Jiang Yunshu hadn’t expected him to call her that. She smiled shyly.
“Your Majesty, please wait just a moment longer.”
Taking the sheet of paper back to the imperial desk, she boldly picked up the vermilion brush and drew a tiny heart. Then she added a little arrow pointing toward the words “Chu Yi.”
She even deliberately wrote the “mouth” radical in the character Yi (邑) as a heart.
Only then did she respectfully present the paper to him once more.
Chu Yi accepted it. At first he looked puzzled, but then understanding dawned on him.
Stretching out a long arm, he pulled her into his embrace and whispered beside her ear,
“So this is your way of saying you’re in love with me? That you’ve given your heart to me?”
It was a woman’s confession of love—subtle, yet unexpectedly bold.
Leaning lightly against his chest, Jiang Yunshu asked softly,
“So… does Your Majesty accept it? Or not?”
“I accept…”
How could Chu Yi possibly refuse?
His days were filled with bloodshed, conspiracies, and the endless storms of court politics.
Never had he encountered someone like her.
As gentle as a flowing stream, she had turned the simple act of writing his name into something poetic and romantic.
Perhaps for the first time in his life, Chu Yi’s heart felt truly at peace.
It was as if…
Holding her meant holding peace itself.
Resting his chin on her shoulder, he murmured,
“Shu’er… I still have many pressing matters to deal with. I’ll come see you again later.”
Jiang Yunshu immediately understood. Rising gracefully, she said,
“This concubine understands. Your Majesty has important affairs to attend to. I’ll behave myself and wait quietly in my palace.”
He’s about to make his move, she thought.
The court has been pushing him too hard.
Now it’s time for him to show those old ministers exactly who rules the realm.
He is the Son of Heaven. No one can force his hand.
Chu Yi summoned Wang An inside.
At the same time, Wang An presented a beautifully decorated box.
“This was offered as tribute by the Western Kingdom. I thought it was rather exquisite, so I’ll bestow it upon you.”
A tribute gift?
And he was giving it to her?
Jiang Yunshu was an ordinary person at heart—she loved valuable treasures.
Delighted, she accepted the brocade box, thanked him for his generosity, and happily took her leave.
…
Once she was gone…
It was as though she had taken all the lightness in the room with her.
The imperial study was once again shrouded in heavy solemnity.
Yet Chu Yi’s complexion looked noticeably brighter.
As he gazed at the sheet of paper, he actually smiled to himself.
Unable to resist, Wang An secretly stole a glance.
Only then did he notice how beautifully the young mistress’s handwriting was.
And how incredibly bold she was.
She had actually dared to write His Majesty’s personal name.
The charming, flirtatious smile vanished from Jiang Yunshu’s face the moment she stepped out of Qiankun Palace.
In the blink of an eye, she returned to her usual cool and composed expression.
Yaya almost thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Did Mistress just become a completely different person?
But after thinking about it, it made sense.
Serving the emperor was like living beside a tiger.
If her mistress didn’t learn to disguise herself, she might not even know how she died.
Outside, the blazing sun scorched the earth.
Jiang Yunshu had always hated the heat.
Under the merciless sunlight, even receiving imperial rewards couldn’t improve her mood.
They hurried back to her palace.
The moment she entered her chambers, Jiang Yunshu took off her outer robe, leaving only a pink dudou wrapped around her.
Yaya whispered anxiously,
“My Lady… even though we’re inside the palace, dressing like this is still improper.”
Jiang Yunshu couldn’t help laughing.
“Who said I’m staying dressed like this? Go fetch the little shirt I made.”
Only then did Yaya remember the lightweight garment her mistress had sewn herself to keep cool.
“Right away!”
She hurried to retrieve it and helped Jiang Yunshu put it on.
Jiang Yunshu also pulled off her stockings.
It’s far too hot.
Bare feet feel so much better.
Afterward, she enjoyed a few pieces of chilled crystal cake that she’d had lowered into the palace well to cool.
Only then did she finally feel a little refreshed.
Looking up, she noticed that Yaya had followed her all the way back from Qiankun Palace without a moment’s rest, busily serving her from beginning to end until sweat beaded across her forehead.
Jiang Yunshu frowned slightly.
“Where’s Dingxiang? Why are you doing everything by yourself?”
Ziyun, who had been outside, immediately stepped forward.
“Reporting to Your Ladyship, about half an hour after you left, Miss Dingxiang went out alone and has yet to return.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yunshu’s expression darkened.
“Ziyun, come inside.”
Ziyun respectfully approached.
“My Lady, this servant had Xiao Youzi follow her. He should return soon with news of where Miss Dingxiang went.”
Jiang Yunshu felt rather pleased.
Turning to Yaya, she said,
“Yaya, I know you and Dingxiang are like sisters. But if she…”
She left the sentence unfinished.
Yaya wasn’t foolish.
She immediately understood.
“My Lady, if she truly dares… then this servant won’t show her any mercy.”
Jiang Yunshu nodded in satisfaction before looking back at Ziyun.
“Tell me. Why have you been so wary of Dingxiang?”
As they spoke, Yaya quietly closed the palace doors and stood guard outside, making sure no one could eavesdrop.
Seeing how perceptive Yaya had become, Jiang Yunshu felt even more reassured.
After a long moment of thought, Ziyun finally answered,
“Dingxiang and I entered Your Ladyship’s palace together. We were both low-ranking palace maids with difficult lives.”
“But she wears an extremely valuable string of fragrant beads on her wrist.”
“Even senior palace maids don’t necessarily possess such a treasure.”
“Yet she—a mere junior maid—does.”
“So this servant became suspicious.”
“Today, seeing that Your Ladyship was away and that she sneaked out looking furtive, I became even more cautious and had Xiao Youzi follow her.”
Jiang Yunshu stood and personally helped Ziyun to her feet.
“You’re careful and dependable.”
“I’ll leave this matter to you.”
“Find out exactly whose person she is… and why she was sent here.”
Not a trace of surprise crossed Ziyun’s face.
It was almost as though she had expected this assignment all along.
Bowing respectfully, she replied,
“Since this servant has entered Your Ladyship’s palace, then I belong to Your Ladyship.”
“I will carry out whatever task you entrust to me properly.”
Jiang Yunshu gently patted the back of her hand.
“I trust you.”
Those three simple words—
I trust you.
—caused a ripple to appear across Ziyun’s normally calm expression.
She immediately knelt in a deep bow.
“This servant will never disappoint Your Ladyship!”
Jiang Yunshu personally helped her up again and smiled warmly.
“Go have some crystal cakes with Yaya.”
“Yes.”
Ziyun withdrew.
Resting her chin on her hand, Jiang Yunshu sank into thought.
It almost felt as though she had activated some kind of cheat ability.
First, when Noble Consort Wan had deliberately made things difficult for her in the Imperial Garden, Chu Yi had appeared to help her.
Then, when Consort An tried to humiliate her during the morning audience with the Empress, both the Emperor and Empress happened to arrive.
And now there was Dingxiang—
Someone had clearly planted her by Jiang Yunshu’s side.
Yet at the same time, she had also gained the meticulous and reliable Ziyun to assist her.
It even felt as though heaven itself kept pushing her toward Chu Yi.
Could I really have the heroine’s blessing?
Always escaping danger and turning misfortune into fortune?
Even so…
She couldn’t afford to lower her guard.
She had to proceed carefully, one step at a time.
Now that she had won Chu Yi’s favor, she had also become the target of every woman in the imperial harem.
Ziyun truly was thoughtful.
Perhaps because she had spent many years surviving in the deep palace—and was the oldest among them—she naturally looked after younger maids like Yaya and Lanyi.
Knowing that Yaya had worked tirelessly all the way back from Qiankun Palace without even catching her breath, Ziyun urged her to rest.
She personally brought over the crystal cakes and divided them among Yaya, Lanyi, and even the young eunuchs outside.
By the time everyone else had received a share…
There was none left for herself.
She simply went without.
Jiang Yunshu happened to notice.
She handed Ziyun her own untouched portion.
“Here.”
“Don’t always think of yourself as everyone’s older sister.”
“You take care of everyone else but forget about yourself.”
Ziyun smiled gently.
“It is better for everyone to enjoy together than for one person to enjoy alone.”
The more Jiang Yunshu watched her, the more she liked her.
Suddenly remembering something, Ziyun bowed.
“My Lady… this servant has a request.”
“Hm?”