Chapter 283: Volume One, Chapter 283  Giving Them Something to Do

Volume One, Chapter 283  Giving Them Something to Do

Gou Shuyi had just come out from Su De Fei, her expression was not good; she hadn't expected to run into Ruan Shurong halfway. The two had been on good terms before, but after entering the palace their families' ties meant they followed different people, so their contact naturally lessened.

Both held third‑rank positions, but Gou Shuyi was the second of the Ninth Concubine rank, while Ruan Shurong was fourth; so Gou Shuyi's status was slightly higher than Ruan Shurong's.

"Sister Shuyi, have you just returned from the Virtuous Consort?" Ruan Shurong said with a smile, "I was just going to find you to chat, and didn't expect to run into you here."

Gou Shuyi forced a faint smile, somewhat strained, sighed and said, "Why the formality with me? No need for such titles, let's be as we were before."

Ruan Shurong shook her head, "Now that we're in the palace, things are different; the rules still have to be observed."

"When no one's around, can you drop the rules? At least let me catch a breath," Gou Shuyi said, pretending to be displeased.

Ruan Shurong laughed instantly, "Alright, Sister Jing, shall we find a place to talk?"

Gou Shuyi nodded, and listened as Ruan Shurong said, "How about we go to my place? Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang is very easy‑going and won't keep a close watch on us; we can speak freely and comfortably."

Gou Shuyi lives in the same palace complex as Madam Qiong Zhang; Qiong Zhang occupies the main hall, while Gou Shuyi stays in the East Annex Hall. Perhaps because both entered the palace through this selection, the people in the main hall always watch her with a hint of caution.

Gou Shuyi followed Ruan Shurong toward Yongle Palace, saying as they walked, "You should be content; Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang is one of the most kind people in the entire Hou Gong, so your days ahead will be much easier."

Ruan Shurong gave a slight nod, "That's what they say, but I remain cautious; after all, Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang follows the Empress, and I'm constantly on edge, fearing that a misstep might give someone a foothold against me."

The two said this as they entered Yongle Palace; the palace was silent, the main hall even quieter, with only palace staff stationed at the entrance and no one moving about.

After entering the East Annex Hall, Gou Shuyi finally asked, "Why is the main hall so quiet?"

Ruan Shurong replied, "Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang assists Consort Xu Xian in handling palace affairs, and during the day she is mostly with Consort Xu."

Gou Shuyi said, "Consort Xu is fine, her family background is decent, but Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang only attained the rank of Third Consort by relying on the Empress."

Ruan Shurong quickly hushed, gently shook her head, and said, "Everyone knows this, yet no one dares to speak of it. It is said that back in Dong Gong, Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang was the first to show favor to the Empress, even before Consort Xu. Unfortunately, Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang's abilities are not as strong as Consort Xu's; otherwise she might have secured a place among the four consorts."

Their expressions gradually settled as they spoke.

After an indeterminate time, Gou Shuyi spoke first, "I heard that, to date, the only one favored in this palace is the Empress herself. Is that true or false?"

Ruan Shurong's face tightened, then she nodded, "It should be true."

The two fell silent again, exchanged a glance, and sighed simultaneously.

"What do you think we came into the palace for? The investiture ceremony was only mentioned in passing, and after it we haven't even seen His Majesty's face. Are we to spend the rest of our days like this?"

Ruan Shurong shook her head, "Who knows? We just entered the palace, so there's no need to rush; it's the ones already inside who are more anxious. Why are you panicking?"

Gou Shuyi said with a worried expression, "It's not that I'm anxious, but if days keep going like this, just thinking about it feels terribly frightening."

Ruan Shurong thought for a moment and said, "Have you heard about the Empress summoning Kang Shufei and Madam Qiong Zhang?"

"I heard it from the Virtuous Consort; why would the Empress summon them? Is there something going on?" Gou Shuyi was now genuinely extremely uneasy; the situation after entering the palace was nothing like what her family had told her back home.

Ruan Shurong replied, "Does the Virtuous Consort also not know why?"

Gou Shuyi shook her head, "The Virtuous Consort seems truly unaware; do you have any news?"

Ruan Shurong also shook her head, "Consort Hui hasn't said why either, but I think we need to think for ourselves, not just listen to our families. Our families want us to follow their words, but now the ones who run the Hou Gong aren't them."

Gou Shuyi hesitated, "Are you thinking of aligning with the Empress?"

Ruan Shurong shook her head, "Not exactly; I just think we shouldn't get too close to Consort Hui and the Virtuous Consort and anger the Empress. Sister Jing, we must think for ourselves; these deep‑palace days are long, we can't act rashly."

Gou Shuyi nodded, "You have a point, but those two aren't easy to fool either; we must be careful."

The two felt the future was bleak; whether it was the Virtuous Consort or Consort Hui, neither seemed reliable, yet they placed all their hopes on them, so they must find a way out for themselves.

"Consort Hui asked me to convey a message to the Virtuous Consort about the Empress summoning Kang Shufei and Madam Qiong Zhang today; what do you plan to do?" Ruan Shurong said.

Gou Shuyi thought for a moment, "I'll go and say a word, see what they actually intend, then we can make plans."

"Alright, be careful not to let the Virtuous Consort see any cracks; she has the Dowager behind her, we can't afford to provoke her now," Ruan Shurong said with concern.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Gou Shuyi nodded, "I'll go back now, pretending I just got news from you, and see what the Virtuous Consort actually does."

"Fine, in half an hour I'll go to Consort Hui and give a reply."

After agreeing, the two each went their separate ways; Consort Hui and the Virtuous Consort treated them like subordinates, calling and ordering them, but they didn't want to live like that and needed to first discern reality before proceeding.

Elsewhere, Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang received the news and said to Consort Xu, "Gou Shuyi went to Yongle Palace to have a secret talk with Ruan Shurong."

Consort Xu, busy with this month's palace accounts and allocations, said without looking up, "Ignore them; at most it'll be less than a month, these people will all settle down."

Mu Thus we output: Mu Guang thought the same, smiled, and said, "Yes, as long as His Majesty stays at Fengyi Palace, no matter how capable others are, they can't stir up trouble. Consort Xu, the new silk sent from the inner court—how do you plan to distribute it? By rank?"

Consort Xu laughed, "That won't do; these idle people always look for trouble, so we'll give them something to do."