The last time Jiang Yunshu saw Empress Dowager Wu was in the grand hall where imperial concubines were sent to accompany the late emperor in death.
At that time, Jiang Yunshu was fighting for her own survival and had no chance to observe what Empress Dowager Wu looked like. She only remembered one concubine claiming to be pregnant with the emperor’s child before being swiftly dragged away by eunuchs.
Today could be considered Jiang Yunshu’s first proper meeting with Empress Dowager Wu.
Having recently given birth, the empress dowager’s figure was slightly plump, yet her beauty remained undiminished. Her fair complexion carried a rosy glow, a clear sign of her comfortable life.
Her simple and modest attire not only conveyed her mourning for the late emperor but also allowed her to easily join the palace maids in kicking shuttlecocks.
Jiang Yunshu dared not utter any more rebellious words, but upon seeing Empress Dowager Wu, she couldn’t help but feel a silent envy in her heart.
With her husband dead and her son now the emperor, Empress Dowager Wu’s life was truly carefree and luxurious!
Just seeing the empress dowager’s leisurely mood for shuttlecock-kicking told Jiang Yunshu that her days must be exceedingly pleasant.
While Jiang Yunshu studied Empress Dowager Wu, the empress dowager was also discreetly observing her.
Empress Dowager Wu had long heard rumors of a woman by Xie Lin’s side.
At first, she paid it no mind.
Though Xie Lin wielded immense power, he was, after all, a eunuch—unable to take wives or concubines.
That woman was nothing more than a nameless plaything by his side.
How could a eunuch ever have true feelings for a woman?
But then, on New Year’s Day, Empress Dowager Wu had just been formally enshrined as empress dowager in the grand ceremony. That very night, Jiang Yunshu stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Xie Lin atop the palace walls—so regal that the people mistook her for the empress dowager, kneeling in reverence!
Empress Dowager Wu’s heart burned with resentment. She was the rightful empress dowager!
How dare Jiang Yunshu steal her glory?
Her fervent heart was doused with cold water, forcing her to sober up.
This title of empress dowager was nothing like the absolute authority she had imagined.
She had the privileges, the grandeur… but all of it was hollow. She lacked the one crucial thing—real power.
Without power, she was like a rootless tree in the palace.
And all authority in the palace lay in Xie Lin’s hands.
Empress Dowager Wu calmed herself, recalling how even the late emperor had been a puppet of the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord. Her infant son, the new emperor, would likely spend his entire life under the same fate.
Both mother and son would have to rely on Xie Lin’s mercy.
For her son’s sake, she could endure some humiliation… With this resolve, Empress Dowager Wu steeled herself.
She began ordering her attendants to gather information about Jiang Yunshu. The title of empress dowager still carried weight, and she now had many at her disposal.
The palace maids who had served her since her days as Consort Wu remained fiercely loyal, and after her ascension, countless others flocked to her side.
Through the reports, Empress Dowager Wu gradually pieced together an image of Jiang Yunshu.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, eschewed lavish adornments, and resembled a celestial maiden from a painting.
She excelled in dance and often coaxed Xie Lin into playing the qin for her performances.
Xie Lin doted on her extravagantly—fresh fruits, rare treasures, all delivered to her without end.
It was even said that Xie Lin, to avenge a slight against her, had openly defied the Marquis of Xiping’s Mansion, seizing half of their estate and humiliating them publicly!
And this year’s top scholar, who had offended Jiang Yunshu, was promptly demoted to horse-tending by Xie Lin’s order…
After collecting these details, Empress Dowager Wu let out a sigh of relief. Jiang Yunshu might be beautiful, but she was a fool!
Just listen to the frivolous demands she made of the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord—utterly reckless.
Relying on her looks and perhaps some seductive tricks learned from her courtesan mother, Jiang Yunshu might have ensnared Xie Lin for a time, but such favor wouldn’t last.
Empress Dowager Wu mused that a man’s affection should be spent wisely, not squandered on petty whims.
Jiang Yunshu, spoiled and arrogant, would soon wear out Xie Lin’s patience.
And when that happened… her opportunity would come.
She would be more considerate, more tactful than Jiang Yunshu—for her son’s sake, she would lower herself completely.
Xie Lin would surely prefer her.
Empress Dowager Wu was certain of it.
Her advantage wasn’t just beauty or charm, but her status.
She was the empress dowager.
The Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord might hold immense power, but he was still a eunuch—a man forever incomplete.
How could such a man resist the allure of being served by the most exalted woman in the realm?
Deep down, Empress Dowager Wu had no desire to submit to a eunuch. But when she considered her son’s future—and Xie Lin’s striking features—the indignity became easier to bear.
She would endure for a decade or more, until Tai An came of age. By then, Xie Lin would be old, and her son would reclaim the throne’s full authority!
Empress Dowager Wu was confident that the son she bore and raised would never be as weak and foolish as the late emperor, allowing a eunuch to dominate the court.
During the day, she plotted far ahead—even envisioning which noble families’ daughters would become her son’s future empress and consorts. With such powerful in-laws, Tai An’s influence would far surpass that of a mere eunuch…
At night, she dreamed of Tai An’s adulthood. Even after all those years, she would remain a youthful and elegant empress dowager…
In her dream, Empress Dowager Wu smiled with deep satisfaction.
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In the first round of shuttlecock-kicking between Jiang Yunshu and Empress Dowager Wu, Jiang Yunshu narrowly won!
No wonder the trend had started in Empress Dowager Wu’s Phoenix Palace—her skills were exceptional. Her maids moved with remarkable agility, expertly passing the shuttlecock to her for the final “goal.”
Jiang Yunshu had been on a winning streak against other palace maids, which had been enjoyable. But none compared to the exhilaration of playing against Empress Dowager Wu. In the heat of the match, victory ceased to matter.
Still, luck was on her side—in the last moments, she scored multiple times into the highest basket.
Once, she even managed a backward kick!
Empress Dowager Wu cheered loudly for her, and maids from both sides applauded.
Though she lost, the empress dowager seemed just as delighted.
Glancing at the sky, she said, “The emperor will wake soon—I must return to Phoenix Palace. Sister Jiang, you should head back too. Today was splendid—I’ll invite you again tomorrow!”
With that, Empress Dowager Wu swept in and out like a gust of wind.
Back in Weiyang Palace, Jiang Yunshu meticulously followed Xie Lin’s rules.
She and her maids changed shoes, bathed, and changed clothes… Even the shuttlecock had to be discarded—no used shuttlecock could re-enter Weiyang Palace; a fresh one would be brought next time.
The white jade bathing chamber was off-limits for now. She had to make do with a wooden tub.
Jiang Yunshu thought wryly of the nights Xie Lin carried her, drenched in sweat, to that very jade pool. And now he insisted on such fastidiousness!
After washing themselves, Taoye and Zhezhi helped Jiang Yunshu wash her hair.
Thick and ink-black, her tresses cascaded like satin—beautiful to behold but exhausting to clean.
Taoye carefully washed Jiang Yunshu’s hair as they chatted. "Miss, you and Empress Dowager Wu had never met before. Why did she suddenly come to play shuttlecock with you today…"
Jiang Yunshu, exhausted from the game, now soaked drowsily in the hot water. She yawned and replied, "Because I’m good at shuttlecock, of course."
Surely her undefeated reputation had reached Empress Dowager Wu’s ears!
Jiang Yunshu had formed a favorable impression of Empress Dowager Wu today. The empress dowager was clearly sharp-witted—she knew Jiang Yunshu’s identity perfectly well: a former concubine of the late emperor, the second daughter of the Marquis of Xiping's Mansion. Yet she never brought it up, not even once.
She didn’t even mention Jiang Yunshu’s name, simply calling her "Sister Jiang."
Not only did Empress Dowager Wu address her as a sister, but her attitude was also refreshingly ordinary—neither condescending nor overly deferential.
Still, to be cautious, Jiang Yunshu told Xie Lin about her shuttlecock match with the empress dowager.
Xie Lin frowned.
He had allowed Jiang Yunshu to leave Weiyang Palace, thinking that amusing herself with the palace maids would be harmless.
"You certainly have a talent for attracting trouble—straight to the empress dowager herself."
Leaning down, his breath brushed against the curve of Jiang Yunshu’s neck.
"If my lady has so much energy during the day, it seems I haven’t served you well enough… at night."
Jiang Yunshu shivered. "No… no… I already made plans with the empress dowager for tomorrow."
Xie Lin smirked. "Then we’ll see if my lady can even get out of bed tomorrow."
He didn’t believe for a second that Empress Dowager Wu had sought out Jiang Yunshu just to befriend her.
