If she wasn't mistaken, all the utensils in this room were made of gold and jade. For example, the tea set on the table was crafted from white jade.
The patterns on the floor-to-ceiling cabinets were made using the mother-of-pearl inlay technique, and the surrounding was inlaid with pearls and precious stones.
There was also the half-person-high screen in front of the bed, which was a double-sided Suzhou embroidery depicting famous paintings from past dynasties - the Portrait of the Goddess of the Luo River.
These items looked magnificent and complex, quite extraordinary. The decoration was even more luxurious than her Cuiwei Courtyard.
Fuling paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course not. Since your status is noble as the Madam Lu and you were invited into the palace by Consort Shu, you are naturally different from ordinary palace servants. This place was specially arranged for you. I hope you'll get used to it."
Yun Wan's expression remained calm. It was hard to tell whether she believed it or not.
Fuling felt nervous. After hesitating for a while, she asked in a low voice, "If auntie doesn't like it, shall I ask someone to change it?"
She firmly remembered Eunuch Jiang's advice: Everything should be based on Madam Lu's wishes.
Fuling didn't understand what was so special about Perfumer Lu's identity, but she knew it was always right to follow Eunuch Jiang's words.
Taking good care of Perfumer Lu was her responsibility.
Although the doubts in her heart were not completely dispelled, Yun Wan also knew that changing things around would only cause trouble. She waved her hand and said, "No need. Just leave it like this."
Fuling nodded. "Alright! Then, madam, please rest first. I'll go and make you a pot of tea!"
While having tea, Fuling was helping Yun Wan organize the luggage she had brought into the palace.
It was neither big nor small, filled with small daily necessities she was used to, as well as a set of incense tools. As for other things, she couldn't bring them in, and there was no need to. All the food, clothing, and daily necessities were arranged and provided by the palace.
When she first entered the palace, Yun Wan didn't bring her personal maids with her. She was afraid that they were not familiar with the palace rules and might accidentally violate taboos and offend the noble masters.
The palace was different from the outside world. The rules were strict, and there were many cases of beatings and even loss of life.
After the luggage was mostly sorted out and Yun Wan had rested enough, accompanied by Fuling, she went to the Perfume Bureau. After visiting the place where she would work for the next few months and meeting several supervisors, she went to Consort Shu's Changchun Palace.
In front of Changchun Palace, Concubine Hui stopped and asked the senior maid beside her, "Who was that woman who just went in? Why haven't I seen her before?"
Could it be a new woman the emperor had taken in?
But she hadn't heard that the emperor had taken in a new concubine these days. In fact, the emperor had hardly visited the harem in recent years. Although they didn't dare to say it out loud, in their hearts, they suspected that the emperor might have some hidden illness.
Could it be that the emperor actually didn't have an illness? Was the once calm harem finally going to become restless?
Concubine Hui was secretly speculating in her heart.
The senior maid said, "My lady, she is the perfume master Consort Shu invited from outside the palace."
Hearing this, Concubine Hui was stunned. "Is she crazy? Why did she invite such a beautiful woman in?"
She had seen clearly just now. That woman was fragrant, with fair skin, black hair, exquisite features, and an otherworldly temperament. Although her dressing was plain, her beauty was still hard to hide. She was a rare and extremely beautiful woman.
What on earth was Consort Shu thinking by summoning such a stunning beauty into the palace? Had the peaceful days in recent years made her lose her mind?
Seeing that she had misunderstood, the senior maid quickly explained, "My lady, please rest assured. This Perfumer Lu is Consort Shu's sister-in-law, the Third Madam of the Lu Family. It is said that she is also a widow."
Concubine Hui frowned. "So what if she's a widow? Throughout history, how many emperors have taken widows as concubines?"
The senior maid said, "I heard that this Madam Lu has an unlucky fate. She is said to have brought bad luck to her husband and mother. She is willing to keep her chastity for her deceased husband and has a son. People keep their distance from her. Our emperor attaches great importance to rules. Your ladyship can rest assured. With the emperor's noble status, how could he take a fancy to such a woman?"
Concubine Hui frowned tightly and remained silent.
Really? Why did she think it might not be the case?
Bringing bad luck to her husband and mother, having an unlucky fate, keeping chastity for her husband, and being extremely beautiful. How did it sound like it would arouse more desire to conquer?
...
Inside the main hall of Changchun Palace, after Yun Wan finished paying her respects, Consort Shu personally helped her up and asked gently,
"How about it? Are you satisfied with the place you're staying? If not, just tell me. I'll ask them to change it for you. Or you can stay in Changchun Palace. It's just that it's a bit farther from the Perfume Bureau."
Yun Wan maintained a gentle appearance and smiled faintly. "Replying to your ladyship, I'm very satisfied."
Consort Shu said generously, "That's good. If you need anything, just tell me. I'll order someone to send it to you."
There was a relaxed look on her face, without a trace of gloom. It seemed that she had had a good rest these days.
Indeed, after solving several concerns, getting praised by the emperor, and suppressing the one in Yaohua Palace, Consort Shu had been in high spirits these days.
Especially when she heard from the supervisor in charge of the inner garden that since they knew Yun Wan was her person, they didn't dare to neglect her and had specially selected an independent small courtyard for Yun Wan. Consort Shu was even happier.
These lowly palace servants were used to being obsequious and fawning on the powerful. Now that they were so sensible, wasn't it just to flatter her?
When in a good mood, she saw everything more favorably. Consort Shu's eyes were filled with confidence and pride.
She gently patted Yun Wan's hand and said kindly, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. After this matter is settled, I'll go and plead with the emperor to let Grand Scholar Xu be Sui's teacher and teach him."
Consort Shu knew that Sui admired Grand Scholar Xu and was eager to visit him. But a person as respected as Grand Scholar Xu, who had already retired, was not someone one could meet easily.
But considering that Yun Wan was her own person, she didn't mind pleading with the emperor. Whether the emperor would agree or not didn't matter. The important thing was to let Yun Wan see that she had tried her best.
Sure enough, Yun Wan showed gratitude on her face. "Your ladyship's kindness, I'll never forget."
After they chatted for a while, Consort Shu ordered the palace servant, "It's getting late. Chun Tang, go and order the meal."
"The Imperial Kitchen has recently introduced several new dishes, said to be in the southern style. You can try them." She said to Yun Wan.
This meant she was going to keep her for lunch.
Just as Yun Wan agreed, the announcement from outside was as loud as thunder -
"His Majesty the Emperor is arriving -"
The two were stunned for a moment, and then their reactions were different.
Consort Shu was overjoyed. She got up and was about to go to the door to greet him, not noticing that Yun Wan's face changed slightly.
Emperor Jingxuan arrived quickly. He hadn't even taken off his court clothes. The moment his golden dragon-patterned boots stepped into the hall, his robes fluttered, and his noble aura was overwhelming.
His eyes first caught sight of Yun Wan, but then his attention was interrupted.
Consort Shu greeted him with a smiling face. "Your Majesty comes just in time. I've ordered lunch. Please stay and have it with us?"
Emperor Jingxuan replied casually, and his eyes stayed on the person behind her.
Only then did Consort Shu remember Yun Wan's presence. She then introduced her to him with a smile, "She is the widow of my deceased third brother, the Yun family. She is also the perfume master I recommended to you, Your Majesty. You once praised the incense she made."
Emperor Jingxuan seemed to suddenly remember. "Oh, I remember. There was such a thing."
Feeling extremely uncomfortable under his gaze and afraid of showing any abnormality and being noticed by Consort Shu, Yun Wan got up and was about to leave.
Consort Shu thought it wasn't urgent and was about to agree when she saw Emperor Jingxuan suddenly say,
"It's my fault for coming at an inopportune time and disturbing you two sisters-in-law having lunch."
