“Lately, Younger Sister seems to hold quite a bit of resentment toward me. Why is that?” Guifei said with a slight smile, turning the conversation. “Since Her Majesty the Empress is here as well, if you have any dissatisfaction, why not say it openly? We can resolve it right away. No need to keep things bottled up and make yourself ill—what would be the point in that?”

  “What thoughts could I possibly have?” Li Fei replied lightly. “I was just curious, that’s all. Still, I wouldn’t mind hearing Elder Sister expin her sudden compassion. But of course, if you have your own concerns and don’t wish to speak of them, I can understand that too.”

  The words were mild, but the tone—so casual, so airy—only made them more infuriating.

  “Both of you make valid points,” Wumian interjected before things could escate. “Let’s not let this hurt our harmony. Peace in the harem is what matters most. How about I offer a suggestion?”

  “Whatever Your Majesty advises, I will certainly follow,” Li Fei said with a smile.

  “I would never object to your guidance, Your Majesty,” Guifei added.

  “It’s really nothing complicated,” Wumian said gently. “Guifei is concerned that if Fu Meiren’s familiar maids are punished right now, she won’t be properly looked after during her recovery, which might worsen her condition. That’s understandable—and the intent is kind. So here’s an easy solution: if flogging feels excessive, then reduce their monthly allowances instead. That way, they still learn a lesson.”

  She turned her gaze toward Li Fei. “As for you, Li Fei, I know you weren’t trying to oppose Guifei. In a pace full of women, all we want is fairness. If we excuse Fu Meiren’s servants simply because she’s injured, what’s to stop others from doing the same? Every consort will have a reason, every excuse ready—then what will Guifei do?”

  “Exactly! Her Majesty is truly fair and just,” Li Fei said sweetly. “With Her Majesty’s wisdom, I have nothing to argue with.”

  “Your Majesty’s words are right,” Guifei added with a composed smile. “I never said they shouldn’t be punished—only that I wished to wait a little. But you’re right; it was a pse in judgment on my part that caused the misunderstanding among the sisters. We’ll handle it as Her Majesty suggests.”

  She made a point to emphasize that they were following the Empress’s instructions.

  Wumian, of course, understood the subtext.

  She also knew perfectly well that Guifei hadn’t wanted to punish the servants—not out of mercy, but because Fu Meiren was the Empress Dowager’s niece. With the Empress Dowager behind her, Guifei had every reason to tread carefully.

  Fu Meiren wasn’t favored anyway—there was no need to stir up trouble on her behalf. Why risk offending the Empress Dowager over something so trivial?

  And now, even if a few of Fu Meiren’s servants had to be punished, Guifei had deliberately phrased it in a way that distanced herself from the decision: if the Empress Dowager ended up displeased, she could say it was the Empress’s idea, not her own.

  Wumian looked at her, half-smiling. “Yes, it was my decision.”

  Go ahead, compin if you want. If the Empress Dowager is petty enough to turn on me over something like this, then I really have no pce in this pace.

  With a boss that shortsighted, I’ll be lucky to afford more than two dishes in my lifetime.

  “All right. If there’s nothing else, everyone may return to their paces.”

  The consorts rose and filed out. Once they were gone, Linshui said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, Li Fei and Guifei really haven’t been getting along tely. Guifei’s been supporting Li Liangyi tely, and Li Fei’s clearly not pleased.”

  “Heh.” Wumian chuckled lightly, unconcerned. “Li Fei and Fu Meiren must have some bad blood between them too. I never paid it much mind before.”

  “They’ve never gotten along,” Linshui nodded. “You know the Empress Dowager has always disliked Li Fei and never gave her any face. And Fu Meiren, being the Empress Dowager’s niece, had a bit of favor early on. Back then, when Fu Meiren wasn’t yet so unfavored, the Empress Dowager would often pick on Li Fei for the sake of her own family. Li Fei couldn’t talk back to the Empress Dowager, so she took it out on Fu Meiren.”

  “I see. Too many beauties—it really does get tiresome,” Wumian said with a sigh.

  Just then, Dukang came in from outside. “Your Majesty, the Marchioness of Changmao has arrived. She’s just passed Longyun Gate and will be here shortly.”

  Wumian was surprised, but still nodded. “Let her in.”

  Her mother had sent word a few days ago saying she’d visit, but not today—this was a bit unexpected.

  Madam Qian entered Fengyi Pace and saluted according to protocol.

  “Mother, no need for formalities,” Wumian said, gesturing for her to sit. “Let’s talk.”

  Though she’d seen her mother a few times while recovering from her illness, Madam Qian had always been stiff with court etiquette. She was born of low rank and had trouble adjusting to the rules of the pace at first, but after three years of being the Empress’s mother, she was slowly improving.

  Still, she wasn’t a capable woman by nature. Faced with the awe-inspiring majesty of the imperial household, she couldn’t help being nervous.

  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Madam Qian said, sitting down with some restraint.

  Wumian waved off most of the attendants, leaving only Linshui and Feixu.

  Feixu served tea and stood by the door.

  “What brings you here so suddenly? Did something happen?” Wumian asked.

  Madam Qian was clearly agitated. “Your brother…” She caught herself and corrected quickly, “This servant’s son—he was engaged to the legitimate daughter of Lord Sun’s household. The wedding was pnned for this winter. But now… now he’s being foolish…”

  Tears began to spill from her eyes.

  “Don’t cry, Mother. What happened?” Wumian quickly handed her a handkerchief.

  “He—he brought home some woman of unknown origin and refuses to go through with the marriage! Your father and elder brother are already looking into it, but he won’t listen to reason. The whole matter has caused a stir, and I fear the entire capital knows by now. What are we to do? Lord Sun may only be a third-rank official, but he’s a trusted Vice Minister at the Ministry of Personnel. His family has been upright and honorable for generations. And now we’ve thrown this shame at them out of nowhere… What should we do? Your grandmother is so upset that she has fallen ill!"

  Wumian was speechless. No wonder the original Wumian used to look down on her own family—though she herself didn’t feel contempt, she had to admit: this household really wasn’t made of the toughest stuff. No wonder they’d fallen on hard times before. They simply weren’t very… bright.

  “All right, all right. This isn’t an unsolvable problem. Don’t cry.” Wumian got up and gently wiped her mother’s tears.

  “You don’t understand! The Sun family is known for being honest and upright. Lord Sun is already past fifty and only has one wife—just a few lowly chambermaids, no concubines, no illegitimate children. How could their daughter bear such humiliation? We… we never would’ve secured this match if not for you becoming Empress. And now we’ve ruined it… you’ll be embarrassed too.”

  Madam Qian was growing more and more upset. She hadn’t slept a wink the night before and now clutched Wumian’s hand, tears streaming nonstop.

  “Don’t cry, don’t cry. How old is this girl from the Sun family again?” Wumian asked with a half-smile. Her mother really was soft-hearted. If Wumian had inherited even a bit of that, maybe Ying Qionglou wouldn’t have found her so hard to tolerate. Clearly, she hadn’t gotten that trait.

  “She’s fifteen this year,” Madam Qian sniffled, dabbing at her eyes.

  “Perfect. Fourth Brother is your son, and so is Fifth Brother. Fourth Brother is eighteen, Fifth Brother is fifteen. One of them should be a suitable match in terms of age. Our family and the Suns had only discussed the engagement—we haven’t formalized it yet. Switching grooms isn’t out of the question. But we have to handle it properly. If we’re careless, it’ll seem like we’re disrespecting them. Have Grandfather personally visit them and expin everything clearly. Admit that our family was at fault.”

  Wumian patted her mother’s shoulder reassuringly.