Chu Yi’s cold gaze swept over Jiang Yunshu before he slowly took Noble Consort Wan’s hand.
“I recently acquired a rare treasure,” he said. “I was just thinking of sharing it with my beloved consort.
Would you honor me with your company?”
The moment he spoke, Noble Consort Wan was overwhelmed with delight.
“Your Majesty, I am free at all times. Every moment of my day belongs to you.”
Chu Yi gently patted the back of her hand.
“Return to the Qiankun Palace.”
“His Majesty is departing!”
The imperial procession soon left.
The Imperial Garden was quiet once more, leaving only Jiang Yunshu behind.
She let out a long breath, her heart still pounding with lingering fear.
Truthfully, she hadn’t been certain she would get away with it.
Yet somehow, she had escaped unharmed.
Erya hurried over and helped her to her feet.
“My Lady, are you all right?”
Jiang Yunshu smiled gently.
“I’m fine… My legs have gone numb. Walk a little slower.”
Erya’s eyes reddened.
“Thank goodness His Majesty arrived in time. Otherwise, Your Ladyship would have suffered a terrible injustice today…”
Seeing that Erya was about to cry, Jiang Yunshu chuckled.
“Look at me. Aren’t I perfectly fine? Besides, haven’t you noticed? I’m an exceptionally lucky person.
Whenever disaster strikes, good fortune follows. Every danger somehow turns into safety.”
Erya looked at her helplessly and shook her head.
Ever since her young mistress had fallen into the water, something seemed to have changed in her.
She had suffered such humiliation today, yet she could still laugh.
Sigh…
Dragging her numb legs and enduring the soreness between them, Jiang Yunshu slowly returned to her own courtyard.
As she passed Dening Palace, another spectacle unfolded before her eyes.
There was a snake in Consort De’s bed!
The entire palace had erupted into chaos.
Snakes slithered everywhere.
Palace servants ran about in panic, turning the whole palace upside down.
Consort De herself had collapsed onto the ground in terror.
It took four servants working together just to carry her outside.
Fortunately, they were all harmless snakes that didn’t bite. Even so, Consort De had been frightened out of her wits. Crying miserably, she ran straight to the Imperial Study.
And then…
Another entertaining drama began.
Noble Consort Wan happened to be at the Imperial Study.
Now Consort De had arrived as well.
The two consorts immediately started arguing again.
Chu Yi developed a splitting headache.
Without another word, he simply threw both of them out.
Back in her own quarters, Jiang Yunshu enjoyed a long, relaxing bath.
After eating a simple lunch, she took a pleasant nap.
By evening, around the You Hour (5–7 p.m.), she received a visitor.
It was Lady Lin.
In the original owner’s memories, Lady Lin was a hypocrite who constantly called her “Elder Sister” and sweet-talked her into trusting her completely.
Yet when the original Jiang Yunshu had lain critically ill, Lady Lin had never once come to visit.
Jiang Yunshu had no desire to entertain her.
Unfortunately, since Lady Lin had already arrived at her door, refusing to see her would only give people another excuse to spread rumors—that she had become arrogant after receiving imperial favor.
Especially since she hadn’t even been favored that much.
Reluctantly, she rose lazily from the couch.
As she got up, she quietly instructed Erya to bring over the “special delicacy” she had prepared earlier.
Although Erya had no idea why, she obeyed.
Thus, when Lady Lin entered the room, Jiang Yunshu was happily eating stinky tofu.
The entire room reeked.
Lady Lin frowned.
“Elder Sister… what are you eating?”
“Would you like to try some?”
Jiang Yunshu picked up a piece with her chopsticks and offered it toward Lady Lin’s mouth.
Lady Lin quickly dodged.
“I’ve already had dinner. Elder Sister, please enjoy it yourself.”
As she spoke, she examined the strange black cubes on Jiang Yunshu’s plate with visible confusion.
Since Lady Lin remained silent, Jiang Yunshu treated her as though she weren’t there and continued enjoying her meal.
Eventually, Lady Lin couldn’t sit still any longer.
“Elder Sister Jiang, I heard Noble Consort Wan summoned you to the Imperial Garden today. Are you all right? I was terribly worried. I wanted to help you, but there was nothing I could do.
I’m insignificant in the palace, and my family has no influence.”
Jiang Yunshu smiled faintly.
“Her Ladyship is gracious and kind. She merely invited me to admire the flowers with her. What could possibly have happened? As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
Lady Lin blinked in surprise.
“But everyone says Noble Consort Wan is overbearing. Elder Sister, you’re amazing. She didn’t make things difficult for you?”
That was only because the emperor had happened to appear.
But Jiang Yunshu couldn’t possibly admit that to Lady Lin.
It would only invite jealousy.
She lowered her eyes and smiled.
“Rumors are just rumors.
Did you come today because you needed something?”
Lady Lin pouted.
“Elder Sister, why are you speaking so formally? Can’t your younger sister simply come to visit you?”
Really?
When Jiang Yunshu had been burning with fever and close to death just days ago, Lady Lin hadn’t shown up once.
Now that she’d shared the emperor’s bed, Lady Lin suddenly came running.
Feigning exhaustion, Jiang Yunshu sighed.
“I injured myself after falling into the water. I’ve had very little energy these past few days. I’m afraid I can’t properly entertain you.”
Lady Lin forced a smile.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
“Elder Sister… what’s that on your neck?
Did a mosquito bite you?”
Jiang Yunshu casually touched her neck before slowly taking out a long silk scarf and wrapping it around her throat, hiding the plum blossom-shaped love bite.
“Mm. A mosquito bite.”
Lady Lin sighed softly.
“Elder Sister truly is blessed. You’ve already been favored by His Majesty twice.
Meanwhile, I haven’t even seen His Majesty once.
Do you remember your promise? You once said that if you ever gained His Majesty’s favor, you wouldn’t forget your younger sister.”
Jiang Yunshu nodded thoughtfully before looking at her with complete sincerity.
“If I’d forgotten you, would I have come out to see you personally today?
I could have simply told the servants to send you away.”
Lady Lin froze.
She clearly hadn’t expected that response.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether Jiang Yunshu genuinely misunderstood her meaning—or was pretending to.
After hesitating for quite some time, Lady Lin finally asked,
“Then… when does Elder Sister plan to recommend me to His Majesty?
Perhaps you don’t know this, but I haven’t even seen fresh vegetables for several days.”
Everyone in the palace catered to those in power while neglecting those without favor.
A low-ranking concubine like Lady Lin, whose family held no influence and who had entered the palace years ago without ever meeting the emperor, was naturally ignored by the Imperial Household Department.
Receiving stale food instead of fresh dishes was routine.
Sometimes they were even given leftovers.
That was why they all desperately tried to get close to the emperor.
It wasn’t merely for glory.
It was for survival.
There was nothing strange about Lady Lin wanting imperial favor.
What was strange was relying entirely on someone else to obtain it.
Jiang Yunshu looked at her seriously.
“You merely lack fresh vegetables.
Take a look at what I’m eating.”
Lady Lin glanced at the now-empty plate where the stinky tofu had been.
Then she looked at Jiang Yunshu’s expression, which practically screamed, I’m already miserable enough, and you’re still asking me for help?
Confused, she asked,
“His Majesty favored you… yet he didn’t reward you with anything?
Hasn’t your food improved at all?”
Her eyes reddened, looking as though she pitied Jiang Yunshu greatly.
Jiang Yunshu glanced at Lady Lin, who appeared ready to burst into tears.
Go on. Keep acting.
When Jiang Yunshu remained silent, Lady Lin realized there was nothing more to gain.
She dabbed at the corner of her eye.
“Elder Sister Jiang, then I won’t disturb your rest.”
Jiang Yunshu merely hummed absentmindedly.
Lady Lin left reluctantly, looking back every few steps.
Only after she was gone did Jiang Yunshu’s smile disappear, replaced by icy indifference.
Sisterhood?
Even plastic friendships have more substance.
From the moment Lady Lin arrived, she’d been fishing for information.
Trying to trick her into speaking ill of Noble Consort Wan.
Constantly probing and testing her.
What sisterhood?
It was nothing but a façade.
Everyone in the imperial harem lived cautiously, treading on thin ice.
Watching Lady Lin leave, Erya muttered,
“Just a few days ago, this servant could smell meat cooking in Suxin Courtyard. Yet Lady Lin makes it sound as though she’s living in utter misery.”
“Erya, don’t let people like her in again.”
Jiang Yunshu had no interest in dealing with such people.
“Yes, My Lady.”
Stretching lazily, Jiang Yunshu first practiced yoga for a while before picking up a book.
She loved reading.
Fortunately, the original owner had brought quite a collection of books into the palace.
Her father had been the Prefect of Yangzhou.
His rank wasn’t particularly high, nor was it low.
But their family came from a scholarly lineage.
Naturally, her education had never been neglected.
The original Jiang Yunshu disliked reading.
She, however, loved it.
The more skills one possessed, the better.
Reading not only enriched her knowledge, but also helped her continually improve herself.
Although she had escaped Noble Consort Wan’s schemes today, she worried that the noble consort would now hold a grudge against her.
So every day she remained on guard.
If she could avoid someone, she would.
If she could avoid leaving the house, even better.
With her terrible luck, something always happened whenever she stepped outside.
Surely, if she stayed indoors, nothing could possibly go wrong.
From that day onward, Chu Yi never summoned her to attend him again.
Nor did he visit any of the other consorts.
It seemed he had become occupied with affairs of the imperial court.
Yet the palace remained just as lively.
Originally, Noble Consort Wan had been about to spend the night with the emperor.
Then Consort De had barged into the Imperial Study, causing such a commotion that His Majesty lost his temper.
In the end, neither woman gained anything.
As a result, Noble Consort Wan shifted all her resentment toward Consort De.
For the past several days, she’d been too busy making life miserable for Consort De to bother with Jiang Yunshu.
For Jiang Yunshu, life was wonderfully peaceful.
She had food.
She had clothes.
She could lie around all day doing absolutely nothing.
It couldn’t have been more comfortable.
But she knew perfectly well—
If the emperor continued staying away, even her food and clothing would soon disappear.
So…
It was time to make another move.
She rummaged through her wardrobe for quite a while but couldn’t find a single dress she liked.
On a whim, she decided to redesign one herself.
Picking up a pair of scissors, she got to work.
Before long…
An old-fashioned long dress had been transformed into a fashionable, shorter one.
Erya covered her face.
“My Lady… you absolutely cannot wear something like that outside! It’s completely improper!
Your arms… your legs… they’re exposed…”
Jiang Yunshu changed into it anyway and spun around proudly before Erya.
“Well? Isn’t it pretty?”
Erya nodded repeatedly.
“It is… but… your arms… and your legs…”
The love bite on Jiang Yunshu’s neck had already faded.
Standing before the bronze mirror, she admired herself from every angle.
The black gemstone necklace unexpectedly suited her perfectly.
Against her snow-white skin, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
Combined with the graceful curve of her neck, the gemstone became the perfect finishing touch.
Staring at her own stunning reflection, Jiang Yunshu suddenly felt inspired.
She began dancing a lively Xinjiang dance.
Erya stared with wide eyes.
“My Lady… you can dance?”
“I know far more than this.”
She twisted her slender waist with captivating grace.
“And I can do this too.”
Just as she turned sideways—
A flash of imperial yellow entered her vision.
Jiang Yunshu froze.
Looking at Chu Yi, who had suddenly walked into the room, she didn’t know whether she should kneel first…
Or cover the partially exposed neckline of her dress.
Her reaction was lightning fast.
With a loud thud, she dropped neatly to her knees while discreetly covering her chest with one hand.
“This concubine greets Your Majesty.”
Chu Yi merely lifted a hand.
Wang An immediately understood.
He quietly ushered everyone else out of the hall.