Chapter 3: Nothing Satisfies Like Doing It Yourself

Ye Wanwan did indeed intend to see the Empress Dowager. Since she was still alive, she had no desire to remain trapped in the deep palace as she had been before; she had already spent far too long within these walls.

Even though she had only just returned, she could not wait a single moment longer. She was desperate to leave, even if only to step outside the palace gates and take a single breath of fresh air. However, it would be wonderful to see those enemies of hers before she left; only by seeing that they were still living well could she truly be "at ease."

The Flying Immortal Terrace was the palace’s stage. Unless there was a special festival, gatherings were usually held there, featuring palace dancers or troupes of skilled actors summoned from outside the palace. In this imperial residence, only the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress were permitted to use it at will; anyone else required special approval for such gatherings. Although it was merely a matter of watching a play, it was also a symbol of power.

The cold Empress, born into a scholarly family, had always been haughty and aloof. She disliked mundane pleasantries and constantly carried an air of detachment from the world. After entering the palace, she wore an expression of world-weariness toward everyone, as if they all owed her money. She was not particularly warm toward the other concubines, often ignoring them entirely. Having been the Empress for over a year, she had always lived in seclusion, making her incredibly difficult to approach.

Yet, as soon as Noble Consort Ye entered the palace, the cold Empress changed her ways and began taking the initiative to invite the other concubines to watch plays. Was it because she felt her status was threatened and was desperate to assert her position as the primary wife, or was she stung by the grandeur of Noble Consort Ye’s wedding and wanted to give her a show of power? In the two months since Noble Consort Ye entered the palace, the Empress had issued three invitations, but unfortunately, she never once succeeded in seeing the Noble Consort arrive. Since the Noble Consort had the backing of the Empress Dowager, what did it matter if she gave no face to the Empress? In the end, it was the Empress who became the laughingstock.

Regrettably, the other women in the inner palace lacked the family background of Noble Consort Ye; even if they were unwilling, they still had to go and put on a show of obedience before the Empress. Feeling stifled at the Flying Immortal Terrace, many slipped away when no one was looking to chat with their close friends near the small pavilion.

Three concubines dressed in light-colored palace gowns sat in an octagonal pavilion, munching on snacks and preserved fruits while complaining about the dull opera.

"It’s always the same play. They sing the same thing over and over until I feel like vomiting."

"Exactly. I don't know what the Empress is thinking. She’s not much older than us, yet she has such a penchant for these stiff, boring things. It’s so dreary and old-fashioned; it’s agonizing."

"In my opinion, it’s all that Noble Consort Ye’s fault. If she hadn't made such a grand entrance into the palace, why would the Empress feel threatened and suddenly remember her status? As for the Noble Consort, she has the Empress Dowager protecting her, so no one can touch her. But it is we who suffer. When gods fight, mortals get hurt; we are the ones caught in the middle, taking abuse from both sides."

"Indeed. Looking at how things are, I fear there will be more suffering to come."

"One is an Empress from a great clan, the other is a uniquely favored Noble Consort. I fear there is no path to success for us in this palace."

The concubine in the light blue gown suddenly asked in confusion, "Noble Consort Ye has been in the palace for two months now, and she has only appeared three times in total. She looks exceptionally frail. Don't you find that strange?"

"This..." The woman beside her clutched her handkerchief and mused, "Indeed, there is always a scent of medicine in the Guanju Palace. I have personally seen Nanny Yang serving her medicine. Do you think the Noble Consort has fallen ill with some sickness?"

The concubine in the light blue gown blurted out, "If it’s a serious illness, that would be for the best. It would save her from going out and causing trouble for others..."

Before the words had finished, she was abruptly interrupted, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat. The next moment, she scrambled up in terror: "Greetings, Your Ladyship, the Noble Consort!"

The other two were also frightened into standing up in a hurry: "Greetings, Noble Consort."

Ye Wanwan had just arrived. She hadn't heard what came before, but she had heard the last sentence clearly. Although she didn't know what they were discussing, seeing them like this made it obvious they were bad-mouthing her. Ye Wanwan suddenly felt that her ability to endure was growing stronger; look, people were speaking ill of her to her face, yet she wasn't the least bit angry, and there wasn't even a ripple in her heart.

Staring at the three of them, Ye Wanwan frowned slightly. It was truly a pity that she couldn't recall their names for the moment, but as for the face of one of them, she found it detestable no matter how she looked at it.

"What is your name?"

The one called out was the concubine in the light blue gown. Having been caught bad-mouthing someone, she felt guilty and in the wrong: "Replying to Your Ladyship, this concubine is Shen Yufu."

Shen Yufu?

Ye Wanwan remembered. No wonder she found her repulsive. The daughter of a minister, a mere Zhaoyi, yet she was the most troublesome, always stirring up discord. The palace was a place of many eyes and ears, and it was a hotbed of gossip. The fact that she was in poor health and unable to conceive would not remain a secret for long, and the first to know had been Shen Yufu. Through her, the matter had spread like wildfire, becoming common knowledge.

As glorious as Ye Wanwan’s entry into the palace had been, she had been just as humiliated once this matter broke. Everyone looked at her with strange eyes; what did it matter if she was the pride of heaven or a Noble Consort? For a woman, being unable to bear children was equivalent to being discarded. At the time, she hadn't reacted much, but the Empress Dowager had preemptively struck at Shen Yufu, demoting her to a Beauty and exiling her to a remote palace. She didn't remember much of what happened later, but in her memory, Shen Yufu had been restored to Zhaoyi and even had a child, though it hadn't survived. It wasn't a deep, blood-feud hatred, but thinking about it still left her feeling annoyed.

Ye Wanwan curled her lips slightly: "So it is Zhaoyi Shen. Come here, I have something to say to you in private."

Shen Yufu walked forward tremulously. Suddenly, Ye Wanwan raised her foot and kicked Shen Yufu, sending her rolling into the nearby bushes.

"Ah!"

"Sister Shen!"

"Your Ladyship!"

It was so sudden that no one had time to react. Seeing her go flying gave everyone a terrible fright. When Shen Yufu was helped up, she was still dazed; her hair bun was crooked, her hair loose like a madwoman, and she was covered in grass and mud, looking utterly disheveled. She was filled with fury and indignation, and just as she opened her mouth to curse, she looked up and caught sight of Ye Wanwan’s cold, dark eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Why did the Noble Consort kick me without cause?"

Why did she kick her? Did she not have any sense of it in her own heart?

Ye Wanwan used her fan to brush off her hem: "Next time you speak ill of me, remember to find a place where no one else is around."

Having said this, she turned and left, not even bothering to glance back. Indeed, dealing with detestable people personally was far more satisfying. However, one couldn't just crush them to death all at once. There was no rush; the days were long, and she had plenty of time to play with them slowly.

Ye Wanwan strode away, not caring that they were enraged to the point of madness. Not far ahead was the Flying Immortal Terrace, and from afar, the sound of singing could be heard. Ye Wanwan walked to a spot where she could see the stage. The opera being performed was the heroic tale of a female general accompanying her husband to war, where the couple fought the enemy together.

Her gaze passed through the stage and immediately landed on the group sitting there. In the center, clearly wearing white silk, was Leng Yunqing. As the Empress, she neither loved bright yellow nor deep red, but instead favored pure white; she spent all day, every day, looking as if she were in mourning for someone.

A nanny spotted her and leaned over to whisper to Leng Yunqing. After she said something, the nanny turned and walked toward Ye Wanwan. Ye Wanwan was in no hurry and simply waited for her to arrive.

"This old servant greets the Noble Consort. Her Majesty, the Empress, invites you!"

Ye Wanwan’s gaze remained on the stage: "I am on my way to see the Empress Dowager, so I will not be joining her. Go back and tell your mistress that this tune... is truly awful!"

After she finished speaking, she glanced back and saw the ugly look on the nanny’s face; Ye Wanwan curled her lips in a smile. Indeed, seeing others suffer was truly good for the mood.

Yongshou Palace, the Empress Dowager’s residence. Ye Wanwan was not the least bit surprised to encounter Nanny Yang coming out from within. On the contrary, Nanny Yang was shocked, unable to believe that the beautiful woman before her was her own mistress, who had appeared so frail just moments ago.

"Noble Consort?"

Ye Wanwan squinted at her and gave a cold laugh: "Nanny Yang still recognizes me? I, however, had almost failed to recognize Nanny Yang."

"You claimed to be brewing medicine for me, yet you came to Yongshou Palace to file a complaint. What is this? A servant wanting to eat from two tables?"

Nanny Yang hurriedly knelt: "This old servant is terrified. You were unwilling to drink your medicine, and I was merely worried for your health and hoped Her Majesty the Empress Dowager could persuade you to drink it."

Ye Wanwan glanced at her: "It is just medicine; what a big deal. To think you dared to bother the Empress Dowager with it. You have been in this palace for many years; do you not even understand such a simple thing?"

Nanny Yang: "...This old servant knows her mistake."

"If you know your mistake, then stay kneeling. Do not get up until you have truly understood it."

Nanny Yang could not believe that Ye Wanwan dared to punish her by making her kneel; she was, after all, a servant bestowed by the Empress Dowager.

"Noble Consort..." In the end, she said nothing. This was the entrance to the Empress Dowager’s palace; the Empress Dowager would surely stand up for her.