The next morning.

Just past the fifth watch, Ling Jingshu rose, washed, and dressed.

Bai Yu and Qiao Yun rose together with her. After a hasty breakfast, they followed behind Ling Jingshu to pay their respects to Wei Xianfei.

Noble Consort Li lay confined to her bed in illness, and sole custody of the phoenix seal had fallen to Wei Xianfei. All matters great and small throughout the palace were brought to her, and every decision regarding palace affairs rested with her. On top of that, she had to take painstaking care of His Majesty’s daily needs — food, clothing, and rest. When Wei Xianfei said she was too busy and stretched too thin, it was no exaggeration.

By the time Ling Jingshu came to pay her morning respects, Xin Yun and the others had already arrived.

Outside Lingbo Palace, a considerable number of eunuch stewards and female officials were already waiting to be summoned to report their matters to Wei Xianfei. Within half an hour at most, concubines from the various palaces would begin arriving in succession to pay their respects as well.

While mentally organizing the day’s work ahead of her, Wei Xianfei still found a moment to ask after Ling Jingshu with genuine concern: “Are you finding the food and lodgings here in Lingbo Palace comfortable? If your room is still lacking anything, simply tell this consort.”

The way Wei Xianfei spoke was unlike both Empress Xu and His Majesty. Her features were refined and elegant, her voice soft and pleasing, and there was not the slightest air of loftiness about her — she made those around her feel at ease from the very depths of their hearts.

Warmth stirred in Ling Jingshu’s heart. She smiled and replied quickly: “This servant is very comfortable, and is grateful for my lady’s concern.”

Wei Xianfei smiled: “You have only just arrived and do not yet know how to carry out your duties. For now, stay close to Xin Yun and remain at this consort’s side. Observe carefully, listen closely, and ask freely about anything you do not understand. This consort is short-handed, so you can only have a few days to settle in.”

Ling Jingshu accepted this with a smile.

……

From that point on, Ling Jingshu quietly followed alongside Xin Yun, attentively observing everything around her.

Whether serving in the Hall of Devoted Favor or in Zichen Palace, both had been situations she had no choice but to endure. She had been careful and thorough, unwilling to make the slightest error — yet deep within, she had always felt weariness and aversion.

Now, grateful for Wei Xianfei’s helping hand and the generosity with which she had been treated, and wanting wholeheartedly to ease Wei Xianfei’s burdens, she found herself genuinely motivated to take her duties seriously.

Ling Jingshu was naturally meticulous in mind and steady in temperament. She quieted herself and spent three days carefully watching and listening, and truly learned a great deal of useful knowledge — along with a basic understanding of how Wei Xianfei went about her work.

Compared to Empress Xu’s domineering and autocratic manner, Wei Xianfei’s approach was far gentler and more measured. When it came to matters of allocation across the various palaces, she deliberated with the utmost care. At times, even when she clearly noticed something suspect in the reports brought up by the eunuch stewards below, she would feign ignorance, handling things mostly according to established precedent.

This revealed much about Wei Xianfei’s caution and restraint.

In the end, she was still only managing the phoenix seal on behalf of another — a role that carried a certain sense of impropriety. To put it plainly: the day His Majesty appointed a new empress, she, as Noble Consort, would have to quietly hand the phoenix seal back over.

If she were too heavy-handed and ruthless in her methods, she would only earn resentment behind her back. It was far better to proceed gently, like a mild spring wind, slowly drawing hearts to her side.

With the various concubines of the other palaces, Wei Xianfei likewise never put on airs, remaining as warm and amiable as she had always been.

Since the demotion of Concubine Wang Zhao, however, the concubines had all settled down considerably, and none dared play games of wit in front of Wei Xianfei. The inner palace had enjoyed a rare spell of tranquility for some time.

After observing for several days and gaining a fair sense of how to carry out her duties, Ling Jingshu took the initiative and volunteered: “Noble Consort, please allow this servant to take up her duties starting today.”

Wei Xianfei gave a quiet nod, though she did not forget to add a word of guidance: “If there is anything you do not understand or do not know how to do, do not feel embarrassed about it — simply ask this consort directly.”

Ling Jingshu accepted this with a smile.

From that day forward, Ling Jingshu took charge of the storeroom keys and account ledgers of Lingbo Palace. Each day when Wei Xianfei handled palace affairs, Ling Jingshu was to remain at her side without interruption, ready at any moment to be called upon.

Wei Xianfei had brought Ling Jingshu to her side primarily as a pretext for requesting her from His Majesty, and had not truly expected Ling Jingshu to accomplish much. What she had not anticipated were the many surprises and pleasant discoveries Ling Jingshu would bring her.

For instance — Ling Jingshu wrote a remarkably beautiful hand. Any task requiring a brush could simply be handed over to her.

For instance — Ling Jingshu had an exceptionally sharp memory and an attentive mind. Whatever she heard, she retained with perfect clarity. During Wei Xianfei’s busier moments, a timely word of reminder from Ling Jingshu made the handling of matters flow considerably more smoothly.

And then there was this — Ling Jingshu could even work an abacus rather impressively. This proved especially useful when cross-checking the account ledgers.

Her fair face filled with focused concentration, her mind fully absorbed, without a trace of distraction. Her slender, pale fingers flew swiftly over the smooth, rounded beads, drawing out a crisp, bright sound — like the playing of a lively and cheerful melody.

……

On this particular day, after the work was done, Wei Xianfei could not help but ask: “A’Shu, you handle the abacus so well — did you learn it from a young age?”

Ling Jingshu smiled softly and gave a gentle sound of confirmation: “When this servant was in Dingzhou, she learned the abacus together with her female cousins. This servant was actually the best among all the sisters. Yet there was never truly a chance to put it to use — this servant never imagined it would one day help to ease my lady’s burdens.”

The daughters of distinguished families were expected to learn far more than the four refined arts — the ability to manage a household and handle practical affairs was equally part of their upbringing.

In that regard, Wei Xianfei, who had come from a humble background, was at a considerable disadvantage.

Wei Xianfei made no attempt to conceal the poverty of her origins, and spoke with wry, self-deprecating humor: “This consort’s skills lie in washing clothes, cooking, and needlework. The refined arts were things I only began studying after entering the palace. As for using an abacus and reading account ledgers, I have not the faintest grasp of either. It is fortunate that His Majesty trusts me enough to hand over the palace affairs, and is not afraid that this consort will manage everything into a complete shambles.”

Her words were light and amusing. Beside her, Xin Yun could not hold back a quiet, suppressed smile.

Ling Jingshu also broke into a laugh: “My lady is blessed with beauty that surpasses others, is understanding and considerate, warm and approachable, and fair in all her dealings. Everyone in the palace speaks well of her. As for these practical matters — if my lady were to do them all herself, what would be left for us servants to do?”

Wei Xianfei was delighted and smiled with genuine warmth: “It seems this consort has quite so many virtues.”

Just as they were talking and laughing, a palace maid entered to report: “Noble Consort, Imperial Physician Wei has come to pay his respects to my lady.”

Wei Yan had come?!

Ling Jingshu’s heart gave a sudden, startled leap.

She had left Zichen Palace more than half a month ago.

Back in Zichen Palace, she and Wei Yan had still managed to see each other on occasion. But since coming to Lingbo Palace, she had been occupied each day with her duties at Wei Xianfei’s side and had never once set foot beyond its walls. Wei Yan, meanwhile, was occupied every day attending to His Majesty’s ailing condition in Zichen Palace. The two of them had not had a single opportunity to meet…

Wei Xianfei smiled and gave Ling Jingshu — who appeared thoroughly distracted — a sideways glance, then gave the order: “Let Imperial Physician Wei in.”

A moment later, Wei Yan walked in.

This was the room where Wei Xianfei ordinarily handled palace affairs — the furnishings were elegant and generous, and the space was quite ample. Besides Wei Xianfei, Xin Yun, and Ling Jingshu, several palace maids were also in attendance at the sides.

Wei Yan’s gaze swept briefly across Ling Jingshu’s face.

The somewhat gaunt face she had carried before had now recovered its former fair and rosy bloom. The corners of her eyes and brows were all filled with the softness of a smile.