With this, all twelve people had arrived.

Among this group, Xiao Shu was undoubtedly the invisible leader. As soon as she walked over, everyone’s gazes fell upon her, and besides envy, many showed fear and submission.

Many people also took the initiative to greet her.

Xiao Shu was straightforward, nodding to each in acknowledgment, treating everyone the same.

Only when she saw Jiang Xuening did the corners of her lips curve slightly.

At this moment, Jiang Xuening had not yet greeted her, but she first nodded to her from afar, essentially offering a greeting that seemed rather friendly, with a faint sense of acknowledgment within.

Had it been anyone else, they would have been overwhelmed with gratitude.

But this attitude of Xiao Shu’s, falling in Jiang Xuening’s eyes, still carried a kind of naturally aristocratic superiority—not an expression of friendship between equals, but rather because she felt Jiang Xuening could catch the Grand Princess’s eye, so she could also catch hers, though she wouldn’t truly take her seriously—

This was Xiao Shu’s temperament.

Born into prominence, everything others dreamed of their entire lives was what she’d possessed since childhood. There were few things she couldn’t obtain. This allowed her to remain extremely calm when facing every matter and every person, even maintaining neither servility nor arrogance when facing royalty. Toward anyone who posed no threat to her, even if they were very rude to her, she could converse cheerfully and would never get angry.

Because everyone beneath her lacked the qualifications to dialogue with her.

Only when she felt someone threatened her would she bare her fangs.

Jiang Xuening had crossed swords with her in her previous life.

Back before becoming Empress, she had worked hard to please Shen Jie. Although Shen Jie’s heart might not have truly favored her, well, men—who doesn’t like being pleased by beautiful women?

So during that period she was considered “favored.”

But after Shen Jie ascended the throne and Jiang Xuening became Empress, having achieved her goal, she became too lazy to please Shen Jie anymore. Conveniently, not long after, Xiao Shu entered the palace. She simply allowed the harem women to compete for favor, happily letting the Emperor rest in Xiao Shu’s palace while she herself didn’t even have to serve him. She just wielded the phoenix seal in Kunning Palace, wholeheartedly being her Empress, living too comfortably.

Until one day, Xiao Shu became pregnant, was enfeoffed as Imperial Noble Consort, and Shen Jie even had her assist in managing the six palaces.

Jiang Xuening finally began to panic.

Or rather, began to rage.

It turned out that after becoming Empress, it didn’t mean one would be Empress for life. With so many people in the harem, some capable ones would always emerge. Especially someone like Xiao Shu—from a great aristocratic family with extremely strong support from her maternal clan, capable herself, very accomplished, accustomed to being above others her entire life. She would probably find it difficult to be satisfied with merely being an Imperial Noble Consort, and difficult to tolerate anyone above her.

Thus the struggle officially began.

Although Jiang Xuening’s relationship with her maternal family wasn’t great, their honor and disgrace were tied together. At that time, Jiang Boyou had newly assumed the position of Minister of Revenue and could be considered influential at court.

She also had Zhou Yinzhi, who by then already controlled more than half the Embroidered Uniform Guard—ruthless, efficient, and reliable.

And quite interestingly, the Xiao clan had a legitimate eldest son who had been “lost and living outside,” called Xiao Dingfei. He had just been “found and brought back” those two years and could properly inherit the title of Heir Apparent of the Duke of Cheng—Xiao Shu’s half-brother from the same father. While incompetent at everything else, his dissolute and licentious nature was famous throughout court and countryside. With his complete scoundrel demeanor, he was extremely devoted to Jiang Xuening, truly submissive. For her sake, Xiao Dingfei could anger the Duke of Cheng into unconsciousness, and gave not the slightest face to his sister Xiao Shu, serving as an excellent blade for Jiang Xuening to use against the Duke of Cheng’s manor.

So in fighting against Xiao Shu and the Duke of Cheng’s manor, she truly wasn’t at a disadvantage—at most the battle situation was somewhat deadlocked.

Later when Xie Wei made his move to bring down the Xiao family, she had applauded joyfully for a while.

Of course, she couldn’t be happy for long.

Because at most half a year later, Xie Wei made another move to bring down the imperial family, controlling the entire court and countryside. Jiang Xuening, this Empress, finally lost her glory.

Truly a case of “when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits.”

Although both she and Xiao Shu’s endings weren’t good, and both ultimately fell into Xie Wei’s hands due to court entanglements, she should have felt some sympathy for this former “opponent” who shared her bitter fate.

But actually, that wasn’t the case at all.

Xie Wei was certainly a devil wearing a saint’s skin, but that didn’t mean Xiao Shu was a good person, much less that she should be “united against a common enemy” with Xiao Shu.

On the contrary, in this life Jiang Xuening still didn’t much like her, and was wary of her.

Facing Xiao Shu’s proactive greeting, she lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, only faintly nodding in return, still appearing rather distant.

Xiao Shu’s gaze gained a few more traces of scrutiny.

But soon her attention shifted, because Huang Renli had finished counting heads and called several palace attendants to carry their belongings. After verifying their waist tokens, he led them into the palace while introducing the surrounding palace halls along the way.

Huang Renli knew this group consisted entirely of noble young ladies, and among them were both friends of Her Highness the Grand Princess and people the Grand Princess was very interested in. Combined with his soft, feminine voice, his speech was as gentle and warm as a spring breeze: “This time all you young ladies will be staying at Yangzhi Study. His Majesty truly put his heart into preparing this companion reader arrangement for Her Highness. Yangzhi Study was originally a place for princes’ companion readers to stay. However, since there are currently no princes in the palace, just as you young ladies are entering, the Office of Palace Eunuchs was ordered to replace all the furnishings with new ones and plant some flowers and trees suitable for appreciation. When you stay there, each person will have one room—it’s quite spacious. This place is adjacent to Fengchen Hall where lessons will be held, so it’s very close. To the north it connects to the six palaces where the imperial consorts reside, and to the south one can distantly see the outer court’s Wenhua Hall and Wenzhao Pavilion. It’s very convenient for teachers coming and going to lecture for Her Highness the Princess and you young ladies. However, being at the edge of the inner court, somewhat closer to the outer court, if young ladies fear accidentally encountering anyone, you can only be slightly careful and walk around less.”

Although this dynasty’s separation between men and women wasn’t that severe, some manors had extremely strict rules and cared greatly about such matters, even barely letting their daughters see any men outside the family. This was why Huang Renli said this.

Jiang Xuening naturally didn’t care.

But among the other young ladies traveling with her, some nodded deeply in agreement.

Jiang Xuening sneered at this.

Yangzhi Study couldn’t have been more convenient for her in her previous life.

Close to Wenhua Hall—some teachers who finished lecturing to the Emperor, princes, and ministers could walk a short distance to come lecture the Princess. Similarly, people like Yan Lin and Shen Jie who attended the teachers’ lectures could also sneak over.

Sometimes when Xie Wei lectured on certain texts, other royal descendants and sons of aristocrats would request the Emperor’s permission and specially set up screens to sit outside and listen.

It was simply perfect for seducing whoever one wanted.

Yangzhi Study in this life was the same as in her previous life.

Even the positions of the two newly planted osmanthus trees beneath the palace walls were exactly the same. Because it previously housed princes’ companion readers, it was quite elegant and plain, carrying the scholarly atmosphere of ink and books—at a glance one knew it was a place for learning.

Noble young ladies accustomed to wealth at home might not find it particularly impressive.

But someone like Yao Rongrong from a small household showed delighted surprise in her eyes. She wanted to praise the palace’s grandeur, but turning her head to see others’ expressions were all placid, the words about to leave her mouth were quietly swallowed back down.

Huang Renli said: “Everything here has already been cleaned, but you young ladies will need to discuss among yourselves which rooms to stay in. After you’ve all selected your lodgings and tidied up a bit, several female officials from the Bureau of Palace Attendants will come to teach palace etiquette. Young ladies must gather your spirits to cope, because Director Su will personally come to observe. She has served in the palace for many years and spent her early years constantly attending to Grand Princess Her Highness—one could say she watched the Princess grow up. She has extremely strict requirements regarding etiquette. If you cannot pass her examination, even if you’ve made this trip to the palace, I’m afraid you’ll inevitably have to return home afterward.”

Director Su.

Upon hearing this title, as if by conditioned reflex, Jiang Xuening felt her knees, waist, back, neck, and even fingers all begin to ache faintly.

In her previous life, she had originally grown up in the countryside and never liked learning rules.

After returning to the capital, relying on having Yan Lin, she became even more unbridled.

As a result, upon entering the palace she ran right into her hands. Moreover, Director Su had served and raised Shen Zhiyi, and whether because she felt indignant on behalf of the Princess or had received some instruction from Shen Zhiyi, she was extraordinarily strict with her, repeatedly tormenting her—one small mistake and she had to start over from the beginning.

At such times, it was especially humiliating.

Because everyone else had already learned while they all stood aside watching her make a fool of herself, their gazes inevitably strange, pointing and whispering about her.

Many of the noble young ladies who came as companion readers today had deliberately inquired about palace matters beforehand. Regarding this Director Su of the Bureau of Palace Attendants, they obviously had heard rumors as well, all showing expressions of slight fear.

This led to everyone quietly whispering while selecting rooms.

“I know Director Su—she’s incredibly, incredibly frightening. This morning when my mother left, she even said it would be best if I didn’t encounter her. But Eunuch Huang also said several female officials would come, so they should teach separately, right? If I really encounter Director Su, what will I do? Wuu…”

“Is, is she really that scary?”

“This room faces south with the window opening to the west, and outside it’s right by the osmanthus tree—I should encounter a benefactor. I’m choosing this room—none of you fight me for it! Lord Lao protect me, choosing this room will let me smoothly pass this trial.”

Jiang Xuening didn’t compete with them for particularly good rooms, simply picking the most secluded one in the corner that also had poor lighting. Just listening to the voices coming from behind, she could tell who was who.

The one whose speech always carried suffixes like “lo” and “ya” with a sweet voice was Zhou Baoying.

The timid one was Yao Rongrong.

The one mysteriously choosing a room while muttering calculations for ages was that half-mystic Fang Miao.

The others didn’t speak much.

Soon selections were made.

Everyone very tacitly left the best room for Xiao Shu, with Chen Shuyi and Yao Xi’s rooms right on either side of her. The others’ rooms were scattered randomly. Jiang Xuening’s room was at the very edge, so only the east side still connected to another room—a position that also wasn’t great, chosen by Fan Yilan who also didn’t much care about this companion reader matter.

After selecting, they each went in to organize their belongings.

Jiang Xuening had brought the least, casually tidying up and finishing quickly. Coming out, she thought she would be the first.

Who would have thought, looking up, Fan Yilan was already sitting outside.

Seeing her emerge, Fan Yilan nodded to her. Perhaps feeling Jiang Xuening was like herself in taking these matters lightly, she rarely displayed a smile, smiling at her.

Indeed like an orchid blooming in an empty valley.

Though not devastatingly beautiful, she naturally possessed an air of refined, unworldly elegance.

Jiang Xuening estimated this Miss Fan might have mistaken her for a kindred spirit, but it was awkward to explain this “wonderful” misunderstanding. She simply brazenly accepted the other’s goodwill and also smiled.

The two didn’t speak, just sat in the outer room waiting.

After a good half hour, everyone finally finished tidying up one after another.

At this moment, an announcement came from outside saying the female officials from the Bureau of Palace Attendants had arrived to teach etiquette. The palace maids inside and outside Yangzhi Study almost immediately all stood straight, bowing with lowered heads, holding their breath, making not half a sound more.

Everyone was shocked by this display.

Immediately after, four female officials were seen walking in from outside the palace gate.

The one in front wore a gray-blue fifth-rank female official’s robe, her hair bun piled high and secured with two ruyi cloud-pattern gold hairpins. Her hands were folded at her waist and abdomen but didn’t actually touch her waist. As she walked, her entire bearing was rigorous and orderly, each step covering exactly the same distance as if measured. On a face showing some age, not half a trace of smile could be seen. Wrinkles had formed at the corners of her eyes, and her brow also had a shallow vertical crease from frequent frowning. When her gaze swept across everyone, it was both cold and severe, without any warmth.

Among the twelve, those with small courage were immediately frightened into lowering their heads.

Only Xiao Shu, Chen Shuyi, Fan Yilan, and a few others could still calmly and composedly bow in greeting.

Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi frequently entered the palace and had long since learned etiquette.

Fan Yilan, however, viewed everyone the same way, so she didn’t find Director Su frightening either.

Seeing this situation, Director Su’s brows knit together. She walked to stand directly in front of everyone and said in a voice completely devoid of tonal inflection: “Today the Bureau of Palace Attendants has been ordered to teach you young ladies some palace etiquette, for a period of two days. You may address me as ‘Director Su.’ Henceforth you will all be companion readers for Grand Princess Her Highness and must be especially cautious. Therefore, I hope everyone will treat these two days seriously. If anyone is negligent or truly cannot learn, that person will be asked to leave the palace and return home.”

Earlier, Huang Renli had already said roughly the same thing, but hearing it, everyone hadn’t felt much. Yet when these words came from Director Su’s mouth, everyone’s hearts trembled and they shivered with cold.

Seeing they had all taken it to heart, Director Su finally said: “Now please divide yourselves into three groups, young ladies. In a moment, three female officials will teach separately, which will also allow for more thorough guidance.”

Everyone bowed in unison: “Yes.”

Next, Director Su went to sit to one side.

Seeing this, everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief: It seemed this most strict and frightening Director would not personally “guide” them after all.

But when it came to “self-dividing into groups,” things became rather delicate.

Xiao Shu, Chen Shuyi, and Yao Xi had arrived in the same carriage, so naturally they were together.

You Yue, however, looked around, then stepped forward to pull Fan Yilan along, walking toward Zhou Baoying who was about to go to Xiao Shu’s side, smiling at her: “I’ve wanted to meet Baoying for ages. Shall we be together?”

Zhou Baoying thought about it, feeling it didn’t matter either way, and nodded.

Jiang Xuening stood in place without moving, pondering who would be better for her this time—

In her previous life, wanting to excel and compete, she had been with Zhou Baoying.

As a result, with bad luck she’d encountered Director Su and been tormented beyond recognition.

In this life, although she originally planned to hold back and didn’t intend to pass smoothly, if she ran into Director Su again, while leaving the palace would certainly be guaranteed, she would also be tormented terribly.

She hadn’t quite decided yet.

“When it comes to choosing who to be with, one must definitely look at the ‘momentum.'” A mystical voice suddenly sounded from not far behind. Jiang Xuening turned to see—it was actually Fang Miao walking toward her, a pair of clever, lively eyes staring at her and shrewdly turning. One hand had already landed on Jiang Xuening’s shoulder as she smiled and said: “Second Miss Jiang has had excellent momentum recently, and your light is bright. I think if I can be with you, I’ll certainly be able to borrow some momentum and benefit from your light. So, I’ll be with Second Miss Jiang—”

The final “okay?” character abruptly stuck.

Fang Miao had originally heard that Jiang Xuening was the only person whose name hadn’t been originally submitted but ultimately appeared on the companion reader list, and had even won Grand Princess Leyang’s favor at the Double Ninth banquet. This time entering the palace, she was probably the person Her Highness the Grand Princess cared about most besides Xiao Shu. So she wanted to be with her to mix in more easily and have more opportunities to be noticed by the Grand Princess.

But inadvertently glancing from the corner of her eye, she actually saw Director Su had stood up again!

Not only stood up, but was walking toward Jiang Xuening’s direction!

Oh my goodness!

Fang Miao’s eyelids began wildly twitching. All the words of flattery she hadn’t yet had time to say to Jiang Xuening were swallowed back into her stomach. Her finger lightly turned, forcibly spinning in a circle to point toward Fan Yilan’s direction.

“Hey, the momentum over there seems quite good too!”

After saying this, she lifted the hand that had been resting on Jiang Xuening’s shoulder, even smoothed out the wrinkles in the fabric on her shoulder, and said: “Then I’ll go over there now. Don’t miss me, Second Miss Jiang!”

Then she ran off to Fan Yilan’s side in one breath.

For a moment, everyone looked at her with pitying gazes. You Yue even suddenly laughed with a “tsk” sound, thinking that Jiang Xuening had been arrogant at their Earl’s manor in the past—today she would finally suffer a great calamity. Such a person deserved to be properly dealt with. Falling into Director Su’s hands, even if she didn’t die, she’d be made to shed a layer of skin!

“…”

Only then did Jiang Xuening realize something seemed slightly off.

Then she heard a cool, indifferent voice behind her: “Second Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Xuening’s entire body stiffened. She turned around to see Director Su standing right behind her, though she didn’t know when she’d arrived!

Looking at this expressionless face, her entire body began to ache.

In her heart she thought it was indeed true that even in this life she couldn’t escape Director Su. But thinking positively, Director Su had strict requirements—as long as she displayed her spoiled temperament and opportunistic inferior nature, she would most likely be able to leave the palace.

She was about to perform a courtesy.

But she never expected that in the next moment, on Director Su’s stern, humorless face, a faint smile actually curved upward!

Although not obvious, compared to before it was a world of difference!

In this instant, not only Jiang Xuening but all the others who had been gloating or just preparing to watch the spectacle were dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were seeing!

The iron tree had bloomed!

The sun had risen from the west!

Director Su had actually smiled!

She must not be accustomed to smiling, so it looked somewhat awkwardly unnatural. At this moment, she only gazed at Jiang Xuening, even her voice softer and gentler than before: “This is Second Miss Jiang’s first time entering the palace, correct? I shall personally teach you etiquette.”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

Wait, is something wrong here?

All the others: “…”

What happened to treating everyone equally with exceptional strictness?!