Fengyang Palace was exquisite and luxurious, solemn and dignified.
The palace servants all stood with lowered heads on either side; not even the slightest murmur could be heard.
Many consorts were already seated inside the hall. Everyone had heard that His Majesty had gone to the grand morning court session today, contrary to his usual habits, and they couldn’t help gathering together to whisper.
When Consort Shen and Ronghua Jiang stepped into the hall, they heard Jieyu Li speaking: “Beauty Yu was serving His Majesty last night, yet His Majesty left early this morning. Could it be that Beauty Yu angered His Majesty?”
Consort Shen glanced at her sideways and spoke unhurriedly: ”Is Jieyu Li suggesting that it was wrong of His Majesty to attend court?”
Jieyu Li froze and said sheepishly, “That’s not what this concubine meant. Don’t twist my words, Consort Shen.”
Consort Shen’s expression remained unchanged, and her voice was still gentle: ”Then I must have misunderstood Jieyu Li. I thought perhaps Jieyu Li had some grievance about His Majesty attending court.”
“Beauty Yu managed to persuade His Majesty to attend court. Next time, Jieyu Li would do well to learn from her.”
Jieyu Li’s face flushed red and then white. Learn what? She could hardly imitate the ways of those Yangzhou courtesans.
The lower-ranked consorts below rarely saw Consort Shen reprimand anyone, and they all hurriedly fell silent.
The hall grew quiet for a moment. Consort Jin sat in the first seat on the right, idly admiring her manicured nails, while inwardly cursing Yue Li hundreds of times.
That fool had even dared to feign illness to win favor. She had thought that after His Majesty neglected her for a few days, he must have grown tired of her. Who knew that after one trip to Linde Hall, she would stay the whole night? What truly skillful tactics.
Seeing Jieyu Li suffer at Consort Shen’s hands, someone decided to stir the pot with Consort Jin.
Concubine Yi said, “This Beauty Yu is getting rather bold, daring to feign illness and steal His Majesty’s favor from you and the First Prince. His Majesty hasn’t visited the First Prince for days because of her. You can’t tolerate such behavior, Consort Jin.”
Concubine Yi thought she was standing up for Consort Jin, but Consort Jin completely ignored her, even shooting her a glare, leaving her momentarily at a loss.
Consort Jin looked away, frowning in irritation. What was all that shouting for?
Was it something to be proud of?
So annoying. Not a single thing going her way.
Yue Li arrived at Fengyang Palace right on time. Just as she entered the hall, the Empress, supported by a palace maid, came out from the inner chamber.
“Beauty Yu is here quite early,” Jieyu Li sneered.
Yue Li paid her respects and took her seat, looking at Jieyu Li diagonally ahead of her. “I am indeed early—there’s still a quarter hour before the chen hour.”
“I wonder why Sister Li came so early?” She glanced at the empty plate on Jieyu Li’s table and smiled. “Could it be that she’s craving the pastries here at Her Majesty the Empress’s palace?”
“Sister is already so plump—she really should eat less.”
Jieyu Li choked, both angry and embarrassed. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
The Empress merely smiled at this. “Enough. The two of you start bickering the moment you meet. Won’t you let me have some peace?”
“If the pastries here suit Jieyu Li’s taste, I’ll have your servants bring some back for you later.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
The Empress had smoothed things over, and Jieyu Li rose gratefully to pay her respects. When she sat down again, she shot Yue Li a vicious glare.
Yue Li glared right back.
Jieyu Li: “…”
Infuriating!
The Empress listened to their bickering for a while before speaking leisurely, “You should all learn from Beauty Yu—when serving His Majesty, you should also urge him to devote more attention to state affairs.”
The moment the words fell, everyone in the hall wore indescribable expressions.
Learn from Beauty Yu?
Everyone knew she was the most skilled at scheming for favor in a hundred different ways. Ever since she entered the palace, she had bewitched His Majesty completely.
Jieyu Li shot Yue Li a cold glance, the corner of her mouth curling. “Beauty Yu is of a different background from the rest of us, after all. Her methods are ones we lowly concubines could never learn.”
Before Yue Li could retort, Consort De smiled and changed the subject, “Her Majesty the Empress is right. The New Year’s Eve palace banquet is coming up soon, and with harmony in both the court and the harem, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will surely be pleased.”
After chatting for another half hour, the Empress dismissed the morning greetings.
She kept a few high-ranking consorts to discuss the New Year’s Eve banquet, and Consort Shen stayed behind as well.
Yue Li had just walked out of Fengyang Palace when someone called out to her from behind.
She turned and saw it was Noble Lady Cui and Ronghua Jiang.
“Is something the matter, sisters?” Yue Li knew Ronghua Jiang disliked her, but Ronghua Jiang was close with Consort Shen, and Consort Shen was the only person in the palace on good terms with her, so Yue Li was somewhat courteous to Ronghua Jiang as well.
As for Noble Lady Cui, she was Consort Jin’s lackey.
“Can’t we simply take a walk with our little sister if we please?” Ronghua Jiang had complicated feelings toward Yue Li.
She hated her, yet every time she saw her face, she couldn’t help being struck by her beauty.
As long as she stayed away from Consort Shen, Ronghua Jiang felt she could tolerate her.
“Jieyu Li was so annoying today. Don’t take it to heart.”
And don’t go running to Consort Shen to complain later.
Yue Li was taken aback. Honestly, she really hadn’t taken it to heart—why would she bother arguing with those misshapen fruits?
Wasn’t Jieyu Li just jealous that she was beautiful and favored?
So what if she was a Yangzhou courtesan? Hadn’t she still trampled her underfoot?
Trample, trample, trample! Trample her to death!
Yue Li ground the toe of her shoe hard against the ground.
“Rest assured, Sister Jiang. I don’t mind at all.”
Ronghua Jiang stole a glance at her and truly found nothing amiss in her expression.
Noble Lady Cui smiled as well. “Beauty Yu is naturally open-hearted. There’s really no need to trouble yourself over such trivial matters.”
“Still, the New Year’s Eve banquet is almost here, and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will be attending this time. How are your gifts coming along, sisters?”
Ronghua Jiang nodded. “I’ve asked my father to find something special for me outside the palace.”
In her past life, Yue Li had simply had a palace maid embroider a screen with sutras on it. She had nothing valuable of her own—everything she possessed was a gift from He Yanchen.
This life, she planned to do the same.
“If you have no ideas yet, little sister, shall I help you?” Noble Lady Cui’s words interrupted her thoughts.
Yue Li smiled and shook her head. “I already have an idea. I wouldn’t dare trouble you, Sister Cui.”
“Good, then.”
Noble Lady Cui smoothed the stray hairs at her temple and said, “Do you know of a jewelry house in the capital called the Linglong Pavilion?”
“Of course,” Ronghua Jiang chimed in. “I often went there before I was married. It’s the largest jewelry house in the capital.”
“Why do you mention it, sister?”
“I heard they recently received a shipment of jewelry from the Western Regions, including a rare set of enamel tea ware. I imagine that would make a fine gift for the Empress Dowager.”
Ronghua Jiang nodded. “The Empress Dowager loves tea. She’s sure to like it.”
Noble Lady Cui seemed to have mentioned it only in passing, and soon she and Ronghua Jiang moved on to other topics.
But Yue Li suddenly remembered that at this New Year’s Eve banquet in her previous life, Concubine Yi had been the one to present a tea set.
She remembered it because Concubine Yi had been scolded by the Empress Dowager in front of everyone.
With so many imperial relatives present, the Empress Dowager hadn’t spared Concubine Yi the slightest face.
If Concubine Yi hadn’t fainted from sheer distress, and then been found to be pregnant, she would likely have suffered a truly humiliating loss that time.
Yue Li’s none-too-clever mind stirred, rare as it was.
Was Noble Lady Cui saying this for her benefit?
Knowing she lacked experience, was Cui trying to goad her into buying that tea set?