webnovelfull Chapter 186 Taking a Different Path
Chapter 186 Taking a Different Path
Wen Jiayue immediately regained her senses. The Emperor and Consort Yun?!
A month and a half has passed since the talent show, and Miss Yun has already become a talented woman.
She didn't make a point of asking, but she knew that Consort Yun was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor.
However, it is not yet time for her to be the sole favorite. She is on par with two other high-ranking concubines, and unexpectedly, she was summoned to the palace.
Ruyi exclaimed excitedly, "I was wondering if Consort Yun was the Miss Yun who had been mentioned by others time and time again. Now that I think about it carefully, it is the same person! What a coincidence that you, Madam, have encountered this!"
Wen Jiayue smiled faintly. It was no coincidence at all; it was clearly something she had planned for a long time.
However, since even Ruyi considers it a coincidence, Yun Cairen probably won't think much of it.
On second thought, if she had overthought it, Consort Yun wouldn't have summoned her to the palace.
After washing up, Wen Jiayue specifically asked Ruyi to bring the jewelry that Yun Cairen had sold, intending to return it to her this time.
After eating something to tide her over, Wen Jiayue prepared to set off.
Just as he stepped out of the main courtyard, he ran into Shen Funian, who had rushed over after hearing the news.
She asked excitedly, "Why would the Emperor and Consort Yun invite you to the palace? I've never heard you mention knowing Consort Yun before."
Shen Funian had just been angered by her son when she heard from the maid that Wen Jiayue had been invited to the palace. She came over to ask about it and get some fresh air, otherwise she would have been driven crazy by her son.
As Wen Jiayue walked, she explained, "I used to often buy Yuanji Dim Sum. Once, I was browsing in a nearby jewelry shop, and there happened to be some jewelry that Yun Cairen was selling. I bought it and also gave her the earrings that she had always wanted to buy but didn't dare to."
"Later, I met Yun Cairen's maid at a nearby clinic. We got to know each other after a while. However, I had never met Yun Cairen before. I thought it was just a chance encounter, but it turned out to be quite a coincidence."
Shen Funian agreed wholeheartedly: "In that case, you can be considered Yun Cairen's benefactor. If she rises to prominence and becomes a phoenix in the future, it will definitely benefit you."
Wen Jiayue smiled gently.
It wasn't that she didn't want this; she just hoped to get to know Li Zhilan and become "friends" with her.
However, after her chance encounter on the pleasure boat, she realized that this approach was simply not feasible.
Li Zhilan is now full of hostility towards her, and her words are full of hidden barbs. It is impossible for them to become friends.
Thinking of this, Wen Jiayue felt somewhat disheartened.
She was indeed reborn; heaven gave her a second chance.
But she had no noble status, no power, and no money, so how could she possibly contend with a princess of a country?
She had no choice but to find another way—
Collect evidence of Li Zhilan's crimes and hand it over to the Emperor or Shen Fuhan.
She needed to determine whether the Emperor was aware of Li Zhilan's actions.
If they had known, this path would have been abandoned.
If they were unaware of the situation, it all depended on whether the emperor would uphold justice and punish his own relatives.
It is also necessary to determine just how deep Shen Fuhan's feelings for Li Zhilan really are.
He has always been a loyal subject. If he is swayed by emotions and unwilling to believe the evidence, then she can only rely on herself.
She evaded Wen Ruohuan's poisoning, feigned illness, and delivered a fatal blow to Li Zhilan when she came to visit.
Then she would present the collected evidence to the world. Whether she lived or died, she had no way of knowing, but at least she had tried her best.
The only certainty is that Shen Fuhan loves Zhaozhao even more than in her previous life, and she will definitely be able to save her daughter's life.
As for herself, she can only leave it to fate.
Upon arriving outside the mansion, Shen Funian stopped and said, "I'll see you off here. When you get back, remember to tell me about the interesting things that happened in the palace."
Seeing her interest, Wen Jiayue suggested, "Why don't you come with me?"
Shen Funian immediately waved her hand: "Forget it, I'm not going to join in this kind of fun. You should go and reunite with Consort Yun."
Seeing that she still resisted meeting outsiders, Wen Jiayue did not force her.
"Then I will go to the palace."
A quarter of an hour later, Wen Jiayue stepped off the carriage, had her identity verified, and entered the palace.
As soon as I entered the palace gate, a smiling eunuch stood by my side and greeted me.
"May I ask if you are Lady Wen, the wife of the Marquis of Jing'an?"
Wen Jiayue nodded and said, "That's right."
The father-in-law then said, "Our family name is Zhao. The Emperor sent us to welcome Madam. Please come this way."
Wen Jiayue was somewhat surprised that the Emperor had actually sent his personal eunuch, Zhao, to pick her up, and that he was waiting at the palace gate.
Isn't this a bit too flashy?
Wen Jiayue couldn't help but feel worried for Yun Cairen.
Putting aside the fact that Lady Jing'an is the wife of the Marquis of Jing'an, such a grand welcome to someone related to Consort Yun must have made many in the harem envious.
She quickly replied, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Zhao."
Following Eunuch Zhao, Wen Jiayue arrived at Chunhe Pavilion, where Consort Yun resided. After announcing her arrival, she stepped into the hall.
A faint, pleasant medicinal fragrance wafted through the hall, followed by a woman's soft cough, and then the Emperor's worried voice.
"Still uncomfortable?"
"Your Majesty, please don't worry. I'm just a little excited. It's nothing."
Yun Cairen's voice was very soft, with a faint weakness, and just hearing it made one imagine a frail, sickly beauty.
Wen Jiayue did not look up, but bowed with her eyes lowered.
Li Zhixu said, "Madam Shen, please rise quickly."
Yun Cairen also said, "Madam Shen, please sit down."
Wen Jiayue then raised her head and looked at Yun Cairen.
Her skin was extremely fair, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her beautiful eyes seemed to hold an unyielding sorrow. Her appearance was delicate and beautiful, but it could not hide her frail and sickly state.
Wen Jiayue had always had a question: logically speaking, Yun Cairen was physically weak and should have failed to be selected, so why did she enter the palace?
However, due to her status, she did not dare to ask, and sat down on the armchair under the guidance of the palace maid.
Li Zhixu smiled and said, "Madam Shen, it's been a long time. It was about half a month ago last time we met."
Seeing the Emperor's approachable manner, Wen Jiayue's nervousness dissipated, and she said, "It is my honor that Your Majesty still remembers me."
After the pleasantries were over, Li Zhixu cleared his throat and said, "Do you know why I summoned you to the palace today?"
Wen Jiayue lowered her eyes and said, "At first, I was completely confused, but then I remembered that I did know a girl surnamed Yun before. Although we had never met, we were familiar with each other, and then I suddenly realized."
Yun Cairen stood up and spoke softly.
"That's right. I've always remembered Madam Shen, but I haven't had a suitable opportunity to meet you and thank you in person. Fortunately, Heaven has taken pity on me..."
Before she could finish speaking, Li Zhixu suddenly coughed.
Consort Yun paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Fortunately, after His Majesty heard about this, he immediately invited Madam Shen to the palace, which is why I was able to meet her. Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Zhixu then said with satisfaction, "That's more like it. Alright, you two chat, I'm going out for a walk."