Chapter Nine: The First Night in the Palace

Exiting the Palace of Longevity, Jiang Zhuo’s emotions were tangled and nearly overwhelmed her with trembling. She was deeply moved. Her father’s smooth resignation not only meant that the Jiang family would no longer face confiscation and exile as in her previous life, but also proved that the course of fate could be altered by one’s own hand.

Although her father still refused to acknowledge her as his daughter, and she remained alone in the capital...

Compared to the ruin and tragedy of her past life, this was nothing at all!

“Miss! Miss—”

Lost in thought about her future plans, Jiang Zhuo failed to hear the attendant Tong Hua calling her several times.

“What is it?”

Startled back to reality, Jiang Zhuo looked at Tong Hua before her and felt a surge of joy. Of course! Tong Hua was still with her! At least this time, she wasn’t alone entering the palace.

“What were you thinking about, Miss?” Tong Hua frowned with concern. “You’ve been distracted since leaving the Empress Dowager’s palace. You even took the wrong path just now. I called you several times, but you didn’t respond.”

“The palace is so vast. I was too busy admiring the architecture and got lost in thought,” Jiang Zhuo said, scratching her head, offering a casual excuse.

Nearby, a tinkling laugh like silver bells rang out.

“All the palace maids say the new Jiang Sile is the legitimate daughter of a second-rank official, so noble and important that we’re expected to be patient with her. But turns out, she’s just some little brat who’s never even seen the imperial palace before.”

Jiang Zhuo looked up to see two women around twenty years old approaching with bright smiles. They were tall and slender, dressed in the same standard female attendant uniforms as herself.

These must be the other two Siles of the Shangyi Bureau that Nurse Li mentioned.

“Jiang Zhuo greets the two elder sisters,” she bowed her head and performed a formal hand salute.

“Oh my, I never thought that one day Tao Tao would be greeted like a noble lady—it truly flatters me!” The first woman who spoke had soft peach-blossom eyes full of tenderness, and spoke in a coquettish tone. Though her words were polite, she made no move to help Jiang Zhuo rise.

“I and the two elder sisters are all Siles, and since both sisters have seniority over me, it is proper for me to salute,” Jiang Zhuo said with a gentle smile, unbothered.

“Enough! Tao Tao, Jiang sister is young, don’t scare her,” the other attendant, Qin Liuyun, more composed and graceful, quickly helped Jiang Zhuo up and introduced herself: “My name is Qin Liuyun, and this is Tao Tao. Like you, we are temporarily assigned as Siles of the Shangyi Bureau. Early this morning, Chief Shangyi told us that a fairy-like sister was coming to join our bureau, so we were sent to greet you. The chief is busy, and since you’re new, if you face any difficulties, feel free to seek help from us.”

“Greetings, Sister Tao, Sister Qin,” Jiang Zhuo returned the greetings one by one.

“What do you mean ‘all Siles’?” Tao Tao complained. “Sister Qin is of the sixth rank, while both you and I are from the seventh rank. Since Sister Qin’s position is higher, you shouldn’t salute her as an equal.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Sister Tao,” Jiang Zhuo responded gracefully and turned to Qin Liuyun, performing a formal bow. “I, Jiang Zhuo, pay respects to Sister Qin, the Sile.”

No sooner had she bent down than Qin Liuyun smiled and helped her up.

“Siles treat each other like sisters; we don’t fuss over such formalities. Don’t be intimidated by Tao Tao,” she said kindly.

“Why are you so obedient?” Tao Tao raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“I heard even Prince Jing rejected you, so you came here to be a lady attendant. Aren’t you supposed to be some haughty young miss, arrogant and oblivious to your place? I was planning to give you a little lesson!” Tao Tao declared, flaring her nostrils and puffing up proudly, causing Qin Liuyun and Tong Hua to laugh.

Jiang Zhuo smiled silently as well.

Had this been her former life, she might well have been that naive and proud noble daughter. But life is unpredictable—once a beloved treasure, she had fallen into the mire.

Having been both a commanding noblewoman and a servant at others’ beck and call, Jiang Zhuo now felt a much calmer heart.

“My father has recently resigned and returned to our hometown. My origins are the same as yours, Sister Tao, so please do not mock me for my background,” Jiang Zhuo replied with a smile.

Tong Hua beside her was surprised and stammered, “Miss—”

Only then did Jiang Zhuo realize she had been distracted since leaving the Palace of Longevity and hadn’t yet told Tong Hua about her father’s resignation.

“What? Worried we’ll bully your lady?” Tao Tao suddenly shifted her attention to Tong Hua, putting her hands on her hips and winking. “Too late! Your Miss has fallen into our Shangyi Bureau’s hands. From today on, I’m going to have your Jiang Sile practice singing, dancing, and playing the zither until her voice is hoarse and her fingers bleed—hee hee—”

“Ahem!”

Qin Liuyun gently nudged Tao Tao, trying to stop her animated scare tactics.

“What’s wrong with joking around? Jiang Sile hasn’t even gotten angry,” Tao Tao grumbled.

Qin Liuyun gave a look.

Only then did Tao Tao notice Jiang Zhuo’s right hand wrapped in a handkerchief, faintly stained with blood at the fingertips.

“Oh…” Tao Tao was surprised and realized she had spoken carelessly.

“Don’t worry, Jiang Sile. Tao Tao is just childish and only joking. Chief Shangyi anticipated you’d be tired today, so sent us to say there’s no need for a formal audience. The message has been delivered, so we won’t disturb you further,” Qin Liuyun said with a wink, then hurried away with the flustered Tao Tao.

“Miss! Look at those two—what do they take you for?!” Tong Hua always stood up for Jiang Zhuo.

But Jiang Zhuo smiled, gently ruffling Tong Hua’s hair. “My father has resigned, so I am no longer an official’s daughter. We are all of the same rank, and Sister Qin is probably even half a rank higher than me. They mean no harm, so there’s no need to be so sensitive.”

The position of Sile was a relatively high-ranking female official in the Shangyi Bureau, and each Sile was assigned a private chamber within the palace.

Jiang Zhuo was no exception.

However, with so many rooms in the palace and staff constantly busy, many rooms left unused for long periods gathered dust and cobwebs.

Fortunately, Tong Hua was nimble and diligent, quickly cleaning the room.

Night fell, the evening drum ceased, palace gates were locked, and the glow of horn-shaped lanterns cast a hazy light. Outside, the footsteps of night patrol guards echoed faintly.

This was Jiang Zhuo’s first night residing within the palace.

Recalling the events of recent days, her mind was restless, making sleep elusive.

As she tossed and turned, Jiang Zhuo suddenly heard soft sobbing coming from the northwest corner of the room—that was Tong Hua’s sleeping mat.