Shen Qianyu straightened his robes and stood to await Song Lan’an’s formal greeting. After the sovereign and minister exchanged pleasantries for a moment, Song Lan’an finally brought up the main business.

It turned out that Minister Wei, a councilor from the Central Secretariat, had suddenly contracted a serious illness and submitted a memorial requesting to resign. His Majesty had already granted his request, so today Song Lan’an had come regarding a replacement candidate.

This matter was neither major nor minor, but there was absolutely no need to bring it up separately for discussion.

After the two conversed for a few sentences, Shen Qianyu understood the other party had not yet revealed his true purpose for coming.

Only when the official business was concluded and Song Lan’an was preparing to leave did he casually praise the Crown Prince for selecting worthy and capable people, saying even the several consorts and concubines in the Eastern Palace all possessed outstanding character.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qianyu laughed heartily. “A woman may be poor or plain in appearance, or lacking in talent and intelligence, but she must be gentle, humble, virtuous, and talented.”

“Though the Eastern Palace’s consorts have acceptable temperaments, compared to the Song family’s daughters, they still lack somewhat in reputation for virtue and spirited grace.”

Song Lan’an sighed lightly that the Crown Prince praised too highly, then left the Eastern Palace with a smile.

After returning to the Song Estate, he cultivated Song Nian, Song Ni, and the others even more carefully.

Winter passed and new spring arrived. The Crown Prince’s Consorts and Concubines selected by the Empress had entered the Eastern Palace over a month ago. Compared to its bleak and cold appearance half a year earlier, the current Eastern Palace not only had more signs of life, but also more liveliness and commotion.

Those women had probably grown accustomed to cold treatment, so they grasped the proper attitude toward others with extreme precision.

Apart from one or two who came daily to pay respects to Shen Qianyu when they first entered the palace, once they discovered he had absolutely no intention of favoring them, they each, one by one, closed their doors and lived their own lives as they had at home.

Shen Qianyu treated them generously enough. For a time, the entire Eastern Palace got along remarkably harmoniously.

As green buds gradually appeared on the trees, with bright flowers and graceful willows, the capital, which had been cold and desolate throughout winter, gradually relaxed from its bleakness, revealing some vibrant life.

During the Spring Viewing Festival, Emperor Wenhui rarely showed some interest. He had people set up a banquet in the palace, inviting important court ministers along with their family members to enjoy spring together.

Because the Empress had been ill for a long time without recovery, responsibility for organizing the palace banquet fell to Jiang Man.

Originally, His Majesty had intended to have Imperial Consort Yun handle this matter, but she had declined, citing the Third Prince’s facial injuries not yet healing.

“By pushing away this duty, isn’t Your Ladyship afraid Imperial Consort Jiang will create trouble today?”

Song Yuning looked at the various leather and silver masks laid out before her, saying casually, “The Crown Prince’s position grows increasingly stable. She has no time to bother with me and Qianbai. Even if she wanted to use some scheme, it wouldn’t be directed at this palace.”

“As for the Crown Prince’s side, he can handle it well.”

“Come look—which one is better?”

Caijin stepped forward to help Song Yuning select a mask.

“The palace is rarely this lively. This servant feels this silver carved one looks more refined and dignified, more befitting the Third Prince.”

Upon hearing this, Song Yuning scoffed but didn’t respond.

The reason a Spring Viewing Banquet was being held in the palace this year wasn’t because Emperor Wenhui had changed his nature, but because a few days ago during morning court, he had fallen asleep in front of all the civil and military officials.

It was said that day, thunderous snoring echoed along the imperial walkway, shocking the entire court.

The Emperor was aging, but he didn’t dare admit it.

Now this was nothing more than clinging to life, forcing himself to maintain appearances, wanting to tell the court ministers he still had some use.

Song Yuning placed the silver mask in her hand into a brocade box and handed it to Caijin, then inquired about Song Wan.

She missed Song Wan terribly, so she had summoned her into the palace early to meet before the palace banquet.

“She should arrive soon. This servant will go ask Eunuch Changping.”

Caijin carried the brocade box out. Before long, she led Song Wan in.

“Wan’er, come let your aunt take a look at you.”

After the Empress fell gravely ill, the rear palace was under strict control. Song Yuning hadn’t seen Song Wan throughout the entire winter. Seeing her today filled her with such delight that her face beamed with smiles. She couldn’t help stepping forward to touch Song Wan’s cheek.

“Your aunt feels you’ve filled out a bit.”

Song Wan smiled shyly. “With no worries at the estate, I suppose it’s as the saying goes—a broad heart makes a plump body.”

“Filling out a bit is good. In the past, you were too thin and it pained your aunt to see.”

As she was speaking, the corners of Song Yuning’s lips curved up slightly. She coughed lightly and said, “Do you still have contact with that young eunuch from the Eastern Palace?”

“Aunt knows of Ji Rong?”

Song Yuning didn’t answer, but smiled at her with ambiguous meaning.

Song Wan was somewhat confused, but answered obediently, “We’ve exchanged letters five or six times throughout winter, mostly about trivial matters.”

Ji Rong seemed very enthusiastic about having Dong Chang bring various items for Song Fu. It was just that she felt it wasn’t proper etiquette, so most of the time she had Song Fu return them the same way. Recently, she seemed not to have heard of Ji Rong sending anything.

Song Yuning looked at Song Wan, whose eyes were clear and who remained innocent and naive about matters between men and women. Her heart softened.

Cursing Jiang Xingjian silently a few times, she felt somewhat better.

“Why does Aunt ask about this?”

Song Yuning smiled softly. “Just asking casually.”

“Come, let your aunt style your hair. It’s not done well.”

Song Wan hesitated slightly, but was pulled by Song Yuning to sit before the bronze mirror.

Raising her hand to remove the hairpin from her head, Song Yuning then loosened her hair bun. As her smooth, dark tresses fell down, Song Wan’s ears flushed red.

Song Yuning said with a serious expression, “Since you’ve completely severed ties with Jiang Xingjian, why must you still wear this married woman’s hair bun?”

“Your aunt knows you observe propriety, but Wan’er…”

“Don’t be so harsh on yourself.”

Every time she saw Song Wan wearing her hair neither fully as a married woman nor as an unmarried girl, her heart ached. Though it was just a hairstyle, she could see Wan’er’s insecurity in it.

She didn’t know how she should live—as an unmarried young lady, or as a married woman.

Song Yuning pressed her lips together slightly and carefully began styling Song Wan’s hair.

“Caijin, take all these old-fashioned things and throw them away. Save this palace from having to look at these eyesores.”

Seeing Caijin carry out the hairpins removed from her head, Song Wan said softly, “Don’t be angry, Aunt. Why take it out on objects?”

Song Yuning snorted coldly. “Say less. One after another like blocks of wood—when will spring arrive for you? Spring has already come, yet you still won’t bloom. When are you waiting for? Until winter again? You all can afford to wait, but your aunt cannot wait any longer.”

“What’s this about wood and flowers…”

Song Wan smiled with pursed lips, not understanding what Song Yuning was talking about.

“Look, isn’t this much more beautiful?”

Her dark hair cascaded down. Because it had been worn in a bun earlier, the ends had slight curls and waves. Not only did this not seem improper, it actually added several touches of charming, youthful feminine allure.

“Heng Zhi’s skills truly won’t do. Your face is already beautiful—keeping it simple with just a light touch of lip color would suffice. Heavy makeup doesn’t suit you.”

Heng Zhi, standing behind Song Wan, quickly spoke up to beg forgiveness.

Her skills truly couldn’t compare to Lü Zhu and Xiang Cao’s. Even when she applied makeup for her young miss, she always felt it looked worse than when she didn’t apply any.

Now, with just a few touches, Imperial Consort Yun had changed Song Wan’s makeup, leaving Heng Zhi staring in amazement.

Though her young miss was already breathtakingly beautiful, she had never looked as lively and natural as she did today.

Song Yuning took out a butterfly and begonia hairpin from the makeup box and gently placed it in Song Wan’s hair.

“There, perfect. Today you’ll stay by your aunt’s side. Don’t go anywhere. With such a beautiful appearance, let your aunt look at you more, make your aunt happier.”

Song Wan looked at herself in the mirror and nodded with a sweet smile.

Heng Zhi stepped forward to carefully study her young miss’s makeup, preparing to learn it well.

Song Yuning took a step back and said to Caijin, “Go to the Eastern Palace to find the Crown Prince. Tell him this palace has business with him and to come to Changxin Palace after the palace banquet ends.”