The next day, Ji Feiyu didn't go to see Little Eighteen again. Yong Yaxuan's denial of her was like a thorn in her heart. In the following days, she heard that Lin Zhiran had been replaced by the emperor and was transferred to a junior position in the Ministry of Rites. Only then did she realize that this matter had really escalated.
Not wanting to see Yong Yaxuan, Ji Feiyu stayed in the Qiwu Palace and didn't go anywhere.
Even sitting under the green vine tree with a small fan, basking in the warm spring sun, she still found the days hard to endure.
After much thought, she decided to visit Little Eighteen during his noon break to see how he had been these days.
Little Eighteen was full of resentment again since he hadn't seen Ji Feiyu for a few days.
As soon as he saw Ji Feiyu, he snorted like his emperor brother and said, "Didn't sister - in - law the empress say that she would come to accompany Yunxuan every day? Why did you disappear after just one day?"
Ji Feiyu decided to play the victim. With a sorrowful face, she said, "Because sister - in - law the empress was locked up in the palace by your emperor brother for a few days."
Hearing this, Little Eighteen's face turned pale with fright. He grabbed Ji Feiyu and said, "No way! Did the emperor brother know about you hugging Yunxuan? Will he send Yunxuan to the coal mine?"
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but stroke his head to comfort him. "No, they won't report this. If they do, sister - in - law will find a way to make their tongues rot for a few days!"
After saying that, Ji Feiyu looked around into the empty space, which made the air around turn cold.
Little Eighteen didn't notice this. He just heaved a sigh of relief and asked, "Sister - in - law, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing." Ji Feiyu turned back and sighed to Little Eighteen. "By the way, I came here this time to tell you that sister - in - law can't be your teacher anymore. Your emperor brother said that sister - in - law doesn't have the ability."
"How could that be?" Little Eighteen always admired his sister - in - law. He couldn't understand what she said at all.
Ji Feiyu couldn't tell him that she had quarreled with Yong Yaxuan and felt a bit exhausted. So she said, "But sister - in - law will still find time to check your schoolwork. Yunxuan must work hard!"
"Okay!" Little Eighteen nodded heavily. Then he remembered something and said to Ji Feiyu, "But does sister - in - law know that Mr. Lin won't come anymore. It's really a pity!" In Little Eighteen's heart, the debate on rites between Ji Feiyu and Lin Zhiran was truly brilliant and refreshing. It was a pity that he wouldn't have the chance to hear such debates in the future.
Ji Feiyu said, "It doesn't matter. Sister - in - law will find another teacher for you when I'm free."
Little Eighteen had no choice but to say, "Then besides checking my schoolwork, can sister - in - law come and see Yunxuan often? Yunxuan still wants sister - in - law to bring delicious food for me."
Looking at his cute and coquettish appearance, Ji Feiyu couldn't help smiling and said, "Okay, sister - in - law will come often."
They chatted for a while, and then Ji Feiyu returned to the Qiwu Palace. She went there just for the sake of keeping her promise. After all, she had promised Little Eighteen to go for several consecutive days but didn't. She still had to explain it.
With this concern off her mind, Ji Feiyu idled away a few more days in the Qiwu Palace. During this period, Yong Yaxuan never came to look for her. It wasn't until Ji Feiyu heard that the emperor would hold a grand banquet for all the court officials in the palace in a few days to discuss important matters that she perked up a bit.
In that case, Lin Zhiran should also be able to attend. Ji Feiyu had a thought. Since she was bored in the palace anyway, she might as well take this opportunity to explain to Lin Zhiran the reason for his demotion. After all, her true identity couldn't be hidden forever.
Of course, Ji Feiyu knew very well that Yong Yaxuan was angry because of Lin Zhiran, but she still wanted to see him again. She just wanted to anger Yong Yaxuan once more. She was just being stubborn. Why could he have a harem of concubines and stay with different women every day, while she had to maintain a superficial smile? She was just having a debate, but was misunderstood as having an improper affection for someone. She wanted to see what method he would use to stop her if she really had an improper affection for someone. Anyway, in the end, she would just be sent to the Cold Palace.
Since you misunderstand me, then I'll prove your misunderstanding right! Sometimes Ji Feiyu was just so stubborn.
On the day of the grand banquet, in order to sneak into the banquet, Ji Feiyu borrowed a set of female official's clothes and put them on. At first glance, she looked elegant and graceful, quite presentable. At that time in the Great Yong Dynasty, there were already female officials, but the number was small. Since the female official's clothes were plain and Ji Feiyu didn't wear any makeup, not many people noticed her.
Ji Feiyu searched for a long time among the seats of the lowest - ranking officials before she found Lin Zhiran's seat. There he sat, like a bright moon in the forest, standing alone in the world, gentle and refined, making people feel as if they were bathed in the spring breeze.
Ji Feiyu struggled hard and managed to deal with the people around her. Finally, she squeezed to Lin Zhiran's side.
"Mr. Lin is here too? What a coincidence."
Hearing the voice, Lin Zhiran looked up and saw a woman in female official's clothes, standing beside him gracefully and gently. It was Huang Ying. Lin Zhiran couldn't help but want to recite a poem: "The Huang family has a daughter with a gentle appearance, showing a natural elegance."
Afraid of being too forward with the beauty, he just had an ordinary greeting. "Are you here alone, Miss Huang? I wonder where your seat is?"
Lin Zhiran thought that female officials usually came in groups and wouldn't come alone. But he didn't expect Huang Ying to answer:
"I'm here with my father for the banquet, so I'm not sitting here."
"May I ask who your father is?" There were many officials with the surname Huang in the officialdom, but there were few who sent their children into the palace as teachers. What on earth was the background of this Huang Ying?
Seemingly seeing the doubt in Lin Zhiran's eyes, Ji Feiyu smiled faintly. She stretched out her hand with her fist down and said, "Catch." Lin Zhiran stretched out his hand curiously under hers. Ji Feiyu opened her fist, and a small rolled - up note fell out.
"Follow the time and place on the note later. I'll solve your doubts."
Lin Zhiran became even more curious about this "Huang Ying".
But "Huang Ying" changed the topic and said, "By the way, why did the emperor suddenly hold this banquet for all the court officials? According to the current date, it's not a festival."
Lin Zhiran said, "You don't know about this. The emperor held this banquet today to express his great gratitude to all the court officials."
"Great gratitude to all the court officials?"
"Yes. Great gratitude to all the court officials! Recently, among the common people, they signed a petition to thank a county magistrate. This matter shocked the court and the public. In order to encourage all the court officials to do their duties and work hard for the country, the emperor specially held this banquet to thank the officials. He also followed the advice of the grand tutor and set this day every year as the Day of Thanking Officials. All the rewards and punishments for the year will be completed on this day, in order to let the officials know that the emperor is always paying attention to their every move!"
"Oh? The Day of Thanking Officials? It's quite novel. But since all the court officials have dedicated themselves to the Great Yong Dynasty, the emperor should indeed give some rewards." Ji Feiyu smiled.
Lin Zhiran watched Ji Feiyu smiling. "Your tone is quite bold, Miss Huang. You seem very confident. I'm becoming more and more curious about your true identity."
Ji Feiyu said, "Mr. Lin can start guessing from the most out - of - the - ordinary possibilities. By the way, I came here today to apologize to Mr. Lin."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Mr. Lin was actually transferred to the Ministry of Rites because of me."
Lin Zhiran couldn't help being stunned.
Just then, an unfamiliar little maid rushed over and whispered something in "Huang Ying"'s ear. As soon as "Huang Ying" heard it, her face changed. She immediately bowed to Lin Zhiran and said, "I have something important to attend to. Goodbye."