Marrying a playboy? She turned the tables and used a magical talisman to become famous throughout th

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Zhang's expression tightened.

"That's not what I meant."

Gu Jinyan sneered with a wicked glint in his eyes, "Is that so? To my ears, it sounds as if the Imperial Concubine has some doubts. I wonder what the Imperial Grandfather and Imperial Grandmother think when they hear this."

Consort Zhang hurriedly rose to apologize.

"Your Majesty, please understand, that's really not what I meant. I was just speaking offhand..."

"Consort Zhang has always been deeply favored by the Emperor, so naturally she is of one mind with him. How could she possibly question the Emperor?"

The Empress gave her a half-smile, then gestured with her hand, saying, "Everyone was just joking, don't take it seriously. Please sit down."

The Empress's words seemed to be trying to smooth things over for her, but her tone clearly carried a warning.

This surprised Yin Liuli somewhat.

Before she could even speak, Gu Jinyan and the Empress Dowager deflected the gossip for her.

From initial praise to current protection, this kind yet dignified Empress has earned Yin Liuli's favor even more.

"Yes."

Consort Zhang cautiously responded, secretly giving Cheng Yi a meaningful look.

She had hoped to curry favor with the emperor's most beloved princess, but now she dared not do so.

Princess Chengyi looked sullen.

The others looked at Yin Liuli with a newfound caution.

Even Consort Zhang was rebuffed, so those who wanted to curry favor with Cheng Yi dared not speak up.

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy.

"Alright, alright, everyone, let's raise our glasses."

The Empress smiled and raised her cup, saying, "Today the weather is fine and sunny, perfect for admiring the lotus flowers. Let's drink our fill and then go boating to pick lotus flowers."

The Empress is in grave danger if she gets into water, yet she still wants to go boating and pick lotus flowers?

Yin Liuli frowned without showing any emotion.

With fawning smiles on their faces, everyone chimed in with their own opinions.

"Your Majesty, I have seen the lotus blossoms just beginning to open in the lake; they are breathtakingly beautiful. I will surely be able to gather many of the finest ones to keep in my room!"

"Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without artifice. The lotus is the most pure and beautiful, transcending the mundane, and has always been known as the fairy of the water."

"The lotus is the flower goddess of June, but each year only the Empress can pick the most beautiful and purest one..."

"It's clear that the Flower Goddess bestows blessings upon us, always allowing the Empress to come out on top. We can only envy her so much..."

……

The Empress was very pleased with the praise from everyone, but her expression became somewhat hesitant.

"I have a particular fondness for lotus flowers. Every time the season comes, I feel an irresistible urge to get close to them, and just looking at them makes me feel relaxed and happy."

"I'm just a bit too lazy to move today, so you can go and pick them yourselves. If anyone is favored by the Flower Goddess, I will bestow a further reward upon them."

Consort Zhang's alluring eyes flickered, and she rose to offer her flattery.

"Who can rival Her Majesty the Empress? The Flower Goddess is eagerly awaiting to bestow blessings upon Her Majesty the Empress. We, looking so disheveled, wouldn't dare to go and earn the Flower Goddess's displeasure!"

Yin Liuli frowned slightly.

Consort Zhang clearly had a hint of instigation in her words.

Sure enough, her suggestion was met with agreement from the crowd.

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress deserves the top spot!"

"These lotus flowers covering the lake were all planted for Her Majesty the Empress. I heard that His Majesty personally planted them for her while sailing a boat back then..."

"If Her Majesty the Empress doesn't go, how dare we concubines go there to play?"

……

The Empress, fawned over by everyone, had no choice but to give up.

"It seems that if I don't go, you can't go either."

"Alright, alright, let's all go and have some fun."

Seeing the Empress rise, Yin Liuli was the first to stand up and block her way.

"The Empress cannot go."

The Empress frowned, looking at her with surprise.

"Female Envoy, why can't I go?"

Yin Liuli said calmly,

"It is not auspicious for Her Majesty the Empress to be near water today, so she cannot go."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, staring at her with expressions of utter surprise.

"Not suitable for contact with water? Then how did the Empress come to the island in the middle of the lake?"

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress enjoys admiring flowers and picking lotus blossoms every year. Why is it inauspicious for her to be near water today?"

"Her Majesty the Empress loves lotus flowers the most; how can you spoil her mood at this time!"

……

Yin Liuli glanced at everyone, "Riding by boat doesn't count, but picking lotus leaves is not allowed."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

"What kind of logic is this!"

Gu Jinyan stood silently beside Yin Liuli.

Yin Liuli raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't make any sense. If Her Majesty the Empress doesn't want anything to happen, she'd better not touch the lotus flowers in the lake today!"

"How dare you!"

A glint flashed in Consort Zhang's alluring eyes, and she said sharply,

"What do you mean you can't touch lotus flowers? That's utter nonsense!"

Despite the Empress's great care for you, you dared to stop her from admiring the lotus blossoms?

"You've delayed the Flower Goddess's blessing and disturbed the Empress's enjoyment. Can you afford to offend her?"

Yin Liuli glanced at her with her cold eyes.

"Why is Your Highness in such a hurry? The Empress's decision not to go lotus picking is merely a temporary interruption of her refined enjoyment, which is better than something going wrong!"

Consort Zhang gave her a disdainful look and scoffed.

"You think the Empress's misfortune can just happen like that? I'd say you were deliberately cursing her!"

Princess Chengyi followed suit, coldly shouting,

"Yin Liuli, how dare you curse the Empress Dowager! The Emperor has only given you some face, appointing you as a lowly female assistant; do you deserve such a grave offense of disrespect!"

Yin Liuli glanced at her. "I already said that the accident happened while we were in the water. Your Highness accused me without even asking what happened. As a daughter, shouldn't you be thinking about the Empress's safety first?"

Princess Chengyi then realized her slip of the tongue, and her face immediately darkened.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense and hostile.

"Alright, what's all this arguing about? Let him finish speaking."

Amid the chaos, the old lady of the Duke's household slowly spoke, "Fengyi, wouldn't you like to hear what this child has to say?"

The Empress's expression darkened slightly, her gaze falling on Yin Liuli, her tone ambiguous.

"Female Envoy, what are your intentions?"

Gu Jinyan spoke first, bowing and saying, "Reporting to my maternal grandmother, Liuli said..."

"Yan'er..."

The Empress swept her phoenix eyes across the room, and a single, authoritative glance silenced Gu Jinyan.

She gazed at Yin Liuli with a detached expression, a hint of authority gracing her face amidst a half-smile.

"Female Envoy, I want you to tell me the reason yourself."

I admire your intelligence and have always protected you.

You dare to spoil my enjoyment, even mentioning something about an accident involving water...

Without a suitable reason, it would truly be a curse upon me, as Cheng Yi said.

Curses were one of the greatest taboos in the palace; once someone was convicted, the punishment was severe, even extending to nine generations of their family.

The Empress's words were undeniably harsh.

Zhen, who had remained silent, clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her throat.

"Liuli, just say it."

Gu Jinyan gave Yin Liuli a reassuring look.

Yin Liuli said calmly, "There is a trace of death between the Empress's brows. Death is extremely yin, and water is yin. When two yin meet, it is a sign of death."

"May I ask, Your Majesty, as you arrived by boat, did you find the scent of the lake somewhat unpleasant?"