CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: PALACE RELOCATION TURMOIL

"Chu Daying, we should hurry over. Although the side hall has been tidied up, moving a palace is no small matter. It will still take some time to settle everything. If we delay too long, the gossip outside may reach the higher-ups, and that would be troublesome for you, wouldn’t it?"

"Are you teaching me how to do my job?"

Chu Daying was currently upset without a place to vent her anger, and dared anyone to come and reprimand her.

With round eyes glaring, she immediately erupted, picking up a teacup beside her and hurling it at Nanny An.

The tea splashed everywhere, and the shattered porcelain pieces of the teacup nearly scratched Nanny An’s hand. She forcefully suppressed her anger and looked at Chu Daying with a more severe expression.

"It’s of no use to vent your anger at this old servant here. The matter of moving the palace was decreed by the Emperor. If you refuse to cooperate, don’t blame me for reporting it up the chain."

"Dare you?"

"This old servant acts according to palace rules. If I am in the wrong, there are others who will punish me, so there’s no need for you to threaten me here. Instead, you should consider that the palace is different from home; what good does it do to constantly exhibit such strength?"

After being reproved by Nanny An, Chu Daying’s momentum was indeed subdued.

Perhaps it was the consecutive confinements and demotions that had dealt her such a blow. Such a proud person now wept sorrowfully.

Unfortunately, Nanny An was not one to be swayed by tears like these.

Facing the eunuchs who came to help with the move, she said,

"Move it."

"Yes."

In the end, Chu Daying still slinked away, moving from Yihua Palace to the remote side hall of Changning Palace.

After she left, the most excited people were those from Xianyi Palace, but none more so than Mu Daying in the right side hall.

The maid Ying’er beside her also said happily,

"Miss, finally Chu Daying has left. We no longer need to be so cautious in our actions. The thought of her being in the palace kept me from sleeping peacefully at night."

Mu Lanchun glanced at Ying’er, her eyes full of contentment.

"Who wouldn’t agree? Letting her roam around looking for trouble all day long. Now that she’s fallen, she doesn’t even have anyone to support her!"

"Exactly, exactly! Now that it’s only us and Miss Lin across the way in Yihua Palace, life will be much easier."

At the mention of Lin Wanyi, Mu Lanchun’s eyes showed a lot of envy.

"I entered the palace even earlier than she did, yet now she has become the favored Lin Changzai, while I am still an unknown concubine."

Her words were so sour that even Ying’er could perceive it.

"Miss has always had a good relationship with Lin Changzai next door, hasn’t she? If we visit her every day, who knows, maybe we’ll encounter the Emperor someday."

"Do you think I don’t want to? Eunuch Qiu Ming guards Xianyi Palace so tightly. You’ve sent messages over there several times, saying that we want to visit, but it hasn’t worked out, has it?"

Mu Lanchun’s eyes revealed a trace of frustration.

She blamed herself for being too impulsive the first two times, always thinking that floating aimlessly in the harem, there would be some hope by uniting.

Little did she know that Lin Wanyi had risen step by step, while she herself was still mired in the mud.

Ying’er frowned, thinking it over, and suddenly remembered something, then said,

"Miss, why don’t we try climbing other high branches?"

"Easy for you to say. Who among the favored concubines in the harem would be pleased to see us? Look at Chu Daying; when she fell out of favor, even Princess Consort Yi didn’t speak up for her."

"Then why don’t we stoke the fire of the new stove of Noble Princess Consort Ying?"

Ying’er’s words reminded Mu Lanchun that Noble Princess Consort Ying was highly favored now and was also pregnant. If she could have the chance to visit her palace, it might be a good way.

Her eyes brightened, and then she said to Ying’er,

"Bring out the Peace Pendant that my mother prepared for me, and let’s go visit Noble Princess Consort Ying."

The Peace Pendant was the most valuable thing Mu Lanchun had, and Ying’er was reluctant to see it given away so easily.

"Sacrificing a child for the wolves; if I can use this opportunity to rise through Noble Princess Consort Ying, I’ll gain the Emperor’s favor, then won’t I have plenty of good things?"

As she spoke, Mu Lanchun thought of the decorations in Lin Guifei’s palace.

She secretly vowed in her heart that she would also live a life above all others!

Then the master and servant dressed up and headed towards Yao Yue Palace.

At this moment in Yao Yue Palace, Qiu Ming, also from Yihua Palace, was being received.

Because of Lin Wanyi’s injuries, Qiu Ming was only following palace rules and had sent over some gifts to Noble Princess Consort Ying on her behalf.

However, everyone in Yao Yue Palace treated Qiu Ming with great courtesy.

First, because he served in the imperial court and might return there someday, being courteous was never wrong.

Secondly, they cherished Lin Wanyi’s act of saving others. Had she not toppled over to push Noble Princess Consort Ying away first, she might not have had the opportunity to be promoted to Noble Consort now.

"Is Sister Lin well? I heard she got some water in her lungs and it triggered an old ailment, which made me feel quite distressed."

"Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your concern. Our Miss Lin’s illness requires quiet recuperation. The Imperial Physician said she could be as good as new in about a month, and then she can be your company."

"Very good, very good!"

Afterwards, Noble Princess Consort Ying instructed the palace maid Rong Le to bring out many supplements and told Qiu Ming,

"Take these things back for Sister Lin’s body nourishment. When everything here is settled, I shall visit her."

"Yes, this servant thanks Noble Consort on behalf of Miss Lin."

As Qiu Ming exited, he happened to encounter Mu Daying at the entrance of Yao Yue Palace. Though anxious inside, she had to pretend to be polite on the surface.

"Eunuch Qiu, what a coincidence. Are you here on behalf of my sister to see Noble Princess Consort Ying?"

"Replying to Miss, yes, but this servant still has duties to attend to back in the palace, so I’ll take my leave first."

"Eunuch Qiu, take care. When Sister Lin is feeling better, I’ll go visit her."

"Indeed."

Then Qiu Ming took his leave with the items back to Xianyi Palace, and Mu Lanchun lifted her skirt and proceeded into Yao Yue Palace.

Inside Xianyi Palace, Lin Wanyi looked at the supplements sent by Noble Princess Consort Ying, feeling somewhat guilty.

The gratitude from Noble Princess Consort Ying was genuine, but from the start, she had other intentions, which made her feel awkward.

After all, her standing as Changzai and the "life-saving" gratitude were accidental.

Qiu Ming and others were unaware of these thoughts and said to Lin Wanyi,

"This servant has served in the palace for many years, and Noble Consort is indeed a rare gentle person. It’s a fortunate event that Miss has the opportunity to befriend her."

Lin Wanyi had never heard Qiu Ming speak so directly in praise of anyone before, especially when his words hinted at the possibility of forming a friendship with Noble Princess Consort Ying.

This surprised her a bit, as it seemed that Noble Princess Consort Ying had a good reputation in the palace.

She smiled and replied,

"Since Eunuch Qiu says so, I understand. After recovering from illness, I may often go to Yao Yue Palace to visit."