She smiled softly and said, “My two sisters, please get up quickly. You are cousins, so I have specially assigned you to the same palace so that you two sisters can look after each other.”
Tang Miaoling felt bitter, but she could only express her gratitude. In her short memory of her past life, which lasted only a month, Shu Fei was a kind person who cared about everyone, so she must have had good intentions.
Ning Wanyin followed suit.
Shu Fei’s words were, firstly, a favor, telling the two of them that she had helped. Secondly, a warning, as she was the one in power in the palace.
She combined kindness and authority, yet also gentleness and grace, appearing to be a virtuous empress.
But since she knew that Tang Miaoling and Ning Wanyin were cousins, how could she not find out how domineering and arrogant Tang Miaoling was in the Ning family?
Putting the two of them together was just to watch the sisters fight.
Her intentions were sinister.
However, Tang Miaoling had recently undergone a sudden change of heart, so Shu Fei wouldn’t be able to watch the fun for a while.
“You act like you’re the empress, acting so pretentiously.”
Zhuang Fei, sitting to the side, rolled her eyes, displeased with Shu Fei’s pretentious manners, like a main wife.
She was dressed in a wide, floor-length dress adorned with pearls and jade, her hair adorned with pearls and jadeite. Like Shu Fei, she was a concubine of the current Emperor during his time in the former palace.
His Majesty broke the ancestral rule that no one could be appointed as a concubine (fēi) without an heir.
She also raised the Eldest Princess left by Empress Yuanxiao under her wing.
She could be said to be the most favored concubine in the six palaces.
Shu Fei glanced at her, smiled faintly, and said nothing.
Fang Zhaoyi, who was sitting at the head of the lower seat, immediately said, “Shu Fei Niangniang has been supervising the six palaces on behalf of Empress Yuanxiao, fulfilling her duties diligently. That’s why Zhuang Fei is reminded of the late Empress, isn’t it?”
Shu Fei glanced at her admiringly and said with a smile, “Zhuang Fei, you are too kind. I am far from being comparable to the late Empress.”
Zhuang Fei choked. She had always loved to stir up trouble, but she wasn’t very eloquent, so she’d never won a verbal battle with Shu Fei.
The newly arrived concubines all lowered their eyes silently, pretending not to hear.
In this harem, aside from Shu Fei and Zhuang Fei, there were no main masters in the harem. The remaining ranks consisted of Zhaoyi, Jieyu, and a few other ranks below them.
Because the current Emperor was not favored when he was a prince, these former concubines were of humble origins.
They were far from the impressive backgrounds of the two newly selected Jieyu.
The two newly selected Jieyu arrived almost at the same time.
One of them was bright and beautiful, and she was none other than Xue Jieyu, who had just assaulted someone.
The other, with a gentle temperament, was Cen Jieyu, the legitimate daughter of Duke Xin.
As soon as the two of them appeared, Jingxi Palace became quiet.
Many people saw Xue Jieyu beating someone just now, and they thought that she would not be polite to Shu Fei and Zhuang Fei either.
But both she and Cen Jieyu politely bowed to the higher-ranking concubines one by one, their every move impeccable.
Shu Fei greeted them with a warm smile.
Zhuang Fei, who disliked everyone, remained silent.
When the two people were paying their respects, Fang Zhaoyi became even more restless, slightly turning aside and not daring to accept the greetings.
The atmosphere suddenly became inexplicably tense.
At this moment, Zhou Guiren walked in with a red and swollen face.
“Aiya, Zhou Guiren, what’s wrong with your face…” Shu Fei asked in surprise and concern.
“I’m fine.” Zhou Guiren lowered her brows, not uttering a single word of complaint. She knew full well that she couldn’t afford to offend the Xue family.
In the entire harem, few could afford to offend the Xue family.
Everyone fell silent, except Cen Jieyu.
She glanced at Xue Jieyu, then looked at Concubine Zhou, and said gently, “Sister Zhou has a delicate complexion; it would be a pity to have her injured. My maid is good at making ointments that are very effective in reducing swelling. Bi Qing, go bring a box to Zhou Guiren.”
Her accompanying maid immediately handed Zhou Guiren a box of ointment.
Xue Jieyu glanced at Cen Jieyu and sneered, with ridicule in her eyes.
Ning Wanyin watched the scene quietly.
Zhou Guiren, like herself, came from a declining Count’s family. If she had no support in the palace, she would be trampled upon at any time.
This was a lesson learned from the past.
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Loveguy On CFRFGC Chapter 1