The most important thing at the morning court the next day was to catch the arsonist from the previous day, who was certainly not Anning.

She was a palace maid who burned offerings on the day of a deceased relative's death.

The young palace maid was executed and thrown into a mass grave, and the patrolling guards were also fined. That was the end of the matter.

The reason the emperor was so angry last night was because someone deliberately led him to connect this matter with the assassination attempt a few days ago, causing the emperor to be frightened and panicked, and unable to sleep all night.

So, Sister Yun is still Sister Yun; she was not defiled by that dog emperor.

When Anning heard the news, she was filled with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow. She didn't know if the little palace maid had been implicated by her and suffered this misfortune, nor did she know if she was a pawn abandoned by some faction.

"I don't want to think about these things anymore."

An Ning stood outside the Yangju Hall, shaking off the jumbled thoughts in her mind.

"The most important thing right now is to get the message to Sister Yun."

Whether it was from catching a cold after falling into the water yesterday or from getting up too early this morning, Anning felt dizzy as soon as she stood outside the palace. Her head felt like it was twice as heavy, and everything she saw was a double image.

Eunuch Wu glanced at him: "Are you sick?"

An Ning shook her head: "No, is there any errand to run?"

"These are the Emperor's gifts to the various masters. Deliver them to each of them."

An Ning nodded: "Okay."

According to custom, they were divided according to rank. The Empress was not among the concubines, so the first one was the Chunxi Palace of the Imperial Noble Consort.

Looking at the gradually familiar scenery around her, An Ning couldn't help but feel a little emotional, thinking back to how she had crossed over from here.

"Your Highness, this servant has brought you a reward."

After saying that, An Ning waved her hand, and the eunuchs behind her filed in, bringing in trays of silks, satins, pearls, and jade.

The Imperial Concubine looked at An Ning and curled her lips into a smile: "Oh, isn't this Eunuch Ning? I remember when you were working for me, I praised you for being clever. And now, the Emperor has taken a liking to you."

An Ning bowed and replied, "Your Majesty is too kind to this servant. Just call me Xiao Ningzi. The Emperor only takes a liking to this servant because of His Majesty's favor towards Your Majesty. Xiao Ningzi will never forget that this servant came from the palace of the Noble Consort."

Anning will still exchange polite words, after all, she watched quite a bit of The Legend of Zhen Huan before we were sent here.

The Imperial Concubine was very pleased with Anning's declaration of loyalty. She gave Bailan a wink, and Bailan immediately took a bag of silver and handed it to Anning.

Looking at the heavy money bag in her hand, An Ning's eyes lit up: she could actually make so much money just by taking this reward around; becoming a little rich woman was just around the corner!

Just as she was leaving, An Ning caught a glimpse of Bai Lan sneaking along the back of the group, seemingly slipping something into the arms of a young eunuch.

An Ning was somewhat puzzled, but more excited: a palace maid and a eunuch—either it was a money transaction or there was something fishy going on between them.

'Ha, I've finally caught you red-handed.' An Ning secretly memorized the little eunuch's appearance, planning to interrogate him properly after distributing the rewards.

After visiting the Imperial Concubine's palace, we went to Consort De's palace. Consort De was a nice person, quiet and gentle, and not very noticeable, but I heard that her family was very powerful.

After a busy hour, An Ning finally arrived at Liuyun Palace, which was her most important mission for the day.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Sister Yun sitting on a bench, leisurely basking in the sun.

Anning shook her head: Sister Yun, you're really carefree. We're all going crazy outside, and you're just sunbathing here.

"Xiao Ningzi greets Consort Meng." An Ning called out to Consort Meng reluctantly; the words always made her feel nauseous.

A look of surprise flashed in Meng Yun's eyes, and she was overjoyed: "Little Ningzi? What brings you here?"

An Ning adopted a rather businesslike demeanor: "I've come to deliver the Emperor's gifts. Has Consort Zhao settled in well these past two days?"

The eunuchs were busy bestowing gifts, and Meng Yun pulled An Ning into the room to talk.

"You may all step back."

"yes."

Soon, only the two of them were left in the room.

"Sister Yun." An Ning finally couldn't hold back and called out to Sister Yun.

Sister Yun was overjoyed, her eyes crinkling with laughter as she looked at her: "I didn't expect you to come. I didn't even prepare any osmanthus cake, so please don't be angry with me."

Anning shook her head and looked closely at Sister Yun. Standing right in front of her, Anning couldn't help but feel an urge to cry: "Sister Yun, why do you want to go to the palace? I don't want to, and neither does the Prince."

Meng Yun still smiled, her gentle voice like a clear spring lingering in my ears: "If I don't enter the palace, An Ge's status will be abolished. I absolutely cannot watch him fall into such a desperate situation. Besides, I have Xiao Ningzi in the palace, so I am not entirely without relatives."

An Ning sniffed: "Sister Yun, from now on, I'll treat you like my own sister. However, you won't be staying in the palace for long, because tonight..."

As she spoke, An Ning leaned close to Meng Yun's ear and told her about Mu An Ge's plan.

"No." Meng Yun frowned, speaking urgently.

Anning had never told Yun-jie that she was so excited before.

"Sister Yun, what's wrong? Do you intend to spend the rest of your life in the palace with the emperor who's almost at the end of his life?"

In Anning's eyes, her sister Yun was like a pure and elegant lotus, with a lingering charm and a sorrowful spirit throughout the four seasons. She should choose a handsome young man from among the world's many men, and then they would be a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a good couple, and grow old together, instead of being trapped in the palace and becoming a canary kept by the emperor!

"Xiao Ningzi, you don't understand. This is the best choice I've ever made, and I've never regretted it."

As she spoke, she stood up and turned her back to Anning.

A few rays of sunlight streamed in through the window, spreading out gently and softly, shrouding her slender yet stubborn figure.

"I will write a letter to An Ge to explain the reason, and I will also trouble Xiao Ningzi to give it to him for me."

Sister Yun walked straight to the wooden table, sat down, dipped her brush in ink, and began writing a letter, giving An Ning no chance to persuade her at all.

An Ning only realized suddenly that her graceful and charming sister Yun was actually so stubborn.

“Okay.” An Ning didn’t try to persuade her further and agreed to Yun’s request. She knew that once Yun made up her mind, no one could dissuade her.

A gentle breeze often blows through the hall during the day, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance wherever it passes. As the sun shifts its position, a slanting ray of golden light quietly arrives. In this halo of light, Sister Yun sits upright at the table and writes a very long letter.

Anning stood beside her, silently grinding the millstone, but tears kept welling up in her eyes. She knew that Sister Yun could never go back. The four corners of the palace were the widest expanse of sky and earth that she could see.

Anning was afraid that Sister Yun would see her crying, so she quietly turned away, but tears still streamed down her cheeks and fell onto the millstone. Sister Yun then used the ink stained with her tears to write a letter to Mu Ange.

"alright."

Sister Yun put away her pen and handed the letter to her, her glassy eyes still holding a faint smile.

An Ning lowered her head and hummed in agreement, not daring to say more, afraid that if she uttered another word, she would burst into tears.

Meng Yun tilted his head and looked at her: "Silly girl, from now on I can make you osmanthus cake every day, and you're not allowed to cry."

As he spoke, he reached out and wiped away the tears that still clung to Anning's cheeks.