There are many ways to marinate salted fish.
Usually, it's about showing weakness and biding one's time.
Yun Jiao tried both and discovered that as long as she was doing well, she couldn't shake off the malicious speculations and stares from the concubines. So, she chose another way of marinating—lying flat in peace, letting love and hate be as they may.
"Concubine Xi is truly not humble at all," Concubine Feng covered her mouth and laughed.
"Once the Empress speaks kindly of me, it must mean I'm genuinely good, for I dare not refuse a gift from my elders!"
Yun Jiao laughed along.
She appeared to sit upright, yet she had already started to give in.
"The Empress has always been kind to the concubines, and now Concubine Xi benefits from it," Concubine Wei lightly raised her chin and lifted her hand to touch her hair: "Does Concubine Xi really think everyone loves her so dearly? Even with a bit of favor from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, not everyone would like you."
