Shen Guiyan’s coral hairpin was even redder than Shen Hanlu’s, and smoother too—clearly not in the same class.

Bringing something specially to provoke someone, only to be provoked in return—how could that be? Shen Hanlu immediately smiled and closed the box in Xiuping’s hands, saying, “Look at this concubine—too many matters lately, so busy my head is spinning. I brought the wrong thing. How could such a trifle be worthy of presenting to Her Highness the Noble Consort? Any random item His Majesty bestowed upon this concubine is better than this.”

“Oh?” Shen Guiyan’s face was full of anticipation again. “There are others?”

“Of course.” Shen Hanlu lifted her chin. “Luhua Palace has been so full of things lately that this concubine can barely fit them all. Giving some to Your Highness is no trouble.”

This temperament truly ignited at the slightest spark—whoever provoked her a couple of times would see her jump into the pit. Consort Hua looked at Consort Shen with sympathy.

When Gao Jinxiu rushed back, she didn’t see any tense atmosphere. Instead, she saw a room full of chests and boxes.

What had happened?

Shen Hanlu stood to one side, chin raised high. “This is a gold-inlaid jade dragon and phoenix bracelet. This is a jade-studded mutton-fat jade step-sway. And this is a night-luminescent pearl the size of a fist, and this rare agarwood.”

She counted until her mouth was dry. A room full of dazzling treasures that made people gasp. Shen Hanlu drank a sip of tea with supreme pride and looked at Shen Guiyan. “What does Your Highness think?”

Among them were not only items bestowed by His Majesty, but also treasures sent by Imperial Concubine Fu to curry favor with her. She had truly brought everything presentable.

Shen Guiyan’s face was full of admiration. “So many!”

“Hmph, this is nothing.” Shen Hanlu finally got an envious remark, her tail practically shooting up. “This palace has plenty more.”

Cold sweat dripped down Xiuping’s forehead. She had tried repeatedly to pull Shen Hanlu aside to speak, but Shen Hanlu ignored her, just wanting to show off her authority and dampen Shen Guiyan’s smug momentum.

Looking at her living peacefully in her corner, so leisurely and carefree—it was infuriating just to watch. If she didn’t show off the favor she’d received, Shen Guiyan might really think herself so remarkable.

Shen Guiyan indeed looked envious and amazed, counting all the treasures before turning to her. “Consort Shen is truly different from before—so generous in her gifts.”

“Of course…” Before she could finish, Shen Hanlu seemed to suddenly realize something, her expression changing slightly.

Wait—just now, provoked by Shen Guiyan, she seemed to have forgotten her original intention. The coral hairpin at first was meant to be given to Shen Guiyan. When she disdained it, she had brought all the treasures from her palace.

Didn’t that mean she had to give all of these to Shen Guiyan too?!

Shen Hanlu’s face turned deathly pale. She immediately regretted it, but before she could find words to remedy the situation, Shen Guiyan had already spoken. “Younger sister truly moves this palace. So many people become arrogant after gaining favor, but only younger sister is willing to share all her treasures with this palace. Ah, though you still have many more in your palace and probably don’t care about these, this palace is still very happy. Baoshan, bring the handkerchief this palace embroidered myself to give to Consort Shen as a return gift.”

The words of regret were stuck in her throat, impossible to voice. Shen Hanlu’s chest ached with frustration, yet her face had to smile with generosity. “Your Highness need not be so courteous. These are nothing…”

Everything she’d received in gifts and bribes during this period was here—how could it be nothing?!

Shen Guiyan was so moved she was nearly in tears. She took Shen Hanlu’s hand. “This palace wronged you before. From today on, this palace absolutely won’t shut the door on you. This Yonghe Palace—younger sister may come to pay respects anytime.”

In other words, Shen Hanlu had successfully purchased admission tickets to Yonghe Palace with all the treasures from her palace.

Only two words existed in Shen Hanlu’s heart: Holy shit!

Had she just been cursed? Why had she been foolish enough to bring all these treasures? She’d shown off alright, and the six palaces were indeed shocked by her grand gesture, but Consort Hua and Imperial Concubine Fu beside her were looking at her like she was an idiot.

Don’t show off—showing off invites lightning strikes.

This saying was truly a universal truth.

“So many items—this palace needs to organize them properly.” Shen Guiyan smiled. “Does younger sister Consort Shen have other matters?”

Shen Hanlu took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. “No.”

“Then take your leave first. This palace will organize younger sister’s heartfelt gifts. This room is small—all these chests and boxes make it inconvenient.”

“…Then this concubine will take her leave.” Shen Hanlu stood up, her eyes red, and glared fiercely at Xiuping.

Xiuping felt utterly innocent. She had tried so hard to remind her mistress, but her mistress had acted as if she didn’t see her—whose fault was it?

She had come with such heroic spirit but returned dejectedly in her sedan chair. Shen Hanlu was so angry her vision darkened. Entering Luhua Palace and seeing the empty storeroom, she nearly fainted from rage.

Gao Jinxiu’s heart finally settled. Madam Xu hadn’t been wrong—Her Highness the Noble Consort truly would be fine.

But Gao Jinxiu was very curious—how had she known?

Consort Hua and Imperial Concubine Fu had watched enough of the spectacle and left with smiles so wide their eyes couldn’t be seen. Only Lady Gao remained at Yonghe Palace, looking at Shen Guiyan. “After this, that Consort Shen will hate you to death.”

“She’s hated me plenty before—I don’t mind a bit more.” Shen Guiyan smiled and beckoned to Lady Gao, calling her to her side. She gave her the gold-inlaid jade dragon and phoenix bracelet that Shen Hanlu had brought. “Take this. Later I’ll have Baoshan secretly distribute some items to your palace.”

Gao Jinxiu was startled. “Your Highness, why is this?”

Shen Guiyan smiled. “Are you foolish? When you turn eighteen and leave the palace, you can take your own things with you. Consider these part of the dowry I’m gathering for you. Take them out of the palace and they can become family heirlooms.”

Lady Gao pressed her lips together, her eyes slightly red. “You’ve even thought of all this.”

“You’re the only old friend in the palace—how could I not think more carefully?” Shen Guiyan looked at her. “There’s much trouble around me. It’s not good for you to get too close. Go back soon. When the rear palace settles and I alone can protect you, then come again.”

“Alright.” Lady Gao nodded. “Your Highness is sincere toward this concubine. This concubine will certainly not fail Your Highness’s good intentions.”

After speaking, she bowed deeply.

Baoshan quickly helped her up. Gao Jinxiu left holding the bracelet.

Shen Guiyan stared at the boxes on the table for a while, then sighed deeply. “Alright, Baoshan, let’s organize the items.”

Quite a bountiful harvest today.

“Yes.” Baoshan smiled until her eyes curved, counting the treasures for storage. Calculating the value, this pile of items was worth over thirty thousand taels of silver. Some were rare treasures difficult to buy.

Women caring about face was truly terrifying—willing to bankrupt themselves.

In the evening, the Emperor came openly to Yonghe Palace, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he asked, “I heard beloved consort received treasures today?”

Shen Guiyan nodded with a smile. Aside from the items given to Lady Gao, she had made a list of everything else, including that large piece of glass, and gave it all to the Emperor.

“Why is beloved consort giving this to me?” Gu Chaobei looked at it curiously.

The more he looked, the more shocked he became—it was valued at over thirty thousand taels of silver.

“This concubine has no use keeping these treasures. I wanted to give them to Your Majesty to use for building schools and soup kitchens in the capital.” Shen Guiyan said earnestly. “Your Majesty and this concubine have witnessed the people’s hardships together. Naturally you understand better—the people are the foundation of the nation.”

Gu Chaobei was shaken. “These items are rightfully yours. Yan’er, are you certain you want to give them all away?”

Shen Guiyan nodded. “This concubine has fine clothes and good food. I have no use for so much silver, nor do I have a hobby of collecting treasures. These were obtained with just a few words anyway. Giving them to Your Majesty’s subjects is nothing.”

Thirty thousand taels of silver—converted to modern currency, that would be about thirty million. A woman earning thirty million with a few words of conversation, then wanting to donate it all to build schools and do charity work—just hearing about it seemed crazy.

Gu Chaobei was silent for a long while before sighing and nodding. “Very well.”

They were other people’s things anyway, and could still earn her a good reputation. His Yan’er truly had excellent plans.

Shen Hanlu was so angry she didn’t leave her palace for several days. When she’d finally calmed down enough to prepare to pay respects, she opened her door and heard the palace’s praises.

“Noble Consort Yan truly has a bodhisattva’s heart—so much silver…”

“Indeed, no wonder His Majesty has always favored her. Her heart is just more magnanimous than others’.”

“I heard the capital’s common people are praising her too. Stone carvers have sculpted Her Highness the Noble Consort’s likeness to place in each newly built school.”

Those were her treasures, her money! All taken by Shen Guiyan to gain favor—just thinking about it could make her cough up two liters of blood! Shen Hanlu’s breathing became labored again. Seeing this, Xiuping beside her quickly came forward to pat her chest. “Your Highness, calm yourself. Tomorrow is the ancestral worship ceremony. Think about how you’ll be Empress afterward—what can’t you get back then?”

Thinking about it, she was right. Once she became Empress, what was there to fear? These things could all come back.

For now, she could only console herself this way.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Hanlu went to seek an audience.

Gu Chaobei smiled warmly. “I’ve prepared the garments for you to wear at tomorrow’s ceremony.”

On a tray beside him lay gleaming golden garments—bright red as the base, with gold on all the collar and sleeve edges, phoenixes flying across the underskirt. Extraordinarily magnificent.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Seeing these garments, Shen Hanlu’s mood finally improved. She received them with both hands and carefully carried them back.

After tomorrow, she would be the mother of the nation. The Empress held power over life and death—that was the pinnacle for a woman. Then she would have much more freedom to do whatever she wanted!

Not taking a palanquin, Shen Hanlu carried these garments through many palace halls. Noble Lady Gao bowed to her, Consort Ye bowed to her, Imperial Concubine Fu bowed to her.

She walked the whole way with her neck held high, encountering Consort Hua ahead.

Consort Hua smiled lightly at her. “Those who climb too fast tend to fall.”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s reminder.” Shen Hanlu snorted lightly, passed by her, and continued forward.

Consort Hua gazed at Taiye Lake beside them, ripples of light in her eyes, and laughed softly.

Seeing Yonghe Palace ahead, Shen Hanlu finally stopped and decisively chose to take a detour. Shen Guiyan was too terrifying—she’d better wait until she wore these garments securely before provoking her.

“Consort Shen.”

Just as she returned to Luhua Palace and settled down, she saw Herong, Imperial Concubine Fu’s personal maid.

“What is it?”

“This servant has come to relay my mistress’s message. My mistress requests Your Highness to meet her at the eastern shore of Taiye Lake at dusk.” Herong said quietly, “It concerns Your Highness’s investiture tomorrow—information obtained from Scholar Fu. If Your Highness is willing to go alone without exposing my mistress, this servant will report back to her.”

About the investiture? What could there be about the investiture? Shen Hanlu looked suspiciously at the maid before her. Imperial Concubine Fu had Scholar Fu behind her, so she must know much information. Was she trying to curry favor by informing on something?

Once curiosity arose, Shen Hanlu nodded. “This palace will go.”

Herong smiled. “Then this servant will take her leave to report to my mistress.”

“Go ahead.” Shen Hanlu waved her hand. Thinking it over, she asked Xiuping to be safe, “Herong is Imperial Concubine Fu’s person, correct?”

“How could she not be?” Xiuping said. “Among the palace maids, she’s considered quite proud, just like her mistress. I’ve heard she’s deeply trusted by Imperial Concubine Fu. She once made a mistake and Imperial Concubine Fu forgave her.”

By her tone, she was somewhat jealous of Herong because that girl was prettier than ordinary palace maids.

Shen Hanlu was reassured. When dusk came, she truly went alone in changed clothes, mysteriously heading to Taiye Lake.

As it happened, on this same day, Shen Guiyan felt she’d been lying down too long and wanted some activity, so she strolled out with palace maids and eunuchs.

“Dusk is still the best time—everyone’s preparing to compete for favor in the evening, so no one comes out to cause trouble.” Baoshan supported Shen Guiyan while walking and talking. “The palace has been quite chaotic lately.”

Shen Guiyan smiled, looking at the distant lake. “As long as they don’t cause chaos for us, it’s nothing. Of course, if they’re all as generous as Consort Shen, this palace doesn’t mind accompanying them in their chaos.”

Mentioning this, the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs all laughed. Consort Shen’s incident would probably be laughed about in the palace for months.

“Splash—” Suddenly water splashed up from Taiye Lake, a huge spray accompanied by a sharp scream that startled Shen Guiyan. “What happened?”

Baoshan saw a palace maid-looking person run away in the distance, then looked toward the lake. “Someone was pushed into the lake! Quick, save them!”

Several eunuchs behind them hurried over. Shen Guiyan also slowly followed to look.

“Strange—usually at dusk, no one comes to Taiye Lake. Today which two palace maids were playing around…” Before Baoshan finished speaking, she saw Shen Hanlu’s face.

“Consort Shen?!”

Shen Guiyan frowned and looked closer—it really was Shen Hanlu, dressed simply, not at all like her daytime style.

“Mistress.” Baoshan said very seriously, “Let’s throw her back in the water!”

Shen Guiyan laughed. “If we let her drown, His Majesty will trouble this palace. Pull her out.”

Several eunuchs worked together and finally rescued her ashore.

Shen Hanlu vomited water for a long time, still in shock, looking warily at Shen Guiyan. Seeing she could still glare, Shen Guiyan turned around. “Baoshan, let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

All the palace servants prepared to leave with her—not one person thought to send her back.

Shen Hanlu was so angry she shouted, “Hey! Aren’t you curious why I was pushed into the water?”