“My servant’s name, Ziyun, was bestowed by the Dowager Consort,” the maid said. “I never expected it to coincide with Your Ladyship’s given name. So I humbly ask Your Ladyship to grant me a new name.”
Receiving a new name carried special meaning.
It signified that from this day forward, she belonged entirely to her mistress. It was also a declaration of absolute loyalty.
As for naming people…
That was rather difficult for Jiang Yunshu.
She frowned thoughtfully for a moment before saying, “How about Ziyan?”
“Ziyan?”
The maid’s face lit up with delight.
“Thank you, Your Ladyship, for granting me a new name! I like it very much.”
Jiang Yunshu smiled.
Just then, Xiao Youzi returned.
Ziyan immediately opened the hall doors to welcome him inside and thoughtfully poured him a cup of water.
He hurriedly drank it down before panting, “Sister Ziyun, you’re so clever! That… Sister Dingxiang… she actually…”
He was so excited that halfway through speaking, he finally noticed Jiang Yunshu sitting inside.
He immediately rushed forward and dropped to his knees.
“Greetings, Your Ladyship!”
Jiang Yunshu lazily lifted her eyelids.
“Ziyan has already told me everything. There’s no need to be nervous. Rest for a moment and tell me slowly. Also, your Sister Ziyun has been renamed Ziyan.”
Hearing that, Xiao Youzi happily glanced at Ziyan.
“Since Your Ladyship has bestowed a new name upon Sister Ziyan, you can’t play favorites. Please grant this servant a new name as well.”
Jiang Yunshu felt her poor little brain beginning to ache.
Looking at him, she asked, “What was your family name before entering the palace?”
“Li.”
She nodded.
“Li You sounds quite nice.”
Xiao Youzi beamed.
“Li You thanks Your Ladyship for bestowing this name!”
Jiang Yunshu shot him a playful glare.
“Enough joking. Tell me the important matter.”
Only then did Li You remember why he’d returned.
Watching his cheerful, puppy-like demeanor, Jiang Yunshu couldn’t help worrying that he might be careless while carrying out errands. What if someone had spotted him?
Li You quickly wiped the smile from his face and became serious.
“Sister Ziyan instructed this servant to follow Miss Dingxiang, so I trailed her from a distance.
“Along the way, Miss Dingxiang first made a stop at the Bureau of Imperial Clothing. She lingered there for a while before slipping through a small side gate and heading to Qinghe Palace.”
Qinghe Palace!
Jiang Yunshu immediately thought of Lady An.
Just as she was about to ask something, Ziyan spoke first.
“When you returned just now, did anyone from Suxin Courtyard see you?”
Li You answered smartly, “No! This servant was very careful. I know the lady from Suxin Courtyard has been making frequent visits to Qinghe Palace lately. How could I possibly let her people notice me?”
Jiang Yunshu was rather surprised.
She hadn’t expected Li You, who appeared somewhat unreliable, to actually be so cautious.
“Very well. I understand.”
As she spoke, she took out a small embroidered pouch.
“This is your reward. Go have some tea.”
Li You accepted the pouch and immediately noticed how heavy it felt.
He hurriedly held it out with both hands.
“Your Ladyship! Being able to serve you is already Li You’s duty.
“This servant cannot accept a reward. Your Ladyship has only recently gained His Majesty’s favor. There are many places where you’ll need to spend money.”
Jiang Yunshu’s mood brightened.
She lightly poked his forehead.
“You little rascal, you’re quite clever. I can still afford this bit of silver. Take it and treat Xiao Zuo and Chang Qi to some tea.
“This courtyard depends on you all.”
Unable to refuse any longer, Li You kowtowed several times.
“Thank you for Your Ladyship’s reward! May Your Ladyship be blessed with everlasting fortune!”
Jiang Yunshu waved a hand.
“From now on, whenever Sister Ziyan assigns you work, stay sharp and move quickly.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship!”
Li You withdrew.
Ziyan quietly remained at the side, waiting for Jiang Yunshu to speak.
A long while passed in silence.
Jiang Yunshu’s cold gaze rested on the direction of Suxin Courtyard, the corner of her lips curling slightly.
“Ziyan, pay close attention to this matter.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
“Then go about your work.”
Ziyan took her leave.
Only then did Erya nervously step forward.
“Miss… this servant… I truly didn’t know Dingxiang was actually… I…”
The young maid’s eyes reddened with guilt.
Erya had been the original Jiang Yunshu’s personal maid since childhood and had accompanied her as part of her dowry.
The two had grown up together and shared a deep bond.
Naturally, Jiang Yunshu trusted her more.
Ziyan had only joined them recently. No matter how capable she seemed, Jiang Yunshu couldn’t trust her completely just yet.
The person standing before her now was someone who was wholeheartedly devoted to her.
How could she not know that?
“Silly girl. Do you think I’d blame you?”
She helped Erya up.
“Don’t blame yourself. You weren’t the one who placed her by my side. We still don’t know what her purpose is, so we’ll continue observing her.
“As for you… don’t give anything away. Understand?”
Erya nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, this servant understands.”
“Then stop crying. I’m going to take a nap.”
Her body was exhausted.
There was nothing particularly unusual about the fragrance in Dingxiang’s scented beads. It wasn’t harmful either.
If Dingxiang wore them, then she hadn’t been sent here to harm her.
So why had Lady An placed someone like her at Jiang Yunshu’s side?
Thinking about it, Jiang Yunshu gradually drifted off to sleep.
Although Chu Yi had told Jiang Yunshu he would come that evening, she didn’t think much of it.
After all, affairs of state kept him busy.
Now that Consort De was pregnant, the Emperor also had to consider the Empress’s dignity.
With Noble Consort Wan confined to her palace by the Empress, she couldn’t stir up trouble for the time being, allowing Jiang Yunshu to breathe a little easier.
Lady An, however, had become arrogant from imperial favor and lacked patience. Now she’d even planted someone like Dingxiang beside her.
Jiang Yunshu didn’t think much of her.
That night…
After bathing, Jiang Yunshu changed into a short-sleeved top and a pair of shorts that she had made herself.
She stood on the floor practicing yoga.
Stretching before bed always made her whole body feel comfortable.
As she stretched, the bruises around her waist and the clusters of plum blossom-shaped love marks were exposed.
Erya looked distressed.
“Your Ladyship, your injuries are so severe. This servant will go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and fetch some medicine.”
“No need. His Majesty already applied medicine for me. It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s nothing serious.”
Jiang Yunshu continued stretching.
She was currently attempting one of the more difficult poses—the Camel Pose.
As she bent backward, her slender waist looked delicate enough to be encircled with one hand.
Standing nearby, Dingxiang unconsciously measured it with her own hands and realized her own waist was nearly a full circle thicker than Jiang Yunshu’s.
She couldn’t help feeling envious.
Most eye-catching of all were the plum blossom marks scattered across Jiang Yunshu’s waist.
One glance was enough for Dingxiang to recognize them.
They had clearly been kissed there by the Emperor that afternoon.
The thought made her face flush.
Jiang Yunshu noticed the subtle expression on Dingxiang’s face.
She looked utterly lovestruck.
So… she wants to seduce the Emperor?
Jiang Yunshu was still pondering this when a flash of bright imperial yellow entered her vision.
She jumped in surprise.
“Ouch!”
Quickly sitting upright, she exclaimed,
“Your Majesty…”
Her beautiful face showed both surprise and a hint of grievance.
Chu Yi leisurely looked her over, taking in her short-sleeved top and the two long, snow-white legs left uncovered.
His Adam’s apple bobbed before his gaze met her tearful phoenix eyes.
“Are you blaming Me?”
Jiang Yunshu pouted slightly.
“Your Majesty always does this—coming in without making a sound. You frightened me just now. I twisted my waist, and now I can’t even move…”