Liu Hui Ying did not want to get into trouble but that did not mean that trouble won't come looking for her. The palace did have a garden that was only exclusive to the women of the harem but the garden was exclusive to every woman in the harem!

When Liu Hui Ying arrived at the garden that was covered with flowers, she had to admit that the garden was indeed beautiful. With flowers like roses and peonies fluttering in the soft breeze of the summer, it was a wonderful place to relax.

Even Jia Li and the others liked it a lot, they swooped down on the floor and then started to look around the garden asking Liu Hui Ying to spread her spiritual energy around such that they will be able to smell the flowers as well.

Though Liu Hui Ying was petty when it came to spending money, she treated her ghosts rather nicely which was why the three even after having so many complaints about Liu Hui Ying stayed with her for so many years.

When Liu Hui Ying heard her ghost's requests she was willing to spread her spiritual energy all over the garden when she heard some noises coming from the entrance of the garden, slightly surprised she turned to look in the direction from where the noises were coming from and blinked her eyes when she saw that it was none other than Ji Yu!

The childhood sweetheart of the Emperor!

When Liu Hui Ying noticed Ji Yu, the latter too noticed Liu Hui Ying who was standing in the middle of the garden. This garden might have been exclusive to every other woman but other than her no one liked to come here even when she was young she would come here with Zhai Tianyu alone.

As for the other Concubines, they would spend their time in the garden that was closest to the Emperor's palace. But what they did not know was that the Emperor would sneak to this place to have a walk with her than stay in the garden that was closest to the Emperor's courtyard.

For all these years this place has been a secret meeting spot for her and Zhai Tianyu, now that Ji Yu was seeing Liu Hui Ying in the garden that was supposed to belong to just her and Zhai Tianyu, Ji Yu couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

She knew that as the emperor it was Zhai Tianyu's responsibility to take on as many concubines as possible but her heart did not want to accept the fact, if anything it was twisting rather painfully upon seeing Liu Hui Ying.

Years after years she worked hard hoping that one day she would be able to surpass Liu Hui Ying and when she did, the latter showed her skills in another field making her look like some idiot.

What did she say back then? Yes, anyone could play Guqin and dance elegantly. In just a few words Liu Hui Ying had degraded her to nothing but a girl among millions of others.

Ji Yu clenched her fists, she hated Liu Hui Ying and she hated everyone in the Liu family. It was because of them that her brother was now resting in a grave six feet under the ground.

And yet everyone in the Liu family was living in peace as if what happened to her brother had nothing to do with them.

Her eyes flickered and then she hooked her lips in a smile as she walked towards Liu Hui Ying but before she reached closer to Liu Hui Ying, she turned around and looked at the maids called Ga Ya and Ga Yu. " You two go and get me something to drink, I am thirsty."

" Yes, your highness."

" Yes, your highness."

The two maids bowed their heads as they turned around to walk out of the garden only when the two of them left did Ji Yu return her attention to Liu Hui Ying. These days she could feel that the Dowager Empress was monitoring her, she didn't know whether the two maids that were sent to her palace were bribed or not that was why she was keeping the two of them at arm's length.

In the palace the lesser people you trust the better.

" Your majesty," Ji Yu bowed to Liu Hui Ying with an impeccable bow before greeting her with an undertone. " It seems that you have recovered rather nicely, I was getting worried that you were still sick because of what happened."

Liu Hui Ying never saw any drama and she had no interest in the palace's catfight either but Jia Li who has been keeping a keen eye on every latest palace drama immediately gasped and said to Liu Hui Ying, " She is trying to remind you of  your status!"

When Liu Hui Ying turned to look at Jia Li in confusion the latter rolled her eyes and shot her a look that said ' are you an idiot?' Before she explained in a hurried manner, " You don't understand what she is telling you right? She is basically telling you that you have no place in the heart of the emperor!

That you shouldn't be proud and that you are not really free of the charges that were hurled at you!"

" She said so many things in just a few sentences?" Liu Hui Ying was amused and bewildered by what Jia Li told her. She was sure that the concubine Ji only said a total of three to four sentences to her, how come it turned into such vicious sentences?

" What do you know?" Jia Li flipped her hair behind her shoulder and then knowledgeably looked at Liu Hui Ying. " This is how the concubines and the Empress of this time used to show disdain for each other, they were considered the embodiment of grace and elegance do you think they would fight like a shrew on the streets? Of course, they would use words filled with elegance to hit each other."

" Then what am I supposed to say to her?" asked Liu Hui Ying, would she be counted as a shrew just because she spoke her mind? What a hard world man.

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