of the Empress Dowager. Her status as Empress Dowager was no longer the same as before, and she could not allow herself to be caught in a ponytail over such a small matter.

According to the rules, the imperial concubine would have to dress up according to the grade of the imperial concubine. Xiao Man brought two girls to carefully dress up Yaoyue. After about an hour, Yaoyue had already fully dressed up as the imperial concubine. It was just that Yao Yue was currently incredibly thin. The wide court uniform covering her body was empty, making her seem rather thin.

The carriage moved leisurely along the main street of East Fourth Street. You Xin sat silently at the side, no one knew what she was thinking. Turning his head, he saw that the girl beside him was pale and weak. Her face was as calm as water and her expression became even gentler.

You Xin went into a daze, as if from an unknown point in time, he was used to looking at Yao Yue from the side.

Noticing his gaze, Yao Yue turned her eyes and asked with a doubtful smile, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," You hear a bit embarrassed, like a child caught in the act of doing something wrong. "It's just that I'm worried about you when I see you look bad."

So it was this.

Yaoyue giggled, laughing at his foolishness, "It's not like we're only going to be like this from today onwards. "Actually, my body is much better now. That ginseng soup is still quite useful now, but I've been pale since I was young, so others might think that my body is weak. In fact, I'm much better now."

Yaoyue still smiled and comforted him as usual, as if nothing had happened in the past few years. You Xin suddenly felt suffocated, as if a huge rock had blocked her path. Her face gradually darkened.

Could it be that he was the only one who cared?

You Xin turned around and stopped talking, but it was as if someone was grabbing onto her heart, causing her to be unable to breathe.

The sound of the horses' hooves resounded through the quiet streets of East Fourth Street. The security door in front of them could clearly be seen.

This was the last barrier to the Imperial City.

They successfully entered the palace, and the carriage moved forward a distance, arriving at the Jade Xiang Sect. According to the rules, carriages could only arrive here, either to change palanquins or to walk to the palaces. During these few days, the bones in Yaoyue's seat were almost gone. She really didn't want to sit in a palanquin anymore. So, You Xin accompanied her all the way to the Xi'an Palace.

The Imperial City was peaceful and quiet in the early morning.

Birds chirped in the branches. The palace maids shuttled back and forth. Their faces were jade red, and they wore thin, pink-colored dresses. The flowers in the imperial garden were blooming just right at this moment, with dewdrops on them. Several palace maids were carrying glass bottles as they walked between the flowers, collecting morning dew.

A vigorous and vigorous group.

Just as they walked past the imperial garden, a group of people arrived. Yaoyue looked carefully and saw a woman dressed in plain clothes walking in front of them. She seemed to be a concubine of some palace. In the twenty-ninth year of Yuanshou's selection, due to the Imperial Consort Fu, the Emperor had actually kept more than half of the beautiful women as concubines. As a result, most of the people in the imperial harem were new faces.

The woman walked closer. Under a white gold peach embroidered blouse, the yellow skirt slightly dragged on the ground. Her black hair was gently draped behind her head, and she had a graceful and elegant step. On her temples was a fragrant wooden hibiscus powder, her snow-white skin and beautiful eyes, and her red lips. She was truly a charming and beautiful woman.

A trace of light flashed through Yao Yue's eyes, she unconsciously wrinkled her brows.

Why did this woman look so familiar?

It seemed... Where have I seen it?

While she was speaking, the girl had already walked in front of them. You Xin and Yao Yue stopped in their tracks. The woman smiled skillfully, bowing to the two of them, "Your concubine Cheng Gan Gong Yi greets the prince, the prince's consort."

Hearing the three words "Cheng Gan Palace", You Wei's expression tightened, and a dark shadow gathered between his brows. Yao Yue was greatly shocked. Seeing that the noble was in a daze, she turned her gaze to Yao Yue and calmly smiled, "Empress, long time no see."

"You are … "Pleasant?"

Yao Yue tried her best to suppress her trembling. The girl before her was beautiful and charming. She was completely different from the big palace maid who stood beside Di Ji of Yuan City. But, hadn't all of Cheng Gan Palace's palace maids and eunuchs been dealt with? How had she become the emperor's concubine?

You Xin didn't know the reason for this, but seeing how shocked Yao Yue was, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. A gentle smile appeared on her face, neither servile nor overbearing. "The Empress has a good memory. She is precisely such a pleasant person."

Yao Yue forced a smile. She wasn't familiar with such a person, but she knew that there was such a person. Therefore, when they met again, she naturally wasn't that familiar with him. Furthermore, although she was only a noble person, her dignified demeanor and slightly cold and arrogant face showed that she was not only the emperor's concubine, but also possibly the emperor's favorite concubine. Facing such a person, Yaoyue naturally had to be a bit more cautious.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he was about to leave the Imperial Court. He said that he wanted to pay his respects to the Emperor, and then left. You Xin looked at her and wondered, "You know her?"

"Mhm." Thinking back to what happened at that time, Yao Yue became flustered and she explained the past slightly. In the end, she said with some doubt, "Somehow, she became Imperial Father's concubine."

You Xin's eyes turned cold at Yao Yue's words. She looked at the figure that had left, and after a long while, she spat out a few words, "seductive fox!"

"What?" You Xin looked back, unable to hide the sharpness in her eyes. "Cheng Gan Gong Gong already lost his past, but she became royal father's favorite concubine. This woman is also not a good person."

This time, it was Yao Yue's turn to be surprised. After a long silence, Yao Yue looked at You Xin in puzzlement. "How do you know that she's a concubine?"

"She is a noble. How could she have the confidence to meet someone as arrogant as the imperial concubine if she didn't have the favor of her royal father? Furthermore, this is also a time when political matters are being discussed. Yet, she is able to pay respects to royal father in the Venerate Heavens Sect.

After listening to your explanation, Yao Yue remained silent. The two of them stood still for a long time before continuing. Compared to You Xin's anger and disdain, Yaoyue was more confused. If she was said to be the favorite concubine, why did royal father want her to be a noble?