Chapter One

  In the evening, the wind blew through the half-rolled bamboo blinds of Xiangfei, and gently swayed the light silk curtains, creating ripples. Quan Pei lay on the imperial bed, with a large red feather boa draped over her body, and the golden thread embroidery of the phoenix seemed to come alive, as if it were about to spread its wings and fly high.

  It was as if the sky was again filled with flames, countless figures jumping in front of her eyes, some crying, some laughing, some coming to repay kindness and others to demand life. Quan Pei knew it was a dream, but she still felt pain. When she woke up from the dream, a layer of fine sweat beads seeped out on her smooth and full forehead.

  The sun still had a few lingering rays, shining on the fiery red rhododendron blooming on the windowsill, warm and real. The large Western-style grandfather clock emitted a ticking sound, and the golden incense burner released a soothing fragrance. Quan Pei leaned back against the headrest, letting out a soft sigh, sometimes even she couldn't tell what was real and what was a dream.

  The eunuch accompanied the young Yongzheng, who was wearing a green robe, and rushed in from outside. Li Shi, who lived in the west wing of the house, hurried out early and stood under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. The plump Li Shi smiled more with the charm of a Tang Dynasty lady-in-waiting. Quan Pei only vaguely heard: "...such a hot day......mung bean soup......"

  Song Shi looked out of the window of another house, wanting to see if there was any movement in Quan Pei's house. After a brief moment of silence, he hastily rushed out: "......Master is back......"

  Quan Pei supported her cheek with her hand and looked over, seeing that the big girl Yu Rong had also come to her side. Yun Chen was very hot and couldn't enter the house for a while because several women all wanted to snatch Yun Chen to their own side. Quan Pei smiled lightly, like a charming hibiscus flower, as if she had seen something amusing. However, fifteen-year-old Yun Chen seemed still a bit immature when facing women.

  She pushed open the window and the hot air from the courtyard rushed in: "Dad is back, it's cool inside."

  Quan Pei, with her hair still loose and a hint of sleepiness, had a faint flush on her pale cheeks, like a peony flower that had just bloomed. She looked elegant and charming, and Yin Zhen's eyes lit up for a moment as he said, "You're still weak, rest well," while walking towards the main house.

  Li almost stomped her foot behind Yunquan, Song raised her head nervously to look at the window that was just opened, but only saw a pot of blooming rhododendron, and no longer saw the shadow of Furen.

  The darkness swallowed the last ray of sunlight, and in this small courtyard, the lamp was lit. Yongzheng took a comfortable hot bath, changed into a moon-white silk robe, and walked out to see Quan Pei wearing a white silk long gown with wide sleeves, propping up her chin under the lamp reading a book. The soft silk clothes fit Quan Pei's body, outlining her beautiful and soft curves, revealing her clean white feet, plump and tender like lotus root.

  Yin Zhen couldn't see the beauty of Quan Pei at this moment, he only felt a little dry in his throat. He sat down next to Quan Pei, and his nostrils were filled with the unknown fragrance on her body. The maids were not inside serving them, Yin Zhen reached out to caress Quan Pei's delicate arm, speaking softly to her: "Is your body better?"

  But a fifteen-year-old boy is just at the time when he yearns for such things, and sometimes a glance can trigger endless romance.

  Quan Pei turned her head and smiled at him, her black eyes shining like two diamonds: "I'm much better now, are you tired today?"

  "It's okay, just stayed on the court for a bit too long, legs are a bit cramped."

  Quan Pei smiled and gently pinched Yun Chen's hand, Yun Chen felt as if Quan Pei's slender white hands had a magical power, the fire on his body almost burning up.

  Yue Rong heard the noise inside and smiled, beckoning to Xiaotou: "Go and prepare hot water." Half a time passed before Master called for water, and the maids hurriedly carried in the hot water with their heads lowered.

  A quiet night, Yin Zhen was sleeping soundly beside Guan Pei, presumably having just passed out from exhaustion.

  It's as if she had returned to her past life, the empress said "What's wrong with marrying Yun You?" Indeed, she also thought what was wrong now, living a peaceful and happy life without worries. But she chose Jie Ze, the emperor's male concubine. Again, amidst the raging flames, Jie Ze's handsome face twisted in agony: "Why did you have to choose me? If it weren't for you, I would have been fine!"

  She also thought, why did she choose Jie Ze. The queen would not give up her beloved military advisor for a man, but Jie Ze lost the queen because of this. And in the end, she paid with her life.

  Quan Pei woke up from her dream, and a faint light had already appeared on the horizon. Ke Ji's Yin Zhen also woke up, smiling at Quan Pei: "You're awake."

  Wei Ting smiled with pursed lips: "But I'm still sore all over."

  Yuan Zhen put on her clothes and got up, calling out to Su Peisheng outside the window. She turned around and pinched her cheek: "You just sleep a little longer, if others ask, just say you're not feeling well."

  Ruan Pei smiled and nodded. The princes of this era were indeed not easy to get along with, the palace had educated wet nurses, even if they became close aunts and uncles, they would still be subject to restraint. If they did something wrong, the wet nurses had the right to punish them or report to the noble consorts and empresses, which would not bring any benefits. However, she was never a virtuous woman and had never served a man until her death.

  She was thinking, when Yongzheng turned around and pinched her cheek again, with eyes full of love and doting, she rubbed against his hand like a cat, smiling as Yongzheng left. Outside, someone asked, "Yue Rong raised her voice slightly: 'The lady had a fall earlier and is still feeling weak, the master wants her to rest for a while.'"

  She only dozed off for a moment, and soon she was helped by the maids to get washed and dressed. She chose a big peony flower with golden tassels and wore a purple cheongsam embroidered with lotus flowers, looking bright and radiant.

  Li and Song came to pay their respects, but even if they had a lot of resentment and jealousy towards Fugui, they didn't dare show it too much. The gege from next door dared to quarrel with the fifth fu jin, after all, because the fifth brother didn't like the fifth fu jin very much. But the fourth fu jin was different, unexpectedly fell down, the master picked her up and put her in his heart, at night always...

  The bright and beautiful Fourth Mistress almost made the two of them not dare to look directly, standing aside quietly serving Guan Piao with breakfast. The elegant and composed movements seemed to be carved into her bones, even just wiping her mouth was incredibly good-looking. Li Shi lightly pursed her lips, she was also a noble lady from an official family, and wouldn't be much worse than the Fourth Mistress.

  Song knelt on the ground, holding a basin of water over her head for Quan Pei to wash her hands. Li was beside her, handing her a handkerchief. But unexpectedly, everyone saw Song faint and fall over, spilling the entire basin of water onto Li's body. Quan Pei, who had taken a few steps back, didn't even get a drop of water on her shoes. Yue Rong and Xiao Rong rushed over to check on Quan Pei, while the nursemaids seemed to have seen something new and exciting and also gathered around: "What happened to Song Gege?"

  Li almost cried out, Quan Pei waved her hand to let her go down and change clothes first, and called the maid: "Go invite a doctor to come and take a look." Yuerong saw that Quan Pei was fine, then instructed the maid: "Carry Song Gege over to the couch."

  A Wang surname wet nurse stood beside Quan Ge, half scolding and half instructing: "Although you are the Fu Jin, she is a gege, but after all, it's not like other servants. If something happens to her while serving you, how will outsiders talk about you? I'm afraid they'll say you're cruel to your servants!"

  Quan Pei lightly sipped the tea, Xiao Rong fanned her from behind. On a sweltering summer day, even in the morning, it was easy to sweat. As role models for the nursemaids, they couldn't afford to wear any less, and after moving around a bit more and saying a few more words, their faces were already beaded with sweat, looking somewhat disheveled.

  Quan Pei didn't speak, and the only sound in the room was the soft breathing of the maidservants attending to Quan Pei. Wang's nurse felt embarrassed for a while, then she couldn't help but feel indignant - which prince wasn't raised by a nanny? But when it came to this Fourth Madame, everything went awry! She couldn't let the nannies in the palace lose face.

  She smiled and said: "You don't mind that the words I say are unpleasant to hear, this is what I would say even in front of the noble consort, you may be honorable but you can't be too harsh on your subordinates..."

  Just as she was speaking, Song Shi let out a soft groan and woke up. Wang's nurse immediately turned to Song Shi and said: "Your Highness is awake, what's wrong? If you hadn't moved that basin of water just now, you wouldn't have fainted!"

  Song Shi hung her head, struggling to get up: "It's serious, it's my own fault, I rarely serve Madame once, and I made such a mistake, the slave is willing to be punished!"

  Wang's aunt was choked in her throat, and it took half a sound to come out. This Song family is really useless, and she didn't even know how to accept the words that were handed over with a humble head! Wang's aunt turned her head and looked at Quan Pei, who was leisurely and calm, and gritted her teeth in hatred, really not underestimating this educated aunt!

  It's about time, I should go and pay respects to the empress dowager. Quan Pei tidied up her clothes and stood up, saying to Song Shi: "Later when the imperial physician arrives, you take a good look."

  Song Shi hurriedly nodded and sent off Quan Pei, who left the courtyard with Wang Niangniang waiting for everyone to leave. Uncomfortable, she asked Song Shi: "Why are you so afraid of her?"

  Song Shi smiled bitterly: "I can't compare to you, after all I have to make a living under Fu Jin's hands." Wang Niangniang looked at her with both pity and anger, feeling even more that she must suppress Quan Pei's arrogance.

  Wu Fu Jin's sharp eyes saw that Quan Pei had come out, and she hurriedly went to meet her. She was bitter, but only spoke privately with Quan Pei. When she saw Quan Pei, she revealed a bitter face, walking beside Quan Pei with her head down, speaking softly: "That little demon has been bullying us for three days now, not letting our master enter my room. This morning, I just wanted her to braid my hair, but she pulled out so many of my hairs that I scolded her a bit, and she talked back to me. I'm so angry that my heart hurts, and I don't dare to be too harsh, fearing that our master will return and I'll lose face again."

  Quan Pei's face immediately showed a look of worry: "Don't be too sad, everyone here is the same, as long as you can save face it's fine."

  Wu Fu Jin listened to Quan Pei's words, feeling slightly relieved in her heart. She grasped Quan Pei's sleeve: "From what you're saying, sister, it seems like things haven't been going well for you either?"

  Quan Pei just sighed, neither saying yes nor no. Wu Fu Jin thought she understood Quan Pei's distress and immediately comforted her: "Don't be too upset, if you're not happy, come sit with me."

  Ruan Yu nodded in agreement, and when she met San Fu Jin and Da Fu Jin who were going out, Wu Fu Jin's face looked much better. She probably thought that the women in front of her were still decent on the surface, but actually they were all about the same as her.

  The eldest lady is older, and looks more gentle and kind. The third lady has won the favor of the third brother, so she is a bit proud. She pulls at her new clothes and talks to several people: "Our master brought it back from outside, saying it matches my skin tone, I like it myself."

  Third Brother's eyes are quite good, but Wu Fu Jin doesn't like to listen, so she pretends to turn her head and look around. Da Fu Jin smiles and says: "Third Brother's wife is very lucky."

  San Fu's wife looked at Quan Pei again, and Quan Pei smiled: "Beautiful clothes, but San Shu's people are still more beautiful."

  San Fu Jin listened with a smile on her face and held onto Quan Pei's hand: "Your words are so sweet, Fourth Brother must also like it very much."

  It's easy for people to say nice things, so there's no need to forcefully say unpleasant ones, which don't benefit anyone. After all these years of dealing with the powerful in the imperial court, I've found that being able to speak nicely without leaving any marks is the greatest treasure in social interactions.