That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

The palace maids and eunuchs assigned by the Imperial Household Department were already waiting in the courtyard, and they immediately bowed when she entered.

"This servant greets Your Highness."

Song Shuangning glanced at Tinglan beside her without making a sound. As Consort Song's personal maid, Tinglan was not in a hurry to go back to serve her, but instead followed her, as if she was confirming something.

She spoke gently, "Get up, everyone."

The concubine only had four maids and two eunuchs.

These six people might all be Song Fei's people; she couldn't trust any of them.

Song Shuangning walked past them into the hall. A faint fragrance of pear blossoms filled the hall. She raised her eyebrows slightly and watched the smoke rise from the incense burner.

"Who lit this incense?"

A palace maid stepped forward and said, "Yes, Your Highness, it is this servant."

Song Shuangning blinked. "What's your name?"

"My name is Qiuhe."

"From now on, you will stay inside the palace to serve. The rest of you will stay outside."

Qiuhe said happily, "This servant obeys your command, thank you, Your Highness."

Tinglan withdrew her gaze and curtsied, "My lady, then this servant will not disturb your rest any longer."

"Tell my elder sister that I will pay my respects to her as soon as I have everything settled." Song Shuangning nodded slightly, her tone as gentle as honey.

"Qiuhe, please deliver Tinglan to me."

"Yes." Qiu He slightly bent her knees.

After lying down on the couch, Song Shuangning instructed Tingyu to close the door.

"You've worked hard, my lady, take a rest." Tingyu massaged her shoulders.

Song Shuangning said in a low voice, "Qiuhe is my elder sister's person, so you can't confide in her. You have to be extra careful and wary of her in everything you do. If she asks you about your past, just brush it off. Also, you need to be careful with the other palace maids; I don't trust any of them."

Tingyu was surprised, "My lady, why did you bring her into the palace to serve you?"

Song Shuangning didn't explain much, only saying, "I won't let her stay by my side for too long."

"Don't worry, my lady, I've remembered everything."

A resolute look appeared on Tingyu's somewhat childish face as she thought to herself: She must become strong, and she must protect her mistress.

She tossed and turned until midnight last night, unable to sleep soundly. She got up before dawn this morning, and coupled with the long journey, Song Shuangning felt listless and lacked energy.

If the sky falls, I'll just use it as a blanket.

Song Shuangning found a comfortable position and closed her eyes for a short rest.

Tinglan returned to the main hall and curtsied to Consort Song.

Consort Song was pruning the flowers, her slender hands holding the pruning shears. Without even looking up, she asked, "You're back?"

"This servant sees that Miss Song is still as innocent as before, without any guile. Qiuhe has already successfully served her closely. This servant just specifically instructed Qiulan to keep a close eye on Miss Song's every move. If Miss Song has any other plans in mind, or if she is privately interacting with others, Qiuhe will come to report it in time."

Consort Song raised the corners of her lips slightly, picked up a rose, and used silver scissors to remove the thorns and withered leaves from the bottom.

"I recall there was also someone stationed outside the palace?"

"Yes, Xiaohe is a lowly palace maid who works outside the palace."

"Have them keep a close eye on Song Shuangning's movements. Once a person enters the palace and experiences the sweetness of power, they change."

The reason Song Shuangning was chosen to enter the palace was not only because of her beautiful appearance, but also because she was simple-minded, gentle, and easy to control. Therefore, no accidents could be tolerated, and the pawn could not have its own thoughts.

Consort Song looked at the pruned roses with satisfaction.

After sleeping for half an hour, Song Shuangning felt refreshed. She changed into a moon-white dress, with only a few strands of light pink adorning the hem. Her hair was simply adorned with a few plain silver hairpins, without any elaborate jewelry.

A clean face, without any makeup.

At the dressing table, Song Shuangning smiled with satisfaction.

This outfit makes her look like a delicate, innocent flower.

This is their first meeting after many years. I must appear gentle, innocent, and unassuming in front of Consort Song, and also seem a little clumsy.

After washing and dressing, Song Shuangning went to the main hall to pay her respects to Consort Song.

Consort Song sat on the soft couch, and Song Shuangning respectfully knelt and bowed, saying, "This concubine greets Consort Song."

"Get up quickly." Consort Song acted warmly, and Tinglan helped her up.

Consort Song said reproachfully, "What's wrong? It's been years since we last met, and you've become estranged from your elder sister?"

Song Shuangning lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, "Important people often have bad memories."

Could it be that Song Luowei has forgotten the things that tormented her every day years ago? And she can still act as if nothing ever happened?

That's incredibly shameless.

Consort Song carefully examined her younger sister, whom she hadn't seen for many years. She was dressed in a simple dress, and her eyes and brows showed a timid and docile expression.

She was born beautiful, and as her originally youthful face matured, her features became more delicate and her stunning beauty became even more captivating.

A surge of jealousy welled up in her heart. Of the four sisters in her family, she was the most beautiful. If she hadn't been unable to have children, she would never have allowed her to enter the palace.

But... she was slender, with a thin waist and shallow hollows in her collarbones.

Consort Song frowned. Why is she so thin? Have her father and mother mistreated her?

She's too thin; it's not good for her to give birth.

Song Shuangning spoke softly, "Elder sister, you are now the noble Consort Song, and Shuangning should respect you even more."

"I am your elder sister, so there's no need for such formalities in the future. Please sit down."

"Thank you, elder sister." After sitting down, Song Shuangning quietly looked around at the furnishings in the hall, which were a thousand times better than her Cangdong Pavilion.

She was a little greedy, wanting to fill her little nest with nice things in the future.

Consort Song asked tentatively, "Has Father spoken to you about my affairs?"

"Mm." Song Shuangning nodded.

Her eyes were sincere: "Father specifically instructed me to spend more time with you after entering the palace, and to give you some authority. Eldest sister, please don't be so sad anymore. If His Highness is watching from heaven, he certainly wouldn't want to see you so heartbroken."

After saying that, she belatedly covered her mouth, "Elder sister, I...I...didn't mean to bring up your sad story..."

Consort Song lowered her eyes, but her voice carried a hint of coldness: "It's alright."

Naive and stupid.

Well, this is a good thing, and it makes things easier to handle.

"Shuangning, let me remind you again: entering the palace won't be as comfortable as staying at home. You must be much more careful in your words and actions. If you make a mistake, it won't just be the two of us who will be implicated, but the safety of the entire Song family. I am six years older than you and have experienced many trials. You must listen to my arrangements from now on. If you have any worries, you must let your elder sister know. If you act rashly and on your own, I won't be able to protect you then. Do you understand?"

Song Shuangning nodded obediently and replied in a low voice, "Thank you for your guidance, elder sister. Shuangning understands everything and will obey your orders in everything from now on without daring to disobey in the slightest."

Upon seeing this, Consort Song revealed a satisfied expression.

Tinglan stepped forward carrying a lacquered tray containing a pair of gold bracelets, as well as hairpins, earrings, hair ornaments, and other jewelry. These ornaments were dazzling and jewel-like.

"You're dressed too plainly. Adding some color would actually make you look better."

"Thank you, elder sister."