At the entrance of Yaohua Palace, Yun Wan encountered Concubine Hui, who had arrived late.
Upon seeing her, the other woman stopped at a distance and curtsied. "This concubine greets Lady Yun. May the lady enjoy eternal peace."
Yun Wan remembered her—on the night Consort Shen had gotten into trouble, Concubine Hui had seemed talkative, yet every word had struck true. Moreover, she appeared to hold disdain for everyone.
Now, meeting her under different circumstances, Yun Wan couldn’t tell whether it was coincidence or something else, so she had no intention of provoking her. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
As Yun Wan turned to leave, Concubine Hui couldn’t resist speaking up. "It seems I wasn’t wrong about you. You really are as I thought—no simple woman."
In just a few short months, Yun Wan had entered the imperial harem, and her initial rank had been that of a consort. The degree of the Emperor’s favoritism was enough to make Concubine Hui seethe with jealousy.
Why?
When she had first entered the palace, her rank had been that of a mere talent. It had taken her three years for a minor promotion and five for a major one, slowly climbing her way up to the rank of concubine before receiving a decent allowance.
If everyone had been the same, she could have accepted it as the Emperor’s rules for his harem. But now, this Yun Wan had appeared out of nowhere, repeatedly making the Emperor break his own precedents—how infuriating.
Crossing her arms, Concubine Hui scrutinized Yun Wan.
When Consort Shu had summoned this beauty into the palace, she had known trouble was brewing. What man in this world could resist such allure? Even she, as a woman, found it hard to ignore.
Sure enough, the Emperor had taken her into the harem.
In response to the veiled sarcasm, Yun Wan replied mildly, "Concubine Hui has such sharp eyes, able to see through a person’s heart at a glance. I admire that."
If she was so good at reading people, she might as well go to the Dali Temple to solve cases—spotting suspects at first sight.
With that, she smiled and stepped through the gates of Yaohua Palace.
Concubine Hui blinked, then turned to her personal maid with uncertainty. "Was she mocking me just now?"
The maid hesitated before nodding. "Most likely, my lady."
Concubine Hui frowned, displeased. "Wasn’t she said to be gentle and meek, enduring years of abuse from her mother-in-law without resistance?"
Now the maid wasn’t so sure. After a pause, she backtracked, "Ah... perhaps this servant misunderstood. Maybe Lady Yun was praising you?"
Concubine Hui: "......" She wasn’t deaf—Yun Wan had definitely been mocking her.
Flicking her sleeves, she snorted and entered Yaohua Palace.
Inside the main hall, nearly all the seats were occupied, giving the impression of a grand inquisition.
At the head of the room, Imperial Concubine Li sat in a striking crimson palace dress embroidered with vivid peonies, her hair adorned with jeweled hairpins, her expression stern.
Her cold demeanor made it clear to all that she was in a foul mood.
Below, the concubines, dressed in vibrant colors, wore varied expressions. One of them glanced at Imperial Concubine Li and fanned herself with displeasure.
"This Lady Yun has quite the airs about her. Knowing we’re all waiting for her, yet she arrives so late—keeping us here just for her sake."
Her words opened the floodgates. Another chimed in, "She’s the darling of His Majesty’s heart now—how could we possibly compare?"
"She must be doing this on purpose, flaunting her status!"
"I heard the Emperor even renamed her palace—‘Qiyun Palace.’ As if she’s some phoenix, deserving such a grand name."
The speaker scoffed, failing to notice Imperial Concubine Li’s darkening expression.
Seated to the right, Consort Xian glanced at the dazzling vermilion hairpin, sipped her tea, and lowered her eyes to conceal a faint smirk, remaining silent.
After letting them chatter for a while, Imperial Concubine Li finally spoke up. "Enough. Keep your thoughts to yourselves. From now on, we are all sisters of the inner court. If you have anything to say, keep it in your hearts—don’t let outsiders misunderstand."
After the incident with Consort Shen, she no longer wanted any trouble linked to her.
Now that she had issued the warning, if anyone still dared to gossip outside, it would no longer be her concern.
At her words, the others fell silent, quickly offering flattery. "Imperial Concubine Li is truly magnanimous, embodying the grace of a true leader."
Though she had surrendered the phoenix seal and no longer held authority over the harem, she was still an imperial concubine—her son was the Crown Prince, her father the Grand Tutor. She remained a force to be reckoned with, and lower-ranked concubines still had to curry her favor.
The hall quieted briefly before Yun Wan finally appeared.
"Lady Yun has arrived—"
As the eunuch’s announcement faded, Yun Wan stepped gracefully into the hall, a vision in soft green.
With willow-leaf brows, a delicate oval face, and eyes like autumn waters, her dark hair and snow-white skin made her strikingly beautiful. At first glance, she stole the breath of everyone present.
Despite her simple attire, she effortlessly outshone the meticulously dressed concubines, stirring mixed emotions among them.
"Yun Wan greets all the ladies."
Her voice snapped them out of their daze. Imperial Concubine Li offered a practiced smile. "Lady Yun, such formalities are unnecessary. From now on, we are sisters."
Yun Wan: "As Imperial Concubine Li says, this humble one will remember."
Imperial Concubine Li: "None of this ‘humble one’ business. Such terms belong outside the palace. Here, you are a consort—you should refer to yourself as ‘this consort.’"
With a wave of her hand, a palace maid guided Yun Wan to her seat.
Yun Wan sat gracefully, her expression serene. "This consort will remember. Thank you for your guidance, Imperial Concubine Li."
Her seat was placed just below Consort Shu’s. Since Consort Shu was absent, the spot was empty. When Yun Wan looked up, she met Consort Xian’s gaze.
She inclined her head slightly.
Compared to Imperial Concubine Li and Consort Shu, Yun Wan knew little about Consort Xian—only that she kept to herself and rarely involved herself in harem conflicts.
She had only one child—the Eldest Princess, Emperor Jingxuan’s firstborn.
While the others were still focused on Yun Wan, Concubine Hui, who had taken her seat shortly after, noticed Yun Wan’s gaze on Consort Shu’s empty spot and spoke up.
"Lady Yun, are you wondering why Consort Shu isn’t here?"
Her words instantly drew attention.
Yun Wan lifted her eyes to her.
Concubine Hui adjusted her hairpin leisurely. "This concubine heard that Changchun Palace summoned a physician this morning. Consort Shu is unwell and likely unable to attend. I suppose Lady Yun wasn’t aware?"
Ignoring the undertone of schadenfreude, Yun Wan nodded. "I was not. Thank you for clarifying."
Finding her reaction dull, Concubine Hui lost interest and fell silent with a huff.
Then, from a corner, a soft but unmistakable voice piped up, sharp in the quiet hall:
"Such composure—driving someone to illness yet acting as if nothing happened. Consort Shu must have had the worst luck, inviting a wolf into her home..."
Realizing the sudden silence, the speaker covered her mouth, but her words had already reached every ear, stirring subtle shifts in expression.
Under the weight of sidelong glances, Yun Wan remained unruffled. Her gaze swept past the others, landing on the woman in green seated in the corner.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Were you speaking of me?"
