Yan Qingshu kicked off her shoes and sat on the warm kang covered with brocade. The incense burner on the table emitted a faint fruity fragrance, refreshing her senses.
She picked up a book and reclined against the window frame. The dappled sunlight shone on the book and her profile, highlighting the fine down on her face.
Shihua had just returned from the Bureau of Apparel. Her face was alight with excitement.
"Your Ladyship! Your Ladyship!" Shihua trotted in, a wide smile on her face.
"What's going on?" Zhuyao, who was sitting at Yan Qingshu's feet, busy making a sachet, looked up. Seeing Shihua's beaming face and sweaty brow, she passed her a newly embroidered handkerchief.
Shihua took it and wiped the sweat off her face. Her round eyes crinkled into slits. "Your Ladyship! Just now when I was on my way to the Bureau of Apparel, I passed by the imperial garden. Lady Lin, the courtier's daughter, was kneeling there."
"Apparently, the queen sent someone to recall her to the palace. But just then, Chief Eunuch Li, who serves His Majesty, came and announced His Majesty's order that Lady Lin should kneel in the imperial garden at the same time for two hours every day for seven consecutive days!"
"I felt so satisfied! Lady Lin deserves it!"
"I just don't know who she offended to be punished like this." Shihua placed the clothes she had fetched on the table and then sat down beside Zhuyao.
"You witnessed all that excitement. Didn't you find out who ordered her to kneel?" Yan Qingshu arched her delicate eyebrows and couldn't help but smile.
The two maids turned to look at her. Seeing their mistress's proud look, they asked expectantly.
"Your Ladyship, was it you who punished her?"
Yan Qingshu nodded.
"At first, I just wanted to give her a piece of my mind. But Zhuyao knows how much I've suffered at her hands. So I decided to let her taste a bit of her own medicine."
"It's a pity it's not winter now."
Yan Qingshu lowered her eyes, her tone tinged with regret.
"She deserves it. His Majesty's order is really satisfying!" Zhuyao frowned at the memory.
In the past, when their mistress was bullied, they either couldn't protect her or were forced to watch.
They were so helpless.
A faint smile played on Yan Qingshu's lips. Originally, she didn't plan to mention these things. But then she thought, why play the victim? Now that she had someone to rely on, she was no longer afraid. She would avenge every humiliation she had suffered.
Yan Qingshu continued to read her book, ignoring the chattering of the two maids beside her.
After a while, she looked up and asked, "Have you found out anything about what happened yesterday?"
Yan Qingshu was referring to the incident when she got into the carriage yesterday and found the footstool coated with tung oil.
Hearing this, the two maids' expressions grew solemn.
"Your Ladyship, we haven't found out yet. But we're sure it was someone from our palace..." Zhuyao lowered her voice.
They just didn't know who it was for the time being.
"Keep your ears open these days. I'm sure there will be some rumors in the palace. Find out where they started."
If her guess was right, those people wouldn't let go of the fact that her belly was bigger than that of an ordinary pregnant woman. They would surely make a big fuss about it.
The two maids exchanged a look, a bit puzzled.
"Rumors? What rumors..." Shihua looked worried.
Yan Qingshu smiled and rolled the book into a tube, pointing at her belly.
The two maids immediately understood. They nodded seriously.
"Don't worry, Your Ladyship. We'll keep a close eye on things. We'll also watch those servants and maids outside."
Yan Qingshu nodded. Her bright eyes looked out of the window at the maids sweeping the yard.
It wouldn't be long before her pregnancy reached the fifth month.
She had enough time to turn Guanghan Palace into an impregnable fortress.
Yan Qingshu smiled. Her eyes fell on the palace gate, a bit dazed.
The incident in the imperial garden had spread throughout the harem.
Many concubines sighed at Yan Qingshu's actions.
It was just a matter of not paying respects. Why make her kneel for two hours?
When Yan Qingshu heard about this, she didn't react much. She just stayed in her palace, reading and practicing calligraphy.
Why? These people would only stand by and make sarcastic remarks if the nail didn't pierce into their own bodies.
—
These days, since they had just returned from the imperial villa, the queen hadn't summoned anyone for morning greetings.
The palace had been tidied up, and the spring scenery was in full bloom again.
Today, after the queen had finished all her affairs, she resumed the morning greeting ceremony.
Yan Qingshu woke up in Di Yunjian's warm embrace. She tried to push away this "big stove", but it was in vain.
She stopped struggling and just let him hold her.
Di Yunjian held her for a while longer and then got up with her in his arms.
He gently placed Yan Qingshu on the round stool in front of the dressing table and let someone do her hair. He quickly dressed himself in his court clothes.
"Be careful on your way to pay your respects. I'll send Eunuch Xiaoshunzi with you." Di Yunjian leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
Yan Qingshu was having her hair done. She nodded and said, "Your Majesty, remember to have your breakfast."
These days, he had been very busy. But after work, he often came to Guanghan Palace secretly at night to accompany her.
Di Yunjian nodded, gave her a few instructions, and then rushed to the morning court.
Zhuyao and the others helped Yan Qingshu do her hair and change her clothes. Then they were ready to go for the morning greetings.
On the way, Zhuyao, Shihua, and Xianshu surrounded her on all sides, afraid that she might accidentally fall.
Yan Qingshu walked steadily, taking each step carefully.
When they turned a corner, they met Tang Yinmian, who was waiting for her.
"Shuer," Tang Yinmian stepped forward and was about to hold her arm as usual.
Xianshu was about to stop her, but Yan Qingshu gave her a signal, and she stepped back.
"Shuer, I've been meaning to ask you about Lady Lin these days. She's already a courtier's daughter, but she still shows you no respect."
Tang Yinmian quickly told her what had happened these days. Because of the incident involving the virtuous concubine a few days ago, she had been holding back from visiting her in Guanghan Palace.
Now that the morning greeting ceremony had resumed, she had a lot of questions to ask.
"I happened to meet her in the imperial garden the other day. Chief Eunuch Li was there too. She said some disrespectful things and didn't pay her respects, so I punished her." Yan Qingshu said with a smile, fanning herself with a gilded fan.
"She really doesn't know her place..." Tang Yinmian pouted.
"Forget about her. Let's go and pay our respects." Yan Qingshu changed the subject.
The two of them walked towards the queen's Fengyi Palace together.
On the way, they met many concubines. Without exception, they all kept a distance from Yan Qingshu.
Yan Qingshu was happy to be left alone. But Tang Yinmian frowned in dissatisfaction when she saw the concubines avoiding Yan Qingshu.
"Why do these people always avoid you? You're not like the virtuous concubine, who likes to pick fights for no reason."
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu quickly covered her mouth with her fan. "Shh, watch your mouth."
Tang Yinmian knew she was in the wrong and obediently closed her mouth.