The next day after the palace assignments were announced, Attendant He, who was assigned to Yonghe Palace, held Yun Jiao’s hand reluctantly: “We must continue to visit each other often in the palace, we can’t let our bond fade.”
“As long as elder sister doesn’t mind my disturbances.”
“How could I?”
The senior palace maid waiting to guide the young mistress prompted them not to delay further. After Yun Jiao arrived at Xianfu Palace, she first paid respects to Li Pin residing in the main hall of the front courtyard. Only after receiving her permission could Yun Jiao retreat to the western wing.
Li Pin stared at her face for a while.
Yun Jiao’s legs had gone numb from maintaining the curtsy when Li Pin finally seemed to snap out of her reverie and dismissed her to rest.
As Yun Jiao stepped out, a palace maid came to support her: “Young mistress, come see – though the western wing you’ll be residing in isn’t as grand as the main hall, it has four full rooms and is quite spacious.”
Yun Jiao turned: “You must be the palace maids sent by the Imperial Household Department?”
The two maids introduced themselves and requested names from their mistress.
Yun Jiao took a light breath, sincerely wishing the reload system had an automatic naming function.
She was terrible at naming!
When she used to play Palace Intrigue games, she’d always rename her maids “Lackey No.1” and “Lackey No.2” – simple, clear, and easy to remember.
Just then, a maid from the main hall passed by carrying a tea caddy.
Inspiration struck: “From now on, the maids under me will be named after teas. You two can pick your favorite names.”
Their faces lit up with gratitude.
After all, names would be called daily, and everyone wanted a pleasant-sounding one.
Finally, they chose Xue Ya and Gong Mei as their names, thanking their mistress joyfully.
Yun Jiao wiped her forehead in relief.
Fortunately, they understood teas – with her limited knowledge, she could only have come up with names like “Black Tea,” “Green Tea,” “Pu’er,” or “Oolong,” unable to devise such elegant and appropriate names.
“These names are quite good. Remember that Li Pin is in charge here – I only ask that you strictly follow palace rules and maintain low profiles.”
“We understand, mistress,”
Xue Ya said regretfully: “Actually, I wanted to be named after young mistress’s favorite tea, but unfortunately you wouldn’t reveal it.”
Yun Jiao didn’t think there was anything to regret.
After all, probably no one would want to change their real name to Taro Boba Milk Tea, Extra Sugar, with Milk Cap.
…
The next day, Yun Jiao rose particularly early, saving her progress while washing up.
She went to the main hall to wait for Li Pin to awaken.
“So this is the new Yun Daying? You rise quite early.” Yun Jiao turned to see a young woman in persimmon-colored palace robes approaching, giving her a sidelong glance. She curtsied: “Greetings to Sun Changzai.”
“Hmm, rise.”
Sun Changzai glanced at her and muttered: “If not for you, I could have gotten a seat and hot tea.”
Li Pin intended to discipline the new Yun Daying, deliberately making both wait standing in the corridor where the cold wind stung their faces.
After a long wait, Li Pin finally emerged in full regalia.
To showcase her graceful figure, she declined her maid’s support, swaying her slender waist.
“You two…”
Before they could complete their greetings, Li Pin tripped over the threshold and stumbled to the ground.
“Your Highness!”
The maids hurried to help Li Pin up.
Clenching her jaw as she rose, Li Pin noticed Yun Jiao covering her face and demanded: “Why are you hiding your face? Lower your hand – is this how Chu Xiu Palace taught you manners?”
Yun Jiao: “Pfft.”
Yun Jiao: “In response to Your Highness, I received professional training at Chu Xiu Palace and generally do not laugh. This time I truly couldn’t help it, my apologies, Your Highness.”
The expression management of this post-00s generation in Palace Intrigue still needs improvement.
Before Li Pin could fly into a rage, Yun Jiao instantly reloaded.
…
“Whew.Yun Jiao let out a long sigh as Xue Ya’s incessant reminders whispered in her ear: “Li Pin is particularly harsh towards young consorts with delicate features.” No matter how wronged you feel later, you must endure it and absolutely cannot offend Li Pin, otherwise life will become difficult from now on.”
“You’re right, I’ll be careful this time.”
Yun Jiao nodded in deep agreement.
She went to the main hall again to wait for Li Pin, and once more witnessed her graceful fall—
But this time, she made it!
“Ah!”
Li Pin exclaimed in surprise. Yun Jiao reacted faster than anyone present, stepping forward first to support her and prevent her from losing composure. The shaken Li Pin leaned against this reliable little Daying, her slender jade-like hand pressed against her chest.
“Your Highness, be careful!”
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
Sun Changzai, who wanted to flatter, was a step too slow and fell short.
“I’m fine.”
Li Pin said.
This time, her gaze towards Yun Jiao was much gentler than before: “Wait, why are your hands so bare? Qiu Lu, go fetch a jade bracelet,” After the palace maid quickly brought over a plain jade bracelet, Li Pin placed it on Yun Jiao’s wrist and nodded: “That looks much better.”Thank you for the reward, Lady Li Pin.””Don’t miss the time to pay respects to the Empress, let’s go.””
“Yes.”
Throughout the entire process, Sun Changzai couldn’t get a single word in.
She simply couldn’t believe it!
Yun Daying’s reaction was as fast as if she had anticipated it in advance.
After all her efforts to curry favor with Li Pin for so long without receiving any jewelry as a reward, Sun Changzai couldn’t help but feel jealous that Yun Daying had taken the lead. How could someone have such good luck?!
…
Upon arriving at Jianzhang Palace, Yun Jiao saved again, just in case.
This time she was overthinking it.
Because a minor Daying couldn’t even get into the main hall, and could only wait outside as decoration until they finished chatting and dispersed. The consorts in the inner palace spoke with delicate, soft voices, making it impossible to overhear any gossip from outside. Engaging in idle talk was certainly not allowed either, leaving her with nothing to do but stand there.
After standing idle for half an hour, the meeting concluded peacefully.
Returning to Xianfu Palace, Yun Jiao lay down on the couch, and two palace maids dutifully came forward to massage her shoulders and legs.
Comfortable, at ease!
“On your first day, you coincidentally helped Lady Li Pin and even received her reward.” Surely you won’t be called to learn etiquette now and can rest well while waiting for the Emperor to issue orders.”
“But the Emperor hasn’t visited the inner palace for a long time…”
Yun Jiao rested her chin on her hand.
During the selection process, she wasn’t allowed to look directly at the holy face, so she still didn’t know what the Emperor looked like.
As long as she could reload at any time, she had her reliance for idling and freeloading in the palace—she didn’t consider herself exceptionally clever or outstanding. As someone who even needed guides to play Palace Intrigue games, how could she rashly dive into this devouring whirlpool? She’d probably struggle daily with how to respond to the Emperor and consorts with high emotional intelligence.
After hearing that Consort Ji was summoned to attend the Emperor but was sent back to Yanxi Palace again, Yun Jiao became even more determined to remain a small transparent in the inner palace.
After all, she only had to brush three times today to get stewed fat duck!
Delighted!
Meanwhile, in Weiyang Palace, the Emperor was crossing out Consort Ji’s name from a list.
“This one won’t do either.”