Ever since his last visit, the Kangxi Emperor had not stepped into Yonghe Palace again.
Shulan was more than happy about that. With her limited tricks and schemes, she had no illusions about being able to impress an emperor who had ascended the throne at such a young age.
Keeping her distance was the wisest choice.
For the sake of her own health, Shulan obediently observed a full thirty days of postpartum confinement. Besides, since Kangxi never came and she was the highest authority in Yonghe Palace, this period of “house arrest” wasn’t nearly as unbearable as she had expected.
Today, she could finally have a proper bath.
The bath chamber in the side hall had long been prepared by the palace servants. A large bronze tub was filled with warm rose-infused water. Wisps of white steam drifted over the rim, carrying a sweet fragrance that made her entire body relax.
Shulan absolutely could not accept having people watch her while she bathed, so she dismissed everyone.
Her personal maid, however, insisted on remaining nearby in case something happened. Unable to win the argument, Shulan finally allowed her to wait behind a screen.
Removing her plain undergarments, Shulan stepped into the water.
The moment her skin touched the warmth, she let out a blissful sigh.
“Ah… now this is how a person should live.”
For the past thirty days, the nanny had watched her like a hawk. At most, she had been allowed to wipe herself down with a warm cloth.
How could that compare to the sheer satisfaction of a real bath?
Unfortunately, the pleasure didn’t last long.
“Your Ladyship, it’s about time. You should get out now, or you’ll start feeling dizzy.”
The maid’s gentle reminder sounded from behind the screen.
Shulan was thoroughly enjoying herself and had no desire to leave, but considering her health, she reluctantly obeyed.
The maid quickly handed her clean clothing and deftly arranged her hair into a loose style.
With a smile, she said,
“Your Ladyship’s complexion looks even better now than before you were pregnant with the Sixth Prince.”
Looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror, Shulan nodded in agreement.
When you don’t have to work, your complexion naturally improves.
As she adjusted her collar before the mirror, she saw the wet nurse carrying the Sixth Prince into the room.
The little fellow had just finished feeding. His delicate face was rosy and plump, and his tiny hands waved about in the air.
Smiling, Shulan extended a finger toward him.
As if he’d discovered a fascinating toy, Little Six immediately grabbed her fingertip with both hands and babbled happily.
The nanny shook her head disapprovingly.
“Your Ladyship, although you’ve completed your confinement period, you still need to keep warm.”
With that, she brought over a shoulder cape and wrapped it around Shulan.
There was a kind of cold known as ‘the nanny thinks you’re cold.’
“Nanny, I’m really not cold.”
“Your Ladyship, don’t argue. You’ve only just finished confinement. This isn’t something to be careless about.”
The nanny firmly fastened the cape.
“Still, you’ve recovered wonderfully this month. Your complexion is excellent, and the Sixth Prince has grown fair and chubby.”
Knowing resistance was futile, Shulan turned her attention back to the baby.
Seeing him smack his lips in his sleep, she couldn’t help leaning over and planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.
Eat, sleep, wake up, eat again.
Not everyone was lucky enough to live such a life.
The nanny smiled warmly at the sight.
Ever since the Fourth Prince had been taken away, her mistress had grown increasingly reserved and dignified.
Who would have thought that after giving birth to the Sixth Prince, some of that childlike side would reappear?
Yet when she thought of the Fourth Prince being taken away—and of the Noble Consort who had done everything possible to prevent mother and son from meeting—the nanny’s heart ached for Shulan.
Suddenly remembering something, she said,
“Your Ladyship, now that you’ve completed confinement, it’s time to resume the morning and evening greetings.”
Shulan, who had been playing with the baby, immediately remembered the rule.
During the Qing Dynasty, palace greetings were traditionally performed twice daily—at dawn and dusk. The imperial consorts would pay their respects to the Empress.
However, after the death of Empress Xiaozhaoren in the sixteenth year of Kangxi’s reign, the position of Empress remained vacant.
At present, the highest-ranking woman in the palace was Noble Consort Tongjia.
The concubines would first gather at Chengqian Palace under Noble Consort Tongjia’s leadership before proceeding to greet the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
Yet because the Grand Empress Dowager disliked excessive noise, and because Tongjia herself was in poor health, the greetings had eventually been reduced to only the 15th and 30th days of each month.
Thinking about this, Shulan couldn’t help feeling fortunate that she had arrived after the Empress’s death.
If an Empress were still in place, she’d have to wake up at five in the morning every day.
That would truly be torture.
“Good thing you reminded me, Nanny. Otherwise I might have forgotten completely.”
Just thinking about tomorrow morning made her head ache.
Still, she’d deal with problems when they came.
Sure enough, the next day, when the sky outside the window had only just begun to pale with dawn, the nanny entered quietly.
“Your Ladyship, it’s nearly Mao Hour. In another half-hour, we’ll need to gather at Chengqian Palace before paying our morning respects to the Grand Empress Dowager.”
Half-asleep, Shulan rubbed her temples and sat up.
This life was impossible.
Back in modern times it had been 996 and 007 work schedules.
After transmigrating, she had somehow upgraded to waking up at four in the morning.
The nanny saw that she was awake and immediately led the maids into action.
Washing, dressing, hairstyling, makeup.
By the time Shulan was fully conscious, she was already sitting neatly before the bronze mirror, perfectly groomed.
Looking at her still-drowsy mistress, the nanny adjusted her collar while repeatedly reminding her:
“Your Ladyship, this is your first greeting visit since confinement. You mustn’t make a single mistake in etiquette.
“When greeting the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, you must kneel and kowtow. Your posture must remain steady, and your tone respectful.
“When greeting the Noble Consort, Consort Hui, and the others, a curtsy according to rank will suffice. Do not overstep or fall short.”
Shulan nodded.
“I know. You’ve repeated these rules enough times already.”
Only then did Nanny Zhang relax.
“I’m only worried that you’ve been so focused on the Sixth Prince that you’ve forgotten these important matters.”
By the time daylight fully broke, dew still clung to the cracks between the palace bricks.
Supported by the nanny, Shulan made her way toward Chengqian Palace.
This was the first time she had been allowed out since transmigrating.
After being trapped inside the square confines of the palace for so long, even a blade of grass looked fresh and interesting to her.
As Chengqian Palace came into view, the nanny reminded her:
“Your Ladyship, we’re almost there.”
Shulan immediately withdrew her wandering gaze and resumed proper decorum.
The young eunuch guarding the entrance quickly bowed.
“This servant greets Consort De.”
Shulan nodded slightly and stepped through the palace gates.
Just as she reached the corridor, she heard the soft laughter of a child drifting from inside, mixed with the laughter of several women.
A possibility occurred to her.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she entered.
Inside the bright and immaculate warm chamber, Noble Consort Tongjia sat upon a couch.
Several consorts were seated below her.
And sitting on the Noble Consort’s lap was a beautifully dressed little prince.
It was Yinzhen—
the Fourth Prince, now one year and five months old.
The little boy clutched a string of beads and tilted his head as he giggled.
“Mo… ther… Lady~”
he babbled in his childish voice.
Shulan quickly looked away.
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she lowered herself into a curtsy.
“This concubine greets Your Highness, Noble Consort.”
Tongjia glanced at her.
The smile on her face faded slightly.
“Rise.”
A palace maid immediately brought over a round pearwood stool and placed it three feet below the Noble Consort’s couch.
Shulan thanked her and sat down carefully.
Following the nanny’s instructions, she occupied only one-third of the seat. Her back was perfectly straight, and her hands rested neatly on her knees.
She did not dare relax in the slightest.
Once Consort De had taken her seat, Tongjia lifted her chin toward the wet nurse standing nearby.
Her voice was gentle, but carried unquestionable authority.
“Take him away. Watch him carefully and don’t let him fall.”
The lively atmosphere in the hall instantly fell silent.
The consorts seated below discreetly shifted their gazes between the two women.
No one dared speak. The tension hanging in the air was impossible to ignore.