"Congratulations, Noble Lady Yun! Congratulations!"
Yun Yang led Yun Fei and the other maids of the Peony Pavilion in kneeling, their faces alight with joy.
The head eunuch, Eunuch Zhou, grinned from ear to ear. "His Majesty favors you, my lady. Your future is surely boundless! This servant offers his congratulations."
Everyone kowtowed, joining in the flattery.
Wen Yunmian sat in the seat of honor, her sultry allure put aside, leaving only peerless elegance. Her peach-blossom eyes held indifference and authority.
"Since you all serve in my residence, I have a few words to say. I have always despised those who grow arrogant upon gaining power. Now that His Majesty regards me favorably, I must be all the more cautious in my words and deeds. If I learn that any of you have been throwing your weight around in the palace, I will not let you off lightly."
Her voice fell cold as jade, and several servants shuddered. The girl in the seat of honor was clearly only sixteen or seventeen, yet her words carried an authority that needed no anger to inspire awe.
"Eunuch Zhou, have you taken my words to heart?"
A chill ran down Eunuch Zhou's back, and he hurriedly bowed his head. "I have, my lady! I will keep a low profile and never cause you any trouble."
"We have taken them to heart as well!"
Wen Yunmian glanced at Yun Yang, who immediately distributed the silver prepared for them. The maids and eunuchs who had been frightened a moment ago were now pleasantly surprised.
"If you serve me well, you will not lack silver."
Only by wielding both kindness and authority could she keep them in line.
In her previous life, when Wen Yunmian first entered the palace, cunning, slippery servants had been assigned to her. Their words, conduct, and habits had cost her dearly, earning her the resentment of the imperial consorts both openly and in secret. She was not the only one; the servants assigned to the other newcomers had been just the same.
Yet those people had been assigned by someone of high standing in the palace.
She did not know exactly who that was, but these servants could neither be dismissed nor driven away. If she failed to bring them to heel, they would inevitably become a source of disaster.
Her most pressing task was to lure out the spy from her previous life and eliminate them.
"That will be all. You may withdraw."
As the servants left, Yun Yang hurried to pour Wen Yunmian some tea. "You must be exhausted, my lady. Have a rest."
Wen Yunmian took a sip of tea. The room was bright and comfortable, but unfortunately too small. "Yun Yang, Yun Fei, I have a task for you both."
The two obediently stepped forward. After hearing her instructions, they immediately nodded. "We understand!"
Yun Fei left the side chamber first. Keeping her lady's instructions in mind, she pulled Little Lu aside while he was trimming the branches and leaves, making sure no one saw.
"Little Lu, my lady noticed how clever and quick-witted you were earlier. She finds you more to her liking than Eunuch Zhou. I'll let you in on a secret: if you work hard, you might soon become the head eunuch of the Peony Pavilion."
Little Lu was overjoyed. He tried to kneel and kowtow in thanks, but Yun Fei caught him. "You must keep this absolutely secret for now. Only by serving my lady diligently will you have a chance to soar straight into the clouds."
"Yes, yes! I'll remember. I will do everything in my power to serve my lady."
Yun Yang came out as well. Finding a deserted spot, she called the maid Shukui over. "My lady thinks you're clever and quick-witted, more so than Qiukui..."
The same speech was repeated to six people.
By evening, the maids and eunuchs were all working hard, barely suppressing their excitement. They secretly vowed to be loyal to their lady and do everything to the very best of their ability. Only then would they have a chance to rise above the rest.
When Yun Yang and Yun Fei returned after finishing their task, Shukui was helping Wen Yunmian wash up, working diligently and observing every propriety.
Seeing the two enter, Wen Yunmian set down her comb. "Shukui, you may withdraw."
"Yes, my lady!"
As soon as the door closed, Yun Yang took over the comb.
Wen Yunmian asked, "How did it go?"
Yun Yang burst into a giggle. "Your plan was truly brilliant, my lady. I kept watch in secret, and sure enough, someone from elsewhere in the palace came asking about our Peony Pavilion. They even slipped people silver. Fortunately, everyone was intent on competing for a better position in your service, so every last one kept their lips sealed."
Wen Yunmian stroked the hair draped over her chest with her slender fingers. In her previous life, she had been plotted against, yet no matter what she did, she could never root out the person who had truly betrayed her behind her back.
That person had hidden too well and been too clever-or perhaps the master behind her had been exceptionally patient. Even now, Wen Yunmian still did not know whether Shukui or Qiukui was the spy.
By the time she ascended to the position of empress dowager, both women had long since died.
In this life, she would have to test them carefully.
"Yun Yang, keep a close eye on Shukui and Qiukui over the next two days. See which of them is most eager to rise."
The less enthusiastic one might be the one with something to hide.
"I understand, my lady."
Early the next morning, the entire palace bustled with activity. All the imperial consorts were to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress at Fengyi Palace that day.
Wen Yunmian rose early. Yun Yang brought her an understated, moon-white outfit with Suzhou embroidery. "My lady, you've been very much in the limelight these past two days. For today's audience with Her Majesty, you should dress a little more simply. That will spare you other people's jealousy."
After the maids helped her wash up, Wen Yunmian glanced at the clothes and said calmly, "Bring out the rose-pink dress from the wardrobe."
Yun Yang hesitated. "Wouldn't... wouldn't that be too ostentatious?"
Wen Yunmian had always known Yun Yang to be steady and meticulous, her attention as fine as a strand of hair. She had followed Wen Yunmian through bloody storms all the way to the summit, becoming a female official respected by everyone.
But now she was only fourteen. Her intentions were good, but she still lacked experience.
"Today, every consort in the palace will attend the audience. Once His Majesty finishes court, ancestral custom requires him to visit Fengyi Palace as well. The consorts will certainly compete to dress their finest. Tell me, amid a hundred flowers in full bloom, which stands out more: a peony, or a pure, pristine magnolia?"
Those words woke Yun Yang as though from a dream, and understanding seemed to dawn on her.
Wen Yunmian put on a pair of pearl earrings, which complemented her ethereal beauty. "If I dress too simply, people will think I'm deliberately trying to steal the spotlight. Wouldn't that earn me even more resentment? Dressing appropriately is best."
Having just finished her preparations, Yun Fei ran over with a beaming smile. "You truly think of everything, my lady."
Yun Yang lowered her head, a little embarrassed. "I didn't think it through."
"You've already done very well. Don't rush. Stay by my side and learn at your own pace." Wen Yunmian's gaze was gentle as she looked at them both, yet Yun Yang felt there was something very... motherly in the way her lady regarded her.
Standing together, they somehow gave off the strangely incongruous impression of... a loving mother and a filial daughter.
Yun Yang was startled by her own thought. Her lady was only seventeen-how could she possibly have a fourteen-year-old daughter? She hurriedly cast aside those wild thoughts and helped Wen Yunmian dress.
Outside Fengyi Palace, the consorts were already waiting. Just as in her previous life, a hundred flowers were in bloom.
Standing among the consorts, Wen Yunmian felt as though a profusion of blossoms threatened to dazzle her eyes. She took a deep breath, and intoxicating fragrances drifted toward her from every direction. This truly was a haven of tender charms.
She suddenly thought of the male favorites she had kept in her previous life. Each of them had perfumed himself to win her affection as well.
Her life as empress dowager back then had truly left an endless, delicious aftertaste.
"Oh, isn't this our Noble Lady Yun? The day you entered the palace, I heard there was a peerless beauty here, all exquisite charms, with a lovely face and skin like cream. Now that I've seen you, you certainly live up to the rumors. When I spotted you from afar, I thought a fox spirit had taken human form."
A soft, delicate voice dripping with insinuation sounded beside her ear. A striking beauty had appeared at Wen Yunmian's side. Beautiful though she was, her eyes held a malice she seemed eager for everyone to see.
So transparently foolish and ignorant.
Wasn't this Consort Chun, whom the emperor had scorned in her previous life for being ignorant and incompetent?
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