This time entering the palace, her mood was entirely different from her previous visits.
The towering walls, the long covered passageways, the oppressive atmosphere—it all created an almost suffocating illusion, as if she stood on an endless road, hazy and uncertain, lost in confusion.
From today on, she was no longer just a passing visitor.
She would have to survive here!
Ling Jingshu, you can do this!
Ling Jingshu occasionally glanced up, silently cheering herself on in her heart.
Rui Lian suddenly stopped in her tracks and quickly reminded her in a low voice, “A’Shu, it’s His Highness Prince Yan and the Princess Consort. Come quickly and pay your respects with me.”
Ling Jingshu snapped back to attention and responded without hesitation.
Within the imperial palace, aside from the Emperor and Empress, everyone else had to travel on foot. Despite their exalted status, Prince Yan and his consort were no exception.
Newly married for just over a month, they were still in the height of their ardor. The young and lovely Princess Consort leaned close beside the handsome, dashing Prince Yan—from a distance, the two of them looked like a matched pair, truly pleasing to the eye.
Rui Lian’s group quickly caught Prince Yan’s attention. When his gaze landed on the young woman beside Rui Lian, an odd brightness suddenly flashed in his eyes.
It was Ling Jingshu!
So Mother had indeed summoned her into the palace! From now on, it would be much easier to see her…
The Princess Consort didn’t miss the surprised delight in Prince Yan’s eyes. A sudden pang of jealousy rose in her heart, and she pouted with a mix of coyness and reproach. “Your Highness! Who are you looking at?”
Prince Yan withdrew his gaze, a charming smile rising in his long, almond-shaped eyes, and murmured intimately, “Who could possibly compare to how beautiful and captivating my consort is?”
Even knowing full well that Prince Yan was only humoring her, the Princess Consort still felt a rush of delight, her cheeks flushing rosy as she bashfully lowered her head. Because of this, she missed the mocking, cold smile that flickered through Prince Yan’s eyes.
Were it not for the sake of Duke Ping’s household, he wouldn’t have bothered humoring such a shallow-minded woman.
…
“This servant Rui Lian greets His Highness Prince Yan and the Princess Consort.” Rui Lian performed the courtesy with practiced ease.
Prince Yan was Empress Xu’s own son by blood, and there was no need to elaborate on how much the Empress cherished and valued him. Since Prince Yan frequently came and went from Jiaofang Palace, Rui Lian, as Empress Xu’s personal attendant, was naturally well acquainted with him.
Ling Jingshu, following behind Rui Lian, composed her expression and performed the courtesy as well. “This servant Ling Jingshu greets His Highness Prince Yan and the Princess Consort.”
Having become a female official in the palace, she had instantly become a “servant.” Fortunately, she adjusted her mindset quickly, and the word came out quite naturally, without a single slip.
Prince Yan’s gaze swept over Ling Jingshu’s pretty face. “Very well, both of you may rise.”
The Princess Consort looked over as well, her expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk. “So Mother wasn’t joking after all—she really did have someone bring Miss Ling into the palace. Miss Ling was such a delicate, pampered young lady back in her own household. Now that she’s entering the palace to do the work of serving others, can she actually manage it?”
Everyone could hear the faint hostility and ill will lurking in her tone.
Rui Lian shot Ling Jingshu a meaningful glance but offered no words of help.
Prince Yan, too, said nothing, looking utterly at ease as he stood by with arms folded, watching with great interest to see how Ling Jingshu would handle the Princess Consort’s provocation.
“Having the chance to serve Her Majesty the Empress in the palace is this servant’s good fortune. Who knows how many people envy this servant’s good luck.”
A provocation of this degree didn’t even register with Ling Jingshu. She replied lightly, “Serving in one’s duties is indeed no easy matter, and this servant is worried about not doing well enough. The whole way here, I’ve been asking Sister Rui Lian for guidance.”
Her response was neither servile nor arrogant, flawless and without a single opening.
Prince Yan couldn’t help recalling the scene of his first meeting with Ling Jingshu. Back then, too, she had responded with this same calm, incisive composure, leaving an indelible, deep impression on him!
The smile on Prince Yan’s face deepened slightly.
Seeing that smile on Prince Yan’s face, the flames of jealousy shot up in the Princess Consort’s heart, and her words grew even sharper. “Miss Ling has adapted to her new role rather quickly—’this servant’ rolls right off her tongue, doesn’t it.”
Such a tone, such words—they carried more than a hint of spite.
Prince Yan frowned slightly, the smile fading from his face. Just as he was about to speak, Ling Jingshu had already replied with a smile of her own, “Times change. When I was in my own household, I was a daughter of the Ling family, and when I went out, I represented the Ling family’s honor, so I naturally had to carry myself with restraint and composure.”
“Now that I’ve entered the palace to serve, everything this servant says and does represents Her Majesty the Empress’s dignity, and that is something I can afford even less carelessness with. Calling myself ‘this servant’ carries no shame in being beneath anyone—so what is there to be unaccustomed to?”
“In any case, this servant must thank the Princess Consort for her concern. Still, while it’s no trouble for these words to be said to this servant, it might be best not to bring them up in front of Her Majesty. Otherwise, I fear Her Majesty might come to misunderstand the Princess Consort.”
The Princess Consort: “…”
What a sharp tongue!
The Princess Consort came from an exalted background—her status as the second young lady of Duke Ping’s household had been enough to earn her favorable treatment everywhere. After marrying Prince Yan, she was fawned over wherever she went, and inevitably she had come to think rather highly of herself.
She had thought a few provoking remarks would embarrass and humiliate Ling Jingshu, never expecting that she herself would end up the one left speechless!
Mortified and ashamed, the Princess Consort’s pretty face quietly flushed red.
Rui Lian’s bright eyes settled on Ling Jingshu’s face, secretly marveling. This Ling Jingshu looked so quiet and delicate, yet who would have guessed her tongue was so sharp. She wasn’t the least bit afraid even when facing the Princess Consort…
“It’s getting late. We should be heading to Zichen Palace.”
Prince Yan finally broke the silence, in effect rescuing the Princess Consort from her predicament. “Rui Lian, you and Ling Jingshu shouldn’t delay either—hurry along to Jiaofang Palace to report back to Mother.”
Rui Lian composed herself, and together with Ling Jingshu, performed the courtesy and took her leave.
…
The Princess Consort watched Ling Jingshu’s graceful figure recede into the distance, biting her lip hard, and said to Prince Yan with no small amount of grievance, “Your Highness! Just look at this Ling Jingshu—merely a female official at Mother’s side, and already so arrogant and presumptuous, not giving the slightest regard to me, the Princess Consort.”
Prince Yan gave a hollow “oh,” his smile not reaching his eyes.
…Why was that his reaction?
The Princess Consort was a little stunned, and a sense of injustice rose in her. “I was just bullied, and Your Highness doesn’t even think to stand up for me?”
“Bullied?”
Prince Yan raised an eyebrow, all trace of warmth gone from his eyes. “Was it really her bullying you just now, or did you try to bully someone and end up humiliating yourself instead?”
The Princess Consort’s rosy face suddenly flushed crimson, tears glinting in her eyes. “Your Highness, how can you say that about me…”
“You know perfectly well what you were thinking—I needn’t spell it out,” Prince Yan said coldly. “If you have the energy for that, you’d be better off thinking about how to serve Mother well instead. As for the people at Mother’s side, Mother will handle that herself. There’s no need for you to interfere.”
With that, he turned and swept his sleeves away, departing.
The Princess Consort’s heart turned cold. In the more than a month since their wedding, Prince Yan had always been gentle and considerate, treating her exceptionally well. This was the first time he had ever mocked and coldly dismissed her like this!
Gritting her teeth, the Princess Consort forced back the tears in her eyes and hurried after him.