The first day after entering the palace is usually reserved for the concubines to pack their things and handle their household affairs. Even if the empress or concubines bestow gifts, they are usually not sent at this time.
With Rose and Lily of the Valley doing their jobs well, Sun Miaoqing only needed to be a hands-off manager and rest on the sidelines. After all, she had gotten up very early today and was quite tired.
Linglan opened the package containing the fabric. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss, but upon closer inspection, she immediately frowned and became furious.
Sun Miaoqing noticed that Linglan's expression was off and asked directly, "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so angry?"
Linglan picked up the piece of fabric and walked up to Sun Miaoqing. "Your Highness, look how audacious those servants are! This fabric has been tampered with."
Sun Miaoqing looked up and saw that it had indeed been cut in half, about a quarter of it was missing.
Rose said, "Anything else is fine, but this piece of flowing cloud satin was sent from Suzhou by Master after you were selected. It is extremely precious."
"Originally, it was intended as a gift for Consort Hua, hoping that Your Highness would receive her favor. Now that it has turned out like this, how can it be given away?"
Sun Miaoqing didn't care about this. Anyway, she had no intention of actually sending such a generous gift to Consort Hua. She was too busy keeping her distance to offer herself up!
"It is said that the servants of the Imperial Household Department are all good at making money. Wherever they go, the sky is three feet high and the earth is three feet thin."
"I never expected to see this on my very first day in the palace. They figured we wouldn't dare cause any trouble since we're new here, and that we'd have to swallow our grievances even if we were wronged."
Linglan was very unwilling. They were just eunuchs, yet they dared to bully the young master. It was simply outrageous.
"My lord, are we really going to swallow this insult?"
Rose said, "What can we do if we can't bear it? Consort Hua manages the six palaces, and Huang Guiquan, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, is a distant relative of hers."
"If this matter escalates, it will be a slap in the face to Consort Hua. Those servants involved will certainly not have a good end, and Your Highness will inevitably be implicated as well."
Sun Miaoqing looked at the remaining Flowing Cloud Satin in front of her. She could tolerate being a corporate slave in her previous life, but now that she had transmigrated, did she still have to endure it?
"Since we can't make clothes, let's make a pair of cushions. When we send them over, we should act as if we want to say something but don't. Songzhi will definitely be suspicious when she sees them, and once she knows, Consort Hua will naturally know too."
Linglan said happily, "This servant understands, it is Your Highness who has the best idea."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Linglan, continue packing. Qiangwei, take your gifts and come with me to Yanyu Pavilion to familiarize ourselves with the place. As expected, we'll be living with Xin Changzai for a long time to come."
Although Consort Xin's rank was not high, she was an old servant from the Prince's residence and the birth mother of Princess Heshu, so she couldn't be treated too poorly.
Rose prepared a longevity lock inlaid with red gold and pearls, and showed it to Sun Miaoqing in a brocade box. When the two of them went out, they also called on Liuli, a palace maid from Furong Pavilion, and the three of them went to Yanyu Pavilion together.
Speaking of which, Sun Miaoqing was quite envious of Consort Xin's life in the palace. Although her rank was not high and she had lost favor after becoming a new concubine, she could still find a way to criticize anyone.
She makes smacking noises here and there, even when facing Consort Hua. And since there are no conflicts of interest, no one would really go against her.
When the big fat orange tree passes away, I'll happily become a widow dressed in red and green—just thinking about it is exciting.
"Greetings, Sister Xin. I have just entered the palace today and am fortunate to be living with you. I am here to bother you, please do not find it offensive."
[Xinbaji is a beauty too; she would be even more radiant and charming if she wore a pomegranate red dress.]
Xin Changzai: ......?!
After observing the expressions of the people around her, Xin Changzai confirmed that only she could hear.
So, what was that sentence in the mind of this Lady Cheng?
Just as she was filled with doubt and uncertainty, Cheng Changzai's voice rang in her ears again.
[But she's the one who gave birth to a princess for Big Fat Orange, so why is it so difficult for Xinbaji to rise in rank? She was even imprisoned in the Imperial Prison by a mere concubine, and Big Fat Orange didn't even give her an explanation.]
What? !
Does this big, fat orange seem to refer to the Emperor?
Consort Xin was incredulous. No matter how unfavored she was, she was still He Shu's birth mother and a person who had contributed to the Emperor by giving birth to a princess.
A mere concubine could be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, yet the Emperor turns a blind eye to it?
Consort Xin thought it must be because she hadn't slept well last night, which was why she was hallucinating. How could the palace be so unruly!
"Sister Xin?...Sister Xin?"
Sun Miaoqing opened the box containing the longevity lock and handed it over, but Xin Changzai seemed stunned and did not take it.
[Is this longevity lock really that beautiful? Is Consort Xin stunned by it?]
Xin Changzai snapped out of her daze, looked at the longevity lock in front of her, and forced a smile to cover up her earlier embarrassment.
Okay, she was just overthinking it. What she was seeing wasn't a hallucination.
However, she was a titled Changzai, so why was she sent to the Shenxing Division by a mere Yiding?
They don't explain things clearly, and we only hear half of it, leaving us in a state of ambiguity...
"Since my younger sister has just entered the palace, it is I, as her older sister, who should do something to show my appreciation. How could I possibly accept such a generous gift from her?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "It's never wrong to be overly polite. My sister and I hit it off immediately. A gold lock is nothing. I just don't know if Princess Heshu will like it."
Speaking in the palace is troublesome, and interpersonal relationships are complicated. Xinbaji is relatively straightforward, without so many hidden agendas.
Thankfully, I was assigned to Chuxiu Palace. If I had been unlucky enough to end up in Yanxi Palace, I would have been in constant turmoil from morning till night.
I just want to live my quiet life behind closed doors in the palace; I can't stand all that noise and excitement they have together.
"In that case, I thank Sister Cheng for her kindness on behalf of the princess."
Xin Changzai accepted the gold lock with peace of mind. It seemed that Cheng Changzai had only come to make friends today to get acquainted with her and had no ill intentions.
They should live in the same palace and get along well. It's no big deal for her to accept this longevity lock on her first visit. She can return the gift later when the opportunity arises.
However, everyone in the palace knew that Consort Cheng was able to enter the palace through Consort Hua's connections. It would be difficult for her to live a peaceful life in the palace without getting involved in those exciting events.
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