tallest building

When Wen Mingqian was about to be granted the title of Noble Lady, many people in the palace came to congratulate her.

But Xiaoyue and Zhang Ma stopped her, saying, "Madam said she knows everyone's good intentions and thanks them. But ultimately, it's just to pray for the Empress's safety and well-being, so she shouldn't accept everyone's congratulations. Please forgive her."

Seeing how low-key she was, everyone felt it wouldn't be right to insist on offering their congratulations, so they all went back home.

Then Yu Lu arrived with several eunuchs and palace maids, and Xiao Yue and Zhang Ma could no longer stop him.

Yu Lu walked in with a smile and said to Wen Mingqian, "Congratulations, my wife!"

Wen Mingqian quickly stood up and said, "Steward Yu, please don't flatter me. It's all for Her Majesty the Empress."

"Oh dear, I'm sincerely congratulating you, why are you so flustered? In the blink of an eye, you've become a mistress in the palace, you can no longer call yourself a servant." Yu Lu knew that times had changed.

Even if Wen Mingqian became a Noble Lady because of the Empress, his status was still there, so how could a servant like myself not be respectful?
"If Steward Yu continues to say that, I'll be so ashamed I'll want to disappear," Wen Mingqian said awkwardly, his face flushed. "We all serve Her Majesty the Empress, and we've always been the same."

"That's why everyone respects you! You're capable, you don't look down on others, and you're always sincere and honest." Yu Lu was very pleased with Wen Mingqian's attitude, but he still said respectfully, "However, please allow me to say something more. From now on, you are also a master of the palace. You should show your dignity as a master, otherwise some spineless people will inevitably feel that you are too offensive."

"Thank you for your consideration, Steward, but no matter what, I can never be arrogant in front of you. Since I entered the palace, I have received your care and guidance in everything I do, and I will never forget that," Wen Mingqian said sincerely.

"It is my blessing to be valued by you. Her Majesty the Empress sent me with people to bring the clothes and jewelry I will need for the investiture ceremony in a couple of days. Please try them on first and tell them to make alterations if anything doesn't fit," Yu Lu said.

Actually, the clothes the Empress had brought were all ready-made. Because they were in a hurry for Wen Mingqian to move to Mingjing Palace, there wasn't time to make new ones.

I know she won't be picky, after all, the investiture is just a formality, and she can just take existing clothes and alter them.

After putting everything down, Yu Lu left with his men. On the way, his apprentice Zhou Fu said, "Master, Wen Mingqian has really struck it lucky. Who would have thought that a discarded woman would end up becoming a noble lady in the harem?"

"Don't say that. Let me tell you, you're still young. What doesn't happen in this world? What kind of people don't exist? Don't be so naive." Yu Lu chuckled.

“Master is right, I was indeed ignorant,” Zhou Fu said with a smile. “She was just lucky.”

"Luck is something that follows a person, but one must also have the virtue to sustain it. If this had happened to someone else, I don't know how arrogant they would have become! They would have already put on airs like they were in charge. But look at him, he is still so dignified and composed, without the slightest bit of frivolity." Yu Lu also took the opportunity to admonish his apprentice, "You are good in every other way, but you are a bit too arrogant. You should really take him as your master and learn from him."

After lunch, Consort Yun brought Qiu Xing to talk to Wen Mingqian.

Since she denounced Consort Hui, the Empress no longer treated her the same way as before, so she was able to move freely in the palace.

"Your Majesty, please have a seat. My room is really quite small," Wen Mingqian said as he served tea.

"It's alright, by the time I visit you again, you'll have moved to the bigger room," Consort Yun said with a smile.

Her face was no longer as pale as before, and more noticeably, her eyes were more alert.

"Your Majesty, please don't joke with me. There's nothing I can do about it," Wen Mingqian said.

"Qiu Xing, didn't you say you wanted to learn how to make knots from Xiao Yue?" Consort Yun said to her maid, "Let's go outside to the shade of a tree! This room is cramped, and it gets a bit suffocating when there are too many people."

She was intentionally sending the palace maid away so she could speak with Wen Mingqian. "Your Highness has come at the right time. This is some newly made incense. Please smell it." Wen Mingqian said, taking out a small white jade box containing the newly made perfume.

Consort Yun applied a little to the back of her hand, then brought it close to her nose and smelled it: "It's the fragrance of cold plum blossoms, just like the scent she carries."

“I asked Zhang Ma, and she said it was correct,” Wen Mingqian said.

"I haven't smelled this scent in so many years," Consort Yun sighed, her eyes welling up with tears. "Back then, she and I were practically inseparable, and we often said that even when we were both in our seventies or eighties, we could still chat together every morning and evening. The days and nights in the palace are the hardest to pass, and I was an out-of-favor."

Fortunately, I still have her. She always thinks of me. I have no sisters and I didn't want to enter the palace in the first place.

But after meeting her in the palace, I realized that entering the palace wasn't such a bad thing after all. With a confidante by my side, even the hardest days could be endured.

"Until she's gone from this palace, I feel like a living dead. If it weren't for Linglong, I would have left long ago."

"Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself and live well for your sister," Wen Mingqian said. "We are all the same."

"Yes, I never expected such a dramatic turn of events," said Consort Yun. "It shows that Heaven still has eyes."

Shen Fu's closest and most trusted confidante in the palace was Consort Yun. After Shen Fu's incident, Consort Yun was indeed implicated by her.

Actually, the Empress first approached Consort Yun, implying that she should give false testimony and frame Shen Fu.

After all, the two of them were close, so it would be more believable for her to make the false accusation. However, Consort Yun refused to agree to it, so Consort Hui took over the task.

Consort Yun further angered the Empress, but since the Empress had framed Shen Fu and felt guilty, she did not involve Consort Yun to avoid escalating the situation.

Secondly, Consort Yun is, after all, the birth mother of the Seventh Princess. If she were to be punished, the Emperor would naturally not stand idly by.

If she were to press the issue and try to defend Shen Fu, it would be counterproductive.

So I just warned her not to meddle, and didn't do anything to her.

For many years, Consort Yun has lived a secluded life and refused to flatter the Empress.

Wen Mingqian and the Princess both knew that Consort Yun was reliable, so they found a suitable opportunity to tell her the truth.

Consort Yun was overjoyed upon hearing this. She repeatedly assured him that she would never refuse to help him if needed.

Consort Yun played a significant role in bringing down Consort Hui.

She was the most suitable candidate; otherwise, others, such as the eldest princess and Princess Duanmin, were no longer in the palace at that time.

And it's impossible for other uninformed people to give such false testimony. (End of Chapter)