Part 1 - Yu Nu Jiao / Jade Slave / Enslaved By Love

Chapter 047 The Scheme of Self-Torture

New Year's Eve came as planned. This year was different from previous years. There were several more serious masters in the palace, one of whom was at odds with her. It was inevitable that someone would have other thoughts. She was afraid of making mistakes, so she checked the matter again.

When she closed the book, it was time for Yin Ji to get up.

He had to go to various places in the palace to invite gods today, and he got up earlier than when he went to court.

But she had an errand to do now. According to the practice of previous years, she didn't need to go to serve him at this time. But thinking that he might be taken away tonight by someone, she might feel uncomfortable because of this. She wouldn't see him for several days in a row, and she was reluctant to ignore it.

Forget it, it was this time anyway, and she couldn't sleep, so she went to see him.

She got herself ready and went to the main hall. Just in time, Cai Tianxi came to serve. The two entered the main hall one after the other. Xie Yun helped Yin Ji change his court clothes and squatted down to tie the silk ribbon for him. Maybe she was too anxious when she stood up, and her eyes suddenly blurred. She staggered and was about to fall to the ground.

Fortunately, Yin Ji was quick to support her.

Xie Yun was a little embarrassed. Just as she was about to say it was okay, Yin Ji spoke in a deep voice: "Did you come to me on purpose to play this drama?"

Xie Yun's words were choked. She looked up at Yin Ji, but the candlelight was dim and she couldn't see his expression. However, the meaning of his words was so obvious that she didn't need to see it too clearly.

She pursed her lips, reached out to touch Yin Ji's belt, and then pulled it hard.

A muffled groan sounded. Cai Tianxi was preparing incense for the gods. Hearing the noise, he looked over and said, "Your Majesty?"

Yin Ji grabbed Xie Yun's hand, which was still exerting force. He was grimacing as she strangled him, but he tried his best to maintain the majesty of the emperor: "It's okay."

He lowered his eyes and looked at Xie Yun, only to see a pair of surprisingly bright eyes. How happy was she to strangle him?

He gritted his teeth in anger, but he couldn't increase the force of his grip on Xie Yun's hand. Instead, he used the cover of darkness to carefully rub the scar on it.

He didn't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that the scar had not diminished much after a few days.

He subconsciously wanted to raise that hand to see it more clearly, but Xie Yun misunderstood and subconsciously shrank back.

"It was unintentional. It's almost the end of the year. Your Majesty shouldn't blame me, right?"

Yin Ji paused. Was she trying to talk to him?

He snorted and laughed, grabbed the scarred hand, put it to his mouth and bit it, leaving a shallow tooth mark before letting go: "I will, I am born narrow-minded, and I will never let go of any grudge."

Xie Yun choked, pulled her hand back with force, loosened his belt for him, and straightened his collar, then whispered: "Okay, Your Majesty, go quickly, don't miss the time."

Yin Ji was a little unhappy, chase him away?

Just as he was about to speak, Cai Tianxi came over with the incense to invite the gods: "Your Majesty, it's time."

Yin Ji had to swallow the words on his lips, and his face was pulled down. Before leaving, he turned his head and looked at Xie Yun again.

But Xie Yun was anxious to go back to the side hall to catch up on her sleep. When it was dawn, she had to go to Changxin Palace to prepare for the official banquet at noon, so she didn't pay attention at all.

However, when she woke up, she felt dizzy and as if she was sick. She was a little helpless, but she could only grit her teeth and hold on, and hurried to Changxin Palace.

At that time, all the concubines had arrived at Changxin Palace, including the four new concubines and the two nobles who were like decorations before. There were a lot of people sitting in the room, which looked very lively.

Xie Yun did not go in, but walked lightly to the side hall. The people from the Shanggong Bureau were already there. 

She nodded slightly as a greeting: "My lords, now is different from the past. There are more masters in the palace, and there are naturally more things to pay attention to, but this is not a reason for us to make mistakes. The official banquet is the dignity of the royal family, and hosting the official banquet is also the emperor's trust in us. Please be careful."

Everyone responded in unison, and Xie Yun waved to let everyone leave. She checked the list of ladies and dishes again with concern.

Suddenly, there was another person beside her. She looked up and saw that it was Teng Luo.

Although she had guessed that she would come to see her sooner or later, Xie Yun couldn't help but laugh at the timing.

The patience of this Concubine Zhuang was even worse than she thought.

But she still looked surprised, and stood up to greet her: "Why is Miss Tengluo here? Did Concubine Zhuang change her mind? Will she help me?"

Tengluo looked at her awkwardly, then shook her head helplessly and sighed: "The queen is kind and gentle. It's not that she doesn't worry about aunt, but after all, it's to please herself, and the queen is very panicked."

Xie Yun seemed to treat Tengluo as a life-saving straw, and stuffed a purse into her: "Please help me speak up, young lady, I really have no choice but to ask the queen for help."

Tengluo weighed the purse, put it away with satisfaction, and then gritted her teeth as if she had made up her mind: "I have recently inquired about some of aunt's affairs, and I really can't stand it. It's not difficult to say a few words for you, but to impress my master, we need something else. After all, the queen will live in the harem, and she must do things steadily and worthwhile. Isn't it what aunt says?"

Xie Yun fell silent at the right time, as if she was lost in thought because of what Teng Luo said. After a while, she spoke: "What does the queen want me to do?"

"How can it be the queen's idea?" Teng Luo said without leaking anything. "This is the sincerity of aunt. Official banquet and family banquet, what a good opportunity, aunt can't miss it."

Xie Yun seemed to be in a struggle, her face was changing, but her heart was as calm as dead water. The trick of Empress Zhuang was really good. She forced her to take action at this juncture. If it succeeded, she would have one less competitor for the emperor's bedchamber; even if it failed, it had nothing to do with her.

Do you want to get away with it?

Xie Yun sneered in her heart. If you get away with it, who will be my shield?

However, she did not reveal her thoughts at all. After struggling for a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "Okay, I know what to do... Please tell the queen that she must seize the opportunity to invite her at the family banquet. It will be my gift to her."

Teng Luo nodded with satisfaction: "Then I will wait for the good news from my aunt."

The two of them walked out of the side hall together. Xie Yun watched her walk farther and farther away, with a cold light flashing in her eyes. Since she knew that there would be trouble at the family banquet today, she had better avoid it.

But Yin Ji was quite wary of her, so it had to be reasonable to avoid him.

She was trying to think of a proper way, and her head started to hurt. She had been working too hard recently, and she often felt uncomfortable. She wanted to sit down and rest, but at this moment, a good idea suddenly flashed through her mind.

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