Chapter 15: Golden Silkworm Silk

Li Pin was followed by two palace maids, one of whom was familiar with Wan Tang.

Dongqing, who had once been in Jingren Palace, often came and went with Li Pin.

She hadn't spared bullying the ugly Wan Tang either.

Wan Tang walked ahead, and Li Ping'er followed behind.

Last night's heavy rain left the ground slick now, and the garden full of crabapple trees had been blown down to the ground.

Fortunately someone cleaned carefully; a few fallen blossoms actually added a certain charm.

Li Pin stood in the courtyard; even though Guanren came to greet her, she didn't go in, saying she'd wait for Wan Tang to go out and meet her.

Wan Tang stepped forward, smiling lightly: "Sister, the ground is slippery; please come in and sit."

Everyone in the Imperial harem is a master of opera; even if they no longer like it, they must greet with a smile.

Barrage scrolls: 【Why bother with her? Just say she's faking illness.】

Barrage: 【She just beat the old lady, and now she's here. Clearly Xu Luoyan sent her to pick a fight.】

Barrage: 【Ladies, do you think it's possible that this outstanding female supporting character wants to shut the door and beat a dog?】

Listening to the barrage's uproar, Wan Tang pressed her mouth corners down.

She refused to be a supporting role that others could manipulate; she wanted to be her own protagonist.

"Sister, why are you free today to come to Cuivei Palace for a visit?" Wan Tang said cheerfully as she walked over.

Li Pin's face suddenly darkened: "Lady Wan, I am a regular fifth rank; shouldn't I be higher than you, a regular fourth rank?"

She finished speaking and let out a snort from her nostrils.

She straightened her back and smiled at Wan Tang.

"Young master..." Li Ping'er called softly, her eyes full of worry.

Wan Tang smiled to indicate she was fine.

Since the other side made it clear they came to cause trouble, she couldn't let them gain leverage.

Moreover, it was the trick she had just played.

Wan Tang immediately knelt and performed the full protocol, saying, "Wan Tang has seen Sister Li Pin, Sister Li Pin, peace."

All the main seats in the palace knelt, and the others naturally knelt as well.

Li Pin snorted, refusing to let anyone stand.

She said in a sarcastic tone, "No wonder you're a master who knows how to serve; you kneel more properly than others."

"It's just right that the palace maids under me have no discipline; it's also good to learn more from Lady Wan."

Li Pin's words covered every angle.

Dongqing, standing beside her, stepped forward and also knelt: "Much obliged, Lady Wan."

Everyone in Cuivei Palace knelt alongside a palace maid; Li Pin's face indeed grew considerably.

She lifted the round fan in her hand and gently fanned.

At this moment the rain had passed and the sky cleared; the sun pierced the clouds, and the light was somewhat scorching.

Li Pin raised her hand to shade the sun, walked up to Wan Tang, examined her from head to toe, and clicked, "I used to think it was a pity to have such a figure, yet you have that ugly face."

"I didn't expect that I could also be mistaken."

She said this, emitting a cold laugh.

Li Pin, unlike Xu Luoyan, always acts with a limit, stopping at the critical point, making it hard for others to be put in a difficult position.

"Sister, get up; seeing you so proper, the Emperor truly has good fortune," Li Pin said with a smile, stepping forward to take Wan Tang's hand.

Wan Tang suddenly felt a pain in her wrist; when Li Pin let go, a bloodstain appeared on her wrist.

Wan Tang kept her composure and said, "Sister Li Pin, please sit inside."

Li Ping'er was tense all over, as if facing a great enemy.

The others wore an indifferent air; with their master currently in great favor, who would fear whom?

The ground was slippery, but Dongqing rushed over and nudged Wan Tang, shouting, "Master, be careful."

They hurriedly supported Li Pin.

Such a collision, if it were a frail person, would surely result in a hard fall.

Fortunately, Wan Tang had never been a pampered young lady, so it didn't matter.

But this scene made everyone in Cuivei Palace displeased.

Li Ping'er was even more outraged: "Why did you push my young master?"

"Did I?" Dongqing said helplessly.

The barrage shouted: 【So infuriating, wish there were surveillance.】

Barrage: 【He's literally a petty person, only knows how to trip others.】

Barrage: 【Li Pin is basically Xu Luoyan's lackey, don't let her get away!】

Wan Tang had never thought of harming anyone other than Xu Luoyan.

Her goal was clear: to make Xu Luoyan pay.

But now, she doesn't hurt anyone, yet people harm her.

Wan Tang ignored it, pretending not to see.

No one expected Wan Tang had just taken a step, not yet onto the stairs.

Li Pin let out an "ah" and leaned her body backward.

If she fell in Cuivei Palace, Wan Tang would have no defense and cause trouble.

The only solution was to catch Li Pin, but that would mean Lady Wan remained Li Pin's submissive, gladly becoming a human cushion for others, and that would be spread everywhere.

At the critical moment, a figure flashed across the scene.

Li Ping'er rushed forward without hesitation, stood in front of Li Pin, fell heavily to the ground, and successfully caught Li Pin.

Li Pin was unharmed.

Her expression, however, was extremely displeased, and she glared fiercely at Li Ping'er.

No words of thanks; instead she shouted angrily, "You lowly servant, who sent you rushing here?"

Li Ping'er sweated profusely from the pain, but endured silently.

Wan Tang felt a warmth in her heart, hurried forward to help, "Are you okay?"

"Little Master, rest assured, I am thick‑skinned and sturdy, I'm fine," Li Ping'er laughed, her two dimples looking delightful.

Li Pin snorted, "You lowly servant may be fine, but my fan was crushed by your clumsy, heavy body."

Li Pin raised her hand.

The once‑exquisite silk‑brocade round fan had actually broken apart.

Just a moment ago she lifted a tea cup, now a fan—does Li Pin only have this trick?

Wan Tang smiled faintly, "Sister Li Pin, the situation was urgent just now; a round fan is better than seeing you injured."

"The Emperor has just bestowed several top‑grade silk round fans; perhaps Sister Li Pin could choose first."

"No way," Li Pin replied bluntly, "Lady of Grace Wan, now so favored, surely lacks nothing good."

"But this fan is made from golden silkworm silk; even the Imperial Household Department has no more than three golden‑silk fans."

"As for the embroidery on it, I embroidered it myself; it is one of a kind."

Li Pin's eyes were filled with contempt.

In front of all the palace staff, she said without mercy, "Indeed, your parents are household slaves; what good things could they have?"

"How would they even know the value of golden silkworms?"

Li Pin said, tossing the broken fan onto Wan Tang's face, "Don't say I am making things difficult for you."

"I want nothing else; I just want a fan exactly like mine."

"Please, sister, bring it to me by tomorrow."

The fan was light, but landing on the face it struck painfully.

The earlier provocation was merely a warm‑up.

And now, a single fan tramples Wan Tang's dignity on the ground.

It seemed to return to the scene back in the residence.

The six‑year‑old Wan Tang stared at the fan in Xu Luoyan's hand, her face full of confusion.

She asked her mother, "Why does the fan made from the silkworms you raise have to be given to her?"

"Mother is unfair; I'm also hot, I also want it."

Her mother's hand, while embroidering, trembled slightly, and a drop of blood fell onto the fan surface.

Her eyes filled with sorrow as she handed Wan Tang a hemp round fan, "Be good, Tangtang, use this."

"This one for Tangtang has a little butterfly on it!"

Wan Tang could not forget.

She treasured the butterfly fan as a treasure, but Xu Luoyan smashed the fan onto her face, "Fool."

"Can't even distinguish silk from hemp, yet think you can play with me?"

"Little Master… Little Master…"

Li Ping'er gently rocked Wan Tang, her expression anxious, "Little Master, Li Pin has already left; what's wrong with you? Please don't scare me!"

Wan Tang, as if waking from a dream, removed the fan from her face.

"What shall we do? Golden silkworm silk is so precious; where can we find it?"

"Little Master, it's my fault; how could I focus on receiving people and neglect that fan?"

Li Ping'er was full of self‑blame.

Wan Tang bent down, picked up the fan from the ground, "It has nothing to do with the fan; when a person deceives you, even breathing is wrong."

The workers of Cuivei Palace whispered to each other, each scheming.

Only Li Ping'er said with a bitter expression, "Now it's perfect."

"Unable to produce a fan, we gave Li Pin a chance to cause trouble, and we still don't know how to make things difficult for Little Master."

"If it really doesn't work, just tell the Emperor!"

"The Emperor loves you so much…"

"Shut up!" Wan Tang cut Li Ping'er off, "From now on you may not say such things again."

The Emperor's affection can bring joy to Wan Tang, not a troublemaker.

Now Wan Tang's only reliance is the Emperor's favor; she must not make any mistake.

"Go search, go borrow, go purchase; you must obtain golden silkworm silk."

Time flew; in the blink of an eye it was almost dinner time.

During that time, Grand Eunuch Xi'er of Cuivei Palace went out, and barely after returning, people arrived from Kunning Palace.

"Little Master, the Empress asks you to go somewhere."

The Kunning Palace boasted countless precious flowers and plants; their lush foliage oddly made the palace feel more desolate.

The Empress sat in the garden, scissors in hand, cutting the freshly blooming hydrangeas.

"I, your servant, have seen the Empress; may you have endless blessings and golden peace."

Wan Tang stepped forward and performed a bow.

The Empress's eyebrows and eyes held a smile, and she said kindly, "Sister, you arrived just in time."

"I, the palace, was idle and while cleaning the storeroom, happened to find a box of golden silkworm silk."

My palace is busy; these little trinkets are just right to keep my sister occupied.

The Empress gave a glance, and the stewardess Aunt Bai Wei stepped forward, handing over a box.

The box was full of golden silkworm threads—enough for more than ten round fans.

In the palace, golden silkworm threads are hard to come by, yet for the Empress they are casually a large box.

It once again proved the Empress's wealth.

Even after handing over the phoenix seal for years, the storerooms remain full, showing the maternal family's strength and support.

Wan Tang took the box with both hands: "Thank you, Empress, for your favor."

Having received the cocoons, Li Ping'er let out a sigh, and a smile appeared on her previously tense face.

They exchanged a few words during the interval.

As night approached, the Empress handed a basket of flowers to Wan Tang.

"The Emperor once said he most liked the hydrangeas of Kunning Palace. In the few years that have passed, my chances of seeing the Emperor have been few."

"Now that the Emperor spends his days with my sister, perhaps taking the flowers away counts as me watching the Emperor on my behalf."

The hydrangeas are beautiful.

They are so beautiful that Wan Tang's hands trembled as she took them.

Returning to Cuivei Palace, everyone in the palace was even busier, awaiting the Emperor's arrival.

Li Ping'er laughed beside her: "Mistress, the Empress is truly generous, giving so many cocoons."

"When I have compensated for Li Pin's fan, I will make one for you, Mistress."

Wan Tang looked at Li Ping'er and thought she was a kind girl; saving her was the right choice.

She only gave a wry smile: "The Empress's items are never taken for free."

"Money is easy to exchange; human sentiment is hard to repay."

"Ping'er, I'm afraid tonight the Emperor will have to leave."

Li Ping'er was startled, looking around in panic, and whispered, "Mistress, that's impossible—no one else can expect the Emperor to come, how could you—"

She fell silent, gazing at the cocoons, and understood.

The joy was gone; her eyes were red.

Wan Tang shook her head: "Even if it angers me, there's no choice."

"Xu Luoyan has not yet been completely ousted; we must not offend the Empress again."

Just…

Wan Tang's gaze was deep.

An incident just occurred on her side, and the Empress already caught wind of it; it seems Cuivei Palace may not be peaceful after all.

Wan Tang's eyes fell on Xi Er, who was commanding outside.

He… is the Empress's person.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

A loud cry.

Wan Tang quickly gathered her thoughts and hurried out to meet him.