Feng Yin had a different opinion.
"When the Emperor and the Noble come in later, you mustn't wear such a mournful face."
As the words fell, Li Yuyu's cheerful voice came through: "Feng Yin, is the food all set? I'm so hungry."
The beaded curtain rustled.
Li Yuyu was in front, Yan Xiu behind, and the two entered the inner chamber.
"This servant greets the Emperor and the Noble." Hua Yin frantically wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and knelt down to pay respects, fearful that her appearance might displease the Emperor, keeping her head bowed low.
"Rise."
Both Feng Yin and Hua Yin stood up and attended to Yan Xiu and Li Yuyu as they washed their hands and dined.
Upon seeing the food laid out on the table, Li Yuyu: ...
Just this?
The Emperor's most favored concubine, dining on this?
She thought it was poorer than she imagined.
Recalling carefully, it made sense. Yan Xiu had only ascended the throne a few months ago, with border skirmishes and bandits frequenting Beihuang, internal turmoil, and external troubles coexisting.
Courtier disloyalty was widespread, with unstable foundations.
Thinking of these, Li Yuyu's gaze at Yan Xiu held more of pity.
Consider how pitiful this Emperor is, the beloved concubine constantly thinking of cuckolding him, his brothers coveting his throne, plotting secretly to kill him, ultimately becoming the shortest-reigned Emperor of the Dasheng Dynasty.
Pitiful, truly pitiful.
Yan Xiu felt a chill from Li Yuyu's gaze, intending to inquire but then noticed the three dishes and one soup on the table, and his face darkened.
"Explain!"
"Ah?" Explain what?
Li Yuyu wore a bewildered expression.
Hua Yin shivered in fear, almost kneeling to the ground.
"Reporting to the Emperor." Feng Yin stepped forward, recounted the words of the kitchen steward, and finally confessed: "It is my fault, I did not know the Emperor would dine at Luaxin Pavilion and did not inform the kitchen in advance."
Shen Quan's heart skipped a beat, thinking that these servants were indeed audacious!
Have they not understood Lady Li's position in the Emperor's heart these past months?
Daring to belittle after a demotion, thinking their heads more secure than others', perhaps?
"Ah, how can you be blamed for this?" Li Yuyu understood after hearing, realizing that such flattery and opportunistic behavior were common in the harem, she had just encountered it.
It was indeed coincidental that she had pulled Yan Xiu to dine.
Listening to Feng Yin taking the blame, Li Yuyu, protective, said to Yan Xiu: "Feng Yin didn't know you would come when she went to get the meal. It was my impulsive invitation to have you dine. If there's a fault, it is mine. Punish me if you must; Feng Yin is innocent."
"What fault do you have?" Yan Xiu murmured, his heart troubled as he recalled the injustice toward Yu'er, demoted amid his anger, yet now there's the insolent offense. Coldly, he said: "Shen Quan, relay my decree that Lady Li is gentle and cherished by me, promoted to Fourth-rank Consort."
Li Yuyu: ...
Wasn't I just demoted to Sixth-rank Noble, now suddenly I'm promoted?
A two-tier promotion?
"Yes, servant obeys the decree." Shen Quan displayed an 'I knew it' expression and, seeing Li Yuyu still in shock, kindly prompted, "Lady Li, express your gratitude promptly."
"Ah, thank the Emperor for the immense favor." Li Yuyu copied the gesture Feng Yin and Hua Yin had just performed.
She initially thought the posture would be hard but found she executed it smoothly.
"Hmm, Shen Quan, remove these." Yan Xiu personally supported Li Yuyu's hand, pulling her to sit beside him, his brow furrowing deeply as he glanced at the meal on the table, he looked away in disinterest.
Shen Quan summoned little eunuchs to remove the dishes, and the meal prepared for the Emperor by the Imperial Kitchen was swiftly placed on the table by a stream of eunuchs.