Elsewhere, the newly selected consorts entered the pace through Shenwu Gate, led by eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department toward their assigned residences.

  By regution, each consort should have been accompanied by only two pace guides. Yet one young woman, dressed in a rich Shu brocade gown, was surrounded by no fewer than five or six attendants, including a high-ranking eunuch, dressed in the robes of a steward, who was smiling obsequiously and showering her with fttery.

  One of the Changzai nearby noticed and asked curiously, “Who’s that? Why all the fanfare?”

  The woman beside her, Zhou Meiren, a helpful sort, smiled and replied, “That’s Jiang Fei’s younger sister. I heard she’s been granted the title of Guiren.”

  Among the ranks avaible to newly selected consorts—Guiren, Meiren, Changzai, and Daying—Guiren was the highest they could receive upon entry.

  This year, there were only two Guiren. The other was the Empress Dowager’s niece.

  Normally, if the Empress Dowager’s niece wanted to enter the pace, she could have been formally married in, granted the status of a primary consort. But for some reason, she ended up participating in the general selection like everyone else.

  Just then, Zhou Meiren’s sharp eyes spotted Wen Yao, the Empress Dowager’s niece, whom she had briefly spoken with during the selection.

  Wen Yao had only two attendants with her, and her attire was modest and elegant. She quietly followed her eunuch guide down another path.

  Zhou Meiren remarked without much thought, “To think—even the Empress Dowager’s niece isn’t getting half the treatment Jiang Fei’s sister is.”

  Walking ahead, Qiu Daying overheard and turned back with a sneer. She scoffed, “What’s the Empress Dowager worth? She’s not even His Majesty’s birth mother. Sister Jiang’s elder sister, Jiang Fei, is the most favored woman in the pace—that’s common knowledge. How could Wen Guiren possibly compare?”

  She said it loud and proud, without the slightest concern, drawing gnces from everyone nearby—each face a mask of shock.

  Is she mad? Speaking of the Empress Dowager like that in public?

  A eunuch guiding another group of consorts turned his head and gnced sharply at her but lowered his gaze again, pretending to carry on as usual.

  Seeing no one daring to speak up, Qiu Daying grew even more smug.

  Only she had foresight. She had cozied up to Jiang Guiren during the selection and had essentially tched onto Jiang Fei’s faction. With that backing, who in the pace would dare speak against her?

  Naturally, Jiang Wanqing also heard the comment. She frowned slightly, worried that this foolish girl might drag her down with her.

  Yet when she looked around at the pace maids and eunuchs nearby, everyone wore different expressions, but not a single one dared speak. All remained silent.

  Could it be… that her sister's influence in the pace had grown so great that not even the Empress Dowager could be held in regard anymore?

  She clutched her embroidered handkerchief tightly. After the initial shock faded, all she felt was bitter irony.

  So this was her dear older sister—living a life of unparalleled prestige in the pace, wielding untouchable power—yet the family had tried to marry her off to the son of a fallen marquis. If not for her tearful pleas and desperate resistance, she might never have even set foot in this magnificent pace.

  Wang Shun, the head eunuch of Zhaoyang Pace, had long since composed himself. As if he hadn’t heard Qiu Daying’s outburst, he kept smiling and said, “Your Ladyship need not mind them. Please come with this servant to Zhaoyang Pace. I imagine Her Highness is already eagerly awaiting you.”

  Those close enough to hear couldn’t help but cast envious gnces her way.

  To enter the pace already holding the title of Guiren, and to have a favored elder sister looking after her—could things be any more effortless?

  Jiang Wanqing quite enjoyed being the center of attention, though there was a subtle bitterness in her heart.

  Why was it that, despite being born of the same mother, her sister got to live in the main hall while she was relegated to a side wing—and was expected to feel grateful for it?

  She quickly concealed the fleeting chill in her gaze and replied gently, “Thank you, Eunuch Wang.”

  Just as she was about to follow Wang Shun to Zhaoyang Pace, she noticed a familiar-looking pace maid breaking through the crowd and heading her way in a hurry.

  As the girl came closer, Jiang Wanqing recognized her—it was Yuzhu, one of her sister’s personal maids.

  Jiang Wanqing assumed her sister had sent her to greet her, and her feelings were mixed. She was annoyed that her sister was being so fshy and stirring up trouble, but she also felt a bit smug.

  As Yuzhu approached, Jiang Wanqing opened her mouth to exchange pleasantries—but before she could say a word, Yuzhu merely gave a formal bow, then turned to Wang Shun with a troubled expression and said:

  “Eunuch Wang, Her Highness says Jiang Guiren must be assigned a new residence. She is not to go to Zhaoyang Pace.”

  Jiang Wanqing froze. “What?”

  Wang Shun almost thought he had misheard. “Is… is Miss Yuzhu joking?”

  Yuzhu had also thought the young eunuch had made a mistake when he first said it. She went to Kunning Pace herself to confirm with Her Highness, and only then believed it. With a sigh, she replied, “Eunuch, you must be the one joking. Where would I find the courage to make something like that up?”

  Wang Shun was completely dumbfounded. “But where are we supposed to pce Jiang Guiren on such short notice?”

  Yuzhu couldn’t be bothered with the logistics. Even back at the Jiang household, she had always felt that Second Miss was deeply scheming, prone to adding fuel to the fire and pushing her elder sister into the spotlight. Now that the second miss had rejected the carefully selected marriage arranged by Her Highness and insisted on entering the pace, her suspicions had only grown stronger.

  But as a maid, she could never overstep in matters between masters, especially with her naturally cautious temperament. She had tried to advise once, and when it failed, she never brought it up again. Now that Her Highness suddenly wanted to distance herself from the second miss, she didn’t know why, but she was sure of one thing—it was a good thing.

  Yuzhu grabbed Wang Shun by the wrist and urged, “That’s the Household Department’s concern. Eunuch Wang just needs to follow Her Highness’s instructions. Let’s go back to Zhaoyang Pace first.”

  Wang Shun looked at the stunned Jiang Guiren behind them. It didn’t feel right to just abandon Her Highness’s own sister like this, but Her Highness’s word was w. He gave Jiang Guiren a sheepish smile and mumbled, “This servant takes his leave,” before hurrying off after Yuzhu.

  Jiang Wanqing was left standing there, stiff and dazed, unable even to call out after them.

  Everyone who had been watching the scene unfold was equally confused. The same curious Changzai from earlier couldn’t help but ask again, “What does this mean? Is Her Highness Jiang Fei abandoning her own sister?”

  Jiang Wanqing reacted as if she had been spped. She spun around and pointed at the girl, scolding furiously, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

  Lin Changzai was so startled she trembled and stammered, “I—I just said it without thinking…”

  Jiang Wanqing quickly realized she had lost control. But if she now tried to switch to a gentle demeanor, it would come off as too contrived.

  So she kept her tone cold and reprimanded, “Say what you will about me, but I won’t allow you to speak ill of my sister behind her back. If you don’t want to offend Her Highness, I suggest you be more cautious in the future.”

  It sounded like she was protecting Lin Changzai, but it painted Jiang Fei as a petty, vindictive tyrant.

  Lin Changzai hurriedly bowed in response and immediately asked the pace guide to take her away.

  Too scary!

  With the girl dismissed, Jiang Wanqing began to feel lost. Where was she supposed to go now?

  ___

  “In any case, I absolutely won’t let her live in Yanxi Pace!”

  Back in Kunning Pace, Jin Pin, noticing everyone’s eyes suddenly on her, jumped in shock and blurted out her refusal.

  Empress Shen withdrew her gaze and turned back to Jiang Shuyi with displeasure. “Jiang Fei, you’ve gone too far. You were the one who begged His Majesty to let Jiang Guiren live in Zhaoyang Pace. If you want to change her residence now, then go back and petition His Majesty again.”

  Jiang Shuyi picked up her tea cup but didn’t drink. She just let the morning light shine through the jade, watching how it refracted into sparkling colors. Calmly, she said, “This concubine has never been known for her reason. Didn’t Your Majesty just say earlier that Guifei should be more understanding and not lower herself to argue with me? So why is Your Majesty being so particur now?”

  The mirrored reply made Empress Shen’s expression turn even colder.

  “Why not let Jiang Guiren stay with me, then?”

  It was Xue Shufei, who had remained silent until now, who finally spoke in a gentle voice.

  Everyone turned toward her. She wore a faint smile, looking for all the world like she was kindly helping the Empress out of a tight spot.

  Empress Shen’s expression softened slightly, but she still looked concerned. “But you still have Yi'er to care for. If Jiang Guiren moves in, I fear it’ll be too much for you both.”

  That was practically saying outright that Jiang Guiren would lean on Jiang Shuyi’s favor to throw her weight around and bully Xue Shufei and the First Prince.

  Xue Shufei smiled warmly. “If someone must be inconvenienced, better it be me than the other sisters. I’m willing.”

  The Empress was deeply moved and immediately began praising Xue Shufei, even offering rewards of jewelry and fine silks.

  The rest of the consorts finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  What a saint! If I don’t go to hell, who will? This Xue Shufei truly had the heart of a bodhisattva. Someone like Jiang Fei could never comprehend such virtue.