"I’ve remembered."
Yun Jiao sprang up like a carp.
The Emperor was still calm, let her sleep a bit more, but didn’t allow her to skip the morning greetings.
"I also wish the Lady could sleep longer, but if we sleep any more, it will be too rushed."
"It’s alright, let’s wash and change clothes."
With the service of Xue Ya, Gong Mei, and the Imperial Palace Maid, Yun Jiao swiftly dressed neatly, sat on the palanquin and headed to Jianzhang Palace.
She felt she was very disciplined, but in the eyes of the Six Palaces, she was cherished.
Even the Empress had never stayed overnight in Qiankun Palace.
The Emperor stayed up all night reading memorials and took her along; what kind of affection is this?
...
These past few days, the snow was not heavy, yet it never stopped.
To ensure the safety of the masters’ travels, the palace attendants shoveling snow had a rotational system; almost every hour you could see people clearing the snow from the green bricks. But this also couldn’t maintain dryness at all times; the ground was slippery, people naturally slowed down the pace, and this gave the opportunity for conflicts when meeting.
Consort Xu was talking with the palace maid, when she was suddenly called out: "Hey, who’s over there in front!"
Apparently, Consort Xu didn’t place herself into who.
She walked two more steps forward, and her arm was grabbed.
"Hey, our Lady is calling you, how can you pretend you didn’t hear?"
Consort Xu stumbled, turned around to see Concubine Lan sitting on the palanquin, the one dragging her was the Chief Palace Maid brought by Concubine Lan from the grasslands, with twice the strength of ordinary palace maids, and the ground slippery, almost pulled her to fall.
"If there’s something to say, say it properly, after all, our Mistress is a Consort, grabbing like this is what?"
Consort Xu’s palace maid Du’er got a fright, seeing her mistress almost fall on the brick road, couldn’t help but fearfully say.
"Consort," Concubine Lan’s palace maid looked her up and down: "Concubine Lan called her, she couldn’t hear, I just had to remind her. In the end, isn’t it her being disrespectful first?"
"Du’er, don’t argue."
Consort Xu opened her mouth to stop the palace maid, then kneeled to salute: "This Concubine pays respects to Lady Lan."
The palanquin moved along to her front.
Consort Xu felt Concubine Lan’s gaze fall on top of her head: "Seeing this palace, not coming to salute, Consort Xu’s etiquette is lacking."
Concubine Lan learned Yan Chi’s language from a young age, but surrounded by people speaking differently, there were inevitably laughable mistakes in her wording.
Before learning to speak fluently, she began speaking with "this palace" at every turn; evidently, her previous unwillingness to serve in bed and indifferent attitude towards favor was all an act; in fact, she was assimilating faster than anyone else.
"It was this Concubine who did not see the Lady, not intentional disrespect, I hope the Lady forgives."
Consort Xu kind of wanted to laugh.
But quickly, she couldn’t laugh anymore.
"Not intentional? This palace sees you being deliberate."
Concubine Lan said angrily.
Her delicate face vaguely twisted, at first glance quite terrifying.
"Lady Lan misunderstood, this Concubine holds no disrespect towards you, it is just nearly time to pay respects to the Empress, this Concubine was rushing, the ground was slippery, too focused on watching the road, didn’t notice your palanquin behind, hope the Lady understands somewhat."
As an old fox in the palace, Consort Xu knew at once Concubine Lan was in a bad mood and was looking to vent her anger.
A wise man doesn’t suffer losses at hand, she admitted fault while hinting the other party to let things go.
They are all going to pay respects to the Empress, what’s the point of pretending!
Life in the harem was stifling, venting feelings on those with inferior status was commonplace; Consort Xu was used to it, having accepted her fate halfway—she relied on Concubine Wei to live, endured her sharp words, occasionally flattered her, all for less suffering and Concubine Wei’s protection during troubles.
If Concubine Lan wanted to make trouble, it’s not a big deal.
Admitting weakness and submission, letting the other party feel good, and the matter passed.
But Concubine Lan wasn’t an old hand of the palace, she didn’t understand the hidden rule of stopping when good; their grassland’s "tent brawl" was to pursue fiercely, gaining momentum and not yielding. She sneered: "If you truly respect this palace, kneel down and apologize, this palace will then consider whether to forgive you or not."
If not for the upcoming salutations, Concubine Lan’s slap would have landed on Consort Xu’s face by now.
Du’er was secretly anxious.
The ground had been cleared once of accumulated snow, yet some melted snowwater remained in the brick cracks, still freezing to the bone.
"Lady Lan really wants it this way?"
Consort Xu was stunned.
"Yes, this palace wants it this way."
Consort Xu bit her back molars, was about to kneel when behind her a lazy voice sounded: "I thought who was so mighty, turns out it’s Lady Lan from last night eagerly seeking the Emperor, yet couldn’t even stay, rather wove the wedding clothes for others!"
The visitor was Concubine Wei, covering her mouth and laughing:
"Does Lady Lan know this story? This palace fears I spoke too deeply."
She glanced at Concubine Lan’s expression: "Oh, looks like she does understand."