Chapter 10: Entering the Palace

"Our young lady is truly a beauty. With such glossy, jet-black hair and a full, rounded forehead, it is clear at a glance that she is destined for great fortune!"

Today was Wen Qiao's first day attending classes at the palace. Huaping and Daiqiao had risen early to prepare, waiting until the appointed hour to wake her.

Wen Qiao stifled a yawn, allowing the two maids to comb her hair behind her. She listened to Huaping’s chatter with a faint, noncommittal smile. These two palace maids had been sent from the Empress Dowager’s residence. While the Empress Dowager’s stated intention was for them to serve and protect her—acting as a conduit should she face danger or hardship—Wen Qiao knew better. Could such "protection" not also be considered surveillance? Until she had completely turned these two into her own people, she could never truly offer them her trust.

"Isn't that the truth? Oh, my lady, let me wipe that off for you." Huaping picked up a silk handkerchief.

Wen Qiao was still drowsy. In her past life, she had been mocked endlessly for her lack of etiquette. Wen Qi had found a new way to torment her, specifically requesting "Jingqi" nannies—experts in palace protocol—from the inner palace to break her spirit. At that time, Wen Qiao had been in the Empress Dowager's favor, so bringing in two nannies to "refine" her had been no trouble at all.

Wen Qiao had been confined to her courtyard for three full months. Every day, she was woken from her sleep, forced to stand and repeat the same stiff movements until late into the night. For her, etiquette was not merely a nightmare; it was a habit carved into her very bones.

To keep from yawning, Wen Qiao reached up to steady her head, but her long fingernails accidentally grazed her lip rouge, leaving a smudge on her forehead.

"I just spoke of your auspicious forehead, my lady, and look—even the Heavens seem to agree!" Daiqiao covered her mouth to hide a giggle.

"Returning to the Marquis’s residence and gaining the favor of the Imperial Grandmother—that is the greatest fortune I could ask for. If this forehead is truly the source, I shall have to groom it carefully tomorrow, so it may bring me even more luck!" Wen Qiao said casually. She paid no more mind to the maids' ministrations until, finally satisfied, she looked into the mirror.

Truth be told, Wen Qiao was striking. Her beauty was not soft; it leaned more towards the bold elegance of Princess Changle. With thick brows, bright eyes, and a sharp, heroic air, her delicate, high-bridged nose and cherry-red lips made her skin appear luminous.

In her past life, she had never had the leisure to look at herself properly. All her energy had been consumed by the Marquis’s household and Xiao Minghe. Comparing her reflection now to her state before her death, the difference was like heaven and earth. Back then, Xiao Minghe had kept her under house arrest, intentionally placing a mirror in her room to break her spirit, forcing her to watch herself as he humiliated her. The Wen Qiao of that time had been sallow, dull-eyed, and chapped-lipped—there had been no beauty left in her.

"Let’s go. It’s the first day of school; we shouldn't let the nobles think we lack manners."

Logically, these two maids should have been unhappy about being sent from the palace to serve her. While the palace was dangerous, it offered more opportunities for advancement and illicit gains. With her, they would receive only their fixed monthly wages. Yet, they seemed to have adjusted well and were always cheerful. Perhaps, in a place as cutthroat as the palace, they had no grand ambitions other than to survive until they were twenty-five and could leave. Being with her was effectively the same as being out of the palace; if they missed their families, they could visit them more easily than if they remained trapped behind palace walls. Seen in that light, it was no wonder they were content.

***

The Marquis of Yongning’s residence was located in a remote area. If it weren't for Wen Qiao waking up early, she would have had no time to sleep in at all! She thought to herself, feeling a bit disgruntled.

The journey was not dull. Wen Qiao nibbled on some snacks and dozed for a while until the carriage stopped and Huaping roused her. The last time she had come, she had been entirely focused on the Empress Dowager and had not looked closely at the palace. Now, returning to the place that had tormented her for an entire life, the hatred in her heart was only growing.

Fortunately, the princes and princesses were perceptive enough to know that since Wen Qiao was favored by the Empress Dowager—their own imperial grandmother—they dared not openly cross her. As for what happened behind her back, the time for that had not yet come.

The Crown Prince was tutored by the Emperor himself, and other princes had their own grand tutors, so they did not attend the Imperial Study with the younger royals. As for Xiao Jingheng, he had been ignored his entire life; naturally, no one would bother sending him to study. Since the Emperor despised that son, the sycophants in the palace were all too happy to step on him, let alone help him.

Although no one went out of their way to make things difficult for Wen Qiao, the other royals were unwilling to associate with a girl who had just returned from the countryside—even if she was the daughter of the Grand Princess.

However, there was one exception among the arrogant crowd. A young girl skipped over to her.

"You must be the Sixth Young Lady the Marquis’s family just brought back, right? I am the Sixth Princess. What a coincidence, we are both the sixth in our birth order!" Xiao Yunshu smiled brightly, clearly a girl who had been sheltered from the world's harshness.

"Replying to the Princess, I have indeed just returned from the countryside." Wen Qiao pointedly mentioned it herself to avoid Xiao Yunshu bringing it up later. Though she didn't care, she didn't want the Empress Dowager to hear it and feel troubled.

Wen Qiao remembered Xiao Yunshu. In her past life, they had never crossed paths, but she knew that when Wen Qi had started her studies, Xiao Yunshu had bullied her—likely because she had seen through Wen Qi’s "green tea" act.

However, after Xiao Minghe ascended the throne, the fates of Xiao Yunshu and her mother, Consort Cheng, had been tragic. Xiao Minghe, the eldest legitimate son, had always been the Crown Prince. But Consort Cheng had also given birth to a pair of twins, the Fifth Prince, Xiao Zuo. The Emperor had held high hopes for Xiao Zuo, even insisting on naming him "Zuo" (meaning the state's prosperity), despite all opposition. Because their birth had been marked by auspicious omens, Xiao Yunshu had been doted upon by both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager since childhood.

The Empress had long sought to kill the Fifth Prince, and Consort Cheng had fought back to protect her children. As the years passed, Consort Cheng had even begun to overshadow the Empress, fueling a deep, burning resentment. Naturally, when Xiao Minghe ascended the throne, he did not spare Xiao Zuo, and the new Empress Dowager—the former Empress—showed no mercy to Consort Cheng. Though Wen Qiao did not know exactly how they had died, she knew they had suffered greatly.

Looking at the vibrant, living Xiao Yunshu now, Wen Qiao couldn't help but smile. If she wanted to topple Xiao Minghe, she would eventually need an ally among the princes. Otherwise, if the Emperor simply chose another monster to be Crown Prince, all her efforts would be in vain.

"The countryside is lovely! My father once took me on a secret inspection tour there. The air was fresh, and the environment was so peaceful. I felt so much clearer-headed after staying there for a while. If you grew up there, you must have lived very comfortably! You’ve made me quite envious." Xiao Yunshu’s eyes sparkled as she begged Wen Qiao to tell her more stories of the countryside.

Wen Qiao felt a surge of genuine warmth toward the girl.

"Princess, Princess! Consort Cheng is asking for you to join her for a meal!"

It was noon, and the classes had ended. Most of the royals returned to their mothers' residences to eat. Those with lower-ranking mothers had to rely on eunuchs to bring them food from the Imperial Kitchens.

"Alright, I'll go shortly. Sister Qiaoqiao, why don't you come with me? My mother is very kind; she will surely like you!" Xiao Yunshu was incredibly enthusiastic.

Wen Qiao hesitated. She was an outsider, and this was mother-daughter time. Even if Consort Cheng was kind, she was still a woman who had survived the treacherous inner palace for years.

"Oh, Sixth Young Lady, I’ve finally found you! The Empress Dowager has been thinking of you all morning, waiting for you to finish your first day of school. I’m old and my legs are slow, so it took me a while to find you. The Empress Dowager wants you to dine at the Cining Palace!"

Nanny Song hurried over, breathless, only then noticing Xiao Yunshu. "Greetings to the Sixth Princess."

Xiao Yunshu helped her up immediately. "Nanny, please, rise. Since the Imperial Grandmother is calling Sister Qiaoqiao, I won't steal her away today. Sister Qiaoqiao, my mother is expecting me, but next time, we shall go together! I’ve been craving the snacks at the Imperial Grandmother’s palace for so long!"

Because Xiao Yunshu was so favored, the Empress Dowager would always have her kitchen prepare "Peach Blossom Crisps" for her.

"That would be wonderful, Princess. I shall be sure to tell the kitchen to prepare extra," Nanny Song replied.

"Then it’s settled! I won't keep you any longer. See you this afternoon, Sister Qiaoqiao!" Xiao Yunshu skipped away, nimble and adorable.

As they walked back to the Cining Palace, Nanny Song sighed. "The Sixth Princess is a good, innocent child. You should spend more time with her, Young Lady. But be wary of Consort Cheng; she is narrow-minded and possesses many ruthless methods. Do not provoke her."

It was clear that Nanny Song loved Xiao Yunshu but feared the influence of her mother. Wen Qiao nodded, her expression unreadable as they made their way back to the heart of the palace.