Ling Jingshu answered with respectful humility. “In reply to Your Majesty the Empress: this servant has read books since childhood. This servant would not claim any particular gift for poetry, but reading and writing pose no difficulty. This servant has also had some exposure to the lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and can do a little needlework as well — though this servant cannot claim true mastery in any of these. What this servant enjoys most and excels at above all else is cultivating peonies.”

“As for tending to hair and clothing, this servant has never done such things and would need to learn from the very beginning. With sweeping and washing, this servant would also need to seek guidance from her elder sisters.”

Rui Lian and Qiu Shuang exchanged a knowing glance.

Ling Jingshu had been born a daughter of a distinguished clan, raised from childhood on a full education, passing her leisure hours growing flowers, playing the lute, and reading. How could she possibly know the work of waiting on others?

Besides, all the duties within Jiaofang Palace already had people assigned to them. Ling Jingshu entering the palace to serve would undoubtedly mean taking a portion of someone else’s responsibilities. Who would be the fortunate recipient of this particular “blessing”?

“Does this Empress lack anyone to tend to her dressing and grooming?”

Empress Xu smiled as she spoke. “This Empress did not summon you to the palace to have you do rough work. There is no need for you to learn any of those minor tasks. Very well — since you are skilled in cultivating peonies and tending to plants and flowers, this Empress shall entrust to you the care of all the potted plants and flowers within Jiaofang Palace. On ordinary days, there will be no need for you to stand night-watch duty either. When you have nothing to occupy you, come and keep this Empress company in conversation.”

This was indeed a light and leisurely assignment — and one involving the very thing she excelled at and loved most.

Ling Jingshu hastened to smile and express her gratitude.

Rui Lian and Qiu Shuang also let out a quiet breath of relief.

Tending to the plants and flowers had originally been Luo Yan’s duty. Now that it was being given to Ling Jingshu, a few maids would at minimum need to be transferred under Ling Jingshu’s command. If authority was to be divided, it would be divided from Luo Yan’s — as long as it did not affect either of them, that was all that mattered.

“Rui Lian, take Ling Jingshu to inform Luo Yan, and arrange to have the duties formally transferred as soon as possible.” Empress Xu gave the casual instruction. “Over the next few days, take care to explain the rules of service within Jiaofang Palace to her in detail.”

Rui Lian rallied herself and smiled as she assented.

Qiu Shuang watched from the side, feeling rather unsettled within.

People could not help but be compared. In Empress Xu’s service, she had her share of prestige and influence, and wherever she walked, others would flatter and defer to her. Yet measured against Rui Lian, she fell frustratingly short in one respect.

Whenever Empress Xu spoke first, the first name called was always Rui Lian’s — only then would her own turn come. That alone clearly reflected the order of standing in the mistress’s estimation.

If she ever hoped to surpass Rui Lian, she would need to think harder and devise better strategies…

She was still turning it over in her mind when she heard Empress Xu say with that same expression that was neither a smile nor not: “Rui Lian, you must apply yourself carefully and teach her every rule that needs to be taught. If Ling Jingshu makes any mistake in the performance of her duties, you will be the first one this Empress holds accountable!”

Rui Lian answered with anxious deference. “Yes, this servant obeys.”

This was hardly a reprimand aimed at Rui Lian — it was an outright warning shot aimed squarely at her!

Ling Jingshu laughed coldly within, but kept her voice gentle and compliant. “This servant will certainly study the rules diligently and will not implicate Sister Rui Lian.”

……

As Rui Lian led Ling Jingshu forward, she spoke in a low and smiling voice. “A’Shu, do not take to heart what Her Majesty the Empress said just now. Having served Her Majesty for several years, I know her temperament better than anyone. Her Majesty’s rules are strict, it is true, but she is quite magnanimous toward the few of us close to her. Even when there has been a mistake, Her Majesty does no more than offer a few words of reproach — she would not truly punish anyone.”

This Rui Lian — all smiles on the surface, but with quite a calculating mind beneath. Not a trace of her true feelings could be read from her face.

“Hearing Sister say that puts my heart greatly at ease.”

Everyone could play the game, and Ling Jingshu immediately let out a relieved breath, then offered Rui Lian a few compliments for good measure. “Her Majesty the Empress does not treat everyone quite the same way. Sister Rui Lian is clever and capable — small wonder Her Majesty favors you more than the others. If I could ever be half as accomplished as Sister in the future, I would be more than satisfied.”

Rui Lian smiled with her lips pressed together. “Listen to you — you would have me blooming like a flower with all that praise.”

The two of them chatted and laughed pleasantly all the way, as warm as old friends. Anyone watching them would never have guessed they had only met that very day.

Luo Yan’s room was situated very close to Ling Jingshu’s quarters.

Rui Lian knocked lightly on the door, and it opened promptly to reveal a woman with a fair, pale face. This was Luo Yan.

Luo Yan’s name was quite lovely, but her appearance was, in truth, nothing remarkable — at most, one could say her features were regular and neat. Her height was also somewhat taller than most women.

Rui Lian swiftly stated her purpose. “…From now on, the tending of all the plants and flowers will be handed over to A’Shu entirely. The maids under your charge are to be divided — half will also be transferred to A’Shu.”

Having Ling Jingshu appear out of nowhere to take half her duties and staff was not at all pleasing to Luo Yan. With Rui Lian present, however, Luo Yan felt it inconvenient to say too much, and quickly acquiesced.

Only her expression was none too pleasant.

Ling Jingshu actually felt relieved. If all the female officials in Jiaofang Palace were cultivated to Rui Lian’s level of inscrutability, life here would truly be a constant uphill struggle. Luo Yan’s open and undisguised resentment, by contrast, would be far easier to manage.

Ling Jingshu adopted the modest and courteous manner appropriate toward a senior. “I am still unfamiliar with the duties involved, and will be counting on Sister Luo Yan to look after and guide me in the days ahead.”

“I have only been in the palace two years longer than you — looking after you and guiding you is rather beyond my station.” Luo Yan answered with a smile that was all surface and no warmth. “It is already late today, there is no time to properly hand over the staff and duties — come again first thing tomorrow morning!”

With that, she let out a yawn.

The hint could not have been more obvious. Ling Jingshu was hardly going to linger with shameless persistence, and promptly smiled her farewell. “It is nearly time for the evening meal — I will not take up any more of Sister Luo Yan’s time. I shall be on my way.”

Luo Yan gave an indifferent hum in reply.

……

From the moment Ling Jingshu had gone out, Bai Yu had been craning her neck in anxious anticipation, waiting for her return. As she waited, worry gnawed at her from within.

Please let Her Majesty the Empress not have made things deliberately difficult for her mistress!

What duty would her mistress be assigned in the end?

Heavens, please — let it not be something rough and menial. Her mistress’s hands were soft and pale, untouched by household chores throughout her life; how could she possibly manage the work of waiting on others…

“Bai Yu, I am back.” A familiar voice rang out at the doorway.

Bai Yu’s eyes lit up, and she rose eagerly to welcome her. “Miss, you have finally returned. This servant has been waiting so long, heart pounding the entire time.”

Ling Jingshu smiled ruefully. “All told, it was barely more than half an hour. What is there for you to be so worried about?”

Bai Yu let out a soft sigh. “If it had been before, even waiting half a day would not trouble this servant at all. But now…”

Could it possibly be the same now?

In this strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces everywhere. Her mistress had to call herself a servant and go wait upon the most exalted woman in all of Dazhou — the mistress of Jiaofang Palace herself. A single misstep, and there would be scolding and punishment.

The very thought of her mistress having to lower herself, to hold her head down and keep her gaze meek in service to another, filled Bai Yu’s heart with a sourness and grief she could not contain.

Bai Yu could not bring herself to continue. Her eyes reddened, and she choked with a faint sob.