Jiang Yunshu turned over, her waterfall-like black hair cascading down and resting on Xie Lin’s sleeve.
Playfully, Xie Lin pinched the ends of her hair and nudged them toward her nose... As soon as the strands brushed against her nostrils, Jiang Yunshu’s nose twitched, and she looked like she was about to sneeze.
Quickly, Xie Lin let go and closed his eyes, lying beside her pretending to sleep.
Jiang Yunshu slowly opened her eyes and, in the dim light, made out the silhouette beside her.
Xie Lin was still lying next to her, asleep... She barely opened one eye before closing it again.
Xie Lin always got up very early, but since he hadn’t risen yet, it meant it was still dark outside. She decided to sleep a little longer.
Xie Lin continued to fake sleep, waiting for Jiang Yunshu to wake. But after a long while, there was no movement beside him, and her breathing had evened out again.
Surprised, Xie Lin opened his eyes wide. She still hadn’t woken?
He reached out and pinched Jiang Yunshu’s nose. She gasped, unable to breathe, and finally woke up. But before Xie Lin could even continue pretending to sleep, as soon as he released her, Jiang Yunshu immediately slipped back into a deep sleep.
Xie Lin was impressed. How could anyone sleep that deeply?
His lips brushed against Jiang Yunshu’s ear as he whispered softly, “Time to get up and go to the Yun Residence.”
“The palace is unstable. The minister and the lady will move to the Yun Residence for two months...”
At that, Jiang Yunshu’s eyelashes fluttered like delicate fans, and she immediately opened her eyes.
Her suddenly opened eyes, still heavy with sleep, glistened with a veil of mist. She yawned, turned her head, and saw Xie Lin still beside her. Surprised, she lifted the curtain and peeked outside.
The sky was already bright—why hadn’t Xie Lin gotten up yet?
This was rare, and Jiang Yunshu felt a little unsettled. She noticed Xie Lin’s gaze resting on her face and thought she should say something.
Half-asleep, Jiang Yunshu looked at Xie Lin and said, “I just had a wonderful dream...”
Xie Lin replied, “Did the lady dream about moving to the Yun Residence for two months?”
Jiang Yunshu’s eyes widened in astonishment. How could Xie Lin know what she dreamed? Could it be...
A joyful smile blossomed on Jiang Yunshu’s face. “Could it really be true?”
She immediately wanted to call someone to start packing, but then reconsidered. The Yun Residence wasn’t far from the palace; if anything was missing, they could have it sent over right away.
So, Jiang Yunshu and Xie Lin didn’t waste time packing and set out lightly.
The only thing they had to carefully consider was whom to bring along.
For Jiang Yunshu, it was easy—she only had Taoye, Zhezhi, Xiazhi, and Xiaoman by her side, all absolutely trustworthy.
Within Weiyang Palace, many served Xie Lin, but he only brought along a few of his most trusted attendants to the Yun Residence.
They didn’t bring many guards either, only selecting the most reliable to stand watch outside the Yun Residence.
Within half an hour of waking, Jiang Yunshu and Xie Lin had already left the palace, traveling light.
As the carriage rolled beyond the palace gates, Xie Lin finally asked Jiang Yunshu, “Why didn’t you bring Zaoren?”
Jiang Yunshu froze—she had completely forgotten Zaoren!
Zaoren stayed in Weiyang Palace, and the eunuchs who took care of the horses would look after him well. But eunuchs certainly wouldn’t dare to ride Zaoren, let alone let him run free. At most, they’d lead him out for a short walk each day.
These past few days, she had been riding Zaoren every day, practicing her horsemanship. Zaoren had long grown accustomed to carrying her over many miles. If she left Weiyang Palace, Zaoren would surely feel stifled and lonely!
And she hadn’t even said goodbye to Zaoren. Suddenly disappearing from his sight, he must miss her terribly!
Jiang Yunshu looked at Xie Lin with pleading eyes. “Chief Minister, please let me go back and bring Zaoren along. It won’t take much time…”
Xie Lin slowly turned the white jade prayer beads in his hand and smiled lightly. “What does Your Highness intend to offer me in exchange?”
Jiang Yunshu’s gaze fell on Xie Lin’s slender fingers gently twirling the white jade beads; his intentions were as clear as day.
Yet Jiang Yunshu was willing to play along. She whispered her consent, “Even if I owe you a favor…”
Before she finished, Xie Lin let out a sharp whistle.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, the crisp sound of hooves drew nearer and nearer.
Jiang Yunshu immediately lifted the carriage curtain and saw Zaoren galloping toward her, his reddish-brown coat gleaming like silk under the sunlight.
Xie Lin had obviously brought Zaoren along from the start!
Jiang Yunshu shot Xie Lin a sharp glare.
She immediately called out to the coachman to stop. She didn’t want to share a carriage with a trickster like Xie Lin. She wanted to get off and ride Zaoren herself to the Yun Residence.
Xie Lin reached out and caught Jiang Yunshu’s wrist.
“Your Highness, please don’t leave. I have important matters to discuss with you.”
Jiang Yunshu eyed him suspiciously. “What matters?”
Xie Lin pulled Jiang Yunshu back, guiding her to sit beside him again. His hand still held hers, the grip tightening from wrist to interlaced fingers.
Jiang Yunshu looked down at their entwined fingers and froze.
They had shared the most intimate moments before, but they had never held hands—this was the first time.
No, if she thought carefully, there had been one other time. When Xie Lin was delirious after being bitten by a snake, he had grasped her hand.
But that had been an unconscious act during his fevered state. Now, Xie Lin was fully alert…
Jiang Yunshu tried to gently pull her hand away, but Xie Lin wouldn’t let go. Instead, he began to speak, drawing her attention back to the matter at hand.
“Your Highness, do you know where those two palace maids who deliberately spoke those words as you passed by yesterday came from?”
“Weren’t they from the Laundry Bureau?” Jiang Yunshu had overheard them herself.
Xie Lin nodded. “Yes. But do you know where they were before coming to the Laundry Bureau?”
Jiang Yunshu frowned; she naturally had no idea.
Xie Lin spoke patiently, “One of the maids is indeed from the Laundry Bureau, but the other has been there less than half a month. Before that, she was stationed in…”
“Empress Dowager Wu’s Fengyi Palace.”
Surprise flashed across Jiang Yunshu’s face. “Empress Dowager Wu?”
Could it really be connected to Empress Dowager Wu?
Jiang Yunshu recalled how Empress Dowager Wu had warmly invited her to play shuttlecock and watch the opera. The Empress Dowager had always appeared cheerful and friendly in her presence.
Most importantly, there was no apparent conflict of interest between Empress Dowager Wu and herself.
Xie Lin’s next words shocked Jiang Yunshu even more.
“That palace maid’s name is Yunque. Yesterday, Empress Dowager Wu admitted that she had driven Yunque out of the Phoenix Pavilion precisely because of you, Your Highness.”
Jiang Yunshu stared at Xie Lin in disbelief. “Me?”
Xie Lin’s fingers intertwined more tightly with hers, but Jiang Yunshu’s entire attention was caught by his words, completely unaware of his small gesture.
She couldn’t understand why Empress Dowager Wu would expel a palace maid because of her.
Xie Lin gave her a half-smile and looked at her intently. “Did Your Highness have any impression of this palace maid before?”
Jiang Yunshu shook her head. She didn’t know any of Empress Dowager Wu’s palace maids.
Xie Lin continued, “According to Empress Dowager Wu, Yunque’s appearance bears some resemblance to Your Highness.”
“On the day the Young Emperor fell ill, I accompanied Your Highness to visit him. Yunque deliberately imitated Your Highness’s attire and manner…”
Jiang Yunshu was stunned. “Why would she imitate my dress and style?”
Could it be that she was setting fashion trends in the palace?
Xie Lin hadn’t expected Jiang Yunshu to be so puzzled. He stared at her, momentarily at a loss for how to answer.
Suddenly, Jiang Yunshu came to a realization and let out a soft laugh, “I didn’t expect someone would be so eager to compete for the position of the Empress.”
Xie Lin glanced at her. Jiang Yunshu no longer feared him now… yet he found himself powerless.
Xie Lin asked, “On the day the Young Emperor was ill, did Your Highness have any impression of this palace maid?”
Jiang Yunshu shook her head again. She didn’t remember ever seeing a palace maid who looked somewhat like her and deliberately imitated her style.
“Does the Chief Eunuch remember her?” Jiang Yunshu asked.
Xie Lin also shook his head. He had no impression of that palace maid. He had even carefully observed her face yesterday… but, to his poor eyesight, he couldn’t see even a trace of resemblance to Jiang Yunshu on Yunque’s face.
The recently deceased don’t have stiffened faces yet.
Xie Lin, experienced as he was, knew that if the face didn’t look like her in death, then she certainly didn’t resemble Jiang Yunshu in life.
However, it was clear that Yunque herself believed she looked like Jiang Yunshu, and Empress Dowager Wu thought so too.
When Empress Dowager Wu discovered Yunque was imitating Jiang Yunshu, apparently to seduce Xie Lin, she punished Yunque harshly, expelled her from the Phoenix Pavilion, and sent her to the Laundry Bureau.
As for what happened afterward, Empress Dowager Wu knew nothing.
When Empress Dowager Wu learned that Yunque had plotted to harm Jiang Yunshu, she frowned and speculated, “Could it be that because of what happened before, she harbors hatred toward Miss Jiang?”
Jiang Yunshu focused and pondered. If that was the case, Yunque indeed had a motive to harm her.
Empress Dowager Wu had washed her hands clean of the matter. Everything she had done sounded reasonable.
Even expelling the palace maid just because she imitated her. In the depths of the palace, Empress Dowager Wu’s kindness toward her was rare indeed…
Xie Lin looked at Jiang Yunshu. “From Your Highness’s perspective, do you think Empress Dowager Wu is involved in this?”
Jiang Yunshu thought for two seconds and nodded, “Yes.”
Xie Lin raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to explain.
Jiang Yunshu said only two things: “First, I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Yunque was once Empress Dowager Wu’s palace maid. Their relationship was close enough.
“Second, Empress Dowager Wu has made herself appear too spotless, which only arouses suspicion.”
If Yunque had remained a palace maid in the Phoenix Chamber, Jiang Yunshu might not have doubted her. But she had just transferred from the Phoenix Chamber to the Laundry Department, and shortly after, trouble arose—this was truly suspicious.
Xie Lin’s fingers lightly curled around Jiang Yunshu’s palm. “What Your Highness suspects aligns perfectly with my own thoughts.”
“Your Highness suspects Empress Dowager Wu. What do you plan to do next?”
Jiang Yunshu hesitated. That was the question—what was she supposed to do next?
Last night, braving the heavy rain, Xie Lin had already led a search through the Phoenix Chamber, but found nothing.
Clearly, even if it was Empress Dowager Wu’s doing, she must have cleaned up every trace, leaving no evidence for them to find.
Jiang Yunshu thought carefully. “Besides the two palace maids who deliberately spoke within my hearing yesterday, there must be others acting as agents for the mastermind behind the scenes.”
She had been led there by the little white rabbit yesterday.
A mere rabbit couldn’t be clever enough on its own; someone had to have timed it perfectly, placing the rabbit right in her path.
The two palace maids who spoke had already died, but if they could find others, perhaps they could follow the trail and uncover the mastermind.
Xie Lin smiled. “Such a clumsy plan.”
Jiang Yunshu bristled. She knew it wasn’t a clever plan. Perhaps those involved had long since been sent out of the palace or silenced. But what other options were there?
Jiang Yunshu looked at Xie Lin. “If you, the chief steward, have a smarter idea, I’m all ears.”
Suddenly, Xie Lin changed the subject. “There are more children at the Yun Residence now.”
“During Your Highness’s stay at the Yun Residence, you should visit and teach those children more often.”
“Choose one you like best from the older kids, around three or four years old.”
Jiang Yunshu’s eyes widened in surprise. Concubine Qiao had really hit the mark—Xie Lin wanted to raise a child?
She quickly made her position clear. “I’m fine with being a wet nurse, but raising a child is out of the question!”
It wasn’t until they got down from the carriage that Jiang Yunshu realized Xie Lin had never let go of her hand.
The journey from the palace to the Yun Residence took nearly half an hour by carriage. For that entire half hour, their fingers had been intertwined.
Xie Lin’s words had captured her full attention, making her forget they were still holding hands. But what about Xie Lin?
Had he forgotten? Or was he...
Jiang Yunshu stole a quick glance at him. His expression was as usual—calm and unreadable.
She pulled her hand away. Xie Lin’s palm was hot to the touch. Having her hand held in his for so long, the warmth contrasted sharply with the coolness of her other hand.
One hand cold, the other warm—Jiang Yunshu felt awkward and instinctively pressed both hands to her cheek.
Then she realized her face was burning hot...
Had she really blushed? Jiang Yunshu quickly avoided Xie Lin’s gaze, but he didn’t give her the chance. With a soft chuckle, he scooped her up and carried her down from the carriage.
The palace attendants and guards accompanying them were long accustomed to this—the ninth time out of ten, Jiang Yunshu was carried down by Xie Lin.
As soon as the carriage stopped, the attendants and guards all lowered their eyes to their toes.
Sure enough, this time, their gaze was once again well placed.
Stepping through the grand gates of the Yun Residence, the deeper Jiang Yunshu walked inside, the stronger the scent of osmanthus flowers became. Each time she returned to the Yun Residence, it seemed more beautiful than before.
This time, the gardens were even lusher and more artfully arranged. Golden osmanthus blossoms hid abundantly among the dense green leaves, and the maples were painted in a spectrum of colors—half red, half green; half green, half gold.
The Yun Residence was now under the management of Concubine Qiao, who kept everything meticulously orderly.
Before Jiang Yunshu and Xie Lin returned, Concubine Qiao had already cleaned and refreshed the main courtyard, changing the linens and tidying every corner. They hardly had to lift a finger before settling in comfortably.
The two of them wasted no time making themselves at home in the Yun Residence.
Jiang Yunshu opened the window, and not far outside stood an osmanthus tree, its fragrance filling the room—far more delightful than any incense.
Looking out from the window of the main courtyard, she could see the lake within the Yun Residence. Last night’s heavy rain had washed the sky clear, and the lake had risen, its surface smooth as glass, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds perfectly.
Jiang Yunshu couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Overall, the imperial palace was grander and more imposing, but its many palaces were each separated by tall walls. From any window, the view was limited, quickly blocked by these barriers.
The Yun Residence, on the other hand, felt so much more open!
The view from the main courtyard was especially beautiful—she could see both the lake and the bamboo grove... Standing by the window, Jiang Yunshu felt her spirits lift, her heart as expansive as the scenery before her.
