Things tend to be strange when they are against the norm.
Yun Jiao paused and said, "If you gain the Emperor's favor, that's your skill, nothing to do with me. Ever since I last served him, I haven't seen the Emperor nor heard any news about him."
"Forget about the Emperor, I just purely want to befriend you."
As a result, Attendant Lady Sun became more enthusiastic.
In her past life, Yun Jiao lingered on her sickbed, spending time on single-player games, having few friends, so she could only use palace intrigue game experience to understand. In the game "Deep Palace," concubines often came visiting, and based on the player's rank, there were three possible scenarios.
One, the visitor submits to you, wanting to be your follower.
Two, they try to win you over, wanting you to be their follower.
Three, they come just to argue, seeking nothing but amusement.
Since Yun Jiao reincarnated here and met people who seemed real and had their own histories, she didn't connect it to the game – after all, "Deep Palace" is a palace intrigue game, maybe these characteristics only appear after entering the palace?
Yun Jiao started to think: "Uh…"
Attendant Lady Sun: "Please, I genuinely want to befriend you."
Yun Jiao's mind overloaded: "What? You genuinely want to be my follower?"
Attendant Lady Sun choked for a moment. She didn't sink to this level, but last night she told the Emperor they were like sisters, and if Attendant Lady Xi didn't back her lie, it would be deceiving the Emperor, a crime she couldn't bear. Driven by survival instincts, she gritted her back teeth and told Yun Jiao, whom she previously underestimated, "Yes, I truly want to be your follower."
After speaking, Attendant Lady Sun hypnotized herself that Attendant Lady Xi is just a fool.
Unexpectedly, after she spoke, Yun Jiao patted her shoulder and said earnestly, "Perhaps you should follow someone else. There's no future with me; my goal is to peacefully retire in the harem, live to a hundred, and die smiling."
"Besides, I'm an Attendant Lady, and you're an Attendant Lady too."
"It's said that it's nice to be under a big tree's shade, but if we're two crops planted together, we'll be harvested together, turned into chives."
Seeing that Attendant Lady Sun still insisted, Yun Jiao let her be.
The moment she agreed, a dinging sound echoed in her mind. She quietly opened her character panel, and alongside [Attributes], appeared a [Relationships] branch, with Attendant Lady Sun's name in the friends section.
This wasn't important.
What was important was, in the adversary section, the Empress's name appeared prominently.
Yun Jiao: … She didn't do anything, she's innocent, lady!
Returning to Xianfu Palace, Yun Jiao curled up in the corner, starting to look forward to lunch.
But today, for some reason, all the dishes delivered were ones she didn't like.
When she restarted for the second time, instead of Xue Ya returning with the meals, it was Eunuch Ying Lu appearing with a smile: "Attendant Lady Xi, the Emperor summons you to Qiankun Palace to accompany him."
What's going on, trying to refresh a lunch but ended up with an accompaniment storyline!
Yun Jiao refused to work overtime, restarted again.
The third time, Eunuch Ying Lu did not appear. Yun Jiao leaned by the window waiting for Xue Ya, but heard a commotion outside, followed by the sharp announcement of a eunuch:
"The Emperor is coming－－"
-----------------
Fifteen minutes earlier, Xie Zhixing fell into a loop.
When the second loop occurred, he decided to summon Attendant Lady Xi, to see what she's up to. Being called to accompany the Emperor is such an honor for women in the harem, surely she wouldn't want to revert time again.
But as the words on paper disappeared, Xie Zhixing was instantly proved wrong.
Xie Zhixing: "..."
Xie Zhixing: "Proceed to Xianfu Palace."
Summoning her to accompany wasn't enough, His Majesty visiting personally should suffice!