Yun Fenghuang and the Emperor had been fishing for a long while, and each had their own gains, just different in size and number. Therefore, it couldnât easily tell who was the winner.
The Emperor smiled and asked, âWhat if the game ends in a tie?â
âYour Majesty, you are a dignified emperor. You wonât compete with a weak lady, right?â Yun Fenghuang gave the Emperor a quick glance and said coquettishly, âIf there is a tie, of course the game is mine.â
The Emperor asked patiently, âThen what do you want for the prize?â
Yun Fenghuang smiled, âItâs still not the end of the game. Iâll think it over after I win the game.â
Fishing was just an excuse. In addition, she couldnât think about anything she wanted now from the Emperor. After all, as a consort, she didnât lack food or clothing. As for what she really wanted, she didnât think the Emperor could give her.
âWell, maybe Iâll just ask anything from the Emperorâs private stockroom, preferably something that Yuan Lianniang would like.â
While Yun Fenghuang was thinking, she suddenly felt that the fishing rod in her hand sinking. She couldnât help smiling, âYour Majesty, a fish is biting again!â
This one was quite different from those fishes before. Yun Fenghuang was unprepared at first and pulled up the rod casually. But she didnât succeed on her first several tries. Instead, the fishing rod was stretched into a string and almost broken under the strain. She hurriedly loosed the fishing line, and saw a string of floats being dragged into the lake. She hardly fell to the ground.
Maids hurried over to help and made suggestions, âPlease be patient, My Lady. As the fish is big and cunning, it canât be pulled up directly. You might âwalkâ it for a while to sap its strength first. Then it would be easy to pull up the fish.â
The Emperor was also surprised. He handed his fishing rod to the eunuchs and came to have a look, giving tips on how to âwalkâ the fish.
Yun Fenghuang was surprised, âYour Majesty, are you familiar with this?â
âI would occasionally wander around countryside when I was in Fuyang County.â The Emperor said casually, âI fished several times and knew something about the skill.â
Yun Fenghuang thought that he must fish when he accompanied Yuan Lianniang out. The childhood sweethearts walked around tranquil countryside. She understood that well!
Yun Fenghuang was now curious about how Jie Yu Yue would feel if she knew what happened today.
That must be very interesting.
Walking fish needed patience. Yun Fenghuang quickly lost her interest. However, since the Emperor kept watching, she couldnât hand the rod to her maids. Therefore, she coquettishly asked the Emperor to talk about his fishing experience.
The Emperor replied, âI donât have much experience. I just went to Fuyang County with several officials to assess damages several years ago when the county was hit by a disaster. We didnât prepare sufficient food, so the accompanying guards made some fishing hooks and I tried to fish a few times. We didnât get as much as today then. Oh, I was lucky enough once to catch an old turtle. We stewed it with wild vegetables. That was quite nice.â
Yun Fenghuang smiled and said, âYour Majesty is sympathetic to the people. Itâs the blessing of the country.â
âOh, things about peopleâs livelihoods. That was⌠boring.â Yun Fenghuang thought.
âIâm more interested in your love affairs with Yuan Lianniang.â
But she knew that it was impossible for the Emperor to talk about that, especially before so many eyes.
Yun Fenghuang felt a little sore at wrist, so she naturally handed her fishing rod to the Emperor, âYour Majesty, Iâm exhausted. Maybe you can do me a favor? We can both own the fish, please?â
The Emperor groaned, took the rod, and smiled, âDidnât you say that I shouldnât compete with you? It belongs to you if I catch it. But if the fish fled, I wonât take the responsibility.â
Yun Fenghuang rolled her eyes, covered her mouth and smiled, âDonât worry, Your Majesty. Iâm not so stingy.â
Then while the Emperor concentrated on walking the fish, she quietly asked Xi Jing to pick the biggest fishes from the Emperorâs bucket and put them into hers.
Although the Emperor couldnât see what was happening behind, the guards and servants saw it clearly. They looked at each other and had no idea about whether to tell the Emperor or not.
Maybe the Emperor felt the strange sight and then noticed it. He turned his head, âDear?â
Yun Fenghuang looked as if nothing had happened. âYour Majesty? Are you also tired? Shall we give the fishing rod to the servants and go inside to rest for a while?â
The Emperor looked at her suspiciously, âNoâŚâ
When the Emperor was distracted, the originally slack fishing line suddenly sank!
The Emperor, unprepared, didnât even turn back, and was immediately pulled forward. He had been standing at the edge of the deck, and now he completely lost his footing!
Although a group of people exclaimed âYour Majestyâ and hurriedly stretched out their hands, trying to pull him, the Emperor plunged into the lake!
âDonât you hurry down to save His Majesty?!â Yun Fenghuang subconsciously rejoiced at the scene, âSo glad it wasnât me who fell!â
She stomped her feet at once and shouted angrily, âWhat are you waiting for! You good-for-nothing!â
Since the Emperor wanted to take a lake trip, there were naturally good swimmers among the accompanying people. They quickly jumped into water and rescued the Emperor in a hurry.
âYour Majesty, are you all right?â Even though the Emperor swallowed some water, he was still conscious. But his face was pale. Others didnât know whether he was frightened or angry. Yun Fenghuang hurriedly hugged him, âYour Majesty, you will be fine!â
The Emperor coughed for a while, and ordered servants in a weak voice to send him upstairs to take a shower and change clothes.
Yun Fenghuang and the trusted attendants also followed upstairs. After a while, the Emperor wore long wet hair and changed into a black housecoat. He calmly comforted Yun Fenghuang for a while first, telling her not be worried since he was all right. Then he didnât give Yun Fenghuang a chance to express her concern, saying, âDear, I have something to tell them. Could you go to another room?â
Yun Fenghuang wanted to turn him down because she wanted to hear it too. But while saying that, the Emperor got up and accompanied her to a beautifully furnished room, letting someone watch at the door to prevent her from sneaking out to eavesdrop.
Then Yun Fenghuang heard the creaking sound from the stairs several times. It seemed that the Emperor had summoned more than two groups of people. When Yun Fenghuang was summoned, the painted pleasure boat had already stopped at the pier where it set off.
That was unsurprising. Everyone had lost their interest in the lake trip completely since the Emperor had fallen into the water.
âYour Majesty, please allow me to dress you up.â Although the Emperor didnât dry his long hairs when he got out of the bath and there were many ice utensils in the room, his hairs were now almost dry because of the hot weather. Therefore, Yun Fenghuang sent servants to fetch the pure golden crown and put it on the Emperor. Then she tidied up his clothes and help him wear jade accessories. She wore her curtain-hat and got off the boat with him.
They went back uneventfully. Yun Fenghuang didnât dare to smooth away the curtain to look around this time because she had been caught by the Emperor when she was staring at Qi Jiulu before.
But when they got off the carriage at the county government office, Yun Fenghuang didnât see the reading partners, Ji Minggan and Yuan Ke who had been following the carriage. However, Gongxiang Xiao, Yun Qike, and Deng Chengzhai were still there, as well as their attendants.
Watching the Emperor and his consort getting out of the carriage, they all came to salute.
The Emperor was not in good mood. He replied a few casual words and then turned his head, asking Yun Fenghuang to go back and rest first, âI still have something to deal with. Iâll go back to your room later.â
After pondering, he continued, âAsk Pin Ji and Feng Yi Yi to your room. I will accompany you to dinner tonight.â
Yun Fenghuang smiled and answered, âYes, Your Majesty.â
Then she glanced at Deng Chengzhai and the others, trying not to stare at Qi Jiulu, and then left briskly.
Yun Fenghuang returned to her room. Before she ordered maids to serve her cleaning up, someone came to report that Ji Muzi asked to see her.
âWhatâs the matter?â Yun Fenghuang smiled and let her in. When Ji Muzi came in, the maids were serving Yun Fenghuang to wash her face. Yun Fenghuang heard the footsteps, and threw the towel into the basin, with water droplets slipping off her cheeks.
Yun Fenghuang was born beautiful. Because of her age, her skin was white and smooth. Water droplets were slipping off her cheeks and her hairs were slightly wet, which reminded people subconsciously the folded lotus leaf in the pool with morning dew. That was indescribably fresh and pretty.
Ji Muzi paused a little bit, because she remembered that Yuan Lianniang called the two groups of newcomers as sirens. Although she and Yuan Lianniang had always been at odds, she totally agreed with Yuan Lianniang at this moment.
This Jie Yu Mao really possessed the capital of being a siren.
Ji Muzi calmed down and said, âHis Majesty asked someone to put Tingzhao under house arrest. Do you know why?â
âWhat happened?â Yun Fenghuang was startled. She really had no clue. She thought that Ji Minggan and Yuan Ke had been sent away in advance. She pondered for a short while and asked, âHow do you know that?â
Ji Muzi didnât answer it but stared at Yun Fenghuangâs face for a moment. Then she frowned and said, âIt seems that you really donât know it. Then just forget it.â
Ji Muzi turned around and was about to leave, having no intention of answering Yun Fenghuangâs question.
âHis Majesty fell into water on the lake today.â Yun Fenghuang laughed, walked to the head of the table, and sat down. She continued, âHe fell into water with a fishing rod in his hand, and I was supposed to hold that rod. Before fishing, I rejected the request of your little brother and Countess Xingningâs nephew for participation. Are these two things related?â
Ji Muzi stopped, stood for a while, and then suddenly turned around with her face gloomy, âYou planned it!â
âWhat plan?â Yun Fenghuang put her elbow onto the table with her cheek on the palm, and looked at Ji Muzi with a smile, âI have already said that people who do not follow the rules will be doomed to misery. They deserve it!â
Ji Muzi took a deep breath and suddenly turned back. She walked to Yun Fenghuang, leaned forward slightly, got close to Yun Fenghuangâs face, and whispered, âDo you think that youâre higher than me and Tingzhao just because you won the trust from Her Highness? Remember, we are all from Jiâs Family. And you?!â
âAfter joining in the Imperial Harem, we all belong to His Majesty. Then why have you talked about Jiâs Family all the time. Did you forget the lesson on the painted pleasure boat?â Yun Fenghuang said lightly, âWell, His Majesty said he will come to dine with us tonight. Do you want me to repeat what you have just said to him? Then we should know what really matters in the Imperial Harem. Position or family background?â
Seeing Ji Muzi leaving, Xi Jing and Xi Le were a little worried. They wanted to say something, but Yun Fenghuang stopped them. She waved her hand, âYou all heard what His Majesty said. Now Pin Ji already knows it but Feng Yi Yi might not. Just go and inform her!â
Although Yun Fenghuang had summoned the two concubines to her room, the Emperor didnât show up at night. Yan Yin came over to convey the Emperorâs apology, saying that they received critical evidence of Zheng Fengqingâs case, so the Emperor had to discuss with related people and have a quick meal. âHis Majesty said that he is sorry. After arriving at the temporary imperial palace, he will accompany you to enjoy the beauty of the nature.â
âHis Majesty took it too seriously. Political affairs are more important. We are idle anyway.â Yun Fenghuang said with a smile, âPlease tell His Majesty that he must take care of himself no matter how important the case is.â
After Yun Fenghuang sent Yan Yin away, Ji Muzi immediately stood up and left. Although Ji Muzi didnât want to see Yun Fenghuang, she still came here because she worried that Yun Fenghuang, the woman without morality, would complain about her before the Emperor.
On the contrary, Yi Xingâen respectfully served Yun Fenghuang with dinner. Seeing that Yun Fenghuang had nothing else to order, she left.
Yun Fenghuang said, âSend someone to ask if His Majesty wants a woman to accompany him tonight. If yes, let Feng Yi Yi do that.â
The Emperor accepted. He went directly to the room of Yi Xingâen after finishing the discussion in the government office.
Meanwhile, Yun Fenghuang shook her circular fan in the yard, waiting for Qi Jiulu to come.