Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Lady Yan

Inside the hall, Ning Yunshu looked at Consort Xian with a bewildered expression. "Could it be that Your Highness believes the matter with Ruyan was deliberately arranged by your daughter?"

Consort Xian averted her gaze, remaining silent—a silence that spoke volumes.

Behind her, Lady Gui suddenly knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, have mercy! I alone was responsible for the wine service during the banquet; it has nothing to do with the princess."

Consort Xian stared at Lady Gui in surprise. "You? Why would you arrange such a thing?"

Lady Gui lowered her head, tears streaming down her face. "Your Highness, though Ruyan recently fell ill and lost her voice, I entrusted her with serving wine because she had faithfully served in Yongning Palace for years and was always quick and reliable. But who would have expected she would use this opportunity to seduce His Majesty? The fault lies with me! Please punish me, Your Highness!"

Consort Xian was momentarily taken aback. She exchanged a glance with Lufu, both harboring doubts.

Ruyan was her informant stationed in Yongning Palace, responsible for reporting Ning Yunshu’s every move after her return to the palace. When Ruyan suddenly became mute, several palace maids confirmed it was a sudden illness. But Consort Xian, familiar with palace intrigues, found this explanation hard to believe.

She had once suspected that Ning Yunshu, knowing Ruyan was her informant, deliberately caused her to lose her voice. Yet she had never summoned Ruyan back to confirm the truth.

She had thought no one knew her daughter better than herself, but recent events made her feel that the woman before her had become somewhat unfamiliar.

Ning Yunshu knelt down, grasping Consort Xian’s hand tightly, speaking with utmost sincerity. "Mother, if I had known this would happen, I would have stopped it. After all, I would never watch a lowly maid compete for your favor."

Consort Xian was momentarily speechless at her daughter’s earnestness.

How could she have suspected that her own daughter would deliberately send a palace maid to lie with the emperor?

She pressed her hand to her forehead and sighed. The news had unsettled her, but if Ning Yunshu were truly behind this, it would bring her no benefit whatsoever. Even the most cunning favored consorts rarely managed such schemes, let alone through a mute maid.

"You’ve been misunderstood," Consort Xian said, reaching out to tenderly stroke Ning Yunshu’s cheek, then glanced at Lady Gui. "You may rise now."

Lady Gui bowed repeatedly in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Ning Yunshu gently rubbed the palm of Consort Xian’s hand and asked, "Mother, what do you intend to do with Lady Yan?"

A flicker of disdain crossed Consort Xian’s eyes. "She’s just a mute girl. The emperor is merely amused by novelty. The harem won’t miss another beauty."

Ning Yunshu smiled and nodded. "Mother is beautiful and kind. Father cares most about you in the palace; no one else may catch his eye, let alone his heart."

Consort Xian smiled faintly but her face soon clouded with melancholy. "Is that so?"

Outside the door, a palace maid announced, "Your Highness, Princess Mingzhu has arrived."

A momentary flash of resentment passed through Consort Xian’s eyes before she masked it with a gentle smile. "Bring the princess in at once."

Ning Yunshu keenly caught the change in her mother’s expression. By rights, the person who should detest Ning Moxue most was Consort Xian.

Consort Xian knew all too well that the only woman in the emperor’s heart was Ning Moxue’s mother.

Because of this, Consort Xian strove to treat Ning Moxue kindly, hoping to win the emperor’s favor.

In pursuit of that faint affection, Consort Xian even deceived herself.

Ning Yunshu found her pitiable and laughable. Rising slowly, she said, "Mother, since Moxue is here to keep you company, I shall take my leave."

"Won’t Tongtong stay for dinner?"

Ning Yunshu smiled faintly. "Mother, I’ve summoned Minister Zhang for a lesson today. It’s best I return early."

Consort Xian was surprised. "Which Minister Zhang?"

"Minister Zhang Zhixi."

Consort Xian was momentarily stunned, about to ask how Ning Yunshu had managed to summon such a high-ranking official, when Ning Moxue entered gracefully.

"Greetings, Mother. I wish you a good morning," Ning Moxue bowed, then, surprised to see Ning Yunshu, also bowed to her. "Sister, good day."

Ning Yunshu smiled coldly and bowed to Consort Xian before striding away.

"Mother," Ning Moxue approached, her face filled with concern as she watched Ning Yunshu’s retreating figure.

"Is something wrong, Xue’er?" Consort Xian asked attentively.

Ning Moxue’s eyes darkened. "I don’t know why, but since Sister’s return, she seems like a different person. Her every word and action makes me uneasy."

Consort Xian hesitated. Though she too sensed something amiss, Ning Yunshu was her own daughter—spoiled and headstrong, perhaps, but simple in mind and heart. Even if she had schemes, they could hardly cause much trouble.

"Rest assured, Tongtong will always be Tongtong. She won’t become someone else," Consort Xian said, watching Ning Yunshu’s departing figure with thoughtful eyes.

On the way back to the palace, the sunlight was gentle and steady. Ning Yunshu walked calmly, Lady Gui following closely, with the other maids keeping their distance.

"Princess, should I warn Lady Yan once more?" Lady Gui asked.

Ning Yunshu shook her head lightly. "No need. She knows what she must do."

Ruyan had a beautiful face but was still a mere maid.

That day, Ning Yunshu had been drawn to her appearance, knowing the emperor loved to pity and cherish the fragile. Moreover, being mute made her a novelty to the emperor, who was used to countless beauties.

Thus, Ning Yunshu secretly had Lady Etiquette train her rigorously for days.

How to captivate with a glance, how to entice with a casual touch.

Ruyan was clever—knowing it was better to seize this chance than to serve Consort Xian blindly.

Ning Yunshu sneered inwardly. Consort Xian would never believe she would send a palace maid to the emperor’s bed, especially one she herself had placed as a spy in Yongning Palace.

At the hour of Chen, Ning Yunshu sat beneath a ginkgo tree. Before her on the long table lay an exquisite guqin. She idly plucked at it, though the music was harsh and discordant. Lady Gui and others behind her covered their ears.

Who knew how someone could make such an instrument sing with haunting beauty?

As Ning Yunshu pondered, Zhang Zhixi arrived from the courtyard, carrying a simple wooden qin. His deep blue robe fluttered with his steps.

"I pay respects to the Princess," he bowed under the tree.

A smile crept onto Ning Yunshu’s lips as she teased, "Minister Zhang, so you did come after all."

Zhang Zhixi lowered his gaze, a mixture of helplessness and resignation on his face. He knew if he didn’t come today, she would surely petition the emperor, so it was better to save the trouble.

"Come here," Ning Yunshu beckoned with a finger.

Zhang Zhixi stepped closer, about to unpack the wooden qin, but was stopped.

"Sit beside me," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for refusal.

He looked up at her. Light filtered through the leaves, casting patterns on her face. Her phoenix-like eyes curved slyly, and the smile on her lips was mischievous indeed.