Knowing that Jiang Yunshu disliked the sun, Erya quickly opened an umbrella for her.
“Your Ladyship, why don’t you rest inside for a while? Sister Ziyan has already made a list of all the rewards His Majesty bestowed upon you. You should have a look.”
“Mmm.”
Supporting Jiang Yunshu by the arm, Erya helped her back into the palace hall.
Ziyan respectfully presented the ledger with both hands.
As Jiang Yunshu looked at the elegant handwriting, she couldn’t help but admire it. Such a talented and intelligent young woman wasting away in the imperial palace—it truly was a pity.
After glancing through the inventory, she looked up at Ziyan.
“Ziyan, how old are you this year?”
Momentarily startled, Ziyan answered softly,
“Replying to Your Ladyship, this servant is nineteen this year.”
Jiang Yunshu nodded and personally helped her to her feet.
“When you reach twenty-five and are allowed to leave the palace, I’ll find you a good husband. Wouldn’t that be nice?
“Your handwriting is so beautiful, and you’re so clever. In the future, you’ll surely raise wonderful children and live a peaceful, quiet life.”
Ziyan had never once thought about leaving the palace.
She stared blankly at Jiang Yunshu before suddenly dropping to her knees with a thud.
“Your Ladyship! This servant has never considered such things. Right now, all I want is to serve by your side. Please don’t send me away.”
Seeing her panic, Jiang Yunshu realized she had misunderstood.
“What are you thinking? I only meant that you’re intelligent and gifted. It would be a shame for someone like you to spend your whole life worn down in this palace. That’s why I thought that once you’re eligible to leave at twenty-five, I’d arrange it for you.”
Pressing her lips together, Ziyan shook her head.
“This servant knows Your Ladyship means well, but I don’t wish to marry.
“At twenty-five, most people already consider a woman an old maid. Even if I married, my days would only be filled with washing clothes, cooking meals, and being worn down by life.
“But if I stay in the palace and diligently perform my duties, I can earn enough money for my retirement. If I work hard enough to become a senior palace steward someday, then when I’m old, I may very well live a more comfortable and prosperous life than if I had married.”
Jiang Yunshu was genuinely surprised.
In this era, there were far too few women with such a clear and independent outlook.
But on second thought, it made perfect sense.
A woman as perceptive and intelligent as Ziyan naturally wouldn’t dream of relying on a man for her future.
If she continued to rise through the ranks and became a chief palace maid, her life within the palace would indeed be far better than marrying into a poor family with an incompetent husband who would only grind her down.
Now that Ziyan had spoken so honestly before her, Jiang Yunshu understood.
The girl truly regarded her as her mistress.
And she was just as determined to build a successful future for herself.
Jiang Yunshu liked women like this—clear-headed, hardworking, and unwilling to depend on men.
Taking Ziyan’s hand, she pulled her up.
“Why are you kneeling? Get up. I understand how you feel now. Then stay by my side, and let’s make our fortunes together.”
Ziyan blinked in surprise before breaking into a smile.
“Yes, Your Ladyship!”
“Good girl.”
Jiang Yunshu gently patted her head.
Ziyan looked at her in astonishment, her eyes quickly misting over.
Jiang Yunshu looked at her curiously.
“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Wiping the corner of her eye, Ziyan said,
“I… I was suddenly reminded of my mother. She used to pat my head like this too.”
The usually calm and composed Ziyan suddenly showing such vulnerability caught Jiang Yunshu off guard.
No matter how mature she seemed, she was still a young girl who had left home too early and missed her family.
Jiang Yunshu’s actual age was older than Ziyan’s anyway, so she naturally saw her as a younger sister.
Her gaze softened even more.
Having such an intelligent and capable girl by her side would certainly make life much easier.
Watching the interaction between the two, Erya said enviously,
“Your Ladyship, I don’t want to marry either! I want to stay by Your Ladyship’s side forever.”
Erya was already two years younger than Jiang Yunshu, and they had grown up together. Naturally, their bond was even closer.
“Very well. Both of you can stay with me.”
Jiang Yunshu gently rubbed Erya’s head as well, looking every bit like an affectionate older sister.
The atmosphere inside the hall was warm and harmonious.
Fengyi Palace
Shuiyue respectfully presented a gift list to the Empress.
“Princess, these are the gifts prepared for Concubine Jiang. Please have a look.”
The Empress glanced at it briefly.
“Just send them according to proper protocol.”
“Yes.”
After handing the list to a young palace maid, Shuiyue continued,
“The investigation by the Office of Punishments has concluded. However, they reported directly to His Majesty, so this servant doesn’t know the outcome.”
The Empress lightly teased the bird inside its cage.
“The woman His Majesty treasures most naturally receives a little extra attention in the palace. That’s hardly surprising.
“Add a few more items to the gifts. First, to comfort Lady Jiang. Second, to congratulate her on her promotion. Have any of the other consorts sent gifts?”
“Only Consort Xiang has sent a present. None of the others have.
“Lady Jiang has been attracting far too much attention lately. Since His Majesty has taken her so much to heart, the other women in the harem can’t help but feel unhappy.”
The Empress seemed not to hear those words at all.
Shuiyue continued,
“Princess, this is the medical record sent over by the imperial physician attending Consort De. I’ve already looked through it. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong.”
The Empress merely hummed in acknowledgment.
Shuiyue then picked up an ornate box.
“These are custard apples sent as tribute from the Western Kingdom. His Majesty had a portion delivered here. Princess, would you like to try some?”
The Empress glanced sideways at the fruit, a faint smile touching her lips.
“Send them to Consort De’s palace instead. She’s pregnant now. Eating more fruit will be good for the baby.”
Shuiyue muttered unhappily,
“Princess, you always think of everyone else, but never yourself. His Majesty rarely shows you any kindness.”
Looking at Shuiyue, the Empress’s eyes filled with gentle concern.
“I simply don’t like these things. You know that.”
Shuiyue knew.
The Empress wasn’t happy.
She was like the bird trapped inside the gilded cage.
Though clothed in luxurious silks and surrounded by every comfort, she remained unhappy.
She had once been a princess who rode freely across the desert.
Now she was wrapped in layers upon layers of elaborate court robes, burdened with heavy phoenix headdresses, and left by the Emperor to suffer under relentless pressure…
Every so often, he would lash out at her once again.
How could she possibly be happy?
What was a little kindness from the Emperor now compared to the wounds in the Princess’s heart?
Those wounds had been bought with the blood of countless palace servants.
Shuiyue quietly wiped her eyes.
“Your Majesty… then this servant will have them delivered to Consort De.”
The Empress noticed Shuiyue’s sorrow.
The smile on her lips turned bitter.
Perhaps the only trace of conscience Chu Yi still possessed toward her was that he had spared Shuiyue instead of having her beaten to death along with the others.
Otherwise…
She might truly have lost the will to live.
If there was anything in this place that still tied her to life—
it was Shuiyue alone.
Qiankun Palace
Wang An led one of the elderly matrons from the Office of Punishments into the palace.
Inside, Chu Yi’s face remained as gloomy as ever.
The affairs of both court and harem had been especially numerous over the past two days.
He hadn’t visited the harem at all, and his mood had remained dark throughout.
Wang An carefully attended to him and quietly warned the matron from the Office of Punishments,
“Mind your words. Whatever you do, don’t provoke His Majesty’s anger.”