As the music came to an end, Xiang Gui's face was flushed with shyness, and she was just about to return to her seat when someone at the upper table sighed and said: "In Jiangnan one can pick lotus flowers, but what a vast expanse of lotus leaves... In this one melody, we can see the beauty of the misty rain!"

  It was indeed the Emperor, seated in the center, who spoke warmly and praised.

  Below, there was a faint sound of surprise. Most of the concubines came from aristocratic families, even if they were from humble origins, they had been immersed in the palace for a long time----the former emperor and empress dowager were both descendants of noble families, and they only appreciated elegant and classical music. Who would have thought that someone would sing folk tunes in the palace?

  But then the emperor turned his body sideways and whispered a smile to Chen 'Lu': "It's much better than the new music in Jiao Si Fang..."

  Chen 'Lu' smiled slightly and said: "The father of Xiang Gui Ren, seems to have just been transferred to the capital?"

  A man from Xianggui came out from the end of the seats and bowed down at the foot of the stairs, saying: "My father has just entered the capital, and I am honored to be a reviewer in the Hanlin Academy..."

  The ladies-in-waiting did not dare whisper to each other again, but exchanged a sarcastic look.

  The Hanlin Academy's examiner is only a seventh-grade official, and in this capital city where the nobles are as numerous as clouds, he is truly an insignificant minor official, an existence like ants.

  "Pitifully, they were just a step away from each other in social status, yet the father and daughter couldn't meet."

  Chen 'Lu' frowned and sighed.

  Only the 'daughters' of officials above the sixth rank were considered to be of noble birth. According to palace rules, they could only meet with their families once every two months. The father of Xiang Gui Ren was of a low official rank, and although he was very close by, he was not allowed to see his daughter, which is really one of the most tragic things in the world.

  Xiang Gui's eyes reddened as she listened, but she forced herself to hold back her emotions. Her voice trembled with a sob: "This is also due to my own misfortune..."

  Chen 'Lu' looked at Yuan Qi with a pleading expression and said: "Your Majesty, look at this..."

  Yuanyu thought for a moment and asked: "Which official in the Hanlin Academy is your father?"

  He couldn't think of it for a moment, and when the Hunanese man whispered the name, he vaguely remembered - that was an old scholar who buried his head in books.

  "Is that the one who explained Mencius' annotations to me last time...... His scholarship is quite rigorous, and he has been promoted to be a compiler in the Hanlin Academy."

  The latter sentence is for the eunuch who followed 'Shi', under the jade words of the golden mouth, the father of Xianggui people was promoted two ranks in a row.

  The imperial concubines were shocked, looking at the first one, and saw Chen Fei smiling gently beside the Emperor. They couldn't believe it - although the Emperor was gentle, he hated it when his consorts interfered with politics. Now, with just a slight frown from Chen Fei, Xiang Guiren's father had been promoted!

  Could this woman of humble origin possibly have such magical powers?

  In their eyes, a light of envy and fear flashed, although they returned to chatting and laughing, but in their hearts, they were all thinking about the significance of today's scene.

  The next few drumming performances were just for fun, and the person who won the lottery only told a few jokes, and everyone was happy.

  The summer night gradually cooled down, the curved moon outside the window scattered its faint light on the ground, and the bluestone floor tiles in the hall came to life with a subtle glow before everyone's eyes - it was time to return.

  The concubines and imperial consorts all rose to bid farewell, their words of courtesy being as different from their initial lazy and casual attitude as heaven and earth.

  The Emperor, with a hint of morning dew, bid farewell to the crowd in a majestic manner, this unconventional behavior once again left people in awe, the master of Biyue Palace, the glory of the imperial favor.

  Yun Gui stood up and led the way out. As she walked under the corridor, she smiled slightly and said in a low voice: "After all, it's just a humble origin..."

  "The people of Yunnan and Guizhou are wrong about this, haven't you forgotten your own..."

  Yang Baolin, who was sitting in the south side hall of Yunqing Palace, had been displeased with her for a long time. Now, taking advantage of the opportunity, she covered her mouth with a fan and sneered lightly.

  She was originally a concubine of Qi Fei, but since the Yunqing Palace lost its master, these people lost their backbone and couldn't avoid being scolded by Yunluo. Now that they have this rare opportunity, how can they not lift their heads and show off?

  Yunluo heard her soft laughter mocking her own background, and got so angry that her pretty face turned pale. She was about to retort a few words when she heard someone whispering from the corridor: "The slave is ordered by the princess to escort each of you back to the palace."

  Only one woman with a dark complexion, her clothes and skirt were bright and elegant, her demeanor was calm and composed. Upon closer inspection, the sleeves of her garment were embroidered with auspicious clouds in shades of blue and green, likely indicating that she was a trusted confidant of Chen Fei.

  "It's late at night and the moss is slippery here, all the ladies should be careful"

  She said faintly, and lit a palace lantern beside her, following the crowd as they walked.

  Yun Luan didn't know how much of the previous conversation had been heard by her, and she was also too embarrassed to speak. In an awkward silence, the concubines walked out of the main gate, each getting into their own sedan chair and leaving without looking back.

  Only Yang Bao Lin saw that there was no one around, and he turned to Qing and said with a bow: "Miss, you've worked hard." "How dare I be worthy of your praise... You just now spoke righteously on my behalf, I'll thank you for my master!"

  Yang Baolin was greatly excited and said in a low voice: "The people of Yunnan and Guizhou are too arrogant, they dare to slander Chen Fei, I must stab her a few times... Miss, is it possible to tell you something?

  "Please speak, princess."

  "What past relationship does this man from Xianggui have with your family's young lady?"

  Qing heard this and revealed a mysterious smile, saying in a low voice: "Xiang Gui's people are warm and virtuous, enthusiastic about others. Not long after my mother's promotion, she came to visit, and the host and guest had a great conversation!"

  So that's how it is!

  Yang Baolin remembered that after the ceremony of Feng Fei, the Empress was very dissatisfied with her words, including herself and other concubines, who did not dare to congratulate her. On the contrary, this Xiang Guiren actually helped out in a timely manner!

  "My sister said that if you're friendly with her, she'll help you with all her might. But if you insist on making things difficult for her..." Qing's voice sounded especially sly under the moonlight.