He asked you to serve him in bed and become his concubine, how did you manage to win his heart and s

Have a heart-to-heart talk?

Li Ruolan sneered as she shook off the other person's hand, "But my sister wants to take a walk alone."

Consort Wan believed that if she treated others well, they would treat her well in return.

Unfortunately, a crazy woman like Li Ruolan dares to order around even the Empress Dowager's personal maid, Li Mama, so how could she possibly listen to what she says?

Throughout the entire harem, the number of people Li Ruolan feared could be counted on one hand.

The first one is of course Mu Xiaoci, the person she loves. The remaining three are the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Consort Su.

She truly didn't take anyone else seriously, let alone a mere Consort Wan.

The rank of a concubine in the harem is not low, and Consort Wan usually receives a lot of respect and praise from her sisters.

Even Consort Su, when she went to seek her out that day, gave her ample face and treated her with great hospitality.

But the Li Ruolan in front of her was truly unpredictable; even in front of the Empress Dowager, she didn't even bother to pretend.

Consort Wan's hand hung in the air, neither able to pull it back nor put it down.

And what about Li Ruolan?

He had already swayed his hips as he walked up to the Empress Dowager, bowed, and began to speak politely.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for disturbing you today. I gained quite a bit of insight from copying the scriptures. I will come again another day, hoping Your Majesty can offer some guidance."

His words were eloquent, and his every move was flawless.

If the Empress Dowager looked down on Li Ruolan on the first day, her boldness, arrogance, and final demeanor today suddenly made her more likable.

The imperial harem is a place that devours people.

For a woman to remain resilient, she needs not only strategy but also vision.

Consort Su did have a good starting point, but she was petty and vindictive. Even though she was popular, few people truly submitted to her.

Looking at Li Ruolan now, I feel that she is somewhat similar to Consort Su, but they are completely different.

He is decisive in his actions and even bolder in his behavior.

A woman who is genuine and doesn't bother with pretense naturally has a lot of appeal, and might actually become a person in power.

The Empress Dowager suddenly thought of her past and was inevitably moved. Even though she disliked her before, she could nod and agree to what she said.

It takes time, and it's also worth putting aside pride and even forgetting about yesterday's events—not every woman can do that.

In terms of magnanimity, Consort Su seems to be no less than Consort Lan in front of her.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager seemed to like her more than yesterday, Li Ruolan's smile deepened, and she said a few flattering words before leaving.

When they went outside again, Yunxi was gone, only Granny Gui remained.

Li Ruolan had long regarded Granny Gui as one of her own, and would discuss everything with her. As soon as they went out, she began to quietly discuss Consort Wan with Granny Gui.

"Something's not right with her. She even said she'd go with me. I'm afraid it's a trap."

"This old servant has already contacted Imperial Physician Fang. If anything really happens, Your Highness need not worry."

"I hope so."

Li Ruolan looked up at the setting sun, her voice hoarse.

She actually disliked the Empress Dowager.

But today I still have to please the other party, so I have to lower myself and do these tiring tasks. I'm not as happy as before.

Furthermore, I don't know how Mu Xiaoci viewed her yesterday, or whether he thought she did something wrong.

Li Ruolan admitted that she was indeed a bit arrogant and complacent yesterday. Because he reminded her, she was so happy that she forgot herself and even lost her usual thinking.

If that's the case, she must have a proper talk with Mu Xiaoci to clear up the misunderstanding as much as possible.

Li Ruolan wasn't actually that passionately in love with anyone. After falling for Mu Xiaoci, her heart was filled with him, and she even fantasized that he would love her and only have her.

We can't meet; anything we say will be in vain.

She really wanted to die for the Emperor, but she didn't know what reason to use to go see him.

It would be better if something really happened.

Physician Fang would help her conceal her illness, and she could even get the Emperor to come in person, showing concern and care for her.

With so many women in the harem, if the emperor doesn't come today, he might go to another palace tomorrow and fall in love with another woman.

Li Ruolan didn't want this feeling of gain and loss, and even went so far as to use such an extreme method to attract the emperor's attention.

But she didn't want to become a second Consort Wan.

Thinking of the woman's despicable methods, Li Ruolan could only sigh that they were unworthy, even as low as children playing house.

Before leaving, she deliberately turned back and gave Consort Wan a cold smile.

He even used his lips to say "Take your time playing" to her.

After saying that, he left Shou Kang Palace with a smug smile on his face.

This is the Empress Dowager's territory; you can't just come and go as you please.

Consort Wan had deliberately slowed down her tea-making process, but now she had only made a fool of herself and could only speed up the process to prepare the tea and present it directly to the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, please try my cooking."

I don't speak with the same confidence I had when I first arrived; I'm more flustered and even a bit guilty.

How could the Empress Dowager not understand? Her gaze towards her was filled with disdain.

"Consort Wan, I still remember when you were little, you would hug me and call me 'Auntie.' I never imagined that time would be so cruel, and you've grown up so much now..."

"Even now, concubines can still address the Empress Dowager as their cousin..."

"It seems you still don't understand what I'm saying!"

The Empress Dowager looked up and met Wan Pin's gaze. Her sharp eyes revealed the greed hidden deep in her heart. In her eyes, Wan Pin was no different from someone who was naked.

"Our maternal family has indeed declined, but our backbone remains. Do you still remember what I said to you on your first day in the palace?"

Mentioning this, Consort Wan couldn't help but get emotional, glaring at her through gritted teeth.

"How could I not remember?"

"It seems you still haven't grasped what I mean."

"Hahaha, why should I understand what you mean? You're telling me to stay put! But why should I stay put?!"

When Consort Wan thought of this, she suddenly became agitated and almost dropped the warm tea in her hand, spilling most of it on the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager did not get angry; she simply looked calmly at the woman before her.

Consort Wan disliked her arrogant attitude the most, and in a moment of impulsiveness, she revealed her thoughts to the Empress Dowager.

"I am the woman who saved the Emperor, and I grew up with him since childhood, even knowing him before Consort Su..."

"Why is it that I have to be so well-behaved? I have to stay alone in this empty room!"

"It's all your fault for not helping me, Aunt! If you had helped me back then, I might be sitting on the phoenix throne right now!"

Over the years, Consort Wan has indeed suppressed a lot of emotions.

Couldn't she see the emperor's disgust for her and the concubines' private mockery of her?

But so what?

She was the woman who saved the Emperor's life! She refused to believe the Emperor would take her life!

The only person she hates now is the Empress Dowager. She knows that she has been in love with Xiao Ci since childhood, and even before he became the Crown Prince, she liked him. She has privately begged the Empress Dowager several times, but the Empress Dowager said that she was not suitable.

Not suitable?

Would the Prime Minister's daughter be suitable?

She had just gotten pregnant when such a terrible thing happened. She lost the baby and was on the verge of death!

This is exactly what the Empress Dowager meant by "suitable"!

Consort Wan's resentment over the years was not without reason. Her maternal family had indeed declined, but she still had an aunt who was the Empress Dowager! Why couldn't they give her a push? Perhaps she could even revive her maternal family and restore it to its former glory?

How could Consort Wan not hate the Empress Dowager every time she thought of this?

How could I not hate it!

Over the years, the Empress Dowager had always avoided her. Even after the Empress fell ill and Consort Su seized power, leaving her as the only concubine in the harem, she shamelessly knelt before her that day, only to be driven out in the end.

Consort Wan felt she had exhausted all the means at her disposal, and in the end, she had no choice but to resort to the despicable act that others looked down upon.

She knew she was testing the emperor's patience, but what else did she have that made her so remarkable?

Even today, her aunt hasn't helped her at all.

How could she possibly let it go? How could she possibly swallow this insult?

The Empress Dowager remained indifferent as always, giving her a cold laugh.

"You hate me, but you never look for the reason within yourself."

"What did I do wrong?"

"Consort Wan, do you think that just because you saved the Emperor's life, he will like you?"

"I'm his savior! Even if I don't like it... even if I don't like it..."

The voice, which had been so confident at the beginning, gradually weakened, and even Consort Wan herself didn't know what to say.

Even if he didn't like her, Mu Xiaoci wouldn't punish her...

But I'll leave her cold, ignore her, and avoid all her gaze...

This is no different from banishing her to the cold palace, but because there is still a sliver of hope, she is tormented by this feeling day and night, making her feel like she is dying.

Consort Wan felt that the Emperor was truly heartless; his relationship with Consort Su was just so-so, and she could not see any love between them.

She felt that the emperor might really be a cold-hearted man, and no one could win his love, so it was better for her to stay in the harem.

But then, a new person named Li Ruolan arrived.

She entered the palace as a beauty and was even praised by the emperor for her good looks. That very night, she was the one who received his favor.

That person was in her own Yaoguang Palace, and she was indeed much more beautiful than Consort Su.

Consort Wan secretly went to take a few peeks that day and heard the water being carried constantly to the bedchamber. The Emperor must have really fallen in love with that woman, otherwise why would he send so many precious jewels the next day?

I did consider taking it, but I realized I couldn't possibly win.

It even alarmed the Emperor, who personally stopped her and conveyed Mu Xiaoci's oral decree.

"Consort Wan, His Majesty said that if you continue to be so restless, it may cause a rift between you and His Majesty."

That’s it again!

What do you mean by "behave yourself and keep to your own standards"?

During the days when she behaved herself, the Emperor didn't even come to see her once!

"Aunt, can you tell me why you forbade me from entering the palace in the first place?"

"After all these years in the palace, you still don't understand?"

"Aunt, please, I'm begging you, tell me..."

Consort Wan's voice suddenly softened, and the Empress Dowager seemed to understand something, so she grabbed her hand tightly.

"What did you do to Consort Lan?"

"Good aunt, please tell Wan'er, okay? Did you know back then that the Emperor wouldn't like me?"

Consort Wan did not answer, but instead tried to coax the Empress Dowager, hoping to remind her of their past interactions.

She was the Empress Dowager's closest niece.

If that incident hadn't happened, she certainly wouldn't be living such a miserable life in the harem now.