Chapter 33: A Clumsy Performance, Utterly Insipid

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Chapter 33: A Clumsy Performance, Utterly Trivial

The selection of palace maidens was officially put on the agenda. Once the Empress Dowager and Zhao Yi had finalized the roster, the candidates from various noble families arrived in the palace one after another.

Zhao Yi already had a number of concubines, as well as an Empress, so the number of women selected this time was not large, yet it still totaled nearly a hundred.

Of course, not all of these women would remain in the palace. Those chosen would stay, while those not selected would be betrothed by the Empress Dowager or Zhao Yi to various families. This process involved far more than just the Emperor selecting concubines; it was deeply intertwined with the political layout of the imperial court, making it a complex and multifaceted affair.

With the maidens now in the palace, the Empress Dowager was naturally occupied. She had sent for many of her own people—some to be kept in the palace, others to be married off to specific families—and she was naturally more attentive to these arrangements.

Ye Wanwan was not particularly keen on these matters, but the Empress Dowager was insistent on her involvement, always drawing her into the process. Although Ye Wanwan lacked the power to make the final decisions, she gained a great deal of insight. At the very least, she could identify which maidens belonged to the Empress Dowager’s faction and which would remain in the palace, knowledge that would surely prove useful in the future.

"Cousin."

A young girl dressed in pinkish-purple palace robes darted out from the side. Her features were lively, her round, apricot-shaped eyes seeming to speak for themselves. When she smiled, two dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look truly charming and adorable. Although the palace robes were of the standard style and color for all candidates, they looked quite lovely on her.

This was Ye Wanwan’s cousin, Jiang Feixue.

Ye Wanwan had been well-versed in decorum since childhood, remaining reserved and composed even at a young age. After entering the palace, she had suffered the torment of the childless concoction, leaving her frail and somber. Although Ye Wanwan had changed since then, she remained a steady and measured person, incapable of being as naive and carefree as Jiang Feixue.

It was no wonder that everyone believed she was the one instigating Jiang Feixue to cause trouble; her own face was simply too deceptive.

"Feixue, you’ve come too."

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Ye Wanwan’s expression was faint, her lips curling slightly without revealing any deep emotion.

Jiang Feixue, however, was overly familiar. She immediately took hold of Ye Wanwan’s arm, acting very intimate. "Cousin, I’ve missed you so much! You have no idea how hard the beds in the Palace of Selected Beauties are—it’s been torture. Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Ye Wanwan looked at her calmly, a trace of a smile lingering at the corners of her eyes. It appeared to be a look of helpless indulgence toward her cousin, but in reality, there was not a shred of warmth in her gaze; only she knew what was truly in her heart.

"You have entered the palace as a candidate, so things are naturally different from before. Just endure it for a few days. Once the selection is over, do you really think the Empress Dowager would treat you unfairly?"

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement. "Wanwan is right. Since you have entered the palace, you must follow the rules."

Jiang Feixue pouted, clearly dissatisfied, but her nature was quite spontaneous and she did not take the matter to heart. Her thoughts shifted, and she insisted on following Ye Wanwan to the Guanju Palace to take a look, as she had not visited since Ye Wanwan moved there.

Ye Wanwan did not mind taking her for a walk, but as fate would have it, they encountered Zhao Yi halfway.

So much time had passed, and yet Ye Wanwan had never run into Zhao Yi in this part of the palace. The fact that he appeared the moment Jiang Feixue arrived was truly a miraculous coincidence.

Ye Wanwan narrowed her eyes meaningfully, the corners of her lips curling with thinly veiled sarcasm.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Jiang Feixue had met Zhao Yi before, so she was naturally not shy. As she performed the curtsy, she looked up at him, meeting his gaze with a bright and pleasant smile.

Zhao Yi stopped in his tracks, his deep, composed gaze falling upon the two of them. "Rise."

"So, Feixue has entered the palace as well."

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Jiang Feixue, seemingly oblivious to the complexities of romance and lacking any shyness, replied quite candidly, "Aunt Empress Dowager wanted Feixue to enter the palace to keep her and Cousin company."

After saying this, she felt it sounded a bit incomplete, so she added, "And Cousin Emperor, too."

Zhao Yi was amused by her. "Haha, you girl, you have such a wild spirit. Just don’t go causing any trouble for me."

Jiang Feixue stomped her foot in a coquettish manner. "I wouldn't! I am very well-behaved."

The two exchanged words back and forth. Although Zhao Yi left after only a few sentences, his special attitude toward Jiang Feixue was obvious. By the same token, his attitude of leaving the Imperial Noble Consort standing on the sidelines was equally clear.

This was effectively a public snub to Ye Wanwan. Had she possessed any desire to compete for his favor, she would likely be consumed with jealousy right now. Perhaps everyone present thought the same, carefully avoiding looking at her expression for fear of provoking her.

In reality, however, her heart remained as calm as still water. It was as if she were watching a play, observing their clumsy performance, finding it utterly trivial and uninteresting.

Only Jiang Feixue, with her simple mind, felt nothing. Her face was full of delight at seeing her "Cousin Emperor." She was genuinely happy to be in the palace; after all, it was filled with familiar relatives. Given the choice, she would, of course, enter the palace to become the most exalted woman of all.

See? Such a simple intention, direct and clear, without a hint of hypocrisy.