It was not surprising that Emperor Kangxi arrived on the night of their stay at Qixiang Palace.

Upon seeing Kangxi, Wangshu's eyes nearly burst with joy. She gazed at him expectantly, and Kangxi quickened his pace.

"Greetings to His Majesty."

Kangxi helped her up and led her into the house.

"Is it comfortable to stay here?"

Wang Shu's eyes sparkled: "It feels very comfortable, thank you, Your Majesty. I have heard everything from Granny Zhang and the others. Your Majesty has gone to so much trouble. You are too kind to me. I don't know how to repay you."

"No need to repay me, just be happy."

...

As the weather grew hotter, the ice basin in the room was filled with plenty of ice. Wang Shu nestled in Kangxi's arms and didn't feel hot at all. The two of them were very affectionate, and she played with his braid in her hand.

"Does this mean I've caught Your Majesty red-handed?"

"Yes, of course it counts."

...

The two chatted about trivial things, but didn't find it boring at all. Then they ate together, and before long, it got dark. Thinking that Wangshu was going to Chengqian Palace to pay her respects the next day, Kangxi restrained himself and did nothing.

Wangshu had a good dream all night, but when she woke up the next day, Kangxi was gone.

"Your Highness is awake. This servant will help you get up."

Wang Shu got up, washed up, and then got dressed.

Su Mu dressed her up: "Your eyebrows are naturally black without makeup, and your lips are naturally red without lipstick, so there's no need for cosmetics."

As she spoke, Su Mu took out a set of jewelry with an overall light green color and a very fresh and elegant style. The whole set included hairpins, hair ornaments, and hair ornaments.

"What do you think of this set of jewelry today, my lady? You are still young, and the colors are too dark. Although you can pull it off, it might make you look a bit clumsy. This color is also not too sultry for summer."

Wang Shu glanced at it, then nodded: "I'll listen to Sister Su Mu."

While doing Wang Shu's hair and makeup, Su Mu said, "Your Highness, just call me Su Mu. There's no need to call me 'sister.' It wouldn't be good if someone heard us."

Wang Shu murmured, "Alright, alright, I won't shout then."

Then, Su Mu chose a turquoise cheongsam for her, making her look like a refreshing spring in summer, with a cooling and heat-relieving effect.

Wang Shu turned around and asked, "Is it pretty?"

The people in the room praised her sincerely, their tone and expressions making Wang Shu feel happy. Even her trip to Chengqian Palace to pay her respects couldn't dampen her good mood.

After a simple breakfast, Wang Shu took Su Mu to Chengqian Palace.

Today is the fifteenth, and not only does she, a newly arrived noble lady, have to come to pay her respects, but the other concubines also have to come to pay their respects to the Noble Consort.

After the death of Kangxi's second empress, Consort Tong was the most likely candidate to become the next empress.

Judging from Kangxi's current demeanor, he does indeed seem to intend to elevate his cousin to a higher position.

Consort Tong was a highly respected consort.

Wang Shu arrived at Chengqian Palace at a moderate pace, and was led to a designated seat by the head maid of Chengqian Palace.

Because she didn't know anyone, she was idly playing with her handkerchief, appearing very quiet and unassuming. However, she still attracted a lot of attention, as she was indeed young and beautiful.

The first person to approach was Uya, who was heavily pregnant. In fact, the system had alerted her when she appeared in the room, but she didn't expect that this person would actually come over.

"Greetings, Noble Lady Chun." Lady Wuya smiled gently and curtsied slightly to Wang Shu.

Wang Shu looked confused and asked, "Who are you?"

When Uya saw that she hadn't even gotten up, a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes, but Uya still caught it.

The two had met once before, which was deliberately arranged by Wang Shu. However, it was only Wu Ya who saw Wang Shu that time, and strictly speaking, Wang Shu should not have known her.

This future winner in life still needs more practice!

"I am Wuya Changzai of Chengqian Palace."

Wang Shu feigned recollection for a moment, then said with a look of sudden realization, "So it was Consort Wuya. You're pregnant, so sit down quickly; standing isn't good for the baby."

As she spoke, she looked at Uya's belly, her eyes filled with worry.

Instead of taking good care of the fetus, she had to go out and join in the fun.

Uya then sat down next to her.

Although Wang Shu had a title, her seniority was indeed shallow. In addition, Wu Ya had given birth to a prince and was pregnant with another child. It was not considered improper for her to sit next to Wang Shu.

In the early Kangxi reign, the inner palace began to be regulated, and many of the rules were not particularly strict.

"This set of jewelry for Consort Chun looks very special. I've never seen this kind of jade before. Did His Majesty specially give it to her?"

Wuya is a lower-budget version of Wangshu, but she has a great temperament, is gentle and has a soft voice. When she speaks, she gives off the feeling of a caring older sister, making it easy for people to put their guard down.

Wang Shu smiled and said, "It was indeed a gift from the Emperor. The jewelry worn by the concubine is quite beautiful."

Uya smiled as well.

Because she gave birth to the eleventh prince, who is now named Yinzhen, her rank is not high, but she has received many rewards.

She didn't wear many things on her head, but they were all exquisite. However, they couldn't compare to the rare items on Wang Shu's head; she had never seen anyone in the harem use them before.

It wasn't available before; it was a gift from the emperor, which signifies its rarity.

"Comparable to the nobles, this beautiful and lustrous jade is the best in the harem."

Wang Shu smiled shyly, like a young girl in love: "You don't need to belittle yourself, Your Majesty treats you very well."

Wang Shu sensed that Wuya wanted to get closer to her. Both of them came from the same bondservant background and had been palace maids. Logically, they should stick together.

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