How could they know that Director Su had watched Shen Zhiyi grow up, yet had never seen Her Highness the Princess display such a joyful smile and relieved expression in all her years?

That was the evening after returning from the Double Ninth Festival banquet outside the palace.

As usual, as dusk fell, she went from the Bureau of Palace Attendants to Mingfeng Palace to visit the Grand Princess.

When she entered, the palace attendants said the Princess was inside.

So she lifted the pearl curtain and actually saw the Princess sitting before her vanity mirror, gently reaching out to touch her own cheek.

Director Su felt as if she were dreaming.

Because all the palace attendants serving in Mingfeng Palace knew that what Her Highness the Grand Princess most detested seeing was mirrors. Except for major celebrations and ceremonies requiring solemnity and dignity, when she would glance in the mirror after the palace attendants finished dressing and adorning her, ordinarily she was unwilling to even look at a mirror. Her grooming relied entirely on the palace attendants’ eyes to see, while she herself didn’t much care.

What was happening now?

Before she could recover from her shock, her heart pounding as she wondered if something had happened to Her Highness the Princess, Her Highness the Grand Princess saw her in the mirror, stood up, turned, and embraced her, her face full of smiles: “Auntie, look at me!”

Only then did she see clearly.

The Grand Princess had changed her makeup, using cherry pink to lightly trace over the fine scar left at the corner of her eye in childhood, making it look like a falling cherry petal adorning a beauty’s face, erasing the brokenness left by that original wound and instead adding an entirely new brilliance.

More importantly was the Princess’s demeanor.

In the past, no matter how happy she was, a melancholic air had always shrouded her brow, but today it had all dissipated. Bright divine light burst forth from her eyes, frank and blazing.

In that moment, she truly couldn’t suppress the emotion that suddenly surged up within her, sincerely praising: “It’s truly beautiful.”

But the Grand Princess didn’t explain why she was suddenly like this.

Director Su naturally kept her wits about her. When leaving Mingfeng Palace, she inquired of the palace attendants who had accompanied the Grand Princess out of the palace that day to serve her, and only then learned that at the banquet in Count Qingyuan’s manor, she had encountered a very different young lady—the second miss from Secretary Jiang’s manor, called Jiang Xuening.

At the time, she was only gratified that the Princess had finally met a very good friend.

She didn’t intend to do anything.

But not long after, she saw this Second Miss Jiang’s name on the list of Her Highness the Princess’s companion readers.

Though Director Su didn’t dare presume to say she regarded Shen Zhiyi as her own, she was genuinely partial toward her, wishing nothing more than for Her Highness the Princess to stay with people who could make her happy. This was why she showed Jiang Xuening an unprecedented “pleasant countenance.”

Though everyone around had their jaws drop, she only looked at Jiang Xuening.

Seeing this Second Miss Jiang staring blankly at her, seemingly not reacting, her brows almost instinctively furrowed. But immediately after, thinking that this person would become the Princess’s good friend and couldn’t be casually rebuked, she reminded her again: “Second Miss Jiang?”

Only then did Jiang Xuening wake as if from a dream, hurriedly saying: “Then, then I’ll trouble Director.”

Director Su nodded, surveyed everyone once more, and said: “Let’s begin.”

Initially it was said the twelve would divide into three groups, but now there were clearly four distinct groups: Xiao Shu, Chen Shuyi, and Yao Xi, three people together; Fan Yilan, You Yue, Fang Miao, and Zhou Baoying, four people together; Yao Rongrong and three others Jiang Xuening had no impression of together; and Jiang Xuening, singled out, one person forming a group by herself.

The other three female officials taught those three groups.

Director Su personally instructed Jiang Xuening alone.

The others nearly had their eyeballs pop out: It must be known that most of their initial attitudes toward Jiang Xuening had been somewhat subtle. Who told her that although her name clearly hadn’t been submitted, in the end she’d been selected as a companion reader? Obviously there were some matters unknown to outsiders involved, giving her a very special position among this group of companion readers. Now not only was her selection special, but even learning etiquette in the palace, she received special treatment?

Even someone as strict as Director Su showed her favor!

Some people’s hearts truly became unbalanced.

Among them, You Yue was foremost.

She already had some past grievances with Jiang Xuening. Just now, seeing Director Su walk toward Jiang Xuening with a cold face, she thought Jiang Xuening was in for great misfortune. But before she could even enjoy it for a moment, Director Su’s attitude toward Jiang Xuening was like a slap to her face—her smile hadn’t even had time to fade before she felt the stinging pain.

At this moment, she nearly ground her good teeth to pieces in hatred.

However, very soon, while learning etiquette from the female officials on one hand and secretly paying attention to the progress between Director Su and Jiang Xuening on the other, everyone discovered: This Jiang Xuening seemed rather incompetent!

When female officials from the Bureau of Palace Attendants came to teach etiquette, the first thing they taught was standing.

Standing must have a proper standing posture.

Director Su explained very clearly: “Legs must be together, waist must be straight, back cannot bend even a bit, but the neck must lower slightly, head bowed three parts down. Hands folded and loosely clasped at the waist, not pressed tightly against it. Elbows must be raised, looking the same height on both sides—avoid lazily drooping them.”

However, looking at Jiang Xuening…

When her legs came together, her waist wasn’t straight; when her waist straightened, her back bent; when her back straightened, her neck went rigid; when her neck lowered, her head stubbornly lifted; with great difficulty getting everything right, the way her hands folded was wrong again, her left and right arms swaying like a tumbler toy, unable by any means to settle at the same height.

Never had anyone seen such uncoordinated limbs!

Yet Jiang Xuening herself maintained an unchanged expression, calm and composed, completely unaware of how terrible she was.

Director Su was famous in the palace for her strictness. In reality, she was someone who couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes. Ordinarily, if she saw anyone in the palace lacking in manners, she dared give them a cold-faced rebuke, so her temper itself was quite considerable.

She had originally thought that since this person could help the Princess find relief, she must be someone with clever thoughts and delicate sensibilities.

And looking at her appearance, she didn’t seem stupid either.

Who would have thought that teaching her would be like dealing with a block of elm wood, and moreover she was completely without shame? You poke her once, she corrects once; if you don’t poke, she can stand there frozen for ages without moving, completely unaware of checking where she went wrong herself. Where was that clever energy visible on her face?!

Director Su’s fingers folded and clasped at her waist grew somewhat tight, her knuckles faintly pale. For a moment she was about to lose control and explode.

But soon she thought of Grand Princess Leyang again.

No.

It didn’t matter.

Being a bit slow didn’t matter—at most it just meant teaching would take longer.

Be patient, be patient.

After repeatedly admonishing herself with these words in her heart, Director Su finally let out a soft breath, suppressing that surge of anger, maintaining the already somewhat stiff smile on her face, and insincerely said to Jiang Xuening: “It’s all right, take it slowly. Second Miss Jiang is already a bit better than before.”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

Director Su, when did your standards become so low?!

The others: “…”

This definitely isn’t the Director Su we know!

It must be fake!

Without a doubt, Jiang Xuening had no intention of seriously learning any etiquette here.

She had learned it all in her previous life.

Not to mention how she’d also lived in the palace for a period afterward. Even though after becoming Empress she’d been somewhat lax about deportment, many things had already become habits. No matter how bad she was, she couldn’t possibly be worse than these other misses just entering the palace as companion readers.

But these noble young ladies worked hard to be able to stay.

Someone like her who’d made up her mind and was determined to leave—why should she be serious, why should she work hard?

Not only should she not be serious or work hard, she should deliberately act as if she couldn’t learn no matter what, making Director Su think she was rotten wood that couldn’t be carved.

However, the plan’s progress wasn’t smooth.

Jiang Xuening’s earlier ominous premonition had actually come true: Although in this life it was still Director Su teaching her, first she was pleasant with her, and second she was extremely patient with her, completely lacking that previous life’s demonic posture of nitpicking where even good could be called inadequate! On the contrary, no matter how she performed, how she acted up, Director Su tightly clasped her hands, looking at her with encouraging eyes that said “try harder, I believe you can”…

Too tricky.

Being looked at with such eyes by the psychological trauma from her previous life, goosebumps erupted all over her body.

Jiang Xuening’s entire state was terrible!

No, she needed to stay calm.

She knew what kind of temper Director Su had.

Right now it might be due to some other reason that she was especially tolerant toward her, but everyone’s tolerance had limits. Once a certain extreme was crossed, even a saint would erupt.

If the method of hiding incompetence and playing dumb didn’t work immediately, that was fine—she absolutely couldn’t give up.

Perseverance meant victory!

If she still couldn’t provoke Director Su now, it must be because she wasn’t acting up enough, hadn’t been acting up long enough!

Jiang Xuening could see Director Su was enduring. She deliberately and seemingly inadvertently let the arm she’d just raised droop down again. After clearly seeing the corner of Director Su’s eye twitch uncontrollably, she put on a shy, bashful smile and said hesitantly: “Thank you, Director. I’ve just been slow since childhood, unable to learn anything. I’ve troubled you greatly…”

I don’t believe you can still endure this!

Director Su indeed almost couldn’t endure it, wanting to sternly rebuke her for not just being slow but, more importantly, lazy!

However, the words reached her lips and were still swallowed back.

Think of the Princess.

Think of the Princess.

She reflected that perhaps she’d been pushing too hard, making this Second Miss Jiang somewhat nervous, and she herself also needed to calm down, so she said: “It’s fine. Second Miss has practiced for so long, you must be tired. Rest a moment before continuing.”

The others being strictly instructed by other female officials: ????!!

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

The air seemed filled with the sound of blades cutting through.

Jiang Xuening clearly felt over a dozen eye-daggers from beside her instantly flying onto her body, wishing they could poke her into a sieve!

It must be known that the others weren’t like her at all.

Director Su was the chief female official of the Bureau of Palace Attendants. These three other female officials who came with her were all considered her subordinates. Now sharing a room with Director Su, teaching palace etiquette under the eyes of the historically strict Director Su—which one dared not summon their full attention?

Even those who had originally received some bribe money to go easy on someone didn’t dare slack off now.

If they were accidentally seen by Director Su, that would become a huge matter.

So these female officials not only showed no laxity but were even stricter than usual, unsmiling, practically becoming the second, third, and fourth Director Sus!

Yet Director Su herself…

Was unprecedentedly going easy.

So the situation these others faced was completely opposite from the situation they’d initially envisioned.

They’d thought that falling into Director Su’s hands with such clumsy limbs, Jiang Xuening would definitely be tormented beyond recognition while they watched the spectacle from the side. But the current situation was that Jiang Xuening was relaxed and easy on Director Su’s side without the slightest trouble, while the ordinary female officials they’d thought wouldn’t be very strict were working them to death!

When they couldn’t learn, the female officials gave cold rebukes.

When Jiang Xuening couldn’t learn, Director Su told her to sit and rest!

For an instant, even Jiang Xuening was intimidated: At the beginning, not having her name submitted but still entering had already made her very special among everyone, vaguely isolated. Now learning etiquette with such special treatment, if she truly sat down, she would undoubtedly immediately become a thorn in everyone’s side, everyone’s “public enemy”!

However, things had already happened.

She realized that the more this was the case, the more she needed to muster all her strength to leave the palace. Otherwise, should she stay here waiting to be torn to pieces by everyone else?

No retreat was possible.

She must take offense as defense.

Jiang Xuening immediately showed a moved and delighted expression, saying: “I was already tired. Director is truly so considerate of people.”

Then, steeling herself, appearing calm as she plopped down onto the chair beside her.

That’s right, truly “plopped.”

Carelessly, without half a trace of elegant deportment.

Director Su instantly felt a breath catch in her chest, barely able to come up. She forced herself to immediately turn her gaze away, single-mindedly chanting in her heart: Namo Amitabha, out of sight, out of mind! Out of sight, out of mind! Since the Princess regards her so favorably, this young lady must have outstanding qualities. That I haven’t discovered them yet must be due to my own poor discernment. Calm down and slowly discover her beauty!

After all, she’d been standing for most of an hour already. After Jiang Xuening sat down, her entire body felt comfortable, except…

Her back felt a bit cool.

Turning her eyes to look, as expected, everyone else’s gazes had all fallen on her. That You Yue’s face was iron-blue, nearly crooked with anger.

Fang Miao was also looking at her.

At this moment she stood behind Fan Yilan, looking at Jiang Xuening’s obviously very comfortable posture and that obviously very comfortable chair, nearly crying with envy, wishing she could beat up herself from over half an hour ago.

Why bother!

Why switch!

First instincts were always right!

Jiang Xuening was the one with “momentum”—why hadn’t she mustered the courage to persist? Otherwise she could be sitting there comfortably now too…

Fortunately, she didn’t sit for too long.

After Director Su adjusted her mindset, she invited her to stand up again and continue learning the rules.

However, what she never expected was—

After resting for a while, Jiang Xuening not only showed no improvement but seemed even worse than before! As if certain that Director Su was very patient with her, she’d simply lost even that initial air of a refined young lady, looking at her made one angry!

Director Su truly felt she was about to make herself sick holding it in.

Even the smile at the corners of her lips could barely be maintained.

She was still trying hard to maintain it though. Even with a trembling voice, she had to say to Jiang Xuening: “It’s all right, it’s already somewhat better. Second Miss Jiang, try once more.”

Little did she know that at this moment, Jiang Xuening’s heart was also trembling.

She really wanted to rush up and grab Director Su by the shoulders, shake her, and roar at her: Director Su! Snap out of it and show your original temper!

But she couldn’t.

Now it was a matter of who could hold their composure and who would break first.

The others’ etiquette instruction had already progressed more than halfway when Director Su and Jiang Xuening’s side finally managed to complete “standing.” At this point, whether the instructor or the instructed, both had fine beads of sweat seeping from their foreheads.

Director Su’s was from anger.

Jiang Xuening’s was from exhaustion.

Even though Director Su was pleasant with her, having to repeat those foolish movements over and over was no small burden for her. She also had to be careful not to accidentally do it right and expose herself—it was truly quite arduous.

During the second rest, she looked at Director Su’s expression and estimated her patience must already be reaching its limit. Just one more push and she could be rebuked and sent home from the palace.

So when she stood up the third time, Jiang Xuening’s heart was full of hope.

Now they were beginning to learn “walking.”

She planned to continue acting up, but unexpectedly, at this moment Grand Princess Leyang Shen Zhiyi actually entered from outside.

Accompanying the announcement “Grand Princess Her Highness arrives,” everyone bowed in courtesy.

Today Shen Zhiyi wore light blue palace attire. The scar beneath the corner of her left eye was still painted into a falling cherry petal, quite beautiful. As she walked in smiling, she was as bright as the clear blue sky outside, dazzlingly beautiful.

As soon as she approached, her gaze fell on Jiang Xuening.

Jiang Xuening’s entire body stiffened.

But she only waved her hand, sat down to one side, and said to everyone: “No need for excessive courtesy. This Princess is just here to observe. Continue as you were.”

Everyone immediately responded in unison.

The female officials returned to teaching the others.

Director Su continued teaching Jiang Xuening.

At this moment, Jiang Xuening hadn’t yet sensed anything wrong. Although Grand Princess Leyang’s arrival made her somewhat uneasy, ultimately the other party had only glanced at her without any excessive actions, which put her slightly at ease.

She gathered her composure and continued the act.

Director Su said: “When walking in the palace, remember to watch the road—don’t look around. A woman’s step distance should be one chi at best, which is the distance of this ruler placed beneath your feet…”

Jiang Xuening took a step.

Suddenly, “snap”—”accidentally,” she stepped on the ruler.

The ruler broke.

Director Su began to feel a tendon in her temple tighten and continuously throb, faintly about to snap.

However, at this moment, a voice came from beside her.

It was actually Shen Zhiyi, supporting her chin with her hand, smiling as she gazed at Jiang Xuening, eyes about to emit stars, not even turning her head as she said to the palace maid beside her: “Look, she broke something from the palace, and her expression didn’t change even half a bit—so composed, so calm…”

The others: “…”

Wait, what’s with this tone that contains not a trace of blame and even reveals a bit of admiration and infatuation!

Jiang Xuening: “…”

Just pretend I didn’t hear that. It’s fine. I can continue acting!

Hearing Shen Zhiyi’s words, Director Su witnessed firsthand her Princess’s fondness for this young lady before her. Her original anger immediately calmed down. She collected herself again and had someone fetch another ruler, saying to Jiang Xuening: “Please step again, Second Miss.”

Jiang Xuening stepped again.

This time she didn’t step on the ruler, but the stride she took was at most half a chi, appearing extremely casual, far from the “one chi is best” Director Su had initially stated.

Seeing this, Shen Zhiyi sighed softly and, cupping her face, exclaimed in admiration: “In ancient times, poets describing beautiful women in delicate states spoke of ‘willow swaying in wind’ and ‘lotus steps lightly moving.’ I didn’t believe it, thinking that when a woman’s steps are too small it shows some timidity and might not look good. But seeing Ningning, I’ve learned that there truly are people in this world whose small steps are so beautiful…”

The others were completely unable to understand what was happening!

What kind of perspective did Her Highness the Grand Princess have?!

This was clearly not taking Director Su’s words to heart and being very negligent—how had it become praised to the heavens coming from her mouth?!

After hearing this, Jiang Xuening’s footing became unsteady and she wobbled, nearly slipping.

Shen Zhiyi pressed her palms together at her chest, her eyes curved like crescent moons filled with soft and tolerant light, only saying: “Look, even nearly slipping she maintains an unchanged expression. Beautiful people truly make everything they do pleasing to the eye!”

“…”

Having just steadied herself with lingering fear, upon hearing these words Jiang Xuening’s heart trembled and eyelid jumped. This time she truly accidentally had her left foot trip over her right foot, instantly losing her balance and kneeling to the ground!

Fortunately, she caught herself with her palms in time so it didn’t hurt too much.

Seeing this, Shen Zhiyi immediately rose from her seat, actually walking directly to her side to help her up, looking distressed: “How are you so careless? Did the fall hurt?”

Jiang Xuening rose on weak legs, already seeming to have lost half her life, tremulously saying: “This subject grew up in the countryside and truly has never learned palace rules. Being lazy and dull-witted, I really cannot learn palace etiquette and fear I’ve failed Your Highness’s great kindness. Remaining here would only bring shame. Please, Your Highness, send this subject from the palace. This subject knows her limitations and dares not presume to be the Princess’s companion reader.”

“What nonsense are you saying!”

Shen Zhiyi had already taken her hand, an intimacy natural in her manner.

“Last time at the Double Ninth banquet you painted this Princess a falling cherry makeup. This Princess loved it very much—everyone in the palace who saw it has imitated it. This Princess couldn’t be happier to have you! As for palace etiquette, if you can’t learn it, it’s no matter. This Princess will protect you. Besides, you don’t even know how much effort this Princess expended to get you into the palace!”

Jiang Xuening’s eyelid jumped again, a familiar sense of foreboding surging to her heart.

Sure enough, Shen Zhiyi showed a slightly aggrieved expression but leaned closer, looking rather pitiful, yet her words carried exactly the same tone of claiming credit as Yan Lin: “At first, although Yan Lin asked this Princess to add your name, and this Princess indeed wanted you to enter the palace, the companion reader selection must follow the rules established by the Ministry of Rites. Names not initially submitted cannot become companion readers. This Princess went to those old men at the Ministry of Rites and wore them down for ages before they agreed! How about that—I’m good to you, right? Are you happy?”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

As expected, in getting me into the palace, you also had a hand!

Jiang Xuening’s face had already gone wooden. Looking back at Shen Zhiyi’s bright, beautiful face, she slowly curved her lips in a smile and answered very appropriately: “Your Highness the Grand Princess is too good to this subject. This subject is truly very happy.”

Truly—

So. Damn. Freaking. Happy!