Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Ye Ronghua (Ye Yaqin) walked gracefully and lightly with Yan Cairen along a path in the Imperial Garden.

At this time, the Imperial Garden is in full bloom, as beautiful as brocade and as radiant as the sunset, and many concubines have recently taken a liking to stroll here.

Perhaps deep down, there is still a hope of encountering His Majesty by chance.

It has been half a month since these new ladies entered the palace, and His Majesty has not favored them many times.

So far, only three newcomers—Ye Ronghua, Lin Ronghua (Lin Miaoyin), and Chu Meiren (Chu Yinxue)—have been fortunate enough to be summoned by the emperor.

The newlyweds also figured out some tricks of the trade; generally, only those with outstanding status would leave an impression on His Majesty.

However, Ye Ronghua and Lin Ronghua were both promoted one rank for serving the emperor, but there was still no progress for Consort Chu.

Yan Cai Ren (Yan Xiao Fei) broke a string while playing the pipa in front of His Majesty and Consort Chun Shu half a month ago. Since then, she has been practicing playing the pipa in her Jinse Palace every day, which has annoyed the other concubines in the palace.

That's why Consort Yan is now trying so hard to curry favor with Ye Ronghua, since Ye Ronghua comes from a very good family and was the second one to serve the emperor after entering the palace.

After serving the emperor, she was promoted to Ronghua. If she could say a few good words for him, it would be good to get the emperor to lift the punishment.

After all, it's incredibly difficult for her to even see His Majesty these days, let alone for His Majesty to have any impression of her.

"Sister Ye, among the new concubines, only Sister Ye, Lin Ronghua, and Consort Chu have received His Majesty's favor. However, His Majesty has promoted you and Lin Ronghua, but Consort Chu has not received any notice. Could it be that His Majesty, as Consort Chunshu said, does not like beautiful women?"

Yan Cairen followed closely behind Ye Ronghua, speaking softly with a hint of doubt and flattery on her face.

Ye Ronghua frowned slightly, feeling a sense of unease.

Even before entering the palace, she had thought that with her beauty, Consort Chu would surely win the emperor's favor.

But now all three of them have served the emperor, yet only Consort Chu has not been promoted, even though Consort Chu's family background is better than Lin Ronghua's.

Ye Ronghua knew that her advantage was not her beauty, but her family background. As long as she did not make any mistakes, His Majesty would always favor her.

Now that His Majesty dislikes Consort Chu's appearance, I have one less strong competitor.

It was truly an unexpected delight.

"How can we presume to know His Majesty's preferences? Consort Yan, you should be more careful with your words and actions."

Ye Ronghua's expression was indifferent, and her tone was also very calm.

"My sister only whispered a few words to Sister Ye."

"But... next time your elder sister is summoned by His Majesty, could you please plead for your younger sister? I've almost ruined my hands from playing the pipa lately..."

Yan Cairen looked at Ye Ronghua cautiously, her hands unconsciously twisting her handkerchief.

A faint look of disdain flashed in Ye Ronghua's eyes. She looked down on Consort Yan, who was only a concubine's daughter. However, since Consort Yan was only a concubine's daughter, she could not threaten her.

Moreover, now that she has entered the harem, she cannot fight alone. Since Consort Yan intends to curry favor with her, she will naturally have to do things for her.

"Sister, since His Majesty feels that you haven't played the pipa well enough, then you should naturally practice more."

When Yan Cairen heard Ye Ronghua's refusal, her heart sank. She knew that Ye Ronghua would not help her so easily.

"Sister Ye, if there is anything you need me for, please just tell me, and I will do anything for you, even risk my life."

Yan Cairen said urgently in a low voice, her eyes full of longing.

Ye Ronghua turned slightly to the side, a meaningful smile curving her lips, and then leaned close to Yan Cairen's ear.

"In five days it will be the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. Currently, the Imperial Concubine is in charge of the Bureau of Ceremonies and the Bureau of Clothing in the inner palace."

"His Majesty visits Zhaochun Palace almost every day, and Yikun Palace every few days. If we newcomers want to gain his favor, doesn't my sister know what we should do?"

Ye Ronghua's voice was very low, with a hint of seduction.

Yan Cai Ren frowned upon hearing this, forcing a smile as she looked at Ye Rong Hua.

She naturally understood Ye Ronghua's intentions; Ye Ronghua clearly wanted her to act as a weapon for her.

However, Consort Gui and Consort Chun Shu are not only deeply favored by His Majesty, but also have the power to manage the six palaces. How can she both hurt Consort Gui and Consort Chun Shu and still manage to get away unscathed?

"Sister, could you please tell me what I should do?" Yan Cai Ren asked, her eyes filled with unease.

"Consort Yan, I heard that the design for Consort Chunshu's palace dress has been sent to the Imperial Clothing Bureau. The embroidery on Consort Chunshu's dress this time features the color red hibiscus."

Ye Ronghua had a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.

Consort Yan looked puzzled. Amaryllis was a precious plant, and she had never seen it before if she hadn't entered the palace.

"I know that amaryllis is an extremely beautiful and vibrant flower. It is quite novel for Consort Chunshu to use amaryllis for her palace attire, but I still don't understand what you mean, elder sister..."

"Sister, the sap of the amaryllis is poisonous..."

Ye Ronghua finished speaking with a light laugh, then turned and left with a smile, leaving Yan Cairen standing there blankly.

Yan Cairen watched Ye Ronghua's receding figure and fell into deep thought.

Did Ye Ronghua want her to tamper with Consort Chun Shu's palace attire?

They planned to embarrass Consort Chunshu at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet and then frame Consort Gui for it.

A flash of hatred suddenly appeared in Yan Cairen's eyes. Ye Ronghua clearly wanted her to be the one to stick her out.

If she really did these things, given His Majesty's favor towards Consort Chunshu and Consort Gui, he would surely investigate thoroughly. How could she possibly escape it?

Ye Ronghua herself wouldn't dare to do something so dangerous, yet she's being asked to do it!

Zhaochun Palace, study.

Su Jingyao sat upright at the table, her expression serene and focused.

Holding a calligraphy brush in her right hand, she carefully copied the Buddhist scripture "Heart Sutra" stroke by stroke. This was a birthday gift she prepared for the Empress Dowager to express her heartfelt wishes.

In addition to hand-copying Buddhist scriptures, she also prepared to give away a "Pisces auspicious omen".

The Pisces Auspiciousness is an agate flower vase that she specially selected from rare red and white agate and had a master craftsman meticulously carve. The red and white colors are distinct, and the overall shape is that of two fish.

It symbolizes good fortune, prosperity, and flourishing.

The Empress Dowager was a key factor in her ascension to the position of Empress, so Su Jingyao naturally had to rack her brains to please her.

The Empress Dowager's birthday gift could not be as casual as Jun Zechen's.

They would just draw a picture, say some sweet nothings that came out of their mouths, and that would be enough to get rid of them.

The Empress Dowager's birthday gifts could not be casual; she put a lot of thought into them, including handwritten Buddhist scriptures to express her feelings and precious agate flower vases, showing no sign of being stingy.

"My lady, I have already had someone 'unintentionally' reveal the style of your palace dress and the fact that the amaryllis is poisonous to Ye Ronghua and Consort Chu."

"But although Consort Chu has an outspoken personality, she hasn't been in the palace for long. Would she really dare to lay a hand on you, Your Majesty?"

"Ye Ronghua seems calm and shrewd, but they have only been in the palace for a short time, so they might not dare to do such a thing."

Miao Yun stood next to Su Jingyao, her brows slightly furrowed, and said with a puzzled expression.

Su Jingyao let out a soft sneer.

"I don't know if Ye Ronghua can remain calm, but Consort Chu certainly can't."

"Lin Ronghua was of lower status than her, but now she's a rank above her, having been promoted to Ronghua. Can Consort Chu really swallow this insult?"

"Does Master think that Consort Chu is going to make a move against Lin Ronghua?" Miaoyun asked, tilting her head.

Su Jingyao shook her head slightly.

"Miaoyun, these young ladies from noble families who enter the palace may be flamboyant, but they will never be stupid."

"I've passed the message to Ye Ronghua and Consort Chu, but are they truly the ones who will actually carry it out?"

"Now that thirty-five new women have entered the harem, even I cannot know the details of each of their plans, let alone who will be the one to carry them out in the end."

She paused, a shrewd glint in her eyes.

"All I know is that as long as they have ambition, they will inevitably take action; it's just a matter of how skillful they are."

Amaryllis is a precious flower species that was presented to the country by foreign countries just two years ago. The greenhouse only started cultivating it last year, and few people know that the sap of amaryllis is poisonous.

Even Jun Zechen probably doesn't know this.

After all, Jun Zechen hadn't reacted much to her previous sighs in front of Zhu Dinghong.

This time, she only revealed to Ye Ronghua and Chu Meiren that her people "accidentally" got their hands on the amaryllis juice and "accidentally" let them see the skin that was red and swollen from the amaryllis juice.

As for what they might think because of this, what does that have to do with her?

"Master, something has happened."

Miaoxia hurried into the study, a look of anxiety on her face.

Su Jingyao, who was holding a pen, put it down after hearing the shout, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

"What's wrong?"

Miaoxia hurriedly approached and said quickly, "Your Highness, Yanhua, the personal maid of Consort Shangguan of Yichun Palace, has come to Zhaochun Palace to request an audience. She says that Consort Chu, who lives in the same palace as Consort Shangguan, is bullying Consort Shangguan."

As she spoke, her face was full of indignation.

"Not only has Consort Chu been stealing Consort Shangguan's meals for several days in a row, but today the crabapple blossoms that the flower shop sent to Consort Shangguan were also stolen by Consort Chu."

"Shangguan Meiren especially loved crabapple blossoms. She argued with Chu Meiren for a few words, but Chu Meiren, relying on her family background, did not take Shangguan Meiren seriously."

"Yan Hua said that originally, Consort Shangguan and Consort Chu were both beauties, and Consort Chu didn't dare to be too arrogant. But after Lin Ronghua came to Yichun Palace, Consort Shangguan..."

As Su Jingyao listened, she slightly furrowed her crescent-shaped eyebrows, feeling a sense of annoyance.

When there are many women, they keep making a fuss and can't stay still. They're always looking for a sense of presence to show themselves.

Now that he is in charge of the Imperial Household Department, he has no choice but to deal with this matter.

She hadn't even become empress yet, but she was already doing the work of an empress.

Thinking of this, she sighed helplessly, then stood up and straightened her skirt.

He said calmly, "Let's go to Yichun Palace and see what kind of trouble they're up to."

Then, she turned to look at Miaoyun beside her and gave her instructions in an orderly manner.

"Send someone to Qianqing Palace to invite His Majesty to have dinner at Zhaochun Palace tonight."