Song Jiyun only hoped that her new inclusion would draw the attention of others, allowing the powerful figures in the palace to be aware of her existence so she could find a way to advance her case.
For two consecutive days, she followed the nanny in the Buddha Hall of the Cining Palace, helping to clean the incense burners.
It was natural that those who had never seen her before asked her, "Which palace were you transferred from? How come I have never seen you before?"
Song Jiyun would briefly explain her origins and would also express, "I don’t know why, but I’ve been particularly unlucky recently. I took it upon myself to come and clean the incense burners in the Buddha Hall. I hope the Bodhisattva sees my devotion and blesses me, allowing me to change my fortunes."
When the palace maids heard her say this, most of them would laugh lightly, while others pursed their lips and continued cleaning in silence.
Of course, some palace maids were curious enough to chat with her, "Why would your cousin sue you? Was your relationship with her that bad in the past?"
"I don’t know either!" Song Jiyun frowned, looking very distressed, and said, "Previously, we both learned skills from my father. After my father’s death, to preserve the family business he left behind, I went to our family’s Kiln Factory to work, while she set up her own firm and even took our family’s ancestral Jade Porcelain formula to start a kiln factory. Though she took some business from our family, ours wasn’t limited to jade porcelain alone, nor did we rely solely on this craftsmanship. Although I was angry, I never confronted her in a showdown. I just don’t know why she would sue me?"
She leaned on the bamboo broom helplessly sighing.
This sigh suddenly made the surroundings eerily silent, without a single sound.
Could it be that bad?
Song Jiyun was secretly astonished as the palace maid beside her suddenly knelt down, respectfully saying, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager!"
Song Jiyun was startled, but she was also secretly relieved that she was always aware of her surroundings and knew what to say and what not to say.
She hurriedly followed the palace maid in kneeling for a greeting.
She then heard a gentle voice with a hint of kindness saying, "Where is this young lady from? Suiting? What is she suing for?"
The people inside the Buddha Hall didn’t know how to respond, and Song Jiyun stepped forward a few steps, greeted the Empress Dowager again, reported her family background, and spoke of why she entered the palace, as well as the details of Song Tao suing her in front of Prince Ning, and Prince Ning defending Song Tao in front of the emperor, elaborating everything.
The Empress Dowager was not very tall, dressed plainly, with delicate and fair skin, and a pretty and proper face, appearing to be in her mid-forties or forties, but there was a hint of melancholy between her brows, making her seem not very spirited.
Song Jiyun found that of the women she had seen in the palace, aside from Noble Consort Wan, most of them looked feeble and very few appeared energetic.
The Empress Dowager listened quietly throughout, and after she had finished, she nodded non-committally and said to the palace maid beside her, "It seems every household has its own troubles." Then instructed the palace maid, "You, go see how the Empress Dowager hasn’t come over today? Check if we should visit her in the Cining Palace."
The palace maid immediately left.
The Empress Dowager then entered the main hall surrounded by a throng of palace maids.
Song Jiyun knew that overdoing it would not help, given that her story was true or false, and figures like the Empress Dowager would not easily make judgments, and might even treat it just as a story to be heard and forgotten.
Who has the time to manage so many trivial matters?
In this world, there are many people with sorrows and plenty more sorrowful events!
She still needed to continue making efforts.
Song Jiyun immediately picked up the bamboo broom and continued helping the palace maids clean the Buddha Hall.
Shen Mo returned to the West Palace, but a palace maid from Anxi Palace came looking for her, "The Noble Consort wants to see you."
Song Jiyun, in her previous life, had specifically practiced her memory skills, particularly in remembering people’s faces.
This palace maid was the one who had spoken with Noble Consort Wan the last time she visited the palace.
She hurried forward, gave a formal greeting, and even made small talk, "The last time I saw you, you were wearing a hibiscus silk flower in your hair, which I thought was particularly pretty. I didn’t expect that the jade hairpin with silk flowers you’re wearing today would be even prettier than the hibiscus flower from before. The craftsmanship here in the palace is truly exquisite."
The palace maid was quite surprised, "I didn’t expect you to remember so well."
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "It’s not that I have a good memory, it’s that your aura is memorable."
Even though the palace maid’s heart had been toughened by the struggles within the palace, she couldn’t help but laugh, and her attitude softened considerably. Along the way, she quietly comforted her, "Don’t be afraid. Noble Consort is a good person. Some people are just jealous of her, which is why they spread rumors. The Noble Consort usually doesn’t concern herself with these palace affairs; she is only focused on serving His Majesty and alleviating his worries."
"Thank you, Nanny!" Song Jiyun pondered these words in her heart.
Could it be that Noble Consort Wan wasn’t as power-hungry and troublesome as rumors suggested, but was solely devoted to flattering the Emperor?
When Song Jiyun met Noble Consort Wan, her suspicions were further confirmed.
"The Emperor was just momentarily angry when he said he wanted to lock you up in the Court of Judicial Review," Noble Consort Wan reclined on the Arhat bed and said lazily, "You shouldn’t harbor any resentment. See, His Majesty visited the Empress Dowager today, and upon learning you were in the palace, he sent me to take care of you. He will wait for Yuan Yunzhong to return and discuss your situation with him then."
She continued, "This is also in consideration of Yuan Yunzhong’s face. You will stay with me; don’t wander around and stir up trouble, or it will be Yuan Yunzhong who has to clean up the mess for you."
This was a hint for her not to go around trying to gain presence in front of the Empress Dowager and others.
Song Jiyun respectfully agreed.
Noble Consort Wan waved her hand, directing the palace maid who had escorted her to arrange for her to move into the Anxi Palace.
At least Yuan Haoran would not be able to threaten her to die silently in the palace without anyone coming to her rescue.
But Song Jiyun did not breathe a sigh of relief.
The Empress Dowager and others clearly did not get along with Noble Consort Wan, and staying with her could not let Empress Dowager and her people view her as part of the "Wan Faction"; she still needed to find a way to cleanly disentangle herself from these "immortals."
As she was moving her belongings, Nanny Hu came to help her. Song Jiyun quietly pulled her aside and said, "I heard from the Noble Consort that it was the Empress Dowager who spoke to His Majesty about my situation, prompting him to have me move with the Noble Consort. I want to kowtow to the Empress Dowager to thank her for her grace, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate?"
Nanny Hu looked at her approvingly and advised softly, "You should also speak with Nanny Chang about it, to see if it’s appropriate?"
Nanny Chang was the palace maid helping her move.
By asking Nanny Chang, Nanny Hu implied that she should inquire with Noble Consort Wan through Nanny Chang.
Song Jiyun took the hint. When she left, she left several pieces of her jewelry for Nanny Hu, "These are too precious, and it’s not suitable for me to wear them in the palace. Nanny, you can take them and use them for festive occasions for a bit of celebration."
The jewelry she wore into the palace was the smallest pearl, the size of lotus seeds, and the ruby on it was as big as a pigeon’s egg, which could be a family heirloom in an ordinary household.
It was what Song Jiyun had brought to Capital City for appearances.
Nanny Hu naturally refused to accept them, but she took them using the excuse "for future provisions," and only then did Nanny Hu accept.
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