Chapter 336
**Chapter 334: The Vastness of the World**
Lu Yun knelt on the meditation cushion, her voice trembling, “I swear, I have not lied! Please see the truth in my words!”
Lu Yun felt utterly helpless. Ever since she was driven out of the palace by the Empress Dowager, she had returned alone to the Lu family estate in Yunzhou. Night after night, she was plagued by nightmares—visions of the Lu family being executed, of her sister meeting a tragic end in the palace.
As a frail woman with no knowledge of military strategy, Lu Yun felt powerless to change the course of events. Watching her family descend into the abyss, just as she had seen in her dreams, was driving her to the brink of despair.
In desperation, she confided in Duke Lu, claiming to have foreseen the future. But he dismissed her as a hysterical girl, and she spent the entire winter locked away in her chamber “recovering.”
When spring arrived, the Emperor of the Southern Chu quietly came to Yunzhou and took residence in the Duke's estate. Duke Lu sent Lu Yun to welcome Li Yuanli, hoping that he might take an interest in his daughter.
Unfortunately, Li Yuanli showed no interest in Lu Yun.
Kneeling nervously in the flower hall, Lu Yun gathered her courage and recounted her dreams to Li Yuanli. The Emperor wielded immense power; perhaps he could help the Lu family.
“I swear on my life, there is not a single lie in my words! If I am lying, may heaven strike me down,” Lu Yun declared, raising three fingers to the sky in a solemn vow.
Li Yuanli leaned back in his intricately carved chair, a glimmer of amusement flickering in his enchanting eyes as he scrutinized Lu Yun.
Her expression was resolute, as if she truly believed in her own words.
Li Yuanli asked slowly, “In your dream, Lu Xuan was crowned Empress, yet now in the grand palace, it is the cunning Chen Guifei who holds the spotlight.”
Lu Yun furrowed her brow, feeling perplexed. “In my dream, there was no Chen Guifei. I was surprised to learn of her existence. However, aside from her, nearly all other significant events in the court have unfolded just as I dreamed.”
In Lu Yun's visions, the palace had always been dominated by Lu Xuan's favor.
Li Yuanli pondered, “It seems this Chen Guifei is quite special. Please elaborate on the scenes from your dream; I am listening.”
“Do you really believe me?” Lu Yun asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Li Yuanli smiled, setting down his teacup and gazing out at the courtyard, where a plump fox was chasing butterflies. It seemed he was speaking to himself, “Why shouldn’t I believe? Of course, I do.”
The world is full of strange and inexplicable phenomena that cannot be easily explained by scholarly knowledge. Just as the Empress of Southern Chu said: the world is vast; one should go out and see it.
...
“Achoo—”
In the cool spring breeze, Shen Wei sneezed again.
Her attendant, Cai Ping, jumped in surprise and hurriedly draped a thick cloak over Shen Wei's shoulders, worry etched on her face. “My lady, the wind is strong outside. Should we send for a palanquin to take you to the Inner Ministry?”
Shen Wei tightened the satin cloak around her. “A little walk every day keeps one healthy and strong.”
Life is all about movement!
Rather than being carried in a palanquin, Shen Wei preferred to walk through the palace, exercising her body and enjoying the vibrant spring scenery along the way.
Since the beginning of spring, Shen Wei had been in high spirits. The business she started last year was thriving, raking in gold daily. Her trade network was expanding throughout the Qing Kingdom and gradually reaching neighboring countries.
In a few days, Southern Chu and Qing would sign a trade agreement, allowing goods to flow between the two nations, and her business would have the chance to enter the Southern Chu market.
With the meager salary of a Guifei, she couldn’t hope to get rich.
To make a fortune, she needed to engage in business.
Shen Wei was in a good mood; the flowers lining the palace paths were particularly vibrant, and the clouds in the sky were exceptionally white. With her spirits high, even the scenery seemed more beautiful.
“My lady, ahead is Mei Pin from Yuxiu Palace,” Cai Ping reminded softly.
After the spring thaw, Liu Ruyan had just been released from her confinement. She rarely ventured out and did not participate in the activities of the other concubines, spending her days cooped up in her chamber, reading and painting.
As Shen Wei passed by Yuxiu Palace, she saw Liu Ruyan standing at the entrance, her lifeless beautiful eyes sweeping over.
After winter, Liu Ruyan had grown even thinner, clad in a thin grayish-white spring gown.
The gates of Yuxiu Palace were wide open, and Shen Wei caught a glimpse of the tidy courtyard, where tender green grass was growing, and the area was relatively clean.
“Chen Guifei,” Liu Ruyan suddenly called out, stopping Shen Wei in her tracks.
Shen Wei paused.
Cai Ping cleared her throat. “Mei Pin, you should greet the Guifei when you see her.”
Liu Ruyan’s stunning face showed a hint of embarrassment and reluctance. Biting her lip, she hesitated before walking over to Shen Wei, whispering, “I hope the Guifei is well.”
Shen Wei tilted her head. “What is it?”
Liu Ruyan nervously fiddled with her handkerchief, her cheeks flushing with shame and anger. After a long pause, she stammered, “The servants in my palace are incompetent and disrespectful. I ask for your help in replacing them with more capable ones.”
Her tone felt less like a request and more like a command.
Since being demoted to a Pin, Liu Ruyan's life had become unbearable.
Though she was the only daughter of the Liu family, they had unilaterally severed ties with her, no longer sending her fine fabrics or writing materials. The monthly allowance for a Pin was meager, and the food from the imperial kitchen was hardly palatable. The gaudy, unattractive clothes were something Liu Ruyan had no desire to wear.
She had thought that her immense grievances would evoke pity from the Emperor. Yet, after waiting for three long months, he had not set foot in Yuxiu Palace even once.
She had completely fallen out of favor, and the servants in Yuxiu Palace were indifferent, ignoring her requests. Some bold maids even dared to accuse Liu Ruyan of being unreasonable.
A kind-hearted concubine had advised her that to get the servants to work diligently, one must learn to be both strict and generous, using both rewards and punishments.
However, Liu Ruyan despised such vulgar and lowly methods of managing her subordinates. Deep down, she wished for her servants to serve her without complaint.
Upon hearing Liu Ruyan's plea, Shen Wei sighed and instructed Cai Ping to summon the servants from Yuxiu Palace. There were four of them—two eunuchs and two maids—who trembled as they knelt on the ground.
Cai Ping cleared her throat. “Since you are here in Yuxiu Palace, why are you not doing your jobs properly?”
One eunuch stammered, “Your Highness, we have done our duties as required. But Mei Pin always makes requests that are impossible to fulfill, and we truly find it difficult.”
Another maid complained, “Mei Pin asked me to go to the Clothing Bureau to fetch two bolts of plain silver brocade. But the brocade is precious and has already been sent to the Guifei and the Empress Dowager. I couldn’t bring it back, and Mei Pin scolded me for not doing my job well.”
Since Shen Wei had reformed the palace's discipline and established a strict pay system, the instances of neglected concubines being bullied by servants had become rare.
The servants of Yuxiu Palace did not like Mei Pin, but they still managed to do their jobs adequately. However, it was clear that Liu Ruyan was somewhat difficult to please.
In the hierarchical world of the palace, status was strictly observed.
The distribution of gold, silver, and precious items to each palace was meticulously regulated by the Inner Ministry.
As a mere Pin, Liu Ruyan had no right to demand the most valuable items.
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