After finishing the final set of stretching exercises, the two of them finally stopped and sat down on a nearby bench to catch their breath.
Ye Jinyun glanced around and noticed Yu Wan’er standing dumbly at the entrance of her courtyard, staring blankly into space with a confused expression.
She couldn’t help but laugh.
“Wan’er, what are you standing there for like that?”
Only then did Yu Wan’er snap back to her senses. She shook her head slightly and walked over to the courtyard, full of curiosity.
“Sister Ye, what were you and Lady Lin doing just now? I couldn’t understand it at all.”
“We were doing radio gymnastics. What do you think—want to join us?” Ye Jinyun said, winking at her.
“Radio gymnastics? What is that? I’ve never heard of it before. Is it some kind of martial art?” Yu Wan’er asked in confusion.
“Mm… you could say that. Anyway, it’s something that helps strengthen the body,” Ye Jinyun replied after thinking for a moment.
She then glanced at Lin Qingtang, who had remained silent the whole time, and guessed that she probably didn’t like interacting with unfamiliar people.
So she took the initiative to say that she had worked up a sweat and needed to go back to wash up, also reminding Lin Qingtang to change into dry clothes so she wouldn’t catch a chill.
After that, she took her leave and returned to her own palace with Qing’er. Seeing that Ye Jinyun had left and there was no one left to talk to her, Yu Wan’er also politely said goodbye to Lin Qingtang and went back.
Watching Ye Jinyun’s departing figure, Lin Qingtang’s eyes held a thoughtful look.
Back in her inner hall, Ye Jinyun quickly washed up and changed into clean clothes. Feeling refreshed, she touched her slightly hungry stomach. Seeing that Yinzhu had already set out breakfast, she sat down and began eating.
While she ate, Yinzhu reported the news she had gathered: Consort Chu had spent the night with the Emperor and was promoted in rank—from Noble Lady to Zhaoyi.
Ye Jinyun nodded to show she understood and continued eating. She didn’t care at all whom the Emperor favored. Having Yinzhu keep track of palace news was simply for survival in the harem.
Yinzhu also knew that her mistress was not someone who liked to compete for favor or stir up trouble. She had seen too many concubines engage in vicious struggles in the palace and had long grown tired of it.
Now that she served such an easygoing mistress, she felt quite satisfied and became even more devoted in her service.
After breakfast, Ye Jinyun still lounged on the couch, reading in the sunlight by the window.
Concubines who had not been summoned by the Emperor were not required to pay morning respects, and Ye Jinyun found this rule extremely satisfying—she would have been happy never to attend such formalities at all.
……
Another day passed.
After dinner, Eunuch Xiaoquan came to report that the Emperor had summoned Consort Shen for the night. Since it had nothing to do with Ye Jinyun, she immediately forgot about it after hearing it and went to bed early at her usual time.
However, the other concubines in the palace were not nearly as calm. Many of them lay awake at night, troubled and anxious.
In the following two days, Consort Shen continued to receive imperial favor. It was clear that the Emperor was quite fond of her. Her rank was promoted from Noble Lady to Noble Consort, and she was granted the title “Li” (丽), a clear sign of imperial favor.
……
In the Yonghua Palace:
The Noble Consort smashed her teacup violently onto the floor upon hearing that the Emperor had issued an edict promoting Consort Shen to “Li Zhaoyi” that morning.
“Rou’er! You were clearly the first newcomer summoned by His Majesty for the night, so why did that Consort Shen steal the opportunity from you? Father sent you into the palace to stabilize my position, and yet you are so useless—even a mere Consort Shen is beyond you. How will you ever help me in the future?”
The Noble Consort glared at her younger sister, Chu Zhaoyi, and spoke furiously.
Chu Zhaoyi looked nervous and panicked as she quickly replied, “Sister, please don’t be angry. Rou’er will definitely find a way to gain His Majesty’s favor and help you ascend to the position of Empress.”
“Hmph. Just make sure you know what you’re doing. Now leave. I’m tired and need to rest.”
With a wave of her hand, she dismissed her.
As Chu Mingrou stepped out of Yonghua Palace, she looked in the direction of Consort Shen’s residence, a sharp, ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.
Before entering the palace, she had been instructed by her father to assist the Noble Consort in securing the position of Empress. Yet she had been humiliated by Shen Lanxin so early on, losing all face in the harem. This humiliation—she would repay it someday.
In the past, outside the palace, they might have been on good terms. But in this harem, where favor determined everything, even sisters could turn against each other. Let alone mere acquaintances—nothing was as it seemed anymore.