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Editor: Atlas Studios

In the palace, without the blessings of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, even nobles like princess consorts and princesses had to walk obediently.

The group walked up the white marble steps and entered the main hall through the main door, then headed in the direction of the east side hall.

The palace maid in charge had a smile on her face the entire time. Her footsteps were neither fast nor slow as she said tentatively to Gu Yanfei, “You look unfamiliar. This is your first time entering the palace, right?”

“Indeed.” Gu Yanfei nodded with a smile and didn’t say another word. She pretended not to understand the other party’s probing.

When Madam Wang heard this, she clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly. She had thousands of questions in her heart and felt as uncomfortable as if she was being scratched by a cat. However, this wasn’t the place to question Gu Yanfei.

After passing through two more curtains, Madam Wang and Gu Yanfei followed the palace maid to a warm pavilion.

The room was filled with a thick sandalwood scent that curled away. The golden brick floor under their feet was mirror-like, and an ornate carpet stretched all the way to a pair of black embroidered shoes embroidered with a golden phoenix.

Empress Dowager Yuan, who was wearing a red sandalwood ball with longevity patterns, sat upright on the kang bed. She had a graceful bearing and was charming.

In the warm pavilion, there were also many young ladies sitting on both sides. They were dressed in fragrant clothes and looked gorgeous.

Wei Jiaoniang was among them.

She had already changed into a new set of clothes. She was wearing a peach-colored silk dress with begonia branches and a water-red threaded dress. Her black hair was tied into a lily bun, and she wore a golden phoenix with a ruby in it.

Wei Jiaoniang was so bored that she could not sit still anymore. She secretly tilted her head and yawned, causing the three strings of tassels on the rocking stick to sway slightly.

When she turned around, she saw Gu Yanfei, who had followed Madam Wang in. She was instantly energized, and her sleepiness disappeared. Her eyes even sparkled.

Yanfei, you’re here too! Wei Jiaoniang quickly winked at Gu Yanfei with her left eye.

Gu Yanfei and Wei Jiaoniang exchanged tacit glances.

Madam Wang brought Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunrong to the front to greet Empress Dowager Yuan. Empress Dowager Guan drank her tea elegantly with a calm expression. She couldn’t be said to be warm or cold. She only said simply, “No need to stand on ceremony.” When her gaze landed on Gu Yanfei, there was a hint of scrutiny.

An old granny leaned over and whispered something into Empress Dowager Yuan’s ear. The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, her eyes darkening as she glanced at Gu Yanfei.

Empress Dowager Yuan didn’t give her a seat, so Madam Wang could only stand there, not daring to move or glance around. She looked respectful and dignified.

Soon, Empress Dowager Yuan put down the pink enamel tea cup in her hand and stroked the edge of her sleeve. She said indifferently to Madam Wang, “Marquis Madam Dingyuan, Kang Wang and your daughter’s marriage has been delayed for a long time.”

Of course, she was referring to Gu Yunrong.

Madam Wang’s heart skipped a beat. Afraid that something would happen, she quickly put on a serious expression and listened to the Empress Dowager’s instructions.

“Your daughter is almost of age. The marriage has been arranged for after the new year,” Empress Dowager Yuan said unhurriedly. Her expression was calm, and there was a hint of noble superiority in her words.

Madam Wang was overjoyed. She quickly bent her knees and bowed to Empress Dowager Yuan. “As you command.”

Madam Wang wasn’t stupid, and she could tell that Empress Dowager Yuan didn’t look happy when she said this. However, no matter what, it was fine as long as this marriage could succeed.

Over the past few months, nothing had gone well for the family, and they had been plagued by bad luck. Now, there was finally a happy occasion that could sweep away the bad luck brought by Gu Yanfei’s return.

Gu Yunrong, who was standing beside Madam Wang, also knelt down and thanked her in a neither servile nor overbearing manner. “Thank you for your grace, Empress Dowager.”

There was a faint smile between her lips. Her movements were elegant and generous, and her bearing was excellent. She was like a lotus, natural and without the slightest bit of the pettyness of a woman from a noble family.

Seeing this, even Empress Dowager Yuan, who didn’t like her, nodded secretly.

Empress Dowager Yuan instructed the old granny, “Lead the Duchess of Dingyuan to the west hall and sit down.”

She didn’t mention Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunrong. It was obvious that she planned to keep these two girls in the warm pavilion.

When Madam Wang first entered the warm pavilion, she noticed that the other noble ladies weren’t around and that only those girls were left here. The Empress Dowager must have other motives.

Madam Wang was very tactful and immediately excused herself, following the old granny to the west hall.

Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunrong were given seats by Empress Dowager Yuan.

As soon as Madam Wang left, two more families came. As usual, the elders were casually sent away by Empress Dowager Yuan, leaving only Lu Qin and Yu Chaoyun.

The palace maids of Shou’an Palace trained all the girls and quickly served tea to them. The fragrance of green tea spread with the heat.

The girls summoned by the Empress Dowager today were either noble ladies or from noble families. They often met at banquets in various prefectures and knew each other.

They didn’t dare to be impudent in front of the Empress Dowager and greeted each other with a smile.

“Your Majesty,” Yu Chaoyun said, neither servile nor overbearing, “I heard that this high-grade green tea is a tribute. After tasting it today, it’s indeed fragrant and refreshing. I’m really lucky to be able to try it.”

Seeing Yu Chaoyun again, Gu Yanfei was very calm. She only glanced at her indifferently and lowered her head to drink tea.

Empress Dowager Yuan smiled kindly and instructed the palace maid in charge to give her a jar of green tea. She smiled and said, “You young ladies are so energetic. You’re full of vitality, and each of you is like a flower. I’m happy to see you, my dears.”

“Come, tell me what you like and are good at.”

Yu Chaoyun was the first to answer. “Your Majesty, I usually like to play the zither.

She didn’t say much else. She was generous and appropriately maintained the aura of a noblewoman.

Immediately after, the other girls beside her answered. Some said that they liked to play chess, some said that they loved to copy scriptures, and some said that they were good at playing the flute and the zither... When it was Wei Jiaoniang’s turn, she said with a smile,

‘Tm good at fighting.”

The surroundings fell silent.

The girls from the aristocratic families didn’t think much of it and felt that Wei Jiaoniang was really vulgar and rude. Lu Qin, who was sitting beside her, almost laughed out loud. She tried her best to cover her mouth and suppress her laughter.

“Pfft!’

A crisp laugh suddenly sounded between the girls, especially loud in the quiet, warm pavilion.

Everyone’s gazes surged towards Gu Yanfei. They saw that her black eyes were bright. When she smiled, it was like spring flowers blooming—beautiful and unrestrained.

Empress Dowager Yuan, who was drinking tea, almost choked. Her lips pursed, and a look of displeasure flashed across her eyes.

Wei Jiaoniang’s answer sounded like she was patronizing her.

Empress Dowager Yuan glanced at Wei Jiaoniang and suppressed her displeasure. She didn’t flare up and said indifferently, in a lecturing tone, ‘Jiaoniang, a girl has to be virtuous, dignified, gentle, and quiet. You’re already of age. Don’t talk about fighting and killing all day.”

Faced with Empress Dowager Yuan’s reprimand, Wei Jiaoniang wasn’t afraid, nor was she uncomfortable at all. She smiled and said, “Emperor Taizu said that women might not be inferior to men. The Eldest Princess Feng Yang also led an army and galloped on the battlefield, making illustrious contributions to our cause.”

The Eldest Princess Feng Yang was the eldest sister of the previous Emperor. She had once led a 100,000-strong army to pacify the three northeastern prefectures and made unparalleled contributions to the Great Jin.

Most of the noble ladies from noble military families admired her. They couldn’t help but look fascinated and smile.

The Wei family had transcendent status in the Great Jin Dynasty. Not only did the current Duke, Wei Rong, have an important army, but he was also Kang Wang’s cousin. As the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, Wei Jiaoniang naturally had an extraordinary status.

She was probably the only one who dared speak to the Empress Dowager in such a dismissive manner.

Empress Dowager Yuan choked for a moment. Her lips pursed even tighter, and a shadow flashed across her eyes.

The Eldest Princess Feng Yang was the eldest sister of the previous Emperor. She had a fiery personality and was valiant and heroic. Although she was a woman, she was even more decisive than a man. She stood tall in the royal court with her outstanding military achievements.

Back then, when the late Emperor decided to make her the Empress, the Eldest Princess Feng Yang objected greatly. In a fit of anger, she even whipped her and the late Emperor.

Now that she thought about it, Empress Dowager Yuan couldn’t help but be afraid.

Her slightly dark gaze swept past Wei Jiaoniang and landed on Gu Yanfei. She stared at her for a while before asking, “1 remember that you’re the Second

Lady of the Gu family, right? What are you good at?”

“Fortune -telling,” Gu Yanfei replied seriously, with a sincere expression.

“Pfft!” Wei Jiaoniang laughed happily. Her laughter was as clear as a bell as she looked at Gu Yanfei and smiled.

She was good at fighting, and Gu Yanfei was good at fortune-telling. The two of them were really compatible!

‘Smash!”

Empress Dowager Yuan slammed her palm on the coffee table and frowned slightly. The anger she had suppressed until now was released at this moment.

Empress Dowager Yuan would still tolerate Wei Jiaoniang for fear of Imperial Duke Wei, but not Gu Yanfei.

‘How dare you!” Empress Dowager Yuan said coldly. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was dignified. “You dare to be so disrespectful in front of me.’

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs all lowered their heads in silence.

Gu Yanfei looked at Empress Dowager Yuan and smiled without saying anything. Her lips curled into a faint smile.

She had always been honest. Why did no one believe her?!

” Gu Yunrong frowned slightly, feeling that she couldn’t see through Gu Yanfei.

Gu Yanfei wasn’t stupid. No, she was a smart person.

Every time she played some tricks at home, she had a motive. So why was she doing this today?

Most of the others could tell that the Empress Dowager was venting her anger on the Second Lady of the Gu family.

Or perhaps...

The Empress Dowager was using this as an excuse.

Yu Chaoyun recalled that the Eldest Prince had treated Gu Yanfei differently that day and looked at her meaningfully.

There was a moment of silence in the warm pavilion. The white jade incense burner in the corner quietly exhaled a trace of sandalwood, quiet and cold.

‘Since you say you’re good at fortune -telling,” Empress Dowager Yuan sneered and casually stroked her sleeve, her voice turning colder. “Then read my fortune.”