Treading on thick snow, Shen Wei and Zhang Miaoyu entered the Yu Xiu Palace. The courtyard was blanketed in white, with a few withered trees tilting crookedly in the snow.
Since the fire at Yu Xiu Palace, the transplanted flowers and trees in the courtyard had never grown back. In winter, it was bare and desolate, devoid of any scenery, exuding an air of cold solitude inside and out.
Zhang Miaoyu stood at the courtyard gate and asked a palace servant, "Where is Consort Mei? Noble Consort Chen has arrived, yet even basic courtesy is forgotten."
The servant replied in a hushed voice, "This servant has already informed Her Ladyship, but... but she is painting in the study."
Zhang Miaoyu was speechless.
The hierarchy of the inner palace was strict. Though the empress existed in name only, Shen Wei was the nominal head of the harem, and all other consorts were expected to greet her with proper respect. Yet Liu Ruyan stood apart, refusing to bow to Shen Wei or even step outside to meet her.
Utterly lacking in decorum.
Yet there was no way to truly discipline Liu Ruyan.
Deducting her stipend? She cared little for gold and silver.
Demoting her to a lower rank? She was indifferent to fame and status.
Reprimanding the Liu family for failing to raise her properly? She had little attachment to her family and cared nothing for their reputation.
Even if she were ordered to drink poison, Liu Ruyan would calmly swallow it and embrace death without hesitation.
She seemed to have no weaknesses.
Zhang Miaoyu wanted to pinch her own temples in frustration. "What a headache."
Just then, Li Nanzhi emerged from a side hall with a troubled expression, clearly having slept poorly. She walked over weakly, her spirits low. "Greetings, Noble Consort Chen, greetings, Consort Yu."
Shen Wei said, "Take me to see Xue Mei."
Li Nanzhi nodded gloomily.
Li Nanzhi had a deep bond with Xue Mei and had personally brought her to her own chambers to recuperate. The room was warmed by a charcoal brazier, with a small window left ajar for ventilation. The thick scent of medicine permeated every corner.
On the bed, Xue Mei remained unconscious, her face ashen and lifeless.
Xue Mei was Liu Ruyan’s chief maid—efficient, diligent, and fiercely loyal. When Yu Xiu Palace had caught fire, it was Xue Mei who had braved the flames to rescue the innocent Li Nanzhi.
Later, when Liu Ruyan was embroiled in accusations of witchcraft, Xue Mei had never betrayed her.
A rare and admirable girl, though unfortunate in her choice of mistress.
"What did Doctor Mo say?" Zhang Miaoyu glanced at Xue Mei’s pitiful state and frowned in sympathy.
Li Nanzhi wiped her tears and choked out, "D-Doctor Mo said Aunt Xue Mei’s legs were severely frostbitten. She’ll never walk again and will need crutches for the rest of her life."
Doctor Mo’s medical skills were exceptional, pulling Xue Mei back from the brink of death.
But her legs had been irreparably damaged—the frostbite had reached her bones and meridians, rendering them useless.
Zhang Miaoyu sighed. "What a tragedy."
After a moment’s thought, she turned to Shen Wei. "Sister Shen Wei, this room doesn’t even have a warm annex, which isn’t good for recovery. Why not let Xue Mei and Nanzhi move into my palace? My side hall is empty anyway."
Shen Wei nodded agreeably. "With Sister Miaoyu’s care, it would naturally be for the best."
Zhang Miaoyu acted swiftly, summoning servants to begin moving their belongings. After a flurry of activity, Yu Xiu Palace was left half-empty.
Even as Shen Wei departed, Liu Ruyan never showed herself, as if she had vanished into her study.
Zhang Miaoyu fumed, pulling Shen Wei aside. "Sister Shen Wei, you’re far too tolerant. Consort Mei is deliberately snubbing you, humiliating you to your face."
Shen Wei smiled without responding.
...
In the study, Liu Ruyan, clad in pristine white robes, continued painting. A vast sheet of paper lay before her, dotted with blooming plum blossoms. The paper she used was the finest Hanzhou plum blossom paper—flawless, luxurious, and exorbitantly expensive.
Liu Ruyan painted with single-minded focus. She knew Shen Wei had come, but out of some secret jealousy, she refused to face that vibrant, lively countenance.
Then, rustling sounds arose from the courtyard.
Liu Ruyan set down her brush, her cool gaze shifting to the yard. A cold wind swept through, snapping brittle branches as servants swept away snow and cleared the debris.
Her brow furrowed in displeasure as she stepped outside. "How bold. Who gave you permission to touch this courtyard?"
The pristine snow and stark black branches held a unique beauty she adored, and she had ordered them preserved.
Come spring, she planned to have the gardeners plant new plum trees.
Yet now, these servants had defied her and disturbed the scene.
The lead servant wiped his brow calmly. "Consort Mei, Noble Consort Chen instructed us to clear the withered branches and weeds. She also decreed that for the next three years, no plum trees are to be sent to Yu Xiu Palace."
"With the war in Liangzhou flaring up again, the palace must cut expenses. Your annual use of Hanzhou plum blossom paper, plum charcoal, and inkstones exceeds the allotted amount. From now on, you’ll receive only ten sheets of ordinary paper and two boxes of standard charcoal per month. All writing materials will match those of other consorts."
"Furthermore, the silks, fabrics, and meals delivered to Yu Xiu Palace will adhere to standard regulations."
Liu Ruyan was stunned.
She adored painting and poetry, consuming vast quantities of fine paper and ink each month. She was fastidious—only Hanzhou’s plum blossom paper would do, only the finest plum charcoal was acceptable.
Shen Wei’s move had struck at her sole passion.
"She—she’s targeting me deliberately! This is beyond insulting!" Liu Ruyan gripped the doorframe, her voice uncharacteristically sharp with anger.
The eunuch bowed his head, his tone indifferent. "Noble Consort Chen asked this servant to relay a message: henceforth, you must greet her with proper courtesy."
He said no more, resuming his task of clearing the snow and dead branches. Every servant had their own judgments, and Liu Ruyan’s aloofness had not gone unnoticed.
Xue Mei had served her faithfully for years, only to end up crippled. The other servants whispered in pity, their resentment toward Liu Ruyan growing quietly.
Soon, maids sent by Shen Wei entered Yu Xiu Palace, removing all the luxurious paper, plum charcoal, and other prized items from Liu Ruyan’s study.
Liu Ruyan had never faced such humiliation. Her usually tranquil heart churned with fury. She longed to shout, to stop these insolent servants—
Yet she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She prided herself on being above worldly concerns. To throw a tantrum like a common shrew would shatter her refined demeanor.
Bitterly frustrated, she retreated to her study to sulk. Her beloved paper and inkstones were gone, replaced by the standard supplies from the Internal Affairs Office.
Liu Ruyan ran her fingers over the coarse paper, her delicate brows knitting. Such inferior material would only disgrace the plum blossoms she painted.
For now, she had no choice but to abandon her art.
At noon, the imperial kitchen delivered four dishes and a soup—a balanced meal, reasonably tasty. Liu Ruyan’s brows lifted slightly as she asked the eunuch, "Where is the plum soup?"
The eunuch replied, "Consort Mei, if you wish for additional dishes, you must notify the kitchen in advance and pay the required silver."
The consorts’ daily meals were strictly regulated.
Any extra dishes required prior approval and payment. In the past, Xue Mei had handled all such arrangements for Yu Xiu Palace. She knew Liu Ruyan’s tastes intimately, quietly ensuring her mistress enjoyed her preferred meals without lifting a finger.
Now that Xue Mei had fallen ill, there was no one left in the palace to attend to the trivial details of Liu Ruyan's daily life.
