Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 158 - 134: The Emperor’s Favor
Yun Jiao inherited her parents’ height, though her father was naturally not tall.
He was an official who came from a humble background, incomparable to those aristocratic high-ranking officials who enjoyed the best food and drink since childhood. Standing there, he was like the one sunken in the crowd, always speaking from a lower position.
"Why is he standing here?" Mr. Wei shifted his gaze.
The eunuch explained with utmost respect.
Mr. Wei sneered, thinking of his daughter’s situation in the palace, feeling some dislike towards Yun Yuan. But he thought, firstly, it would be beneath his status to make things difficult for a minor official, and secondly, since Concubine Xi was in favor, he did not want to court trouble, so he withdrew his gaze: "Never mind, after all, Concubine Xi has contributed to the continuity of descendants. You should seize this opportunity, work hard, and maybe next year you’ll be able to enter the palace for the birthday celebration on your own merits."
There was low laughter around.
Yun Yuan remained silent.
Just stepping into the Imperial Palace, feeling the oppressive atmosphere brought by the high walls made him feel breathless.
He couldn’t imagine how his daughter lived in the Deep Palace. His naive daughter, possessing beauty but knowing nothing of the world, and thinking of this made his throat tighten. He very much wanted to see her, not knowing if Jiaojiao was doing well in the palace.
Just then, Su Yinglu came over, first greeting all the officials warmly.
Everyone knew him as the Emperor’s most favored person. In terms of the opportunity to speak in front of the Emperor, even a high-ranking official couldn’t surpass this rootless one! Even Wei Qingchen dared not underestimate him, and he said with a smile, "Mr. Su looks really spirited in the festive attire today."
"It’s also thanks to the Emperor’s favor."
With his small eyes, Ying Lu smiled, changing the topic: "I have duties to attend to, so I won’t disturb Mr. Wei anymore."
"What duties?"
Wei Qingchen was curious.
In the next second, he regretted his nosiness.
He saw Ying Lu turn around, his gaze locked on the confused Yun Yuan, who bowed towards him and said, "Mr. Yun made it quite a task for me to find him!" He presented a delicately crafted hand warmer to Yun Yuan: "Concubine Xi is accompanying the Emperor, and mentioned the cold weather, fearing Mr. Yun might feel cold, the Emperor sent me to check on you. Isn’t this the right time!"
These words were like a thunderbolt, drawing everyone’s attention.
The nearby senior officials, hearing these words, were all envious.
They were all standing in the cold wind, demonstrating a sincere heart. Without the Emperor’s word, no one dared to hold a hand warmer and wait! Although their clothing was lighter and warmer than Yun Yuan’s, who wouldn’t envy a hand warmer bestowed by the Emperor? It still required having connections in the palace.
"This... I thank His Majesty for his great kindness."
Yun Yuan bowed deeply towards the direction of Qiankun Palace.
Knowing it was sent by the Emperor, the hand warmer suddenly felt scorching hot: "Please trouble Mr. Su to convey my respects to Concubine Xi."
Yun Yuan had too many questions he wished to ask—how is Jiaojiao doing in the palace? Does she still have enough silver taels to spend? Is the Emperor treating her well? But he didn’t dare to ask; with someone at the Emperor’s side, he was already worried about Concubine Xi’s well-being, which would imply distrust in the Emperor. Thus, all his longing for his daughter could only turn into a restrained greeting.
Well then, he would ask his wife when she returned.
"I understand."
After Su Yinglu left, the others looked at Yun Yuan with different eyes.
Previously, they all knew that Concubine Xi was favored and pregnant, but witnessing such grace first-hand was a different experience.
Gradually, someone took the initiative to chat with Yun Yuan, making it less unbearable.
...
In Qiankun Palace, Yun Jiao craned her neck waiting for Yinglu’s return.
Xie Zhixing embraced her shoulder: "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"My father should have let him bring back some words. I miss my father."
The Emperor privately instructed her not to refer to herself as a concubine. He also addressed her as you and me, narrowing the gap in terms of address before discussing other matters.
"You have a good relationship with your father?" Xie Zhixing was surprised.
Yun Yuan, not using the excuse that he was an official, wasn’t laidback because of his position.
Then he thought: "Your family seems to have only one daughter, didn’t they want a son?"
"Mother’s health wasn’t good, and she has been recuperating all these years. I persuaded her that if it couldn’t happen, then forget it, I’ll take care of them."
Xie Zhixing wanted to ask how she planned to support them.
The question came to his lips, and he paused. If he asked, it would just be having Yun Jiao plead with him to prove his importance and make her rely on him. But he didn’t want her to beg, so he said lightly: "By then, you remind me, I’ll send some capable people over to take care of them regularly, or adopt a child to raise, so they have some child to attend to them."
Now is not a time of famine; every family can afford to raise a few people, but there are always those abandoned.
"The Emperor indeed thinks things through."
Yun Jiao sat onto him, lifting a grape to his mouth.
When Ying Lu entered, bowing, he saw such an improper scene.
He recounted Yun Jiao’s father’s words with downcast eyes, and Yun Jiao’s face immediately showed disappointment: "He only said one sentence? Nothing else to convey?"
"Even if you asked him, he couldn’t have conjured up more words."
Xie Zhixing patted him and inquired about Yun Yuan’s situation in the line.
Yinglu spoke in detail, making Yun Jiao miss her father more the more she listened. In the end, her lips pursed, she said nothing, and Xie Zhixing coaxed her: "Next time, I’ll summon him to Qiankun Palace, let you both have a chat, don’t be upset."
Receiving the Emperor’s assurance, Yun Jiao’s pouting lips finally smiled.
She heard the Empress, Lady, and Consort Jiang’s relatives stood around her father, and only her father received a hand warmer, and though she didn’t say it, her heart was somewhat proud, happier than dressing in gold and silver herself.
After a while, Xie Zhixing got up and tidied his attire.
He would soon be dining with the Empress Dowager and Empress, just reminding: "Later, don’t sit according to rank, come sit to my right, Yinglu will come to bring you over."
...
Imperial family and high officials sat in wings, Yun Yuan was once again placed in a seat not meant for him.
First and second rank officials could receive extra dishes personally bestowed by the Emperor, with an ochre-yellow card on top. He didn’t have one, but in front of him were snacks Concubine Xi pestered the Emperor to get, telling him to eat more. The old father was touched and scared, almost shedding tears on the spot.
Envoys from nations in the Western Regions also sent tributes to the capital to celebrate and congratulate Emperor Yan Chi on his longevity.
Among them was a strand of red coral, which caught the Emperor’s favor.
His gaze lingered on it, and the envoy introduced: "Red coral, also called red gold, symbolizes courage and luck, can prevent lightning and strong wind in the desert, and it’s said it grants divine power if worn, now presented to the Emperor."
The Emperor did not follow the usual practice of sending it to the storeroom, instead instructing the eunuch to send it directly to Concubine Xi: "It will go well with her new dress tonight."
Such glory and favor once again shocked everyone present.
The most surprised among them was Prince Kang, who couldn’t help but mutter to his brother under his breath: "That Concubine Xi must be made of gold! Wait, the Emperor isn’t interested in gold..."
Maybe after ascending to the dragon throne, his true nature revealed itself.
The Emperor also felt the surprise of those below; at this time, the woman in his mind was not Yun Jiao.
It was the Empress.
It turns out doing what one wishes feels so liberating!
