Over the next half-month, that man visited Yu Zhaoyuan twice more. Every time he arrived, Yu Zhaoyuan made sure to call Yu Yihe to her side. Had it been before, Yu Yihe would have merely thought it a coincidence, but now everything seemed glaringly obvious.
She met the eyes of the Emperor, who had just stepped through the door, then immediately lowered her almond-shaped eyes and followed Yu Zhaoyuan in a formal bow.
“This concubine (This humble daughter) greets Your Majesty.”
Yu Zhaoyuan, whose health had significantly improved, took the initiative to welcome him. She daintily took the Emperor’s arm. Wei Jingheng’s fingers twitched slightly, but in the end, he made no move to pull away.
After following Yu Zhaoyuan to sit on the soft couch, his gaze naturally fell upon Yu Yihe. Before he could speak, Yu Yihe lowered her head and said, “This humble daughter should not disturb the time between Your Majesty and Her Ladyship. I shall take my leave now.”
The Emperor’s brow arched slightly. He was not a man ignorant of romantic subtleties; encountering her here multiple times had already made him understand Yu Zhaoyuan’s intentions.
Looking at the woman below who was so “considerate” toward her younger sister, Wei Jingheng gave a silent “tsk” in his heart. He then nodded and granted her leave.
To the side, Yu Zhaoyuan felt both secret joy and a hidden sigh, her emotions complex. Once Yu Yihe had fully left the room, she turned and happened to meet the handsome Emperor’s gaze. However, it was only for a single glance before the Emperor looked away, making her forget the sensation she had felt for that split second.
Wei Jingheng took the tea offered by a maid and sipped it with lowered eyes. In the interval, he remarked, “Your Ladyship and your elder sister truly share a deep sisterly bond.”
Yu Zhaoyuan noticed nothing amiss and said with a coquettish smile, “This concubine has not seen my sister for many years. Naturally, I must take this opportunity to spend good time together.”
Was “spending good time together” pushing her sister toward him? Even if she was willing, would her sister be? Recalling those clear eyes that held not a hint of flirtatiousness, Wei Jingheng smiled and remained noncommittal.
Yu Zhaoyuan’s hope that the Emperor would stay the night ultimately came to nothing. Wei Jingheng only sat in Cuihan Hall for about fifteen minutes before leaving on the pretext of official business. As she watched the Emperor depart, her expression immediately darkened.
Seeing this, Huixiang quickly offered comfort. “Your Ladyship has only been recovering for two months; it is better to take care of your body. Besides, His Majesty comes to see Your Ladyship every few days. Clearly, he keeps Your Ladyship in his heart.”
Hearing her personal maid’s comfort, Yu Zhaoyuan felt a bit more at ease. However, she grew anxious because His Majesty was neither willing to favor her nor willing to take her second sister into the harem.
“Tell me, why has His Majesty been so slow to speak?”
Although she was not truly willing to push Wei Jingheng toward another woman, the issue of having no heir indeed weighed heavily on Yu Yi Fu’s heart. Consequently, she was exceptionally conflicted.
Huixiang had also observed things these past few days and knew all the plans. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but suggest, “Why don’t Your Ladyship and Madam just tell the Second Young Lady? If the Second Young Lady takes the initiative herself, perhaps it will work.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yu Zhaoyuan immediately rejected the idea. “How can I say such things to my sister… Her personality has always been soft and honest, and she knows nothing of vixen-like schemes. Telling her would be of little use.”
Whether she was too embarrassed to speak or truly thought it useless, only she knew in her heart.
…
After two such occurrences, the Yu family had completely lost their patience. Yu Yihe could already clearly sense the complexity in Yu Zhaoyuan’s gaze whenever she looked at her.
Faced with the repeated hints from her sister and mother, the submissive Yu Yihe simply pretended not to understand, leaving Madam Yu speechless more than once.
“Your sister’s prospects for an heir are difficult, and as her mother, I am truly worried. The deep palace is not like the world outside. If she has no son or daughter to rely on in the future, what will become of her?”
“Mother need not worry. My sister is still young. As long as she nurses her health well, she will surely conceive in the future. Didn’t the Marchioness of the Marquis of Zhongyi give birth to a child after she was fifty?”
She was quite skilled at saying these kinds of repetitive, hollow pleasantries.
After listening to a few more sentences, Yu Yihe put down her embroidery. Claiming her eyes were strained, she escaped outside to clear her mind, hoping these people would give up those improper thoughts as soon as possible.
However, she never imagined that people would make one last desperate struggle before giving up, nor did she expect her biological mother and sister could be so cold-hearted and bold.
…
After the current Emperor ascended the throne, the Wanshou Festival was moved to late June each year. His Majesty disliked extravagance. Now, in Qiqing Garden, everyone was gathered in one place, separated only by gauze curtains. Noble officials were on the left, while imperial consorts and female family members were on the right, drinking and celebrating together.
After being in Qiqing Garden for nearly a month, Yu Yihe finally saw the consorts and concubines who had accompanied the Emperor. The Empress, of course, remained in the palace. Among the high-ranking concubines present were only Consort Rong, Yu Zhaoyuan, and one Guipin. The rest included two Ronghua and Beauty below the fourth rank.
[Private Harem Ranking Table]
Yu Zhaoyuan had just bowed to Consort Rong and received bows from the other concubines when Consort Rong, seated in the center’s prime position, let her gaze fall upon those behind Yu Zhaoyuan. Her fingers, stained with red cinnabar, lightly covered her crimson lips as she spoke in an envious tone.
“It is still Sister who enjoys the most imperial favor. To have family accompany you at such a banquet is simply enough to make others die of envy. This palace and the other sisters do not have such good fortune.”
The Emperor had only brought five consorts with him. The lower-ranking concubines did not have family following them to Qiqing Garden, making the Yu family stand out among the female guests in the back.
Yu Zhaoyuan could hear the sourness in her words, and the smile on her face grew even more vibrant. “If Elder Sister wishes to see her family, she need only summon them. There is no need to envy me.”
Consort Rong smiled without speaking and walked over from her seat. Although Yu Yihe kept her head down, she felt a gaze sweep over her. Sure enough, a moment later, she heard Consort Rong address her.
“I have long heard that the three sisters of the Yu family are each exceptionally beautiful. I presume this must be the second daughter of the Yu family?”
Yu Yihe had no choice but to step forward and bow with her head lowered. “In response to Your Ladyship, it is indeed this humble daughter.” She thought it would end there, but Consort Rong stepped forward and personally helped her up. Her cinnabar-stained fingertips tilted Yu Yihe’s chin up, revealing an outstanding face.
The gazes of the consorts and female guests naturally fell upon Yu Yihe’s face. Most people had only heard of the Yu sisters’ reputation for beauty but had never seen them. One or two ladies who had seen her before were now marveling in their hearts.
It was, after all, the Emperor’s birthday. Yu Yihe had dressed up slightly today, wearing only a jade hairpin, a silver pin, and two pink silk flowers in her hair. Clad in a green dress, her attire still appeared plain among the many women, but this plainness combined with her face and temperament made her seem extraordinary.
On that oval face, her forehead was full, her cheeks as smooth as jade. Her willow-leaf brows were like distant mountains, her almond eyes like autumn waters, and her crow-black lashes like fans that blinked gently, making one feel a special sense of pity for her. Yet, her temperament was steady, reserved, and gentle, which tempered that feeling and made her appear exceptionally approachable.
Others compared her to the nearby Yu Zhaoyuan and the Madam of Nanning, feeling even more the uniqueness of the second Yu daughter.
The Madam of Nanning exuded an air of wealth and status, her beauty as grand as a peony, but she was nearly thirty, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were already showing; she was no longer young.
Yu Zhaoyuan was in her prime. As the youngest daughter who had become a favored consort upon entering the palace, her beautiful appearance inevitably carried a sense of coquettish pride.
Yu Yihe possessed extraordinary beauty and a gentle, submissive temperament. Usually, she did not stand out, but this appearance of being easy to bully was what people liked most.
Praise from the female guests drifted over one after another. “The Second Young Lady is so very beautiful!”
“Her temperament is also refined, truly possessing the grace of a noble lady.”
Yu Yihe did not like such scenes. Moreover, given the relationship between Consort Rong and Yu Zhaoyuan, she didn’t think it was a good thing for Consort Rong to single her out. But here, her words carried no weight. She could only lower her eyes and become even more submissive, letting them pass their judgments.
After observing for a few moments, Consort Rong raised her arm and brushed over the silk flowers in Yu Yihe’s hair, suddenly letting out a light laugh. “This palace also thinks the Second Young Lady has a fine appearance. You must be a few years older than this palace, yet you look even younger.”
Yu Yihe quickly dropped into a curtsy in humility. “This humble daughter is already of a great age and possesses only a mediocre appearance. I dare not compare myself to Your Ladyship.”
However, she heard Consort Rong’s tone shift as she said, “I heard that the Second Young Lady has been widowed and back at home for three years. This palace happens to have a marriage prospect in mind. I wonder if I might have the honor of playing matchmaker?”