The palace maids served them pastries and hot tea.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Fujia would have chatted with Wen Lier.
But with Yang Ni Shan present, she had no desire to speak.
Yang Ni Shan had an arrogant temperament and came from a prestigious family, looking down on girls like Lin Fujia who were from humble backgrounds.
Whenever Lin Fujia said anything, Yang Ni Shan would mock her with a few remarks.
Her face full of disdain made Lin Fujia somewhat unable to bear it.
With no one speaking, the warmth of the chamber was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and a faint awkwardness hung in the air.
After a long wait, Xie Zhenrong finally emerged slowly, supported by a palace maid.
She was dressed in a rose-red embroidered golden-threaded brocade gown, her makeup exquisite, and her demeanor dignified and elegant.
Wen Lier and the others rose one after another, curtsying in greeting.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess, we wish you well.”
Xie Zhenrong glanced at the three of them, her expression indifferent.
“The weather is cold now, and it must be difficult for you to come so early. I have ordered bird’s nest to be prepared. Each of you, have a bowl to warm yourselves.”
The three curtsied once more.
“Thank you, Crown Princess.”
Braving such cold weather to come here, having a bowl of bird’s nest from Fuyao Hall made it all worthwhile.
Soon, the maids in the hall brought the bird’s nest and placed it beside them.
Lin Fujia, who was always carefree and unrestrained, finished the bird’s nest in a few mouthfuls.
Yang Ni Shan took a few symbolic sips.
Wen Lier had eaten too much earlier and still felt a dull ache from being overly full.
Faced with a steaming bowl of bird’s nest, she only took a couple of slow sips.
The warm chamber fell into silence once again, until Xie Zhenrong broke it.
“Bong Yi Yang, I heard another maid died in your quarters?”
Yang Ni Shan hadn’t expected Xie Zhenrong to bring this up suddenly.
It was just a lowly wretch who tried to seduce His Highness.
When His Highness summoned her to serve him, that maid had heavily made up and dressed flamboyantly—her intentions couldn’t have been more obvious!!!
Yang Ni Shan loved His Highness deeply and couldn’t stand the idea of someone around her harboring such ambitions to climb the social ladder.
In her anger, she had the maid beaten to death.
But in front of Xie Zhenrong, she naturally couldn’t tell the truth.
She stood up and gave a somewhat haughty curtsy to Xie Zhenrong.
“Replying to the Crown Princess, that maid had sticky fingers and secretly took many of my dowry items. I had spared her twice before, but she refused to mend her ways. As the saying goes, three strikes and you’re out, so I had no choice but to deal with her.”
Xie Zhenrong looked at her coldly. A mere Bong Yi taking it upon herself to execute a palace maid was against the rules.
Regardless of what offense the maid had committed, it should have been investigated and decided by her, the Crown Princess.
But Yang Ni Shan, relying on her prestigious background, repeatedly acted arrogantly and disrespectfully, disregarding palace regulations.
She had long wanted to deal with her, but His Highness currently needed the support of court officials, and Yang Ni Shan still had some use.
So, she had to endure it, coldly watching Yang Ni Shan’s antics.
Just wait, she thought, wait for this woman to dig her own grave.
Xie Zhenrong took a sip of her bird’s nest, then glanced around at the three Bong Yis and said, “His Highness has always been diligent in governance and cares for the people, commanding respect throughout the land. As his wives and concubines, we must never seek our own pleasure at the cost of tarnishing his illustrious reputation.”
Yang Ni Shan clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves, barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes.
How could a lowly maid tarnish His Highness’s reputation?
She’s always waving a chicken feather as a command arrow, swaggering about like a fox pretending to be a tiger!
Why don’t you mention how many palace maids and servants have been executed in your own Fuyao Hall over the past six months?
Though these thoughts crossed her mind, she dared not voice them.
Yang Ni Shan clenched her palms and bowed in acknowledgment.
Just then, a palace attendant hurried in to announce that the Crown Prince had arrived.
Everyone in the warm chamber was startled, including the Crown Princess whose eyes flickered with surprise.
She led the three Bong Yis to rise and greet the Crown Prince, all performing synchronized courtesies.
The Crown Prince always attended lectures at Deli Pavilion at this hour every day.
Why had he returned to the inner palace so early today?
Yan Shixu took his seat at the head of the room and spoke calmly, “Rise, all of you.”
Xie Zhenrong stepped forward to inquire, “Your Highness, why didn’t you go to Deli Pavilion today?”
“The Grand Tutor had some family matters and requested leave.”
Yan Shixu’s gaze swept over the figures before him, finally settling on Wen Lier with a hint of puzzlement in his eyes.
Xie Zhenrong stepped forward to explain.
“Your Highness, this is Wen Fengyi. She entered the Eastern Palace together with Yang Fengyi and Lin Fengyi, but fell ill immediately after arriving and has only recently recovered.”
After speaking, she turned to Wen Lier.
“Wen Fengyi, step forward so His Highness may have a proper look at you.”
Wen Lier lowered her head and advanced.
She wore a misty-pink gown embroidered with willow branches, her dark hair secured with a single white jade hairpin and no makeup.
She overheard the Crown Prince responding to the Crown Princess.
“I do recall you mentioning there were three of them, but I became preoccupied and forgot.”
Yan Shixu’s voice was deep and pleasant, steady and magnetic with a subtle, resonant allure that made one instinctively want to glimpse his face.
He looked down at the woman before him, somewhat perplexed.
Was he so frightening? Her head was nearly buried in her chest.
“Lift your head.”
Hearing this, Wen Lier slowly raised her head.
The Crown Prince’s face came into view, truly as the rumors described—refined as the clear breeze and bright moon, dignified and imposing, with dragon-like grace and phoenix-like bearing.
Wen Lier felt her heart inexplicably flutter.
During her time in the women’s quarters, she had often wondered what her destiny would be and what kind of person she would marry.
She had even taken up a brush with her girlfriends to sketch their ideal future husbands on paper.
Now, looking closely, the Crown Prince bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to the husband she had drawn!
Wen Lier felt a mix of excitement, confusion, and melancholy.
But remembering his status, she quickly composed herself.
She had married this man, but he was not hers alone.
Even if he closely matched the husband from her drawings and fulfilled eighty percent of her fantasies, she dared not harbor inappropriate hopes.
Yan Shixu preferred to look directly into people’s eyes when questioning them.
“What is your name?”
“Your Highness, this humble one is named Wen Lier.”
The Crown Prince carefully repeated her name, his mind automatically conjuring an image of a plump, juicy snow pear, which he compared to the person before him.
The thought brought a faint smile to his eyes.
“That’s quite an interesting name. What does your father do?”
“My father serves as Vice Minister of Revenue.”
(Note: Regarding the official rank of Vice Minister of Revenue, let me clarify…
I’ve based this on the Tang Dynasty official ranking system: lower fourth grade, upper fourth grade.
In a place like the prosperous capital, this isn’t considered high-ranking. Of course, it’s not low either either.)
Later on, the novel will also mention the female protagonist’s family background. Her father came from a humble background and had just been promoted to the position of Vice Minister of Revenue. He had no foundation or connections in the capital whatsoever.
Moreover, due to various reasons, the family was completely impoverished. These details will be gradually revealed later.
Incidentally, let me explain: Yang Ni Shan’s father was a high-ranking official and came from an influential aristocratic family. So why was she only appointed as a Bong Yi? This will also be explained later, so don’t worry, everyone…)
Yan Shixu thought the woman’s voice was as gentle and soft as her name suggested, like a tender, cooked Snow Pear.
He asked, “Is there any story behind your name?”
Wen Lier replied unhurriedly, “When my mother was pregnant with me, she loved eating pears. She would have one before each of the three daily meals and never forgot to eat another before going to bed. That’s why my father gave me this name.”
Yan Shixu chuckled softly—it was exactly as he had guessed.
Hearing his bright laughter and noticing the surprised glances Xie Zhenrong and the others were casting her way, Wen Lier felt a little embarrassed and hurriedly lowered her head.