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  After coaxing Jiang Shuyi back to sleep, Pei Yan finally left the bedchamber.

  Though it had been less than half an hour, Cheng Shouzhong had already gathered every detail of what Jiang Fei had done that day and reported them all to His Majesty, down to every word exchanged between her and the other consorts at Kunning Pace.

  When Pei Yan heard that Jiang Shuyi had told the Empress she had read Buddhist scriptures and achieved inner peace—and now wished to live alone, with only His Majesty as her exception—he couldn’t help but let out a pleased ugh.

  Cheng Shouzhong, ever skilled at reading the emperor’s moods, quickly echoed his smile and praised, “Her Highness is truly clever and quick-witted. Just one line shut all the other consorts right up!”

  Pei Yan shook his head, still smiling.

  “I don’t know how she turned out so unruly.”

  Cheng Shouzhong silently thought, Isn’t it because Your Majesty indulges her so?

  Of course, he wouldn’t dare say that aloud. Instead, he followed up with more compliments before continuing his report.

  There wasn’t much of note—just that the other consorts had all refused to let Jiang Guiren stay in their paces. In the end, Shufei volunteered. Then during the newcomers’ greeting, the Empress made a veiled jab that angered Jiang Fei, who responded by walking out.

  Cheng Shouzhong knew the emperor didn’t care whether Jiang Fei offended the higher-ranking consorts. What he truly wanted to know was whether she’d been wronged. So he tailored his report to downpy Jiang Fei’s so-called “temper,” and instead highlighted the Empress and Guifei’s deliberate provocations.

  Still, Pei Yan seemed a bit dissatisfied after hearing it all.

  “She said she would come compin to me,” he muttered. “But she didn’t.”

  Then he gnced toward the bedchamber, his expression softening just slightly.

  “But… she cried while hugging me.”

  Cheng Shouzhong didn’t understand what one had to do with the other, but he also didn’t dare ask. So long as His Majesty was pleased, that was all that mattered.

  Pei Yan instructed the attendants in Chaoyang Pace to take good care of Jiang Fei and then prepared to return to Qianqing Pace to handle state affairs.

  But just then, Jinzhu suddenly threw herself in front of the doors, blocking his way and kneeling.“Your Majesty, won’t you go see the young prince? He’s still crying after being frightened by Her Highness!”

  Cheng Shouzhong had never seen anyone so clueless. Seeing His Majesty cast a cool gnce his way, he immediately understood. He stepped forward and spped Jinzhu hard across the face.

  “Insolence! How dare you block His Majesty’s path? Get out of the way!”

  Even though the sp wasn’t his hardest, it was enough to mess up Jinzhu’s hair and leave a red handprint blooming across her cheek.

  Shocked and in pain, Jinzhu realized immediately that His Majesty was no ordinary master. He was the Son of Heaven. If she said one more word, he could casually order her death.

  Trembling, she quickly crawled aside and stammered, “This servant knows her mistake… This servant knows her mistake…”

  Pei Yan didn’t spare her a single gnce. As he walked past, all she saw was the sweep of the golden dragon embroidered on his robe.

  She looked up at that tall, majestic figure, his bearing like a celestial being, and her eyes filled with longing and bitter regret.

  Jiang Shuyi didn’t wake up until dusk. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Jinzhu’s swollen, reddened cheek.

  Jinzhu’s eyes were also red with grievance.

  “It wasn’t His Majesty’s fault… It was this servant’s recklessness. I only meant to remind His Majesty to see the young prince, but I accidentally blocked the door. It was already lenient of His Majesty to have Steward Cheng sp me just once.”

  Jiang Shuyi couldn’t help but ugh.

  She’s always so obedient in front of everyone else.

  She brushed off the hand Jinzhu reached out to help her up and said coldly, “Kneel.”

  Jinzhu froze, dumbfounded.

  “What?”

  Jiang Shuyi didn’t bother repeating herself. Instead, she raised her voice and summoned the other pace attendants from outside.

  Of the two maids she brought into the pace, Jinzhu had the sharper tongue and wasn’t afraid to argue, so she stayed close to serve Jiang Shuyi personally. Yuzhu was more careful and gentle and usually handled Zhaoyang Pace’s internal affairs, rarely following her around.

  But after today’s commotion—when even the imperial physician had been summoned—Yuzhu had set aside her tasks and remained nearby, keeping watch outside.

  At that moment, Yuzhu entered with the other pace maids.

  Jiang Shuyi gave a cold command for the others to drag Jinzhu over and force her to kneel.

  Jinzhu panicked and cried out, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

  Jiang Shuyi extended a hand toward Yuzhu, signaling her to assist. With her help, she rose and walked over to stand in front of Jinzhu, coldly staring her down.

  “Everything you said to His Majesty outside the hall today—I heard it all.”

  Jinzhu blinked, looking confused.

  “So? I didn’t say anything wrong…”

  Jiang Shuyi no longer cared whether she was pretending to be foolish or truly was. Her face darkened with anger.

  “Nothing wrong? His Majesty asked if I’d been wronged, and what did you do? You went on and on about everything I supposedly did wrong, and even tried to push His Majesty to leave me behind to go see the prince. And that’s what you call nothing?”

  A flicker of guilt passed over Jinzhu’s face, but she quickly became defensive again.

  “Your Highness, this servant truly didn’t mean anything by it! I was just telling the truth. Besides, His Majesty adores you—he wouldn’t care what a servant like me says! And the little prince is your flesh and blood. Isn’t it best to have His Majesty dote on him while he’s young? I only meant it for your sake, for the long term!”

  Jiang Shuyi gave a cold ugh.

  How blind she had been in her past life, trusting this snake!

  Yuzhu finally spoke up.

  “Jinzhu, don’t forget—we were your Highness’s dowry maids before we ever stepped into this pace. Unless Her Highness commands it, none of us should ever prioritize another master above her.”

  Jinzhu immediately gred at her.

  Jiang Shuyi took a slow breath. In her past life, she wouldn’t have fully grasped Yuzhu’s meaning, but now she understood all too well.

  Jinzhu’s loyalty had always leaned more toward Jiang Wanqing, Pei Yu, and even Pei Yan, more than toward herself.

  And she couldn’t exactly bme her. In her st life, she had indeed pced her sister and son above her own interests, so she didn’t think much of Jinzhu’s actions. Even when she occasionally felt annoyed, Jiang Wanqing would always “reason” with her, coaxing her into thinking Jinzhu truly meant well.

  But what’s done is done.

  Jiang Shuyi turned away and instructed Yuzhu coldly, “From now on, you’ll serve me personally. Assign household affairs to Dicui and the others.”

  Yuzhu was momentarily stunned, but quickly knelt.

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “What about me?!”

  Jinzhu panicked, shooting an angry gre at Yuzhu. If she weren’t restrained, she would’ve lunged at her.

  “You little snake! Did you speak ill of me behind my back?!”

  Yuzhu’s expression hardened. She said nothing.

  “Insolence!” Jiang Shuyi snapped. She pointed at Jinzhu.

  “Take her out and have her kneel for two hours. Let her reflect on Yuzhu’s words. And if she still refuses to change after this, don’t bme me for forgetting our years of growing up together.”

  Jinzhu had never been punished like this before. She cried out in protest and still hurled insults at Yuzhu.

  The shouting gave Jiang Shuyi a headache. She ordered the maids to drag Jinzhu out immediately.

  Yuzhu gnced once at the struggling, red-faced Jinzhu being hauled away. After a brief moment of hesitation, she knelt before Jiang Shuyi.

  “Your Highness, this servant has something to say. You may think I’m speaking out of spite, but I say this out of concern.”

  Jiang Shuyi raised a brow, surprised.

  In her previous life, Yuzhu had always been the quiet and cautious one—never speaking more than necessary, never overstepping a single line.

  Curious, she said, “Go ahead. As long as you’re saying it for my sake, I won’t bme you.”

  Yuzhu lowered her eyes and spoke calmly.

  “Jinzhu is reckless and narrow-minded. After being punished like this, she’ll surely hold a grudge. To prevent her from harming Your Highness in the future, it would be better to dismiss her now while it’s still early.”

  Though Yuzhu didn’t understand why Her Highness had suddenly changed so much overnight—distancing herself from the Second Miss and even from Jinzhu—she knew one thing: she was her mistress’s servant for life.

  Now that hope had reappeared, she had to give her all to advise, to protect, and to ensure that Her Highness lived out this lifetime in peace and comfort.