In the harem, all of these matters were of no concern to Ye Jinyun. Although Xiao Quanzi reported every day with the information he had gathered, anything unrelated to her was quickly dismissed from her mind.
She had seen plenty of palace intrigue and power struggles in dramas in her previous life, so she naturally knew exactly how things worked.
But none of that had anything to do with her. She had no intention of competing for favor. Even if she were to become nothing more than a caged bird, trapped in the palace for her entire life, as long as she could live safely, that would be enough.
Moreover, she had her own joys within the palace. In recent days, she had been getting up early every morning to exercise with Lin Qingtang, and their relationship had gradually become more familiar.
Although they still couldn’t be called friends, Lin Qingtang had begun speaking to her more often. This gave Ye Jinyun a strong sense of accomplishment—she was confident she would win over her “goddess” sooner or later.
And with little cutie Yu Wan’er constantly following behind her like a little shadow, her life in the palace wasn’t boring at all. Days passed peacefully in this simple, everyday rhythm.
……
After Ye Jinyun had summoned Consort Li for three consecutive days, the Emperor did not summon any concubines for nearly a month. In that entire month, he only entered the harem twice—both times to visit Consort Qi and see his only princess, and even then he stayed only briefly before leaving.
With affairs of state piling up—the northern enemy state showing signs of unrest along the borders, and officials reporting outbreaks of plague in governed regions—the Emperor was overwhelmed. He had no energy left to concern himself with the harem.
The new concubines who had not yet been summoned were anxious, but there was nothing they could do. With no imperial summons, they could only wait silently in their own palaces.
……
Another two months passed in the blink of an eye. Ye Jinyun had entered the palace in April, and now it was already midsummer.
Court affairs grew increasingly complicated. The Emperor, troubled by state matters and aggravated by the summer heat, became more irritable and short-tempered. He did not enter the harem at all, only summoning the Imperial Consort once or twice.
Because of his foul mood, all the palaces remained quiet. Everyone kept their doors closed and lived their own lives, not daring to cause trouble or risk angering the Emperor.
……
Inside Yingspring Palace:
Ye Jinyun was directing Xiao Quanzi to set up a swing in a shaded corner of the courtyard.
As the sun grew stronger and the heat more oppressive, staying indoors felt stifling. So she had chosen the coolest corner of the courtyard and had a swing installed there, so she could come out and rest when she needed fresh air.
Xiao Quanzi quickly finished setting it up and even tested its stability by sitting on it. After confirming there were no safety issues, he reported that it was ready for use.
Ye Jinyun gave him a thumbs-up in approval.
Xiao Quanzi didn’t understand the gesture, but he could guess she was praising him, so he scratched his head and smiled shyly.
Ye Jinyun pulled Qing’er over and sat down. Her feet left the ground as she swayed back and forth lazily.
“Mmm~ this feels so nice. This spot is perfect, and there’s even a breeze.”
She told Qing’er to push her a little higher. It had been a long time since she last used a swing, and she missed the feeling.
A cool wind brushed across her face, dispersing the summer heat. It felt as if all the irritation of the season had been swept away. Ye Jinyun closed her eyes, enjoying the peaceful moment.
“Jiejie Ye! What are you playing?”
Yu Wan’er couldn’t resist the laughter from the courtyard and ran out.
Seeing the swing installed there, she dashed over like an excited child, eyes sparkling as she stared at Ye Jinyun expectantly.
“Oh? Jealous and want a turn? Go on then, you can have it,” Ye Jinyun said, stopping the swing with her foot and stepping aside.
Yu Wan’er sat down, laughing brightly like a child who had just received candy.
Lin Qingtang was also drawn out by their laughter. She stood under the eaves with a folding fan in hand, watching the two of them play.
After spending a few months together, she and Ye Jinyun had gradually become friends. Because of Ye Jinyun, she had also become more familiar with Yu Wan’er, and the three of them often gathered to drink tea and chat.
Seeing Ye Jinyun wave her over, she shook her head helplessly and walked over.
“You two can play. I’m not interested in childish games like this.”
“Oh come on, just come sit and enjoy the breeze. It’s much cooler here than inside. Right, Wan’er?”
“That’s right!” Yu Wan’er said earnestly. “It’s so comfortable here. Sister Lin, don’t stay inside—it’s too stuffy. I was sweating just sitting in my room, and I even lost my appetite.”
Lin Qingtang looked around and nodded thoughtfully.
The place really was pleasant. A small patch of bamboo grew nearby, its shade blocking the sun perfectly. The breeze from outside passed through here, making it an ideal summer resting spot. And strangely enough—there didn’t seem to be any mosquitoes either.
As if guessing her thoughts, Ye Jinyun raised an eyebrow proudly.
“I had people plant wormwood here a few days ago. Of course there are no mosquitoes. Not only that, I also had them plant mint. Can you smell it? Doesn’t the air feel cooler?”
Lin Qingtang inhaled slightly. Indeed, there was a faint refreshing scent of mint in the air, and the breeze made it feel even cooler.
She glanced at Ye Jinyun with approval, then curled her lips slightly in amusement.
“Your idea is quite good. But… isn’t one swing a bit too little for the three of us? Are we supposed to just stand here and enjoy the breeze?”
After speaking, she turned and instructed the eunuchs to move the stone table and stools over.
Once everything was arranged, the three of them sat there eating snacks and chatting under the shade.