No normal person could withstand Grand Princess Leyang’s completely baseless, eyes-shut flattery that disregarded all facts, let alone someone like Jiang Xuening who carried psychological trauma from her previous life.

Fortunately, this situation didn’t last long.

Shen Zhiyi had barely sat there for a while when palace servants came from outside to find her, saying the Empress Dowager had summoned her to come talk and relieve her boredom. Shen Zhiyi had no choice but to reluctantly leave.

Before departing, she still grasped Jiang Xuening’s hand and said, “In any case, this princess likes you. During these days in the palace, if anything comes up, just tell the palace maids at Yangzhi Hall, and they’ll come report to me. Mother Empress is looking for me, so I’ll go now, but I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

Jiang Xuening thus breathed a sigh of relief, watching as Shen Zhiyi departed.

Ultimately, this day ended with her “barely” finishing learning palace etiquette under the dedicated and infinitely patient Su Shangyi’s guidance—

There was no help for it.

Pretending was simply too exhausting. Moreover, when Jiang Xuening reflected on Shen Zhiyi’s attitude about this matter, she had even said things like “it doesn’t matter if you can’t learn it.” What was the point of continuing to pretend?

When one plan failed, she needed to switch to another.

However, she couldn’t let others see through her intentions, so she persevered until the sky gradually darkened, then acted as if Su Shangyi had gradually taught her well. Her movements began to flow smoothly and gradually met Su Shangyi’s exacting standards.

In the end, Su Shangyi rarely showed a pleased expression. Looking at her, she pointed at her and said to everyone, “This proves that even poor natural talent doesn’t matter. Since ancient times, common sayings have taught us ‘the clumsy bird flies first’ and ‘diligence can compensate for lack of talent.’ As long as one is willing to work hard, many difficult things in this world can still be overcome. Second Miss Jiang did very well today. You should all take her as a mirror and example.”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

In their hearts, the others were all grumbling that if this could serve as a “mirror and example,” they might as well not enter the palace at all. However, they all said in unison, “Yes, thank you for Shangyi Su’s guidance.”

Only then did Su Shangyi dismiss them, leading the three female officials from the Shangyi Bureau away.

In this late autumn weather, Jiang Xuening had worked up a full body sweat. Seeing everyone leave, she immediately became too lazy to exchange pleasantries with anyone, promptly returning to her own room and asking the Yangzhi Hall palace maids to prepare fragrant bathwater for her.

The others lagged behind somewhat.

Miss Chen Shuyi, from the household of Grand Secretary Chen Yunjin, walked alongside Xiao Shu with Yao Xi.

She glanced at Yao Xi, who seemed lost in thought, then her gaze flickered slightly before she spoke coolly to Xiao Shu, “Though I haven’t seen much of Her Highness the Grand Princess, I’ve rarely seen her treat anyone so well. This Second Miss Jiang merely did her makeup once, how does that warrant such favor from the princess?”

Chen Shuyi hadn’t gone to Count Qingyuan’s residence, so naturally she didn’t know.

But Xiao Shu had been present throughout.

Playing with a delicate fragrant fan in her hand, lowering her eyes demurely, she merely laughed, not seeming to harbor the same hidden apprehension as Chen Shuyi. Instead, she appeared quite casual: “If it were merely doing her makeup, of course it wouldn’t warrant this. What matters are the words spoken at that time. Such words, Shuyi—you and I could never speak them in this lifetime.”

Chen Shuyi looked thoughtful.

*

Since everyone was gathering together for the first time under such circumstances, and it was their first day entering the palace, by evening, after everyone had bathed and dined, someone—who knows who—initiated the idea of gathering in the Flowing Water Pavilion, specifically set aside in Yangzhi Hall for everyone to study and take tea.

Jiang Xuening originally had no interest.

After all, in her previous life, this group didn’t discuss anything interesting—always just perfumes, hairpieces, and at most chatting about promising young talents outside. There was really nothing novel about it.

But she couldn’t help that everyone now thought she was impressive.

Who told her to have such favor with Grand Princess Leyang?

During today’s etiquette lessons, everyone had witnessed the situation. Though they all privately felt she had gone too far in pulling strings through the back door, on the surface they had to be even friendlier toward her. While they were all daughters of prominent families and wouldn’t stoop to “fawning,” their words were all very gentle. Even You Yue had withdrawn her previous hostile gaze upon seeing her, forcing a smile from her lips.

So she was pulled over by Fang Miao and several others.

Six or seven people sat around a round table, while the rest scattered on the kang by the window, chatting with each other and occasionally picking up candied fruits and dried nuts from plates to eat.

Zhou Baoying buried herself completely in the food, not even lifting her head when anyone approached.

Xiao Shu, however, seemed to regard Jiang Xuening with particular favor. Seeing her enter, she nodded in greeting and smiled, “Sister Jiang certainly stole all the spotlight today.”

Jiang Xuening was thoroughly exhausted and could only pull her lips into a smile, putting on an awkward expression as if not knowing how to respond, merely saying, “Sister Xiao is joking.”

Seeing that she still had no intention of conversing deeply with anyone, Xiao Shu couldn’t very well continue talking with her and simply turned to speak with others instead.

Everyone couldn’t help but complain about today’s female officials.

Yao Rongrong sat rather timidly in a corner, her face flushed red: “My family never really taught me these things growing up, so I learn far too slowly. Fortunately, there was Sister Jiang, who was about the same as me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do today…”

Everyone who heard these words froze.

Should they call this young lady foolish or especially foolish?

You can keep such thoughts to yourself—why speak them aloud?

The room suddenly fell silent for a moment.

You Yue cracked a melon seed. Though her expression wasn’t too obvious, her eyes revealed interest in watching the drama unfold.

It took Yao Rongrong a moment to realize she’d said something wrong. Remembering Jiang Xuening’s favor with the princess today, she immediately shrank back and hurriedly apologized to Jiang Xuening: “I-I didn’t mean it that way just now…”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

She wasn’t angry, only felt sorry for her.

In her previous life, she’d had no interaction with Yao Rongrong and had no intention of making things difficult for her. She merely smiled casually and said, “It’s fine. I’m naturally slow too and truly can’t learn very well. It’s just that Shangyi Su was so conscientious, going over it again and again until it was hard not to learn it.”

Fan Yilan was kind-hearted. She had originally taken a poetry collection from the bookshelf to browse, but now, perhaps seeing Yao Rongrong’s embarrassment, she interjected, “It seems we’re to study palace etiquette for two days? But initially the palace said that our first entry would be a three-day stay. I heard that on the final day, the teachers will set questions to test us, examining everyone’s learning to determine the content and depth of future lectures. I just don’t know which teacher will come to examine us then…”

Who else could it be?

Xie Ju’an, of course.

Jiang Xuening sneered inwardly.

Sure enough, the previously taciturn Chen Shuyi answered, “It should be Tutor Xie. Currently, he presides over the palace’s classics mat lectures, and his learning is extraordinary. This time he’s also to teach us music and literature, with the other teachers following his lead. When I entered the palace, Father specifically instructed me that entering the palace doesn’t guarantee becoming the princess’s companion reader. Besides learning etiquette, our learning must also pass the teachers’ examination. Being too good doesn’t matter, but if we’re too poor, the companion reader teachers won’t know how to arrange lessons for us. Lecturing too deeply means we won’t understand, lecturing too slowly will hold back Her Highness the Grand Princess. So the third day’s examination is also used for selection. At that time, if unsuitable, we’ll similarly be advised by the teachers to withdraw.”

This was the second plan Jiang Xuening had prepared.

Given the changes with Su Shangyi and Grand Princess Leyang, it was clear that no matter how she pretended to be foolish, even if she lay on the ground, she could pass the etiquette portion. Naturally, this eliminated any possibility of being dismissed from the palace for failing to learn etiquette.

But Grand Princess Leyang couldn’t possibly control Xie Wei!

As long as she could break through her own bottom line during the third day’s examination—turning in a blank test or writing complete nonsense—she would inevitably anger Xie Wei or the other teachers who never lowered their standards in this regard. Then being advised to return home due to poor learning would be a foregone conclusion.

At the mention of Xie Wei, these daughters of prominent families suddenly became somewhat excited.

One said, “It won’t really be Teacher Xie coming in person, will it?”

You Yue teased, “Why are you blushing?”

She spat at her and covered her face, saying, “Once you’ve seen him someday, you’ll blush too!”

Yao Rongrong timidly chimed in, “I’ve heard Father mention Teacher Xie many times at home, but they all say that in four more years Teacher Xie will reach the age of thirty, yet he’s always been alone, never discussing marriage. It’s really quite strange.”

Fang Miao immediately looked up: “What’s so strange about that?”

Yao Rongrong softly said, “Ah.”

Fang Miao lowered her head again to arrange several copper coins on the table, seemingly wanting to divine something, only saying, “Most in the capital know that though Teacher Xie comes from a Confucian background, in recent years he’s devoted himself to Buddhist and Taoist studies. Every year he sets aside two months to temporarily reside at Suspended Sky Temple and Three Purities Temple for fasting and retreat, discussing scriptures and debating philosophy with others. He practices purity and abstinence, avoiding women, so not establishing a family isn’t worth making a fuss over.”

Avoiding women?

At this mention, Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but recall the humiliation from her previous life.

All sorts of malicious thoughts bubbled up in her mind: What purity and abstinence—someone in such a high position without even a woman by his side, who knows what’s not working properly!

Everyone was joking and laughing amongst themselves.

Outside, a young palace maid suddenly bowed at the doorway, softly calling to Jiang Xuening: “Second Miss Jiang, someone is looking for you.”

Jiang Xuening immediately raised her eyebrows, instinctively asking, “Who?”

The little palace maid blinked at her without speaking.

Jiang Xuening recalled events from her previous life and suddenly understood. She stopped asking, merely saying to the others, “Excuse me, I’ll go take a look.”

She followed the little palace maid out of Yangzhi Hall.

The route actually led toward the Wenhua Hall.

Just as they were about to reach the former court’s domain, fortunately they stopped at a fork in the path not far ahead. Looking up, Yan Lin stood beneath a patch of autumn begonias, wearing a black robe, waiting for her.

The little palace maid quietly withdrew.

Jiang Xuening walked forward: “It’s so late, and you still haven’t left the palace?”

Having heard some things from Shen Jie about today’s etiquette lessons for the Grand Princess’s companion readers, Yan Lin had come especially to check, fearing she might have suffered some grievance. Now he carefully examined her and said, “The palace gates won’t be locked for a while yet. Since this is your first time entering the palace, I really couldn’t rest easy. I also heard that the Su Shangyi teaching you today was very strict, and that you even fell in front of the Grand Princess. Look, I just stopped by the Imperial Medical Bureau to request some medicine. Remember to apply it tonight, don’t come back from the palace limping. I won’t want such a bride.”

Unconsciously, he’d again said something rather intimate.

Jiang Xuening’s expression remained unchanged.

But Yan Lin’s cheeks reddened. Suddenly realizing he’d been too forward again, he couldn’t help but cough to cover it up and change the subject: “Are you getting used to things today?”

The medicine he’d requested came in a small white porcelain bottle. Jiang Xuening clutched it in her hand, ice-cold, and under the night sky looked up at the youth, saying, “I’m getting used to it, and the Grand Princess is also quite caring toward me. You needn’t worry.”

Yan Lin had specifically spoken to Shen Zhiyi about it, so hearing this, he felt reassured.

A faint smile played at his lips, and now he looked at her with a different expression.

Like catching the little tail of a certain thieving cat.

He said mischievously, “When the classics mat lectures ended at Wenhua Hall today, I encountered the Vice Minister.”

He must mean Jiang Boyou.

Jiang Xuening didn’t understand what he meant and blinked at him.

Yan Lin raised an eyebrow and said, “He asked me whether I’d recently taught you some method for dealing with people, so you could use a copy of ‘Youxue Qionglin’ disguised as an account book to discipline disobedient servants throughout the household. I thought, he wouldn’t ask me for no reason, and it didn’t seem like a bad thing, so I acknowledged it. But you know, and I know—I never taught you that.”

Jiang Xuening lowered her eyes: “I knew you would cover for me, which is why I blamed it on you.”

Yan Lin smiled and tapped her nose bridge, only asking, “Then who actually taught you?”

Jiang Xuening said, “I figured it out myself.”

Yan Lin gazed at her, not speaking for a small moment. Deep in his dark eyes, his gaze flickered slightly, but ultimately he reached out his hand and patted her head, saying, “My Ningning has secrets now.”

Yes.

Your Ningning has secrets now.

Only this secret—she would never dare tell him.

Jiang Xuening simply raised her eyes again to look at him, her pupils clear black and white, transparent and lovely as glass beads, but she said nothing.

Yan Lin then said, “When someday you want to tell someone, tell me, all right? I want to be the very first person in the world to know Ningning’s secret.”

The youth’s gaze upon her held infinite tolerance.

For that instant, Jiang Xuening’s heart softened.

However, what churned in her memory were all the scenes from her previous life when he returned to court and entered her chambers reeking of alcohol. The fingers clutching that white porcelain medicine bottle tightened slightly, but ultimately she still nodded and said, “All right.”

Yan Lin was thus satisfied. The small trace of displeasure from earlier completely dissipated. Seeing it was getting late and fearing he’d miss when the palace gates were locked, he said reluctantly, “These days you’ll all be learning rules, and you’ll likely also be examined on your learning by the teachers. It wouldn’t be good for me to openly come find you. Tomorrow at the same time, let’s meet here. I’ll inquire about what you’ll be tested on the third day and give it to you then so you can prepare.”

Jiang Xuening said nothing.

From her previous life, she actually remembered quite a bit about what was tested, though in this life knowing or not knowing made no difference, since she had no intention of passing anyway.

But she also didn’t refuse the youth’s current goodwill.

Still, she said, “All right.”

*

The next day, people from the Shangyi Bureau came again.

However, this time they weren’t teaching simple etiquette, but rather how to address various people in the palace, and they even taught the art and techniques of mixing fragrances and creating incense.

Everyone had assumed today’s Jiang Xuening would be just as clumsy.

But to their complete astonishment, today’s Jiang Xuening was like someone who had suddenly become enlightened—learning everything, learning everything quickly!

Regarding how to address various people in the palace, she only needed to repeat it three times before she could recite it backwards and forwards flawlessly.

The rules for walking and movements—she only needed to watch the female officials demonstrate once before she could remember it completely.

As for making incense, that goes without saying.

Smelling incense, identifying incense, blending incense, burning incense—her slender white hands moved with complete mastery, and every movement could be called flowing like clouds and water, a delight to behold!

Su Shangyi, who yesterday had been thoroughly tormented by Jiang Xuening’s etiquette studies and came today without much hope, only thinking that if there was really no other way, she’d listen to the Grand Princess and let her off lightly.

But who would have thought this Second Miss Jiang had completely transformed!

Others might not notice, but standing right in front of Jiang Xuening, she saw it crystal clear: When Jiang Xuening picked up that ebony incense seal, she slightly raised her little finger, used an incense spoon to distribute ash onto the seal, then when pressing it onto the prepared ash bed, it landed perfectly centered and straight. The incense seal she pressed down had its blooming flower center facing directly forward!

Looking at the others, though their movements weren’t wrong, most didn’t pay attention to the direction of their incense seals.

Some were upside down, some were crooked.

Though most incense makers didn’t insist on positioning incense seals perfectly straight, the peony was the national flower and color, always the beloved flower of empresses of every dynasty, so Su Shangyi herself always paid great attention when pressing incense seals.

Who would have expected that Jiang Xuening would have such refined sensibilities, able to notice such minute details…

Su Shangyi suddenly couldn’t help but regard her with completely new eyes. After she finished pressing the incense seal, she slowly said, “Her Highness the Grand Princess favors you highly, and indeed there must be reasons. I imagine some people in this world are naturally uncoordinated, even falling when walking on level ground. Second Miss is perhaps one of them. However, you did very well today. Especially making incense—you should be first.”

Jiang Xuening remained unperturbed.

In her previous life, she had learned etiquette from Su Shangyi, and later spent so long in the palace that wanting to do this naturally meant doing it better than others.

Not to mention making incense—

This was one of her few hobbies in her previous life besides being empress.

As for peonies, she herself had been empress—how could she not care?

Only now, facing Su Shangyi, she naturally couldn’t say this. She merely said, “This subject is personally partial to this art, so I’ve done some research. Today before Shangyi, I’ve shown off.”

But Su Shangyi already regarded her with new respect.

Hearing her speak this way, she only took it as modesty. Her tone when speaking, compared to yesterday’s reluctance, was already naturally gentle, saying, “Today Miss has learned everything you needed to learn and completed it earliest. You may rest to the side for now and observe the others.”

The others: “…”

They say fortune turns in rotation—why doesn’t it turn to them!

Yesterday Jiang Xuening learned slowly, and Su Shangyi showed her every tolerance. Today, as if possessed, she learned incredibly fast, and Su Shangyi praised her endlessly!

Now she even got to sit aside and rest!

They simply couldn’t understand: how could she learn so quickly, remember so firmly, and do so well?!

Jiang Xuening truly had grown impatient with pretending today. Since she knew there was no way to leave the palace through the etiquette route, continuing to pretend would only bring suffering upon herself. Better to complete everything perfectly in the shortest time possible, then sit aside and rest, avoiding working up a sweaty stench.

As for what others thought, she didn’t care.

Could anyone develop heavenly eyes and guess she was reborn? At most, like Su Shangyi, they’d find her a reason like being naturally somewhat uncoordinated physically or perhaps too nervous yesterday.

Besides Jiang Xuening, Yao Rongrong had been the worst and slowest learner yesterday. She’d thought today Jiang Xuening would be scolded alongside her, and felt they shared the same misfortune.

But in the blink of an eye, Jiang Xuening had already finished and sat down.

Yet she still stood among everyone, thoroughly becoming the slowest and most foolish one of all. For a moment, bewildered and at a loss, she could only look at Jiang Xuening with envious and astonished eyes, secretly tasting some bitterness.

Shen Zhiyi, thinking today’s content would be more complex, had gone early to Shou’an Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager before rushing to Yangzhi Hall. The moment she walked in, she saw Jiang Xuening already sitting to one side.

Upon inquiry, she learned she had already finished learning.

For a moment, gazing at her, her heart actually felt somewhat moved. She went forward and grasped Jiang Xuening’s hand, smiling, “I knew it—Ningning isn’t a foolish person. But completing it so quickly, and working so hard yesterday, you must have done it to not disappoint me. Ningning, you’re truly too wonderful!”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

If she told Shen Zhiyi now that everything she’d done actually had nothing to do with her, would she immediately be dragged out and beaten?

Jiang Xuening ultimately didn’t dare risk it and tacitly accepted.

At this moment, she could only sigh deeply in her heart: Fortunately tomorrow they would be examined on learning. Once she bombed that, she could leave the palace. Otherwise, she’d have to pray right now for Heaven to simply strike her dead with lightning!