Upon returning to her palace, Su Yuewu first opened the box gifted by Empress Tao.
Inside was a gold hairpin, exquisitely crafted in the shape of twin lotus flowers—a symbol of mutual affection. Its intricate openwork design featured leaves and branches, adorned with small carvings of koi fish and lotus leaves made from red and green agate. Even if not worn but merely displayed as an ornament, it was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
Even the usually composed Luzhi couldn’t help but show a look of admiration, exclaiming, “Regardless of anything else, Her Majesty the Empress has truly put thought into this gift for you. Setting aside the materials used, just the design and craftsmanship of this hairpin likely took at least half a year to complete. Yet she was willing to give it to a newly entered consort.”
With other palace attendants dismissed from the inner hall, leaving only mistress and maid, Su Yuewu admired the hairpin, gently flicking the small golden koi. “It is thoughtful, but not just for me. I don’t know what others received, but Agreeable Lady Chen walked alongside me earlier, and I heard heavy clinking sounds from her box, like silver.”
“Silver?” Luzhi looked puzzled. “Who gives silver as a welcoming gift, especially in the imperial palace? How improper.”
Su Yuewu shook her head with a light laugh. “It might be improper for others, but for Agreeable Lady Chen, who comes from a humble background and can’t even afford a decent set of hair ornaments, it’s perfectly fitting.”
What the Empress gifted wasn’t even silver notes but loose silver—the most common and practical currency within the palace.
Luzhi paused for a moment before understanding dawned. “Indeed, adding flowers to brocade is not as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather. If Agreeable Lady Chen values loyalty, she’ll likely remember this kindness for a lifetime. And how much silver could that box contain? Yet it genuinely wins over a person’s heart. Whether good or bad, Her Majesty the Empress is certainly no ordinary schemer.”
Recalling something, she then added with regret, “If only we had known earlier—this gesture of goodwill might as well have been made by you.”
Su Yuewu sighed. “No, I couldn’t have done it, nor do I have the means. First, before Consort Lin’s commotion today, I knew nothing of Agreeable Lady Chen’s character and still harbored doubts about her. How could I possibly extend goodwill? Second, even if I wanted to gift something, I lack the legitimate reason Her Majesty had today. Offering favors without cause—unless Agreeable Lady Chen is foolish, she’d surely dare not accept.”
After all, what if accepting the silver cost her life?
Empress Tao’s act of goodwill truly seized the right moment, place, and opportunity—something no one else could take away.
Recalling her interactions with Empress Tao throughout the day, Su Yuewu felt Luzhi was right about one thing: whether good or bad, the Empress undoubtedly possessed profound depth and cunning.
In the palace, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. But could someone so deeply scheming truly be content merely playing the role of a living bodhisattva?
…
In the blink of an eye, the sun had already begun to set.
On the second day after the new consorts entered the palace, news from the Hall of Mental Cultivation arrived swiftly—
His Majesty had chosen Consort Lin of Qixiang Palace for Night Attendance that evening.
Having witnessed Consort Lin’s confrontation with Su Yuewu earlier in the day, many had already begun quietly choosing sides between the two. However, before their allegiances could solidify, news spread from the Hall of Mental Cultivation that very night: Consort Lin had behaved improperly during Night Attendance, angering His Majesty.
An imperial decree was issued, proclaiming throughout the six palaces: Consort Lin was demoted to Noble Lady, relocated to the side hall of Qixiang Palace, and punished with copying palace regulations one hundred times behind closed doors.
Leaving aside the likes of Consort Zhang Xian, Consort Lu, and Consort Su, even the newly entered consorts gasped in shock upon hearing the news, their strong desire for Night Attendance considerably diminished.
Heavens, they had no idea His Majesty was so unpredictable.
Although Consort Lin was only demoted one rank, she went from being the mistress of her own palace to a low-ranking consort. Nearly half of her palace staff would be cut, and her authority was almost entirely stripped away.
Was this the legendary “accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger”?
“This servant believes His Majesty is venting his anger on your behalf.”
Luzhi watched Su Yuewu, who sat leisurely on the couch reading a book, and felt somewhat anxious herself. “Since Your Ladyship has decided to compete for favor and carve out a place in the palace, you can no longer be so casual. It seems His Majesty still holds lingering affection for you, but he can’t get past what happened three years ago. That’s why he treats you well in secret but doesn’t summon you for Night Attendance. Now, Your Ladyship must take the initiative to take a step forward and resolve this knot. Otherwise, no matter how deep the old affection is, if it remains stagnant for too long, it will fade. And if someone more…”
Luzhi’s words suddenly cut off.
Su Yuewu raised the book in her hand toward her and flipped it over, revealing its contents to Luzhi.
Inside were eighteen different martial arts techniques, each move taught in great detail. The illustrations were vivid, depicting the interplay of yin and yang, abundant flow like water, ceaseless vitality, and even enlarged versions of key positions for certain moves.
Luzhi’s face flushed bright red instantly, and she stammered, “Th-this… these are the books Master gave you earlier?”
Su Yuewu nodded.
Before entering the palace, Su Ziyuan had hired a female instructor from a brothel for her. However, because the first lesson taught was too disgusting and unbearable, she flew into a rage and drove the woman away.
But several volumes of books were left behind.
Su Yuewu had flipped through them later. Aside from the methods the female instructor taught, which were solely for pleasing men, she didn’t mind these other techniques that required cooperation between men and women.
“Shen Heng’s temperament has changed over the years. I made a point of inquiring carefully this afternoon. The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace all see him as dignified, solemn, and unsmiling. Zheng Tiande also mentioned that Shen Heng hasn’t had a favored consort these years. So, I suspect none of the original consorts in the palace dared to play any tricks with him in bed.”
Su Yuewu chuckled. “But deep down, he’s not a rule-abiding person at all. Others fear him and don’t dare test his limits, but I have the advantage of timing and human relations. With old affection as my get-out-of-jail-free card, I can step all over them as I please.”
“But I can’t just step randomly. I have to pick a few moves that will step comfortably for him, right?”
Only then did Luzhi realize she hadn’t been idling away her time. With a guilty expression, she knelt on the ground. “Forgive me, Your Ladyship. This servant shouldn’t have spoken like that earlier. I beg for your punishment.”
“It’s fine.” Su Yuewu put down the book, stood up, and helped her to her feet, her voice gentle. “I know that ten years ago, during the famine, your entire family was saved by my mother. You’re grateful to her, which is why you serve me so loyally. Naturally, you’re afraid I’ll indulge in pleasure and fail to avenge her.”
“Don’t worry. She was my mother. She gave birth to me, cherished me, and even on her deathbed, she worried whether the sight of her hemorrhaging would frighten me. How could I not hate what she hated and avenge her?”
Upon hearing these words, Luzhi’s eyes suddenly reddened. Tearfully gazing at Su Yuewu, she said sorrowfully, “My lady, young mistress, although I am deeply grateful for the kindness of the late mistress, I have already followed you for a full ten years. Day and night, we have shared meals and rest, and long ago, I placed you above all else. I fear that you might forget your mother’s vengeance, but what I fear even more is that you may become complacent with the present and ultimately be destroyed by comfort.”
“I know,” Su Yuewu nodded firmly, embracing her tightly with a smile. “Luzhi, I have never doubted you. If you did not truly care for me, there would have been countless opportunities over these past two years to marry into a good family. Why would you insist on staying in the Su residence, enduring neglect and scorn with me?”
“Young mistress…”
A sudden pang of sorrow struck Luzhi’s heart, and tears uncontrollably streamed down the corners of her eyes. After hesitating for a long while, though she knew it was presumptuous, she still reached out her arms and held her young mistress tightly.