Capítulo 487: Chapter 275 Competing for Favor_2

“You’ve got it wrong,” Shu Wan adjusted her clothes, “Come on, let’s go and see the Empress Dowager.”

Shu Wan and Ning Yuan followed at the end of the group, led by a Palace Attendant into the Cining Palace.

The current Empress Dowager was fond of Buddhism, and Buddhist items could be seen everywhere in the Cining Palace. Even as the contestants entered, they encountered a Buddhist master and his disciples leaving.

The master, dressed in a simple kasaya, had an air of detachment.

He had his eyes half-closed but suddenly turned his head to look at Shu Wan as he passed by her.

Feeling the master’s gaze, Shu Wan remained composed, acting as if she hadn’t noticed and walked straight over the threshold.

“Contestants, step forward to meet the Empress Dowager.”

As the eunuch announced, everyone bowed in turn to the Empress Dowager, who nodded, uttering the usual authoritative official speak.

After speaking, the Empress Dowager took special care of Shu Qing and a few others, making them feel specially treated. As they left, they wore expressions of pride.

On arrival, they had been ordered by rank, and the same applied as they departed.

Everyone else had already left the palace, and Shu Wan was last, not stepping over the threshold until the others had vanished from sight. Then, she turned and bowed to the Empress Dowager, “I, Shu Wan, thank you for your favor, Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager sat above, quietly looking at Shu Wan for a while before suddenly smiling, “You are indeed a smart child, rise.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager.”

“Do you know why the Emperor kept your card?”

“I do, it’s because I greatly resemble the late Empress Huiyi.”

“Hmm,” the Empress Dowager twirled her prayer beads, “but in this harem, appearance is worthless, there will always be younger and more beautiful women coming in.”

“I am willing to learn from you, Empress Dowager.”

“I am old, there’s not much I can teach,” the Empress Dowager stood up and walked over to Shu Wan, “You have half a month’s time. If you haven’t caught the Emperor’s eye by then, well, don’t blame me for not being able to help you.”

“Yes.”

“Go now, I need to rest.”

Shu Wan took her leave, walking toward the exit of Cining Palace.

It was now evening, and the setting sun spread recklessly, shining on the glazed tiles, reflecting light that was slightly blinding.

The bell from the corner tower heralded the end of court, intertwined with the sounds of Buddhist worship from behind in the palace, strangely stirring restlessness in one’s heart.

“Ziruo, how come you are just leaving now? Were you kept behind by the Empress Dowager?”

Ning Yuan approached Shu Wan, her eyes filled with evident concern.

“No,” Shu Wan rolled her arm to show a mended patch on her sleeve, “The nanny by the Empress Dowager saw my palace dress was damaged, so she had a palace maid mend it for me.”

“You scared me to death; I thought you’d been detained.” Ning Yuan patted her chest, “That nanny is quite nice, really. But so is the Empress Dowager, truly benevolent.”

Shu Wan didn’t respond to that.

The Empress Dowager was not exactly benevolent; after all, she wasn’t Qi Yuan’s biological mother, but the Third Prince’s.

Considering she’d colluded with the Third Prince among the contestants, it seemed their mother-son ambitions were quite wild.

“Right, we need to return to our palace to meet Consort De,” Ning Yuan said, looking forward to it, “I wonder what our accommodations will be like.”

Shu Wan glanced at the daylight, “Let’s go back later.”

Ning Yuan didn’t understand why Shu Wan said this, but her experiences along the way told her following Shu Wan’s lead would likely be right.

So, they lingered for a while, and by the time they got back to Changning Palace, it was already somewhat dark.

“Halt, who goes there?”

As they reached the palace gates, they were stopped by a Palace Attendant.

“We are newly appointed Junior Attendants, assigned to Changning Palace, here to meet Consort De.”

“It’s dark already, and Consort De has retired to bed,” the Palace Attendant said, shutting the palace gate immediately, “Wait until the lady has awoken to speak.”

“What if the lady doesn’t wake until the morning? Are we supposed to stand here all night?” Ning Yuan was furious, “Let us in.”

“Impudence!” the Palace Attendant rebuked loudly, “This is Changning Palace. You are but mere Junior Attendants; do you think you can barge in?!”

Ning Yuan was both aggrieved and angry, about to argue with the Palace Attendant when Shu Wan pulled her arm, giving her a look.

“Ziruo, we can no longer stay at Chuxiu Palace, and if we can’t get into Changning Palace tonight, we’ll have to stand outside the whole night.”

“Don’t worry,” Shu Wan said with calm, “Just wait.”

Ning Yuan wanted to say something but ultimately choked back her words and stood by Shu Wan’s side.

As time slipped away, the night grew denser. Although spring had arrived, the night temperature in the Capital was still very low. The evening breeze carried a distinct chill.

Ning Yuan hugged her arms tightly, “It’s so cold. We’re not really going to have to stand out here all night, are we?”

Shu Wan remained silent, her gaze fixed on a faint light approaching from a distance.

Shu Wan immediately knelt down and called out to Ning Yuan, “Kneel.”

Accustomed to following Shu Wan’s lead during this time, Ning Yuan had already knelt before she could question the action.

Just as she was about to ask Shu Wan why, she heard footsteps nearby.

Ning Yuan turned her head and, in that moment, felt as if her heartbeat stopped.

Through the hazy night, a man clad in a black robe embroidered with golden dragons walked over at a leisurely pace. That face, Ning Yuan didn’t know how to describe it—it seemed even the most beautiful words in the world couldn’t capture his semblance.

“How dare you gaze directly at the divine majesty!”

The Chief Eunuch rebuked sharply, snapping Ning Yuan out of her daze.

Ning Yuan quickly paid her respects, “I have seen Your Majesty.”

However, Qi Yuan did not look at her. His gaze fell on Shu Wan, who was kneeling quietly by Ning Yuan’s side. Her delicate profile, like glowing white jade in the night, somehow conveyed an impression that calmed the soul.

It was as if…

Qi Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, “What are you doing here?”

“To apologize to Consort De,” Shu Wan replied.

At this point, the Palace Attendants of Changning Palace also knelt before Qi Yuan, “Your Majesty, these two ladies have disrespected the palace rules and attempted to intrude into the palace.”

Qi Yuan’s gaze was deep and inscrutable as it swept around and then settled back on Shu Wan. “Have you read books?”

“I have,” Shu Wan lifted her head, the light reflecting in her eyes, glittering radiantly.

But quickly, as if realizing that looking directly at Qi Yuan was improper, she bowed her head again, exposing a stretch of her snowy neck.

“Return to your own palace.”

After a long pause, Qi Yuan finally spoke.

“Yes.”

With Qi Yuan’s command given, the Palace Attendants could no longer make things difficult for Shu Wan and Ning Yuan, and let them into the palace.

At that moment, Xu Yinjia received the news and came with a large group of Palace Attendants to greet Qi Yuan.

Taking advantage of the bustle, Ning Yuan and Shu Wan quietly returned to a side hall in Changning Palace.

“Ziruo, you’re incredibly perceptive. How did you know His Majesty would come tonight?”

While Ning Yuan surveyed the palace’s surroundings, she conversed with Shu Wan.

Shu Wan, seated on a chair, massaged her knees, “I guessed.”

Where there are people, there are eyes and mouths; getting some information isn’t hard.

Shu Wan had given a piece of silver to the eunuch on duty at the watchtower that morning, and the information she received was that Consort De’s brother had made meritorious deeds expelling foreign enemies.

Matters of the previous dynasty concerned the harem, so Shu Wan guessed that Qi Yuan would likely visit Changning Palace tonight.

“This palace, why is it so much poorer than Chuxiu Palace?” Ning Yuan was a bit disappointed. “Never mind, let’s just find a place to sleep. I’ve been tired all day; I’m exhausted.”

Ning Yuan’s nature was such that she could sleep whenever she chose, and coupled with the high tension both mentally and physically that day, she quickly dozed off after a brief wash.

The lights in the main hall were now extinguished, meaning the Emperor and the concubines had retired for the night.

Shu Wan changed into a different dress and then walked out to the courtyard.

Deep into the night, amongst the intertwined Chinese parasol trees, bathed in moonlight, Qi Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, the coolness of the night untouched by his presence.

“I have seen Your Majesty.”

Qi Yuan turned around, his eyes sharp as a hawk, “Lady Shu, you are very bold.”