I'll Teach You in Mother's Place!

Wen Leyan snorted, not showing the slightest concern. "Who told you I masterminded it? Wen Yunmian, even if you were caught having an affair with a guard, that would be because you were shameless. What does it have to do with me?"

Wen Yunmian stared straight at her, her gaze clear and cold. She listened without saying a word, yet her stare left Wen Leyan deeply uneasy.

Wen Leyan put on a show of glaring back. "So what if it was me? Don't forget, only the fittest survive in this palace! Your good days are numbered anyway."

Nanny Hong hurriedly tugged at Wen Leyan. "My lady, stop talking. The noble lady is your own elder sister, after all. How could you treat her like this?"

Nanny Hong had accompanied Madam Meng into marriage as part of her dowry. Naturally, she did not truly want Wen Leyan and Wen Yunmian to stand united. After all, Madam Meng had always wanted to overshadow the first wife.

But in their current predicament, Lady Leyan's days would likely become even harder without Wen Yunmian lending her a hand.

Everyone in this palace bowed to the high and trampled the low. Winter was approaching, yet the charcoal they needed at the Rose Pavilion still had not arrived. Was that not proof of their miserable circumstances? They could not rely solely on Madam Meng's support forever.

Wen Yunmian rose and walked over to Wen Leyan. She gripped her chin between her thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look up.

"Wen Leyan, whether or not Meng Chunqin ever taught you what it means for a family to rise and fall together, or to be branches joined to the same root, today I'll teach you in Mother's place!"

Wen Leyan glared viciously at Wen Yunmian. "As if I need you to teach me! Wen Yunmian, you don't know yet, do you? My good days are coming soon. I'll conceive a prince and trample you beneath my feet, step by step, while you meet a miserable end. When that time comes, let's see if you can still act so high and mighty!"

Smack!

Another slap landed across Wen Leyan's face.

"Wen Yunmian!" Yun Yang reached out and restrained Wen Leyan. Nanny Hong, standing nearby, had enough sense to recognize that Noble Lady Yun was disciplining Lady Leyan and did not dare interfere. Otherwise, how could Lady Leyan survive in the palace with that temper?

"Let go of me!" Wen Leyan was still ready to fly into a frenzy.

Smack!

Another slap left Wen Leyan stunned. Tears streamed down her swollen face as she choked on her grievances.

"Have you come to your senses?" Wen Yunmian asked.

Wen Leyan did not dare speak. She could only glare fixedly at her.

Wen Yunmian's fair face remained cold. "If His Majesty had punished me in his fury last night, all the military merits of the Marquis’s Residence would have come to nothing. If one falls, all fall. Do you think a concubine-born daughter of that household like you could stay untouched, then use a Childbearing Pill to give birth to a prince and ascend to heaven in a single step?"

Wen Yunmian mercilessly laid bare every one of Wen Leyan's thoughts. Her face alternated between green and white. "That's your problem, not mine. Why would His Majesty implicate me?"

"If I turned the Marquis’s Residence into a family of convicted traitors, you would still be a daughter of that household. Even if His Majesty spared your life, every time he saw your face, he would remember how a daughter of the Wen family had an affair with a guard last night! Forget bearing children—your Rose Pavilion would probably become a cold palace."

Nanny Hong tried to persuade her from the side. "My lady, the noble lady is right. You are both daughters of the Wen family. You must never hurt each other and let outsiders reap the benefits."

Wen Leyan forcefully shook off Yun Yang's hold. She had not taken in a word Nanny Hong said.

In my previous life, Wen Yunmian was perfectly fine even after I was sent to the cold palace! Why could she remain untouched, but not me?

"Spare me these lofty, self-righteous lectures. If you really are so capable and truly want what's best for me, then get His Majesty to favor me sooner!"

Seeing Wen Leyan like this, Wen Yunmian knew she had not understood a thing. Very well. It seemed she would have to find an opportunity to kick this menace out of the Wen family.

Wen Yunmian swept a cold glance over Nanny Hong. "Keep her in line. If she causes trouble, you won't escape punishment either."

"Yes." That look left Nanny Hong rattled. Miss Yun was only seventeen, so why did the authority in her eyes seem like something earned through half a lifetime of hardship? It was terrifying.

After returning to the Peony Pavilion, Wen Yunmian felt a slight headache. Assuming Wen Leyan had angered her into it, she paid it little attention.

"My lady, don't be angry. You'll only harm your health."

Wen Yunmian's gaze darkened. "Have someone keep a close eye on Wen Leyan's movements over the next two days."

With no help to be had from the consort, she would likely go begging to the Empress.

Wen Yunmian could not be bothered to stop Wen Leyan from attending His Majesty in bed and receiving his favor, either, so long as she did not resort to crooked schemes.

Yun Fei came in carrying a bowl of Sweet Cheese. "Before you went out, my lady, you specifically asked to have this when you returned. But it looks as though it might snow outside. Eating something chilled won't be good for your health."

"It's fine." Wen Yunmian scooped up a spoonful and tasted it. The coolness soothed the restless heat in her heart and kept her mind clear. It was perfect.

"I told you to take pear soup to His Majesty. Did you deliver it to the Hall of Supreme Harmony?"

Yun Fei nodded, her expression guarded. "I did, but when I went to deliver it, Her Ladyship the consort happened to have sent someone with soup as well..."

"And then?" Wen Yunmian savored her Sweet Cheese, a faint smile playing about her lovely eyes, for she had already guessed what had happened.

Sure enough, Yun Fei said dejectedly, "The palace attendants outside the hall knew perfectly well that the pear soup came from the Peony Pavilion, but they had it set aside. Yet the soup Her Ladyship sent was taken straight to His Majesty. I ventured to ask about it, and only then learned that those were His Majesty's instructions."

Yun Fei felt that an emperor's heart was truly difficult to fathom. His Majesty had doted on her mistress so much last night, yet today he had changed.

Wen Yunmian smiled and set down her Sweet Cheese. Yun Yang handed her a cloth to wipe her hands. "How far have I gotten so far? How could I compare with the consort? We must keep a low profile, not set our hearts higher than the heavens. Your mistress wasn't born with some noble destiny that makes her better than everyone else."

Realizing her mistake, Yun Fei touched her short fringe and obediently accepted the lesson. "I'll remember, my lady."

Yun Yang smiled helplessly.

Meanwhile, Consort Shu had been summoned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and was accompanying Jun Chenyu as he reviewed memorials.

She was the only woman in the entire palace granted this honor.

Seeing that Jun Chenyu intended to keep reviewing memorials, she boldly took one from him. "Your Majesty, you promised me you would only review fifty memorials a day."

There was not a trace of anger in Jun Chenyu's stern expression. He gave her an indulgent look. "Have I spoiled you so lawless that you even dare snatch my memorials?"

Consort Shu smiled and settled delicately into Jun Chenyu's lap.

Fortunately, His Majesty had not been angry with her over the matter of Consort Chun. After spending the whole night with her heart hanging by a thread, she could finally let it settle back into her chest.

"Your Majesty, I was only teasing you."

She lowered her eyes and shyly hooked a finger into Jun Chenyu's collar. "Will Your Majesty summon a consort to attend you tonight?"

"What do you think, my beloved consort?"

Jun Chenyu's lips curved. Consort Shu looked up just then, and the sight of his sharp, stern eyes, high nose, and strikingly handsome face sent her heart fluttering.

Seeing her expression, Jun Chenyu chuckled, lifted her into his arms, and carried her toward the bedchamber.

The night deepened, but the sounds within the Hall of Supreme Harmony soon fell silent.

After calling for water just once, Jun Chenyu went to sleep.

According to palace rules, consorts had to be sent back after midnight. Yet Consort Shu sat dazed in her palanquin.

Why would His Majesty...

Her heart felt stifled and miserable. Though His Majesty had let her attend him tonight, it had never been like this before.

Tonight, it had happened only once. His Majesty had seemed to remember something and suddenly lost interest.

Yet that wretch Wen Yunmian had clearly had him six times last night.

Dread and unease flooded Consort Shu's heart. No. I cannot let that wretch keep seducing His Majesty...