Changxin Palace.
“That wench! That wench!!!”
Amidst hysterical shrieks and the piercing sounds of shattered porcelain and jade, Consort Yi’s bedchamber lay in complete disarray.
Anything within reach—regardless of value—had been violently hurled to the ground by Consort Yi, shards scattering everywhere.
Her hair was disheveled, her eyes bloodshot, bearing no resemblance to her usual gentle and dignified demeanor.
House arrest! And imposed during the New Year’s Day Banquet, before all the consorts and imperial relatives!
This was the most humiliating disgrace she had suffered since entering the palace!
After years of meticulous effort to climb to the rank of consort, even overseeing the most important banquet of the year, she had been so close to attaining the position of noble consort…
All of it had been destroyed by that lowly maid Shuixian, whom she had never regarded as a threat!
“That wretched maid! How dare she!!!”
Consort Yi’s chest heaved violently, her gold-tipped nails digging into her palms unnoticed.
Her schemes to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, her carefully laid plans to foster the crown prince… all had been utterly shattered by Shuixian’s careless words and that foolish, pig-like child!
What terrified her even more was that Shuixian seemed to have completely slipped from her control, even turning around to bite her viciously!
“Your Highness, please calm yourself! Take care of your health!” The maid Xuemei knelt amidst the wreckage, trembling as she pleaded.
“Calm? How can I calm down!”
Consort Yi whirled around, her eyes—bloodshot from a whole night of raging—fixing fiercely on Xuemei.
“That wench! She climbed into the Emperor’s bed! She resides in Chengming Hall! For her sake, the Emperor trampled my dignity underfoot! I’ve become the laughingstock of the entire rear palace!”
The thought of Noble Consort Li possibly mocking her behind her back made Consort Yi tremble with rage, almost vomiting blood.
With nothing left to smash, Consort Yi collapsed onto a nearby daybed, breathing heavily.
She felt something slipping completely from her grasp, veering toward an unpredictable direction…
Shuixian… this lowly maid she had personally brought into the palace, now capable of plunging her into such misery with just a few words!
No! She couldn’t just wait for death!
Consort Yi took a deep breath, gradually calming down.
She had indeed been too impatient this time, underestimating Shuixian’s threat and the Emperor’s resistance to the adoption.
“Xuemei!” Consort Yi’s voice was cold as ice. “Prepare the ink!”
Xuemei hurriedly rose, carefully clearing the fragments from the table and laying out paper and brush.
Consort Yi picked up the brush, her wrist still trembling slightly from agitation, but her strokes were exceptionally clear.
After writing, she carefully sealed the letter and handed it to Xuemei: “Find a way to avoid the Emperor’s and Noble Consort Li’s spies. You must deliver this letter to my father personally! No one can know about this!”
“This servant understands!” Xuemei took the letter, hiding it in her sleeve.
Watching Xuemei retreat, Consort Yi slowly stood and walked to the window.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of palace walls, darkly fixed in the direction of Chengming Hall.
Shuixian… just you wait!
This house arrest is only temporary.
As long as Yi Guichun still draws breath, as long as her father remains in court, she still has a chance to turn the tables! Once she regains the Emperor’s favor… she will make that wretched maid repay today’s humiliation a thousand, ten thousand times over!
She wanted Shuixian to know who truly ruled Changxin Palace, and indeed the entire rear palace! She wanted her to die without a burial ground!
A more violent storm was quietly brewing beneath the brief calm…
……
Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of Changxin Palace, Chengming Hall was currently a scene of warmth.
The faint morning light filtered through the window lattices, spilling onto the mirror-smooth blue brick floor, illuminating the bustling activity within.
Shuixian stood in the center of the main hall, watching as Yinzhu and Xiao Chuanzi directed the newly assigned palace servants in systematically arranging the imperial gifts throughout the hall.
Rosewood tables and chairs, a dazzling glazed screen, Yunjin tapestries presented as tribute from the Southern Border… each piece showcased the Emperor’s favor.
Moving from the cramped and chilly West Side Hall of Changxin Palace to this spacious and bright Chengming Hall represented more than just a change of residence—it was a shift in status and circumstances.
Although her rank was only that of a Noble Lady, which by regulation was not sufficient to preside over a palace alone, the Emperor’s arrangement for her to reside in Chengming Hall was itself a clever circumvention.
Though not one of the main palaces, it was fully equipped and close to Qianqing Palace, unmistakably signaling that she no longer needed to rely on any consort, nor remain under Consort Yi’s control.
This thoughtful intention was not lost on Shuixian.
“Noble Lady, what do you think of placing this five-colored glazed screen here?” a young eunuch respectfully inquired.
Shuixian nodded slightly. “Very well. Place it by the window in the West Warm Pavilion. When the light shines through, it will surely appear even more dazzling.”
With clear instructions, the servants worked with increased efficiency.
She had paid special attention to the living quarters of those close to her.
Yinzhu and Xiao Chuanzi, the only two companions she could currently place a modicum of trust in, were each assigned their own rooms.
Though the rooms were small, barely fitting a few pieces of furniture, they offered the advantage of being quiet and independent—a personal sanctuary once the door was closed.
While organizing her small room, even Yinzhu’s typically calm face revealed a faint, rare smile.
Xiao Chuanzi was so excited his cheeks flushed red, repeatedly caressing the small bookcase as if he possessed the entire world.
Watching them, a long-lost sense of stability welled up in Shuixian’s heart.
The loneliness of her previous life—fighting alone and meeting a miserable end in the brothel—seemed somewhat dispelled by the orderly bustle before her.
Though the road ahead remained fraught with thorns, at least in this moment, within her new domain, she was no longer a helpless maidservant standing alone.
She had companions she could tentatively trust, and a true place to call her own.
Sunlight streamed in, dancing upon her water-green skirt.
Shuixian slightly narrowed her eyes, savoring this hard-won sense of security.
Just then, the voice of a eunuch announced from the entrance of Chengming Hall:
“Noble Lady, Fangfei, sent by Noble Consort Li of Zhaoyang Palace, requests an audience.”
A flicker passed through Shuixian’s eyes as she turned.
She saw a palace maid in light jade-green attire entering the hall.
The maid was slender with delicate features, her face adorned with a perfectly gentle smile.
Her overall demeanor stood in stark contrast to her arrogant and domineering mistress, Noble Consort Li.
This was none other than Noble Consort Li’s most capable senior maid… Fangfei.
“This humble maid, Fangfei, pays respects to the Noble Lady. May the Noble Lady enjoy boundless happiness.”
Fangfei performed an elegant curtsy, her voice as sweet and soft as her appearance.
“Please rise, Miss Fangfei.”
A fitting smile also surfaced on Shuixian’s face, but inwardly, she thought to herself:
Her favor at the New Year’s Day Banquet had indeed drawn Noble Consort Li’s attention.
Fangfei’s visit now was certainly not merely for pleasantries.
Fangfei straightened up, her smile as gentle as ever: “My lady was delighted to learn that you have moved to Chengming Hall. This is a small token from her to congratulate you on your new residence.”
As she spoke, she respectfully presented an exquisite rosewood box.
Yinzhu stepped forward to receive the box, opening it only after it was in her hands.
Inside were a pair of emerald jade bracelets of exceptional quality—lustrous, translucent, and clearly priceless.
Noble Consort Li was certainly generous.
“I am deeply grateful for Noble Consort Li’s kindness. I shall personally visit to express my gratitude for her grace another day.”
Shuixian slightly curtseyed, adopting an extremely humble posture.
The smile on Fangfei’s face deepened as she took a step forward with an intimate air:
“You are too kind. Actually… besides delivering the gift, I am here today on my lady’s verbal order.”
Shuixian laughed inwardly but maintained a docile expression: “Please speak, Miss Fangfei.”
“My lady says she finds you clever and quick-witted, and deeply favored by His Majesty—she quite admires these qualities.”
Fangfei’s voice was soft as silk, “With Consort Yi now reflecting on her mistakes at Changxin Palace, my lady feels particularly drawn to you among all in the rear palace.”
“Therefore, she would like to invite you to visit Zhaoyang Palace when you have time. She wishes to speak with you and keep you company in your new residence, lest you feel lonely.”
An invitation to Zhaoyang Palace?
Noble Consort Li Ruan Huan?
That arrogant, domineering woman who viewed all women in the rear palace as thorns in her side—the enemy who nearly caused her to miscarry and die with her unborn child in their previous life—now claimed to feel drawn to her?
This professed connection was false; probing was the true intent!
Noble Consort Li held authority to assist in managing the six palaces and was currently at the peak of her influence.
Shuixian’s ability to topple Consort Yi with a few words at the New Year’s Day Banquet, then attract the Emperor to exceptionally stay overnight—this level of favor was enough to make Noble Consort Li wary.
Did she want to see for herself whether this newly promoted Noble Lady was a potential ally to be won over, or a threat that needed eliminating early?
Or was this an attempt to intimidate her, to make her understand that even with Consort Yi fallen, it wasn’t Shuixian’s turn to dominate the rear palace—that Noble Consort Li was currently the most powerful presence?
Though her face showed nothing, countless speculations flashed through Shuixian’s mind in an instant.
She curtseyed and said: “I am overwhelmed by Noble Consort Li’s high regard! For someone of her noble status to summon me for conversation is a tremendous honor.”
“Please report back to your lady that after I settle in slightly, I will visit Zhaoyang Palace this afternoon to pay respects and receive her guidance.”
She agreed promptly and decisively, maintaining an extremely humble posture.
Fangfei’s smile grew more sincere: “You honor us too much. Then I shall return to report to my lady and await your esteemed visit at Zhaoyang Palace this afternoon.”
She curtseyed again and respectfully withdrew.
As Fangfei’s figure disappeared beyond the hall entrance, Shuixian turned and returned to the inner chamber, with Yinzhu quickly following behind.
“My lady…” Yinzhu closed the door behind them, worry etched between her brows.
Though unaware of their past life’s grievances, she knew Noble Consort Li’s notorious arrogance was common knowledge in the rear palace, instinctively feeling that Zhaoyang Palace was a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.
Shuixian raised her hand, stopping Yinzhu’s words.
Noble Consort Li Ruan Huan…
She had never forgotten that bowl of “Fetus-Protecting Medicine” from their previous life that nearly claimed her and her child’s lives!
In this lifetime, before she had even conceived, Noble Consort Li had already come seeking her out. Had she sensed a threat?
Or did she intend to bring her under control or eliminate her in the cradle while her foundation was still unstable?
Whichever it was, she had no choice but to go to Zhaoyang Palace.