Yun Fenghuang heard him, but she pretended that she didnât hear. Then she went away without any hesitation.
Returning to Huan Hua Hall, Xi Le whispered to comfort her while unraveling the black cloak for her, âI am sorry. Just because I said that the matter is urgent, Shizi might think something was wrong, and had no time to arrange Childe Qi to come together.â
âItâs okay.â Yun Fenghuang waved her hand and said, âI didnât intend to tell him about this matter today, so, heâd better not come.â
As she said this, her expression was somewhat gloomy. Xi Le noticed that and her movement became gentler, âYou are wronged.â
Yun Fenghuang sighed, and didnât say anything.
However, under the long drooping eyelashes, her eyes were full of calmness and had no emotion.
She deliberately did not mention Qi Jiulu this time, because she just wanted to see whether Gongxiang Xiao would bring him here or not?
And Gongxiang Xiao did it as she expected. The cooperation between the two had not been harmonious enough. It still could not change the truth that she was threatened even though Yun Fenghuangâs words couldnât be more pleasant in Small Fang Hu at that night.
Apart from this, now she broke the convention to be a consort. What would Gongxiang Xiao think?
He might be happy for having a powerful ally, but not just for this.
After all, Yun Fenghuang herself knew that she was really not a reassuring ally. She betrayed Yunâs Family first and then Emperor Chunjia, and even her backer Empress Jiâs legitimate cousin, Ji Muzi, was also demoted from a Zhao Yuan because of her.
If Gongxiang Xiao could still believe in her, thinking that she, as a Jie Yu, would be good for him, he would be so stupid.
Yun Fenghuang guessed that Gongxiang Xiao came alone tonight was to talk about next cooperation with her secretly and he didnât want to let Qi Jiulu know it. Gongxiang Xiao had high status, and he held Imperial City Division of Douâs Family. Yun Fenghuang just joined the Imperial Harem, and had low status and little qualification. The so-called cooperation between them before was basically that Gongxiang Xiao unilaterally provided Yun Fenghuang with manpower and news, and also helped her meet men from the outside privately.
However, Yun Fenghuang didnât provide any practical help for Gongxiang Xiao, except talking about the situation and views.
To sum up, from their first meeting in Small Fang Hu to now, Gongxiang Xiao just unilaterally helped her, and the only feedback she gave was to let Gongxiang Xiao find and make Qi Jiulu as his helper⌠somehow.
But at this moment, she was promoted as a Jie Yu, and took charge of a palace. From the Empressâs attitude towards her, even if she could not be promoted anymore, she was a powerful existence in the Imperial Harem in a short period of time, and related to all parties.
However, Gongxiang Xiao did not progress significantly during this time. He was still unfamiliar with Prince Regent, full of vigilance against his stepmother and stepbrother. But he was helpless. Although he was a distinguished reading partner of the Emperor, he still had no power, just relying on the support of his motherâs family to get the convenience to communicate with the Imperial Harem⌠According to the tacit agreement between the two, it was time for Yun Fenghuang to honor her promise and help Gongxiang Xiao grab the power and status.
So how could he bring Qi Jiulu here?
Although Qi Jiulu was the top adviser of Gongxiang Xiao, he was also a pursuer of Yun Fenghuang. If he came, maybe he wouldnât help Gongxiang Xiao bargain with Yun Fenghuang but help Yun Fenghuang persuade Gongxiang Xiao into compromising.
Another important reason was that Gongxiang Xiao attached great importance to Qi Jiulu. Judging from the situation that he called him âXinyunâ, it could be seen that he really wanted to draw in the Zongzi of the big family in the north.
Then he couldnât even bargain with Yun Fenghuang in front of Qi Jiulu.
After all, Gongxiang Xiao couldnât make a deal with Yun Fenghuang by himself, and lowered his voice to quarrel at midnight. He could leave first and choose another day to talk. Anyway, Xi Le was serving Yun Fenghuang. If Qi Jiulu was also present and kept defending her, it was hard for Gongxiang Xiao to make a decision.
If he agreed, he would give up the chance to harvest. After all, he had invested too much on Yun Fenghuang, a new and powerful concubine in the Imperial Harem.
Then he could not be reconciled!
If he didnât agree, what if he had a misunderstanding with Qi Jiulu because of this?
Therefore, the best way was that he came without Qi Jiulu.
But Gongxiang Xiao didnât expect that Yun Fenghuang knew his thoughts well. He said that Xinyun told him these circumstances long ago to imply that she shouldnât talk nonsense. Before he came to the point to require the return, she threw out the truth that she joined the Imperial Harem and let Gongxiang Xiao join forces with Chaoâs Family.
In addition, except what she said to Gongxiang Xiao, such as for the sake of the family and her own future, she actually implied that she also needed Gongxiang Xiao very much. So there was no need for him to be worried that she would betray him. Although she was a Jie Yu now, she would not give up him who had no power.
Of course, in order not to let him require more, she finally said something to remind him that the current situation was not suitable for him to show his talents!
Since Prince Regent cooperated with Emperor Chunjia to fight against imperial relatives and powerful officials such as Jiâs Family, Zheng Ju, and Cui Wanâs and courtiers, he must be very stressful. Marquess Qingping must help his son-in-law.
At this time, Gongxiang Xiao, the son of Prince Regentâs fist wife, came to make trouble. That would force him to suppress his eldest legitimate son to avoid being framed by others to break the relationship between Prince Regentâs Mansion and Marquess Qingpingâs Mansion.
After all, Marquess Qingping was able to obtain the title as a eunuch. Even Zheng Ju, the top one so far, could not do it. Could he be a kind man who did good jobs anonymously? If Gongxiang Xiao got out of this at this time, it was exactly what he wanted, and he could take the opportunity to force Prince Regent to give up his eldest legitimate son and help his grandson gain the power.
âI hope he can listen to me. Just stop making trouble.â Yun Fenghuang scrutinized their meeting tonight, and ensured that she didnât miss anything important. So, she was secretly relieved, and thought, âThen it depends on Chao Jingyou.â
Gongxiang Xiao was right. Was Yun Fenghuang the kind of person who could be reconciled and work with her rivals for her family and herself? Of course not!
The reason why she gave this matter to Chao Jingyou was not for Qi Jiulu who was more trustworthy and more convenient to communicate with, or because she took the initiative to draw Chao Jingyou in. Just because once it failed, the initiator must be the target of the whole Dijing and would be killed!
How could she ask Qi Jiulu to do such dangerous thing?
Chao Jingyou and her family should bear it!
As for whether Chao Jingyou could see through her game or not, Yun Fenghuang knew she definitely could.
But would she do it when she knew it?
Of course she would.
As what Yun Fenghuang said to Gongxiang Xiao, Chao Jingyou was now in a bad situation, and she had no choice at all. Although she was born in a big tribe, she had a shallow foundation. Once she lost the familyâs favor, her status would definitely fall. She racked her brains to marry into Qiâs Family, but was ignored, and even was treated as an enemy by her husband. He would rather sleep with humble maids than herâŚ
If she didnât do anything, her future was plainly miserable. If Qi Jiulu chose a wrong team, she would be involved. After all, although there was a backer behind Chaoâs Family, she just got attention for the marriage with Qi Jiulu. If Qi Jiulu was useless, what value did she have?
Whatâs more, even if she was safe by then, how would she live in the future? There were four generations of Chaoâs Family, and there was no remarried daughter in the four generations. She wouldnât be an exception. At that time, she must depend on her brothers and sisters-in-law to live a miserable life⌠In terms of her temper which was known clearly by Yun Fenghuang, she wouldnât be willing to have such a life.
If Qi Jiulu chose a right team, he would turn to Chaoâs Family to avenge Yun Fenghuang, and Chao Jingyouâs future would be worse.
In this case, as long as she was not a weak person, she must struggle.
So, even if she knew Yun Fenghuang had bad intention, Chao Jingyou must go on according to her calculation⌠This was the power of her overt plan.
Even if Yun Fenghuang sat in front of Chao Jingyou personally and told her the intention and malice completely, she could only do it.
In the name of this matter, cooperated with Xieâs Family who was anxious to scrub its stigma, Chaoâs Family took the lead to integrate tribes in the north⌠Although Chao Jingyou and Chaoâs Family would be involved in danger, it was still a chance for her to seize the power and improve her and her familyâs status in her tribe!
What?
You said that there was a backer behind Chao Jingyouâs family, and even came from Dijing, which might be Marquess Qingpingâs Mansion. Werenât you afraid to anger them if you did this?
This was the reason why Yun Fenghuang knew that Chao Jingyou would take action. Because she knew that even dogs were also graded. The most inferior ones ate leftover food, and slept in the woodshed. If a maid was unhappy, they would be kicked, or even be cooked as a pot of meat.
If the dogs were in middle class, maids did not dare to bully them casually, and they might get a veterinarian to check for them if they were sick. Besides, they could also get basic guarantee for food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
As for those in the top class, many people would not live a better life than these dogs even it took these people eight years to struggle. They had special people to serve. A group of people would be around them even just a small thing happened to them. Their collars were woven from flat tubes of gold and silver. As for being cooked, it was impossible for these dogs and nobody could mention that. Maybe they would also enjoy the honor to be buried with the Emperor.
It was certainly shameless for the backer of Chaoâs Family to act secretly. But if it succeeded, Chaoâs Family would become a big family which seized the right after their cooperation, from a normal tribe in the north⌠Well, the backer behind that generally was not a fool would not treat them like that, or even increase their treatment.
During this process, of course, it was inevitable for them to be beaten, but still Chaoâs Family would be safer for overall.
âIt seems simple. Iâm afraid itâs not that easy.â Yun Fenghuang was thinking before going to sleep, âAmong the tribes in the north, Xieâs Family and Jiangâs Family have the best relationship because they had united by marriage for generations. And Jiangâs Family was also involved in my sisterâs affairs. So, they have the same stance on scrubbing the stigma. In this way, plus Chaoâs Family, there are three families. Besides, although Qiâs Family became an enemy of Xieâs Family after cancelling the engagement, it is actually impatient to be involved in Dijingâs affairâŚâ
After Xieâs, Qiâs, Jiangâs and Chaoâs Families reached an agreement, they were already a force that couldnât be underestimated in the north.
Moreover, four families also had relatives and allies⌠Yun Fenghuang believed that it could succeed, but needed time.
Even if Chao Jingyou was more anxious than her, the distance between Dijing and the north still needed the time to overcome.
Therefore, she still needed to deal with matters in the Imperial Harem by herself!
Yun Fenghuang sighed and pulled the quilt to her head, âTomorrow⌠tomorrow I can go with Her Highness to watch the audition. I hope those girls from good and non-aristocratic families will not let me down!â
The next day after paying respects, she followed the sedan of the Empress with excitement to Xiu Zhuo Palace, which was specially vacated for auditions. However, when they just entered the room and picked up the tea bowls in front of them, someone outside reported before the Empress asked the leading maid to start, âHere comes the Emperor.â
The concubines were all startled, and immediately put down the tea bowls to stand up and salute. They were puzzled, because when the Empress asked the Emperor, the Emperor clearly said that she could make all decisions. Why did he come suddenly?
The Emperor usually didnât care about these things!
Especially after he took over the reins, he must have no time to come here.
Only Yun Fenghuang buried her head with guilt in the team. She wondered maybe her previous inquiry made the Emperor suspicious, so, he came to monitor.