Chapter Nineteen Sister-in-law

  On the third day of entering the palace, a new place, new people, a new life. I'm a slow-warming person, everything still needs to adapt. Mu Yan is different, she seems like an oddball, able to quickly adapt to everything, new identity, new enemies, new old friends.

  The empress had already sent eunuchs to deliver the imperial edict, summoning Mu Yan for an audience. This was probably a long-standing palace rule: on the third day after entering the palace, the young master would have to report to the empress's palace and receive her criticism and guidance.

  It turns out that the queen's status as a big wife is, to some extent, no different from that of a modern mother-in-law. She treats you like a great enemy, after all, you are going to take away the man by her side, but on the surface, she will be courteous and take care of you with a dignified appearance.

  Women, they look so dignified and elegant, gentle and quiet, kind and friendly in their daily lives, but when it comes to emotional matters, everyone is petty and selfish, calculating and nitpicking.

  Indeed, clothes, toys, and food can be shared with loved ones if they are exquisite and liked, but emotions cannot. Emotions are inherently private matters, and so-called noble virtues are useless in this regard. Let's leave humility on the bus, who would show respect to their emotional rivals?

  I'm quite interested in watching this exciting scene of sworn enemies meeting face to face, so I asked Mu Yan to take me with her and promised not to speak or cause trouble, just quietly observe. She couldn't refuse me, so she agreed.

  Mu Yan changed into a dark purple palace attire with cloud patterns, her black hair styled in a low bun, paired with hollow silver lotus flowers hairpins. This elegant and refined outfit, combined with Mu Yan's originally stunning looks, was simply perfect. It seemed that many beautiful women gathered within the palace walls, competing with each other to win the emperor's favor, what great fortune the old emperor had!

  I followed Mu Yan, walking quickly with small steps, and after a while, we arrived at the gate of the Queen's palace, Zhong De Palace. The three golden characters were shining brightly, dazzling people's eyes.

  It seems that these new mistresses of the palace have all gathered outside the palace gate. It's likely that the Empress wants to give them a taste of her power, making these beauties wait outside on this hot day, dampening their spirits.

  Those who can be selected to enter the palace and serve the emperor are not ordinary people. If she doesn't have a powerful and wealthy family, then she must have an extraordinary appearance or talent, just like Mu Yan.

  I stretched my neck and looked around, sizing up the various young masters. Hmm, strange, why is there someone looking over at us? She was dressed in a pale pink satin palace attire, with only a pair of white jade pearl hairpins on her head. It seemed she wasn't one of the emperor's concubines' maidservants, but rather a low-ranking young mistress.

  She stared at us for a long time, and as I met her gaze, I realized she was looking at Mu Yan. Mu Yan seemed to have noticed too, but didn't meet her eyes, instead lowering his head as if trying to avoid her. It's strange, who is this woman anyway? Could it be that she knows Mu Yan?

  Before I could even ask Mu Yan, the woman in pink walked up to us. Oh no, what does she want? Her face was cold and showed no signs of friendliness. As the saying goes, "eat his salary, bear his worries", I couldn't help but perk up my spirit and stand in front of Mu Yan protectively.

  But then the girl walked up to me and burst into tears, leaving me at a loss for what to do. I thought Umanya's appearance wasn't as good as Muyan's, but it shouldn't be scary either. Girl, you're not crying because of my appearance, are you? I was speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say.

  It was Mu Yan behind me who was very calm and walked to my side, facing the girl and said, "Ling Yin, long time no see."

  Oh my god, they really know each other! I wonder what their relationship is? Former love rivals? Or old sworn enemies?

  That Lingyin girl's tears fell down with a plop, and she didn't even bother to use her handkerchief to wipe them away. She just coldly stared at Muran, letting her tears melt away her makeup, smudging it into a mess. It seemed that ancient cosmetics didn't have the concept of being waterproof.

  Uh, what should I say at this time? I really can't bear to speak out loud, the cicada's chirping on a summer day, the casual chatter of the young masters, all seem to have become inaudible now. All that can be heard is the sound of awkwardness and tears.

  At some unknown time, a voice broke into this silence.

  "Oh, isn't this Zhou Zhaoyuan, the famous one in the capital? Sister is really lucky, entering the palace and being granted the title of Zhaoyuan, I'm so envious."

  The one speaking was a young mistress wearing a purple cloud-patterned brocade palace attire. Beside her were two other young mistresses, one dressed in moon-colored and the other in emerald green.

  Mu Yan blinked lightly and smiled, "Sister is too kind to me, the Emperor's favoritism, all the imperial consorts benefit from it, what difference can there be?"

  The green-clothed young master glanced at Muyan with a hint of disdain, then turned his head to look at the purple-clothed young master, who chimed in with a flattering tone, "I say, sister is the one who's truly enviable. Sister is the only one among these young masters who has been granted a title, and just this point alone is something that others can't even beg for!"

  "Yes, yes," echoed a young mistress in moon-colored clothes nearby.

  That purple-clothed young master, hearing her flattery, naturally beamed with joy, a proud and arrogant look on his face, as if he were the greatest in the world. Such an expression really makes people detest him.

  "Oh? Really? Congratulations, sister." Murong Yan still smiled and responded.

  "Yes, but after all, can't compare to my sister. We are both spoiled at home, not compared to my sister, with a few more experiences. I heard that my sister's plain dress is even more moving and different from others? My sister was chosen by the emperor himself, such a fortunate event, I'm afraid it will only happen to my sister in this vast world." The purple-clothed young master sneered while looking at the two people beside her, who responded with laughter.

  These words are so obvious, how can anyone who knows the inside story not understand that she is sarcastically saying that Mu Yan has been married before and remarried, damaging her chastity. The ancients said, a woman should be virtuous, with a body of filial piety, Mu Yan's mourning for her late husband was originally a manifestation of deep emotions and chastity, but now it has become someone else's joke, which is too excessive. Putting such words on anyone would make them unable to not get angry, I saw Mu Yan's smile stiffen, her hands tightly clenched into fists at the hem of her garment.

  Before Mu Yan could speak, a voice filled with anger and tears rang out, "You were granted a title, but it was only because of your brother, the former Crown Prince's tutor. What is there to boast about in such a reward?"

  The one who spoke was none other than Lingyin, the woman in pink palace attire, who had been crying uncontrollably.

  "You..."

  "What's wrong with you? As the younger sister of the Crown Prince's study companion, don't you know the rules? Can't you even address people properly?"

  "The purple-robed young master was so angry that his face turned bright red, unable to speak, and with a raised hand, he slapped Lingyin's face heavily."

  "You hit me?" Lingyin said with a face full of anger.

  "What's it to you if I hit you? You little concubine dare to talk back to me, Ben Xiurong!" She raised her hand again, ready to strike.

  Mu Yan tightly grasped her arm and said calmly, "Sister, why must you get angry for the sake of a little servant girl? Aren't you afraid of losing your dignity as a sister?"

  That Xiuren wouldn't give him face, pulled back his hand, and with a wrist movement, laughed and said, "Hmph, do you think I know what kind of relationship you two have? Little girl, she's not just any ordinary little girl, Vice Commander He's daughter, would she be an ordinary person?"

  "Now that you know our relationship, I won't let you hurt her again." Mu Yan said quietly.

  "Hmph, what makes you think you have the ability to stop me?" said Xiū Róng with some displeasure.

  "I'm not capable of stopping you, but today is only the third day we've entered the palace. We just got here and already started fighting, do you plan on leaving a good impression for the empress like this? You're an intelligent person, I don't need to say more. Whether to fight or not, it's up to your decision."

  Moyan's calm words, listing out the facts, made it clear that Xiu Rong was not a foolish person and should understand. He nodded and said, "Alright, let's leave it at that for today," then turned around and left with his two pugs.

  That Lingyun, the powder-clad imperial concubine, stood there motionless, her tears having dried on her face but her makeup ruined from crying. She stared blankly at Muyan and said coldly, "My affairs are none of your concern," before turning around and walking away.

  They were not arch-enemies, nor were they love rivals, but rather sisters-in-law from the past. She, He Lingyin, was the younger sister of He Yuanshan, and He Yuanshan was Mu Yan's late husband. Why did she burst into loud sobs? Probably because seeing her sister-in-law reminded her of her brother. Why did she offer to help Mu Yan? Perhaps it was due to old favors or perhaps she just couldn't bear to hear others talk about her brother. The sisters-in-law from the past had now become the younger sister serving a man, a relationship that would make people hard to accept.