Chapter 28: Visiting Guests

  They say that one autumn rain brings one cold spell, but recently it's been hard to keep track of things. There have been several days in a row of heavy rain, and the weather has gradually turned cooler.

  I really hate rainy days like this, the days in the palace are already boring, and now that Mu Yan has lost imperial favor, Lingbo Hall is rarely visited by outsiders, and with such gloomy weather, it's deserted, not just birds can be caught, even a zoo can be caught.

  "Alas, it's another rainy day!" I sighed by the window, already feeling listless and now even more melancholic.

  On the other hand, Mu Yan beside me was very open-minded and didn't pay attention to my existence at all. She was busy with her own work, recently she has been embroidering things like handkerchiefs, pouches, and sachets. It's strange, these kinds of things are everywhere, where would she use them herself? Moreover, nowadays there is no need for them, sometimes it's really hard to understand the ideas of women in ancient feudal society who didn't work.

  I really can't bear the gloominess of this rainy day, so I'll just bring up a random topic and hope you'll open your mouth to chat with me.

  "Hey, Mu Yan, you think if I keep going like this, will I grow a long beard?"

  Moyan ignored me again.

  "Ugh, how can this be endured?" I said, stretching out my voice as I lightly kicked her a few times with my foot.

  "Hurry up and stop embroidering, it's so dark, you'll strain your eyes!"

  Although Mu Yan was embroidering seriously, the weather outside didn't cooperate, and it was equally gloomy inside and out. Even lighting candles had no effect. Probably unable to bear such hardship, she tossed aside her embroidery in frustration and responded loudly.

  "Don't worry, at most it will just grow a few mushrooms!"

  "Hmph..." I sneered a few times and casually replied, "Mu Yan, you're really humorous. Alas, who would have thought there'd be such boring days?"

  Mu Yan had yet to return to me, when the knocking sound at the door started again. Moon was also in a daze inside the house. The three of them asked in unison, "Who is it?"

  Outside the door came Xiao Fuzi's voice, "Reporting to Master, the master of Yun Chunxuan, He Chongyuan, has come to visit."

  Who is Chong Huan? Who is she? There are too many women in the palace, but I really can't think of where I've met a Chong Huan before. But since they're guests, it's not suitable to make them wait outside on a rainy day like today. I quickly rolled off Mu Yan's chair and got up, usually being casual is fine, but now that we have guests, I really must follow the rules.

  Mu Yan didn't have many doubts, and she carelessly stuffed the embroidery that had just been thrown aside into the cushion of the chair, then invited the servant girl to come in.

  A full pink scale-patterned satin palace dress, with a large red brocade cloak draped over it, wearing a thousand-leaf gold rose hairpiece, inlaid pearl and gold branch earrings, a chestnut-sized pearl necklace, and a pair of lotus-colored plain palace shoes inlaid with precious stones.

  I don't know if she's here for a beauty pageant or to cause trouble.

  "The slave pays respects to He Chongyun."

  In the palace, I and Yuèr knelt down on one side to pay our respects. He Chongyuan, on the other hand, forgot his manners and only gave a slight bow to Chuiyan.

  "Sister is wishing elder sister peace!"

  I stood up and looked over, Mu Yan was just helping that woman up, sparing her from having to bow.

  As I saw her stand up and lift her head, I confidently took a look at this beauty-dressed fake, and it was actually He Lingyin! The one who had a big fight with Wuyi Rong at the Queen's gate that day and cried when she saw me, Muyan's little sister, He Lingyin!

  What is she doing here? This question suddenly burst out of my mind, I looked at Yue who was also full of doubts beside me, Yue shook her head indicating that she didn't know either.

  How is this good?

  "Lingyin, on a rainy day like today, what brings you here?" Mu Yanyan was still calm and composed, despite the awkward situation. She remained unruffled and continued to chat with He Lingyin.

  "Oh, I heard that my sister has been ill for a long time and I've been thinking about her all along. I wanted to come see her, but unfortunately the Emperor's side was not easy to put off, so it took me a few days to visit my sister. How have you been lately?" He Linyin's smile was as radiant as ever, and when she mentioned the Emperor, she deliberately touched the earrings on her ears with her hand. Even a blind person could see that she was showing off.

  "Thanks for your concern, little sister. I'm doing fine!" Murong Yan didn't notice He Linyu's small movements at all and still had a calm and composed expression, smiling as she replied.

  "Are you alright?" He Lingyin raised her voice, but her face showed disdain. She turned her head to scan the room, then turned back to Mu Yan and said, "From what I see, sister's life doesn't seem better than before."

  "It's good this way, contentment is happiness!"

  "Contentment? I'm afraid it's a case of losing the rice while trying to steal the chicken!" He Lingyin sneered.

  This damned He Lingyin, actually mocking everywhere, who does she think she is, just a small concubine, how dare she be presumptuous in front of Zhao Huan!

  I watched Mu Yan take advantage of the situation and felt anxious in my heart. I blurted out, "That's not for you to lecture on, don't know your place!"

  He Lingyin didn't expect me to retort, and her anger suddenly turned on me. "Ouman Ya, what are you? A wild breed that can't be seen by people, don't you know your place!"

  This little girl actually scolded me as a wild species, I'm so angry! Mu Yan's eyes wanting to stop me, I saw it and naturally understood that she was telling me not to be impulsive, but this tone is hard to swallow!

  "It's better to be a wild seed than those neglected wild children!" Although these words didn't contain any profanity, I believed that only He Lingyin could understand the pain behind them. At least from her indignant expression, wanting to scold me but unable to change her emotions, I could tell that she was both angry and humiliated.

  "Master, the imperial physician has come to take your pulse!" Little Fu's voice rang out at this frozen moment, breaking the tension of just now.

  It's just as well this handsome doctor appeared at this time, otherwise I really can't imagine how it would have ended.

  "Ask him in!"

  "I'm leaving!" He Lingyin didn't even bid farewell to Mu Yan, and turned around to leave. She slammed the door heavily, making a "bang" sound that scared Xiao Fuzi and the handsome imperial physician outside, as well as startling me. I patted my heart, which was already racing wildly, and thought to myself, "Good riddance!"