Qin Saizhu could not help but recall the events of that year.
Consort Wu, imitating Yang Minzhen, tried to brew tea with melted snow in a display of refinement before the then-Crown Prince, the current Emperor. She ended up making a fool of herself, earning the Emperor's displeasure. Upon learning of this, Yang Minzhen said, "If she wishes to study, she need only come to me. I would surely teach her with all my heart."
At that time, everyone praised Yang Minzhen for her magnanimity and mocked Consort Wu for being a crude imitator.
Not long after, Consort Wu fell ill and passed away.
In the Eastern Palace back then, the only person Consort Wu could really talk to was Qin Saizhu. Qin Saizhu enjoyed making friends and was warm-hearted by nature; even the most difficult people would grant her some courtesy. Although her relationship with Consort Wu was not particularly close, upon hearing of Consort Wu's illness, she went to visit her.
Unexpectedly, she ran into Yang Minzhen's maid, Yang Xue, at Consort Wu's quarters.
Yang Xue's haughty demeanor left a deep impression on Qin Saizhu that lasts to this day.
"You think you can imitate my mistress? You thought waiting in the corridor with a copy of the 'Book of Songs' where His Highness the Crown Prince would pass would make him look at you differently? You should look in a mirror and see what you really are. My mistress is truly learned, while you probably don't even know how to write the two characters for 'Book of Songs'."
"Brewing tea with snow water, pfft, you actually believed that. Look, with just a little scheme from my mistress, Consort Wu, you've become the laughingstock of the entire Eastern Palace. You're not even fit to carry my mistress's shoes."
"You were just a maid, blessed with eight lifetimes of fortune to be able to serve the Crown Prince. If I were you, I'd have known my place and been content. Who told you to harbor ambitions beyond your station?"
"Consort Wu, your bitter days are still ahead. Look around you now, is there anyone left in the entire Eastern Palace who still respects you? If you ask me, rather than enduring this ridicule, you might as well just die."
...
It was only then that Qin Saizhu learned that the idea of brewing tea with snow from plum blossoms was intentionally leaked to Consort Wu by Yang Minzhen, precisely to make her a spectacle. And Yang Xue's heartless words completely shattered Consort Wu's already humiliated spirit.
The very next day, when Qin Saizhu went to visit Consort Wu again, she found only a corpse—Consort Wu had left her window open overnight and froze to death.
It was from that time on that Qin Saizhu understood that the seemingly elegant and refined Yang Minzhen was in fact profoundly cunning. Consort Wu had imitated her speech, mannerisms, and dress, so Yang Minzhen made sure she lost all face. If she herself had been close to Yang Minzhen, would she also have been seen as having ulterior motives?
From then on, Qin Saizhu dared not grow close to Yang Minzhen again. Yang Minzhen, for her part, showed no puzzlement over Qin Saizhu's distance. It seemed that, in her heart, this brief friendship meant little.
Sensing Yang Minzhen's attitude, Qin Saizhu had even less desire to associate with her. Gradually, the connection between them truly faded.
"Enough. This matter is concluded after all, and I cannot possibly bring it up to His Majesty now," Qin Saizhu lowered her eyes.
What more could be said? Expose Consort Ning's schemes? Then the Emperor would surely question why she had waited until now to speak. Did she have a part in it? From the day Zeng Qiming entered the palace, she had lost any chance to tell the Emperor.
"She truly is... a master of intricate schemes..."
In the Yikun Palace, before the table bearing the portrait of Lady Yang, Consort Ning knelt and kowtowed three times.
Rarely, a smile touched Consort Ning's lips.
Mother, do you see? The fate of Zeng Qiming.
Mother, your daughter has done it. You and Luo Niang can rest in peace now.
Suihe: "This time, I didn't expect that the Master would step forward." She carefully observed Consort Ning's expression.
Consort Ning's smile faded. "You think he was helping me? He only came forward to sever ties and demonstrate his loyalty to the Emperor because he saw that Zeng Qiming was undoubtedly doomed."
Once the matter of the grievance drum came to light, Yang Heng knew Zeng Qiming's career had reached its end. The next day, during the court assembly, he expressed doubts about his youngest daughter's cause of death, thereby drawing a clear line between himself and Zeng Qiming. After all, Zeng Qiming had committed so many evils; later, people were bound to speculate whether Yang Heng, as his father-in-law, had been involved. But if his daughter had been tortured to death by Zeng Qiming, then the enmity between them was profound. Outsiders would only sigh at Yang Heng's misfortune in marrying his daughter to Zeng Qiming.
It must be said, Yang Heng is a cunning old fox. Probably even the Princess of Yanping and the Prince of Sheng's heir believed that Yang Heng had long since conspired with her, didn't they?
"Put it away," Consort Ning instructed Suihe.
As Suihe cleared the incense table, she said, "Now that Lord Zeng has fallen, won't the position of Capital Guards Commander fall to the Prince of Sheng's heir, Jiang Yize?"
Consort Ning, in a good mood, was willing to explain: "It's not that easy. Zeng Qiming's fall merely gives Jiang Yize an opportunity to contend for the commander position. Above him, there's still a Vice Commander."
Furthermore, who the new Capital Guards Commander will be depends on the Emperor's will. Zeng Qiming and Jiang Yize entered the palace together that day and were both granted the noon meal, yet only Zeng Qiming drank the wine. Whether the Emperor harbors any suspicion towards the Prince of Sheng's heir is unclear to anyone.
"Will His Majesty suspect us?"
Consort Ning shook her head. "No. As long as Jiang Yize and the Princess of Yanping have any sense, they will not expose me."
Yang Xue entered. "Mistress, Concubine Li is making excuses and refuses to see you."
Yang Xue continued, "This Concubine Li is too arrogant. From her meaning, it seems she doesn't want to be associated with our Yikun Palace?"
Consort Ning said, "We had an agreement: I would arrange her entry into the palace, and she would help me perform this act. Now that the matter is concluded, we owe each other nothing. Why should she come to curry favor with me?"
Yang Xue frowned. "Then, should we...?" After all, Concubine Li's beauty was undeniable. If left unchecked, she might become a second Concubine Shu.
Consort Ning simply said, "Leave her be." Concubine Li could not become a second Concubine Shu, and even if she did, it wouldn't matter. She no longer cared whom the Emperor favored; she only wanted to ascend to that position.
Besides, not seeking out Concubine Li now didn't mean she wouldn't in the future.
However, before planning for that position, there was another matter to resolve.
Consort Ning walked to the bookshelf filled with various rare editions, pulled out one book, and retrieved a dried peach blossom branch tucked inside. She instructed Suihe, "Deliver this to the Qixiang Palace."
No matter how significant the Zeng Qiming affair was, it was ultimately a court matter. In the rear palace, the itinerary for the summer palace had been set. Trunks and cases from various palaces were nearly packed, ready to depart at any time.
Over at the Yanqing Residence, Yan He volunteered to stay behind and keep watch, sparing Qi Daiyu the dilemma of choosing between Shiliu and Putao. She simply assigned Xiangli and Hongtao to remain—last year it was Pingguo and Lianwu who stayed, so this year she would take them along.
The two young maids, Sangsen and Lizhi, were also brought. They were now fourteen and could be treated as adults.
After several more days of travel by carriage, passing the time by admiring the scenery along the way and playing mahjong with Qin Saizhu and the others, the days went by quickly. As Qin Saizhu was pregnant and often tired, they called Feng Qi over to play mahjong instead, with Qin Saizhu just watching from the side. When Zhaorong heard about this, she came over too. Seeing Feng Qi hesitating and taking forever to play a tile, she pushed her aside and took her place at the table.
Originally, Qi Daiyu, Nie Zhiyu, and Ye Qiong often played together, just for fun. With Feng Qi joining, who was shy and timid, they treated her like a little sister to tease and humor, a way to pass the time. Who knew
YH
once Zhaorong joined, she first pushed Feng Qi out, then insisted on playing for higher stakes. After a couple of rounds, the three of them got competitive too.
The three of them had a tacit understanding, so dealing with Zhaorong alone was easy.
So that day, Zhaorong boarded Qi Daiyu's carriage bedecked in jewels, but when she left, she had even gambled away her outer robe and had to have a maid fetch a cloak to wear.
The commotion among the consorts naturally reached Jiang Yuan's ears. He just laughed it off upon hearing, then frowned as he looked at the memorial in his hand.
A letter from the border: Old Marshal Jiang was injured...
Upon arriving at the Summer Palace, Qi Daiyu was again lodged at "Over and Under the Sky." The other consorts had various adjustments to their accommodations. What pleased Qi Daiyu most was that Qin Saizhu was staying in the Peaceful Courtyard behind "Over and Under the Sky."
After that, it became much more convenient for the two to meet.
At "Over and Under the Sky," it was the same group of servants from the previous year, and even the swings and slide made last year were still there, gleaming brightly, clearly having been freshly varnished. Touched by their attentiveness, Qi Daiyu had Shiliu reward them with silver.
The palace servants were naturally delighted.
Before they could even finish unpacking, the Eldest Princess had already arrived, with Zhuyi and others behind her carrying large and small bundles.
Qi Daiyu couldn't help but laugh, "Why not rest for a few days first?"
The Eldest Princess pouted, "I want to stay with Lady Hui for a few days. My brother is too annoying!"
She had talked about protecting her brother when the Second Prince was born, and now she was changing her tune. Qi Daiyu was highly amused.
It was just that after spending these past days in the same carriage, the Eldest Princess had fully discovered the less adorable aspects of an infant. When the Empress taught her to read, her brother cried. When the Empress checked her handwriting, her brother cried. She couldn't practice her zither anymore, as it would disturb her brother and make him cry. Singing to him would stop the crying, but the moment she stopped, he'd cry again.
The Eldest Princess decided her brother was not cute at all and not well-behaved!
"But you were just like that when you were little!" Infants can't talk; they can only use crying to express their various needs.
The Eldest Princess' eyes widened, and she shook her head, covering her gap-toothed smile: Impossible! She had been very good!
In any case, the Eldest Princess didn't want to go back. She also had her own little scheme—she could play at Lady Hui's place again!
Since she was already here, Qi Daiyu took the Eldest Princess to help arrange her room, the two of them discussing everything together.
The Eldest Princess discovered that Lady Hui was especially easy to talk to and respected her opinions greatly. Lady Hui seemed to understand all her wild, imaginative ideas and would even praise her.
Although the Empress also respected her, sometimes she still thought what she said was childish and didn't take it seriously.
As if having decided something, the Eldest Princess suddenly took Qi Daiyu's hand, "Lady Hui, can Second Sister come stay too?"
Qi Daiyu: "Huh?"
Seeing the Second Princess and her mother, Consort An, standing there with a stiff expression, Qi Daiyu was still a bit bewildered.
The Second Princess was still timid, but there was anticipation in her eyes.
The Eldest Princess went over to take her hand: "Second Sister, I didn't lie to you. We can play on the swings together, and the slide, and building blocks, and we can kick the shuttlecock! It's so much fun! Come stay with me!"
Qi Daiyu glanced at the Eldest Princess. Regarding wanting the Second Princess to stay too, the Eldest Princess's explanation was that while still in the palace, she had told the Second Princess about the happy times last year at "Over and Under the Sky," and the Second Princess had listened with envy. The Eldest Princess felt that her second sister was very timid and not very strong. If she could spend more time with Lady Hui like she did, she would surely become more cheerful!
But these were just the Eldest Princess's thoughts. Qi Daiyu looked at Consort An; this needed the birth mother's consent.
She thought Consort An would never agree.
Who knew, she then heard Consort An say, "I truly wish to trouble Lady Hui for a period of time."
Qi Daiyu: "..."
