Punishment

Consort Chun was close to Consort Shu and served as one of her blades.

Everyone turned to look at her. Many were familiar faces she had fought to the death in her previous life. Seeing them again made her feel as though a lifetime had passed.

As she was thinking, an imperious, brazen voice rang out from a distance. "Enough. Noble Lady Yun is timid to begin with. What if you frighten her with such words? Wouldn't His Majesty then blame me for bullying a newcomer?"

At the sight of Consort Shu approaching, everyone knelt to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Your Highness Consort Shu!"

Consort Shu wore a red silk skirt embroidered with gold-thread peonies beneath a snow fox fur mantle, looking regal and coldly beautiful.

As she drew near, the rich, intoxicating scent of jade smoke fragrance swept over them. It was an exceedingly precious, rare incense whose aroma lingered for a long time.

Stopping before Wen Yunmian, Consort Shu languidly raised her hand, signaling for the other consorts to rise.

Her alluring eyes lowered slightly as she stared at Wen Yunmian, who remained in a curtsy. "Still, Consort Chun wasn't wrong. In all my years in the palace, I have never seen anyone promoted after her very first night attending His Majesty. You are the first. Treasure your good fortune."

There was a pointed meaning behind Consort Shu's words. What she cared about most was not rank, but the affection the emperor reserved for her alone.

Consort Shu was no fool. Having grown up with the emperor as childhood sweethearts and spent so many years by his side, she naturally knew he had promoted Wen Yunmian to seal her lips.

But what bothered her was that the emperor had actually held Wen Yunmian in his arms last night!

The emperor had never done such a thing before.

Consort Shu had grieved over it all night. Now, looking at Wen Yunmian again, bitter resentment surged into her beautiful eyes. She tilted Wen Yunmian's chin up, expecting to see that same face marred by dark blotches, only to find flawless white jade instead.

Those eyes were lustrous and clear, their beauty almost startling when they looked at someone.

"You?!" Anger rushed to Consort Shu's head. She nearly demanded to know where the dark blotches had gone, but she could not expose her own secrets in front of everyone. She forcibly swallowed the question. "That face truly puts even the flowers to shame."

Wen Yunmian came back to herself. "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. You are a blue phoenix. However beautiful the flowers may be, they must still look up to the blue phoenix."

Consort Shu paused. Wen Yunmian had blocked the opening she had meant to use as an excuse to lose her temper. "You certainly have a silver tongue."

As they spoke, crisp footsteps approached from afar. Everyone turned to see Wen Leyan arriving in plain white. "Greetings, elder sisters. Forgive me for arriving late."

Dressed entirely in plain white among the other consorts, she was conspicuous indeed. Such openly displayed calculation immediately displeased many of them.

Wen Leyan could not see that at all. Her expression brimmed with smugness, and she was as proud as a peacock.

In her previous life, Wen Yunmian had attracted the emperor's attention by dressing simply and elegantly. Surely the emperor disliked women in heavy makeup and gaudy clothes.

Then she would be even more refined. Today, she had simply come in a plain white dress, with only silver-thread begonias embroidered on it. She would surely rise above the vulgar world, standing apart from all earthly things!

Attendant Hui snorted and said to Noble Lady Wei, "It seems this Joyous Promise isn't one to stay in her place either."

Noble Lady Wei frowned, lightly smoothing the handkerchief in her hands without saying anything more.

Wen Yunmian's lips curved coldly. She thought Wen Leyan was hopelessly foolish, yet there she stood, looking so proud and self-satisfied.

Consort Xian, who had remained silent until now, quietly offered a provocative remark. "Such a fresh, ethereal newcomer stands out at first glance. His Majesty is truly fortunate. Each of our younger sisters is more outstanding than the last."

Consort Shu was easily provoked, and her expression instantly turned icy.

A maid leaned closer and whispered, "Your Highness, that is Joyous Promise."

Wen Leyan was still somewhat afraid when she saw Consort Shu. But she had not taken the Beauty Pill in this life, so Consort Shu would not resent her. She therefore stepped forward specifically to pay her respects. "I am Joyous Promise. Greetings, Your Highness."

Consort Shu surveyed her coldly.

Wen Yunmian glanced sideways and watched in silence. Consort Shu was terribly petty. She could tolerate other consorts around the emperor, but not anyone who enjoyed his exclusive favor or sought to compete for it.

Wen Leyan belonged to the latter group.

She had truly stepped on Consort Shu's tail without even realizing it. Still, with Wen Leyan here, Consort Shu's attention was no longer on Wen Yunmian.

Just then, Aunt Suochun emerged from Fengyi Palace. "Your Highnesses, Her Majesty the Empress has risen. Please enter the main hall to pay your respects!"

Consort Shu coldly withdrew her gaze and led the other consorts into the hall.

The empress was already seated in the place of honor. Looking at the gentle, virtuous woman she remembered from her previous life, Wen Yunmian's gaze softened.

In her previous life, the empress had protected her like a caring elder sister. Wen Yunmian had always been deeply grateful to her.

Consort Shu dipped languidly. "Greetings, Your Majesty." Then she seated herself on the left without waiting for permission.

The empress gave Consort Shu an indifferent glance. Consort Shu was the emperor's most cherished beloved, while she, the empress, had been forced upon him by his family. There was simply no comparing the two. She had grown accustomed to it.

Seeing this, Wen Yunmian felt even more heartache for her.

She lowered her eyes and knelt with everyone else, bowing her head to the floor. "We pay our respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand, thousand years!"

"May Your Majesty live a thousand, thousand years!"

The empress smiled. "Rise, sisters."

The women who had been in the palace longer rose first and took their seats. The five newcomers then knelt in turn to perform the full ceremonial obeisance again.

The empress acknowledged them with dignified composure. "Seeing all these fresh faces today truly delights me. From this day forward, I hope all you sisters will serve His Majesty with one heart and one mind, helping the imperial family spread its branches and leaves and carry on its line."

"Yes!" they answered in unison.

The empress's gaze settled on Wen Yunmian. At the sight of her face, she could not help feeling secretly startled. No wonder this woman had made the emperor send Consort Shu out of Chanyang Palace.

Consort Shu abruptly spoke. "Joyous Promise, I hear you were accomplished in calligraphy before entering the palace. As it happens, I need some scriptures copied. Why don't you do it for me?"

Wen Leyan froze, but she dared not disobey. "Yes. I will remember your instructions."

Consort Chun was one of Consort Shu's people. Though foolish, she knew how to read expressions and gauge the mood, so she said coldly, "Then stop standing there. Go straight to Her Highness's palace and copy the Buddhist scriptures."

Wen Leyan looked up in shock. She had not even seen the emperor yet. How could she leave now? Wouldn't she lose her chance to let him see her?

"But I..."

Beside her, Attendant Hui smiled. "What is it, Sister Joyous? Are you unwilling?"

"No, that's not it." Wen Leyan dared not look directly at Consort Shu and could only turn a pleading gaze toward Wen Yunmian.

Wen Yunmian stood right beside her and heard her whisper, "You're my elder sister. Today is my best chance to see His Majesty. Surely you ought to help me somehow!"

Wen Yunmian turned a deaf ear. She had no desire to offend these women.

Wen Leyan was thoroughly flustered. The empress was just about to speak and ease her predicament when Consort Shu cut in. "It seems Joyous Promise thinks so highly of herself that she no longer even considers me worth her regard."