Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 220: Dressed the same as three years ago
Jiang Lanye paused, then subconsciously turned to look in the direction of the dragon bed.

Song Yi remained obediently lying in bed, appearing as a small bulge from a distance, completely still.

"The Empress Dowager can decide on the titles and ranks, there's only one thing."

"what?"

"One must not overstep the bounds of the rank of Imperial Concubine."

His voice was soft, but when he said those words, it was exceptionally firm and left no room for argument.

The Empress Dowager gave a short laugh: "Besides her, who else could be granted the rank of Imperial Concubine so easily?"

"Since you don't care and don't want to be given titles, then I'll just have to give them higher ranks. I'll give them both the rank of Zhaoyi."

Jiang Lanye slightly raised his eyelids and said, "Whatever."

Seeing that he didn't intend to say anything more, the Empress Dowager felt somewhat awkward sitting there. Looking at the cup of tea beside her, she had mixed feelings and ultimately didn't drink it, but stood up instead.

"In that case, they will enter the palace first thing tomorrow morning, and you should at least see them."

Jiang Lanye suddenly said, "Tomorrow, the two of them will come to see Consort Yun."

The Empress Dowager immediately frowned and asked incredulously, "What did you say? The position of Empress is vacant now. If there were an Empress, a new concubine should pay her respects upon entering the palace, but she is only a Noble Consort."

Jiang Lanye slightly curled his lips. He knew, of course, that the Empress Dowager did not want Song Yi to become Empress, and deliberately said:

"The position of Empress is vacant. As the highest-ranking person in the harem, Consort Yun should be able to exercise the power of the Empress."

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and chuckled, "Your Majesty, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"

"Your subject did not think that way, but they cannot go directly to Chang Le Palace to live as soon as they enter the palace, that would be against the rules."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager wanted to say that Song Yi had done many improper things over the years. But when it came to someone else, she remembered the word "rules".

She moved her lips, but ultimately said nothing.

“Your Majesty, I must remind you that both of them are the younger sisters of meritorious officials, and the two families are old friends. Even if you do not want to touch them, you cannot ignore them again and again after they enter the palace.”

Jiang Lanye did not respond.

Upon seeing this, the Empress Dowager snorted coldly and walked out.

The door was slammed shut, clearly with a hint of anger.

Jiang Lanye didn't turn around, but just stared at the door, saying helplessly, "Alright, get up, the Empress Dowager is gone."

Song Yi sat up with a yawn. Her hair was all messy, and she called out lazily, "Jiang Lanye—come here and hug me."

Jiang Lanye smiled slightly, turned around and strode over, pulling her warm body into his arms, and asked softly, "Want to sleep some more?"

"I'm not going to sleep anymore. I was completely awake as soon as the Empress Dowager came. I was going to remember, but after you said that, I had no choice but to continue pretending to be asleep."

Jiang Lanye explained softly, "The reason I don't let you get up is simply because I don't want you to deal with the Empress Dowager. I can handle this kind of thing."

She nestled lazily in Jiang Lanye's arms, resting her chin on his shoulder, and mumbled, "I heard everything you said just now. Those two entered the palace, and instead of separating us, you even wanted me to see my rivals?"

He heard Song Yi's hoarse voice in his ear, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Rival in love? That word is too strong. You are the only one in my heart and by my side. No one else can be called a rival in love."

With a little force, he pulled Song Yi's legs over and made her sit in his lap. Looking down at her rubbing her eyes, he asked, "How many enemies do you harbor in your heart? Why don't I eliminate them all for you?"

Song Yi chuckled: "You simply don't understand."

"Yes, I don't understand, so I'll give you a chance to show your strength tomorrow."

Song Yi gave him a perfunctory kiss on the corner of his lips. "It doesn't have to be like this. I've never met him before. If he genuinely likes you, that's not wrong, right?" Jiang Lanye scoffed. "Genuinely?"

How many women who insist on entering the harem are truly sincere? After all, how many women in this world can truly accept that their husbands have many other companions?

For emperors, there's even less reason to expect genuine affection.

But the person in your arms is an exception.

"Should we get up now? The artist will be here soon."

"Get up! Then I'd better dress up nicely today."

Jiang Lanye responded and picked her up, saying, "You wash up first, and I'll go get your dresses."

The Golden Palace was no longer as spacious as before. The two of them lived there together, and there were obviously more things piled up, most of which belonged to Song Yi.

Song Yi's face was still wet with water droplets. When she turned her head, she saw Jiang Lanye had spread all her clothes on the bed and was letting her choose.

Song Yi glanced at it and immediately felt a headache coming on. He suddenly said:

"Jiang Lanye, I'm giving you a chance to dress me up. What I wear today, what hairstyle I have, what jewelry I wear—it's all up to you."

Jiang Lanye glanced at her and bluntly exposed her: "You're too lazy to even bother with dressing up."

Song Yi: "."

How did he know? Was his behavior that obvious?
Despite saying that, Jiang Lanye still diligently helped her choose clothes for a long time. Even though Song Yi had said those things to him, he still respected Song Yi's opinion enough. If he thought something looked good, he would take it to Song Yi and ask her if she wanted to wear it.

Song Yi glanced at it and realized that the dress was very similar to the one she wore on the day she disappeared three years ago.

It is pinkish-white with a pattern of begonia flowers. The embroidery on the petals is exceptionally exquisite, gradually blending from light pink to snow white. The stamens are outlined with gold thread, and the stitches are extremely fine. It is precisely because of this that the gradient colors can be displayed.

"This"

Song Yi was somewhat surprised. This one was almost exactly the same as the one from three years ago, but upon closer inspection, there were also some slight differences.

Memories flooded back, and she looked up at Jiang Lanye.

Jiang Lanye looked at her quietly, his eyes deep and dark.

He remembered, he remembered the day she disappeared, wearing such a dress, her clothes fluttering in the wind.

"Should I wear this?"

".good."

In fact, Song Yi didn't remember what kind of hairstyle she had or what kind of outfit she had, but Jiang Lanye remembered everything clearly, even the earrings he picked were almost exactly the same.

When Song Yi took Jiang Lanye's arm and left, Eunuch Cao looked up and was somewhat surprised when he saw Song Yi.

It was common knowledge in the harem that Consort Yun was beautiful and could topple kingdoms, but she rarely dressed up so deliberately. Her already fair face was carefully made up, making her look even more pure and charming.

Even Eunuch Cao was finding it a bit difficult to adapt.

Song Yi suddenly released Jiang Lanye, jumped directly in front of Eunuch Cao, and snapped her fingers in front of his dazed face.

"How about it, Eunuch Cao? Were you amazed by me?"

Eunuch Cao: "."

Sure enough, the first thing he said was the familiar Song Yi.

(End of this chapter)