Returning to Wanshou Palace, people had mostly arrived, but Old Madam Liang was nowhere to be seen – only Luo Meixiang and Liang Qiong sat in the greenhouse.
Qin Shuying asked Luo Meixiang: “Madam, where is Old Madam?”
Liang Qiong hastily replied: “Grandmother is an elder. Where she chooses to go – how could we juniors presume to inquire?”
Qin Shuying merely glanced at her coolly, and Liang Qiong immediately felt some regret.
She hadn’t forgotten that just the other day, after saying a few truthful words, she had been poked by Liang Zhe’s finger and suffered pain for many days before recovering.
However, Qin Shuying wasn’t angry, nor did she engage in verbal sparring with Liang Qiong. She turned and walked out. Her task today was to keep watch over Old Madam Liang and see what kind of trouble she might cause. How others treated her didn’t matter at all.
Qin Shuying pondered where Old Madam Liang might have gone.
She first went to the washroom and asked the palace maid at the entrance, learning that Old Madam Liang had not come to the washroom.
As she stood in a corner thinking, Lin Zilan approached and asked quietly: “Shuying, are you looking for your family’s old madam?”
Qin Shuying nodded with pleasant surprise.
“I saw her walking alone in that direction. Your family’s old madam is truly extraordinary. When I first saw her, I thought she was some relative of yours. She looks like she could be in her thirties, and people would certainly believe it.”
Qin Shuying didn’t have time to chat more with Lin Zilan. After thanking her, she hurried toward the side hall.
This side hall had been occupied by some imperial consort during the Empress Dowager’s lifetime.
The late emperor’s consorts, even if still alive, would be fifty or sixty if not sixty or seventy years old. The late emperor had passed away over thirty years ago, and the Empress Dowager had also been gone for many years. The sensible consorts had long since moved away from here.
Therefore, the entire Wanshou Palace was empty, let alone the side halls.
Although Wanshou Palace was decorated annually for the ice sculpture banquet, it was basically unused otherwise, making the side halls even more desolate. Only during these few days would it become somewhat lively.
As Qin Shuying walked along, she saw few people – only palace maids and eunuchs hurrying about their business, but they were all busy with their tasks and paid no attention to Qin Shuying.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Shuying stood at the entrance of the side hall, pondered briefly, then stepped inside.
Surprisingly, there were quite a few palace maids and eunuchs stationed at different positions within the side hall.
Just at the entrance, there were two palace maids.
One of them said: “Madam, please wait over there.”
She didn’t explain the reason.
Qin Shuying smiled slightly: “I’m from the Pingxi Earl’s residence, looking for our family’s old madam. Old Madam has recently caught a cold, and I’m worried about her. I just searched everywhere over there but didn’t see her, so I came here to try my luck. Has Sister seen our family’s old madam?”
The palace maid shook her head: “This servant has been here the whole time and hasn’t seen the old madam you mentioned.”
“No wonder you don’t recognize her. Our old madam looks quite different from ordinary old madams. Sister, you would very likely mistake her for some family’s woman in her prime, rather than… an old titled lady.”
Qin Shuying spoke the last six words very slowly.
“What…”
Qin Shuying said: “Our family’s old madam is devastatingly beautiful, with peerless elegance.”
The two palace maids’ pupils suddenly contracted, as if they had thought of something. They exchanged glances, their expressions complex.
“Who is making noise at the entrance?”
As they spoke, two eunuchs approached. Qin Shuying smiled sweetly and said: “Honored gentlemen, I’m from the Pingxi Earl’s residence, looking for our family’s old madam. Since these two sisters say they haven’t seen her, I’ll go search elsewhere. I apologize for the disturbance.”
After speaking, Qin Shuying turned and left.
The palace maids and eunuchs looked at each other. Though they said nothing, their expressions were quite strange.
Indeed, an extremely beautiful woman had come earlier.
At that time, His Majesty had just entered, and that woman had encountered His Majesty at the entrance.
When His Majesty saw that woman, he was immediately so astonished it was as if he had seen something incredible. As palace maids, they had assumed His Majesty was surprised by the beautiful lady’s appearance.
That woman had said to His Majesty: “Your Majesty, do you not recognize me?”
His Majesty then suddenly realized: “Having not seen you for many years, I was indeed somewhat unfamiliar.”
The woman said: “Your Majesty, this subject woman has something to report. May Your Majesty allow this subject woman to speak privately?”
Subsequently, His Majesty and that woman had entered one after the other.
All four of their eyes rolled around several times.
Qin Shuying returned to the greenhouse in front of the main hall and sat beside Luo Meixiang and Liang Qiong.
At this time, Consort De, Consort Kang, and Consort Lian had already taken their seats. Although they couldn’t be seen from Qin Shuying’s position, the liveliness and festivity from that direction could be felt.
Lin Zilan, as the designated Fourth Prince’s consort, sat on Consort De’s side. The female relatives on Qin Shuying’s side were all of similar status, though generally slightly higher than her and Luo Meixiang, who both held fourth-rank noble titles.
Therefore, even sitting in the secluded greenhouse, Qin Shuying and Luo Meixiang were arranged in a corner.
Luo Meixiang felt very wronged.
In the past, she had been an honored guest at Consort De’s gatherings.
Now, she could only sit in this corner – it really made her feel terribly wronged!
Look at these shallow-minded women, not even greeting her. She remembered how they used to fawn over her.
However, Luo Meixiang still maintained excellent composure, not appearing too distressed or showing any unseemly behavior. Liang Qiong was the same.
The female relatives chatted casually, some went out together to admire the snow, and others went to see the ice sculptures.
Seeing Luo Meixiang and Liang Qiong struggling over whether to sit there eating or go out to admire the snow, completely ignoring her, Qin Shuying went out again.
This time, she encountered Lin Zilan again.
“Shuying, seeing your anxiety, I had someone send word to the Fourth Prince – he will help you. Also, this maid beside me can run errands for you.”
Qin Shuying was stunned: “Are you two already this close?”
Lin Zilan smiled and gave her a reproachful look: “Your affairs are my affairs. Stop walking around – it’s easy to arouse suspicion.”
“Our family’s old madam has disappeared. It’s proper for me to look for her.”
Lin Zilan’s playful nature emerged: “Then I’ll help you search together.”
“You’re now the center of attention. How can you wander around freely like me? You should go back inside.”
Lin Zilan sighed with some frustration: “It was better in the old days in Yunzhou. Lun’er, I have Zhou’er there, so you’re enough. Listen to Madam Liang and go. After completing what Madam Liang asks of you, come back to report.”
After speaking, she smiled and turned away.
Qin Shuying looked at Lun’er. This clever and spirited girl was actually called Lun’er by the future Fourth Prince’s consort. Uh, and there was also one called Zhou’er.
Lin Zilan also had girls named Che’er, Dou’er around her…
Qin Shuying said to Lun’er: “Thank you for your trouble, Miss.”
Lun’er grinned, her eyes bright and sparkling, very excited: “Madam Liang, this servant has long heard of your reputation. Tell me, what would you have this servant do?”
Qin Shuying: …Do you think this is your Lin family’s inner residence? This is the imperial palace.
After thinking, Qin Shuying said: “Miss, you need only help me watch here for when our family’s old madam returns, and anything worth your attention. When the time comes, tell me everything.”
Lun’er answered crisply: “Good!”