Story of Yanxi Palace: Fu Ying's banner will never fall

Chapter 111: Concubine Erqing

Before I knew it, an hour had passed.

Er Qing was so tired that her whole body was weak and her legs were shaking. If it weren't for her strong willpower, she would have collapsed to the ground.

And Amber, who used to support her, had already gone off to slack off somewhere under the pretext of getting her cloak.

In just a few short months, Er Qing jumped from an ordinary palace maid to a concubine. She thought she would live a good life, but she didn't expect that her life would be so difficult.

When we first moved to the east hall of Chuxiu Palace, it was covered in ice and snow and it was unbearably cold. Moreover, the palace was so dilapidated that there was no place to step.

Later, she had to beg the Empress for help, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent her a few eunuchs and palace maids, and brought her some daily necessities.

But who could have thought that someone would actually take advantage of the situation and, knowing that the people in Changchun Palace disliked her, began to withhold her already meager share and meals.

Faced with this situation, Amber would secretly leave some good things for herself every time she went to the imperial kitchen to get meals.

As a result, Er Qing didn't have enough food to eat every day and felt dizzy and dizzy from hunger.

Fortunately, the weather is getting warmer now, and we no longer have to endure the biting cold when we sleep at night...

While thinking about these things, Er Qing gritted her teeth and tried hard to maintain a dignified demeanor.

Just then, Concubine Gao finally had someone call her in.

As soon as she entered the hall, Er Qing felt a warm breeze surrounding her. This feeling made her feel extremely comfortable and at ease.

She hadn't felt such warmth for a long time. She was dazed for a moment, and a happy smile unconsciously appeared on her face, and her eyes narrowed into slits.

Seeing this, Concubine Gao was furious. She couldn't help but snorted coldly and shouted:

"Are you a fool? What is it that you want to see me for today? Tell me now!"

Er Qing came back to her senses and quickly gathered her thoughts. With tears in her eyes, she knelt on the ground with a plop, lowered her head, and said respectfully:

"In reply to the Imperial Concubine, I want to seek your protection."

"Oh, in this Forbidden City, the number of people who want my protection can stretch from the capital to the northwest! Why should I help you? What's so special about you? Can you seduce the emperor?"

Concubine Gao laughed contemptuously and looked at Er Qing indifferently, her eyes full of disdain.

Er Qing did not dare to refute, but just smiled flatteringly and said carefully:

"My Lady, I am willing to help you deal with Wei Yingluo and dismantle the people in Changchun Palace! As long as you are willing to protect me..."

"Oh, that's easy to say. If you can do it, why bother to beg me now?"

Concubine Gao thought Erqing looked really funny and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Er Qing's face turned red all of a sudden, but how could she be willing to give up such a rare opportunity?

So she hurriedly said, "My Lady, please give me a chance! Aren't you familiar with Wei Yingluo's master, Doctor Ye? I know he is treating the Queen..."

Having said that, Er Qing leaned close to Concubine Gao's ear and whispered a few words.

After hearing this, Concubine Gao finally became interested. She raised her head and looked at Er Qing's appearance carefully. She was indeed quite pretty.

After a long while, Concubine Gao slowly spoke:

"Oh? Well, in that case, go ahead and give it a try. If things don't work out, you don't have to come see me again."

As night fell, the concubines in the harem gathered in Yan Xi Hall waiting for the emperor's summons.

In addition to Concubine Gao, there are also Concubine Xian, Concubine Yi, Erqing and other women.

They sat gracefully on chairs according to their respective positions, quietly waiting for the emperor's summons.

This was the case every night. Every night the eunuchs would deliver green cards with the names of the concubines written on them to the Yangxin Palace, and everyone was looking forward to it, hoping that the emperor would choose their own card.

"The Emperor hasn't summoned anyone to sleep with him for several days." A concubine sighed, "Does he still have to rest alone tonight?"

After hearing this, everyone looked at each other, feeling a little disappointed.

After all, as the emperor's concubines, gaining the emperor's favor is their hope of survival in the harem.

Even though Concubine Gao had a high status and a domineering personality, she still had one thing that worried her endlessly, which was that she had not been able to give birth to a child.

Whenever she thought of this, Concubine Gao became extremely worried and even more jealous of all the concubines who were able to conceive children.

Thinking that her appearance would gradually age with the passage of time, while there would be a steady stream of young and beautiful newcomers entering the palace every year.

By then, the emperor's favor will certainly be transferred to those young and beautiful newcomers, and Concubine Gao's mood will be like being shrouded in dark clouds, so heavy that she can't breathe.

Seeing her like this, everyone around her couldn't help but become worried.

Concubine Gao sat carelessly on the couch, feeling increasingly irritated. She glanced at the concubines present, then frowned slightly and asked:

"Where is Concubine Chun? Why can't I see her?"

The palace servant who was waiting beside him lowered his head and replied cautiously:

"Your Majesty, Concubine Chun has caught a cold recently and has not recovered yet, so she cannot come tonight."

When Concubine Gao heard this, she curled her lips in disdain, her tone full of sarcasm:

"Humph, she is a sick person most of the time throughout the year. She is so delicate and frail. She is really a sickly person."

Er Qing saw the opportunity and said flatteringly, "Sister Chun Fei has always been in poor health. We sisters were discussing going to visit her yesterday."

Hearing this, Concubine Gao sneered, with a hint of contempt in her eyes:

"It's enough for the Queen to care about her. You don't have the right to worry about it. Don't think that I don't know your little thoughts."

Er Qing was so frightened by her words that she dared not say a word and lowered her head obediently.

After a while, Concubine Gao seemed to suddenly remember something and asked again, "What about Concubine Yu?"

For a moment, the room was completely silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone lowered their heads and dared not breathe.

Concubine Gao turned her gaze to Concubine Yi beside her and said sternly:

"Princess Yi, I'm asking you, where is Concubine Yu?"

Concubine Yi trembled, quickly stood up, and replied respectfully:

"Replying to the Imperial Concubine, Imperial Concubine Yu is feeling unwell and has asked for leave."

Hearing this, Concubine Gao raised her eyebrows, with a hint of suspicion in her expression: "Another sick one?"