Upon hearing Shen Ying's words, Shan Wu, standing behind Mu Li, disregarded Nong Qin's attempts to restrain her and said, "How dare you speak of my mistress in such a manner…"
"Audacious! When did a mere servant like you earn the right to interrupt her master's words? Cai'er, slap her on my behalf!" Shen Ying shouted loudly.
"Yes, Mistress!" Her personal palace maid accepted the order and stepped forward.
Shan Wu closed her eyes slightly at the sight of the raised hand, but unexpectedly, Mu Li caught it and pushed it away.
Mu Li said coldly, "If my palace maid is unruly, I will discipline her myself. There is no need for Noble Lady Shen to trouble herself."
Since being favored by the Emperor, Shen Ying had been promoted from a Beauty to a Noble Lady, while Xia Yun had not received any promotion despite also being favored. This made Shen Ying quite proud.
Cai'er, having failed, retreated resentfully. Unable to contain her anger, Shen Ying turned to Xia Yun and said, "Sister Yun, look, she dares to be so insolent even in your presence."
Xia Yun, who already harbored resentment toward Mu Li, immediately seized the opportunity to find fault: "Noble Lady Mu, as the mistress of this palace, my rank is above yours. Why have you not performed the Kowtow upon seeing me?"
"Consort Yun, according to palace regulations, I am only required to perform the Bow of Respect," Mu Li replied with a faint smile, shielding Shan Wu and Nong Qin behind her.
Before Xia Yun could respond, Shen Ying interjected eagerly, "Sister Yun, you must teach her a lesson! She doesn't even show you any respect."
Xia Yun glared at Mu Li with ill intent. "Do you believe I am unworthy of your kneeling salute?"
Seeing Mu Li remain motionless, Xia Yun signaled to her personal palace maid, Lu Zhu, behind her. "Lu Zhu, have someone hold her down. I want her to kneel and salute."
"Yes, someone come!" Lu Zhu responded, immediately bringing two palace maids forward.
As Mu Li was seized by the shoulders by the two palace maids, Shan Wu and Nong Qin anxiously tried to step forward. "Release our mistress…"
Lu Zhu summoned two eunuchs, who covered the mouths of Shan Wu and Nong Qin and dragged them aside.
"Release them! If you have any grievances, direct them at me. They have nothing to do with this," Mu Li shouted urgently.
Shen Ying watched the scene with delight. "You still have time to worry about them? Worry about yourself first."
Just as the two palace maids were about to force Mu Li to kneel, a clear, cold voice interrupted. "The Imperial Garden is quite lively today."
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Imperial Concubine Qing Wan, Xiao Shutong, dressed in a blue palace gown. She was supporting… the Empress Dowager. Behind them was the Empress Dowager's imperial procession.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Qing Wan. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless fortune and peace," everyone exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly performing their salutes.
The Empress Dowager spoke calmly. "Rise."
"Her Majesty and I came to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers, only to witness Consort Yun bullying others with her authority," Xiao Shutong said, her tone icy.
Xia Yun glared fiercely at Xiao Shutong. Why did Xiao Shutong have to appear everywhere?
However, with the Empress Dowager present, she could not refute and could only say, "Your Majesty, please understand. It was Noble Lady Mu who offended me first. I merely intended to teach her proper etiquette as a minor lesson."
Shen Ying, standing nearby, chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty. It was Noble Lady Mu who showed disrespect to Sister Yun first…"
"Although I am old, I am not yet blind and confused. Are the two of you trying to deceive me?" The Empress Dowager flicked her sleeve angrily.
The two hurriedly knelt. "Your Majesty, please forgive us. We would never dare."
"Since you acknowledge your mistake, I shall punish you both by copying Buddhist Sutras. Once finished, deliver them to the palace's Buddhist Chapel," the Empress Dowager said.
The two exchanged a glance and replied, "We respectfully obey the Empress Dowager's decree."
Mu Li bowed and softly said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager turned her gaze to Mu Li, speaking kindly, "We only met briefly during the Palace Selection, but upon closer inspection today, you truly are a well-mannered and courteous girl. No wonder Shutong often mentions you in my presence."
Mu Li was taken aback. She had no prior interaction with that Imperial Concubine Qing Wan, so why would she bring her up before the Empress Dowager?
She glanced at Xiao Shutong standing beside the Empress Dowager, whose cool and elegant face showed a hint of shyness. Xiao Shutong tugged at the Empress Dowager's sleeve, "Aunt…"
The Empress Dowager looked at her niece, whom she had watched grow up, then back at Mu Li, and said, "I am tired. Shutong, accompany me back."
"As for you two, return to your own palaces at once and reflect on your actions." This was naturally directed at Xia Yun and Shen Ying.
"Farewell, Empress Dowager, Imperial Concubine Qing Wan."
The group watched as the two departed. Only after they had gone did Xia Yun rise with Lu Zhu's support, her eyes fixed intently on Mu Li. "Just you wait!"
With that, she flung her sleeve and left, Shen Ying quickly following behind.
After everyone had left, Shan Wu stepped forward and grasped her mistress's hand, tears welling in her eyes. "Miss, it was all my fault. I ignored Nong Qin's warnings… I nearly brought harm upon you."
"Shh! I've told you before, and you've forgotten again. We are in the palace now; you can no longer address me as 'miss' as you did back at the mansion." Mu Li smiled, reaching out to wipe away Shan Wu's tears.
"Mistress, it's getting late. Let us return as well," Nong Qin said, helping Mu Li to her feet.
Evening, Qingzhu Small Courtyard
"How many times have I told you? Why won't you listen? This is the palace, not Mu Mansion. A single misstep could endanger our mistress." As soon as Mu Li entered the hall, she saw Chang Xiu reprimanding Shan Wu.
Shan Wu hung her head low. "Sister Chang Xiu, I understand. I will never make such a mistake again."
Mu Li sat down on the couch and spoke up, "That's enough, Chang Xiu."
"Yes," Chang Xiu replied, casting a glance at Shan Wu before sighing and walking away.
Only then did Mu Li address Shan Wu. "Shan Wu, I've said this from the beginning: if anything goes wrong, with my current standing, I cannot protect all of us. It's one thing within our own palace, but outside, we must be extremely careful. Do you understand?"
"Mistress, Shan Wu understands," Shan Wu nodded.
Several days passed in this manner. All the newly entered palace ladies had already attended to the Emperor for the night, with the sole exception of Mu Li—as if Shen Ying's words, "Could it be she's been forgotten?" had truly come to pass…
Qingzhu Small Courtyard
At the palace gate, Ting Shu received the evening meal from a young eunuch. Inside were only a few steamed buns and a plate of pickled vegetables.
"Lately, it's been nothing but steamed buns and pickled vegetables. Are you people at the Imperial Kitchen secretly withholding our Qingzhu Small Courtyard's rationed provisions? Aren't you afraid of being punished for this?" Ting Shu said angrily, looking at the meager fare.
The eunuch delivering the meal glanced Ting Shu up and down and sneered, "You should be grateful you have anything to eat at all, and you dare complain? Your mistress has no favor with His Majesty. If this continues, you might not even get pickled vegetables."
"You…" Ting Shu was seething with anger.
Inside the hall, Mu Li and Chang Xiu were engaged in a game of chess, while Aunt Wen Yue and Nong Qin watched from the side, chatting and laughing together. Ting Shu entered carrying the evening meal, her expression troubled.
Nong Qin, who was nearby, noticed first and asked, "The mistress sent you to fetch the evening meal. Why do you look like that? What happened?"