Following the memories of her past life, Ye Liujin walked towards Guanju Palace.
Frost and snow clung to the branches, rivers and mountains frozen solid.
Along the way, the palace servants she encountered all stopped humbly to greet her.
"Greetings, Miss Ye."
In her past life, Ye Liujin would always nod in acknowledgment, to display her elegance, composure, and dignified grace.
How laughable.
A trace of mockery curled at the corner of Ye Liujin's lips.
She laughed at her own foolishness in her past life, and at the treacherous hearts hidden within this resplendent, golden palace.
"Young Miss, I finally found you."
An anxious voice came from the palace corridor.
Without even looking up, Ye Liujin knew it was her maid, Nuanxiang.
"Her Ladyship couldn't find you and is extremely worried."
A biting cold wind swept into the corridor. Nuanxiang's hands and feet were icy, and her tone carried a hint of reproach.
"Where have you been all morning? Today is the day the consorts and ladies come to pay their respects. Miss Rong has arrived with Lady Rong and is waiting for you."
Indeed, at this time, Ye Liujin and Rong Chan were still inseparable "handkerchief friends."
"Nuanxiang," Ye Liujin subtly avoided the hand that tried to pull at her, "my hairpin fell into Taiye Pond. Go and retrieve it for me."
In her past life, it was this very maid, who had accompanied her from Longxi to the capital, who had betrayed her so cruelly.
After the Ye Family's downfall, loyal guards escorted her in her escape from the capital. Even with her life hanging by a thread, she hadn't forgotten to take Nuanxiang along.
And how had she repaid her?
By leaving a trail of markers along the way, guiding Rong Chan to her location. In the end, she herself fell into a living hell, while Nuanxiang became a chosen attendant in the Eastern Palace, Xiao Cong's new favorite.
No doubt it was Rong Chan's recommendation that allowed her to rise so high so quickly.
"Young Miss, it looks like it's about to snow," Nuanxiang naturally had no desire to go to Taiye Pond. "Let's go back first. We can send someone to search for it later."
Consort Chen doted on this niece of hers excessively, providing her with food, clothing, and luxuries on par with a princess. Having served Ye Liujin for so long, Nuanxiang had seen all manner of fine things. A mere hairpin, if lost, was lost.
She took a step forward, but just as her fingers were about to touch Ye Liujin, a sharp pain shot through her knee.
Ye Liujin had kicked her in the shin.
"Ah—"
The piercing pain sent Nuanxiang tumbling to the ground. She clutched her calf tightly with both hands, looking up at Ye Liujin in disbelief.
Ye Liujin looked down at the suffering Nuanxiang as if gazing at a corpse, devoid of any warmth.
"Am I unable to command you now?"
"Either you go now, or you kneel right here in this corridor until tomorrow morning."
Kneel until tomorrow?
Wouldn't that freeze her to death?
"Young Miss!"
Suppressing the fury in her heart, Nuanxiang looked up, her expression pained and earnest. "If Elder Sister and the Heir Apparent knew you were acting so unreasonably, they would be utterly disappointed."
Bringing up her elder sister and eldest brother—this tactic seemed to be a tried-and-true trump card for those servants from Longxi.
Whenever she showed the slightest anger, they would admonish her like this.
"Elder Sister would be disappointed."
"The Heir Apparent would be displeased."
"If the Duke and his Lady were watching from the afterlife, they would not wish to see you like this."
Her Aunt had probably long known these people had divided loyalties and had wanted to discipline them many times, but was always stopped by her.
Longxi, thousands of miles away, was the softest place in her heart.
She had been especially lenient with these servants brought from Longxi.
Who could have imagined that this softness and leniency would later turn into sharp blades stabbing into her heart.
Nuanxiang cautiously observed Ye Liujin.
Seeing her dazed expression, he felt a sense of relief, followed by a surge of contempt and disdain.
What did it matter if she was a noble lady from a prestigious family? She was still like a puppet in his hands, completely under his control.
"Young lady, as a well-bred daughter of a great house, you must not act unreasonably like those from lesser families… Ah…"
Ye Liujin watched as she tried to get up from the ground and raised his foot once more.
This time, he stepped on her face.
“Since you won’t listen, there is no use for you to stay alive.”
The pressure from her foot increased bit by bit. The pleasure of crushing her made Ye Liujin narrow her eyes.
Nuanxiang, meanwhile, finally realized that something was wrong with her young miss. As a surge of intense pain flooded her, she began to panic.
“This servant was wrong. Please spare me, Young Miss.”
It just so happened that the palace path was empty at this moment, without a single soul to report the situation or save her.
Nuanxiang pleaded, “This servant will go to Taiye Pond right now to find the hairpin for you.”
“It’s too late,” Ye Liujin uttered airily. “I gave you a chance, but you didn’t take it.”
She suddenly exerted force with her foot, and Nuanxiang immediately let out a wail of pain.
“Miss Ye.”
Just as Ye Liujin was admiring Nuanxiang’s terrified and contorted expression, a voice she knew all too well came from behind her.
Blood seemed to rush backward through Ye Liujin’s veins, and her foot, still pressing down on Nuanxiang, froze.
Xiao Zhaoyan!
Prince Yu, Xiao Zhaoyan.
She quickly reined in the murderous intent radiating from her, withdrew her foot as if nothing had happened, and turned around nonchalantly.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Xiao Zhaoyan’s lips.
“It’s about to snow. Miss Ye should head back to Guanju Palace quickly to avoid worrying Consort Chen.”
He was exceptionally handsome. His deep eyes were like the stars and the moon, and a hint of gentleness touched his brow.
“My hairpin fell into Taiye Pond.” Ye Liujin bit her lip. “I told her to find it, but she kept making excuses. I lost my temper for a moment and…”
“If a servant is useless, simply deal with her.” Xiao Zhaoyan’s eyes darkened slightly, and his fingers moved subtly behind his back. “Why don’t I accompany you to Taiye Pond to look for it?”
“There is no need.”
Ye Liujin refused immediately. Xiao Cong was likely just crawling out of Taiye Pond right about now. She wanted Nuanxiang to go so that a furious Xiao Cong would vent his rage on her.
Xiao Cong could climb out of the pond, but Nuanxiang, who couldn't swim at all, would not be able to.
Killing with a borrowed knife; two birds with one stone.
“It’s nothing valuable,” Ye Liujin said politely. “It’s not worth troubling Your Highness.”
“In that case, let your maid go look for it.” Xiao Zhaoyan looked away, no longer watching Ye Liujin. “Farewell.”
His thin lips parted slightly. His black cloak, embroidered with gold, swung in a graceful arc as he turned.
Ye Liujin watched the departing Xiao Zhaoyan, feeling somewhat dazed.
“Young Miss, this servant will go find the hairpin right away.” Nuanxiang’s trembling voice snapped Ye Liujin back to her senses.
“Go on.”
Ye Liujin didn't even give her a look, walking straight past her toward Guanju Palace.
Having survived the ordeal, Nuanxiang watched her graceful silhouette with eyes full of jealousy and hatred. Gritting her teeth, she headed toward Taiye Pond.
Inside Guanju Palace, the consorts had already left after paying their respects, leaving only Lady Rong and her niece, Rong Chan, chatting with Consort Chen.
There was no empress in the palace, so Consort Chen held the Phoenix Seal and managed the affairs of the six palaces. She did not have the title of Empress, but she held the power of one.
As soon as Ye Liujin stepped into Guanju Palace, she heard Rong Chan’s voice.
“Consort Chen, why haven't I seen Sister Jin today? I just learned how to make plum blossom honey cakes and wanted her to try some.”
“She’s been nowhere to be seen since early this morning. I might as well taste it for her first.”
Hearing Consort Chen speak, Ye Liujin’s nose tingled with emotion, and her eyes reddened. She lifted her skirt and jogged into the hall, throwing herself into Consort Chen’s arms like a gust of wind before everyone's eyes.
“Aunt, Cousin… he jumped into Taiye Pond!”