The next morning, Jun Yi went to the palace to check on De Fei's illness. The atmosphere in Yian Xi Palace was livelier and more vibrant after the emperor's visit. Moreover, the servants and maids in the residence were buzzing with excitement and gossip. Jun Yi had someone inquire to know more about this new maid, realizing that the Fourth Prince was interested in this woman.

    "Careful, sister Ning'er. Bend your waist a bit more. You look like you're going to kill someone."

    "If I really wanted to kill someone, it would be easier to take off these shoes and run to do it."

    Nara was practicing walking in peculiarly thick-soled shoes known as 'lotus basin shoes' on the garden terrace. Tao Zi, Si Zi, and Du Ming were there, encouraging her enthusiastically, holding her hand and supporting her walk like a toddler. Jun Yi, watching from a distance, found her walk comical. Arms and legs wide, her face contorted with strain. Each step had to be stamped down firmly, one by one, lacking any grace or elegance rumored about her.

    Was Wang Ye really interested in her?

    "I don't understand why I have to wear these kinds of shoes," Nara complained as she practiced walking, holding a tea tray at level eyebrows level, making sure not a drop spilled from the teacups. The training was not difficult, but for a high-heel expert like her, adjusting to the lotus basin shoes made her waist give a noisy protest.

    "Sister Ning'er, your tea just splashed on me."

    "Yeah, sister Ning'er, by the time you serve tea to Niangniang, we might need to boil ten pots of water waiting for you."

    When Tao Zi teased her too much, Nara kicked off her shoes and started chasing Tao Zi to wrestle, laughing uproariously because she ended up chasing everyone. Her Chiangyi outfit[1] was spotted with stains.

    "She really lacks manners, so loud and unreserved," Jun Yi was shocked when her confidant told her that this concubine had shown her bare feet in front of His Majesty and the princes and was dressed more revealingly than even the lowest courtesans. Now, Nara's reputation was such that she was known as the fiery woman whom every prince desired.

    "I can't believe the consort would keep such a disgraceful woman by her side. What is she thinking?"

    Jun Yi felt uneasy. Ever since she became the princess consort, she had only the consort as her refuge. Whenever she felt anxious about her husband, she would come to the palace to confide in De Fei. But this time, her visit to the palace brought more stress than relief. De Fei could see her daughter-in-law's anxiety but knew Jun Yi to be calm and rational, so she reassured her by taking her hand before explaining,

    "She is just a frivolous concubine, intelligent but still unable to control her behavior, and with people exaggerating about her. Remember this, you are Fourth Prince 's princess consort; you need to be strong. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, Your Highness."

    "I've asked her myself, and she has no intention of marrying anyone; nor do I intend to force her."

    Jun Yi did not believe it for a second. She did not want to marry now, but what if she changed her mind later? "Is that what she claims, Your Highness?"

    "Of course, it is. You've tried to please the prince by bringing beautiful women into his palace, but I think you're misguided. You are the real jade, shining brightly without needing others around you. You are the primary princess consort. Another thing I expect from you is to bear the heirs for Yinzhen. A chubby little baby that you will give birth to will undoubtedly be adorable. I look forward to holding my grandson, Jun Yi."

    Jun Yi wanted to say that a child from a secondary consort might also be plump and adorable, perhaps even more favored, but she dared not reveal her jealousy.

    "Yes, Your Highness, I will try..."

    It had been many nights since Jun Yi had been close to her husband, and she feared... feared that a secondary consort or another concubine might conceive before her and bear a child first. And if that child became a favorite of Fourth Prince, or if she cannot conceive...

    If only...

    If only... Jun Yi's thoughts spun uncontrollably. If the prince favored another woman enough to elevate her, the position of primary consort could slip from her grasp at any moment. The anxiety of a daughter-in-law was often the fault of the mother-in-law. De Fei, seeing through the hardships of life more than most made eye contact with Jun Yi and instructed Chen Gugu to bring something—a bottle of clear red rose wine.

    "This wine will help unite the hearts and bodies of a man and a woman. Tonight, with the full moon, prepare his favorite meal and share this drink with the prince."

    "Thank you, Your Highness."

    De Fei handed her a fan decorated with a pair of rabbits. "Consider the meaning of this fan well. You are in the position of primary consort. What you must do is protect the prince's lineage."

    "Yes, Your Highness." Rabbits are prolific breeders. Jun Yi stared at De Fei's fan with a solemn face, her thoughts circling tirelessly. If De Fei's hopes were realized, the gnawing anxiety inside her might be eased.

    All she needed was to bear an heir, to carry the bloodline of Wang Ye in her womb. Then she could remain the primary princess consort forever…

    After visiting De Fei and completing her visit, Jun Yi's face brightened. On her way out of the palace, she coincidentally ran into Liang Fei. Jun Yi bowed respectfully and paused for a brief chat, as was customary.

    "You must be visiting the palace quite often now. De Fei seems brighter every time you visit." Liang Fei greeted her warmly with a smile, knowing that Jun Yi could have almost been her daughter-in-law. But as everyone knew, Liang Fei's Han heritage made the Dowager Empress reluctant to marry Jun Yi off to the Eighth Prince. Although they were not bound as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Jun Yi still showed great respect to her.

    "I am an unfilial daughter-in-law; I cannot alleviate the consort's illness at all."

    "Don't be so modest. You are a model woman, the number one royal daughter-in-law whom His Majesty admires. You strictly follow the decorum of noble women and embody the four virtues. You are De Fei's pride. Even the jasmine-scented face powder you use was specifically ordered by the Dowager Empress from Yangzhou as a gift just for you. Ask around in other courts; no other consort receives such favoritism from the Empress Dowager."

    Liang Fei, known for her eloquence, always knew how to charm. Jun Yi felt her heart swell with joy, not suspecting a thing.

    "I heard that De Fei has taken a new maid to serve her closely. It feels strange, but I dare not speak out. I truly worry about De Fei. You are also close to her, so please keep an eye on this new maid for me."

    "Indeed, I am surprised too. Suddenly, this woman appeared, dressed oddly and lacking the proper manners. How could someone like this pass the selection to enter the palace? Even the Fourth Prince is dubious about her. Yet the consort is very fond of her. There's nothing I can do."

    "Even the Fourth Prince has doubts about her?"

    "Yes."

    "I feel the same. This maid is exceptionally beautiful. Even I feel affectionate without having seen her face. The whole palace talks about her beauty as if she were Xi Shi. Whether she smiles or frowns, she captivates. Her skin is flawless, her figure perfect—she is naturally beautiful. It's not surprising that the emperor and the princes are taken by her. But a beauty so terrifying, I fear she might be a reincarnation of Xia Ji."

    Hearing Liang Fei compare Nara to Xia Ji shocked Jun Yi enough to drop her fan. Xia Ji was the most infamous seductress of the Chunqiu era, an empress three times and a Furen seven, who had countless affairs. If Nara dared to bare her feet in front of men without shame, following in Xia Ji's footsteps would not be surprising. Jun Yi turned pale, nearly fainting with worry and unsure how to protect the Fourth Prince from Nara's influence.

    "There was once a concubine who seduced the emperor to become a Guiren. Luckily, with heaven's favor, De Fei and I managed to banish her to the cold palace successfully."

    "How did you manage that?"

    "We kept watch until we caught her practicing witchcraft, using love potions and cursing the empress. The emperor was so furious that he ordered her to be locked in the cold palace before sending her a white silk to hang herself as atonement. Sigh... recalling this is truly frightening."

    Jun Yi absorbed Liang Fei's words bit by bit.

    "Come now, she's just one of many low-ranking maids. Don't pay her any mind. This palace sees hundreds of new maids every year; if one disappears, she's soon forgotten just like that Guiren. So, it's not unusual for strange new faces to appear. These are inauspicious matters, and I was wrong to bring them up and make you uncomfortable."

    Liang Fei invited Jun Yi to sit and chat at the pavilion by the water, where the atmosphere was pleasantly cool with a refreshing breeze. Jun Yi caught the fragrance of incense from Liang Fei, which piqued her interest.

    "This scent is called 'Longqian', a secret blend of ancient perfumes. I've studied old texts to create it."

    "It's wonderfully cool fragrance."

    Hearing this, Liang Fei modestly moved away, "Oh, you shouldn't, you are still a maiden and shouldn't inhale too much of Longqian. It’s not that I’m stingy with the recipe, but it’s hazardous to your health."

    "Why is that?"

    "The ingredients include musk and oleander powder. If used long-term, it can cause infertility. I'm old now and not concerned about heirs, so I can use it freely. Though there's only a small amount of musk, I wouldn't want you to take any risks, Jun Yi."

    "Musk can cause infertility?"

    "Yes, and oleander powder is very dangerous. Pregnant women must not come into contact with it at all, which is why we don't grow oleander in the inner palace."

    "That sounds terrifying," Jun Yi murmured, her expression shifting subtly. She chatted a bit more with Liang Fei before hurriedly excusing herself to leave. Liang Fei did not rush back to her palace but continued to enjoy her tea and the swaying pine trees in solitude. Dongguo was fanning with a carved jade fan, a smile playing on her lips.

    "She's so easily deceived."

    "Hmm... A foolish woman like her is fit for the inner palace. It’s good that my son Yunsi didn’t end up with such a fool for a wife."

    "You are right."

    "That new beautiful maid will be the key to help me eliminate De Fei and extinguish the influence of the Fourth Prince."

    Even though the pine tree lacked the fragrance of the peony and the vibrant colors of the marigold, it stood tall and steadfast, swaying with the wind without breaking or wilting. Liang Fei resolved to maintain her presence like a pine tree and rise to the pinnacle of power. Whatever the Fourth Prince doubted, Liang Fei doubted as well. But when she sought counsel from the Eighth Prince, he showed no interest in pursuing the matter, Liang Fei decided to take action herself.

    "A beauty like Xi Shi was able to bring down the state of Wu; that beautiful maid could likewise destroy the prince."

    "But Prince Eight also has an interest in that new maid."

    "I don't want a daughter-in-law who is too clever. She has no strong family backing to support my son's work. Such a useless person does not deserve to stand by my son's side."

    Liang Fei gazed at the simulated lake's gentle waves and the ornately decorated orchids on the faux mountain. Soon after the delightful rainy season, the harsh winter winds would bring their chill to the Forbidden City, but for Liang Fei, this place was always painfully cold. Even simple tasks like breathing felt laborious. Nearly exhausted from struggling to stay by Yi Guifei's side, but for her son, she would persevere.

    Liang Fei threw a sachet of Longqian fragrance into the water and whispered to Dongguo to make arrangements concerning the 'musk' for Jun Yi.

    "Don't forget to emphasize the dark magic to her. She will become the instrument to destroy the Fourth Prince for us."

    "Yes, Niangniang."

    A single word could destroy a life. Liang Fei wanted to clear the path for her son to ascend to the dragon throne. Thus, the residence of Yong Qinwang became a crucial target, and the primary goal Liang Fei aimed to obliterate is Yian Xi Palace!

[18] The long coat features slits on both the left and right sides, extending up to the chest area. The ends of these slits must be adorned with cloud patterns and must have contrasting color piping on all edges, including the neckline, sleeve ends, collar, slit openings, and the hem of the skirt.