The Crown Prince’s daily schedule was very simple. He woke up early, read the classics, had breakfast with the emperor, attended morning lessons, ate lunch and rested, attended evening lessons, and sometimes had dinner with the emperor. In his free time, he mostly meditated quietly.
His activities were limited to the Eastern Palace, Zichen Hall, and the road between them.
When he had lessons or meditated, attendants did not need to stand close. At Zichen Hall, they were only silent decorations. The palace servants there did not let them interfere.
At night, the Crown Prince did not allow palace maids to stay overnight. The night shift ended at 9 p.m., and they could sleep. The rooms in the Eastern Palace were larger than those in other departments. Yan Zigui did not think being assigned night duty was unfair. Before sleeping, she could stretch her body, and she slept very well.
If this was all, she would fully adapt to the Eastern Palace in two days.
But when the Crown Prince was in class or meditating, Yan Zigui was not idle. Qian Ming told her to manage the storage accounts. So she first had to check everything carefully. If she accepted the account book without checking, and something went missing later, she could not explain it.
Checking the storage was difficult. It required the chief eunuch Zhang Cheng to be present. The hardest part was finding time when he was free.
Qian Ming originally wanted to make things hard for her. Whether Yan Zigui accepted or refused, Qian Ming had something to say. But she did not expect Yan Zigui to take it so seriously. With Zhang Cheng involved, it was no longer just a fight between female officials.
After confirming that the account book matched the items in storage, Yan Zigui accepted the accounts. But Qian Ming still kept the keys.
At first, Qian Ming felt she still had power because she held the keys. But soon she realized that Yan Zigui controlled the accounts. That meant Yan Zigui made the final decisions. Holding the keys alone was useless. Without Yan Zigui’s approval, she even had to explain why she opened the door.
Qian Ming wanted Yan Zigui to take the keys instead. Yan Zigui smiled and shook her head.
“The accounts and the keys should be separated. Otherwise, it is easy to steal.”
Qian Ming then suggested switching—she would manage the accounts, and Yan Zigui would keep the keys. Yan Zigui refused again.
“We just confirmed our responsibilities in front of Eunuch Zhang. I cannot ask to change it again. If you want to, you may ask him.”
Qian Ming did not dare to ask. So things stayed this way. The next inventory check might be in one or two years. She regretted acting too quickly.
Her godmother understood clearly.
“In the past, you were the only ranked female official. When Aunt Fu left the palace, she gave you the keys. But has anyone asked you to check the storage in all these years?”
“Even if Yan Zigui manages the accounts, so what? You are only managers of the Eastern Palace. Real power is in Zhang Cheng and Aunt Fu’s hands. Even the future Crown Princess may not take power from them. Don’t worry too much.”
“Will Aunt Fu return?” Qian Ming asked. Aunt Fu was the Crown Prince’s wet nurse and had grown up with the Empress.
“She left because her only daughter was bullied. But she knows that only by keeping her position in the Eastern Palace can she protect her daughter.”
Qian Ming did not care much.
Jiang Sizheng sneered.
“Her husband hid things from her. He used her money and lived well. His son from a concubine even called himself the Crown Prince’s milk brother and acted proudly. But he ignored her only daughter. Now Aunt Fu divorced him. He will never live that rich life again.”
“But if she returns to the palace and leaves her daughter outside, it is still dangerous,” Qian Ming said.
“These are not your worries,” Jiang Sizheng said. “And you do not need to argue with Yan Zigui. She will not stay long.”
“She has only been here a few days, yet she is equal to me everywhere. Then were my many years here useless?” Qian Ming was angry. She just wanted to see Yan Zigui lower her head.
Qian Ming sent Yan Zigui to the Imperial Garden to ask for flowers.
At this time, people loved peonies. The garden grew famous kinds. It was peony season. Qian Ming said the Crown Prince liked “Wei Zi” and asked Yan Zigui to request it.
After leaving the Eastern Palace, a young maid quietly told her,
“The Noble Consort likes Wei Zi. All Wei Zi peonies are sent to Jade Dew Hall. Others cannot have them.”
“Does His Highness like Wei Zi?” Yan Zigui asked.
The maid shook her head. “I don’t know. The Eastern Palace has very few peonies. People say His Highness does not care for flowers.”
“Let’s go see first,” Yan Zigui said.
At the Imperial Garden, the manager hurried over politely.
Yan Zigui looked around.
“You have many kinds of flowers. Why are the ones sent to the Eastern Palace few and small? Are you neglecting the Eastern Palace?”
The manager panicked.
“How can that be? We only send what the Eastern Palace asks for. We don’t decide for ourselves.”
“Who asked for them?” Yan Zigui pressed.
He could not answer.
Yan Zigui walked slowly through the garden. When she stood before the purple peony Wei Zi, she looked at it carefully.
A young maid suddenly asked,
“What is this purple flower? It is so beautiful. It matches the Crown Prince’s Purple Bamboo Hall.”
Before the manager could struggle to answer, Yan Zigui spoke calmly,
“This is the famous peony Wei Zi. Everyone knows the Noble Consort loves Wei Zi. The Crown Prince is very filial. How could he compete with her for flowers?”
Then she said,
“His Highness prefers elegance. Choose some Yulouchun and Doulu peonies instead.”
When she returned without Wei Zi, Qian Ming mocked her.
Yan Zigui calmly arranged the Yulouchun (upscale establishment.) in the meditation room and the Doulu (young lady) in the bedroom hall.
“Don’t worry. Wei Zi will come soon,” she said.
Qian Ming thought she was bragging.
But that afternoon, two pots of Wei Zi were delivered—one tall, one short, in different shades of purple.
The garden servant explained politely,
“These were meant for Jade Dew Hall. But when they heard the Eastern Palace wanted Wei Zi, they asked us to send them here. The Noble Consort said the Eastern Palace comes first.”
Yan Zigui replied quickly,
“This is a misunderstanding. The Eastern Palace never asked for Wei Zi. Please make sure the Noble Consort still has enough to enjoy.”
The servant explained nervously that there were enough flowers for everyone.
“That is good,” Yan Zigui said. “His Highness does not have much time to enjoy flowers. If the Noble Consort gave up her favorite flower because of him, that would not be right.”
The servant quickly left.
The palace maids looked at Yan Zigui with admiration. The Eastern Palace had not seen such fine flowers in five years.
In the harem, after the emperor, the Crown Prince had the highest status. But the Noble Consort managed palace matters. She was not the Crown Prince’s birth mother. Big matters were handled properly, but small things were often ignored. Over time, it was like sitting on a cushion with tiny stones inside—small discomfort again and again.
Yan Zigui told the young maid who had helped her,
“Send this pot to Purple Bamboo Hall. Today’s success is because of you.”
The maid blushed happily.
Yan Zigui smiled. In the garden, she had clearly said that Wei Zi was the Noble Consort’s beloved flower and that the Crown Prince would not compete. If even part of those words reached the emperor, the Noble Consort would need to explain herself in Zichen Hall. So to avoid trouble, they quickly sent flowers to the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince, Zhou Hui, returned from class and asked who sent the peonies.
Qian Ming quickly answered,
“Yan Zigui asked for them. When Jade Dew Hall heard, they gave them up.”
She hoped the Crown Prince would punish Yan Zigui for using his name.
But Zhou Hui did not punish her. He only asked,
“Are there others?”
“Yes,” Yan Zigui answered honestly. “Two Yulouchun and two Doulu.”
“Move the Doulu to Purple Bamboo Hall. That is where my teacher gives lessons. It should be quiet and elegant. Wei Zi is too bright and distracting.”
He rearranged the flowers but said nothing else.
This already showed he liked them very much.
Qian Ming’s face darkened.
Zhang Cheng quietly gave Yan Zigui a thumbs up.