Answering Lady Su came to pledge her allegiance

Wen Yunmian's gaze darkened slightly. The Empress had always been frugal. Besides, most of the fine silks, Luozi Dai, and other precious goods sent into the palace went first to Consort Shu's Palace of Prolonged Happiness.

Only after she had made her selections would they be sent to Fengyi Palace.

Though this went against the rules, everyone serving in the palace was shrewd. Wherever the Emperor's heart lay, that was where they directed their flattery.

Over time, it had become an unspoken rule.

Such precious fabric should never have found its way to Fengyi Palace. The Empress was gravely ill and had no attention to spare for worldly possessions, so why would she have these fabrics sent to Wen Yunmian without any apparent reason?

As she pondered this, someone came in to announce, "My lady, Answering Lady Su is here."

Wen Yunmian returned to herself. "Show Answering Lady Su in."

In her previous life, Wen Yunmian had scarcely interacted with Answering Lady Su. Only during their first audience with the Empress, when Consort Chun mocked her, had Answering Lady Su spoken up on her behalf.

And since this woman had survived the great upheaval in the harem in her previous life, Wen Yunmian knew she was someone who hid her abilities behind an unassuming exterior, keeping her calculations to herself.

When Answering Lady Su entered, she was dressed with unusual simplicity, wearing only a few silver hairpins.

Her eyes were filled with timidity and self-doubt as she approached Wen Yunmian cautiously and curtsied. "Greetings, Sister Yan."

Wen Yunmian was quite surprised by her appearance. She looked nothing like the radiant, captivating woman she had been before. "Have a seat, Sister."

"Thank you, Sister."

"What brings you here, Sister?"

Yun Yang brewed some tea and brought it over.

Answering Lady Su glanced at Wen Yunmian with some embarrassment. "I'm sorry to disturb you with this unannounced visit, Sister, but I truly have nowhere else to turn. That is why I came to ask for your help."

Wen Yunmian paused in surprise. Answering Lady Su stood up and dropped to her knees before her with a thud.

"Please take pity on me, Sister, and offer me your protection. If you can give me a foothold in the palace, I will follow you even if it means spilling my liver and brains upon the ground."

Yun Yang and Yun Fei promptly helped her to her feet.

Wen Yunmian could guess why Answering Lady Su had suddenly come to seek her help.

Though she was only a lowly noble lady herself, she was the one newcomer who could rival Noble Lady Shu in favor.

Neither the Empress nor Consort Shu thought much of a mere answering lady with little favor or presence, while Noble Lady Shu was too aloof. Wen Yunmian was therefore the only person she could turn to.

Answering Lady Su lowered her eyes in silence before saying, "As you know, Sister, my looks are ordinary, and I have neither talent nor ability. I attended His Majesty in bed only once after entering the palace, and then he forgot all about me."

"My father also passed away suddenly two days ago. My eldest uncle now heads the household. He has never liked me and has even cut off all contact with me here in the palace. Now I am left at everyone's mercy, and I truly..."

Wen Yunmian paused. No wonder Answering Lady Su, who had been lively and spirited when she first entered the palace and had even dared to challenge Consort Chun, had become so cautious.

It seemed that, besides her family's decline and having no one to rely on, the hardships of living without imperial favor had worn her down, prompting her to seek Wen Yunmian's protection and an alliance.

Though Wen Yunmian did not readily attach herself to anyone, she knew that a lone tree could not hold up the heavens in the depths of the palace. The best course was to form alliances.

Many women in the palace had sought Consort Shu's protection. This should have been an immensely powerful trump card for her, but her capricious nature made her insist on controlling every pawn. She failed to understand that sometimes, joining forces for mutual benefit and working together was the proper path.

But Wen Yunmian had yet to understand Answering Lady Su's character, so she would not agree lightly. She merely smiled and offered an ambiguous reply. "We are all sisters in the palace. We ought to serve His Majesty with one heart and one mind. Naturally, I will do what I can to support you."

How could Answering Lady Su fail to hear the refusal beneath Wen Yunmian's words?

Had the other consorts not bullied her so relentlessly of late that she was left with no recourse, she would never have come so abruptly to pledge her allegiance.

She was not someone who failed to read the room, so she rose to take her leave. "Thank you, Sister Yan."

As she turned, Answering Lady Su's gaze suddenly caught on the fabric. She frowned and moved closer to inspect it.

Her actions left Wen Yunmian, Yun Yang, and the others startled.

Wen Yunmian watched her in puzzlement.

Only after checking it did Answering Lady Su turn to Wen Yunmian. "Please forgive my presumption, Sister. I just feel that something is not quite right with this fabric. May I examine it more closely?"

Wen Yunmian's gaze shifted slightly. "You may."

Answering Lady Su examined it again and sniffed its scent, then shook her head with a frown. "Sister, is this Cloudglow Brocade?"

"Yes." Wen Yunmian's expression grew grave. "Is something wrong with it?"

"Cloudglow Brocade comes from Xiangzhou. I grew up there, and I am also very familiar with fragrances, so I know this silk well. This kind of silk does not ordinarily carry the scent of precious Suyu Fragrance."

"But the scent on this batch of fabric is somewhat muddled, as though someone has mixed other scents into it."

At Answering Lady Su's words, everyone in the Peony Pavilion grew wary.

Wen Yunmian gave Yun Yang a look, and Yun Yang immediately sent the uninvolved palace maids out of the room.

"Can you tell what scent it has been tainted with, Sister?"

Answering Lady Su also knew this was a good opportunity to prove her loyalty to Wen Yunmian. If she could get to the bottom of this matter, Noble Lady Yan would surely entrust her with important tasks.

"If you trust me, Sister, give me two days to take it back and identify it carefully."

Just then, the young eunuch from the Imperial Household Department returned. Eunuch Zhou announced him from outside, and Wen Yunmian had him shown in.

The young eunuch bowed respectfully before lowering his head and saying, "My lady, there was a mistake in the quantity of Cloudglow Brocade delivered earlier. One extra bolt was sent to your residence."

Wen Yunmian understood what he meant and glanced at Yun Yang. Yun Yang took the middle bolt of the three and handed it to the young eunuch.

After he left, Answering Lady Su grew anxious. "Sister, you sent away the tainted silk. What if someone with ill intentions makes use of it?"

Wen Yunmian's eyes shifted thoughtfully. She did not offer much of an answer, merely saying gently, "I will leave this remaining bolt in your care for now, Sister. Once you learn anything, come and tell me."

Yun Yang cut a section from the middle of the silk and handed it to Answering Lady Su.

Answering Lady Su was clever enough to understand. She nodded meekly. "Then I will take my leave."

Once she had gone, Wen Yunmian immediately sent Yun Yang to fetch Mi Yuheng. "Say that I am feeling unwell and ask Imperial Physician Ni to come examine me."

"I will go at once."

There was indeed something wrong with the fabric, and it had been delivered in the Empress's name.

In the entire palace, no one besides Consort Shu had the means and ability to do such a thing.

But if she meant to harm Wen Yunmian, why had she taken one of the bolts away?

Wen Yunmian's slender fingers closed around her cup of hot tea. As her eyes darkened, a thought took shape in her mind!