As soon as Shen Si heard his icy tone, she quickly let go of her hand, then reluctantly grasped the sleeve of His Majesty’s robe.
With immense grievance, she said, “I know, but I couldn’t help it.”
Seeing that she was completely unaware, Gu Lingyun thought of her fainting yesterday and refrained from further reprimand. “I must attend the Morning Court Assembly. You may have your meal here, and return to Qingshui Palace afterward.”
“Furthermore, without my summons, you are not permitted to come again.”
Shen Si dared not utter a word. It was clear that His Majesty was somewhat angry by saying this, and she was self-aware enough to know that His Majesty still blamed her.
Yet he had already shown her much leniency and made many exceptions; otherwise, she would have lost her head countless times.
Even her nine clans would not have been enough to atone.
While His Majesty changed his clothes, she was not allowed to leave the bed and could only watch him. “Then… what if I miss Your Majesty?”
“I’ll feel miserable if I can’t see Your Majesty—unable to eat or sleep.”
Gu Lingyun’s expression remained indifferent. “I will visit you when I have time.”
“When will Your Majesty have time?” A glimmer of hope flickered in Shen Si’s eyes. It would be good if His Majesty were willing to come.
Gu Lingyun’s gaze fell upon her expectant face. “That is not for you to ask.”
No one is allowed to casually inquire about the emperor’s schedule—this is both palace regulations and the law.
Shen Si felt a pang of disappointment but obediently nestled into the blankets, her eyes darting around.
“Could Your Majesty grant me a small token?”
“So that when I cannot see Your Majesty, I may have something to remember you by.”
“Very well.” Gu Lingyun ordered someone to bring a copy of the Book of Songs.
Shen Si accepted it excitedly, only to find it was just a book.
“Your Majesty?”
“Three hundred and eleven poems. Take it and memorize them well.” The Dragon Robe on Gu Lingyun exuded solemn dignity, and his innate imperial aura, like the overwhelming might of heaven, inspired awe and fear.
He was about to leave.
Shen Si instinctively dared not look directly at the emperor’s face. “I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty.”
After the emperor left,
she opened the Book of Songs and recalled how three years ago, when the then-crown prince ascended the throne and became emperor, he had no time to attend to her and instead made her memorize the Book of Songs.
He had even said he would test her on it. At the time, she happened to be memorizing the line, “The young man and the maiden, they jest and play, and give each other peonies,” thus learning that peonies could also be used to express love.
After that, she planted many peonies and gave them all to Xie Queshan. He clearly understood her meaning and accepted them all. Only later did she learn that he had thrown those peonies into the stables, letting the animals trample them at will.
Shen Si discovered that this copy of the Book of Songs had been personally transcribed by His Majesty. Holding it, she felt a surge of joy. A palace maid urged her to rise and have her meal.
His Majesty had specifically instructed that Lady Xie must finish her meal.
Shen Si was hungry and naturally ate a fair amount. Even if she wished to linger longer, she dared not.
Carrying the Book of Songs, she returned, intending to study diligently and work hard.
However, on her way back to Qingshui Palace, she passed through the imperial garden and encountered several imperial consorts from the rear palace.
Among them was Noble Consort Ning.
Shen Si frowned slightly and steeled herself to approach and pay her respects. “I greet Noble Consort, Consort Cui, Lady Lin, and Lady Tian.”
“It’s Marquess Xie’s Lady. Where have you come from, and where are you headed?”
Consort Cui gave a light smile. She had always been the kindest woman in the palace—her magnanimity and gentleness were unmatched, and even His Majesty praised her for her virtue and goodness.
Moreover, as the legitimate daughter of the Qinghe Cui clan, her background in the rear palace was exceptionally solid.
Noble Consort Ning’s meaningful gaze fell upon her, noticing the book she held in her arms.
Shen Si knew the palace regulations were strict. Even with His Majesty’s protection, she had to be clever and not let these people bully her or act impulsively again. She needed to keep her composure.
“Replying to Consort Cui, this subject’s wife has just come from Tai Fei’s side and was about to return to Qingshui Palace.”
Fortunately, Tai Fei’s Kunning Palace and His Majesty’s Qinzheng Hall were in the same direction.
Consort Cui beckoned her over: “Lady Xie, you may rise. You’ve been staying in the palace for nearly half a month for Tai Fei’s birthday banquet. It shows how much Tai Fei dotes on you. This consort wanted to have my younger sister enter the palace to keep me company, but it wasn’t allowed.”
Even if Shen Si didn’t want to go over, she had no choice but to approach when called, her mind racing on how to leave.
With Noble Consort Ning here, she would surely seize the opportunity to scheme against her.
“With Tai Fei’s birthday approaching, this subject’s wife wishes to show more filial piety to Tai Fei.” Shen Si evaded the topic, feeling immense pressure under their stares.
Noble Consort Ning indeed spoke up: “Lady Xie, I heard His Majesty ordered you to copy the palace regulations. How about reciting them for me? Let me hear if there are any mistakes.”
“And, go kneel down there to recite.”
Since she was the Imperial Consort, she absolutely would not swallow this grievance.
Within the harem, beneath His Majesty and the Empress, she had to vent this resentment.
Consort Cui glanced at her in surprise: “Noble Consort, this isn’t appropriate.”
Noble Consort Ning insisted: “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Shen Si, weren’t you quite arrogant? Why don’t you dare now?”
Shen Si’s anger surged layer by layer, the sense of humiliation pressing behind her eyes, turning into a furious glare. But gritting her teeth, she still knelt down.
“Inner Decrees: When performing obeisance rites, cross hands three inches below the navel, bow fifteen degrees, gaze fixed on the third bead of the rear shoe. When rising, knees must not tremble, skirts must not sway.”
“Inner Decrees: Conduct Chapter: Smile without showing gums, weep without making a sound, speak without crossing thresholds.”
…
“Palace gate keys are divided into four colors. At the beginning of the You hour (17:00), the Palace Domestic Service, Imperial City Department, Hallfront Department, and Imperial Pharmacy each hold one key. All are indispensable for opening.”
Lady Lin looked at Noble Consort Ning with concern. As an old-timer from the Eastern Palace, she knew better than anyone how biased His Majesty was toward this Second Miss Shen.
It seemed Shen Si entered the palace to accompany Tai Fei, but in reality, His Majesty had been visiting Kunning Palace more frequently these days.
Which of the sisters in the palace didn’t show some respect to this Marquess Xie’s Lady? Moreover, she wasn’t entering the palace permanently, posing no threat.
If His Majesty found out, they wouldn’t know how to explain. She hesitated, looking at Noble Consort Ning, but since they were allies, she couldn’t simply leave.
Consort Cui certainly knew this too. Regardless of their alliance, she hurried to help Shen Si up: “Noble Consort Ning, His Majesty’s favor isn’t for you to act recklessly.”
“Where you can show mercy, show mercy.”
She wasn’t that kind-hearted, vaguely recalling when His Majesty was still the Crown Prince, all the sisters had entered the Eastern Palace, only Shen Si remained in her boudoir awaiting marriage.
Second Miss Shen freely came and went from the Eastern Palace, attending the Crown Prince. Back then, because of that incident, the Crown Prince secretly executed several people for Shen Si.
They all knew Shen Si was different to His Majesty compared to others.
Shen Si pushed Consort Cui away, stared at Noble Consort Ning, and knelt again: “It’s fine. Since Noble Consort wishes to punish this subject’s wife, I dare not disobey.”
The book in her embrace accidentally fell to the ground, opening to reveal handwriting that was bold and unrestrained, magnificent and peerless, the brushwork’s divine charm particularly noble.
Consort Cui had already recognized it—this was His Majesty’s handwriting.
“Noble Consort Ning, this consort should return to see Zheng’er.”
She left without hesitation—Ning Ruoxue was courting death, and she wasn’t going to accompany her.
She had thought her clever, but it turned out she was just being clever in her own eyes!
Consort Cui took the lead, and Lady Lin also rose to bid farewell.
Lady Tian had arrived later and didn’t know the identity of the Second Miss Shen. In an attempt to curry favor, she said to Noble Consort Ning, “Sister Noble Consort, how dare a mere marquess’s wife show you such disrespect? It’s as if she doesn’t know who holds His Majesty’s favor most in the rear palace.”