Inside Jingxiang Palace, Consort Zhuang and Yan Zixuan just learned about Li Yuyu being granted the title of Lady Li.
"Wasn't it said that the Emperor and Yu'er had a falling out, resulting in her being confined and demoted? How is it that, within hours, she becomes a Concubine?" Consort Zhuang was puzzled.
"Mother Consort, I think Yu'er is rather peculiar."
Yan Zixuan recalled his meeting with Li Yuyu today; if he weren't familiar with her, he would have thought she had changed completely.
"Just her temper; it's not the first time she's made a fuss. She just wants you to coax her more. When you go to Beihuang, she'll naturally forget the past when she misses you and will continue to assist you." Consort Zhuang was indifferent.
Yet Yan Zixuan felt things weren't that simple.
At that moment, the restless Li Yuyu was comfortably seated on the recliner outside the pavilion, enjoying fresh grapes and pastries just delivered from the Imperial Kitchen.
Inside the pavilion were congratulatory gifts from the Imperial Household and various palaces.
Feng Yin and Hua Yin had just checked the list of gifts, arranging needed items and replacing some old ones with new, while storing the rest in the warehouse.
"Beihuang is barren, with harsh weather. I've heard the people there often don't have enough to eat or wear. Why would the Emperor send Prince Xuan there to quell unrest?"
Hua Yin asked in confusion.
"Shh." Feng Yin raised a finger to her lips, glancing sideways to see Li Yuyu still focused on her pastries, seemingly unaware of their conversation: "Speak softly, don't let the Concubine hear."
Hua Yin nodded, lowering her voice: "Is it really alright not to tell Mistress?"
"Mistress has just managed to mend her relations with the Emperor, and now that she's become a Concubine, so many eyes in the harem are watching her. Matters of unrest are so significant; even if we remain silent, she'll eventually find out. At that point, it will be too late to change anything, and she might throw a tantrum, but it's better than her confronting the Emperor now."
"Sister Feng Yin is right. I won't mention this matter until Mistress knows."
Hua Yin raised her small hand in promise.
"Crash."
The teacup in Li Yuyu's hand fell to the ground.
Turning, Hua Yin and Feng Yin saw Li Yuyu standing a few steps away, staring at them in shock.
"Mistress, are you hurt?" Hua Yin's face changed instantly, rushing over to check Li Yuyu's fingers.
Feng Yin also quickly knelt to gather the porcelain shards.
"What did you just say about quelling unrest? Who's going to quell the unrest?" Li Yuyu asked: "Is it Yan Zixuan?"
Hua Yin glanced at Feng Yin, biting her lip without responding.
"Quelling unrest, quelling unrest..." Li Yuyu shook off Hua Yin's hand, anxiously touching her forehead as she paced.
She seemed to remember.
Because of her matter with Yan Zixuan, Yan Xiu was enraged, thus Yan Xiu deliberately reassigned Yan Zixuan away from the Capital City to the barren and desolate Beihuang near the border.
Yan Xiu's intent was to avoid seeing Yan Zixuan, fearing he might kill him in his anger.
But who would have thought, Yan Zixuan would turn the situation to his advantage, staging several assassination attempts that pointed directly to the Imperial Palace, yet ultimately, the trail ended and couldn't be pursued further.
At this time, rumors circulated among the public that the assassination attempts on Prince Xuan were all orchestrated by the Emperor.
Over time, both the citizens and courtiers came to believe this narrative, convinced that the Emperor sent Yan Zixuan to Beihuang to quell unrest with the hope that Yan Zixuan would perish amidst the "chaos."