Half a month later, Consort Shu's confinement was lifted.
Who in the palace didn't know the temper of the mistress of Huayang Palace? She was habitually extravagant, arrogant to the extreme. Her father was the high-ranking court official Shu Binyu, and she herself held the rank of one of the four imperial consorts.
If not for her strong possessiveness and demand for exclusive favor, how could she have ended up in a dispute with Concubine An at Chengqing Palace? When the quarrel finally concluded, neither had come out ahead, and before long, the gates of Huayang Palace were virtually deserted.
Yet Huayang Palace somehow possessed the knack for turning crises around.
No sooner had the confinement ended than a steady stream of rewards began arriving from Chengqing Palace, setting up before the once-deserted outer hall like a flowing river. Even the two lamp pillars in the outer hall had been replaced with gold-framed ones featuring jade windows, looking all the more lavish and luxurious.
The inner and outer halls were now filled with rare varieties of tribute flowers, making the entire courtyard a dazzling riot of spring colors spilling over the walls.
Apart from Mammy Gui, however, Huayang Palace now boasted a fresh-faced first-class maid.
Huayang Palace had promoted someone new.
The palace maid before them possessed cold and delicate features, fair skin, and wore a cyan tunic and skirt. Her raven hair was loosely bound behind her with a matching hair ribbon, making her entire person resemble a quiet, solitary lamp—serene and detached.
The maid was tending to the rare flower varieties in Huayang Palace, arranging them into separate categories. Several concubines currently partaking in tea at Huayang Palace pretended to admire the scenery while seizing the opportunity to observe her.
Jieyu Wen, who was attached to Consort Yue, offered a ingratiating smile to Consort Shu, flattering her with words Consort Shu loved to hear: "His Majesty truly treasures Consort Shu. We concubines have never laid eyes on such rare flower varieties before. Many thanks to Consort Shu for her generosity in letting us feast our eyes."
"There is just one more matter that perplexes this concubine. Doesn't Your Ladyship usually rely on Xiaotao and Xiaohong? How is it that you have promoted an unfamiliar palace maid to a first-class maid?"
Consort Shu assumed a languid posture, her expression nonchalant: "This palace simply finds her pleasing to the eye and agreeable to the heart, that's all."
"Consort Shu, forgive this concubine for speaking out of turn." Jieyu Wen furrowed her brow. "A few days ago in other palaces, there were those pretty palace maids who used their looks to bypass their mistresses and climb into His Majesty's bed."
"Climb into His Majesty's bed?" Consort Shu nonchalantly twirled her carved ruby fingernail guards. "No one in this palace of mine has the audacity for such a thing."
"Consort Shu, this concubine has overstepped. Of course, it is best if there is no such thing." Jieyu Wen paused, offering a faint smile as she set her teacup back onto the table. "It must be that this maid has extraordinary qualities to have caught Your Ladyship's special attention."
"Is Jieyu Wen here to admire the flowers today?" Consort Shu's tone was leisurely and relaxed. "Besides, which palace doesn't have a maid who suits their wishes and comes in handy?"
There was a hint of sharpness in those words. Jieyu Wen instantly fell silent, finished admiring the flowers, and tactfully took her leave with the rest of the crowd.
Consort Shu glanced at the concubines stepping out through the gates of Huayang Palace, then withdrew her gaze and sneered: "Does she take me for a fool? Aside from Consort Yue, who plays a double game, who else could order Jieyu Wen around? Someone who values self-preservation wouldn't easily set foot in Huayang Palace."
After venting her anger with a string of curses, she still felt unsatisfied and scolded: "Why on earth does His Majesty like that bitch Consort Yue!"
Then, remembering the many fine treasures she had lost in the Lanxi Pavilion at Hexi Palace, she grew even angrier.
"Greedy eyes bite off more than they can chew—let her choke to death!"
"Narrow-minded thing!"
***
News always traveled fast in the inner palace; a sesame-sized incident in any palace would become known to everyone in the blink of an eye.
Everyone knew full well who constantly enjoyed favor and who spent their years sitting on the bench. With Consort Shu's flamboyant and arrogant temperament, she had always previously incurred His Majesty's displeasure, causing him to leave shortly after merely sitting a while in Huayang Palace. Yet now, Consort Shu of Huayang Palace had suddenly become the hottest favored consort of late.
A continuous stream of rare treasures followed her into Huayang Palace, a sight truly enough to turn others green with envy.
Judging by this momentum, Consort Shu was about to regain her favor.
But why had she suddenly risen to power overnight?
Inside the main hall of Hexi Palace, Consort Yue, Yue Wenjun, picked up some pastries and listlessly teased a red-bellied tit.
The woman wore a plum-red crossover-collar long robe. Her appearance was exceptionally bright and dazzling, radiant like a lotus blooming from the water. Her delicate eyebrows curved gracefully, the corners of her eyes tilted upward, and her lips were painted with vermilion. Her charm was entirely natural, yet years of occupying a high position had cultivated a certain elegance and imperial dignity that made it impossible for anyone to look away.
She had no powerful clan or ministers behind her; she had simply relied on her own ability to climb step by step until she stood in her current position as one of the four imperial consorts.
Naturally, Hexi Palace was a better residence than Huayang Palace, chosen personally by His Majesty, but there were always certain people who were truly an eyesore.
Hexi Palace was indeed better than Huayang Palace; although it could not compare to Yongfang Palace, she would rather have seen Shu Qing denied even Huayang Palace to live in, especially since Shu Qing had shown her zero mercy when dealing with her back then.
She wanted to violently pull Consort Shu down from this position, but because Shu Binyu kept successfully handling matters for His Majesty, she couldn't simply do it with ease.
Though Shu Qing was brainless, she had the protection of her family.
Yue Wenjun found the situation growing more and more interesting. Brainless and childless, by what right had she regained favor? If she too had her family protecting her behind her back, her current position might just be a starting point. Shu Qing had long fallen out of His Majesty's favor; had her sudden rise truly come about because her own mind had suddenly grown sharp?
She wasn't worried about Shu Qing maintaining long-term favor, because the woman was utterly foolish. Once she fell into the dust, she herself would be the first to kick her while she was down.
Yet today, Jieyu Wen had returned with news: Consort Shu had promoted a newly entered palace maid to a first-class maid.
Jieyu Wen sat obediently in the lower seat to Yue Wenjun, recounting the details one by one: "...Before that palace maid arrived, His Majesty indeed rarely visited Huayang Palace, and Consort Shu only regained favor afterward."
Yue Wenjun paused her bird-teasing motion and glanced at her: "By Jieyu Wen's meaning, it has something to do with that palace maid?"
Jieyu Wen's full name was Wen Wen, originally an inconspicuous, down-and-out lesser attendant. Because she had remained reasonably obedient and loyal to her over the years, she had occasionally managed to murmur a few words into His Majesty's ear during unguarded moments, earning a promotion to the rank of Jieyu.
It was precisely because Jieyu Wen constantly gathered information for her that this somewhat useful person had been kept by her side all these years.
Hearing Yue Wenjun speak, Jieyu Wen analyzed earnestly: "If Consort Shu claims to like this palace maid, why would she settle her in Anle Palace? It must be to pull the wool over people's eyes."
Yue Wenjun set down her pastry and said leisurely: "Anle Palace? That is indeed rather interesting. It seems that hostage prince lives there as well."
"Then, according to Your Ladyship's wishes, this concubine should..." Jieyu Wen ventured cautiously.
Yue Wenjun's gaze fell upon the red-bellied tit, and she curved her lips into a smile: "If nothing else, you can frequently interact with Huayang Palace. Since we are all sisters here in the inner palace, if Huayang Palace has received benefits, certain people are merely marching toward their own destruction."
She casually crushed the pastries on her plate and wiped her hands methodically: "There is still a long way to go; who can say for sure how things will turn out?"
***
Consort Shu was naturally unaware of how Yue Wenjun was critiquing her.
Now that she enjoyed imperial favor, why would she bother bickering with a bitter old woman like that?
Inside Huayang Palace, aside from making incense, Jiang Cangyue was also responsible for the routine care of the flowers and trees. Under the bright spring sun, the magnolias were flourishing. A thin layer of snow-white petals lay scattered across the ground, resembling snow and moonlight piled layer upon layer—a breathtaking sight.
Although His Majesty now frequented Huayang Palace, whenever a single day passed without him coming, Consort Shu's temper would flare, and she would frequently scold and beat the servants beneath her.
Man Chu lowered her head and rolled her eyes while helping Jiang Cangyue collect the petals: "Sister, this Consort Shu is simply too hysterical. Not seeing His Majesty for just a single day, and she puts on such a terrifying look."
Jiang Cangyue didn't stop her work: "Those who have once possessed cannot bear to lose; naturally, they grow hysterical."
Man Chu looked thoughtful.
Over there, Consort Shu was still reprimanding the palace maids in a fit of anger: "...I see every single one of you as clumsy and slow-handed, unable to even manage such a trivial task properly. If His Majesty were to come, the sight of you all would be an eyesore. Even Jiang Yue knows how to be diligent, while you lot only know how to slack off!"
Just as her anger was peaking, Mammy Gui exchanged a look with her: "Your Ladyship, Eunuch Gao has arrived."
Hearing that it was someone from Chengqing Palace, Consort Shu reined in her expression somewhat and resumed her usual demeanor: "Let Gao Xian in."
Watching Gao Xian step into the hall, Jiang Cangyue followed and moved to Consort Shu's side.
"This slave greets Your Ladyship."
Gao Xian carried a horsetail whisk in his hand, bowing slightly as he smiled ingratiatingly and presented the offering: "Your Ladyship is truly blessed. These are fresh fruits sent by galloping horses straight from Lin'an City. Apart from the Empress Dowager's quarters, Huayang Palace is the only one to receive them."
"His Majesty is naturally concerned for Your Ladyship, but due to pressing affairs of state he cannot spare the time. Please do not blame him, Your Ladyship."
Hearing this, Consort Shu looked at the fresh fruits with a pleasant mood: "Did His Majesty say anything else?"
"Your Ladyship," Gao Xian coaxed with a smile, "His Majesty said that today he is conferring with ministers, so he won't be able to come by this evening. He will come tomorrow to accompany you."
Consort Shu's smile instantly vanished.
Gao Xian added: "Might Your Ladyship allow Miss Jiang to see this old slave out? There are many high thresholds here at Huayang Palace, and this slave strained his waist a few days ago, so I have no strength in it..."
Consort Shu frowned.
Gao Xian smiled to remind her: "Your Ladyship is currently enjoying imperial favor—surely you wouldn't begrudge letting Miss Jiang see this old slave out?"