Mingguang Palace.
Yue Qingyin carefully copied the palace rules stroke by stroke. There were seventy-two palace rules, which were not easy to copy. In particular, in order to avoid the Empress's criticism, she wrote them neatly in small regular script.
A hint of pity flashed in the eyes of Cailing, the palace maid beside her, as she used silver scissors to trim the wick of the lamp to make the flame more stable.
"Your Majesty, please write during the day. Writing under the lamp will strain your eyes."
After Yue Qingyin finished writing the last stroke, she didn't even look up and replied, "It's alright! It's nothing to hurt my eyes. What I'm afraid of is hurting my heart and spirit."
Cai Ling was clever and quick-witted, and naturally understood the meaning behind the words, so she couldn't help but stand up for the injustice.
"Although Her Majesty the Empress is known for her leniency and virtue, she is rather harsh on the Empress. If she says the wrong word or says a few words, Her Majesty will know, but she insists on punishing her by making her copy the palace rules. After copying them a hundred times, Her Majesty's hands will probably be swollen."
Yue Qingyin raised her head and looked out the window through the window frame.
"She has her reasons for doing this, and I have my reasons for doing this. You don't understand."
"This servant is dull-witted." Cai Ling's eyes lit up as she noticed the unusual tone in Yue Qingyin's voice.
A cold smile played on Yue Qingyin's lips. Her voice was clear and cold, even more chilling than the moonlight outside. She said calmly, "When the time comes, you will naturally know."
Outside, palace servants had already started beating clappers.
The door creaked open.
A palace maid whispered from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Aunt Yun Nian from the Empress Dowager's palace has arrived."
Yue Qingyin abruptly raised her head, a flash of coldness crossing her eyes. "Please come in!"
Ou'er hurriedly led Yun Nian in.
Yun Nian smiled gently and said, "This servant greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort."
"Aunt Yun Nian, please get up. There's no need to be so polite. Please sit down!"
Yun Nian slowly rose and sat down halfway in the chair, smiling as she said, "Thank you for offering me a seat, Your Highness. May I ask what important matter Your Highness has that warranted Ou'er's summons?"
Yue Qingyin's fingers lightly brushed across the calligraphy brush, her watery eyes filled with desolation. She said softly, "I wonder if Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is satisfied with my pledge of allegiance?"
A pledge of allegiance?
Yun Nian was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant and smiled, "Since the day of the selection of concubines, the Empress Dowager has valued Consort Xian highly. Everything Consort Xian has done has pleased the Empress Dowager, and this matter is naturally of utmost satisfaction to her as well."
A joyful smile appeared on Yue Qingyin's lips: "Since the Empress Dowager is satisfied, all my efforts have not been in vain. I also thank you, Aunt, for speaking well of me to the Empress Dowager."
"It is Your Highness Consort Xian who has assessed the situation and recognized the rightful ruler in the palace. The Empress Dowager will issue an edict in a few days. Your Highness should just wait for good news."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will certainly not let you down."
Yun Nian nodded and bowed to Yue Qingyin.
Yue Qingyin stretched out her hand, and Cai Ling came out with a silver ingot, stuffing it into Yun Nian's hand, but Yun Nian declined to accept it.
Yue Qingyin said, "I'll be troubling you a lot in the future, so please don't be shy. Ou'er, see me out. Make sure the lamps are lit and that I get to the Empress Dowager's palace safely."
Yun Nian accepted the gift, thanked her, and went out under the cover of night.
Ou'er hurriedly saw it off.
For a moment, only Yue Qingyin and Cai Ling remained in the hall.
Cai Ling's eyes were full of curiosity.
"Your Majesty, what is the 'pledge of allegiance'?"
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