Yu Momo did not respond immediately. She carefully thought about what the master was referring to, then slowly said, “Master, are you asking why the selection date was moved up?”
Song Yunzhou nodded slightly, “Yu Momo, do you know anything about it?”
“Although I do not serve in Cuiwei Palace, I have heard some things. Previously, there were some news related to you, so Consort Shu hosted a tea banquet and invited Consort Wan and Consort Zhuang. Later, rumors spread about the relationship between Imperial Noble Consort Chu and the Song family. When Imperial Noble Consort Chu was alive, the Emperor visited Yaohua Palace frequently, so anything related to the Imperial Noble Consort is not taken lightly by the consorts” Yu Momo thoughtfully explained.
“Related to me?” Song Yunzhou couldn’t recall doing anything noteworthy when she first entered the selection process.
Yu Momo’s lips curved slightly, “Master, do you not remember the incident of knocking on the wall in the middle of the night?”
Song Yunzhou:…
She truly didn’t remember until Yu Momo mentioned it.
It was all Helan Yun’s fault.
“So what if I knocked on the wall?” Song Yunzhou looked at Yu Momo and asked, “The people next door were making noise in the middle of the night, and I couldn’t sleep. It was just a reminder, wasn’t it?”
Yu Momo suppressed her laughter and explained, “Master, once you enter the palace, you encounter all kinds of people, but most of them endure and do not leave a too-obvious impression.”
Yu Momo had a way with words. What did she mean by a too-obvious impression? Just say she was a troublemaker.
“Just because of this?” Song Yunzhou still couldn’t understand. It was just knocking on a wall. Why would someone take notice?
“Of course, it’s not just because of this, but it does show that you have a different temperament,” Yu Momo explained.
Song Yunzhou pondered for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction. Yu Momo’s answer was reasonable, but one thing was clear: the moved up selection, although related to Song Qinghan’s rumor, was mostly due to Consort Shu and the others fearing long-term trouble.
Moreover, labeling her as a troublemaker was indeed unpleasant. Wasn’t the Emperor the biggest culprit for her stay in the palace?
No one would have thought that the final obstacle would be the Emperor himself.
Xiang Xue brought in the tea. The colorful and intricate teacup was bright and the tea was sweet, making Song Yunzhou feel that life was good, except for the Emperor causing some trouble.
Before she finished her tea, Anshun returned.
“I went to inquire. They said they hadn’t received the order yet, so the tailoring will have to be delayed,” Anshun reported with her head lowered.
Yu Momo frowned, “Master has just entered the palace, and the items brought in are limited. Everything else is fine, but you can’t lack clean clothes.” She then turned to Song Yunzhou, “Master, I have dealt with the Bureau of Wardrobe before. I’ll go there first.”
“Thank you, Yu Momo,” Song Yunzhou nodded. Yu Momo’s words were meant to showcase her value in front of her, which she appreciated.
Yu Momo hurried away, and Xiang Xue and Shi Zhu began tidying up the bedroom. Xiang Xue then said to Song Yunzhou, “Master, why don’t you take a nap first? By the time you wake up, everything will be in order.”
Song Yunzhou was indeed tired and said, “Take your time tidying up. I’ll go rest.”
“I’ll help you change,” Qing Feng quickly followed her, helping to remove her hairpins and change her clothes. Then she lowered the bed curtains and quietly exited.
Outside, Xiang Xue and the others moved carefully, rearranging the hall. They brought in a plum vase and placed a few fresh flowers on the windowsill, instantly brightening up the room.
As the sky gradually darkened, Song Yunzhou woke up feeling refreshed. She lifted the curtain and got up, hearing Xiang Xue immediately come in.
“Master, you’re awake?”
“What time is it?” Song Yunzhou asked.
“It’s the hour of the rooster (around 5-7 PM).”
“So late?”
“Master, you were tired. It’s a perfect time to wake up now and have dinner,” Xiang Xue smiled.
Song Yunzhou sat in front of the bronze mirror, and Shi Zhu came in to comb her hair while Qing Feng brought in clothes. Seeing this, Song Yunzhou smiled and said, “Did Yu Momo bring these back?”
“Yes, Yu Momo is amazing. She got your monthly share from the Bureau of Wardrobe,” Qing Feng smiled. “It’s fortunate that Yu Momo went early. If she had gone later, she wouldn’t have been able to get so much, maybe just one or two pieces.”
Song Yunzhou nodded secretly. Everyone who entered the palace for the selection brought a limited number of items, including clothes. Those with family support would go to the Bureau of Wardrobe early to get their share.
Going late would mean not only fewer choices but also insufficient quality.
Yu Momo was capable, and Song Yunzhou mentally gave her a score of ninety out of a hundred for her first evaluation, withholding the remaining ten points to prevent arrogance.
In the outer hall, Yu Lu was setting the dinner table. When Song Yunzhou walked out, she saw four dishes and a soup on the table: Fried Chicken with Lotus Root, Duck Stewed in Bird’s Nest, Crispy Fried Fish Fillets, Lucky Stir-Fry, and Ham and Bamboo Shoot Soup.
The fish was both crispy and tender, with a deliciously fresh flavor. The bird’s nest complemented the duck meat perfectly, and the Lucky Stir-Fry, made with seasonal vegetables, was crispy and tasty. The Imperial Kitchen’s culinary skills were impressive, and Song Yunzhou was very satisfied with the meal.
Just after finishing the meal, Yu Momo hurried back.
Song Yunzhou was sipping her post-meal tea and smiled when she saw her, “Momo, what’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
Yu Momo hesitated for a moment before saying, “I heard that Consort Shu had a relapse of an old illness, and the Emperor went to Cuiwei Palace.”
Song Yunzhou was initially surprised but quickly understood. Oh, this was Consort Shu showing the newcomers who was in charge.
How uninteresting.
Yu Momo thought Song Yunzhou would be angry or upset, but she showed no change in expression, which made Yu Momo relax. She said, “Master, the official appointment hasn’t come yet. You don’t need to worry. With your looks, you won’t fall behind.”
Song Yunzhou was genuinely not worried. So what if the Emperor went there? It would be frustrating for Consort Shu to see but not be able to act.
“Momo, don’t worry. I’m not in a hurry,” Song Yunzhou said, looking at Yu Momo. “After the official appointment, will we be able to see our family?”
They weren’t leaving the palace to go home, but seeing family after the appointment should be possible.
Yu Momo thought Song Yunzhou was homesick and smiled, “Yes, after the official appointment, you can see your family. You just need to make a list of who you want to see.”
Song Yunzhou was taken aback, “Anyone?”
“As long as it’s not too outrageous.”
Song Yunzhou pondered this and then, in a good mood, said to Yu Momo, “Momo, go rest early. There’s nothing else here.”
Yu Momo smiled and excused herself. She couldn’t rest yet; she still had to gather information about the other palaces.
Although it was said that only after the official appointment could one serve the Emperor, there were exceptions. The master might not be too concerned, but she couldn’t let others take advantage.
Song Yunzhou remained calm because she knew the Emperor was like a dog—he only admired beauties but didn’t act on it.
She wasn’t sleepy and went to her study to start writing a new script. Since she could see her family, she thought her script business could continue. Who wouldn’t want to earn more money?
Song Yunzhou’s creative thoughts flowed, and she wrote until late at night before putting down her pen to rest. Looking at the thick stack of manuscripts, she felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Those were all her little earnings.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Han Jinyi came to visit.
Song Yunzhou was delighted to see her and invited her in. After they sat down, she asked, “Jinyi, how are things on your side?”
“I live in the Autumn Hall of Liuhua Palace. You just walk north from the western palace road of Wangyou Palace,” Han Jinyi explained with gestures. “I only realized when I came over that to your right is Consort Wan’s Roufu Palace. Behind Wangyou Palace is Yihua Palace, and to the right of Yihua Palace is Yaohua Palace, where Imperial Noble Consort Chu once lived.”
Song Yunzhou hadn’t paid attention to her neighbors. Hearing Han Jinyi say this, she instantly felt surrounded by enemies.
Being neighbors with Lu Zhixue was truly unpleasant.
Seeing Song Yunzhou’s expression, Han Jinyi didn’t know what to say, so she changed the topic, “Guess who is living with me in Liuhua Palace?”
Song Yunzhou tried to recall the plot of the book. Who lived in Liuhua Palace again?
She couldn’t remember for a moment and asked, “Who?”
“An Fangyi,” Han Jinyi said. “The daughter of Duke Ding[mfn]duke is basically the highest title you can hold as the nobility[/mfn].”
Song Yunzhou looked at Han Jinyi in surprise, “That’s not very fortunate for you.”
Han Jinyi nodded slightly, “Indeed.”
“Did she give you any trouble yesterday?” Song Yunzhou asked with concern.
Han Jinyi shook her head, “My rank is lower than hers, so I was supposed to pay my respects. However, I had a palace maid deliver the message, and she didn’t see me.”
Looking at Song Yunzhou, she added, “I didn’t expect that your family, having recently arrived in the capital, would know about An Fangyi.”
Song Yunzhou felt guilty—it wasn’t the Song family who had found out, but rather, she had read it in a book.
“Speaking of An Fangyi, I met her before she entered the palace, but I was young then and didn’t speak much with her. Who would have thought that we’d meet again under such circumstances,” Han Jinyi sighed.
“I’ve heard a few things about An Fangyi.”
“She fell out of favor for contradicting the Emperor and later had conflicts with Consort Shu and the others. In the palace, losing one step means losing every step,” Han Jinyi shook her head. “I’ve heard her temperament is very bad. I was worried she might trouble me yesterday, but she didn’t even see me.”
Song Yunzhou replied, “It’s a good thing she didn’t trouble you. An Fangyi has fallen from grace, and knowing your family’s background, she wouldn’t provoke you easily.”
In the book, An Fangyi was indeed a fierce woman—stubborn, hot-tempered, and unwilling to yield. However, in the later parts of the book, she teamed up with Qin Xiyue to overthrow Consort Shu, so she shouldn’t be underestimated.
“That’s true,” Han Jinyi sighed. “But it’s still unsettling to live with her. My luck is really not good.”
Given her current position, Song Yunzhou couldn’t do anything about it, “Let’s wait and see. Maybe there will be an opportunity to move to another palace later.”
Han Jinyi nodded and then lowered her voice, “Last night, Consort Shu wasn’t feeling well, and the Emperor went to visit her. I heard he returned after having dinner.”
Song Yunzhou laughed upon hearing this and said to Han Jinyi, “Poor Consort Shu, feeling unwell.”
Han Jinyi also chuckled, “Indeed.”
As they were talking, Xiang Xue hurriedly came in, “Master, I’ve heard that Consort Zhuang punished Beauty Zhen[mfn]Referring to Zhen Yushan that got introduced in the last chapter[/mfn], and she is currently kneeling in the Western Garden.”
Both Song Yunzhou and Han Jinyi were surprised.
“Why was she punished?” Song Yunzhou asked.
“I heard that Beauty Zhen, along with Noble Lady Chen and Honored Lady, were admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden and accidentally bumped into Consort Zhuang.”
“Bumping” was such a catch-all term. Song Yunzhou looked at Han Jinyi and asked, “Shall we go have a look?”
Who wouldn’t enjoy a good spectacle?
“Let’s go,” Han Jinyi immediately stood up.
The two of them got up and walked outside. Song Yunzhou definitely wanted to see the commotion because it was mentioned in the book. Qin Xiyue stood up for Beauty Zhen and confronted Consort Zhuang, earning the Emperor’s admiration for her righteousness.
Song Yunzhou wasn’t trying to steal the heroine’s spotlight; she just wanted to observe the scene from the book. Moreover, there was something fishy about this situation. Consort Zhuang was portrayed as a virtuous and understanding person. How could she impulsively punish someone?
She felt there might be hidden details.
When reading a book, as long as the plot is exciting, logic isn’t scrutinized too much. Many things don’t stand up to close examination.
Now that she was part of the harem, she had to eliminate any potential threats for her own future and safety.
Song Yunzhou’s residence in Wangyou Palace was diagonally opposite to the Western Garden, where Consort Zhuang was punishing Beauty Zhen. It was almost half a journey across the harem. By the time they arrived, the Western Garden was already bustling.
In early summer, the Imperial Garden was in full bloom, and the various beauties standing beside the flowers created a stunning scene.
“Master…” Xiang Xue’s eyes moved from the kneeling Beauty Zhen in the distance. Under the scorching sun, Beauty Zhen’s face was already red from the heat, and she was dripping with sweat.
Song Yunzhou’s gaze shifted away from Beauty Zhen, subtly scanning the crowd around her before pausing on Qin Xiyue. She then slowly said, “It seems the situation has escalated quite a bit.”
Han Jinyi’s maid, Ying Chun, had already gone to gather information. Han Jinyi pulled Song Yunzhou to an inconspicuous spot and said, “Let’s observe for now. It seems that Consort Zhuang is not here.”
Consort Zhuang, with her esteemed status, would not let herself be seen as a spectacle here.
At that moment, Beauty Zhen, kneeling on the ground, felt a sharp pain in her knees, which jolted her awake. This was the harem, not her home. As a lowly Beauty, anyone with a higher rank could easily crush her.
The pain in her knees made her increasingly regret her previous recklessness. She gritted her teeth and endured it, determined to remember today’s lesson.
“This servant greets An Fangyi.”
Beauty Zhen saw the palace maids around her bowing and greeting someone, but she didn’t know who An Fangyi was. However, from the name “Fangyi,” she knew the rank was higher than hers. She gritted her teeth, took a breath, and bowed her head, “I, your servant, greets An Fangyi.”
“Punished on your first day in the palace, that’s quite an eye-opener.”
Hearing this, Beauty Zhen’s face darkened further, but she didn’t dare to talk back and kept her head down in silence.
Qin Xiyue frowned slightly. It was just that her rank was lower than An Fangyi’s, so it was inappropriate to speak rashly. She pressed her lips and suppressed her displeasure, frowning as she looked at Beauty Zhen.
In such hot weather, she wouldn’t last long.
“Fangyi, you can’t say that. Beauty Zhen is just an innocent bystander. Shouldn’t you find out the truth before making a judgment?”
Song Yunzhou was surprised to see Lu Zhixue speak up first.
An Fangyi sneered and turned to Lu Zhixue, “Oh? Then, Concubine Lu, why don’t you tell me about Beauty Zhen’s grievances?”
Lu Zhixue’s face turned unpleasant. She hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, so how could she explain?
Qin Xiyue stepped forward and saluted An Fangyi, “Fangyi, forgive us. This concerns Consort Zhuang, and we dare not speak rashly.”
“If you dare not speak rashly, why make a scene here? How ridiculous.”
At this moment, Song Yunzhou was recalling the plot from the book. The opening perspective was Qin Xiyue speaking up for Beauty Zhen and confronting Consort Zhuang, which was then “coincidentally” overheard by the Emperor.
However, before that, there was no mention of An Fangyi appearing and having a verbal sparring match with Lu Zhixue.
See, this was the hidden plot development.
Song Yunzhou became interested. Now, An Fangyi was having an unpleasant exchange with Qin Xiyue, and later they could team up to defeat Consort Zhuang? It all seemed a bit unreasonable.
Just as she was thinking, she heard Han Jinyi beside her say, “Strange, why is An Fangyi here today? I heard from the people at Liuhua Palace that An Fangyi rarely comes out.”
Song Yunzhou pondered this and turned to Han Jinyi, “An Fangyi rarely leaves Liuhua Palace? So why is she here now?”
“Yes, it’s strange,” Han Jinyi shook her head. “My maid Ying Chun said that, and she has served in the palace for many years, so she knows.”
Song Yunzhou suspiciously looked at An Fangyi, then at Qin Xiyue. The two were having a heated argument, yet despite Qin Xiyue’s lower rank, she dared to talk back to An Fangyi.
And not only did she talk back, but the usually bad-tempered An Fangyi was actually engaging in an argument with her instead of asserting her rank.
It wasn’t just strange; it was downright peculiar.
What was the hidden plot?
Song Yunzhou racked her brains but couldn’t figure it out. Just then, she heard Consort Zhuang’s voice, “Oh, isn’t this An Fangyi? What a rare guest. It’s unusual to see you come out to enjoy the sun. You weren’t so enthusiastic before, so why are you meddling today?”
“This servant greets Concubine Zhuang.” An Fangyi arrogantly bowed. “I just thought it was lively with the newcomers in the palace, so I wanted to get some fresh air. I didn’t expect to see Consort Zhuang displaying her authority on my first day out.”
Song Yunzhou was speechless upon hearing this. She considered herself good at justifying things, but An Fangyi was clearly a master at it.
She first mocked Beauty Zhen, then overpowered Lu Zhixue, and now she was belittling Consort Zhuang.
So, whose side is she on?
It seemed she wouldn’t stop until she offended everyone. This kind of talent was hard to handle.
Yunzhao couldn’t understand why she was doing this. Did she just want to offend people?
While she was thinking about this, she heard Qin Xiyue speak again, “Consort Zhuang, Beauty Zhen already knows her mistake. Please, for her first offense, show mercy and spare her.”
“Noble Concubine Qin?”
Song Yunzhou watched An Fangyi’s gaze land on Qin Xiyue, feeling that something was off.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Do you know what mistake Beauty Zhen made?”
Song Yunzhou’s eyes were fixed on Qin Xiyue. She noticed Qin Xiyue’s eyes flicker before she said, “I heard that Beauty Zhen accidentally picked the flowers that you, Consort Zhuang, were growing in the garden. She didn’t know they were yours at the time. Now she realizes her mistake and asks for your mercy. In this heat, she won’t last long kneeling.”
Picking flowers?
Hearing those words, a thought flashed in Song Yunzhou’s mind, and she couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth. She had forgotten something important, and it was this.
Beauty Zhen picked the flowers that Consort Zhuang was growing. When Consort Zhuang found out, she was furious and scolded Beauty Zhen. Beauty Zhen felt wronged because she didn’t know the flowers belonged to Consort Zhuang and talked back. Zhuang, naturally enraged, punished her.
The key point here was whether flowers were more important than people.
To Consort Zhuang, her flowers were valuable. If someone picked her flowers, it was seen as a sign of disrespect, and she couldn’t tolerate it.
In the book, Qin Xiyue’s argument was that Beauty Zhen didn’t know the flowers belonged to Consort Zhuang. She also argued that flowers shouldn’t be valued over people, and it was too cruel to punish Beauty Zhen for a flower.
As for the Emperor’s thoughts…
They didn’t matter. The people in the harem were all pawns for the Emperor. Who he scolded or suppressed depended on whose father was causing trouble in court and making things difficult for him.
Song Yunzhou’s mind was racing, and just as she was piecing together the plot, the Emperor arrived.
Tsk.
“Your Majesty, not only were my flowers picked, but Beauty Zhen also talked back to me. Please, Your Majesty, give me justice,” Consort Zhuang immediately stepped forward to complain.
At this moment, Beauty Zhen’s knees were numb from kneeling, and under the scorching sun, she felt dizzy. Hearing Consort Zhuang’s words, she wanted to defend herself but couldn’t find the words. In her anxiety, tears started to fall, making her look truly pitiful and helpless.
Qin Xiyue stood beside Beauty Zhen and curtsied to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, although Beauty Zhen made a mistake, it was just picking a flower. She didn’t know the flowers belonged to Consort Zhuang. As the saying goes, ‘Ignorance is no excuse.’ Consort Zhuang punishing Beauty Zhen for a flower is too harsh. Beauty Zhen has been kneeling for an hour, and even if she is guilty, it should be enough.”
Punishing palace concubines?
Reading about it was thrilling, but experiencing it firsthand felt strange.
Song Yunzhou looked at Qin Xiyue, who was accusing Consort Zhuang of such a serious offense. She felt that the Qin Xiyue in front of her was different from the heroine she knew before. The pure innocence she had outside the palace was gone.
Back then, she was a bit manipulative, but it was understandable.
But now…
Song Yunzhou felt something was off. She carefully thought about the plot and looked at the current situation, remaining silent for a moment.
“Noble Concubine Song, what do you think?”
Han Jinyi quickly nudged her, and Song Yunzhou snapped back to reality, having been lost in the plot and ignoring the scene.
But she was just a bystander. What did it have to do with her? Didn’t they see she was staying far away?
How could they drag her into this?
Song Yunzhou looked at the Emperor who had spoken. He just couldn’t stand seeing her do well!
The next few chapters will be sooo good. I sat down to translate one chapter and I got so hooked that I translated 10 lol 😂😍. You can expect some 💥🔥
I’m looking forward to it!! 😮💨