Crossing the Palace Fighting Fox Harem

Chapter 109 Return to the Concubine's Palace

They admired the flowers until the evening, and Ji Anni's stomach was rumbling before she finally waited for the Queen Mother to return to the palace.

Ji Anni dragged her exhausted body, touched her hungry stomach, and finally returned to the right courtyard step by step.

As soon as I stepped over the threshold, I felt a sense of desolation and could not hear any sound.

In the past, there were at least 15 sisters living in the Concubine Palace. She could always hear voices and was not lonely. She also had a good sister like Yizhen as a neighbor. But now she lives in the right courtyard, and the closest neighbor is Concubine An. Ji Anni dare not visit this door casually.

How can I live without Yizhen to talk to me...

Ji Anni sighed as she walked into the right courtyard. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Huarong coming to greet her.

Hua Rong said enthusiastically, "Are you tired, Madam? The dinner has been prepared a long time ago. I'm afraid it's cold now. I'll heat it up right away."

Ji Anni was already so hungry that her eyes were blurry. She didn't care whether it was hot or not. As long as there was something to eat, she would not mind. She hurriedly pulled Huarong and said, "Huarong, wait a minute, there's no need to heat it up. Can't we eat it hot or cold? By the way, how is Die'er?"

Hua Rong helped Ji Anni to the kitchen while saying, "The imperial physician examined Die'er and said that the burns on her face and mouth will heal in about half a month, but her throat is too badly injured, so she probably won't be able to speak in the short term."

"In the short term? How long is the short term?" Ji Annie was extremely worried.

Hua Rong said: "The shortest is half a year. If it's longer... I'm afraid I won't be able to speak for the rest of my life."

"Then Die'er will become mute, right?" Ji Anni couldn't help but raise her voice and growled.

Hua Rong did not answer, but just sighed softly to show her agreement.

Ji Anni had already forgotten to eat. She gnashed her teeth in anger and said, "Damn Concubine An, you are too cruel!"

Hua Rong advised: "My queen, at least this matter has ended safely. Not being able to speak is just a small matter. Fortunately, you are still alive."

Although big things can be turned into small things, small things cannot be turned into small things. Ji Anni was still a little angry. But with her current ability, she could not really help Die'er get justice. She could only sigh and comfort herself: Let everything go.

"My queen, you have done enough for Die'er. Please stop blaming yourself." Huarong whispered.

But Ji Anni thought that Die'er's experience was all caused by herself. If Die'er was not her maid, those cruel things would never have happened to her, right? If Hua Rong hadn't advised her not to be impulsive, I'm afraid that this matter would have been made a big deal by her and could not be resolved, right?

Ji Anni whispered, "Hua Rong...thank you."

Hua Rong seemed to be surprised that Ji Anni would thank her, but after being surprised, she smiled faintly and replied: "No, you have to thank your majesty yourself. To be honest, I only thought of taking the initiative, but I didn't expect your majesty to retreat in order to advance. In fact, in the final analysis, it was because of your majesty's kindness that Die'er was saved from death this time."

Kind? Ji Anni smiled weakly. Few people said she was kind. She was just an ordinary person. She couldn't feel her own kindness, but she felt the cold hearts of people in the harem. Maybe many people were like Concubine An, who regarded the concubines as enemies. They had set up too many imaginary enemies for themselves. Maybe that was why they became cold?

***

After dinner, Ji Anni went to visit Die'er again.

Because Dier's throat was burned, she ate very little and it was very difficult for her to take each bite.

Seeing her eating was like torture, Ji Anni was extremely heartbroken.

But Dier didn't cry. She always swallowed her food mouthful by mouthful with courage.

Although she couldn't speak yet, from her determined gaze and the way she swallowed the rice, one could almost hear her words: "My queen, you saved Die'er's life, so Die'er lives for you now, and eats for you, no matter how painful it is, I can bear it. Die'er's life belongs to you, Die'er must survive well and live up to your grace of saving my life."

Ji Anni didn't return to her dormitory until Die'er had eaten and fallen asleep.

The bedroom in the right courtyard is much larger than the small room in the Concubine's Palace. It not only has a bed, a table, chairs, and cabinets, but also elegant items such as a piano table, a desk, a chessboard, and a screen.

I guess these things, apart from being helpful for the ladies to cultivate their sentiments, also serve the greater purpose of pleasing the emperor, right?

In fact, when Ji Anni first saw the double bed with peony carvings in the room, she had already guessed a fact that gave her a headache: the emperor... would probably stay overnight in one of the four palaces and eight courtyards, right?

If the emperor wanted to favor a concubine, he had to use the phoenix carriage to bring her to his bedroom; but if he wanted to favor the imperial concubine or the noble concubine, in addition to using the carriage to bring them, there was another way, which was for the emperor to visit the palace in person and stay the night.

Alas... Thinking of this, Ji Anni couldn't help but sigh. Although the emperor had promised her last night that he would not touch her until she admitted that she loved him, Ji Anni still felt a lot of pressure.

Under Huarong's care, Ji Anni let down her hair, took off her coat, and went to bed.

Huarong blew out the candle, closed the door and left, but Ji Anni lay in bed for a long time and couldn't fall asleep.

Normally, when it was noisy around her, she had no chance to think about random things. But once it became quiet, memories of the past began to emerge in her mind. She had been away from home for ten days...but when could she go back? Grandpa, Dad, Mom...I miss you...Do you miss me too? Can I go back? Can I see you again? ...Even if I hear you scold me, I still want to hear your voices...Even if I see your angry faces, I still want to take a good look at you again...

***

It was not until the second half of the night that Ji Anni fell into a drowsy sleep.

I slept until dawn, and was suddenly awakened by Huarong knocking on the door. I can't remember what I dreamed about, but when I touched the corners of my eyes, they were still wet - maybe I dreamed of going home?

Hua Rong carefully helped Ji Anni to wash and dress up.

Ji Anni had been a concubine for ten days and was almost used to being served by others in dressing and dressing. However, in the past, Die'er had always combed her hair, but today it was suddenly changed to Huarong, which made her a little uncomfortable.

Just when I was about to ask Huarong about Die'er's whereabouts, I suddenly heard a familiar sound of footsteps coming from outside the door.

When I looked up, I saw Dier walking towards me with breakfast.

Die'er couldn't speak, she just smiled at Ji Anni, bowed, and put down the cups and bowls one by one.

Ji Anni saw that the scars on Die'er's face had faded a little, and she couldn't help but feel a little comforted. She asked, "Die'er, did you sleep well last night? Does the wound hurt?"

Dier shook her head slightly.

At this time, Hua Rong, who was combing Ji Anni's hair, asked, "My lady, what are your plans for today?"

"Today..." Ji Anni began to think about her schedule. Oh, I haven't said goodbye to Yizhen since I moved into the right courtyard. Why not go visit Yizhen from the Concubine Palace today?