"There is no pond in Lingxue Pavilion, so I went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ask for eight water jars, and then I said that I like lotus and want to plant lotus. But people in the palace always speculate on their every move, so there must be people who don't believe that I like lotus."

"I'll pretend to let it slip and say that lotus seeds are numerous. I think it's a good omen. I hope you can have a baby soon."

As long as the concubines did things to win favor and have children, others would not find it strange.

Lian Rui suddenly realized and bowed to apologize, "I was careless and forgot this. If Lingxue Pavilion is flooded and it's far to get water, it will be difficult to deal with it."

"You've done a good job." Ning Wanyin smiled. It's impossible to take care of everything in this world all the time, and she herself can't guarantee that everything will go wrong.

But just being as cautious as possible.

Lian Rui quickly took the eunuchs to the Imperial Household Department to move the water tanks. With the money to pave the way, everything was settled.

After everything was done, Lian Rui came back to report.

Having just talked about the “things” in Lingxue Pavilion, there is still the most important “people”.

"I have inquired and found out that Xiao Guizi and Xiao Yuanzi were both in the palace of the late Emperor's Concubine Liu. After Concubine Liu passed away, they returned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and are now assigned to the Lingxue Pavilion. Danli and Luju are new maids who entered the palace last year. They are relatively young and have just learned the rules for a year."

It was a bit unlucky that the master they had served was dead. Xiao Guizi and Xiao Yuanzi had been in the Imperial Household Department for several years but no one was willing to hire them.

New palace maids are prone to making mistakes, and high-ranking concubines are not easy to choose.

Therefore, the palace servants reserved for low-ranking concubines were either newcomers or had some taboos, which seemed to indicate that there was nothing wrong with their origins.

Lian Rui continued to report:

"Xiao Guizi is a greedy man, and he even asked me about your family background. He is really obsessed with money. Xiao Yuanzi is honest and works without complaint. I will arrange for them to guard the outer courtyard."

"Danli is good at combing hair, so she will help you wash and comb your hair. Luju will serve tea...the two of them serve in the inner room. Now there is really no other way but to use these people. I will keep a close eye on them and ask about their past affairs later to make sure there are no hidden dangers!"

Ning Wanyin looked at her and nodded in appreciation, "You did a great job."

Lian Rui puffed out her chest proudly. After following the young lady for so many years, she had learned a few things.

…

The next day, Ning Wanyin wore a green, double-breasted, waist-cinching skirt with a lotus pattern, and two or three plain jade hairpins in her crow-like bun.

"My dear, you are so beautiful, but you are dressed so simply, I'm afraid you won't be very eye-catching." Danli failed to perform to her full potential.

Ning Wanyin smiled faintly, "I'm not going to pay my respects to His Majesty, so there's no need to stand out."

As soon as she came out of the right hall, Ning Wanyin saw Tang Miaoling guarding the gate of the main hall, waiting for her to pay her respects.

"Cousin, Empress Yuanxiao has passed away, and now Concubine Shu is in charge of the palace. Let's first pay our respects to Concubine Shu in Jingxi Palace, and then go to Cining Palace together to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager." Tang Miaoling tried her best to be friendly and smiled brightly.

Since she was chosen to enter the palace, the palace sent a nanny to teach her the rules and regulations for a few days.

The concubines in the Great Yan Dynasty had to pay their respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress every day.

According to the rules, the Empress must lead all the concubines to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and the concubines cannot go there privately. Now that there is no Empress in the palace, the responsibility of leading the way falls on Concubine Shu.

All the concubines gathered at Jingxi Palace and went to pay respects to the empress dowager together. There was no rule to pay respects to Concubine Shu every day.

"Okay." Ning Wanyin nodded slightly.

Your Majesty’s first wife, Empress Yuanxiao, passed away a few months before Your Majesty ascended the throne. Before Your Majesty had the chance to remarry, the late emperor passed away.

Therefore, now that the palace was without a master, the emperor appointed Concubine Shu to exercise the power of the empress and take charge of the six palaces.

Shu Fei was the emperor's concubine before he ascended the throne. She gave birth to a prince. This was the only prince in the harem, and his position was stable.

Self-appointed: Empress, Imperial Noble Consort, Four Consorts (Noble, Virtuous and Wise), Consort, Imperial Concubine, Zhaoyi, Jieyushi, Beauty, Honored Lady, Baolin and Selected Concubine.