I originally thought that it would take some time before I could see Sun again, but I never expected that she would come to Fengqi Palace at the end of August.
Everyone looked at her with different eyes, and Sun Xiuyi felt even more complicated, angry, embarrassed, unwilling, and humiliated.
But she had been favored for a long time, so she still had some pride and would never bow her head easily.
"I haven't seen Sun Xiuyi for a long time. Are you well?" Concubine Jing smiled and looked her up and down. She frowned and said, "How can a maid beside you do this? Isn't this the material and pattern that was popular last year? Why are you taking it out for your master to wear now?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the concubines in the palace looked over, and their gazes made Sun's face burn with pain.
She took a deep breath and said coldly, "I make so many clothes in a year, and many of them are out of season before I wear them. If I don't wear them, it will inevitably be wasted. The emperor often mentions thriftiness. As a concubine in the harem, I naturally have to be in harmony with the emperor."
"Oh, Sun Xiuyi has always been of the same mind as the emperor and knows how to be frugal. Unlike me and others, we like to wear bright clothes. The needlework bureau sent two sets of freshly made clothes not long ago, and I wore them today. Now I feel ashamed to hear what Sun Xiuyi said. I have to go back and change into another one later." Concubine Zhao said deliberately.
While saying this, she stroked her temples with her hands. Her hair was pinned with two new hairpins that she had made this year.
Even though Concubine Zhao was not favored, she still lived a good life with the help of the Queen, at least better than Sun today.
Concubine Jing smiled and didn't respond.
When Sun was in favor in the past, she had spoken disrespectfully to her, but it was only words, so Concubine Jing did not go too far.
Just let out some anger.
As long as she takes the lead, there will be fewer people looking for trouble the day after tomorrow, right
Even if Sun was innocent, she had once been favored, which was her original sin to the other concubines in the harem.
Sure enough, when Concubine Shu came, she became even more rude when she saw her.
"I thought Sun Xiuyi was such a beautiful lady. I haven't seen her for a while. Why is her face powder so thick? What's with the scar on her forehead?"
"Your Majesty is taking care of the eldest princess and doesn't know what's happening outside. When Sun Xiuyi was suffering from the plague, she got sores and left scars." Zhang Cairen said lightly as she followed behind.
She had been bullied by the Sun family many times in the past. Now that she had the chance to embarrass the Sun family, how could she give up so easily
After hearing this explanation, Concubine Shu's eyes were filled with naked disgust.
"I think it's better for Sun Xiuyi to come out less often in the future. It's no big deal if you disgust me, but don't let the scars on your face scare the emperor."
"I don't have many scars on my face. They will fade away naturally over time. Please don't worry about it, Madam Concubine Shu. If you don't want to see them, just turn away!"
Sun Xiuyi couldn't hold it back after all. She was not a weak-willed person to begin with, and she had been in the limelight for some time, so she still had a bad temper.
No one would not be angry after being provoked one after another.
“Snap—”
There was a crisp sound, and when everyone reacted, Concubine Shu had already withdrawn her hand.
Sun's eyes widened and her face felt burning with pain.
"The Empress Shufei is in a high position. Xiuyi has to take the initiative to avoid the Empress and ask the Empress to avoid you. But this is against the rules. Xiuyi, don't forget the palace rules while you are recuperating." Concubine Zhang said lightly with a sneer.
Concubine Shu snorted coldly, said nothing more, and walked straight past Sun and went to her seat.
Sun Xiuyi felt extremely humiliated, but things were different now and she had no choice but to endure it.
And she had offended more than just these few people.
People like Concubine Wende, Fang Xiuyi, Lin Xiurong, and even the Queen who came later, almost all stepped on him.
This is the tragedy of women in the palace. Once they lose favor, they can be bullied by everyone.
But no one cared about her.
Compared to the Sun family, everyone cares more about the upcoming Double Ninth Festival.
This was another grand palace banquet, a time to show off in front of the emperor.
Those who don't see the emperor on a daily basis, don't they rely on the palace banquet
The main reason was the case of Zhang during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and many concubines were tempted by this.
After leaving Fengqi Palace, Ye Jun walked away with Zhou Cairen and Wang Xiuyuan.
The three of them are together, and now it is all exposed in the palace.
"I saw that Miss Xia was in a very good mood today. She had a smile on her face when she came out." Wang Xiuyuan said in a low voice.
Zhou Cairen nodded, "I've seen her being gentle and kind before, but not like today. She smiled like she was in a good mood."
"Of course I have to laugh. If I were Xia, I would have to step on her a few times to feel more comfortable. Miss Xia didn't say a word today." Ye Jun raised his eyebrows slightly.
With the Sun family falling to this state, the happiest person must be the Xia family.
Wang Xiuyuan also snorted coldly, "Back then, Sun was in high spirits. Except for Concubine Wende, everyone else gave her a hard time. But she didn't expect this day to come."
Last year, Sun was so proud that she even dared to steal the limelight at the event specially arranged by the Queen for Yang, and she even won.
But the more proud she was in the past, the more people want to make her disappointed now.
"No flower stays in bloom forever, and no person stays good forever. If she had restrained herself a little, this wouldn't have happened." Ye Jun smiled, "If you don't have the ability to be favored for a lifetime, don't block your own way."
"That's exactly the truth." Wang Xiuyuan nodded with a smile.
I didn't say much else. After all, Ye Jun was in favor now, and I was afraid that if I said too much, Ye Jun would think too much.
After walking for a while, Wang Xiuyuan arrived at the place and separated from them first.
Ye Jun had nothing to do, so he simply invited Zhou Cairen to have tea at Yuxiu Pavilion.
Zhou Cairen naturally did not refuse, and the two of them went together.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I reached the door of Yuxiu Pavilion, I saw Ning Chen's sedan chair parked outside from afar.
"The emperor is with the imperial concubine. I'll come to bother him next time." Cairen Zhou immediately stopped.
Ye Jun sighed, "I wanted to talk to you, but it seems I can only wait until next time."
Lady Zhou smiled and bowed slightly, "I am usually free. If you want to talk to me, just send someone to call me. I will come."
"Okay, then I won't be polite with you." Ye Jun also smiled, and finally instructed Huiyue, "Go and get some of the tea bags I have and send them to Zhou Cairen later. I broke the promise today."
"Thank you, Concubine. I will take my leave now."
Zhou bowed again, without any reluctance, and left.
Ye Jun straightened her clothes and returned to Yuxiu Pavilion alone.
On the way, Zhou's maid was puzzled.
"Why doesn't the talented person go? Concubine Ming didn't forbid the talented person to go. This is such a good opportunity to see the emperor!"
"Remember, I was able to advance to the throne because of Concubine Ming's support, not because of anything else. If I could gain favor, I would have been remembered by the emperor long ago. Now if I try to get close to him, I will not only fail to gain favor, but also lose Concubine Ming's trust. That way, I will gain nothing."
Zhou said soberly that she also longed for favor in the past, but after more than a year in the palace, her edges had been smoothed out, and now she just wanted to live a good life.
Since everything will be fine just by relying on Concubine Ming, why bother competing for favor
Besides, she is not a scheming person.