Red Chamber 25
Wei Ruo Qiong raised an eyebrow.
Hah, earlier he was thinking of swindling the other’s salt tax silver, and now he’s pulling him up instead?
This old scoundrel has always favored those capable of practical work, which shows that Lin Ruhai truly has some ability. It wasn’t in vain that he spoke well of Lin Ruhai before His Majesty. Considering how favored Imperial Consort Zhen Pin is in the palace now, Wei Ruo Qiong felt that he should also build a good relationship with this Lord Lin.
So he shifted his seat: “Ah, Lord Lin, please sit quickly.”
Lin Ruhai hurried forward a few steps, cupping his hands in salute: “Thank you for your appreciation, Lord Qian, and thank you, Lord Wei, for giving this humble official an opportunity.”
“He knows how to be grateful.”
Wei Ruo Qiong liked talking to clever people. Jingcheng was full of fools; staying there too long made him feel tainted by their stupidity. Now that he had finally been posted outside the capital, he naturally wanted to stay a few more days.
However, he remained cautious. Even though that old scoundrel Qian Mingfeng had taken a liking to Lin Ruhai, he didn’t discuss disaster relief matters much on this first night. Instead, he drank himself into a stupor during the small banquet that followed and was finally taken back to his guest room by a servant.
The disaster relief funds had arrived, and Qian Mingfeng was happy, drinking quite a bit but still relatively clear-headed.
With his hands behind his back, he smiled at Lin Ruhai: “Now that your aunt has become an imperial consort, I’m afraid this official will have to rely on Lord Lin’s care in the future.”
“Your Excellency speaks too highly. Although this humble official is no capable minister, I understand the principle of maintaining integrity. The imperial consort is already treading on thin ice in the imperial harem; as her elder brother from the maternal family, how could I take advantage of her influence?” Lin Ruhai spoke with righteous solemnity and great sincerity.
Qian Mingfeng laughed heartily and patted Lin Ruhai’s shoulder: “I wasn’t wrong about you. Alright, go back and rest early. There will be matters to attend to tomorrow morning.” After saying this, he turned and strode into the courtyard.
Lin Ruhai stood outside the door, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
By now, he was completely sober.
“Master.” Lin An, who had come to fetch him, hurried forward to support Lin Ruhai’s arm.
Lin Ruhai’s palms were covered in cold sweat: “Let’s go back quickly.”
Lin An helped Lin Ruhai into the carriage and sat outside to drive. Lin Ruhai closed his eyes, gently massaging his forehead. The wine served at the banquet wasn’t particularly good, and he was already starting to get a headache.
When they arrived at the residence, even before getting out of the carriage, he heard Lin An exclaim in surprise: “Father, you’re back?”
Lin Ruhai suddenly opened his eyes, reached out, and pulled open the carriage curtain, leaning out: “Lin Fu.”
“Yes, Master.” Ignoring his son, Lin Fu hurried forward to support his master. He was still wearing gray clothes and a servant’s cap, looking extremely low-key—nothing like the chief steward of the Salt Censor’s residence. Without waiting for Lin Ruhai to ask, he proactively explained: “Master, this old servant secretly disembarked from the boat and changed into servant’s clothes because there is an important matter to discuss with you.”
Lin Ruhai immediately understood: clearly, this matter could not be revealed to others.
So, without further pleasantries, he immediately entered the room. Lin An squatted in the courtyard keeping watch, while Lin Fu quietly gave a rough account of the matters in Jingcheng, finally mentioning A Yuan: “…The imperial consort is now pregnant and relatively stable in the palace. However, a few days ago, she entrusted the manager of Fuwang to deliver a message to this old servant.”
As he spoke, he handed the letter to Lin Ruhai.
Lin Ruhai swiftly unfolded the letter and read it. After a moment, he spread it flat on the desk, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the paper—a habitual gesture when he was deep in thought.
The letter contained only a few lines, concerning the family affairs of the Deputy Magistrate of Nanzhi County in Gusu.
This Deputy Magistrate Chu had a daughter who had been a Candidate Maiden in the same cohort as Zhen Pin. The two had formed a close bond during the Imperial consort selection. Unfortunately, Candidate Maiden Chu was chosen by the Retired Emperor and had since entered Ningshou Palace, where she was granted the title of Taiguiren and enjoyed considerable favor. However, this Taiguiren was deeply worried about her gravely ill mother and three young brothers back home.
A Yuan’s intention was straightforward: she wanted Lin Ruhai to find a way to investigate the Chu family’s situation.
If Deputy Magistrate Chu truly was as heartless and ungrateful as Taiguiren Chu described, then Lin Ruhai should devise a means to rescue the mother and her three sons from that pit of a household. If the deputy magistrate still retained a shred of conscience, she hoped Lin Ruhai could offer some assistance.
Anyone reading Zhen Pin’s letter would praise her kindness.
But Lin Ruhai discerned another layer of meaning. Clearly, Zhen Pin hoped he could gain control over the Chu mother and her three sons.
Taiguiren…
He hadn’t expected his cousin’s reach… to extend so far. In such a short time, her influence had already stretched to the Retired Emperor’s side.
Lin Ruhai rubbed his face and, in front of Lin Fu, burned the letter to ashes. Then he instructed Lin Fu, “Go to Nanzhi County.” He leaned close to Lin Fu’s ear and whispered his plan. When he finished, his gaze turned sharp. “Remember, this matter must succeed. Failure is not an option.”
Lin Fu’s heart pounded like a drum. “Yes, Master. This old servant will handle it personally.”
With that, he slipped out of the courtyard under cover of night and hurried toward Gusu.
Lin Ruhai couldn’t sleep at all that night, feeling unusually agitated and restless. He drank some wine, which left him feeling lightheaded and detached. Thoughts he had never dared entertain before now surfaced in his mind.
First, he considered that Imperial Consort Zhen Pin was pregnant. If she gave birth to a son, he would be the current Emperor’s First Imperial Prince. Since ancient times, the status of the eldest son differed from that of the legitimate heir, and the future… held many possibilities.
Then he thought of his own dwindling family line—his only child was a frail daughter. As he imagined the prince growing older while he himself aged, with no son to inherit his legacy, a wave of sorrow washed over him. He buried his face in his pillow and wept silently.
Finally, he reflected on his harmonious and affectionate marriage with Jia Min. If he took a concubine for the sake of an heir, would his wife be heartbroken? He couldn’t bear the thought. His mind churned with these conflicting thoughts throughout the night, and it was only when dawn broke that he managed to drift into a shallow sleep.
In the following days, Lin Ruhai remained diligent and busy with his duties, all under Wei Ruo Qiong’s watchful eye.
“He’s actually someone who gets things done,” Wei Ruo Qiong remarked privately to Qian Mingfeng about Lin Ruhai. “And he doesn’t even bother currying favor with me. What a fool.”
After all, Wei Ruo Qiong was the Emperor’s study companion!
Qian Mingfeng snorted. “You’re the fool.”
With his sister now the Emperor’s favored imperial consort and likely carrying the Emperor’s first son, why would Lin Ruhai need to flatter a mere study companion?
Wei Ruo Qiong understood Qian Mingfeng’s implication and suddenly felt rather foolish himself.
The disaster relief funds were due to arrive in the afflicted areas in two days. Qian Mingfeng summoned Lin Ruhai once more. This time, no other transferred officials were present—only the three of them. Wei Ruo Qiong maintained his usual careless demeanor, holding a teacup with an air of nonchalance.
He briefly outlined the Emperor’s arrangements, emphasizing Zhen Yingjia.
“This Lord Zhen has considerable influence, with the Retired Emperor backing him. We can’t touch him for now, but we can start gathering evidence of his crimes.” Wei Ruo Qiong held a teacup in hand, his tone somewhat flippant, yet his gaze remained fixed on Lin Ruhai.
Lin Ruhai didn’t notice, merely nodding repeatedly.
For some reason, however, the name Zhen Yingjia sounded vaguely familiar.
Seeing Lin Ruhai still looking rather clueless, Wei Ruo Qiong couldn’t help but feel displeased, suspecting Lin Ruhai was feigning ignorance. He set the teacup down on the table with a bit more force, producing a sharp clink.
The sound made Qian Mingfeng raise an eyebrow and Lin Ruhai look up in surprise.
Wei Ruo Qiong, sharp-eyed as ever, caught that flicker of surprise. “Speaking of which, Lord Lin, you and this Lord Zhen Yingjia share some connections.”
Connections?
Lin Ruhai pursed his lips, his mind racing.
He had grown up in Jingcheng, began his studies at five, embarked on the imperial examination path at fourteen, and smoothly passed as Tanhua (third-place scholar). Although he later observed mourning by his parents’ graves, he devoted himself solely to reading and had little interaction with others. Afterward, he was appointed as a Lantai Temple official, and within two years, he received the assignment as Salt Censor.
After much thought…
He truly did not know this Zhen Yingjia.
Yet the name still felt familiar.
So where had he heard it before?
Seeing his genuine confusion, Wei Ruo Qiong’s displeasure faded, replaced by a hint of helplessness. “Lord Lin, your esteemed wife hails from Rongguo Mansion. The Zhen family to which this Lord Zhen belongs is an old relative of the Jia family…”
Before he could finish, Lin Ruhai suddenly realized.
Yes, he had heard from Jia Min that there were several old relatives in Jinling. However, priding himself as part of the “clean stream” faction, he disliked associating with the hereditary nobility. Over the years, aside from maintaining obligatory social ties with Rongguo Mansion, he had paid no mind to any of its relatives.
Even with Rongguo Mansion itself… Since Jia Min married into the Lin Family, she had followed the Lin Family’s Stipend Allocation, a far cry from the lavish lifestyle she once led in Rongguo Mansion.
“Please forgive this, Lord Wei. This official is… not very familiar with my wife’s maternal relatives. We have had no contact over the years.” Lin Ruhai flushed with embarrassment, his heart uneasy.
Who would have thought that a distant relative with no real connection would commit such grave offenses?
Although Zhen Yingjia had the backing of the Retired Emperor, just from Wei Ruo Qiong’s words, it was clear the Emperor held a grudge against the Zhen family!
“Lord Lin truly is an ‘aloof and upright’ man. Not only do you have little contact with your wife’s relatives, it seems you also have little to do with your own clan’s Zhen Pin, the imperial consort?” Seeing Lin Ruhai’s sincere words, Wei Ruo Qiong wasn’t fully convinced; he would investigate later.
Lin Ruhai broke into a sweat. “The imperial consort is young, and this official is older. Although we are siblings, there are proprieties between men and women to observe. Currently, this official is tutoring the consort’s brother. Brother Han shows talent, and this official is quite pleased.”
Especially since he himself had no sons yet. To take on a talented student, and a family member at that—how could he not be happy?
Wei Ruo Qiong gave a noncommittal “Hmm” and didn’t press further, instead returning to the matter of Zhen Yingjia. “The Zhen family has been entrenched in Jinling for a long time, with a vast, branched lineage and numerous connections. Gathering evidence will not be a quick task. Once I finish handling this disaster relief matter, I must return to the capital. As for the Zhen family… I’ll leave it to the two of you to investigate.”
He glanced at the old fox Qian Mingfeng, who remained silent, then at Lin Ruhai, whose face showed the innocence of a newcomer but whose eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence.
His mind was immediately made up.
“Lord Lin, I have heard that your wife and daughter are not in the best of health. I would like to recommend a retired senior Imperial Physician to you. Would you be willing?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai was taken aback for a moment before great joy washed over him.
He hurriedly clasped his hands in gratitude. “Thank you, my lord. I could not ask for more.”
Wei Ruo Qiong stood up. “Lord Lin, the imperial consort in the palace hopes for your well-being.” He patted Lin Ruhai’s shoulder, imitating Qian Mingfeng’s usual manner. “Do not disappoint the expectations of the imperial consort and His Majesty.”
Lin Ruhai understood the underlying message, feeling a sudden weight on his shoulders.
Was it pressure?
No, it was the opportunity and trust His Majesty had bestowed upon him.
He took a deep breath. “Yes, I am willing to go through fire and water for His Majesty without hesitation.”
Wei Ruo Qiong cared little for such verbal assurances; he only valued tangible actions!
Inside Yongshou Palace.
A Yuan stared at the System Interface, seeing only the history log…
[Points +50, Points +50, Points…]
Yes, she was finally earning income!
Every time the Emperor slept with a Candidate Maiden, one of her Task Scrolls would disappear, and she would gain fifty Points. A Yuan watched her Points balance daily, hoping to quickly accumulate five hundred Points for a ten Consecutive Draws. What if her luck turned, and she drew a top-tier Gold-rank SSR card in one go?
But!
In the end, the Points stopped at [four hundred and fifty].
“Bang—” A Yuan slammed the table angrily and glared at Aunt Jin. “What’s gotten into him this time? Are the girls in the Rear Three Palaces not pretty enough? Not gentle enough? Not obedient enough?”
Just one more! Was the Emperor suffering from some mental affliction?
Aunt Jin hurriedly presented her mistress with a cup of calming tea. “Mistress, please calm your anger. This servant thinks it might be because Yanxi Palace can no longer accommodate anyone.”
Since the Emperor favored Wei Daying, he had indulged himself, consecutively favoring several Candidate Maidens.
But the Emperor seemed unsatisfied with all of them, as he only granted them the rank of Daying and crammed them all into Yanxi Palace… Now, apart from the main halls at the front and back, all the side halls, annex rooms, and smaller chambers in Yanxi Palace were fully occupied.
A Yuan couldn’t help but change “Three Palaces” to “Four Palaces.”
“The Twelve Eastern and Western Palaces all have vacant rooms. What is he thinking, insisting on squeezing into Yanxi Palace? Could it be some kind of paradise?” A Yuan was so furious her eyes seemed ready to shoot flames.
Aunt Jin truly didn’t know what the Emperor was thinking either.
Those girls varied in appearance—some slender and graceful, others plump and prosperous. Among those who had fought their way out of over a thousand Candidate Maidens, how many were not beauties? At most, they simply couldn’t compare to her own mistress.
A Yuan sniffled. Already in her pregnancy, she couldn’t control her emotional fluctuations, and now her eyes reddened with grievance. “This consort is so angry she could vomit from pregnancy!”
Aunt Jin was heartbroken and quickly stepped forward to support her mistress.
“Imperial consort, please do not grieve. It’s only fifty Points. Why not look for other Tasks? Even if the Reward is only five Points, this servant will help you complete it.”
A Yuan waved her hand. “Forget it, let it be. He’s not exactly chaste anyway. He might just complete it at some point.”
Unless absolutely necessary, she would never take on a five-Point Task!
Since the Emperor was no longer summoning new ladies to attend the bedchamber, it was time for her to seize the opportunity to boost the romance points. Thanks to his earlier promise, the Emperor had been dining with A Yuan recently. Between the Imperial Kitchen and the small kitchen of Yongshou Palace, A Yuan had been nourished to a rosy, radiant complexion, looking exceptionally beautiful.
As her pregnancy stabilized, the morning sickness symptoms gradually faded away.
The Emperor’s gaze toward A Yuan also began to gleam with a certain intensity, to the point where A Yuan had become somewhat reluctant to meet with him lately, fearing that this wolfish man might lose control and get handsy with a pregnant woman.
So, if she wanted to boost the romance points, she would have to wait until the Emperor had been summoning new ladies consecutively, exhausting himself day after day, and feeling a bit drained in the kidneys.
“Your Majesty…”
As soon as Shui Cong stepped through the main gate of Yongshou Palace’s main hall, he heard his beloved consort’s call. He hurried into the Western Warm Chamber and saw A Yuan sitting inside the green gauze cabinet, her hair loosely draped over her shoulders. She wore a pale, water-colored outer robe over her sleeping garments, reclining lazily against a large cushion, looking utterly relaxed.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. My body feels heavy, and I cannot rise to greet you properly.” A Yuan’s hand rested lightly on her abdomen, which already showed a slight curve despite being only three months along.
How could Shui Cong bear to blame her? He simply removed his shoes and reclined beside her.
Though A Yuan was leaning against the cushion, she wasn’t merely lying there. Beside her was a small table holding a fruit platter and a storybook. Shui Cong settled on the other side of the table and naturally picked up the book, glancing at the cover: “The Tale of Meeting the True One?”
He frowned. “Why are you reading this? The ending is too tragic—it might upset you.”
A Yuan shrugged indifferently. “I just won’t read the ending then. Besides, it’s only a storybook; it’s not to be taken seriously. I’m not one to overthink things—I’m just here for a bit of fun.”
Shui Cong laughed and tapped her forehead. “You certainly know how to take things lightly.”
A Yuan playfully grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, acting like a mischievous rogue.
“Are you imitating Zhang Sheng or Yingying?” Shui Cong retorted, catching her hand in return. That he could ask such a question showed he had also read The Tale of Meeting the True One.
“Of course, the dashing and charming Zhang Sheng.”
A Yuan struck a pose like a young scholar, but before Shui Cong could react, she burst into laughter herself. Her cheerful mood was contagious, lifting the Emperor’s spirits, which had been weighed down by worries over the floods in Jiangnan. Seeing A Yuan so carefree made him feel relaxed as well.
“The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. Jiangnan has sent a batch of palace flowers, and I think they suit you quite well. I’ll have Chang’an deliver them all to Yongshou Palace later. Pick as you like—keep what you fancy and give the rest to the palace maids.”
When the Emperor was in a good mood, the rewards flowed freely.
A Yuan glanced at him and spoke with a hint of playful jealousy, “Is this a gift for me alone, or do the other sisters have them too?” As she spoke, she glanced in the direction of Yanxi Palace.
Shui Cong pushed aside the small table, leaned over, and pulled her into his arms. “Naturally, it’s for you alone. I have no interest in going anywhere else.”
Those lower-ranked ladies had attended the bedchamber for only one night before being forgotten, now all huddled in Yanxi Palace, waiting for the Emperor to summon them again. Unfortunately, the Emperor had not given them another thought.
A little jealousy spices up the romance.
After that came a quiet embrace. Shui Cong held the beauty in his arms, his hands continuously stroking her waterfall-like long hair. He truly adored this sensation—smooth, soft, dense… holding the strands felt like grasping a cloud.
This was a feeling absent from other women.
Those women, uniformly dull and uninteresting, no matter their outward appearance, always managed to turn his enthusiasm into indifference, ultimately reducing everything to a tedious, unremarkable game.
Although A Yuan was pregnant, she was versatile. Those private art tutoring sessions back in Yangzhou had not been in vain.
Playing chess, arranging flowers, playing the qin… she could even sing tunes.
The Emperor felt that time passed far too quickly when he was with Zhen Pin. In the blink of an eye, the sky had darkened.
“Your Majesty, will you be leaving tonight?” A Yuan tugged at the Emperor’s sleeve, her face full of reluctance.
Shui Cong embraced her in return. “Tonight, I will stay at Yongshou Palace to accompany you.”
A Yuan was delighted and immediately set the palace maids bustling about. Even after lying down in bed, she kept shifting restlessly.
Watching her, Shui Cong’s heart softened. He held her close. “Are you this happy that I’m staying?”
“Of course,” A Yuan murmured into his embrace.
Shui Cong patted her back. By convention, he shouldn’t stay in the palace of a pregnant imperial consort, but who could resist Zhen Pin’s need for him? Naturally, an exception had to be made. Moreover… with so few consorts in the palace now, no one would be keeping a close watch on Yongshou Palace.
“Sleep,” he soothed, gently combing through her hair until she fell into a deep slumber.
A Yuan rolled her eyes inwardly.
Over these days, she had also noticed the Emperor’s fondness for her hair. Every time he visited, he would pull her into his arms and quietly stroke her hair.
It was as if he had a hair fetish.
The next day, Shui Cong once again left Yongshou Palace refreshed and invigorated. He had slept extremely well that night, as if all the fatigue from recent days had been completely washed away. Both his body and spirit had returned to their most perfect state.
A Yuan, on the other hand, did not rise until noon. Lazily helped to her dressing table, she yawned, “No need for an elaborate hairstyle. Since I’m not going out, just make it as fresh and comfortable as possible.”
“Yes, imperial consort,” Shi Shu responded, her fingers deftly weaving red cords into A Yuan’s hair. Instead of being styled into a proper bun, her hair was loosely draped down her back, casually tied with a single red silk ribbon.
“That will do,” A Yuan said, examining herself in the mirror from side to side. She then directed Shi Shu to pin a velvet flower into her hair before nodding in satisfaction.
“Imperial consort, this servant has learned a few new hairstyles. I’ll show them to you when there’s time,” Shi Shu said, feeling somewhat anxious upon seeing A Yuan’s preference for simplicity. Ever since Bao Qin had displayed unparalleled acting talent, Shi Shu had felt a sense of crisis.
Since her own acting skills were lacking, she decided to excel in other areas. Fortunately, she had a good eye for aesthetics and was diligent and eager to learn. She had begged Aunt Jin to find her a teacher, from whom she learned the arts of hairstyling, makeup, and clothing coordination.
It was just a pity that the imperial consort was now pregnant and prioritized comfort in her attire, making it difficult for Shi Shu to showcase her skills.
“That sounds wonderful. Didn’t His Majesty say we would go to the summer palace after the Dragon Boat Festival? Then Shi Shu can style my hair into something light and elegant.” A Yuan didn’t mind healthy competition among her palace maids—after all, she was the one who ultimately benefited. “Also, pick a few bolts of fabric in soft, refreshing colors from the storeroom to make clothes for wearing at the summer palace.” Shi Shu quickly nodded, as this was her area of expertise.
“By the way, where is Bao Qin?”
A Yuan rose from her dressing table, and Shi Shu quickly supported her hand. “Reporting to the imperial consort, Sister Bao Qin went to the Flora and Fauna Office early this morning. Now, with the scorching sun blazing, the water in the peace vats becomes almost scalding by noon. We must find a fishbowl to transfer the fish, or they’ll soon be cooked.”
“They should indeed be moved indoors sooner rather than later…”
Although the peace vats held plenty of water, constant exposure to the sun would likely turn live fish into fish soup if this continued.
After getting up, A Yuan had her breakfast and then strolled around the courtyard, leaning on Aunt Jin’s arm. She had not been stingy with Shui Cong last night—not only had she kept him in deep sleep, but she had also secretly given him nutrient water. Presumably, he would have the energy to stir up trouble today.
There were still quite a few scrolls waiting for him in the Rear Three Palaces!
How could an Emperor slack off?
After completing several laps, a light sweat had formed on her back. A Yuan returned to her room to freshen up, changed her clothes, and prepared to review the account books. Although she had entered the palace, Lin Ruhai had given her a dowry, which she had already reported to Shui Cong. Shui Cong had specially permitted the account books to be sent into the palace quarterly, allowing her to manage her dowry.
Lin Ruhai was not a stingy person. In Jingcheng alone, he owned several shops and residences, not to mention estates in the suburbs. Although these estates were small, they consisted of prime paddy fields, yielding considerable income from farming each year. Moreover, the estates were contiguous, with many tenant households living between them, relying on rented land for their livelihood.
A Yuan was not short of money, so she generously rewarded her servants in daily life.
Now, Yongshou Palace had become a highly desirable destination for everyone in the imperial harem.
In contrast was Yanxi Palace. Although it housed many mistresses, none were favored, and they were financially strained. Not only were they unable to give rewards, but even finding money to order extra dishes from the Imperial Kitchen was difficult. Although each received a monthly Stipend Allocation, how much could an imperial concubine’s stipend be? It was even less than that of the female officials in other palaces.
Just as A Yuan was reviewing the account books, Bao Qin entered cheerfully. “Imperial consort, Eunuch Youfu has come to deliver palace flowers to you.”
“It seems His Majesty hasn’t forgotten.” A Yuan closed the account book and invited Youfu inside.
Accompanying Youfu was a matron dressed in purple, holding a tray with a wooden box. The box was open, neatly arranged with over twenty palace flowers of various kinds. He cleverly introduced, “Look, imperial consort. There are twelve months in a year, each with its own flower. Two of each have been made, forming two complete sets, perfectly suited for you.”
A Yuan picked up a lotus hairpin and examined it carefully. The palace flowers sent into the palace were naturally flawless.
“This consort is very pleased. Eunuch Youfu, please convey this consort’s gratitude to His Majesty.”
With that, she glanced at Bao Qin, who naturally stepped forward and presented a pouch containing silver notes.
Youfu accepted the reward, his smile growing even more sincere.
“This servant must return to Qianqing Palace to report, so I shall take my leave now.” After delivering the items, Youfu prepared to return to Qianqing Palace.
Jin Momo stepped forward first to see him off. “Take care, Eunuch Youfu.”
Youfu smiled and nodded, then left directly. In contrast, the purple-clad matron lingered, taking a long time to leave the gates of Yongshou Palace. Only after Youfu turned the corner toward Yuehua Gate did the purple-clad matron turn back and re-enter Yongshou Palace.
“Mistress.” Upon entering, the purple-clad matron knelt before A Yuan, though her expression was somewhat troubled. “This servant, Zi Yi, pays respects to the mistress.”
Aunt Jin had Bao Qin and the others leave early, so now only the three of them remained in the main hall.
A Yuan sipped her milk and looked at Matron Zi Yi. “Where do you serve? Why did it take so long for you to come to Yongshou Palace?”
That’s right, this Matron Zi Yi was precisely the [SR Purple Matron Card] A Yuan had used.
“Replying to my lady, this servant serves at…” Matron Zi Yi hesitated, closing her eyes briefly before gritting her teeth and saying, “This servant serves at Jiangxue Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.”
Although she wasn’t assigned to scrub toilet buckets, she wasn’t exactly a highly valued matron either—just slightly better off than those in the cold palace.
Matron Zi Yi wore a sullen expression, her entire demeanor radiating displeasure.
She secretly resented her situation. If only she had connections or silver, she wouldn’t have been stuck doing such menial work. But now things were looking up—she had gained her lady’s favor, and there was hope for advancement in the future.
“Then you must be very close to Ningshou Palace?” A Yuan’s eyes lit up.
That was an excellent location.
Hearing the excitement in her lady’s tone, Matron Zi Yi relaxed a little. “Jiangxue Pavilion is indeed close to Ningshou Palace. The imperial consorts from Ningshou Palace often stroll in the Imperial Garden when they have free time, though to avoid any mishaps, they usually stay around Jiangxue Pavilion.”
So she was quite familiar with the consorts of Ningshou Palace—even more so than those from the Rear Three Palaces or Yanxi Palace.
Fearing her lady might be dissatisfied, she immediately shared all the gossip she knew about Ningshou Palace.
A Yuan: “…”
She opened the System Interface and found Matron Zi Yi’s Card Face. The previously question-mark-filled card had changed—the skills column now boldly displayed [Spread Rumors] and [Gossip].
Well, this was another powerful tool!
A Yuan cleared her throat lightly. “For now, I don’t need you to do anything. Just continue staying at Jiangxue Pavilion and keep an eye on news from Ningshou Palace. If anything important happens, notify Aunt Jin immediately.” As she spoke, she took out a hundred-tael silver note and handed it to Matron Zi Yi. “You’ve worked hard. Take this silver note for your use. If it’s not enough, just let us know.”
Matron Zi Yi was so moved her eyes reddened.
Her lady was too kind!
She hadn’t even completed any tasks yet, and she was already receiving a reward.
“Rest assured, my lady, not a single piece of news from Ningshou Palace will escape this servant’s ears.” Matron Zi Yi resolved fiercely. Since her lady wanted to know about Ningshou Palace, she would even find out how many times the consorts used the toilet bucket each day.
A Yuan nodded but still cautioned, “Without my orders, you must not speak carelessly.”
Those two skills made her somewhat distrustful of Matron Zi Yi’s mouth.
Matron Zi Yi immediately pressed her lips together, indicating she wouldn’t speak recklessly without good reason.
“By the way, since you work at Jiangxue Pavilion, how did you end up coming with Eunuch Youfu to deliver palace flowers?” After giving her instructions, A Yuan finally remembered to ask about this.
Matron Zi Yi chuckled sheepishly. “This servant is from the same hometown as Eunuch Youfu. I told You Fu I wanted to find a better position, so Eunuch Youfu brought me to Yongshou Palace, giving me a chance to seek a good mistress.”
A Yuan blinked.
Same hometown…
She was starting to understand the benefits of purple cards.
“But I won’t be transferring you to Yongshou Palace. Instead, I hope you’ll return to Jiangxue Pavilion. How will you report this to Eunuch Youfu?”
Zi Yi Momo smiled even more broadly. “This servant is lazy. The rules of Yongshou Palace are strict, and after hearing them, I feared the trouble and lost my nerve at the entrance, not daring to enter the main hall to disturb the imperial consort.”
A Yuan nodded with satisfaction and praised, “Truly worthy of having a clever tongue.”
“Thank you for your praise, Mistress.”
For Zi Yi Momo, these words were the highest praise.
A Yuan asked a few more questions about Ningshou Palace before having Aunt Jin lead Zi Yi Momo out. Once outside, Zi Yi looked at Aunt Jin with great envy. “You’re so fortunate to be able to serve the mistress closely.”
“If you work hard to level up and advance to a Gold Card soon, you’ll also be able to serve closely in the future,” Aunt Jin comforted her. “Besides, your current skills aren’t suitable for staying by the mistress’s side.”
That would be a huge trouble.
Zi Yi Momo nodded in agreement. “Someone like me should stay hidden behind the scenes, stirring up storms.”
Her expression was fierce and gloomy, carrying a distinct air of a major villain.
Aunt Jin found it painful to look at and hurriedly shooed her away. “Hurry back to your Jiangxue Pavilion.”
Zi Yi Momo ‘hmph’-ed, rolled her eyes, and left haughtily.
A Yuan had finally met the legendary purple card Matron and discovered that this purple card Matron was not only not useless but even had unique uses. She even felt a bit tempted to issue all the remaining purple cards at once but ultimately restrained herself.
After all, she was still young. What if she couldn’t draw any purple cards in the future?
She needed to use them sparingly.
After lunch, A Yuan took another nap. Upon waking, she heard that the Emperor had summoned another Candidate Maiden from the Rear Three Palaces to attend the bedchamber that evening. Upon hearing the name, it turned out to be Wang Xiling.
“It seems she has weathered the storm and finally sees the moonlight—she’s finally going to have a proper status.”
A Yuan sighed for Wang Xiling. “I just don’t know where she’ll be assigned tomorrow when the palaces are allocated. Yanxi Palace really can’t accommodate any more.”
“At most, it will be one of the Eastern Six Palaces; she won’t be assigned to the Western Six Palaces to disturb the imperial consort’s peace,” Aunt Jin had a good grasp of the Emperor’s thoughts. Unless Wang Xiling particularly pleased the Emperor, she was likely destined for a collective dormitory.
Sure enough, the next day, the Emperor only granted Wang Xiling the rank and title of a Daying. Since Yanxi Palace was full, she was crammed into a side hall of Yonghe Palace.
However…
When Wang Xiling was in Zhongcui Palace, she lived in a small side room. Now, having moved to the west side hall of Yonghe Palace, her room was nearly three times larger than before, so she should presumably be satisfied.
Was Wang Xiling satisfied?
Naturally, she was very dissatisfied.
Yonghe Palace was dilapidated from years of neglect and carried a musty, decaying smell.
Unlike the exquisitely renovated Yongshou Palace, Yonghe Palace had once housed a princess from the Zhenzhen Kingdom who came for a political marriage. This princess was far from easygoing; she had stirred up trouble in the imperial harem for many years by exploiting the characteristic of radioactive stone material that causes fetal deformities. It wasn’t until the Retired Emperor discovered this and confined her to Yonghe Palace that she was imprisoned there until her death a few years ago.
Both father and son found Yonghe Palace inauspicious, and since renovating the palace required funds, they had sealed it off.
Who would have thought that it would now be reopened for Wang Xiling to live in.
Upon moving to the palace and seeing the desolate scene of Yonghe Palace, Wang Xiling couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
She didn’t expect it to be as luxurious as Zhen Pin’s Yongshou Palace, but at the very least, it should have been a quiet and livable place. Yet now?
Wang Xiling’s eyes were red-rimmed. Already physically exhausted from attending the bedchamber, she now wished she could faint dead away and wake up to find herself still in Qianqing Palace, with everything about Yonghe Palace being just a dream.
But unfortunately, her constitution was robust—she couldn’t even faint if she tried.
“Wang Daying, you will reside in the western side hall.” So stop staring wide-eyed at the main hall—that’s not a place you can live in.
The western side hall?
Wang Xiling was momentarily stunned. She suddenly remembered she was only a Daying and seemed to have no right to occupy the main hall. When she saw the state of the western side hall, her heart sank even further. Not only was it as dilapidated as the main hall, but it wasn’t even half its size.
The eunuch pointed to the few junior maids and junior eunuchs kneeling on the ground. “These are assigned by the Imperial Household Department to serve the Daying.” He didn’t bother with introductions, simply flicking his whisk. “The room has already been tidied up. The Stipend Allocation will be delivered shortly. Since the Daying is tired, you should rest early.”
After saying this, he bowed and withdrew.
When Wei Daying was first enfeoffed some time ago, the Imperial Household Department had rushed to curry favor for a couple of days, but who could have guessed she would turn out to be useless?
Nowadays, with Dayings coming one after another, the Imperial Household Department had grown indifferent.
Unless another imperial consort was initially enfeoffed as a Noble Lady, they would never go out of their way to flatter anyone.
After the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department left, the vast Yonghe Palace returned to silence. Wang Xiling struggled to suppress her resentment before beginning to question the servants on the ground.
Three maids and three eunuchs, all young, thin, and small, appearing timid and useless.
Wang Xiling selected the eldest among them, Qiu Yu, to serve her personally.
Upon entering the western side hall, Wang Xiling’s sense of disappointment grew even stronger. Clenching her fists, she gritted her teeth. “How can anyone live in such a dilapidated palace?”
“Master, although this place is… a bit old, at least the doors and windows are intact, and the inside has been cleaned. It just lacks a lived-in feel. Once we settle in and tidy it up properly, it will soon regain its vitality,” Qiu Yu whispered, trying to comfort her master.
Wang Xiling closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Yonghe Palace, Yongshou Palace—only one character apart.”
Yet the reality was worlds apart.
Qiu Yu shrank her neck… her master truly dared to dream. She was only a Daying—how could she compare to Zhen Pin, the imperial consort?
“Let’s tidy up. Once we’re settled, we’ll go take a look at Yanxi Palace.” Wang Xiling was now eager to visit Yanxi Palace ahead to see the living conditions of other Dayings. Since she couldn’t compare to Yongshou Palace, surely it had to be better than Yanxi Palace!