This Woman Was Not to Be Underestimated

When the time came, she would tear open Wen Yunmian's clothes in front of everyone and let them see the wounds covering her body!

Once they learned that Wen Yunmian had been beaten, she would become the laughingstock of the entire palace!

She could hardly wait!

Yet all she received was Wen Yunmian's cold, unwavering stare, so sharp that it sent a jolt of fear through her heart.

What was going on? Had she pinched the wrong spot?

Wen Leyan steadied herself. As Wen Yunmian settled into her seat, a vicious gleam flashed through her eyes, and she lifted Wen Yunmian's sleeve.

The mocking words she had prepared died in her throat. Where were the scars?

In her previous life, the beatings had clearly left scars on her. Why was Wen Yunmian's arm as smooth and flawless as snow?

Impossible!

Wen Leyan grew flustered, while the others looked at her in puzzlement.

Attendant Hui asked in surprise, "Sister Leyan, what are you doing?"

"Why don't you have any scars?" Wen Leyan stared fixedly at Wen Yunmian.

Wen Yunmian's gaze turned cold. Still a fool who couldn't keep her temper in check.

"Why should I have scars?" Wen Yunmian asked, looking at her with a faint smile.

Wen Leyan's lips trembled. "Last night, His Majesty..."

His Majesty hadn't gone to her last night. Why hadn't the consort tormented Wen Yunmian?

She could not believe it.

Answering Lady Su, however, blushed and said with a smile, "I understand what Joyous Promise means. Sister Yun attended His Majesty in bed last night, so naturally, there should be marks on her body."

"Impossible! His Majesty could never have let her attend him in bed." Only after her indignant words escaped did Wen Leyan realize her mistake. She hastily covered her mouth.

But it didn't matter...

Even if the consort hadn't tormented her, she wouldn't have the fan. Wen Yunmian would surely meet the same fate and fail to receive what she herself hadn't received in her previous life.

Just as Wen Leyan was calming herself, a shrill voice abruptly shattered the thoughts of everyone in the hall. "An imperial decree has arrived!"

Startled, they hurried to the entrance of the hall and saw one of the emperor's eunuchs walking in.

The eunuch stopped with the light behind him. "His Majesty's verbal decree: Attendant Yun has rendered meritorious service in attending Us in bed, bringing Us great satisfaction. From this day forth, she shall be elevated to the rank of noble lady! May Noble Lady Yun remember Our imperial favor, remain gentle and proper within the palace, and speak little and with caution."

Noble lady?

Everyone was stunned. Wen Leyan's pupils shook. How could this be?

A palace maid brought the Ruyi Harmony Fan to Yun Yang. Yun Yang breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a glance with Yun Fei before hurriedly accepting it.

Wonderful. With this fan, it proved that His Majesty liked their mistress.

Wen Leyan's eyes widened. Not only had she received the Ruyi Harmony Fan, but she had also been promoted?

Why should she?

Why wasn't she being humiliated and bullied instead?!

Even the usually composed Noble Lady Wei could not help lifting her eyes toward the eunuch delivering the decree.

The astonishment in her eyes was too great to conceal. Wen Yunmian had attended His Majesty for only one night and had not even paid her respects to the empress yet, but the emperor had already promoted her? It was simply unheard of.

This woman truly was not to be underestimated.

Wen Yunmian knelt and kowtowed in gratitude for the imperial favor. She knew this promotion was both a reward and a warning to guard her tongue. If she revealed what had happened with the consort last night, he could strip away the rank as easily as he had bestowed it.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

The eunuch helped Wen Yunmian rise. "You are truly blessed, Noble Lady Yun. Allow me to offer my congratulations."

"Thank you, sir."

As they saw the eunuch off, Yun Yang followed him outside and slipped him a pouch of silver. "For some hot tea, sir. Sorry for troubling you to make the trip in such cold weather."

The eunuch smiled knowingly and weighed the silver in his hand. "Noble Lady Yun is most gracious."

Attendant Hui and the others gathered around Wen Yunmian to congratulate her in turn, but the expressions on their faces were quite a spectacle, especially those of Wen Leyan and Nanny Hong behind her.

Wen Leyan stood in a daze, her face livid. Had Nanny Hong not secretly reminded her from behind, she might have lost her composure.

Noble Lady Wei approached Wen Yunmian. "You are so capable, Noble Lady Yun, able to bind His Majesty's heart with your long tresses. After only one night attending him, you have already persuaded His Majesty to make an exception and promote you. Surely, when we go together to pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress tomorrow, you will make all the consorts in the palace see you in a new light as well."

Wen Yunmian had crossed swords with Noble Lady Wei in her previous life. This woman was deeply calculating and adept at twisting fragments out of context to fabricate facts, so Wen Yunmian had no wish to say much to her. She merely answered with a faint smile.

With the emperor having promoted Wen Yunmian, the Imperial Household Department swiftly began furnishing the Peony Pavilion with all manner of things reserved for noble ladies.

Seeing how lavish even the ordinary gifts were, Wen Leyan nearly twisted the handkerchief in her hands to shreds.

Nanny Hong's eyes widened, and her jaw nearly dropped in shock. Was the second young miss truly this capable?!

If the master and madam learned of this...

Gazing at Wen Yunmian's breathtakingly beautiful face, Nanny Hong could not help feeling regret on Wen Leyan's behalf.

If the third young miss had taken the Beauty Pill back at the estate, all this favor and all these rewards would surely have been hers!

If Madam found out, she would certainly be furious.

Once the others had finished offering their congratulations and left, Wen Leyan approached Wen Yunmian, her eyes brimming with resentment.

Watching people come and go through the courtyard delivering things, while the Peony Pavilion's six maids and eunuchs busied themselves receiving congratulatory gifts, Wen Leyan nearly went mad with jealousy.

"Wen Yunmian, do you really think His Majesty likes you? Don't be naive! His Majesty will never love anyone except Consort Shu!"

Wen Yunmian looked at her coldly. "What makes you say that, little sister?"

Wen Leyan snorted. "Don't you know perfectly well why I say that? His Majesty didn't favor you at all last night, did he? Instead, he made you kneel all night. Your eyes look swollen from crying, yet you're still slapping your face swollen to pretend you're fat."

Wen Yunmian smiled, and in the brilliant light, her lovely face nearly dazzled Wen Leyan. Such beauty stirred a trace of regret within her.

But her hopes of giving birth to a prince quickly washed away that insignificant sliver of regret. She was destined to become the empress dowager. What need did she have for useless beauty?

Wen Yunmian looked at her with a smile. "Who told you His Majesty didn't favor me last night? Prying into the sovereign's habits and presuming to fathom his heart are both grave crimes."

Wen Leyan was furious and was just about to speak when Nanny Hong caught her arm and warned her in a low voice, "My lady, mind your words in the palace! Prying into His Majesty's words and deeds is a grave crime."

Those words dragged Wen Leyan out of her muddled state. Seeing that they could no longer remain, Nanny Hong bent her knees and said, "Noble Lady Yun, my mistress is feeling unwell. This servant will take her leave with her."

She supported Wen Leyan as they left. Once they reached the passageway, Wen Leyan violently shook off Nanny Hong's hand. "No, how could this happen? How is this possible? I refuse to accept it."

Nanny Hong's expression was grim. "The second young miss was always formidable back at the estate, and she has captured His Majesty's heart as soon as she entered the palace. My lady, after you pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress tomorrow, it will soon be time for the newcomers to attend His Majesty in turn. Whether you can trample the second young miss underfoot will depend on whether you, too, can delight His Majesty after attending him. You absolutely must keep your composure for now."

Wen Leyan clenched her fists, resentment swirling in her eyes. "I will capture His Majesty's heart. I won't disappoint Father and Mother. Besides, Wen Yunmian may have stolen the limelight today, but she'll suffer for it tomorrow!"

In her previous life, which of the favored women in the palace-Consort Shu or Consort Chun-had been easy to provoke? Just wait and see!

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