The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

The following morning, inside the Jiaofang Palace.

Wulan Yun had just finished her breakfast and was being served by palace maids while she was putting on her hair in front of the mirror when the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department led in several junior eunuchs carrying several heavy wooden boxes.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress." The head eunuch bowed with a beaming smile. "This is newly tribute silk gauze from Jiangnan. His Majesty has instructed that Your Majesty and the Princess should select it as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Wulan Yun smiled, realizing that His Majesty still cared about her and Ayan.

She casually opened a box, inside which were shimmering silks, brightly colored and intricately embroidered, all of them top-quality materials.

In a good mood, she instructed, "Go to Jingyang Palace and invite the Princess over. Tell her that I have acquired some fresh fabrics and she can come and choose some that she likes."

Shen Jingyan arrived quickly. When she saw the open chests all over the hall, her eyes lit up, and she said sweetly, "Mother, is this the newly arrived soft silk gauze from Jiangnan? It truly lives up to its reputation."

She flipped through the pieces with great interest, picked up a piece of red soft silk with a peony scroll pattern, and held it up against herself, exclaiming, "Mother, this one is beautiful, it suits me perfectly!"

Wulan Yun looked at her daughter with doting eyes: "If you like it, keep it."

She examined it carefully herself, picked up a piece of crimson fabric embroidered with phoenixes and birds, and nodded.

However, as she looked at it, Wulan Yun frowned slightly. She felt that something was missing.

Those light and elegant colors, such as moon white, light blue, cherry blossom pink, and lotus root pink, were present in these boxes, but compared to the other colors, they were nearly half as few, and their quality was not as good.

She casually asked the head eunuch, "These light-colored ones seem to be few in number, and none of them are of the highest quality. Is it because the tribute quantity was lower this year?"

The eunuch in charge froze for a moment, bowed even lower, and stammered, "Your Majesty, this year's tribute is the same as in previous years, or even more."

"As for the light colors, perhaps the Imperial Clothing Bureau has already selected some to prepare for making summer clothes for the various palace masters."

These words were spoken vaguely, but Wu Lanyun's heart stirred.

His Majesty received the tribute yesterday and delivered it to her this morning. No matter how fast the Imperial Wardrobe moves, it's impossible for them to pick out the best items overnight.

Unless His Majesty personally orders that the materials be allocated elsewhere first.

Who else are the women in this palace? A name instantly came to Wulan Yun's mind: Qingyi Palace, Shen Qingruo always liked to wear light colors.

Wulan Yun tightened her grip on the silk, and the joy she felt from receiving the reward faded somewhat.

She glanced at her daughter, who was excitedly selecting fabrics, and slowly suppressed her displeasure.

Forget it, if we make a scene over such a small matter, it will only make her, the empress, seem petty and intolerant.

She took a deep breath and instructed the maid beside her:

"Go to Qingyi Palace and invite Princess Qingruo over. Although His Majesty allowed me and the Eldest Princess to choose the fabrics first, she is still a princess after all, and it would be inappropriate to leave her out, lest others think that I am being unfair."

The palace maid accepted the order and left.

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingyan immediately pouted in dissatisfaction: "Mother! Why did you summon her? These fabrics were originally a gift from Father to us, and she, an outsider..."

"Ayan!" Wulan Yun interrupted her, giving her a warning look. "Watch your words."

"You have to put on a good show, so as not to give others a reason to criticize you."

Shen Jingyan shut her mouth in annoyance, but her interest in choosing fabrics waned considerably. She casually tossed the bright red fabric she had just picked up back into the box, her face full of resentment.