Inside Yanxi Palace, Chunlan rushed into the hall, her face beaming with joy: "Your Majesty, Consort Nian has been confined by the Emperor! She's even made to copy the 'Admonitions for Women' a hundred times!"

Lin Yun was leaning against the soft couch reading a book when she heard this. She looked up and smiled slightly. "Really?" She put down her book, took the teacup Xia He handed her, and took a sip. The aroma of the tea spread on her tongue.

Standing to the side, Granny Li smiled and said, "Your Highness, this is a blessing from heaven. Consort Nian has always been arrogant, but she has finally learned her lesson."

Lin Yun smiled faintly and did not reply. Although she felt relieved, she also knew that the power struggles in the harem would not stop because of this.

With Consort Nian punished, the other concubines will only become more vigilant and may even join forces to deal with her.

She put down her teacup and said to Chunlan, "Go and get the list of gifts we received yesterday. I want to take another look."

Chunlan readily agreed and returned shortly afterward with a booklet in her hands.

Lin Yun flipped through the gift list, her gaze sweeping over the items sent by each palace, secretly planning how to reciprocate.

Although she was new to the palace, she knew the rules of reciprocity and couldn't allow anyone to find fault with her.

"Granny, according to palace custom, how should we return the gift?" Lin Yun asked, looking up.

Li Mama replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, usually the return gift should be slightly less than the one received, to show humility. However, gifts from the Empress and the Imperial Concubine require extra care."

Lin Yun nodded, already having a plan in mind. She instructed, "Then select some of the finest rouge and powder, as well as seasonal fruits, from the storeroom and send them back to the respective palaces. For the Empress, also send her a box of my personally blended perfume."

"Your Majesty's consideration is very thoughtful." Granny Li smiled and agreed, then turned to make the arrangements.

After everyone left, Lin Yun sat alone by the window, gazing absently at the flowers and trees in the courtyard.

She recalled the historical Emperor Yongzheng, known for his diligence and strictness in governing. While not exactly lenient towards his concubines, he had never punished them so severely. But the current Yongzheng acted in a completely different manner from those recorded in history.

He was extremely knowledgeable about the previous dynasty, and his methods in the harem were ruthless. He even showed special favor to her, a "newcomer".

"Could it be..." A thought suddenly flashed through Lin Yun's mind, "that he was reborn?"

This idea gave her a jolt. If that were true, many things would make sense.

Through these days of getting along, Yongzheng's attitude towards her, his ruthlessness towards Consort Nian, his precise control over the affairs of the court... most importantly, his early ascension to the throne, will allow him to tackle the problems he has already solved more and more quickly.

That makes sense.

It's already bizarre that I myself have transmigrated; if the emperor was also reborn, then this world is far too absurd.

Just as she was pondering, Chunlan's voice interrupted her thoughts: "Your Highness, dinner is ready. Would you like to eat now?"

Lin Yun snapped out of her daze and nodded, saying, "Put it up here."

The dinner was very lavish, and the imperial kitchen clearly dared not neglect this newly favored concubine. Lin Yun didn't have a big appetite, and after only a few bites, she had the food taken away. She instructed Xia He, "Go and brew a pot of tea, something light."

Xia He quickly brought over the tea set, and Lin Yun took it and brewed the tea herself. When no one was looking, she secretly dripped a few drops of spiritual spring water into the teapot.

The tea immediately filled the air with fragrance, and even the palace maids outside the hall couldn't help but take a sniff; it smelled wonderful.

"The Emperor has arrived—" came the announcement from outside the door from the eunuch.

Lin Yun quickly got up and straightened her clothes. Just as she reached the palace entrance, Yongzheng strode in. She curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Yongzheng reached out to help her up, smiling, "No need for formalities." His gaze fell on the teapot on the table, and he raised an eyebrow, saying, "Yun'er, did you know I was coming and specially prepare tea?"

Lin Yun smiled and said, "I was just bored and wanted to try some of the newly acquired tea. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, would you mind having a taste?"

Yongzheng nodded and took her hand to sit down together. Lin Yun poured him a cup of tea; the tea was clear and fragrant.

Yongzheng took the teacup, sniffed it lightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "This tea fragrance... seems familiar."

He took a sip, his brow unfurrowing, and he instantly felt relaxed, as if the fatigue of the past few days had vanished. He put down his teacup and looked intently at Lin Yun: "Why is this tea the same as the one I drank at the teahouse that day?"

Lin Yun's heart raced slightly, but she didn't show it on her face.

She said softly, "Your Majesty has a good memory. This tea is indeed the same as the one from that day, because... I used the same water."

"Oh?" Yongzheng looked at her with great interest. "What kind of water is so magical?"

Lin Yun lowered her eyes, seemingly hesitating, before whispering, "When I was a child, I met an immortal who gave me a treasure, which he said was divine water that could purify all things. I have always used it to brew tea and boil water, but I dare not tell anyone else."

Yongzheng's gaze deepened, and he pressed further, "An immortal? What kind of immortal?"

Lin Yun shook her head: "I was young then and don't remember clearly. I only remember that the immortal was dressed in flowing white robes and said that I was destined to meet him, so he bestowed this treasure upon me." She looked up at Yongzheng, her eyes filled with trepidation, "Your Majesty... you don't think I'm talking nonsense, do you?"

After a moment of silence, Yongzheng suddenly chuckled and said, "I believe you."

He's been reborn, so what else could he not believe? His Yun'er was a fairy reincarnated. Otherwise, why would he miss her day and night?

Lin Yun was taken aback, not expecting him to accept such a bizarre statement so readily.

Yongzheng held her hand and said gently, "There are many extraordinary people and things in this world. It is a good thing that Yun'er has a predestined connection with the immortals."

His attitude reassured Lin Yun somewhat, but also made her more puzzled.

If he was a reborn Emperor Yongzheng, why did he not doubt the claim of being an "immortal" at all? Had he experienced something even more bizarre?

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