The two pace maids, Yanming and Xinliu, were both second-rank attendants—but the original host never liked them.

  Why?

  Because they were too pretty.

  As the two pace maids entered, Wumian smiled.

  “Starting today, you two will serve by my side. You are now first-rank pace maids, the same as Linshui, Zhaohua, Chuiyu, and Fufeng.”

  Yanming and Xinliu, overjoyed, immediately bowed deeply.

  “Many thanks, Your Majesty!”

  Wumian waved a hand.

  “Rise.”

  Then, stretching zily, she continued.

  “Since Li Fei’s birthday will be held in the Imperial Garden, I think I’ll go take a walk there first.”

  Linshui hesitated.

  “Your Majesty…”

  Wumian frowned.

  “What?”

  Could it be that I’m not allowed to go? Impossible—I’m the Empress!

  Linshui lowered her head.

  “Your Majesty, you haven’t visited the Empress Dowager in several days. If you’re staying in the pace, it’s one thing, but if you’re going out, it would be best to visit the Yining Pace first.”

  Ah.

  That’s right.

  If she had the energy to go strolling in the gardens, yet ignored her imperial mother-in-w, it would certainly not look good.

  Wumian sighed.

  “Fine. Get my clothes ready. We’ll visit the Empress Dowager first, then go to the gardens.”

  Linshui, relieved, quickly ordered the attendants to fetch an outfit.

  After changing, Wumian set out, accompanied by Linshui and Chuiyu.

  To reach Yining Pace, they had to cross a bridge—and just beyond the bridge was Guifei’s Chaoyang Pace.

  The favored consorts, of course, had the best residences.

  Guifei’s Chaoyang Pace was next to the Imperial Garden.

  Li Fei’s Hanliang Pace was also next to the Imperial Garden.

  As Wumian walked past Chaoyang Pace, she noticed a few pace maids and eunuchs outside. Upon seeing her, they immediately bowed from afar. Wumian, without stopping, simply gnced at them briefly before continuing on.

  Once she had passed, a young pace maid whispered, puzzled.

  “Why is Her Majesty dressed so pinly these days?”

  Another maid scoffed.

  “What was the point of all those heavy gold hairpins and jade ornaments before? This suits her better.”

  Of course, Wumian didn’t hear any of this. She had already arrived at Yining Pace.

  ___

  Wumian had chosen to walk instead of taking a panquin, treating it as a casual stroll. Upon arriving, the Empress Dowager’s attendants immediately welcomed her inside.

  After hearing that Wumian had arrived, the Empress Dowager summoned her in. Seated before the imperial matron, Wumian took a sip of tea. She didn’t have much to say. Truthfully, her retionship with the Empress Dowager had never been particurly close.

  When she first entered the pace, things were fine. But as time passed, they grew more distant. And now that her soul had changed, they were even more estranged. So what was there to talk about?

  The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea. “It’s good to go out for some fresh air. You’ll regain your strength faster.”

  Wumian smiled politely. “Yes, Imperial Mother. I was actually thinking of taking a walk in the Imperial Garden today.”

  Feeling the conversation was cking, she added quickly: “Would you care to join me?”

  The Empress Dowager was taken aback. That was unexpected. She blinked in surprise, wondering if the Empress had ever invited her anywhere before.

  She took a brief pause before replying. “I won’t go. You go ahead. The weather has been warm early this year—I imagine the peonies will bloom soon.”

  Wumian perked up. “Yes! Speaking of peonies, the ones on Peony Terrace are the best. I think I’ll go check them out.”

  Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager was waiting.

  For what?

  For Wumian to get to the point.

  Was she going to ask for the right to manage the harem back? Would she bring up ways to make the Emperor visit Fengyi Pace? Would she discuss the arrangements for the newly selected concubines?

  But…

  Instead, Wumian casually checked the time, saw that two-quarters of an hour had passed, and stood up.

  “Imperial Mother, I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll come visit again in a few days.”

  The Empress Dowager’s movements slowed slightly.

  “Alright… don’t tire yourself out.”

  “Yes. Thank you for your concern. I’ll take my leave now.”

  Wumian gave a proper bow and then walked out. As soon as she was out of sight, she let out a deep breath.

  Good. That’s one less thing to worry about for the next few days.

  Leaving Yining Pace, Wumian didn’t waste time.

  “Let’s go to Peony Terrace. I doubt they’ve all bloomed yet. We’ll check first, and if not, we can come back in a few days.”

  Since Peony Terrace wasn’t far from Yining Pace, it would be convenient to check in whenever she visited the Empress Dowager.

  ____

  Back in Yining Pace, the Empress Dowager rubbed her temples and frowned. “Has she really changed? Something about her feels… unreliable.”

  Lingzhi, her personal maid, hesitated before speaking. “If I may speak frankly, Your Majesty—the Empress has been unfavored for years. Perhaps after falling ill, she simply decided to let go?”

  “If that’s the case, then it’s a good thing,” the Empress Dowager murmured.

  But then, she sighed. “But what if it’s an act?”

  Lingzhi smiled. “Whether she’s genuine or just pretending, we’ll find out soon enough. And if it’s the same as before, we’ll handle it as we always have.”

  The Empress Dowager nodded. That was true. What else could they do?

  ____

  Meanwhile, Wumian arrived at Peony Terrace.

  Indeed, the peonies weren’t in full bloom yet—but many had already begun to open. Her mood instantly lifted.

  “Ahhh—flowers! So beautiful!”

  "Your Majesty, would you like me to pick a flower for you to wear?" Linshui asked.

  "Oh, yes, yes! Pick one that matches my outfit today."

  She was dressed in a light red ruqun with a beige gauze blouse draped over it.

  "Then I shall pick a Yao Huang."

  "That’s a famous variety… Is it really alright for me to wear such a fine bloom?"

  "As long as Your Majesty likes it, that’s all that matters. Besides, there are several pnts of it here."

  Linshui went to the pace maid overseeing the garden, borrowed a pair of scissors, and carefully snipped off a fully bloomed Yao Huang peony, tucking it to the side of Wumian’s hair.

  Wumian was already stunning, and now, with the delicate flower nestled in her hair, her beauty was even more radiant.

  "Your Majesty is truly a natural beauty," Chuiyu praised with a smile.

  "Oh, you’re just fttering me now."

  But, well, adorning oneself with flowers was a simple pleasure. Most women enjoyed dressing up.

  "Say, do you think I could have my lunch here?" Wumian suddenly mused.

  "Of course! Would you like to invite His Majesty?"

  Chuiyu beamed.

  "That would be perfect. After all, since your recovery, you haven't yet served him in bed. Today would be a great—"

  "No, no. I was just pnning to eat alone."

  Wumian swiftly cut her off.

  "Not everything has to be about the Emperor."

  She sighed and shook her head.

  "You two are the sharpest among my attendants, so let me be honest with you— We need to start getting used to a life without His Majesty. I'm the Empress. Whether I'm favored or not, it doesn't matter. You both need to get used to that as well."

  After all, there were always things in life one couldn't obtain. The favored concubines had His Majesty's affection, but even they had to bow and pay respects to this unfavored Empress.

  Everyone had their own frustrations.

  Seeing her attendants hesitate, Wumian added:

  "Enough. Don't try to convince me otherwise. I know exactly what I'm doing. If either of you feels there’s no future serving under me, I can find a way to pce you elsewhere."

  "Please, Your Majesty, do not be angry! We would never think such a thing!"

  The two of them immediately dropped to their knees.

  "Good, then don’t kneel unnecessarily. Just keep this between us. Zhang Momo is old—she can’t handle hearing things like this."

  The two pace maids exchanged gnces and quickly agreed.

  Though they didn’t understand why their mistress had suddenly changed, they could only obey.

  After all, she was still young.

  They simply felt it was a shame that things had come to this.