Shuixian arrived at Changxin Palace before the imperial rewards did.
It wasn’t that the Imperial Household Department had been negligent, but rather that Emperor Zhaoheng’s gifts were so numerous they needed to be properly accounted for before being delivered to their recipient.
When she stepped through the gates of Changxin Palace after three days’ absence, the cleaning servants could hardly recognize her.
She wore a brand new Sky Blue Palace Dress, with a Moon White Dark Pattern Cape draped over her shoulders. The honey-colored mink fur trim reached down to her skirt’s edge, gently brushing against it with her every step.
Her hair was styled in a modest hanging bun, adorned not with extravagant ornaments but only a few cyan velvet flowers, secured by several mutton fat jade hairpins.
Three days of careful rest and continuous nourishment with tonics had washed away her previous pallid, sickly appearance, adding instead a delicate beauty to her features that spoke of meticulous care.
Had no one told them, who could have guessed she was but a lowly palace maid just three days prior?
Truly, imperial favor nurtures one’s beauty—now Shuixian carried herself more like a mistress than the actual mistresses did.
Upon entering, Shuixian went directly to the main hall to kneel and pay respects to Consort Yi.
“This servant… no, your humble consort Shuixian, pays respects to Consort Yi. By His Majesty’s grace, I have been permitted to return to reside in Changxin Palace, and have come specially to thank Your Ladyship for your past kindness and care.”
She knelt upon the green woven gold pile carpet spread before Consort Yi’s seat, the velvet flowers in her hair trembling slightly with her movement.
Consort Yi sat upright on the main throne of Changxin Palace. Ever since she heard Shuixian had been appointed as a Changzai, she had felt as if a stone were lodged in her heart, leaving her unsettled.
“Hmph.”
Consort Yi’s eyes were icy cold as she looked down at the kneeling Shuixian, her hands resting on her knees.
“Rise.”
Consort Yi’s lips curled coldly. “Now you are a mistress too, there’s no need for such formal courtesy. This consort cannot possibly accept it.”
Shuixian rose as instructed, her posture humble and respectful:
“Your Ladyship will always be this consort’s mistress. Had it not been for Your Ladyship’s past guidance, how could this consort have attained such fortune today?”
Consort Yi stroked her cold ruby nail guards and sneered, “This fortune came about quite conveniently, didn’t it?”
“That day in the snow, how was it such a coincidence that you were seen by His Majesty?”
She clenched her fist tightly, her gaze seeming to pierce through Shuixian’s flesh: “Shuixian, I truly underestimated your cunning before.”
Shuixian feigned terror and unease, quickly kneeling again:
“Your Ladyship! How would I dare! How could a lowly servant like me possibly spy on His Majesty’s movements?”
Her voice choked with emotion, as if suffering a grave injustice, “If I had even an ounce of calculation in my heart, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death!”
An oath was just words, easily spoken.
If oaths truly worked, most men in brothels would have long been dead.
Countless were the men who knelt weeping before their wives today, swearing oaths and making vows, only to appear in pleasure quarters seeking entertainment tomorrow—such sights were common and frequent.
Consort Yi stared at her for a long moment, almost convinced by her words.
Indeed, where the Emperor decided to go, even she as a consort might not know in advance, let alone a lowly servant!
She didn’t know that Shuixian possessed memories from a previous life.
Shuixian remembered that on the day Attendant Song visited Consort Yi, the Emperor happened to come to Changxin Palace.
Consort Yi introduced Attendant Song to Emperor Zhaoheng, and that very night Attendant Song served the Emperor.
Therefore, when Attendant Song proposed punishment, Shuixian did not resist, but obediently knelt in the snow.
Because she knew that the more miserable and pitiful she appeared, the more she would distinguish herself from the domineering late Imperial Noble Consort in Emperor Zhaoheng’s heart.
Consort Yi knew none of this, and the tension in her face eased slightly.
She leaned forward slightly, softening her voice. “Alright, I was merely speaking offhand. Look how frightened you’ve become. You grew up by my side since childhood—do I not know you best? You’ve always been the most honest and dutiful.”
A hypocritical smile surfaced on Consort Yi’s face. “Now that you’ve caught the Emperor’s eye and been appointed as a Changzai, I am genuinely happy for you.”
“After all, we’ve shared a master-servant bond for so long, we’re practically sisters. Your success brings honor to my face as well, doesn’t it?”
“Your Grace’s kindness is something this humble one will never forget!” Shuixian feigned profound gratitude.
“If not for Your Grace giving me that night… that night of substitution, allowing me to appear before His Majesty, the Emperor might not even know who I am. I hold this deep in my heart and dare not forget it!”
Shuixian’s repeated declarations of loyalty finally elicited a trace of genuine satisfaction on Consort Yi’s face.
She rose gracefully from her seat and stepped down, warmly taking Shuixian’s hand. The touch revealed skin even more delicate and warm than before, stirring another wave of jealousy in her heart, though her smile grew increasingly benevolent.
“Dear sister, I am relieved that you think this way.”
Consort Yi led her toward the inner chamber, sighing softly.
“I originally thought that after you bore a royal heir, I would seek a great favor from the Emperor on your behalf.”
“Then you would be granted gold and silver, released from the palace, and I would beg the Emperor to show mercy—removing your parents from their lowly status, finding a serene and beautiful place for them, and arranging a prosperous and honest family for you to marry into.”
She patted Shuixian’s hand and sighed again.
“But now… since you’ve been appointed as a Changzai, these deep palace walls have become your lifelong cage. From now on, every step must be taken with caution, with open spears and hidden arrows… Ah, dear sister, peaceful days are ultimately not meant for you.”
Shuixian kept her head bowed, listening respectfully, but her heart was left with nothing but icy coldness.
Ordinary days? Wealth and stability?
Images from her previous life flashed before her eyes:
Being abandoned by Consort Yi in a brothel while still recovering from childbirth; news of her parents and younger sister being executed by the Yi family on some absurd pretext; the tragic fate of being manipulated and brutally tortured to death…
Overwhelming hatred surged wildly within Shuixian. She forced herself to lift her head, squeezing out a grateful smile.
“Your Grace’s care for this humble one is as vast as the heavens and earth! It is my own misfortune to have failed Your Grace’s sincere efforts…”
Consort Yi led her to sit on the soft couch in the inner chamber and softly called for her maid, Xuemei.
Soon after, Xuemei entered the inner chamber, well-prepared with a steaming bowl of medicinal brew.
The air immediately filled with the bitter scent of medicine. Shuixian pretended not to understand.
“This is…?”
“Dear sister, this is a health tonic I obtained from the imperial physician. If you were to conceive, that would be the greatest blessing.”
Consort Yi took the bowl from Xuemei and pressed it into Shuixian’s hands without further explanation.
“Drink it. It will do you good.”
The bowl was hot, and the medicine inside was even hotter.
Shuixian set the bowl aside on the table. “It’s still too hot. I’ll drink it in a moment.”
“No hurry,” Consort Yi said, glancing subtly at the medicine bowl before pushing it further toward the center of the table.
“Let’s take this time to talk.”
“By the way, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
Consort Yi said nonchalantly, “I noticed that Attendant Song is around your age and your temperaments seem compatible, so I decided to have her move into the eastern side hall of Changxin Palace. With both of you together, you can look out for each other and keep one another company.”
“By my calculations, she should be arriving with her belongings around now. This is perfect timing for you to formally greet each other. Since you’ll be living in the same palace, you’ll be seeing each other constantly.”
A cold glint flashed imperceptibly in Shuixian’s eyes.
Look out for each other?
By placing Song Changzai—who detested her to the core—right under her nose, Consort Yi was clearly intending for Attendant Song to monitor her daily and pick fights.
In her previous life, Attendant Song hadn’t moved into Changxin Palace. It seemed her promotion to Changzai had indeed made Consort Yi feel threatened like never before.
Outwardly, she merely replied obediently: “Your arrangements are naturally most considerate, Your Highness.”
Before the words had fully left her mouth, commotion arose outside the hall.
The shouts of palace servants moving chests and cases mixed with Attendant Song’s haughty commands, clearly audible within the chamber.
“She’s here,” Consort Yi said, taking Shuixian’s hand and rising. “Come, let’s go welcome her.”
As they stepped out of the main hall, they saw Attendant Song standing at the entrance of Changxin Palace, dressed in brand-new lake-blue palace attire, her hair adorned with exquisite pearls and jade.
She was directing several eunuchs as they carefully carried heavy cases of calligraphy and paintings.
“Be gentle! If any of these masterpieces get damaged, you’ll pay with your hides!”
Having said this, Attendant Song looked up and spotted Consort Yi, along with the figure in celestial-green standing beside her.
When her eyes fell upon Shuixian’s stunningly beautiful face that she couldn’t possibly conceal, flames of jealousy instantly ignited in Attendant Song’s gaze.
It was this wretched maid! If she hadn’t pretended to be pitiable in the snow that day to seduce the Emperor, Consort Yi would have already recommended me to His Majesty!
That night should have been my chance to receive favor! All ruined by this vile servant!
“Greetings to Consort Yi.”
Attendant Song performed a curtsy, and only after rising did her gaze seemingly casually sweep over Shuixian:
“Shuixian… Changzai, I hope you are well. To think that in just three days, you’ve gone from maid to Changzai!”
Her tone was laced with sarcasm, her voice slightly cold.
Shuixian curtsied slightly according to protocol: “Attendant Song, I hope you are well.”
She appeared not to have detected the mockery, her expression calm and unruffled.
Attendant Song’s eyes swept over Shuixian, and when she noticed that Shuixian didn’t even have a single maid attending her, she immediately felt a sense of superiority.
She let out a light laugh and deliberately raised her voice, addressing the eunuchs moving her belongings:
“Be careful with everything! My Rosewood Vanity and that pair of Imperial Kiln Plum Vases were specially acquired by my father.”
She cast a contemptuous glance at Shuixian. “Unlike some people who only have an empty title—I doubt they can find a single decent furnishing in their rooms. Bare and bleak, it reeks of poverty!”
This indirect insult was clearly heard by all the servants in front of the hall, who couldn’t help stealing glances at Shuixian.
Consort Yi felt inwardly pleased but feigned reproach on her face: “Sister Song, what are you saying? Shuixian has only just been promoted to Changzai. She’ll naturally acquire things gradually.”
Turning to Shuixian with a show of utmost concern, she said: “Shuixian, I have some personal savings here. Take them for now to buy daily necessities. We can’t have things too shabby—it would reflect poorly on our Changxin Palace.”
As she spoke, she made to signal Xuemei to fetch the silver.
Shuixian politely declined.
Consort Yi’s seemingly generous gesture only served to confirm her impoverished circumstances, making Attendant Song and all the palace servants look down on her even more.
Seeing her refusal, Consort Yi’s smile deepened. “After all, we were once mistress and maid. Let Xuemei fetch a hundred taels of silver for you to purchase…”
Before she could finish her sentence, another group of people suddenly arrived at the gates of Changxin Palace.
The Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department personally led a long procession of palace attendants carrying various brocade boxes and heavy chests, flooding through the main entrance of Changxin Palace in a grand procession.
The spectacle nearly filled the entire courtyard!
When Consort Yi and the others turned to look at the commotion, the Chief Steward’s obsequious gaze quickly found Shuixian’s figure in the courtyard.
Beaming with ingratiating smiles, he hurried to Shuixian’s front, bowed deeply, and announced in a resonant voice:
“This humble servant comes by His Majesty’s decree to present rewards to Changzai Shuixian!”