Does Ji Yuanning resemble Qin Saizhu?
Not really.
Qin Saizhu was that kind of beauty with a plump, jade-like elegance—a round face, almond-shaped eyes, and two dimples that appeared on both cheeks when she smiled. Her personality was bright and optimistic; she often laughed heartily and was a bit of a chatterbox.
As for Ji Yuanning, her figure was rather slender, with an oval face and a very straight nose. Perhaps because she had just entered the palace, she still seemed somewhat reserved in her interactions with others. When prompted to smile, she would only give a light, closed-mouth smile, though she too had two dimples when she did.
These two, who did not look alike, only seemed vaguely similar at first glance because both possessed the uncommon feature of dimples.
Consort An remarked, "I can't see any resemblance at all."
Nie Zhiyu also said, "I don't think they look much alike either. There's no need for Lady Ji to be alarmed." She was comforting Ji Yuanning, who seemed unsure of what was happening.
Ji Yuanning said gratefully, "Thank you, Concubine He."
"Alright, it's getting late. Everyone may return now," the Empress interrupted the topic, dismissing the others and keeping only Qi Daiyu behind.
It was regarding the matter of Chunxi Hall. "I have already had people clean Chunxi Hall. You go take a look with Lingyi. Mei Yi will accompany you; she has the keys to the storeroom." The quarters for the princess's study companions were to be furnished by the Imperial Household Department as per standard, but the Empress, wanting to please her daughter and also to give face to the Eldest Princess, opened her own private treasury and let the Eldest Princess make her own selections.
The Eldest Princess was already waiting for Qi Daiyu in the courtyard. Today, she had her hair tied up, secured with just a single jade hairpin, and was dressed in male attire. From a distance, she looked like a handsome, clear-eyed young gentleman.
As the two walked along the path, the Eldest Princess held Qi Daiyu's hand. "Concubine Hui, will the teachers at the Imperial Study be very strict?"
At this moment, like all children about to start school, the Eldest Princess was already afraid of the teachers even before the lessons began.
Qi Daiyu thought to herself, Your Concubine Hui never attended the Imperial Study either, so how would I know if the teachers are strict?
But she imagined that no matter how strict they were, they would have to temper their temper somewhat when facing a princess student.
"The teachers at the Imperial Study are all Hanlin Academicians specially selected by His Majesty. Each is immensely learned. When the Princess goes to study, she will certainly learn a great deal. As long as the Princess is diligent and earnest in her studies, how could the teachers possibly lose their temper?" Qi Daiyu said.
The Eldest Princess thought that made sense and quickly set aside her worries. "I'll go scout out the Imperial Study first. Next year, Second Sister and Eldest Brother will also start studying there, and then I'll look out for them!"
She struck a pose with her hands on her hips, looking incredibly proud.
Qi Daiyu couldn't help but smile, but just as she was about to laugh, a little dumpling came charging over from the distance like a firecracker.
"Concubine Hui! Eldest Sister!" The little dumpling was panting, his chubby face covered in a sheen of sweat.
Behind him, the Second Princess walked over hurriedly yet without breaking decorum. She first bowed to Qi Daiyu. "Greetings, Concubine Hui. Eldest Sister."
Then she frowned at the Eldest Prince. "I've told you many times, don't run on the palace paths. If you bump into someone, be careful Father punishes you!"
The Eldest Prince made a funny face at the Second Princess, his plump cheeks scrunching up, making one want to pinch them.
The Eldest Princess did just that, pinching his cheek. "Why don't you listen to your Second Sister?"
The Eldest Prince: "I just saw Eldest Sister and Concubine Hui!" He struggled to free himself from the pinching hand, covering his own face, his tone aggrieved: "Concubine Hui, you secretly took Eldest Sister out to play without me and Second Sister. You're playing favorites!"
Qi Daiyu: "..."
She was caught between laughter and tears.
The Eldest Prince had a bit of a sweet tooth. He wasn't picky and had an excellent appetite, and as he grew older, he became a chubby little fellow.
Ever since the Second Princess once brought the Eldest Prince along to Changchun Palace, where he tasted the pastries, the Eldest Prince had latched onto Qi Daiyu. Whenever the Second Princess went to Changchun Palace, he insisted on following.
There were three girls in Changchun Palace, and no one really played with him, but he didn't mind. He could happily spend a whole day by himself with two plates of pastries. Later, after hearing Qi Daiyu tell stories about the Great Sage, he loved going to Changchun Palace even more.
The Eldest Prince's favorite routine was: go to Changchun Palace — eat pastries — listen to stories — take a plate of pastries back home.
Over time, he actually became quite familiar with Qi Daiyu and the Eldest Princess.
In the past, Qi Daiyu would never have imagined she would grow close to Concubine Shu's son. But strictly speaking, there wasn't any major enmity between her and Concubine Shu. Moreover, the child was innocent; the Eldest Prince was simple-minded and adorable, and she was willing to include him in their play.
Now, Qi Daiyu patted the Eldest Prince's head. "We're not going out to play. I'm accompanying your Eldest Sister to arrange Chunxi Hall. It's tiring work. Do you still want to come?"
"Arrange Chunxi Hall?" The Eldest Prince couldn't fully understand what that entailed, but it sounded like something novel. He immediately said, "Yes! I'll go help Concubine Hui!"
The Second Princess asked curiously, "Is Eldest Sister's study companion about to enter the palace?"
Eldest Princess: "Yes! They'll enter on the fifth of next month. Second Sister, you come with me. Let's discuss how to arrange it together!"
"Okay!" The Second Princess nodded. She would also go to the Imperial Study next year, though she didn't know yet who her companion would be. Today, she could follow her elder sister and learn from the experience, so she could later arrange a room for her own companion herself.
And so, the three children walked hand in hand ahead, leaving Qi Daiyu trailing behind.
Having gotten a bit dusty at Chunxi Hall, Qi Daiyu intended to bathe and change clothes first upon returning to Changchun Palace, but she was informed that Lady Ji had come to Changchun Palace.
Qi Daiyu paused mid-step. "What is she here for?"
Yan He crouched down, using a handkerchief to brush the dust off the hem of Qi Daiyu's skirt, speaking in a lowered voice, "Lady Ji has just entered the palace. Perhaps she has heard that Mistress has a good temperament and has come specifically to pay her respects."
After a moment's thought, Qi Daiyu understood what Yan He meant.
A new consort, fresh to the palace and understanding nothing, was at a time when she had no one to rely on. Finding someone to attach herself to could make life in the palace more comfortable and secure.
Her first reaction was: Have I reached the point where others seek to depend on me? Am I that established now?
Then came puzzlement.
Qi Daiyu could understand the desire to seek patronage. When she first arrived, hadn't she quickly decided to cling to the Empress's favor?
She just didn't understand why Ji Yuanning would seek her out.
Ji Yuanning resided in Jingren Palace. Going to Yanxi Palace or Zhongcui Palace would be much closer than coming to Changchun Palace.
Yan He: "She hasn't attended upon His Majesty yet, so her potential is unclear for now. The Empress certainly won't summon her. Consort An has never enjoyed much favor and isn't a good choice for patronage. Both Concubine He and you are preferable options. However, given the incident during today's morning greetings, Lady Ji must have made some private inquiries, which is likely why she has come to Changchun Palace."
Qi Daiyu raised an eyebrow. Had Ji Yuanning found out about her close private friendship with Concubine Zhuang, and thinking she shared similarities with Concubine Zhuang, believed she would be more receptive to overtures?
An inexplicable irritation stirred within Qi Daiyu.
"Let's go in and see first."
Ji Yuanning had been waiting for a while. As soon as she returned from the Empress's palace, she had asked the palace servants attending her about who "Concubine Zhuang" was. She learned that Concubine Zhuang was the birth mother of The Third Princess, had passed away while giving birth to her, and afterwards, The Third Princess had been entrusted to Concubine Hui to raise.
Ji Yuanning pulled a palace maid aside and asked, "Do I look like Concubine Zhuang?"
The maid was newly assigned and had never seen Concubine Zhuang up close before, only from a distance a few times. In the maid's mind, all the ladies in the palace were beauties, and beauties naturally shared some resemblances. So the maid nodded, "There's a four or five out of ten likeness."
Ji Yuanning's mind became active. She thought, someone who could be granted the title of Concubine and give birth to a princess must have been deeply favored in her lifetime. If the Emperor saw her, wouldn't he inevitably think of Concubine Zhuang? Perhaps, seeing their similar appearances, he might favor her too?
She asked the maid another question, "What is Consort Hui like? Was she on good terms with Concubine Zhuang?"
The maid thought for a moment, "Consort Hui doesn't go out much, so this servant hasn't had contact. However, both Her Majesty the Empress and Consort An were willing to entrust their princesses to Consort Hui's care, so she must be a good person." She briefly mentioned the relationships between Consort An and Concubine Shu, Consort Hui and the Empress, Concubine Shu and the Empress—of course, all this was also hearsay from other palace staff.
"As for the relationship between Consort Hui and Concubine Zhuang, this servant has heard that The Third Princess was specifically requested by Concubine Zhuang on her deathbed to be given to Consort Hui to raise. From this alone, their relationship must have been extremely close!"
Hearing this, Ji Yuanning felt she had grasped the situation. While practicing palace etiquette at the Southern Mountain Retreat, the instructing matron had warned her that currently, the most favored in the harem were Consort Hui, Concubine He, and Consort Li. Gaining the favor of any of these three could be a way to adapt to palace life more quickly.
Consort Li, she heard, was originally a dancing girl. Ji Yuanning looked down on her.
Concubine He was actually Ji Yuanning's first choice—noble background and with a prince by her side.
But now, having learned these secrets, she needed to reconsider.
Ji Yuanning thought to herself, when new consorts enter the palace, the established ones would surely try to win them over to consolidate their own status and favor. Compared to the other three, given her four or five out of ten resemblance to Concubine Zhuang, and out of regard for past sisterly affection, Consort Hui had no reason not to help her.
So she immediately had people prepare gifts and hurried to Changchun Palace.
As soon as Qi Daiyu entered the hall, the first thing she saw was Si Yu secretly observing from behind a screen. The wet nurse tried to pull her back, but she refused, clinging to the screen and peeking out with half her head, curiously eyeing Ji Yuanning, who sat with her back to the screen.
Qi Daiyu shot her a glare before continuing inside.
"This concubine pays her respects to Consort Hui!" Ji Yuanning immediately stood up and curtseyed.
"No need for such formality. I wasn't aware of your visit, Beauty Ji. You've waited long." Qi Daiyu gave a slight gesture of assistance, glanced at the teacup on the table, and turned to Putao, saying, "It's Beauty Ji's first visit, why serve this grade of tea? I recall Her Majesty the Empress bestowed two jin of Lu'an Guapian tea the other day. Go brew some quickly!"
She didn't understand nor particularly enjoy tea, so much of the tea bestowed by the Emperor and Empress just gathered dust in the storeroom. It had become a habit for her to have guests help consume it whenever someone visited Changchun Palace.
But Ji Yuanning knew none of this. She only felt that Consort Hui's relationship with the Empress was indeed close—such precious Lu'an Guapian tea, gifted in two-jin quantities! She also felt that Consort Hui must be remembering Concubine Zhuang, hence her warm hospitality.
"I've long heard that the tea and pastries of Changchun Palace are unparalleled in the palace. Having the honor to taste them today is this concubine's good fortune!" Ji Yuanning smiled, the dimples on her cheeks becoming more pronounced.
Qi Daiyu's gaze lingered there for a moment, involuntarily thinking of Qin Saizhu again. In the past, it was Qixiang Palace's tea, pastries, and dishes that were considered unparalleled in the palace, even the Emperor enjoyed Qixiang Palace's cooking.
The snacks in Changchun Palace were born from her drawing upon the essence of modern knowledge, but the original dishes of Qixiang Palace came from Qin Saizhu's own innate talent for cuisine.
But a person's death is like a lamp extinguished; few in this palace remember Sister Zhu anymore.
For some reason, though Qi Daiyu had initially been prepared to engage with Ji Yuanning, she now felt a wave of impatience.
Qi Daiyu's smile faded. "May I ask the purpose of Beauty Ji's visit to my humble abode?"
