Because new court dies were entering the pace today, all the consorts arrived early at Kunning Pace.

  According to court custom, newly selected concubines were first settled into their respective residences, then required to pay formal respects at the Central Pace.

  Wu Guifei sat in the first seat beneath the phoenix throne, zily fiddling with her nail guards. She gnced at the murmuring crowd and ughed lightly, “Sisters, be cautious. This year’s selection is filled with talent. The Empress Dowager’s niece and Jiang Fei’s younger sister are among them. You may have some seniority, but before those two, you’d best tuck your tails and behave.”

  Jin Pin, an impulsive one, immediately spoke up in irritation, “The Empress Dowager’s niece is one thing—she’s General Wen’s daughter, His Majesty’s cousin. But what is Jiang Fei’s sister worth? A concubine-born daughter from the Censorate family? Even our status as consorts is higher than hers! Why should we yield to her?”

  Wu Guifei pursed her lips in amusement.

  On the other side, Feng Meiren, who had been nibbling on a pastry to settle her stomach, immediately grew indignant. She swallowed quickly and snapped, “What’s wrong with Jiang Fei’s background? She’s from a schorly family with generations of upright officials. That’s far better than your mother’s cn, which only knows how to swing swords!”

  As soon as those words fell, Miao Zhaoyi closed her eyes in frustration.

  Fool. Why did Jiang Fei have to take in someone like this? She might be loyal, but she speaks without thinking and only burdens her mistress.

  Sure enough, the previously zy Wu Guifei’s expression shifted sharply. Her eyes turned cold as she stared at Feng Meiren.

  “Feng Meiren, are you looking down on all the military officials who’ve shed blood for this nation?”

  Feng Meiren was stunned. “I—I didn’t mean that…”

  “Still trying to argue?” Wu Guifei stood up and pointed at her, rebuking loudly, “Jin Pin’s father fought bravely on the battlefield for His Majesty, risking his life—and now in your mouth, he’s reduced to someone who just waves weapons around? If the soldiers heard this, how heartbroken they’d be!”

  The hall fell silent. That accusation was wrapped up so nobly that even if the Emperor were present, Feng Meiren would still be scolded. If Wu Guifei punished her harshly now, it would only make herself look magnanimous and righteous.

  Except for those aligned with Jiang Fei, the others were all ready to enjoy the spectacle with thinly veiled schadenfreude.

  Feng Meiren was at a loss and turned helplessly toward Miao Zhaoyi and Rou Pin for help.

  Rou Pin furrowed her brows and gave her a look that said: I don’t know what to do either—let’s wait for Her Highness to arrive.

  Miao Zhaoyi, on the other hand, didn’t spare Feng Meiren a gnce. She stood up calmly, stepped forward, and knelt before Wu Guifei, speaking firmly:

  “Your Highness Wu Guifei, please judge fairly. It was Jin Pin who first belittled civil officials. The imperial censors speak for the country, unafraid of power. They would surely feel grieved to hear Jin Pin’s words. I am close with Feng Meiren and know she has always respected the nation’s heroes. What she said earlier must have been spoken in a moment of anger.”

  Feng Meiren quickly followed and knelt beside her. “What Miao Zhaoyi said is true!”

  Miao Zhaoyi’s statement dragged Jin Pin into the matter as well. If Wu Guifei wanted to punish Feng Meiren, then Jin Pin—who had provoked the matter first, would have to be punished even more severely. Otherwise, the righteous image she’d painted wouldn’t hold up.

  But Jin Pin was not favored and had no influence. Punishing her wouldn’t achieve anything and might even bring unnecessary trouble.

  Wu Guifei was fully aware of this but still unwilling to let Feng Meiren off the hook so easily. She sneered, “Fine, let’s not mention your ‘moment of anger.’ But you, as just a Meiren, dared to speak to Jin Pin without using proper honorifics? So disrespectful. Tell me—who gave you the confidence to act like this?”

  She was clearly trying to drag Jiang Fei into it.

  For once, Feng Meiren’s brain worked. Fearing she’d implicate her mistress, she gritted her teeth and straightened her neck, decring crisply, “I have no one to rely on. It was all my own fault. I was annoyed with Jin Pin and spoke carelessly. I’ll accept any punishment from Your Highness.”

  Miao Zhaoyi’s expression twitched. Speechless.

  Everyone in the pace knew she belonged to Jiang Fei’s camp. Who was she fooling with this sudden act of silence?

  Wu Guifei chuckled. “Annoyed with Jin Pin, were you? Look at this bravery. Today, you’re annoyed with her and dare to defy rank—tomorrow, what if you’re annoyed with me, or with the Empress, or even with His Majesty? Who knows what you might do then?”

  Feng Meiren lowered her head, lips pressed together, saying nothing.

  Wu Guifei looked at her with contempt and drawled slowly, “Go kneel outside. When the newcomers arrive for greetings, I’ll report this to the Empress and have someone sp your face. Let them all watch and take it as a lesson—to remember that the pace has its ranks and order.”

  Such a punishment was deeply humiliating.

  If Feng Meiren were truly spped in front of the newcomers, her dignity would be thoroughly trampled, and Jiang Fei’s face would be dragged through the mud as well.

  But even if Jiang Fei arrived, there was nothing she could do. Feng Meiren had already admitted guilt—what could she say in her defense?

  Unable to endure the disgrace, Feng Meiren’s eyes welled with tears. She remained kneeling, trembling, and on the verge of colpse, until the pace maids dragged her out.

  The hall quickly returned to its usual bustle. Several consorts who had been listless over the new arrivals now perked up, eager to see more drama unfold.

  —

  Jiang Shuyi remembered the incident with Feng Meiren just as she neared Kunning Pace.

  In her past life, she had been full of excitement for her sister’s entry into the pace. After waking in Qianqing Pace, she had returned directly to Zhaoyang Pace to await Jiang Wanqing’s arrival. When her sister arrived, they wept in each other’s arms, overcome with emotion. Jiang Shuyi then helped her settle in, made sure her servants were properly disciplined, and finally escorted her to Kunning Pace herself.

  She had intentionally arrived te to show the rest of the harem that Jiang Wanqing was her sister—and that whatever privileges she had, her sister would have too.

  Who would have expected that upon arriving at Kunning Pace, she would see Feng Meiren kneeling on the cold stone floor, her cheeks swollen and her eyes bnk.

  The newcomers stood under the eaves, whispering and pointing. Wu Guifei was smugly lecturing Feng Meiren, while the Empress stood serenely at the center, elegant and composed, absentmindedly turning a string of sandalwood prayer beads—completely detached from the scene.

  Jiang Shuyi had been livid, rushing forward to help Feng Meiren up and demanding an expnation from the Empress.

  It was Jiang Wanqing who had timidly tugged at her sleeve and said, “Sister, don’t be disrespectful to Her Majesty… I’m scared…”

  Jiang Shuyi, considering her sister’s feelings, swallowed her anger for the moment and instead asked Yuzhu to take Feng Meiren to the imperial physician.

  Feng Meiren had always been cheerful and childlike in spirit. After that, however, she grew reserved and stopped going out. No sweets could cheer her up anymore.

  Jiang Shuyi tried several times to comfort her. She always responded obediently, but remained unchanged.

  Later, Jiang Wanqing volunteered to speak with her, and surprisingly, it worked. Feng Meiren stopped looking so downcast and even smiled at Jiang Shuyi during those few days.

  But not long after, on an ordinary night, she was suddenly found dead, having hanged herself.

  Her personal maid, Suli, sobbed as she recounted the night to Jiang Shuyi: “Just before her death, Meiren sat quietly holding the orchid hairpin Your Highness gave her. She wept, then smiled, saying she was sorry for causing you trouble… that she wouldn’t burden you anymore. She had been like that for days, and I didn’t think much of it. But during the night watch, I heard a strange sound from inside. The door wouldn’t open. By the time help arrived, she had already passed…”

  Jiang Shuyi was shocked and devastated. No matter what anyone said, she refused to believe Feng Meiren would kill herself.

  She had just smiled at her yesterday.

  Jiang Shuyi knelt outside Qianqing Pace for a long time, crying and begging His Majesty to investigate. Pei Yan, unable to bear her distress, finally ordered the Ministry of Justice and his imperial guards to reopen the case.

  The conclusion was clear: Feng Meiren had indeed committed suicide.

  Afterward, Jiang Wanqing said, “If it weren’t for Wu Guifei, Feng Meiren wouldn’t have been pushed to that point. Wu Guifei hurt her today—she’ll hurt us tomorrow. She’ll even hurt Yu’er. We must act quickly.”

  Looking back now, even if Wu Guifei was the one who started it, Feng Meiren’s sudden suicide was not entirely unreted to Jiang Wanqing.