This was serious—it even involved family members? Shen Guiyan was extremely curious. She waved her hand to have Baoshan take everyone else out, then looked at this little girl and said, “Your mistress must also curtsy when she sees this palace. So you can tell this palace anything—this palace can make decisions for you.”

Qingzhu collapsed sitting at the bedside. After looking at Shen Guiyan for a long while, she gritted her teeth and said, “That snake was released by this servant, but this servant didn’t know! When the sister in the palace gave it to me, she said it was a good thing. If I secretly placed it in Noble Consort Your Highness’s room to give Your Highness a surprise, my mistress would definitely receive a reward. This servant saw the snake looked beautiful and matched Your Highness’s koi bowl, so I dared to put it in that bowl.”

Truly young and ignorant, very easy to deceive. They hadn’t thought that while she was easy to trick, it was also easy to coax the truth out of her. Shen Guiyan just didn’t want Qingzhu confined together with Lady Fu, where she could be taught what to say. Then this matter truly couldn’t be sorted out clearly.

“Which sister in the palace gave it to you?” Shen Guiyan asked another question.

Qingzhu answered honestly, “It was Sister Herong who serves in Hehuan Palace’s inner hall. She came out from the Fu residence together with this servant. Because she made mistakes recently, she was punished by Lady Fu to the back courtyard, and this servant was promoted to take her place.”

Otherwise, how could a girl who had only served for one year become one who was taken everywhere?

Shen Guiyan nodded. “Go find your Sister Baoshan and tell her about your mother and younger brother. She’ll find a way to handle things for you. When evening comes, this palace will summon you again to speak. You’ll repeat to His Majesty exactly what you’ve told this palace now. Understand?”

Qingzhu let out a long breath and bowed down. “Thank you for Your Highness’s grace!”

The affairs in this palace truly were tumultuous enough. They dared to harm people right after the investiture ceremony. She had nearly been implicated today.

Shen Guiyan sighed. Baoshan came in from outside again and said, “Your Highness, Gao Shi will come over shortly. Do you wish to change clothes?”

Thinking of Gao Jinxiu, Shen Guiyan’s heart lightened. She smiled with pressed lips and said, “No need to change clothes. Just like this. She’s already seen me in even more wretched states.”

When she was young and beaten at home, she would crawl out through the dog hole in the back courtyard to the Gao family. The two families weren’t far apart. Wu Shi had always been fond of her, applying medicine for her and having Jinxiu keep her company. Only when she felt better did she dare return to let Concubine Qin see her.

Gao Jinxiu had seen Shen Guiyan covered in wounds and had seen her weeping bitterly. They had been companions for several years—what was there to be formal about?

“Ten thousand blessings to Noble Consort Your Highness.” Gao Jinxiu entered and bent to curtsy. Shen Guiyan said with a mixture of tears and laughter, “We haven’t seen each other much in just a year or two, and you’ve become distant. Jinxiu, don’t bully me for not being able to move easily—come sit by my side.”

Gao Jinxiu’s face was clouded with worry. She sat down and said, “I’ve been in the palace for half a month already. I haven’t seen His Majesty at all, nor have I seen you. I was nearly in despair. This time with the harem bestowal of ranks, at least I was brought up.”

Initially, the people in the harem were all continuously stuffed in by Grand Empress Dowager Wen. His Majesty was very busy and had no time for summons, only choosing a few familiar concubines’ quarters to rest in. Naturally, Gao Shi had no opportunity to meet with Shen Guiyan.

Shen Guiyan smiled slightly, not knowing what to say. Having two people who could look after each other in the palace was naturally a good thing, but… it was also quite complicated.

Gao Shi was gentle and virtuous, somewhat mischievous but sensible. Such a girl should also be quite liked by Gu Chaobei.

Seeing her expression, Jinxiu knew what she was thinking. She pressed her lips and said, “Since I can finally see you, I have something to ask of you.”

“What is it?” Shen Guiyan raised her eyebrows.

“You’re now a Noble Consort and can arrange the harem’s bedchamber attendance schedule.” Gao Jinxiu gritted her teeth. “Remove my tablet from the Internal Affairs Office. Once I’m eighteen, I’ll leave the palace.”

Shen Guiyan was startled. “Why?”

Gao Jinxiu said unhappily, “Do you think I wanted to enter the palace? What’s good about this place? Those women all think only of climbing upward—not one has a sincere heart. His Majesty has no genuine feelings for anyone, only some affection for you. What’s the use of competing? Besides, I can’t bear to compete with you.”

She had been so pitiful since childhood—who could bear to bully her?

“But your father surely wants you to remain in the palace for glory and wealth.” Shen Guiyan said, “Lord Gao has always had ambitions.”

“Ambitions indeed—selling his daughter!” Gao Jinxiu’s eyes suddenly reddened. “He completely disregarded how much I opposed it and forcibly stuffed me into the palace. I begged him so much, but he never softened. It’s not like I couldn’t marry outside the palace…”

Not only could she marry, but she already had someone she wanted to marry—yet Father wouldn’t allow it!

Shen Guiyan understood. Gao Jinxiu had someone in her heart and was unwilling to enter the palace.

“This is actually easy to handle.” Shen Guiyan thought about it and said, “Anyway, this harem is like a vegetable market—all kinds of radishes and cabbages exist. Missing one cabbage like you probably won’t matter. I’ll just go arrange it with the Internal Affairs Office later.”

“How imposing indeed.” Seeing her agreement, Jinxiu breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Everyone says the favored consort in this palace is extremely imposing. Seeing you doing so well, I’m at ease. However, you’re now in a high position where it’s cold at the top. You must be more careful in your actions. Today’s matter was dangerous enough.”

Shen Guiyan pressed her lips. “Regarding today’s matter, once I report to His Majesty tonight, there will naturally be a judgment. Whose crime it is won’t escape.”

Gao Jinxiu was curious. “You already know who did it?”

There was no harm in telling her. Shen Guiyan said softly, “Qingzhu has already confessed.”

Gao Jinxiu was startled, suddenly understanding. “So it really was Lady Fu. She and I shared the same instructing nanny. I experienced her capabilities early on.”

“How so?” Shen Guiyan was somewhat curious.

When close friends are together, their favorite thing is naturally to gossip. Sitting beside Shen Guiyan, Gao Jinxiu immediately began speaking: “When everyone was still official daughters, we couldn’t bring maids to serve us, but she stubbornly brought one anyway. Now that she’s been granted the rank of Lady, everyone’s palaces are remote and have few maids, yet she specifically lives in Hehuan Palace and has quite a few maids around her. Qingzhu is one, and I remember there’s also one called Herong.”

Shen Guiyan became interested. “She has backing?”

“Doesn’t she just!” Gao Jinxiu snorted lightly. “She’s the legitimate granddaughter of Scholar Fu. I heard that even Grand Empress Dowager Wen met her when she was young. Now that the Empress Dowager in the Eastern Palace doesn’t count for much, she’s still just as prominent, putting on airs wherever she goes and offending many people. She even brazenly said that with the Empress position vacant, no one should look down on anyone else.”

With the Empress position vacant, did she want to occupy it?

“It’s good that you’ve investigated this matter. Everyone is waiting to see her stumble. I heard that when she was confined to the Imperial Clan Court today, Scholar Fu immediately entered the palace. I wonder if there will be any changes on His Majesty’s side.”

“How could there be?” Shen Guiyan smiled slightly. “The witness is still here. With solid evidence, she can’t weasel out of it even if she tries.”

“Excellent.” Gao Jinxiu clapped her hands, then let out a long sigh and looked at Shen Guiyan. “When I first heard you were to marry into the Prime Minister’s residence, I was envious. Then so many things happened, and you ended up marrying His Majesty through a strange twist of fate. Do you have any regrets now?”

Shen Guiyan tilted her head and thought about it. “What’s there to regret? Having come this far, only after living through this life will I have the qualifications to look back and see whether I truly regret it or not.”

“You’re right.” Gao Jinxiu said in a low voice, “When I entered the palace, I heard that Madam Gu wanted to find a second wife for Young Master Gu. However, Young Master Gu doesn’t seem willing. He’s kept the principal wife position vacant all along.”

Shen Guiyan smiled faintly. What did it have to do with her? Hearing this news, her heart wouldn’t stir even the slightest ripple.

“Ah, chattering about all this nonsense—when I came over just now, quite a few people were envious, saying I’d climbed up to you and would rise steadily.” Gao Jinxiu said quietly, “Don’t summon me in the future. Save me some trouble so I can leave in a couple of years to marry.”

“Mm.” Shen Guiyan agreed and held Gao Jinxiu’s hand. “If there’s anything you need help with, have Gui Lan come tell me.”

“Alright.” Gao Jinxiu rose, performed the curtsy a Lady should perform, then withdrew.

Baoshan came in and, seeing her mistress’s smiling face, knew the knot in her heart must have been untied. She approached with a smile to seek a reward. “Master, this servant was so clever today. Is there a reward?”

Shen Guiyan looked at her teasingly. “You’re not young anymore. How about I report to His Majesty and have you bestowed to Zhuiyun? After marriage, you could come serve by this palace’s side as a nanny.”

Baoshan’s face reddened. She pretended to be angry. “That’s not fair! Even bullying such a clever girl. If you marry this servant off, Master will have no one close by her side. We’ll see where Master goes to cry then.”

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Have you settled Qingzhu properly?” Shen Guiyan’s expression turned serious.

Baoshan said, “She’s in this servant’s room. This servant told her to wait there and not come out to work. Regarding what she said about her mother and younger brother at home, this servant has already asked Zhuiyun for help…”

Mentioning this person and recalling her mistress’s earlier joke, Baoshan’s face reddened. She said with a straight face, “Asked someone to handle it.”

Shen Guiyan laughed inwardly. A young girl harboring romantic feelings, yet refusing to admit it no matter what.

“Good, then we’ll just wait for tonight.” Shen Guiyan yawned, feeling sleepy again. She touched her belly and turned to flop onto the bed.

Being a concubine was truly wonderful—eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating every day, just like a pig.

In the evening, Gu Chaobei returned to the palace exhausted and collapsed limply on the bed. “We wish to rest tomorrow.”

Shen Guiyan reached out to massage his shoulders. “Very tired?”

“Naturally.” Gu Chaobei said with displeasure, “Scholar Fu entered the palace and pestered us with two hours of nonsense. When people get old, can’t they just say one simple sentence like ‘he’s a meritorious minister, and Lady Fu is a meritorious minister’s granddaughter’ and be done with it? He insisted on bringing up the late Emperor with us, bringing up the Empress Dowager.”

After all, she was his legitimate granddaughter—Scholar Fu seemed to care very much. Shen Guiyan thought about it and said, “Regarding today’s matter, this subject concubine already has a witness here. Does Your Majesty wish to see her?”

Gu Chaobei was startled and turned to look at her. “The people from the Ministry of Justice found someone?”

“No.” Shen Guiyan said, “People came to look today, but because evidence was insufficient, they returned. This subject concubine found the witness herself and didn’t send her to the Ministry of Justice.”