The Apo Master dressed up as Concubine Ling and killed the Ruyi sisters

The Empress Dowager has placed three people in the Emperor's harem. Now that Yihuan is pregnant, she is not on the list of people to take part in the southern tour.

The Empress Dowager specifically instructed Concubine Mei and Noble Lady Qing to practice singing and dancing in a deserted place, and dress up as Han women to dance for the Emperor.

The Emperor was upset because of Qi Ru's betrayal and Ruyi's knowledge of the truth about the pregnancy medicine. He was even more upset when he heard the Empress Dowager's suggestive words, which intended to ask him to favor Concubine Mei and Concubine Qing more.

Since becoming the emperor's concubine, Yan Wan has never stopped enjoying the emperor's favor. Naturally, she doesn't need to rely on the empress dowager's favor like her original owner to perform the plum blossom dance for the emperor. She can just sit quietly and watch.

The emperor accidentally caught a glimpse of Yan Wan's gentle and quiet appearance, and said to her: "Ling Fei also has talents. Since Mei Fei and Qing Guiren specially performed a dance for me, I am in the mood, Ling Fei should also perform for me."

Yan Wan was named and was speechless. Can’t she just watch the show quietly?

Yan Wan stood up and replied, "I have recently learned a new piece of music. Since Your Majesty does not mind my beginner status, I will perform it in front of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and all the sisters."

Yanwan took the moon guitar handed to her by Chunchan, took off her armor, and played a song for everyone.

Concubine Jia looked at the performances one after another and said disdainfully, "There are so many ways to perform, dancing and playing the piano at the same time."

Concubine Chun, who was sitting next to her, knew that Concubine Jia was upset, so she laughed and said to her, "Didn't you also dance in Yu clan costumes and play Yu clan instruments in the past? How could they have more tricks than you?"

Concubine Jia said: "Humph, it's just a case of the ugly woman imitating the beautiful woman."

"No matter whether she is Dong Shi or Xi Shi, she is really young and beautiful at her age. Even the coarse linen clothes are pleasing to the eye. We are not like us who are already middle-aged." Concubine Chun sighed.

Concubine Jia was not convinced and said, "How can young ones like them serve others? They have to be older to know how to care for others!"

Concubine Chun just smiled and said nothing.

After the song was over, Yan Wan said, "I am sorry to show you my ugly side."

"Ling Fei, you are a beginner in playing the pipa. Although you are not as proficient as Mei Fei, you are better at playing it in the right way. That's very good!" the Emperor commented.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty." Yan Wan said with a smile.

Ruyi looked at Yanwan with a scrutinizing gaze and asked tentatively, "You did play the piece 'Three Variations on Plum Blossoms' very well, Concubine Ling, are you starting to like plum blossoms too?"

Hearing this, Yan Wan raised her eyes to look at Ruyi. No matter how she looked at it, she felt that Ruyi's tone was just short of learning how to do things from me. You are also worthy of having the words "like plum blossoms" engraved on your face.

No matter how I look at it, the more I feel that Ruyi's smug and sarcastic expression is very similar to the snake in "The Adventures of Little Carp"!

Yan Wan complained in her heart: "Plum blossoms are not exclusive to you, why do you care whether I like them or not? With your attitude, it would be bad luck for plum blossoms to be liked by you!"

Yan Wan smiled generously and replied in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "I like trumpet creepers. I loved them the most when I was young, and I haven't changed my mind now!"

Ruyi hit a soft nail with Yanwan, and thinking of the meaning of trumpet creeper, she said: "Trumpet creeper is good at climbing, just like you."

Just as Yan Wan was about to retort, the Emperor said, "The trumpet creeper is strong and upright, colorful, and represents dignity and nobility. Concubine Ling is indeed very much like the trumpet creeper, with a virtuous character and a beautiful appearance. Please sit down."

Hearing the emperor's evaluation of Yan Wan, Ruyi almost couldn't help but say in public that the emperor was deceived.

Suddenly, Ruyi thought that Yanwan's words about her favorite boyhood love were referring to Ling Yunche. She tilted her head slightly and happened to meet Ling Yunche's eyes.

Ruyi could see that Ling Yunche had seen through Concubine Ling's true nature of currying favor with the powerful, and he sneered at what Concubine Ling said. Ruyi suddenly felt much better.

When Yan Wan heard Ruyi and Ling Yunche’s true thoughts, she felt so disgusted that she almost vomited on the spot.

The emperor said, "In the early years, I gave a pearl flower to the Empress and Concubine Chun. Since Concubine Ling likes trumpet creeper, I think plum blossoms are also suitable. Li Yu, tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make a pearl flower for Concubine Ling with trumpet creeper and plum blossom."

This pearl flower is basically something that only the concubines who have served the emperor since the time of his death are qualified to own. It would have been fine if the emperor wanted to reward them, but he gave two at once!

Yan Wan didn't look at Ruyi's surprised expression and thanked her, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward!"

The Empress Dowager was dissatisfied with the Emperor for using Concubine Ling as a shield, and she acted like the Empress Dowager, asking if anyone knew the origin of the Locust Clan.

Among all the concubines in the palace, only Empress Xiaoxian, Ruyi and Yihuan were proficient in poetry and literature. Now that Empress Xiaoxian passed away and Yihuan was pregnant in the palace, naturally only Ruyi knew about it.

Ruyi had just suffered repeated defeats in front of Yanwan and was trying to find a way to turn the tables when the Queen Mother gave her the opportunity to show her talents.

In front of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager and the concubines present, Ruyi recounted the past and present life of the Locust Clan.

Before Ruyi could be proud for long, the Queen Mother scolded her: "Since the Queen knows that the Zhisimen is praying for children, and there has been no good news of the birth of a prince or princess in the palace for a long time, both the Queen and you have been favored for many years."

"The Emperor has few children. When will I be able to experience the joy of having children and grandchildren around me?!"

Ruyi's face changed, she knelt down and apologized, "It is my fault!"

The concubines below also stood up and apologized: "I failed in my duty, please calm down, Queen Mother!"

The Queen Mother scolded everyone a few more times, then took Fujia's hand and went back to the bedroom first.

"Did you see that? The emperor doesn't even have eyes for Concubine Mei. Concubine Mei is also pitiful. After losing her child, she became a invisible person in the palace, and her temperament became more and more weird." said the Queen Mother.

"Princess Mei and Noble Lady Qing are not in the emperor's favor, but Concubine Ling has won his favor." said Fujia.

The Queen Mother said indifferently: "Concubine Ling has always been obedient and she was used as a shield by the Emperor today, so the Emperor rewarded her with two pearl flowers."

"After all, Concubine Qing is alone and powerless. Fujia, you should also pay more attention to some of the princesses from the imperial family and see who can be used by me!"

Ruyi was scolded by the Empress Dowager in public. Although the Emperor was dissatisfied with Ruyi for reminding Yihuan about the pregnancy medicine, after all, it was the friendship between young people, so he comforted her.

"Don't take the Empress' words to heart. Just let the matter of having an heir take its course."

Ruyi felt warm in her heart, and asked in confusion, "Noble Concubine Qing has served the Emperor for many years, and she deserves to be promoted to a concubine. Why didn't the Emperor promote her just now? Instead, he gave Concubine Ling two pearl flowers?"

The emperor seemed to be explaining, but also seemed to be reminding: "The Empress Dowager has stretched her hand too far. I am dissatisfied and deliberately refuse to respond. I will change the subject by using Concubine Ling, and I will give her a pearl flower as compensation."

Then, the emperor said, "Forget it. Since Concubine Qing has served me for many years, and to ease your embarrassing situation, I will promote Concubine Qing to Concubine Qing."

At this time, someone from the Jingshifang came to ask the emperor to turn over the cards. At this moment, the emperor just wanted to have some peace and quiet, so he chose Yanwan to sleep with him.