As the New Year approached, the palace grew increasingly busy.
Liu Chan was soon forgotten by the watching crowd. Within just seven or eight days, her meals plummeted from exceeding standards to falling below even a Da Ying’s level—worse than what ordinary palace servants ate.
The New Year garments measured by the Si Fu Bureau still hadn’t been delivered.
The Silver Filament Charcoal allotted for a Da Ying’s portion ran out. Though Zhen Zhu went to request more several times, she was mocked and sent back empty-handed.
The food wasn’t a big deal—she could make do with what she had.
Until… Zhen Zhu went to the Si Fu Bureau again and returned with a slap mark on her right cheek, her eyes slightly red.
“Who hit you?” Liu Chan frowned.
Zhen Zhu forced an uncharacteristically strained smile and shook her head. “It’s nothing to do with you, Mistress. This servant accidentally got into a conflict with someone.”
After speaking, she curtseyed and lowered her head to prepare Liu Chan’s bedding.
But Liu Chan grabbed her arm and pulled her to sit on a chair. “Wait.”
She personally fetched a basin of cold water, wrung out a cloth, and pressed it against Zhen Zhu’s right cheek.
Tears fell from Zhen Zhu’s eyes like broken strings of pearls.
“It’s all this servant’s uselessness. You’ve only been a mistress for a few days, and you’re already suffering grievances.”
Knowing in advance that life without favor would be difficult was one thing, but when it actually happened before her eyes, it still felt hard to accept.
“Who exactly is suffering grievances here?” Liu Chan laughed hoarsely.
As she gently applied the cloth to Zhen Zhu’s face, she asked, “Who bullied you? Tell me, and I’ll help you get revenge. If you don’t tell me, I’ll go out and find out myself.”
Coincidentally, one of the personas she had established in front of Xiao Lin was that of someone who repaid every slight.
Zhen Zhu was about to shake her head again when she saw the dissatisfaction in her mistress’s expression. She avoided the main point, saying, “This servant accidentally offended someone from Talent Sun’s side.”
“How did you offend her?” Liu Chan asked sternly. “Zhen Zhu, do you think you can protect me?”
At these words, Zhen Zhu felt her head buzz.
She always subconsciously thought of her young mistress as youthful and calculated into the palace, so she wanted to protect her more.
But in this rear palace, how could a lowly servant like her protect her mistress?
Zhen Zhu gritted her teeth. “Today, the Si Fu Bureau notified us to collect the New Year banquet dresses for the mistresses. When this servant went, I happened to run into Xiao Su from Talent Sun’s side. She deliberately tore a hole in your dress right in front of me.”
She paused. “This servant argued with her a few times, and then she… hit me.”
Liu Chan reached out and patted her head, pulling her into an embrace. “Next time we see her, I’ll help you bully her back.”
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.
Since Talent Sun’s people had taken the initiative to collide with her, she no longer needed to hold back. She would simply use Talent Sun as a stepping stone for serving the Emperor.
“Mistress, your New Year dress…” Zhen Zhu, comforted into smiling through her tears, remembered the dress and looked up to discuss with her. “This servant brought it back, thinking we could mend it ourselves. At least it’ll be wearable for the occasion.”
The New Year palace banquet was far more important than the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration.
All officials of the fourth rank and above, along with their families, would enter the palace. Even some regional princes would return to the capital. If anything went wrong during the New Year celebrations, it would likely incur the Emperor’s displeasure.
“No need,” Liu Chan said softly. “The Minor New Year is in two days. I expect Consort Zhao will host a banquet and summon us. I’ll ask for her assistance then.”
Zhen Zhu nodded.
Watching her busy figure retreat, Liu Chan began calculating in her heart. With today’s conflict at the Si Fu Bureau, the Minor New Year would become her opportunity.
Sure enough, that afternoon came the notification: a banquet would be held at Deng Que Tower for the Minor New Year. They were to gather first at Consort Zhao’s Yanxi Palace to discuss New Year arrangements before proceeding together.
On the morning of the Minor New Year, snow began drifting down.
Seeing how piercingly cold the wind outside was, Zhen Zhu specifically brought a thick white cloak before they departed—standard issue for low-ranking consorts, neither expensive nor cheap, but sufficient against the severe cold.
“Not this one. I recall Jing Guifei gave me a maroon mink jacket,” Liu Chan mused. “That one looks better.”
During her first month in the palace, it had to be said that Jing Guifei had treated her exceptionally well on the surface.
Whether out of genuine kindness or pretense, many fine things had indeed been bestowed upon her. Since that was the case, she saw no need for false pride—she would make full use of them.
Today she was bound to encounter Xiao Lin.
In other words, she was precisely aiming for Xiao Lin. Barring any mishaps, she needed to share his bed tonight.
Naturally, she should wear something more becoming.
Zhen Zhu hurried to fetch it and helped her into the jacket. When she finished tying the fastenings and looked up, she froze momentarily.
When Jing Guifei had sent several garments previously, she had assisted Liu Chan in trying them on. They had looked lovely then, but nothing compared to the stunning vision before her now.
The light in Liu Chan’s eyes shone brighter. Though Yuqiong Residence had been as cold as an extinguished stove lately, it hadn’t affected her in the slightest.
Standing there serenely in red against the white snow, she evoked a tantalizing allure that stirred one’s heart.
For the first time, Zhen Zhu thought: surely even the Emperor wouldn’t be able to refuse her mistress?
The two made their way unhurriedly toward Yanxi Palace.
Arriving at the palace gates, they spotted Talent Sun approaching in the distance with her maid.
Liu Chan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of calculation in her eyes.
She first glanced toward Talent Sun, a fleeting provocation flashing at the corner of her mouth—just enough for Talent Sun to catch.
Sure enough, Talent Sun flared up, quickening her pace as she strode directly toward Liu Chan.
As they drew near, she deliberately bumped into Liu Chan, forcing her back two steps.
Zhen Zhu barely managed to steady her mistress, shooting a displeased look. “You…!”
Noting the other’s haughty demeanor, Liu Chan gently patted Zhen Zhu’s hand. Her lifted gaze swept over the face of Xiao Su, Talent Sun’s maid.
“Oh!” Talent Sun feigned sudden recognition, frowning. “I wondered who would be so bold as to bump into people blindly. So it’s the Rank Nine Da Ying freshly appointed by the Emperor.”
She emphasized “Rank Nine” pointedly.
Rank Nine was the lowest position in the palace, just above Yu Nu who held title but no rank.
“Consort Liu certainly is arrogant. Why haven’t you paid your respects?” Talent Sun demanded imperiously.
She had heard recently how Liu Shi climbed into the imperial bed and framed Jing Guifei, causing her to be punished.
Since Jing Guifei disliked her, who in the palace would still protect her?!
“My lady…” Zhen Zhu reminded in a low voice.
According to rank, she needed to pay respects.
Liu Chan curved her lips, tugged at her handkerchief and performed a curtsy, her tone quite earnest, “Greetings, Talent Sun.”
Just as she spoke, someone arrived over there in a palace sedan chair.
Talent Sun’s eyes lit up, and she hurried forward to greet her, “Qian Pin Niangniang, your arrival is most timely. This humble consort has something to discuss with you in private.”