Chapter 108:

There are those who can tell right from wrong, and then there are those who cannot. Watching Shen Layue instructing palace maids to bring over those “gifts,” the Empress Dowager sighed inwardly.

In truth, such incidents were not uncommon within the palace. Yet, when one really thought about it, no one had ever come to her seeking justice. Even in her youth, when she had faced schemes and betrayals, she had always resolved matters on her own. If she couldn’t resolve them, she simply swallowed her pain and endured.

Yet Shen Layue was clearly not one to follow the usual path. She had brought all these items directly to Huici Palace. Seeing them, the Empress Dowager was reminded of days long past.

“Who sent these?”

Layue was never one to feign modesty. She straightforwardly handed over the list of gift-givers from her sleeve.

“I beg Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to grant me justice. My temperament has always been rather fiery, and now that I’m pregnant, I’ve become even more unreasonable. When I first saw these items, I was so furious that I wanted to confront them directly. Later, my maids managed to hold me back, reminding me that doing so would not only disgrace the royal family’s dignity but also risk harm to the child. Upon hearing that, I finally thought more clearly. Matters within the palace should naturally be handled by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. How could it ever be appropriate for me to take matters into my own hands?”

Seeing Layue’s manner, the Empress Dowager nodded approvingly.

“You’re absolutely right to think this way. For now, you should simply focus on keeping the pregnancy safe and give birth to a healthy child. As for other matters, leave them to us. Why should you have to deal with any of it? The first three months are crucial—you must ensure the pregnancy remains stable.”

“Understood.”

As the two women spoke, Yan Yu kept staring fixedly at Layue’s belly. After a long while, he furrowed his brows.

Layue naturally noticed his subtle actions and smiled as she turned back, teasing, “The Eldest Prince hasn’t gone to the study hall today either, has he?”

There was a strong tone of jest in her words, and even a child like Yan Yu could catch it.

He shot her a sharp glare, “I stayed here today because I wanted to see you.”

He shifted the blame for skipping study hall onto her. Layue glanced at the Empress Dowager and noticed she didn’t seem to mind. Though puzzled, Layue still smiled.

“The Eldest Prince is too kind.”

The young boy pursed his lips and looked at the Empress Dowager, then at Shen Layue again.

After much hesitation and contemplation, he finally spoke, “Uh… I allow you to call me Yu from now on.”

Seeing his expression, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

The Empress Dowager patted his head approvingly, “What a thoughtful child.”

Yan Yu gave his grandmother a blank look, as if to say, “I’ve always been thoughtful.”

Layue smiled gently and said, “Yu’er.”

At this, Yan Yu pursed his lips again and simply replied, “Mm.”

From the Empress Dowager’s perspective, this situation was quite odd. People naturally got along based on chemistry. Take Shen Layue, for instance—she wasn’t particularly outstanding, nor was her temperament especially gentle, yet both young and old members of the Yan family seemed to genuinely like her.

It was somewhat understandable for the Emperor, who had a stern disposition, to favor her, since she must have served him very well. But even the young Prince Yu had taken a liking to her.

Layue had merely chatted casually with him, never fussing over him or showing particular warmth or flattery. Yet the boy still treated her differently from others.

“You’re still so young and don’t understand much. Don’t think that just because you’ve completed your studies, you’ll be prepared for anything. Tomorrow I’ll have an elderly nurse assigned to you to take better care of you.” The Empress Dowager looked at Layue’s face and thought again—this was just a fifteen-year-old girl. Despite her preparations, the maids in her palace were all young girls themselves, lacking in experience.

Layue smiled and replied, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness. However, yesterday the Emperor also mentioned assigning a nurse to me…”

She left the rest unsaid, but the Empress Dowager understood.

She hadn’t expected her son to be so attentive. She had been planning to do more to help this foolish girl, but now she could perhaps ease off a little.

“Even better then. After all, he is the father of your unborn child. Let him take care of these matters.” The Empress Dowager teased.

As the two chatted, Yan Yu lowered his head upon hearing this.

Layue naturally noticed his small action. After all, it was only natural. Despite his intelligence, he was still a child. His father would soon have another child, and perhaps even favor this new one more—how could he not feel upset?

Smiling, she replied, “The Emperor is always busy with state affairs and naturally doesn’t have much time for these things. Perhaps sending an elderly nurse is simply to feel more at ease.”

The Empress Dowager playfully rolled her eyes at Layue and glanced at the young Yan Yu beside her.

She knew this was meant for the child to hear, so she nodded, “Look at you, having a nurse assigned to care for you, and you still go on about it so much.”

As the two women talked, Yan Yu suddenly interjected, “Father is very busy.”

Seeing his serious little expression, Layue couldn’t help herself—she pinched his cheek.

“You always take your father’s side.”

After she said this, both the Empress Dowager and Yan Yu looked at her in surprise.

Layue immediately realized she had overstepped slightly.

She bit her lip, slightly embarrassed, and stammered, “That… that…”

She really didn’t know what to say.

But Yan Yu didn’t seem to mind at all.

After Layue pinched his cheek, he actually smiled.

“Father is indeed very busy with state affairs every day.”

Seeing his bright little face, Layue smiled too.

“No wonder the Emperor often says Yu’er is sensible. Isn’t that exactly the case? Just one sentence from me, and he’s already defending his father so earnestly!”

Though the Emperor rarely mentioned Yan Yu, Layue still spoke this way.

Sure enough, Yan Yu’s eyes lit up, and a slight smile graced his lips, clearly delighted.

Seeing this, Layue also couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing the two getting along so harmoniously, the Empress Dowager was also smiling broadly.

***

It was now already autumn.

Although autumn had officially arrived, the lingering heat of the “autumn tiger” remained strong.

The weather was unbearably hot and dry.

Compared to the summer heat, this season carried an added sense of oppression.

If it weren’t for the servants’ quarters, the only place in the palace that people particularly disliked was the far western palace.

It was cool in winter and warm in summer—truly an unsuitable place to live. Yet despite this, someone still resided there.

This was the palace’s most dreaded place—the Cold Palace.

The Cold Palace wasn’t large. The courtyard’s rooms were all extremely simple, utterly devoid of decoration.

Yet despite the heat, a chill seemed to seep through the air.

After all, how many women had ended their lives here, unable to bear the sorrow of passing years?

During the previous emperor’s reign, some concubines who had committed offenses were sent to the Cold Palace. However, after Emperor Jing’s ascension, the few remaining women had been sent to nunneries. Thus, the Cold Palace had remained empty for a time.

The first person to reside there under the new emperor was none other than the once-arrogant Consort Song.

Initially, no matter how much Consort Song raged and screamed, she was eventually settled here. The servants assigned to serve in the Cold Palace gradually shifted from cautiousness to indifference.

The more esteemed and domineering she had once been, the more pitiful she appeared now.

The palace rules were strict, so no one dared to mistreat or harm her.

But sometimes, indifference could be more tormenting than cruelty.

However, Consort Song never got the chance to go mad. Because she had harmed Chen Yulan’s child, the Empress Dowager ordered her death.

Of course, before she was executed, another person had already been sent to the Cold Palace.

To date, the Cold Palace now housed two women who had once been fairly close.

Lian Xiuyun and Chen Yulan.

But once inside the Cold Palace, what difference did past relationships make?

Unlike ordinary women on the streets who would curse and harm each other, they seemed to find some sense of life only through mutual hatred and torment.

Everyone knew that Lian Xiuyun’s cousin, Lady Bai, though currently without favor, had a healthy and adorable Third Prince. Chen Yulan’s cousin, on the other hand, was a favorite of the Emperor.

But what did that matter? Those were not their fates.

Besides, when they had plotted to harm others, these women had never hesitated.

It was indeed amusing how things worked out. Lian Xiuyun had entered the Cold Palace for harming Shen Layue, while Chen Yulan had been sent there for killing Bai Xiaodie. Such cause and effect left much to ponder.

Neither of them had gentle dispositions. A single disagreement would lead to physical fights.

Once inside the Cold Palace, what servants did they have left? From refined ladies to their current states, they had completely changed.

That day was no different. A disagreement quickly escalated into a physical struggle.

This was the scene that Su Lan witnessed. She frowned slightly in displeasure.

She coughed lightly, “What kind of conduct is this from two noble ladies?”

The two were deeply engaged in their fight and hadn’t noticed anyone’s arrival. Upon hearing Su Lan’s voice, they both turned their heads simultaneously.

It was none other than Su Lan, the most favored senior maid of Consort De.

“Su Lan, what brings you to this remote place?” Lian Xiuyun’s tone was filled with mockery.

Now even a mere servant lived better than they did. How pitiful that they were reduced to squabbling here.

Perhaps Chen Yulan had thought the same, for both lowered their arms and tidied their clothes.

“Look at the two of you—truly despicable. Having fallen into this state, instead of seeking a way to escape suffering, you choose to fight each other. Is this truly the behavior of wise women?”

Su Lan wouldn’t have come here without purpose.

Chen Yulan was always slightly more astute than Lian Xiuyun.

Hearing Su Lan’s words, she softened her expression and gave a faint smile—though it looked somewhat unnatural.

“Could it be that Su Lan is here to show us a path forward?”

Seeing that Chen Yulan understood, Su Lan smiled.

“If you wish to leave, you must also consider whether you are capable of doing so…”

Chen Yulan and Lian Xiuyun exchanged glances, each seeing understanding in the other’s eyes.

It seemed that Consort De had indeed sent her.

Chen Yulan smiled, “In that case, please come inside with us to discuss further.”