Wei Shuyi slept uneasily last night and woke up with pain in his shoulders and neck.
Wen Yu quickly massaged her: "Miss, do you have a stiff neck? Let me change a new one for you."
"No, it's my problem."
When Jing Ning walked in carrying a flower pot, she happened to see this scene: "My lady, what's wrong with your neck?"
"I twisted it last night and it hurts a little."
"We need Zhang to agree to come! She's good at massage, and everyone who's had her massage says it's good!"
In the past, this girl tried to get along well with the palace people, and would only say a few words when facing the arrogant concubines.
Now, why are you making up stories about Zhang Da Ying?
"How did she offend you?" Wei Shuyi didn't understand. "After all, she is a legitimate master. How could she be served like a palace maid?"
"My lady, you don't know yet, do you? On my way to the flower house, the news spread all over the Yanxi Palace!"
"What's new?" Xin Xuanshi finished her breakfast and came to visit Sang Yuxuan. "Jingning, can you take me to listen to one?"
"It's not a secret anyway, so of course you can!" Jing Ning cleared his throat, very satisfied with the expressions of his audience. "Isn't it that Noble Lady Wen has an unstable pregnancy and is feeling uncomfortable all over? Lady Zhang, who is also in the Yanxi Palace, was busy giving her a massage, and accidentally served her until the evening. Coincidentally, the Emperor came, and in the end, for some reason, the Emperor went to Lady Zhang's room. Perhaps he also wanted to enjoy a massage!"
Consort Xin immediately reacted, "Sister Yi! I was wondering why she didn't come yesterday! Turns out she was so busy taking care of Noble Lady Wen that she didn't even bother with us."
"Noble Lady Wen is the legitimate daughter of Lord Qu, and her status is already noble. Now that she's pregnant with the royal heir, it's possible she'll become the head of a palace in the future." Wei Shuyi didn't take it seriously. "After all, Zhang Ying is working under someone else, and she has her own difficulties."
Obviously, this statement is not what everyone thinks.
Wen Yu always responded with a smile, intending to discuss the matter with her in detail when no one was around. Jing Ning's disdain was written all over his face, while Jing An still maintained the proper etiquette in front of his master.
Concubine Xin sighed exaggeratedly: "Having a skill is always different from ours. As for me, I just want to learn a dish so that the Empress Dowager will appreciate it. Unlike others, even if..."
"Shh!"
Jingning was the first to hear the movement at the door and immediately made a gesture.
Zhang promised that when she came before, she was only accompanied by the old maid. But today she made an exception and not only brought all the maids and eunuchs with her, but also dressed more gorgeously.
"Noble Lady Yi, I came here early today. I hope I didn't bother you."
Wei Shuyi stood up and walked out, seeing such a pomp and circumstance: "No."
"Since I missed my studies yesterday, I decided to come early this morning to review what Noble Lady Yi taught me." Zhang Da Ying fidgeted with the jade ring on her finger. "Select Lady Xin can come back in the afternoon as usual."
"But, I'm afraid it's not convenient to wash or cut vegetables with what you have in your hands. If it gets dirty or damaged, it will be difficult to explain to the emperor."
Concubine Xin saw through the other party's intention to show off and retorted directly.
Jing Ning also laughed at the side: "Zhang promised, I still remember that when you first came to Lin'an Palace, you and Nanny carried a lot of bags, not afraid of being tired. If I had known that you had so many people in the palace, I should have asked them to help, so that Nanny wouldn't be exhausted!"
"My Lord, I just don't want to mobilize a large army..."
"What about today? Are you going to call them over and have them taste your dishes one by one?"
This was the reason Zhang promised to give, and listening to it again now, it had a sense of irony.
Wen Yu went over to smooth things over, "From what I've been watching, I've always felt that Young Lady Zhang is someone who strives for perfection. She's not wrong to want to hear more feedback from the palace."
"Then I will go to the small kitchen first."
Zhang agreed and bowed to the two of them, then left with a gloomy face.
The old nanny felt bad and went to explain to Wei Shuyi, "Lady Yi, my young mistress is just like that. To put it nicely, she's a bit childish and always wants to show off everything she has. But she means no harm, so please forgive her rudeness."
"Grandma Jiang's condition is serious, but I don't blame her."
"That's just me worrying too much! Excuse me, I still have to look after her!"
"Okay, go ahead."
When everyone crowded into the small kitchen, Concubine Xin curled her lips in dissatisfaction: "It's okay to show off to others, but if she really treats us as her own, why does she act like this? Doesn't the Yanxi Palace have a small kitchen? She's taking advantage of us and still acting so ungrateful!"
"Sister, just think of her as a child. After being ignored by the Emperor for so long, she suddenly received His Majesty's favor and couldn't help but want to announce it to everyone."
"Zhang is the same age as me, and if you count the months, she's three months older than me. How can she be a child?" Concubine Xin turned her head and looked to the other side. "Sister Yi, I'm not really angry myself, I'm just speaking up for you. You've taken so much trouble to teach her how to cook, isn't that a favor to her? What if the Empress Dowager takes a fancy to her and bestows a reward? Wouldn't she be so proud of you?"
Wei Shuyi understood this logic: "Compared to studying the uncertain future, I would rather know whether Zhang's consent to sleep with me last night was due to the right time, place, and people, or was it man-made?"
She knew Qu Yuexi's character: as a legitimate daughter, she looked down on those concubines. Even though Concubine Jin had achieved such a high position, in her eyes, she was still a low-ranking figure.
Not only that, Qu Yuexi also hated people who showed their emotions on their faces, and always felt that they were stupid. She had heard this up close many times at banquets.
However, why could a woman like Zhang Da Ying get help from Qu Yuexi?
In the small kitchen, the old nanny occasionally glanced at the main entrance, muttering, "I've already advised you to come over. Why bring so many servants? They were given by the Emperor, but they're not as good as..."
"Have I done anything wrong?" Zhang Da Ying slammed the chopping board. "Noble Lady Yi is surrounded by palace servants, working in the house, sweeping the courtyard—there's no telling how many people there are! As for Concubine Xin, she's unwilling to bring her along, so I'm sure there are a whole bunch of people waiting on her. Only I, every time I bring Granny Jiang with me, look like an anomaly! Even before I even say a word, I'm already being treated as inferior."
"My dear! They are not snobs. Who looks down on you?" The old lady frowned. "Your actions today have inadvertently annoyed others. What should I do?"
Zhang Da Ying was upset, so he simply washed his hands and sat on a rattan chair nearby.
She carefully put the jasper ring back on, admiring its shimmering beauty in the sunlight, and sneered in response, "So, Grandma Jiang, you also think that they'll be unhappy if they see me living well, right?"
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