Walking out of Longevity Palace, Jiang Zhuo was overwhelmed, her body trembling almost beyond control.
She was excited.
Her father had successfully resigned. This meant that the Jiang family in this lifetime would not suffer confiscation and exile as they had before. It also proved that the course of fate could be changed by her own hands.
Even though her father still refused to acknowledge her…
Even though she still lived alone in the capital…
Compared to the utter ruin of her previous life, none of this mattered at all!
“Miss! Miss—”
Jiang Zhuo had been so absorbed in thinking about her plans that she hadn’t heard Tonghua calling her several times.
“What is it?”
Jiang Zhuo suddenly came back to her senses. Looking at Tonghua, her joy swelled even further.
Right—she still had Tonghua.
In this life, Tonghua was still by her side as she entered the palace. She was not alone.
“What were you thinking about, Miss?” Tonghua frowned in worry. “Ever since we left the Empress Dowager’s palace, you’ve been distracted. You even walked the wrong way just now. I called you several times and you didn’t respond.”
“…The palace is too big. I was busy looking at the buildings and got carried away.”
Jiang Zhuo scratched her head and casually found an excuse.
Not far away, a silver-bell-like laugh drifted toward them.
“All the palace matrons say that the newly appointed Music Officer Jiang is the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking second-grade official—so noble and important that we should all be accommodating. Who would’ve thought she’s just a little brat who’s never even seen the palace before?”
Jiang Zhuo looked up and saw two girls around twenty approaching with graceful postures. They wore the same official attire as she did, smiling as they walked over.
These must be the other two Music Officers from the Bureau of Etiquette that Granny Li had mentioned.
“Jiang Zhuo greets the two sisters.” She lowered her head and offered a formal salute.
“Eh, eh—who would’ve thought that someone like me, Tao Tao, would one day receive a noble lady’s bow? I’m practically overwhelmed!”
The one who spoke first had charming peach-blossom eyes and a coquettish tone. Though her words sounded polite, she made no move to help Jiang Zhuo up.
“We are all Music Officers, and both sisters are more senior than I am. It is only proper that I salute you.”
Jiang Zhuo smiled gently, not minding it at all.
“That’s enough! Tao Tao, Jiang-meimei is young—don’t scare her.”
The other girl, with elegant willow brows and a steadier disposition, quickly helped Jiang Zhuo up. She introduced herself:
“My name is Qin Liuyun. This is Tao Tao. Like you, we are temporarily serving as Music Officers in the Bureau of Etiquette. Early this morning, Chief Attendant Chen told us an otherworldly beauty would be joining us today, so she sent us to greet you. She is busy, so if you need anything as you settle in, feel free to come to the two of us.”
“Greetings, Sister Tao. Greetings, Sister Qin,” Jiang Zhuo said one by one.
“What do you mean all of us are Music Officers?” Tao Tao interjected with displeasure. “Sister Qin is a proper Sixth Rank official. You and I are merely from Sixth Rank. Sister Qin outranks you—how can you give her an equal salute?”
“Thank you for the reminder.”
Jiang Zhuo obediently turned and gave Qin Liuyun a formal bow. “Your subordinate Jiang Zhuo greets Music Officer Qin.”
But Qin Liuyun immediately lifted her up with a smile.
“The Music Office is like a family. We call each other sisters and don’t fuss over ranks. Don’t let Tao Tao intimidate you.”
“So well-behaved?”
Tao Tao lifted a brow in surprise.
“I heard even Prince Jing wasn’t good enough for you, which is why you came here to work as a palace woman. Shouldn’t you be the arrogant young lady who doesn’t know her place? I was even planning to give you a hard time!”
After speaking, Tao Tao tilted her chin proudly, nostrils flaring as if looking down on the world. Qin Liuyun and Tonghua could not help laughing.
Jiang Zhuo also smiled silently.
In her previous life, she might indeed have been such a naïve and proud official’s daughter.
But life was unpredictable. A beloved daughter of a noble house could fall to the mud overnight.
She had been a pampered young lady and had also been a servant bullied by others. Compared to before, Jiang Zhuo’s state of mind was now much calmer.
“My father has resigned and returned home. I am no longer a noble lady of any sort. My status is the same as yours, and Sister Qin even outranks me. Since neither of you mean any harm, there’s no need to take these things too seriously.”
Tonghua, however, was shocked. “Miss—”
Jiang Zhuo then remembered that she had been so lost in thought since leaving Longevity Palace that she hadn’t told Tonghua the news about her father.
“What? Are you already worried we’re going to bully your miss?”
Seeing that Tonghua seemed an easier target, Tao Tao switched her attention, hands on hips as she wiggled her brows at the little maid.
“Too late! Your young lady now belongs to our Bureau of Etiquette. Starting today, I’m going to make her practice singing, dancing, and music every day until her voice goes hoarse and her fingers bleed—heehee—”
“Ahem!”
Qin Liuyun nudged her, trying to stop the exaggerated teasing.
“What? I can’t even joke?” Tao Tao muttered. “Even Jiang Officer isn’t angry.”
But one glance from Qin Liuyun made her look at Jiang Zhuo’s right hand, wrapped in a handkerchief, with faint blood seeping from the fingertips.
“This…”
Tao Tao looked startled, finally realizing she had gone too far.
“Music Officer Jiang, don’t worry. Tao Tao talks like a child—she was only joking. Chief Attendant Chen guessed you must be tired today, so she sent us to tell you that you don’t need to greet her tonight. Now that we’ve delivered the message, we won’t disturb you further.”
Qin Liuyun blinked and whisked away the flustered Tao Tao.
“Miss! Look at them—what do they think you are?!”
Tonghua protested on her behalf, indignant.
Jiang Zhuo simply rubbed her head and said gently:
“Since Father has resigned, I am no longer an official’s daughter. I hold the same position as them—and Sister Qin is even half a rank above me. They mean no real harm. There’s no need to take offense.”
The position of Music Officer was already one of the higher ranks in the Bureau of Etiquette, and each was assigned a private room.
Jiang Zhuo was no exception.
However, with the many unused rooms in the palace and a shortage of attendants, the chamber assigned to her had naturally gathered plenty of cobwebs and dust.
Fortunately, Tonghua was quick and diligent. The room was soon cleaned up.
Night fell. The evening drums had just ceased, the palace gates were locked, and the dim glow of horn lanterns flickered outside. The footsteps of the night patrol could faintly be heard.
This was Jiang Zhuo’s first night staying in the palace.
Thinking back on everything that had happened in the past few days, her restless mind made sleep impossible.
As she tossed and turned, she suddenly heard soft sobbing from the northwest corner of the room.
It was Tonghua’s pallet.