Ban Chun was startled.
How could there be other concubines on Qingyun Terrace?
Could there really be someone so muddle - headed that, in such a situation, they actually showed up on this controversial Qingyun Terrace?
Ling Shan really had no ill intentions today. She just wanted to take a stroll, appreciate the flowers, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
However, when she saw the graceful figure on Qingyun Terrace, she was slightly stunned.
"Your Ladyship..."
Ban Chun didn't know about the private schemes. She only thought that if they encountered another concubine in the harem like this, both the court and the harem might consider her own mistress and the other concubine as sworn enemies.
"It's okay."
Ling Shan's eyes lit up. She raised her hand to signal not to worry and quickly walked straight towards Qingyun Terrace.
Ban Chun was stunned. Her eyes widened in surprise as she watched her mistress's rather eager back, feeling completely at a loss.
After entering Qingyun Terrace and passing through the winding pavilion, they saw the figure that was as cold and detached as the moon in the clouds.
Ling Shan unconsciously lightened and slowed her steps, but the figure by the railing still turned around.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Lady Zhao Xiurong."
Concubine Yu was dressed in a moon - white mandarin duck flower palace dress. She was as cold, gorgeous, and pure as a snow lotus on a snow - capped mountain, lofty and out of reach.
Even her voice was like a clear spring in the mountain forest, cold and refreshing, bringing a gust of coolness.
A look of amazement flashed across Ling Shan's eyes. Immediately, a similarly cold and dusty scene emerged in her mind.
Stunning.
She was truly stunning.
Ling Shan had a favorable impression of Concubine Yu when they happened to meet in the garden that day. She originally thought they would meet in Cining Palace, but it turned out to be a missed opportunity.
Even more unexpectedly, during this period, Yuhua Palace had been in turmoil, but this Concubine Yu had always remained aloof, looking like a celestial being.
Even at the flower - viewing banquet that day, Concubine Yu had asked for leave and didn't show up.
It could be said that Yuhua Palace had experienced several storms, but this Concubine Yu stood alone, truly a peerless beauty.
"Concubine, you don't need to be so polite."
Ling Shan didn't know why. Since she came to this world, she had met quite a few beautiful concubines of all kinds.
But there were only two people who gave her a favorable impression at first sight.
One was Goddess Xiao, who had already pursued her dream, and the other was this cold and aloof ice - beauty in front of her.
This was a very wonderful feeling, indescribable.
Perhaps this was just how wonderful the relationship between people could be.
Because Ling Shan actually saw the ice - beauty give her a faint smile.
"Lady Zhao Xiurong, aren't you scared anymore?"
It was still that cold voice, and her face was also rather cold and aloof. It was as if the smile just now was just an illusion of Ling Shan's.
Ling Shan was slightly stunned and quickly realized that she was trying to comfort her.
Could it be that the beauty had also heard about her getting depression that day?
"I'm fine. Concubine Yu, don't worry. Look, I'm here to enjoy the flowers and the lake now."
Yu Shiwei was slightly stunned. Her usually cold and indifferent eyes trembled slightly.
"Yu Shiwei."
Ling Shan seemed to see the snow lotus blooming with a smile. Before the amazement could fully spread, she heard her cold voice.
Ling Shan was slightly stunned and quickly realized that she was saying her name.
"Xu Ling Shan."
Ling Shan's eyes curved into a smile as she showed it to Yu Shiwei.
Then, Ling Shan saw the smiling face of the snow lotus on Tianshan Mountain in full bloom.
Not to mention anything else, she really was attracted to this beauty.
To be honest, this face was of the cold and imposing type. Just this smile was enough to make people unable to take their eyes off.
Especially, Ling Shan always felt that this smiling face was somehow familiar.
It was like the magnificent and rippling scenery of the melting snow on the top of the snow - capped mountain. Although it was out of reach, it was also alluring.
"I've asked someone to bring some delicious food. Shiwei, do you have any favorite dishes? I'll ask someone to prepare them."
Yu Shiwei's cold eyes moved slightly. Staring at the kind and beautiful woman in front of her, her heart was unconsciously infected by the smile on her face.
"Cold snow dumplings."
Ling Shan's eyebrows twitched. Something quickly flashed through her mind. She opened her lips and asked with a smile, "Do you want to add some osmanthus honey? I heard it would taste better."
"Yes!"
Ban Chun was completely dumbfounded. This...
Could this scene in front of her be just an illusion?
It was the first time Ban Chun had seen such a harmonious and close relationship in the harem.
In the previous emperor's harem, it was a complete mess.
Empress Dowager Wang held absolute power. Those concubines who claimed to be sisters in the harem actually stabbed each other in the back.
Once a woman entered the palace, it was like falling into an abyss. Besides climbing up the ranks, constantly competing, and helping the prince to the throne, how could there be such harmony?
It wasn't until someone was ordered to bring the cold snow dumplings with osmanthus honey again that Ban Chun saw her mistress secretly touch Concubine Yu's face while taking the food.
Ban Chun's eyes widened in shock.
She had only seen such actions a few times when her mistress was alone with the emperor.
Why, today, was her mistress doing the same thing to the concubine in the harem?
Ban Chun felt a strange flutter in her heart. She carefully placed the cold snow dumplings on the tray, averted her eyes, and stepped back to stand quietly.
"Shanshan, your hands are cold."
Ling Shan blinked. Her kind almond eyes looked a bit innocent, just like a tabby cat she used to raise.
Sometimes when it did something wrong, it wouldn't meow but just stared at people with such wet eyes innocently, making her feel soft - hearted.
Almost unconsciously, Yu Shiwei reached out and pinched Ling Shan's smooth cheek.
It was very soft and tender.
Ling Shan was stunned. Hearing these two high - praise words, she couldn't come back to her senses for a while.
Wasn't she trying to flirt with the beauty, but instead, she was flirted back by this ice - beauty like a celestial being?
Oh my god, she had really made progress.
"Shiwei, have you turned bad?"
Ling Shan came back to her senses. The soft flesh on her cheeks was puffed up, and her clear almond eyes were also wide open.
"Maybe it's because 'one takes on the color of one's company'?"
A smile spread across Yu Shiwei's cold eyebrows and eyes. She unconsciously tilted her head slightly.
This scene was somehow full of a sense of contrast.
As the person involved, Ling Shan was so shocked that her jaw dropped.
"Okay, you..."
Ling Shan's voice that was about to fight back suddenly stopped. A group of people with a fragrant breeze were already in front of the waterside pavilion.
Yu Shiwei's eyes flashed. The two of them sat up straight in unison, as if they were not familiar with each other at all.
"Concubine Yu? What are you..."
The person who came was dressed in a lake - blue palace dress. She was gentle and beautiful, with a proper look of surprise in her eyes.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Lady Zhao Xiurong."
"Your humble servant pays respects to Concubine Cui."
A smile curled up on Ling Shan's lips.