The three of them didn't expect Xiao Guiren to be so direct. They couldn't be thick-skinned and say that they wanted to ask her to help them challenge Lady Wen Yu. So, what could they say? They could only say, "It's nothing. We haven't seen you in a while, so we came to visit."
"Is that so?" Noble Lady Xiao lowered her eyes and adjusted her wide sleeves, which were longer than the average concubine's. "Are you very free now?"
The three of them nodded. Shan Ying smiled and said, "We don't have anything to do in the afternoon. If you need anything, just tell us."
Xiao Guiren said, "It's nothing. I just feel bored. You all know how to play mahjong, right?"
Shan Ying and Yao Ying nodded, but Li Ying hesitated. After a while, she said, "Uh … when I was at home, I saw my elders play mahjong, but I've never touched a tile before. I'm not very familiar with it."
Xiao Guiren smiled gently and said, "It's fine. I'm not very good at it either. It's just us sisters playing for fun. I'll get it after a few rounds." Then she ordered a set of bamboo tiles to be placed on the table. The four of them sat on each side.
Yao Ying handed the dice to Xiao Guiren and smiled. "Since this is your courtyard, you should be the banker."
Xiao Guiren didn't decline. He threw out an "8" and counted clockwise to the wall in front of Yao Yingyun. He counted from right to left until the eighth block. Starting from Xiao Guiren, everyone took turns to draw 13 cards. Xiao Guiren was the banker, drawing 14 cards.
Yao Ying and Shan Ying, who were sitting across from each other, looked at each other and understood each other's intentions. Li Ying looked at the three "30,000", three "50,000", three "1", two "1", one "1", one "1", one "2", and one "2". She recalled the rules of mahjong in her mind. Could she win or not?
Xiao Guiren casually threw a "1". Li Ying instinctively shouted "Bang" and was glared at by the two people. She didn't dare to take Xiao Guiren's "1".
Xiao Guiren hadn't sorted out the tiles in her hand. Seeing that Li Ying didn't move, she looked up curiously and asked, "Didn't you say you 'Bang'?" Li Ying quickly took the "1" and threw a "2".
"Eat, East Wind."
"East wind."
Yao Yingying tentatively put down a two. Li Yingying raised his hand and put it down. Looking at the cards in front of him, he did not know what to do for a moment. He hesitated and said, "I seem to have won?"
Xiao Guiren said carelessly, "Is that so? Li Ying's luck is really good. "
Yao Ying and Dan Ying didn't mind. They were thinking of ways to feed Xiao Guiren cards in the next round to make her happy. However, after a few rounds, they helplessly realized that Xiao Guiren was the one who brought it up, but he was the one who didn't know how to play at all. Even if they wanted to go easy on him, it was a waste of effort.
In addition, Li Yingying only knew how to count tiles. He didn't know when he could win and when he couldn't. He often hid his tiles without knowing it, which made it even harder to play. The two players who knew how to play doubted that they had learned how to play mahjong.
After playing another three rounds, Dan Ying felt that he could not continue like this, so he took the initiative to say: "Speaking of which, it has been a long time since I played cards so leisurely. I don't know what Lady Wen Yu is thinking these days, causing everyone in the palace to be in a state of anxiety."
Xiao Guiren didn't even raise her head. Yao Ying naturally had to help her. "Isn't that so? The noble ladies have been playing one after another. It has caused us to be implicated."
Dan Ying sighed and said, "Our words carry little weight. Who would look at us in the eye?" Li Yingying listened to them speak one after another. Her hands trembled as she held the tiles. She stared at the tiles in front of her but couldn't see or hear anything. She was so nervous that her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
It wasn't until Yao Yingying pushed her that Li Yingying came back to her senses. She stammered, "I … I didn't do it on purpose."
Xiao Guiren said, "Li Yingying must be tired. Why don't we just let it go today?"
However, under the threatening gazes of both sides, Li Yingying didn't dare to say she was tired. She forced a smile and said, "I was just thinking about what happened recently. It's hard not to be distracted. Please forgive me."
Xiao Guiren pointed at the tiles in front of her indifferently and said, "My health isn't good. I've been living behind closed doors for a long time. I don't know anything about what's going on outside. I don't want to know who's in charge and who's stirring up trouble. If you really want to find peace, living behind closed doors is a good way."
Li Yingying lowered her head and didn't dare to speak. Yao Yingying and Dan Ying were not satisfied. Dan Ying asked, "Are you willing to hide in this courtyard for the rest of your life and never see the light of day?"
Xiao Guiren didn't even lift her eyelids. She said mockingly, "If you want to fight, go ahead. Why do you have to drag people who are already ashore into the water?"
"I don't understand what you're saying." Dan Ying said righteously, "The law of the jungle has never changed. The more you give in, the more arrogant they become. They push you step by step and force you to the point of no retreat. Now, I'm standing on the edge of a cliff. There's only one step left. Whether we live or die depends on whether you're willing to lend us a hand and give us a hand."
Yao Yingying fiercely pinched her own thigh, and tears immediately stained her fan eyelashes. She deliberately lowered her voice and said, "Little Lord, please save this lowly concubine. This lowly concubine really doesn't know what to do right now."
Xiao Guiren pushed down the wall in front of her and said, "Didn't I already show you a clear path? You can't stand the loneliness. I want to help but I can't. Plus, my background is worse than yours. I don't know what you're thinking, begging me."
Yao Yingying realized that he had said something wrong. Remembering that Noble Lady Xiao used to be a slave of the Wansu Court, he was a little confused. He hurriedly said, "But that day in the palace, when the lives of these lowly concubines were hanging by a thread, it was the Young Lord who protected us, allowing us to live until today. We will never forget the kindness of saving our lives. Now is the time for us to repay the Young Lord, please don't decline!"
Noble Lady Xiao clasped her hands and said lazily, "Don't talk too much about the grandiose title. Even a fool wouldn't want to live in fear every day. Do as you please. I'm tired and want to rest. Please go back." With that, she got up and returned to the inner hall.
"Young Master …" Dan Ying wanted to chase after her but was stopped by Eunuch Le.
The young eunuch cupped his fists and said, "Young Master, please go back."
Helpless, Dan Ying and Yao Yingying could only leave with disappointment. Li Yingying, on the other hand, let out a long sigh and told herself that she couldn't travel with these two anymore.
In the inner chamber, Xiao Guiren was lying on the couch while Eunuch Le sat beside her. The two of them were leaning against each other intimately. Eunuch Le said worriedly, "Since they've come to find us, I'm afraid they won't let this matter rest."
Noble Lady Xiao closed her eyes and sneered, "So what if they don't want to give up? They can't just barge in. Not to mention my Smoky House, it's already a big problem if they can even cross the gate of the Wind Stop Palace."
Eunuch Le also sighed and said, "Who knows how many people's clothes will be soaked by this rain." Xiao Guiren leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes to sleep. In any case, as long as she had a roof to shelter her from the wind and rain, what did it have to do with her whether it was sunny or rainy outside?
The group of people who were mercilessly rejected by Xiao Guiren were very dissatisfied, but Li Yingying was not one of them. While the other two were indignant, she even secretly let out a sigh of relief. She was glad that Xiao Guiren didn't agree today. Otherwise, as someone present, it would be difficult for her to leave in the future.
Yao Yingying gritted her teeth and said, "What does this Xiao Guiren mean by this? Does she really think she's a noble? We've already come to beg her, what else does she want?"
Dan Ying was silent. They had been beating around the bush today, which did it look like they were begging? Moreover, her original intention was to cooperate with Xiao Guiren. After all, in her opinion, although they were of low status, they were of noble birth. Even though Xiao Guiren's status was noble, she couldn't erase her slave past. Working together was a win-win situation.
Yao Yingying saw that she didn't speak, so she pushed her and said, "What do we do now? Do we have to go back and obediently work under that group of people and earn a living?"
"Shh," Dan Ying hurriedly stopped her and looked around vigilantly. After confirming that there was no one, she lowered her voice and said, "Jiejie, be careful. Right now, we're outside and not in our own room. If someone in the palace hears, we won't even know how it spreads!"
Yao Yingying also realized that she was rash and said embarrassedly, "I was anxious. Look at Xiao Guiren, we can't force her. In the future …"
Dan Ying moved closer and said in her ear, "Jiejie, even if Xiao Guiren is willing to help today, she can't run to the Empress Dowager and tell her that she wants a separate palace and wants all of us to live together. If that's the case, how is it different from living in the Nanyuan? We will still be separated from them, and it will be easier for them to suppress us. "
Yao Yingying calmed down and listened. She was still unsatisfied, but she had to admit that Dan Ying was right. At least, in the past few months, she might not have been turned over. Now, for the sake of being in the same palace, the main palace niangniang, for the sake of their reputation, loosened their grip slightly. Compared to before, they held her tightly. Now, at least some powder would fall from their fingers and be given to them.
But what was the use of this little bit of powder? If she couldn't obtain the Emperor's favor, she would have to die in a corner without a name. Then what was the point of her overcoming all the difficulties and defeating all the generals? Yao Yingying wrung her handkerchief. She told herself to calm down. There was always a way out. She hadn't been forced off the cliff yet. There was still a chance!
Dan Ying stood to the side with her hands clasped together. Her left hand once again unconsciously grabbed her right hand, leaving a deep imprint in the palm of her right hand. She wasn't satisfied and didn't believe that she could only be Dan Ying for the rest of her life!
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