"Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."

Hesheli Fangyi curtsied and looked up to see Kangxi's departing figure.

She got up, let out a sigh, and felt a little lost. The emperor had left and had not chosen to stay and retire for the night.

Thinking back to when she transmigrated, although the Emperor visited Kunning Palace quite often, he rarely stayed overnight.

At first, Hesheli Fangyi was a little scared, after all, she was not used to serving a stranger. But after she had mentally prepared herself and was able to accept it, the stranger simply stopped coming.

She couldn't tell whether she was disappointed or relieved; in any case, Hesheli Fangyi was very conflicted and hadn't recovered yet.

Outside the palace, Emperor Kangxi, who had just left, had no idea what Consort Hesheli Fangyi was thinking. He was not staying overnight because he was too busy with court affairs to relax.

Of course, it cannot be denied that Hesheli Fangyi's silent rejection of him at the beginning aroused his resentment.

After all, he was born into an imperial family, how could he accept his woman giving him the cold shoulder and showing him disdain (even if it was subtle, he could still sense it).

Naturally, Kangxi stopped staying overnight, which could be considered a form of revenge. After all, he didn't lack women to serve him, and besides, Hesheli Fangyi wasn't someone he could forget.

Kangxi walked quickly, lost in thought, and didn't notice his surroundings, so he overlooked the subtle yet intense gaze coming from the doorway.

Cheng Lin bowed respectfully, her eyes fixed on Kangxi until he disappeared into the gates of Kunning Palace without looking back.

"Chenglin, thank you for bringing the soup. Does the kitchen have any pastries? Please fetch some and send them to Her Majesty."

Tan Yun turned around and gave Cheng Lin instructions for the next steps, while she ran to the side hall to check on Bao Cheng's situation.

Cheng Lin absentmindedly replied, still somewhat dazed when she walked into the small kitchen.

When Xiao Dengzi saw Cheng Lin come again, he exclaimed "Ouch!" and patted his leg, "Sister, did you forget something?"

Cheng Lin shook her head and waved for Xiao Dengzi to bring over the pastries she had made.

"His Majesty often dine at Kunning Palace, so why doesn't he stay overnight?"

She finally blurted it out. Cheng Lin tilted her head, and the image of Hesheli Fangyi appeared in her mind.

Hmm, does the Empress not please the Emperor?

Indeed, she wasn't as eye-catching as the other concubines in the harem, Cheng Lin muttered to herself. Then, a surge of heat welled up in her heart. She understood that this was her desire for power; she also wanted to become one of the concubines in the harem.

“Hey, when His Majesty comes to the inner palace, he naturally wants to find a place to relax,” Xiao Dengzi subconsciously chimed in, having become familiar with Cheng Lin. He glanced cautiously out the window and lowered his voice unconsciously. “Our Empress is good in every way, except that she is too rigid and monotonous on a daily basis.”

"Men, who doesn't like a funny and pretty one?" Seeing Cheng Lin looking over, Xiao Dengzi winked. "Like the favored concubine Xitala, I heard that the Emperor always leaves with a smile after visiting her." How can that compare to visiting Kunning Palace? Every time the Emperor leaves, he's in a hurry. Anyway, Xiao Dengzi doesn't think the Emperor would like an Empress who's always so formal.

Cheng Lin's heart skipped a beat at Xiao Dengzi's words, "Is that so?"

Xiao Dengzi nodded vigorously, his voice contradicting his words, "We're all men," he said, "no one is serious when they're relaxed."

Xiao Dengzi didn't say the second half of his sentence. He knew his limits. He neatly arranged the pastries on the tray, then turned and handed it to Cheng Lin. "Sister, go ahead and get busy. Don't keep Her Majesty waiting."

Cheng Lin nodded and, after gathering her thoughts, went to the main hall.

...

"My lady, we should go to Kunning Palace to pay our respects."

Chunyu held a cloak over her hand, her eyes fixed on Xiuning in front of the dressing table.

With the year drawing to a close, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this should be the last collective greeting of the year.

Xiuning hung up the earrings and looked at herself in the bronze mirror from left to right.

"I heard that this year's New Year celebrations are exceptionally grand, and court officials will bring their families to the palace to join in the festivities."

As she stood up, Xiu Ning spoke, letting Chun Yu drape a cloak over her shoulders.

Chunyu lowered her head slightly and tied the ribbon at the front of her collar. "Yes, with your official rank, you will definitely have to enter the palace."

Xiuning shook her head. "If you ask me, in this freezing weather, it's better to stay home and have a peaceful New Year than to go to the palace."

The main hall certainly couldn't hold so many people, so they had to choose an open-air venue.

At that time, eating dishes that have been frozen solid in sub-zero temperatures, I really don't know whether it will be an honor or a misery.

Chunyu dared not speak, but she thought that such a thing was probably not an opportunity for ordinary people, so those who were able to get in should definitely cherish it.

"Go and pay your respects, and return as soon as possible."

Without continuing the topic, Xiuning took Chunyu's wrist and turned to leave the main hall.

Outside the palace, the sedan chair, which had been waiting for a long time, finally welcomed its owner.

Xiuning got into the sedan chair, and in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it successfully stopped at the entrance of Kunning Palace.

"My lady, please be careful," Chunyu said, supporting her mistress.

Xiuning wore platform shoes, and with each step she took, the hairpin in her hair swayed slightly, shimmering in the sunlight.

"Have you found out who the palace maid on the left is?" She's caught her red-handed several times already.

Every time Xiuning came to Kunning Palace to pay her respects, she would notice that someone was staring at her. This wasn't a problem, since palace servants would do the same thing whenever Xiuning went out.

However, the one in Kunning Palace is a bit different. One reason is that she looks at him too frequently, and another is that her eyes carry an undisguised malice, as if she wants to take his place.

Xiuning has traveled the world countless times before, so it's not surprising that she encountered such a gaze. However, in the context of the current palace intrigue drama, it can only mean one thing: the other person also wants to become her colleague (the emperor's woman).

Someone in Kunning Palace wants to take over? It seems this visitor from another world can't outmaneuver the body itself.

"My lady, she is a new palace maid who was assigned here this year. She is usually responsible for some small tasks and chores, but she gets along well with the people in Kunning Palace."

Chunyu briefly introduced the other party's situation.

"What's your name?"

Xiu Ning kept her eyes straight ahead, but she was convinced that this person was not simple.

"Wuya Chenglin"

A dark glint flashed in her eyes, and Xiu Ning said softly, "His surname is Wu Ya, the head chef of the imperial kitchen."

"He is this man's grandfather."

Chunyu had gathered a lot of information, at least she knew most of Wuya Chenglin's background.

"It was also a matter of luck. Originally, Uya had intended to send people to serve in the tea room of Qianqing Palace, but something happened in the palace in March this year. These palace maids were all recruited in advance. Since no one was coming to Qianqing Palace, they simply came to Kunning Palace." Apart from Qianqing Palace, it was a pretty good place.

"Really? Thinking about it that way, it's not bad at all." Wuya wants to climb to power by stepping on Kunning Palace? She's got some ideas.

As Xiuning stepped into the main hall, a slight smile appeared on her lips. She felt that there would be a good show to watch in Kunning Palace in the near future.