Now, that young lady was returning.
She had been away from the capital for three or four years—not actually that long. But before Princess Duanwen left, the Late Emperor was still on the throne and the Crown Prince position had not yet been settled. She could still chase Gu Chaobei through the streets.
But now, the Late Emperor had passed, the Fifth and Sixth Imperial Princes had died one after another, and her beloved Gu Chaobei had become her own biological brother. Anyone would find this unacceptable.
The palace had already begun preparations to welcome Princess Duanwen. As the currently highest-ranked consort, Consort Shen naturally took charge, leading the Internal Affairs Bureau to arrange palace quarters, rehearse songs and dances, and train palace ladies in etiquette. She appeared extremely busy.
Jiang Shi, Qinghuan, and the others not only had to pay respects to Consort Shen before dawn each day, but were also sent running all over the palace afterward. In comparison, Shen Guiyan seemed to have nothing to do. Because of her pregnancy, Grand Empress Dowager Wen permitted her to do nothing except wait to attend the banquet.
“This servant heard that back in the day, Princess Duanwen truly loved His Majesty to her very bones.” Baoshan stood beside Shen Guiyan, speaking softly. “And she’s a dignified princess too. After seeing Fourth Young Master Gu just once, she chased after him for several streets. At the time, no one knew why someone who was quite fond of women avoided Princess Duanwen like she was a fierce beast.”
Shen Guiyan chuckled softly. Gu Chaobei probably knew his own identity early on, so he understood perfectly well which people he should touch and which he shouldn’t. Princess Duanwen was his biological younger sister—if he didn’t avoid her, could he possibly have gone up to flirt with her?
He knew propriety. Looking back now, this step-by-step planning was what made Shen Guiyan feel admiration.
From when he was still the Prime Minister’s son, he began supporting the Fifth Imperial Prince, establishing his own power under the Fifth Imperial Prince’s name, winning over Yuwen Changqing, and having Prime Minister Gu’s protection. Then he exploited the disputes between the Empress and the Fifth Imperial Prince, profiting from their conflict like a fisherman, and smoothly ascended the throne.
Although the throne wasn’t yet secure, at least he had transformed himself from an abandoned imperial prince into a dignified Emperor.
Shen Guiyan smiled and gently touched her still-flat belly. She had confidence in him. One day he would truly rule over all under heaven.
“Noble Lady Yan, the Internal Affairs Bureau has sent over the gown for the welcoming banquet.” Nanny Jiawen presented the garment. “You can look at it first.”
The palace regulations weren’t yet established, and the old consorts hadn’t completely moved out of the harem, so the supplies for each palace were temporarily arranged uniformly by the Internal Affairs Bureau. According to rank, the garments sent to each palace differed in color and pattern. Only Consort Shen’s was Shu brocade; the rest were ordinary silk.
Shen Guiyan took the garment to examine it.
It was a gray cross-collar jacket in a style similar to what Nanny Jiawen wore, with an inner skirt that was also sandalwood-colored with no patterns. Wearing this entire outfit, she would probably look no different from a nanny.
Tomorrow would be the first time the palace ladies and consorts met anyway, and those with status were all thinking of ways to dress up to earn the palace ladies’ respect. Why had the Internal Affairs Bureau given her such an outfit?
Baoshan frowned and spoke directly. “Nanny, you took the wrong one, didn’t you? How is this what a Noble Lady should wear? I’m afraid you brought your own clothes by mistake.”
Nanny Jiawen kept a stern face, saying earnestly, “Noble Lady Yan is with child, so naturally she’s different from other Noble Ladies. She cannot be too ostentatious. Grand Empress Dowager Wen has decreed that you should prioritize protecting the dragon heir and need not involve yourself with the other palace consorts. The seating arrangement for you will also be the most considerate.”
What did this have to do with involvement? If their mistress went dressed like a nanny, who would take her seriously? Wouldn’t everyone be able to bully her then? Baoshan was very indignant and wanted to argue further, but Shen Guiyan had already grasped her hand.
“Thank you for Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager’s consideration.” Shen Guiyan smiled and nodded to Nanny Jiawen. “This consort will respectfully follow the teachings.”
Nanny Jiawen nodded, set down the garment, and turned to leave. Baoshan picked up the clothes to examine them, then tossed them back down huffily.
“Wearing these clothes is worse than a palace maid’s clothes—at least those are bright colored.” Baoshan said, “Grand Empress Dowager Wen still wants to make things difficult for you. Hiding is useless.”
Shen Guiyan shook her head. “You’re always so impatient. Don’t you know palace life is long? Some things, if you’re too hasty about them, actually bring no benefits. Let them do as they please. As long as they don’t endanger the child in my womb or harm you and me, there’s no need to fight. What’s mine will ultimately be mine. Fighting for it will only scare away good fortune.”
What kind of logic was this? Baoshan leaned to the side helplessly. In her heart, she disagreed with these words. What you want, you should fight for—otherwise, what if someone else snatches it away?
Look at Noble Lady Jiang in the side hall next door. When she wasn’t satisfied with her clothes, she went directly to the Internal Affairs Bureau and changed them for a bright-colored set. That satin pattern clearly showed she was favored. When the time came, wouldn’t their mistress, a titled Noble Lady, be outshone by someone without a title?
Baoshan felt uncomfortable in her heart. After serving Shen Guiyan to rest, she went downstairs.
Shen Guiyan sighed and lay on the bed, holding her belly. Recently she often dreamed of Gu Chaobei. Although she couldn’t see him during the day, in her dreams he was still as gentle to her as before. She didn’t know if she counted as a fool—with the comfort of dreams, she actually didn’t feel upset anymore, waiting day after day, hoping day after day like this.
Last night she had almost dreamed of intimate matters, and thinking about it still made her blush a little. Covering her belly, Shen Guiyan whispered softly, “You definitely can’t see what Mother is thinking, right? Don’t look…”
Night fell and the palace returned to tranquility. Gu Chaobei changed into night clothes and made his familiar way to Zhuangde Palace.
Since becoming pregnant, Shen Guiyan had become very drowsy. Usually once she fell asleep, she wouldn’t wake up, which provided great convenience for a secret visitor like Gu Chaobei.
Standing by the bed watching her for quite a while, Gu Chaobei reached out to touch her belly.
How strange—several days had already passed, so why hadn’t her belly grown at all? Gu Chaobei was both curious and excited, leaning close to listen for a good while, then reaching over to kiss Shen Guiyan’s lips.
Today he had seen her in the Imperial Garden and very much wanted to go talk to her, but with Shen Hanlu’s lingering presence nearby, he could only pretend not to see.
Damn it, being an Emperor was truly too restrictive. He couldn’t embrace the person he wanted to embrace, couldn’t say the words he wanted to say, couldn’t do the things he wanted to do.
He was already trying hard, but he might still have to make her wait a long time before he could openly and legitimately embrace her.
Fortunately, Yan’er didn’t make a fuss or get caught in negative spirals. What he was thinking, she seemed to understand it all.
How wonderful.
Shen Guiyan turned over, as if she was about to wake. Gu Chaobei quickly withdrew his hand and hid in the darkness like a flash.
Not yet—if he met with her now, his heart would definitely soften completely. With his great enterprise unfinished, he couldn’t let his guard down.
Gu Chaobei took a deep breath, gripping the wooden carved railing at the partition tightly for a while, then turned and left through the window.
After another night of dreaming about him, when Shen Guiyan opened her eyes, she felt somewhat empty instead. She stared blankly at the window for quite a while before calling out to Baoshan.
“Mistress woke up so early.” Baoshan brought in water, helped her change into that “nanny outfit,” then styled her hair in a simple bun and adorned it with a set of white jade accessories.
“Now I look even more like Nanny Jiawen.” Shen Guiyan looked in the mirror and smiled.
Behind her, Nanny Jiawen lowered her eyes. Though Noble Lady Yan’s clothes were plain, when she stood up, one could see at a glance she didn’t have a servant’s bearing. No matter what clothing she wore, it probably wouldn’t look too bad.
Born with the fate of a mistress?
“Princess Duanwen will first pay respects at the East Palace upon returning to the palace. Empress Dowager Nian has already gone over as well. You can set out now, Noble Lady.”
“Very well.” Shen Guiyan stood up, carefully supported by Baoshan, and slowly walked out toward the East Palace.
Only those of consort rank and above had sedan chairs for travel. Despite the great distance between Zhuangde Palace and the East Palace, Shen Guiyan still had to walk there. Fortunately, she had risen early and didn’t need to rush, so she could just stroll leisurely.
“Oh my, who is this?” Just past Chongyang Gate, they heard Consort Shen’s voice. Shen Guiyan took a step back to the side and respectfully bowed. “Consort Shen, Your Highness.”
Shen Hanlu sat in a walking sedan, with Lady Qing accompanying her.
“How pitiful, pregnant yet still having to walk.” Hanlu sighed. “Why don’t I give you my walking sedan? You can ride over. Otherwise, if something happens to the dragon heir, we cannot bear the responsibility.”
Shen Guiyan smiled and shook her head. “Thank you for Your Highness’s kind intentions. This consort is merely a Noble Lady and cannot use a walking sedan. Your Highness may go ahead first.”
Lady Qing laughed. “Noble Lady Yan has always been so well-behaved and proper—what a pity she lost His Majesty’s favor.”
Hanlu tsked twice, waving her handkerchief. “Truly pitiful. Well then, I and Lady Qing will go ahead first.”
“Respectfully seeing off Your Highness.” Shen Guiyan still curtsied.
“Acting like anyone actually has His Majesty’s favor.” Baoshan couldn’t help but mutter. “His Majesty has been resting in Noble Lady Jiang’s quarters all along. The rest of the time he’s in his own bedchamber. Look how proud they are—aren’t they all just the pot calling the kettle black?”
Shen Guiyan stood up, holding her hand to continue walking. “How is it that even after coming to the palace, your sources of information are still so well-informed?”
Baoshan snorted, somewhat proudly saying, “A clever maid like this servant—where could I not get along? The little palace maids in the palace are quite nice too. They answer whatever I ask and love to hear folk stories. After this servant chatters away about everything, not only in our Zhuangde Palace, but many maids throughout the palace like to chat with me.”
This was also a natural talent. Shen Guiyan sighed. Anyway, Baoshan herself was tight-lipped, so she didn’t need to worry. Being able to learn news of His Majesty from her was also good.
Upon reaching the East Palace, surprisingly there were only the two Empress Dowagers and the consorts inside the palace hall, and their expressions were rather awkward. Shen Guiyan was quite confused. She entered, paid her respects, and looked around.
Where were His Majesty and Princess Duanwen? Hadn’t they said she’d entered the palace?
“Go wait at the banquet. No one is to gossip. Understood?” Grand Empress Dowager Wen suddenly spoke from above.
Those below responded in unison, “We obey the decree.”
Gossip about what? Shen Guiyan had arrived late and had no idea what had happened earlier. She glanced at Jiang Shi beside her—Jiang Shi’s face had gone somewhat pale.
When ordered to begin the banquet, everyone had to leave the North Palace and head to the Juhuan Pavilion. As Shen Guiyan followed along to the North Palace courtyard, she inadvertently glanced toward the garden to the side.