Only after Shen Qianyu left did Song Wan relax somewhat.

To say she was unfamiliar with the Crown Prince wouldn’t be accurate, but to say she knew him well wouldn’t be true either. However, no matter what, being able to see Heng Zhi, Heng Wu, and the others in the palace, she was still very grateful to the Crown Prince.

Laiyi Pavilion wasn’t particularly spacious—it wasn’t even as large as Song Wan’s previous residence—but this also had its advantages: it wouldn’t be filled with too many people of unknown origins.

Now there were the four—Heng Zhi and the others—inside the chambers, and outside there were four eunuchs and four palace maids sent by Imperial Concubine Yun, all of whom Song Wan had seen before at Changxin Palace. They wouldn’t make her feel particularly unfamiliar.

“Today, people will probably come here. Let’s quickly tidy up.”

Heng Zhi nodded, opening the trunks brought from the Song Residence one by one, placing items into the wardrobe in the sleeping quarters piece by piece.

Song Wan looked somewhat distracted at the fabrics with intricate patterns and bright colors being taken from the trunks.

When leaving home, Father had taken these items from the storeroom, which greatly displeased Song Yao. Though she had just rushed out from the courtyard before being led away by Song Nian, she still saw the other’s eyes were badly swollen and red.

Never mind that Song Yao hadn’t expected she would be the one entering the palace—even she herself hadn’t expected it.

Opening the cloisonné enamel incense burner on the fragrance table, Song Wan had Jinshu light the incense.

Wisps of blue smoke rose with the wind, and the room instantly filled with a faint woody fragrance.

Song Wan sat in the round-backed chair with powder blue thick felt cushions, quietly observing the scenery in Laiyi Pavilion.

Having entered the palace, all past matters were like clouds and smoke. Within the red walls and yellow tiles was a world unto itself, and outside the walls was already unrelated to her.

“Miss…”

Just as Heng Wu began to speak, she saw Song Wan shake her head. She pressed her lips together slightly and softly called out “Chenghui.”

“Chenghui Li… the daughter of General Zhaowu who entered the palace together with you today wishes to see you. She’s currently waiting outside.”

Song Wan stood up: “I’ll go see her.”

Walking out of the sleeping quarters, Song Wan saw a young lady with a tall figure and slightly arrogant eyes and brows standing at the entrance. She wore a jacket with silver bat patterns. Upon seeing Song Wan, her expression was cold: “Come with me to pay respects to the several Good Companions and Good Ladies.”

After speaking, she turned and left, with no intention of waiting for Song Wan’s reply.

Heng Zhi raised her eyebrows, but Song Wan shook her head at her.

Having just arrived and not yet understanding everyone’s temperaments, it wasn’t appropriate to be aggressive or stand out.

The two walked one after the other to Good Lady Shang’s sleeping quarters. Just as they entered, they saw six women sitting inside, each with different figures and appearances.

Li Sheng’s gaze swept over everyone, her lips curling with disdain.

The two women seated in the primary positions—one had a haggard face that even thick powder couldn’t hide the sallow color, and she looked aged, clearly someone who had been convalescing at home for years with a terrible illness. This was the legitimate daughter of the Shang Family, Shang Rong.

The woman beside her had a palm-sized dark red birthmark on her face, her expression so gentle it bordered on timid.

This was Censor Wu’s only daughter, Good Lady Wu Xixiang.

The four Good Ladies below were even more interesting. One had long sleeves and shrank back in her movements, afraid to reveal her palms—certainly the eldest daughter of the Qi Family, Qi Qingling, who was disabled with six fingers. One was now thirty-five years old, having missed her prime years due to successive mourning periods—Zhao Nanzhang.

Li Sheng’s gaze swept past the obese woman sitting on an embroidered stool, the contempt in her eyes growing even stronger.

This was Lu Youjun, who had frightened away suitors during matchmaking viewings.

The remaining one, whose appearance could barely be called complete, was Zhang Baozhen, famous throughout the capital as a woman desperate to marry.

Li Sheng’s gaze swept toward Song Wan, her heart even more aggrieved.

She’d forgotten there was also a remarried, fallen flower beside her.

With a “tsk,” Li Sheng snorted aloud.

She didn’t know what the Crown Prince was thinking—for the sake of reputation, he’d actually collected all of the capital’s defective goods into the Eastern Palace.

Taking a deep breath, Li Sheng’s face stiffened, feeling these people had all lowered her status. What made it even harder for her to bear was that her rank was actually lower than these oddly-shaped things.

She stood at the doorway, neither entering nor retreating. Song Wan directly passed her and entered the room to pay respects to the others.

“Greetings to Good Lady Shang and Good Lady Wu.”

Just as she was about to bow to the several Good Ladies, the plump-figured Lu Youjun smiled and said: “No need for courtesy. In the future, we’re all sisters in the same palace. Constantly bowing back and forth would seem distant.”

When the two—Song and Li—entered, she had immediately noticed Song Wan.

Good Lady Shang said the Crown Prince’s collecting them into the Eastern Palace must not be only for reputation—he must be paving the way for someone.

If it were only for reputation, there would be no need to marry so many women whom the world viewed as flawed.

Seeing Song Wan today and then looking at the expressions in the other sisters’ eyes, she immediately knew it was this person.

The legitimate daughter of the Grand Councilor’s residence, the former Lady Chengyang who had severed ties with her husband—it couldn’t be wrong.

According to the Crown Prince’s intentions, entering the Eastern Palace for them was equivalent to living widowhood, no different. But she didn’t know what others thought—she herself was very willing to enter the palace.

The Imperial Kitchen had many delicious foods, and the Crown Prince was too lazy to pay attention to them. The only thing she needed to do each day was chat with other sisters in the same predicament and enjoy the scenery. The days were truly couldn’t be more comfortable.

Since entering the Eastern Palace, no one cursed her as stupid as a pig. Father and Mother no longer had to bolt the door daily trying to starve her to death, nor did she have to listen to her sisters’ cold and sarcastic remarks.

Having arrived at the Eastern Palace, Lu Youjun felt even her breathing had become seventy to eighty percent smoother, and her mood was incredibly good.

Even now, seeing the contempt and disdain in Li Sheng’s eyes, she didn’t feel particularly distressed.

After all, her rank was higher than Li Sheng’s, so she wasn’t afraid of being bullied by her.

Holding up a freshly baked mutton pastry bun from the Imperial Kitchen on the table, Lu Youjun offered it to Song Wan: “Just treat it like being in your own residence.”

This was the first time Song Wan had encountered someone offering her a bun. She widened her eyes, momentarily unsure whether to accept it. Only when her gaze swept over the others in the room and saw their eyes carried warm, tolerant goodwill did she smile faintly and prepare to accept it.

But before she could move, Li Sheng said: “Good Lady Lu is bestowing this—why don’t you accept it?”

Her tone was full of mockery. Just as she was about to say more, Shang Rong, seated in the primary position, suddenly said weakly: “Chenghui Li’s words are disrespectful. Drag her out and send her back home.”

Li Sheng’s eyes instantly widened. Just as she opened her mouth to make a few sarcastic remarks, two eunuchs stepped forward, covered her mouth, and dragged her out.

Having entered the Eastern Palace for barely half a day, the arrogant person was sent out.

“Eat. The taste is truly quite good.”

Shang Rong looked at Song Wan with a face full of gentleness, then smiled and raised her hand to tap Lu Youjun in the air.

Anyone with eyes could see that Li Sheng had been collected into the Eastern Palace as a foil for Song Wan. Sending her away would only relieve the Crown Prince’s worries, not incur his disgust.

“I know you.”

Shang Rong raised her hand and beckoned to Song Wan: “Come here and let me look at you.”

Song Wan walked forward and let Shang Rong examine her carefully.

“You probably don’t remember me, but when I was young, I once held you. Your mother and I were old acquaintances.”

Song Wan’s eyes widened in surprise, but upon reflection, it was ordinary. The legitimate daughter of the Shang Family had a distinguished status and was similar in age to Mother—having known each other in the past wasn’t strange.

Shang Rong touched Song Wan’s head and pushed her gently: “Go accompany Youjun to eat buns. She becomes uncomfortable if she doesn’t eat something for a while.”

Though she said this, her tone was full of an elder’s indulgence and affection for a younger.

Zhao Nanzhang also gently spoke up: “I’ll go brew some good tea.”

Seeing this situation, Song Wan finally set aside all her worries and, learning from Lu Youjun’s manner, ate with peace of mind.

The several women thus chatted in Shang Rong’s sleeping quarters until the sun set over the mountains.

Though these women lacked charming beauty, most were gentle and mild-tempered. There were even those like Shang Rong who were perceptive and well-read. Being with them, Song Wan felt an unprecedented relaxation.

She even, for the first time ever, forgot what Shen Qianyu had said during the day—that he would come to Laiyi Pavilion to find her in the evening.