【September 26th, clear skies, auspicious for travel.】
The sky was barely light as a long procession of carriages slowly departed from the imperial palace.
The main streets of the capital had been cordoned off early by the military patrol, with shops shuttered and pedestrians barred.
In the middle of the procession, a small corner of a carriage’s curtain was lifted, revealing a pair of curious eyes eagerly taking in the world outside.
This was the first time Qi Daiyu had seen anything beyond the palace walls since her transmigration.
She marveled inwardly—good heavens, she was in a real ancient city! Not a modern tourist spot restored countless times, but a genuine, untouched relic of history!
When the carriage reached the city gates, the towering walls and the massive characters "Zhaojing" inscribed above nearly made her leap out to snap a tourist photo, just to prove she’d truly been there.
Alas, such a whim was impossible. She could only adjust her "camera" angle and capture a shot of the gates instead.
Qi Daiyu had also discovered a new use for her camera.
The imperial concubines were surrounded by guards in the middle of the procession, with mounted escorts on either side. Since the Emperor and Empress Dowager were also part of the entourage, the escort wasn’t composed of ordinary guards but the renowned Divine Dragon Guards—the Emperor’s personal retinue.
Only the most elite warriors could join the Divine Dragon Guards, so their bearing and aura were extraordinary. Clad in armor, swords at their waists, they cut striking figures atop their horses.
Normally, even as escorts, these guards maintained a respectful distance from the carriages, making it hard to see them clearly. But Qi Daiyu had her "phone," equipped with ultra-high-definition resolution. She snapped photo after photo, planning to admire them later.
Shiliu, seeing her mistress’s delight, couldn’t help but smile, though she reminded her, "My lady, while it’s good to enjoy yourself, do mind propriety. It wouldn’t do for others to see."
It wasn’t about the taboo of being seen in public—it was simply that, as an imperial consort, peeking out at the scenery lacked decorum.
Qi Daiyu knew when to stop. She lowered the curtain. "Alright, I’ll listen to you."
For this trip outside the palace, each consort was only allowed two maids and one eunuch. From Yanqing Residence, Qi Daiyu had chosen Shiliu and Pingguo, who handled her makeup, while among the eunuchs, since Little Cheng was still learning his craft in the artisan school, she’d brought Xiao Li. Her senior maid, Putao, stayed behind to manage the household.
Shiliu was diligent and efficient. The moment they boarded the carriage, she arranged Qi Daiyu’s usual comforts—a cushion for her back, a small stove, incense, and an assortment of tea and pastries.
The carriages for the concubines had been arranged by the Empress—one for passengers, another for luggage. As a Jieyu, Qi Daiyu’s carriage was placed in the middle of the procession. Pingguo and Xiao Li were in the luggage carriage behind, leaving only her and Shiliu in this one.
As she lit the incense, Shiliu remarked, "The Empress treats my lady very well. I noticed earlier that your carriage is nearly the same as Noble Lady Qin’s." In the palace, everything was stratified, even the carriages.
The Emperor’s carriage, for instance, was practically a small house—one could even do somersaults inside.
At the other extreme, the carriages for the lowest-ranking Shunü were tiny, barely allowing a mistress and maid to turn around.
Fortunately, the current consorts were at least of the Cairen rank, so their carriages were still relatively spacious.
With the Empress's care, Qi Daiyu's carriage had been upgraded to a higher standard. The interior was spacious, featuring not only seating but also two small cabinets for storage and a central table convenient for brewing tea. What surprised Qi Daiyu the most was the presence of a chamber pot near the right side of the carriage door—prepared in case she needed to relieve herself.
There was no need to worry about lingering odors after use, as Shiliu carried scented incense. Moreover, during breaks in the journey, someone would come to collect it.
"Her Majesty the Empress has always been considerate of the consorts and concubines. When we stop to rest later, take the little clothes I’ve made these past few days to the Empress and say they’re for the Eldest Princess’s cotton doll," Qi Daiyu paused, then added, "And bring the little lamb plush toy for the Second Princess as well."
Consort An had initially worried that the Second Princess might not adapt well to the journey and considered leaving her in the palace. However, the Empress, knowing Consort An actually wished to go to the hunting grounds, offered to take the Second Princess into her own carriage to accompany the Eldest Princess. With wet nurses and physicians on hand, Consort An naturally had no objections.
Consort An understood perfectly well that the Empress would never harm the Second Princess—even if she harbored any ulterior motives, this was not the time to act on them.
Qi Daiyu sought to return the kindness by making tiny outfits for the plush dolls to amuse the Eldest Princess. This gesture was neither obsequious nor excessive, simply acknowledging the goodwill she had received. Since the Second Princess was also under the Empress’s care, sending gifts only to the Eldest Princess might make Consort An suspicious.
Fortunately, Qi Daiyu had plenty of such trinkets on hand—why not give them both?
After two hours of travel, the convoy paused for a break.
Shiliu stepped down from the carriage with a small bamboo basket and headed toward the Empress’s carriage.
Just then, Ju Yi, returning from fetching something from a carriage further back, spotted her and called out, "What are you doing?"
Shiliu curtsied. "Sister Ju Yi, Noble Lady Qi has made some little clothes for the Eldest Princess." She lifted the cloth covering the basket for Ju Yi to inspect.
Ju Yi pressed her lips together as she flipped through the items, displeased. Noble Lady Qi’s needlework was hardly refined—visible stitches and all—yet she had the audacity to present these to the Eldest Princess. Still, she couldn’t deny that Noble Lady Qi had a clever touch; these adorable and unique little outfits would surely delight the princess when dressed on her rabbit doll.
She really knew how to curry favor.
"And this?" Ju Yi noticed a plush toy among the clothes, though she couldn’t immediately tell what it was.
"This is a little lamb Noble Lady Qi made for the Second Princess."
Ju Yi’s displeasure deepened. This Noble Lady Qi—first buttering up the Eldest Princess was understandable, given the Empress’s favor, but now she was trying to win over the Second Princess too! Did she not know Consort An was aligned with Concubine Shu?
"Ju Yi, why aren’t you coming in?" Just as Ju Yi was about to reprimand her, Lanyi stepped down from the carriage. Seeing Shiliu, she asked what she was doing.
Shiliu repeated her explanation.
Lanyi smiled. "Your noble lady is very thoughtful. Give the items to me. With so many eyes on the road, you should hurry back to attend to her."
"Thank you, Sister Lanyi. This maid will take her leave now."
Once Shiliu had gone, Lanyi turned to Ju Yi. "Why were you about to give Shiliu a hard time just now?"
"I wasn’t—" Ju Yi instinctively denied it, but under Lanyi’s clear gaze, her voice trailed off.
Among the Empress's four senior palace maids, Mei Yi and Lanyi had served her since childhood, while Zhuyi and Ju Yi were assigned later by the Imperial Household Department during her time as Crown Princess. Thus, though all four were the Empress's closest attendants, Mei Yi and Lanyi enjoyed greater trust and were more frequently relied upon.
Lanyi was known for her fairness, dispensing rewards and punishments to the palace staff of Kun Ning Palace with impartiality. The others were somewhat intimidated by her, Ju Yi included.
Now that her thoughts had been seen through by Lanyi, Ju Yi pursed her lips. "I just can't stand how that one plays both sides. Her Majesty treats her so well..."
"She is a mistress, and you are a servant. Since when do you have the right to 'can't stand' her?" Lanyi cut her off. "If anything, it's Her Majesty's kindness that has made you forget your place and disregard propriety. This time, you will forfeit a month's pay as punishment. If there's a next time, I will report it to Her Majesty."
Ju Yi's eyes reddened instantly. "I was wrong, Sister Lanyi." Her left thumb dug sharply into her right palm.
Lanyi paid her no further mind, lifting the bamboo basket and boarding the carriage.
The Empress's carriage was naturally spacious, its floor covered in soft carpets. The Eldest Princess and Second Princess sat together on the carpet, playing and giggling, while Mei Yi kept watch nearby. The Empress reclined against a pillow, her complexion slightly pale. On the low cabinet by the window sat a bowl of steaming motion-sickness medicine—evidently, the long journey had taken its toll.
"Was that Shiliu?" She had faintly heard voices outside the carriage earlier.
Lanyi: "Yes. Noble Lady Qi Daiyu sent her to deliver something."
She retrieved the items from the bamboo basket and presented them to the Empress.
The Eldest Princess, who had been engrossed in playing with her younger sister, was immediately captivated by what Lanyi held. "What's this?"
A child's intuition told her it was for her—after all, such tiny clothes wouldn't fit an adult!
Lanyi: "Noble Lady Qi Daiyu sent these for you, Your Highness. She said they're for Mianmian. Look, there are several pieces!"
"Mianmian's clothes?" The Eldest Princess had brought her favorite toy along on this trip.
She took the clothes from Lanyi and immediately tried dressing Mianmian in them.
"So pretty! I love them!" Noticing the Second Princess staring intently at the doll in her hands, the Eldest Princess proudly displayed the rabbit doll now clad in a lovely little outfit. "Second Sister, this is my friend. Her name is Mianmian!"
"Pretty! Love!" The Second Princess, not yet two, could only speak in halting, single words.
"Noble Lady Qi Daiyu sent a doll for the Second Princess too." Lanyi produced the creature that resembled a sheep—but not quite.
"Mine?" She gets one too? The Second Princess immediately steadied herself against the cabinet and accepted the doll from Lanyi.
"What is it?" The Eldest Princess didn't recognize it. She had identified the rabbit earlier because palace decorations often featured auspicious rabbit motifs, and Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns bore images of the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. Sheep-shaped ornaments existed in the palace too, but they looked nothing like this doll, leaving the Eldest Princess puzzled.
Lanyi: "I think it's a sheep? That's what Shiliu said."
Mei Yi chuckled. "Noble Lady Qi Daiyu truly has a whimsical imagination. This sheep is strange, yet..." There was an inexplicable charm to it, something that made you want to give it a squeeze.
"Love!" The Second Princess hugged the little sheep doll, utterly enchanted.
The Eldest Princess looked at the cotton doll in her hand, then at the little lamb plushie held by the Second Princess. What to do? The lamb seemed so adorable too!
No, she couldn’t—that lamb was a gift from Consort Qi to her younger sister. She already had her cotton doll, and hers even had clothes, making it prettier than the Second Princess’s lamb!
The two little girls huddled together, each clutching their own doll, whispering and giggling. Their childish chatter drew fond smiles from the onlookers. Mei Yi sighed, "Consort Qi is truly thoughtful."
The Empress smiled as well. "This is precisely why I’ve chosen to protect her."
Lanyi glanced at the Empress, hesitating whether to mention Ju Yi’s dissatisfaction with Consort Qi. After all, Ju Yi’s concerns weren’t entirely unfounded—Consort An was indeed aligned with Concubine Shu.
But knowing the Empress as she did, even if she brought it up, Her Majesty would likely dismiss it, perhaps even explain Consort Qi’s motives: as a mere consort, how could she dare neglect the Second Princess or risk offending Consort An?
Lanyi decided to drop the matter.
Just then, the Empress suddenly asked, "Has the Yuan family arrived today?"
For this autumn hunt, officials of the fourth rank and above were permitted to bring their families to the hunting grounds, though they were restricted to the outer perimeter, separated from the imperial family.
Mei Yi replied, "Old Lady Yuan and Chaoyun County Mistress have come. I heard the County Mistress is with child. Old Lady Yuan initially wanted to keep her at home, but she returned to the Grand Princess’s estate and accompanied Her Highness here. Oh, and Miss Chaorong is also present."
A faint smile curled the Empress’s lips. "Now that the players have taken the stage, the drama should begin."
Perhaps the thought lifted her spirits—even her headache seemed to ease.
