She had come to seek refuge, not a vacation.
Song Jiyun was very pleased.
However, given her character, she would also make herself as comfortable as possible in the limited environment.
After some thought, she handed a red envelope to the young eunuch who had brought her, saying, "Some more items are needed in this room; I’m not sure who would be convenient to ask."
In the palace, matters were always about deceiving those above and hiding from those below. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
Many people knew how she had entered the palace.
This young eunuch had heard about her generosity long ago. Seeing the substantial red envelope in his hand, he immediately beamed with joy, saying, "Nanny Hu is in charge here; you can go to her for anything." Then he added enthusiastically, "I’ll take you to Nanny Hu."
Song Jiyun thanked him profusely.
Nanny Hu was a female official in the palace, around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, with fair skin, a comely appearance, a gentle face, yet her expression was rather haggard, making her seem like an easy person to get along with.
When Song Jiyun offered her the red envelope, she was very restrained and refused to accept it at first, but after Song Jiyun insisted repeatedly, she finally accepted it uneasily, and then apologetically helped her with various errands. She not only brought her a washing stand but also purchased bedding and tea sets from other palace maids, and when organizing her chamber, she apologetically said, "You were supposed to get these things from the Chamber Affairs Office, but Kunning Palace has not specified what to do with your case. I sent someone to ask the Matron at the Office of the Matron, but she was evasive and unclear, so you had to figure it out yourself. Let me know how much silver you’ve spent; once there’s news from the Office of the Matron, I will try to help you claim it back."
"No need, no need," Song Jiyun replied, aware that she was breaking the rules and didn’t want to trouble her further, busily adding, "I don’t even know how long I will be bothering you all here; my only hope is that you don’t find me too noisy."
"How could we!" Nanny Hu sincerely said, "We have just a few people coming and going here; having a new face around is actually delightful for us!"
This statement was somewhat meaningful.
Song Jiyun asked curiously, as if she was carefree, "This place is next to Cining Palace and near Shoukang Palace; how come there are only a few people coming and going?"
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Nanny Hu smiled awkwardly.
Song Jiyun then took her hand, "Dear nanny, please tell me! I’m new here and if I mistakenly take a wrong step and inadvertently cause trouble, it would be problematic."
After some thought, Nanny Hu found her point reasonable. She looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered her voice and said, "We, we all used to serve in Anxi Palace."
Anxi Palace, where Noble Consort Wan used to live.
In other words, all those living here had been the scapegoats of misfortune.
Song Jiyun showed a look of sympathy and comforted her, "Misfortune may actually be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps for you and a few other ladies, being able to live here quietly is a good thing!"
"Yes!" Nanny Hu smiled and nodded, saying, "Life is a bit tough, but at least we don’t have to be constantly on edge."
"Exactly!" Song Jiyun said, and the two chatted idly for a while longer. Nanny Hu thoughtfully showed her around the West Palace, introduced her to a few fellow residents, and even prepared her evening meal before they each retreated to rest.
Song Jiyun couldn’t sleep. She replayed the events of the day in her mind, contemplating how she could soon meet someone influential in the palace. If she did meet someone influential, what should she say?
Yet, she had been in the palace for four or five days and no one had paid her any attention.
It was as if they had forgotten she existed, letting her stay in the West Palace, sleeping and eating, eating and sleeping. When she asked Nanny Hu and others about the situation outside the West Palace, they knew nothing, only comforting her to settle down for the time being.
How could Song Jiyun settle down?
She had to prove her innocence.
She had to quickly deliver the Kunning Palace order.
She needed to discuss with Hong Xi the matter of opening a shop.
Merely thinking about it required careful consideration, not to mention actually doing it.
Two more days passed, and Song Jiyun could no longer sit idly by, contemplating whether or not to go to the education institute when a Young Eunuch came to her, "Someone asked me to deliver a letter to you. If you agree, I’ll take you to meet Eunuch Qin; if you don’t agree, you can continue staying in the West Palace."
Song Jiyun took the letter in surprise.
It was written by Yuan Yunzhong’s father, Yuan Haoran.
The writing was excessively florid, but the central idea was singular: if she were willing to persuade Yuan Yunzhong to adopt the ancestral rites, Prince Ning’s accusations against her would be smoothly resolved by Yuan Haoran. If she disagreed, she would naturally have no relation to the Yuan Family, and it would be best for her to quietly stay in the palace.
He also hinted in the letter.
For someone like her, with no official title or status entering the palace, just one word from him could get her name on the Palace Maids’ roster and let her spend her life silently in the West Palace.
The Young Eunuch, probably instructed by Yuan Haoran, saw her read the letter at a glance and said, "The person who asked me to send you the letter also asked me to inquire if you couldn’t understand it, then let me read it to you. I have studied at the Inner Study Hall and can interpret text very well."
Song Jiyun, annoyed yet amused, said, "Little eunuch, please wait a moment. I’ll write a reply, and you can bring it to the person who asked you to deliver the letter."
The Young Eunuch agreed.
Song Jiyun simply modified a few lines from the poem "The Peacock Flies Southeast" as her reply, saying things like ’If my lord becomes the immovable rock, I will make myself into the tethered reed. The reeds are sewn like silk, and the rock never moves’ which the Young Eunuch took back.
After that, no one came to find her again.
But Nanny Hu and others looked at her with evasive eyes.
Song Jiyun tried several times to probe them but gained nothing. She felt she could no longer continue this way.
She thought about a Palace Maid living in the same palace, who was responsible for cleaning the Cining Palace’s Buddhist temple, and began to observe her schedule.
She noticed that this Palace Maid came back later every other day, and each time, she was covered in a lot of incense ash.
She casually asked the Palace Maid, "What happened to you? Is there a shortage of hands, or is someone skiving off with you? Why do you always look so tired when you return?"
The Palace Maid was a bit surprised but still said, "It’s not that the people I work with are bad, but every time it’s my turn to clean the censers, the Empress Dowager comes to offer incense with the Empress Dowager, and it inevitably causes delays."
Song Jiyun said, "How about I help you clean the Buddhist temple? I feel like I’ve been rather unlucky lately. Going to the temple to devote myself to the Bodhisattva might just change my fortune if the Bodhisattva blesses me!"
She also complained, "I’m so idle every day, I’m practically getting sick from it."
Although it’s fixed who works where in the palace, sometimes during busy periods, everyone would help each other.
"Okay!" said the Palace Maid, "but when you go to the temple, you mustn’t wander around recklessly. Be careful not to offend any nobles. Even though you’re a woman of the Yuan Family, you won’t be punished, but it’d still be embarrassing if word gets out!"
Song Jiyun had no intention of implicating others.
She repeatedly agreed.
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