A gust of autumn wind swept by as Yun Wan took the initiative to grasp Lu Changning's hand, smiling brightly. "It's windy here—why not go inside?"
Feeling the warmth and softness of her palm, Lu Changning shook her head with a smile. "We're not cold. You are a noble lady now—we mustn’t neglect propriety."
Yun Wan pouted in mock annoyance. "It’s only been a few days, yet you’re already so distant with me."
At this, Lu Changning’s eyes reddened, tears welling up as she gazed at her.
She longed to call her "Auntie" as she once had, but she knew it was no longer appropriate.
Yun Wan patted her hand reassuringly before glancing around and changing the subject. "Where is Old Madam Lu?"
Though many familiar faces were present, the matriarch of the Lu family was nowhere to be seen.
Lu Changning hesitated before replying apologetically, "Grandmother fell ill recently and hasn’t yet recovered enough to leave her bed. Please don’t take offense, Your Grace."
She—and everyone else—knew the reason behind the old lady’s illness and understood that no one in the household struggled more to accept Yun Wan’s new status as imperial consort than Old Madam Lu.
Yun Wan gave a quiet hum. "I’ll visit her later. Let’s go inside first."
Lu Changning brightened. "Of course! Your Grace, mind the steps!"
From behind, Concubine Zhong rolled her eyes, unimpressed by how well the eldest daughter had mastered the art of flattery.
Upon entering the Lu estate, Yun Wan declined the offer of a banquet and instead went straight to Cuiwei Garden.
The first to spot her was Yue'e. "Madam is back!"
She immediately corrected herself with a hasty "Ahem! I mean—Consort Yun!"
The other maidservants quickly set aside their tasks, rushing out at the sight of Yun Wan, their eyes brimming with tears. "Your Grace..."
Yun Wan soothed them one by one. "Silly girls, why the tears?"
Yue Ya and the others didn’t quite know why they were crying—they just were.
"This is Fuling. She’s been taking care of me in the palace," Yun Wan introduced.
The two groups exchanged polite nods, familiarizing themselves, before Fuling tactfully excused herself. "My lady, I’ll go check if anything was left behind."
Yun Wan nodded. "It looks like rain—don’t stay out too long."
Once Fuling had left, Yun Wan gathered the maids inside. Sitting them down, she said, "You must already know that after this visit, I likely won’t have another chance to leave the palace."
The maids’ expressions darkened.
Yuezhi whispered, "Madam… will you have to stay in the palace forever?"
Without outsiders present, she preferred to address Yun Wan as she always had.
Yue'e huffed. "Isn’t that obvious? Have you ever seen a consort coming and going as she pleases? Our lady is going to live in luxury—why the long faces?"
Yuezhi planted her hands on her hips and glared. "Oh, you’re so clever!"
Their bickering, a familiar routine, dispelled the somber mood.
Yue Jian, the more composed of the group, spoke up. "Madam, may we follow you into the palace and continue serving you?"
Yun Wan nodded. "That’s what I wanted to discuss."
"I know your loyalty runs deep, but entering the palace is a serious decision. Think carefully."
The maids fell into uneasy silence.
After sipping her tea, Yun Wan spoke again. "Yuezhi, I heard you have a childhood sweetheart. When is the wedding?"
Yuezhi nodded. "My mother said it might be at year’s end or early next spring, but…"
Conflict flickered across her face.
Her betrothed was wonderful, yet she couldn’t bear to part from her mistress.
Yun Wan made the choice for her. "No ‘buts.’ You’ll stay outside the palace and manage the account books for me. When the time comes, I’ll prepare a dowry for you."
With family, a fiancé, and a wedding on the horizon, Yun Wan wouldn’t dream of separating them.
Relief washed over Yuezhi’s face.
Yun Wan turned to the others. "And the rest of you?"
After a pause, Yue'e answered firmly, "I can’t leave my mother and younger sister behind. I’d like to stay."
"Very well."
Yue Ya spoke next. "Madam, Yue Jian and I are orphans—we have no family left. We’ve decided to become sworn sisters and serve you together!"
Yun Wan smiled warmly. "Good. In the palace, you’ll have each other."
She promptly returned Yue'e and Yuezhi’s contracts of servitude and arranged for them to work at Yunxiang Pavilion instead of remaining in the Lu estate. Fortunately, one excelled at bookkeeping while the other was quick-witted—both would thrive there.
---
True to her word, after settling her maids’ futures, Yun Wan went to Cixin Hall to visit Old Madam Lu.
The room reeked of bitter medicine. The old woman lay restlessly in bed, and when she opened her eyes to see Yun Wan seated beside her, she jolted in shock.
"You—! What are you doing here?!"
Her sallow face twisted as she stared, horrified.
Yun Wan held a bowl of medicine, blowing on a spoonful before offering it. "Mother, drink your medicine."
The old lady recoiled. "I won’t! Take it away, you wretched—"
Crash!
Yun Wan let go. The bowl shattered on the floor, medicine splattering across the bedding.
A maid rushed in at the noise. Wiping droplets from her sleeve, Yun Wan said coolly, "Old Madam refused her medicine and knocked the bowl over. Clean this up."
The maid didn’t question it—clearly accustomed to the old woman’s temper.
As she gathered the shards, she noticed a cut on Yun Wan’s hand. "Your hand—"
Yun Wan pressed a handkerchief to it. "It’s nothing."
Old Madam Lu gaped. She was the one who dropped the bowl! How had the blame shifted to her?
But Yun Wan’s composed demeanor left her seething in silence.
"How dare you step foot in this house!"
Once the bleeding stopped, Yun Wan tucked away the handkerchief and replied leisurely, "Why wouldn’t I?"
The old lady spat, "Have you no shame before my son?!"
Yun Wan’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, her voice icy. "The one who betrayed him was your daughter—Consort Shu."
"Consort Shu served me a cup of wine and delivered me to Emperor Jingxuan’s bed. Does that answer satisfy you, Mother?"
"Every bit of this is your daughter’s doing."
Each "Mother" was a needle in the old woman’s throat, her expression growing uglier.
Taking in Yun Wan’s lavish silks and jeweled hairpins, she shut her eyes. "Get out! I don’t want to see you!"
Having said her piece, Yun Wan rose, sparing her one last glance before turning to leave.
She admitted it—she’d come here precisely to provoke the old woman. The sick needed calm, not fury. And she wanted Old Madam Lu to choke on her resentment.
"Sui is a child of the Lu family! You won’t take him!" the old woman shrieked after her.
Yun Wan didn’t look back. "That isn’t for you to decide."
Stepping into the courtyard, she nearly collided with Concubine Zhong.
The woman spun to flee, but Yun Wan called out, "Concubine Zhong."
Trapped, the concubine turned back, bowing her head. "Y-Your Grace, how may I serve you?"
Yun Wan leisurely walked toward her, stopping just a step away from Concubine Zhong. In a voice so low only the two of them could hear, she said, "Haven’t you always wanted to know who the man was, the one who was pulling me close at Putuo Temple? I’ll tell you now."
Concubine Zhong’s instincts screamed danger, and she instinctively tried to refuse, but Yun Wan had already leaned in and whispered into her ear, "That man was... none other than..."
"His Majesty, the Emperor."
Concubine Zhong’s heart plummeted, the color draining from her face.
Yun Wan smiled faintly. "Now that you know who he is, why don’t you hurry and report it to Old Madam Lu?"
"Oh, and I recall you called us an adulterous pair back then. Tell me, what do you think would happen if I informed His Majesty that Concubine Zhong dared to call him an adulterer...?"
Her tone was icy.
Concubine Zhong jerked her head up, eyes brimming with terror, and begged in a trembling voice, "Stop! Please, Lady Yun, it was my fault! I was blind and foolish—please, spare me this once! Don’t tell His Majesty!"
She knew all too well the power of a whisper in the emperor’s ear. If Yun Wan truly complained to the emperor, she—and her son, Changze—would suffer the consequences.
Trembling with fear, Concubine Zhong pleaded desperately with her eyes.
Yun Wan lowered her gaze. "That depends on your behavior from now on."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Concubine Zhong collapsed on the ground.
Truthfully, Yun Wan had no real intention of harming Concubine Zhong. But if a little intimidation could keep her in line, make her live in constant dread and stop causing trouble, then so be it.
Back in Cuiwei Pavilion, Yun Wan sat alone in silence, exhaling a soft sigh. A sense of weariness settled over her.
Recalling the scene at Cixin Hall, she felt as though she had grown a little wicked.
The way she had frightened Old Madam Lu and Concubine Zhong... it reminded her of a certain man.
This was all his fault.
As expected, the morning’s clear skies had given way to a torrential downpour by evening. Yun Wan’s plans to return to the palace were delayed, forcing her to stay another night at the Duke of Lu’s residence. She would leave at dawn once the rain stopped.
Late at night, in the depths of the palace...
Lying on his fragrant bed, Emperor Jingxuan clutched one of Yun Wan’s delicate undergarments, inhaling deeply before releasing a long, melancholic sigh.
His wife was not here.
He missed her.
