Yun Yang assisted Wen Yunmian in rising and washing up.
Having pondered the matter all night without reaching an understanding, she finally voiced her question, “Last night, Mistress did not allow this servant to prevent the guards from being let in. Yet how did Mistress so accurately predict that the Emperor would come here and, moreover, be able to intervene just in time to save Mistress? This servant truly cannot comprehend it.”
Wen Yunmian gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror. “Because the Emperor once loved a commoner girl, and that girl died saving him. Yesterday was the anniversary of her death.”
Drawing from her knowledge of Jun Chenyu in her previous life, she knew he was highly vigilant and never allowed himself to become intoxicated—except on the anniversary of that girl’s death.
Although the Guifei was the treasure of his heart, that commoner girl remained his hidden pain. This was something Wen Yunmian only gradually came to understand after spending half a lifetime by Jun Chenyu’s side.
And coincidentally, she bore some resemblance to that commoner girl.
Thus, she was certain Jun Chenyu would come.
Moreover, last night’s charade had ensured Wen Leyan could no longer seek refuge with Imperial Consort Shu.
Born from the same root, if Wen Leyan grew too close to Imperial Consort Shu, she would inevitably be used as a weapon. Who knew when she might, through fault and folly, implicate the entire Houfu?
Her path to glory required the support of a prosperous family and court officials as her backing—how could it be ruined by a fool like Wen Leyan?
Meanwhile, Wen Leyan, who had been confined in Yanxi Palace all night, was stealthily carried back to her Qiangwei Ge in Qixiang Palace as dawn broke.
Her superior was Xian Fei. As soon as Wen Leyan was returned, Xian Fei received the news and could not help but chuckle lightly.
“Both are from the Wen family, yet one is exceedingly clever while the other is foolish and incompetent. Truly lamentable. However, that clever Yun Guiren does earn This Consort’s admiration.”
A maid remarked, “Previously, Her Ladyship stirred conflict between the Guifei and the Wen sisters, prompting the Guifei to take action against Yun Guiren, intending for them to harm each other. Unexpectedly, the Emperor only punished Chun Pin.”
Xian Fei smiled faintly. “No rush.”
Bang! The sound of shattered porcelain echoed from Qiangwei Ge in the East Side Hall. Xian Fei, passing by outside the door, merely curled her lips in a cold smile.
In contrast, the maid beside her could not bear it. “This Lady Le has not even attended the bedchamber, yet her temper is quite large. This servant has heard the sounds of smashing and breaking from her room more than once.”
Xian Fei raised an eyebrow. “Let her be.”
Wen Leyan sat in her room, staring at her bruised and purple pricked fingers, weeping and wailing. Madam Hong, heartbroken, hurriedly applied medicine to them.
She could not understand: why, having seized the advantage of rebirth and knowing everything about Peony Pavilion, she had successfully arranged for the guards to enter—clearly capable of condemning Wen Yunmian to death—did everything suddenly change?
“Chun Pin must hate me to death now. Once her confinement is lifted, who knows how she will retaliate against me.” Wen Leyan was on the verge of tears, the stinging pain under her fingernails deepening her sorrow.
Madam Hong sighed. “Chun Pin surely believes Mistress and Yun Guiren acted deliberately. If I may say, why must Mistress go to such lengths? Fortunately, last night’s incident did not implicate Mistress.”
Wen Leyan, eyes reddened, said, “Do you think I am truly that foolish? Last night, when Chun Pin led people to search the palace, if she had exposed me, it would have proven she knew I arranged the men and that we conspired to harm Wen Yunmian.”
“If she doesn’t expose me, it only proves she was acting on mere suspicion when she came searching. I had a foolproof plan—regardless of whether Wen Yunmian was actually having an affair, once the Emperor heard the news, he would surely despise Wen Yunmian. How could a ruler’s woman bear such a stain? But I never imagined the Emperor would actually be at Peony Pavilion!”
Ming Cui carefully applied medicine to the wounds in Wen Leyan’s fingernail beds, but Wen Leyan grew increasingly agitated as she spoke and accidentally jabbed the wound.
Enraged, Wen Leyan raised her hand and slapped Ming Cui. “You fool! Can’t you be more careful?”
Ming Cui took the slap without daring to utter a word, lowering her head in grievance before being dismissed by Madam Hong.
Wen Leyan’s chest heaved. “What should I do now? As a mere low-ranking concubine, not only can I not see the Emperor, but now Guifei must also despise me and will surely refuse to help me again.”
Madam Hong looked grave. “Mistress, perhaps we should seek help from Mistress Yun instead.”
Wen Leyan stared as if hearing something absurd. “You want me to beg Wen Yunmian? Wen Yunmian herself lives in misery—how could she possibly help me?”
Madam Hong choked back her words. Misery? Did her mistress not know that these past few days, Peony Pavilion had been nearly overflowing with gifts from the Emperor…?
“Mistress, today I specifically sent someone to Peony Pavilion to gather information. They said last night not only was the Emperor there, but he also stayed overnight. It’s said…”
Wen Leyan’s pupils dilated. “Said what?”
“It’s said Peony Pavilion called for water six times during the night.”
“What did you say!”
Wen Leyan shot to her feet, her face deathly pale. “No, that’s impossible. How could the Emperor actually favor her?”
In her past life, Guifei loathed her, deliberately drugging her and claiming she was insane, yet the Emperor never cared in the slightest.
So how could Wen Yunmian…
Wasn’t the Emperor most devoted to Guifei? Didn’t he never stay overnight in a concubine’s quarters, always having them carried to Chaoyang Palace and returned after the encounter?
Why was this lifetime different after her rebirth?
Wen Leyan felt the world spinning, yet she glimpsed a sliver of hope. Grabbing Madam Hong’s hand, she said, “I must see Guifei. Guifei must hate Wen Yunmian to the core now. If I tell Guifei that Wen Yunmian is infertile, Guifei will surely forgive me and value me again.”
Just as she was about to rush out, she ran headlong into Wen Yunmian, who was entering.
Wen Yunmian wore a moon-silk colored ruqun, her snow-white, translucent skin giving her an ethereal glow that accentuated her beautiful, lively features. “Where are you going?”
Madam Hong quickly curtsied. “Greetings, Yun Guiren.”
She tried to pull Wen Leyan into a show of submission, but Wen Leyan, staring at Wen Yunmian’s current appearance, was filled with resentment and jealousy. “Wen Yunmian, did the Emperor favor you last night? How could the Emperor possibly favor you?”
Wen Yunmian coldly regarded Wen Leyan, disheveled and with bloodied hands. Under Wen Leyan’s furious gaze, she raised her hand and slapped Wen Leyan across the face.
Caught off guard, Wen Leyan was sent tumbling to the ground with a shriek. Madam Hong hurriedly rushed to help her up. “Mistress!”
“You dare hit me?!” Wen Leyan’s eyes were bloodshot.
Wen Yunmian’s gaze was sharp and imposing. “Have you had enough? If not, I don’t mind giving you another slap!”
“You!”
Wen Yunmian signaled Yun Yang to close the door, then walked straight past Wen Leyan and took the seat of honor. “Wen Leyan, do you have any brains at all?”
Previously, Wen Yunmian’s mother had given birth to an eldest daughter who unfortunately died young, making Wen Yunmian the current legitimate eldest daughter of the Houfu and Wen Leyan’s elder sister.
The authority of an elder sister made Wen Leyan inexplicably fearful.
“You were the mastermind behind last night’s incident. Have you ever considered what would have happened if I hadn’t been on guard and people truly believed I had an affair with a guard?”