Attendant Lady Zhen understood in her heart.
She knew that when she was in Qiankun Palace, she was deliberately targeted, and it was the Empress who orchestrated it behind the scenes.
"Well, if you don’t want me to kneel, I’ll return now."
Attendant Lady Zhen even thought that kneeling half an hour more might earn her more rewards from the Emperor.
The Silver Taels the Emperor gave her felt unjustified if she didn’t endure a couple of slaps.
Attendant Lady Zhen stood up, supported by palace maid Ah Zhu as she returned.
On the way back, she saw Concubine Xi’s sedan chair, and recalled today was the day Concubine Xi would go to Yikun Palace to attend lessons with Princess Ruyi.
"Attendant Lady Zhen,"
Yun Jiao called to her: "What a coincidence, I just happened to be going to Yikun Palace to see you... When you pay respects, just do so, why do you need to lift your chin so high?"
Attendant Lady Zhen awkwardly replied while paying respects, "I’m used to it, so it’s convenient for Lady to slap me."
Yun Jiao seldom met someone in the palace who could render her speechless, and Attendant Lady Zhen was one of them.
"Enough of that, soon I will call for the Imperial Physician to Yikun Palace to check my Peaceful Pulse, and have him also examine you. After kneeling for half an hour, your knees must be uncomfortable."
Yun Jiao knew Attendant Lady Zhen suffered for her sake, which made her feel guilty.
Last time, she mentioned to the Emperor, who said Attendant Lady Zhen volunteered for it, and was more eager than anyone to earn money. Yun Jiao thought of discussions online about whether ordering food delivery on rainy days was unethical, and set her mind at ease.
One shouldn’t block others’ pathways to earn, but should offer help when they face hardships.
"Thank you, Lady Xi."
Attendant Lady Zhen thought, Concubine Xi was different from others.
She had the rare pure kindness and optimism lacking in the harem, and kept her nature unchanged despite wealth and honor, which was even more valuable... of course, there were plenty of good-natured girls, but securing imperial favor required real skill.
And Concubine Xi, who possessed such skills, was pondering how to deal with Princess Wei today.
When they arrived at Yikun Palace, Princess Wei didn’t give Yun Jiao a proper glance, just flicked her eyes sideways: "Where’s the article I asked you to write?"
"I wrote it, but forgot to bring it from Xianfu Palace."
"Not bringing means not writing."
"I really wrote it."
"Then send a palace maid to fetch it, it’s not troublesome."
Yun Jiao stuttered and lowered her head: "Actually, I didn’t write it."
...
With Attendant Lady Zhen and the troublesome matters of the previous dynasty drawing attention, Yun Jiao’s pregnancy progressed smoothly.
The harem mostly consisted of daughters from Aristocratic Families, each with high officials in their lineage entangled in factional struggles, which inevitably affected the harem.
Except for Yun Jiao.
Because her father held a low official rank.
The hardest time for pregnant women in the Imperial Palace was summer, fearing cold everywhere, not allowed to use ice, nor could they indulge in ice bowls like usual when it got hot. When summer passed, autumn was more comfortable. However, after autumn began, Yun Jiao developed a habit of excessive sleepiness, often unable to rise, sleeping most of the afternoon, but wide awake at midnight, unable to sleep.
Not being able to sleep was just that! She had a palace full of people to attend to her whims.
The consequences of not sleeping at midnight were predictable, upon returning from greetings at Jianzhang Palace, she fell asleep right on her head. Yun Jiao slept soundly, when suddenly there was a loud boom outside, followed by torrential rain, she startled awake and saw Nanny Ye briskly walking in...
Instantly she thought of the saying "The sky cracks with a loud roar, the old servant makes a dazzling entrance," she couldn’t help but laugh.
"Is the Lady alright?"
Seeing her mistress wake and start laughing foolishly, Nanny Ye worried she was frightened out of her wits, and bowed to gently pat her back and handed her hot tea: "It’s thundering outside, Lady was startled, I will prepare calming soup."
Nanny Ye instructed the palace maid.
Yun Jiao gathered her thoughts: "Nanny, I’m fine, just thought of something funny, this rain came suddenly."
"Indeed, Lady sit for a while, I will bring a hand warmer."
In the blink of an eye, Yun Jiao was fully equipped.
She held the hand warmer, the room heated by charcoal, not cold at all.
Yun Jiao usually didn’t fear thunder, treating it as white noise, sleeping even more sweetly, but today felt palpitations, cold sweat soaking her back: "Where’s Concubine Li’s elder sister? Xue Ya, go see how the main hall is, do they need me to go accompany her?"
"I will go right away."
Yun Jiao knelt on the bed, opened the window.
The sky was an endless expanse of black, dark clouds surging, occasional bolts of lightning flickering across the clouds.
Not long after, Xue Ya returned to report: "Concubine Li was originally sitting in the courtyard reading on a swing, neither the Lady nor the palace maid anticipated the sudden downpour, she was soaked through and hurriedly changing clothes, no need for the Lady to go over."
Concubine Li’s exact words were not to let her go and cause trouble.
Upon hearing this, Yun Jiao said: "Changing clothes? Now there’s even more reason for me to go!"
She flipped over, ready to get up and head to the main hall.