Wen Yunmian prepared the medicinal decoction, placed it in a food container to keep it warm, and headed toward the Empress’s palace.
Upon learning of Wen Yunmian’s arrival, Suo Chun, the attendant by the Empress’s side, came out to greet her. “Greetings, Yun Xiaozhu. Her Ladyship is unwell and fears she cannot receive you. Please return for now.”
Wen Yunmian knew the Empress was about to fall ill at this time. She hurriedly explained her purpose. “As it is now late autumn, Her Ladyship’s cold ailment may worsen. In my hometown, there is a method to alleviate Her Ladyship’s condition. I beg Suo Chun to help convey my message.”
Back when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, he once suffered from a high fever that would not subside. The Empress immersed herself in an icy lake, chilled her body, and then held the Emperor to lower his temperature. Since then, she has been left with an old ailment.
Suo Chun paused. “Yun Xiaozhu, please wait a moment.”
As Suo Chun went inside, Yun Yang asked in confusion, “Didn’t Xiaozhu once say that after entering the palace, the most taboo thing is to align oneself with anyone? Then why did you take the initiative to deliver medicine to the Empress?”
Wen Yunmian’s gaze was gentle. “Her Ladyship is different. She is an exception to that principle.”
When Suo Chun came out, she had already stepped aside. “Xiaozhu, please come in.”
The bedchamber of Feng Yi Gong was filled with a strong medicinal scent. Upon entering, one could hear the bubbling sound of medicine being brewed.
The Empress, dressed in ginger-yellow sleepwear and without any hairpins or jewelry, leaned weakly on the daybed, her face pale. Palace maids carefully attended to her with the medicinal decoction.
Wen Yunmian approached and curtsied. “This Concubine, Guiren Wen, pays respects to the Empress.”
The Empress forced a gentle expression. “Rise. This Consort sees that the sky outside is likely about to rain. Yun Guiren has gone to such trouble to come and deliver medicine to This Consort. This Consort appreciates the gesture.”
The Empress called out, “Suo Chun, take the medicine.”
Wen Yunmian handed the medicine to Suo Chun, knowing that everyone in the palace likely saw her as someone trying to curry favor with the Empress. However, she did not care.
She unfolded a clean handkerchief, inside which were several plum preserves. “Your Ladyship, these were accidentally purchased when This Concubine entered the palace. Knowing that the medicine Your Ladyship drinks daily is bitter, This Concubine specially brought them for Your Ladyship to taste.”
The Empress’s calm, dark eyes looked over. Upon seeing the plums, a flicker of joy appeared in her dull eyes. “Are these the plum preserves sold in Dongchun Alley in Jiangnan?”
“Yes,” Wen Yunmian replied gently, stepping closer and half-kneeling to present the plums to the Empress.
The Empress tasted one, and her expression softened. “Indeed, this is the taste.”
Her gaze toward Wen Yunmian changed. “Yun Guiren is thoughtful.”
Wen Yunmian knew the Empress was heavily guarded in her heart. Not wanting to rush, she obediently stepped back. “It is about to rain. This Concubine will take her leave now. May Your Ladyship take care of your precious health.”
Returning to Peony Pavilion, Neiwufu had sent over many items.
There were several potted plants, several bolts of misty cloud-light silk, and a box of pear-blossom incense for the bed curtains.
Eunuch Huang from Neiwufu accepted the reward, smiling and saying it was what the Guiren rank deserved. He also mentioned that it might rain in the coming days, and the pink chrysanthemums would look better kept indoors. Beyond that, he said nothing more.
After entering, Yun Fei looked at these items in amazement. “Things in the palace are truly exquisite. Even the flowers are larger than those I’ve seen in our mansion.”
Wen Yunmian, however, could not help but feel puzzled. In her previous life, she had been unremarkable in the palace and had not encountered such a thing before receiving favor.
She approached and sniffed the potted plants. The scent was not unusual, so she inspected the other items as well—all were of fine quality.
Could it be that she was overthinking it?
She and Wen Leyan had taken different pills, so it was likely that the karma of this lifetime would also differ.
It was better to be cautious.
As night fell, the phoenix carriage passed by outside Qi Xia Gong. When Yun Fei entered, Wen Yunmian was practicing calligraphy, but she was using her right hand.
Dressed in a moon-white ruqun, her brows and eyes were as cool as snow, serene and composed.
Yun Yang attended to her on the side. Seeing Yun Fei’s recklessness, she scolded in a low voice, “The mistress is still practicing calligraphy. What are you bouncing around for?”
Yun Fei sheepishly touched her bangs and approached in small steps. “This servant just heard outside that tonight, Noble Lady Wei will attend the bedchamber. She has already taken the phoenix carriage to Chaoyang Palace.”
Wen Yunmian’s brush paused slightly. “Who attends the bedchamber is not something we should concern ourselves with. Alright, burn the characters I practiced.”
Wen Yunmian set down her brush and went to wash her hands nearby. Yun Fei asked, puzzled, “Mistress writes such beautiful characters. Why not keep them? Also, since childhood, the mistress has preferred writing with her left hand. Why have you been practicing with your right hand these past few days?”
Wen Yunmian took the handkerchief handed to her by Yun Yang and wiped her hands clean. “So, looking at this calligraphy sample, can you tell it was written by your mistress?”
Yun Fei shook her head honestly. “Not really.”
Wen Yunmian smiled gently. “That’s good. Only keep the characters written with the left hand. Burn all those written with the right.”
Yun Fei still wanted to ask curiously, but Yun Yang pinched her little mouth shut. “Remember what you were told. All of the mistress’s habits must be kept buried in your stomach.”
Yun Fei quickly nodded. “I remember, I’ve always remembered. The mistress’s affairs are the most important things in my heart. I will never forget.”
Wen Yunmian smiled slightly. As she sat down to pour tea, she gazed at Peony Pavilion—not particularly large but exceptionally bright and warm—and felt a deep sense of peace in her heart.
However, if she didn’t bear children in this lifetime and still wished to tread the path of success from her previous life, it might not be appropriate.
She would also need to fully grasp the affairs of the court, but there was no hurry for now.
…
After Noble Lady Wei attended the bedchamber, she received many rewards the next day and returned to her Changchun Palace in grand style.
In the following days, Attendant Hui and Da Ying Su also attended the bedchamber, leaving only Wen Leyan.
Wen Leyan was furious and knew it must be Guifei intentionally suppressing her. If Imperial Consort Shu hadn’t forced her to leave Feng Yi Gong last time, she could have met the Emperor.
No, she must align herself with Guifei’s faction! Otherwise, as Wen Yunmian climbed higher and higher, how could she ever seize Wen Yunmian’s fate?
News from the palace also reached Houfu through various means.
Upon learning that his eldest daughter was not only the first to attend the bedchamber but was also promoted to Guiren, Wen Fuan was overjoyed and couldn’t stop smiling. “I never expected Mian’er to be so capable. If she gains the Emperor’s favor, what worry would our Houfu have about decline?”
Lady Meng had thought that no matter what, her daughter would not be inferior to Wen Yunmian. Unexpectedly, the news she received was that her daughter hadn’t attended the bedchamber at all.
Could it be that Wen Yunmian, that wretched girl, was deliberately causing trouble?
No, she must help Le Yan.
When Wen Yunmian received the letter delivered from Houfu, it was, as expected, asking her to assist Wen Leyan.
She sneered coldly. Lady Meng was quite skilled at forging her father’s handwriting. But one’s fate is something one must fight for oneself. Why should she help someone who wanted to harm her?
That night, Wen Leyan stood on the dark corridor, watching the passing palace maids and eunuchs from time to time. She pulled Ming Cui aside. “Is everything taken care of?”
Ming Cui nodded nervously. “Rest assured, mistress. Everything is done.”
Wen Leyan’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light. Today, she had gone to seek help and curry favor with the Guifei, and Noble Lady Yu had indeed relented. However, they didn’t believe that she and Wen Yunmian were truly at odds as sisters, so naturally, she had to put on a show.
After all, the most powerful woman in the palace was Imperial Consort Shu. Winning her favor could never be wrong!
Fortunately, she had memories from her past life.
Wen Yunmian, just wait and see tonight. You will be the perfect stepping stone for me to climb up to the Noble Consort.