Shen Xuan was the Grand Preceptor and was one of the six senior commanders of the Great Vi. What was more, his wife Madam Su was titled the First Rank Madam. Therefore, they were the first who were asked to enter the Weiyang Palace.

Meanwhile, Wei Changying let go of Wei Lingzi, and said goodbye with people from Zhiben Hall. She then tidied her dress and followed Madam Su together with her sisters-in-laws.

Wei Changying carefully crossed the high threshold of the palace. Because she dared not look up, she could only capture the splendor of the palace with the corner of her eye.... At the place to make a courtesy, Wei Changying and Madam Su greeted to the Empress and other imperial concubines.

Hearing Madam Su's greetings, Wei Changying knew that in the palace there were the Empress, the Honored Consort Deng, Jieyu Miao, Lady Zhong, and the two princesses Linchuan and Qingxin. While doing a courtesy, Wei Changying thought, "Everyone says that the Empress Gu is very powerful, and it seems that the saying 'there is no fool under great fame' is true. It's Princess Linchuan's birthday today, and even Lady Zhong has attended, but there are only a few people in the palace. Since the Emperor has come into power for ten years, he shouldn't only have these concubines, taking into account Mrs. Huo and other ladies who were dead or abolished. However, among all the imperial concubines, despite the Empress and Lady Zhong, who was favored by the Empress, only the Honored Consort Deng and Jieyu Miao appeared in the Changle Palace."

She then thought, "I've heard that there are three unmarried princesses in the palace, why isn't Princess Anji here? Is she unfavored? It seems that not only those unfavored imperial concubines are not allowed to attend today's birthday party, even the princess…."

Before she finished thinking, a clear voice above her had asked them to stand up. Then a woman smiled and said gently, "Enough for the courtesy, Madam Su." She then asked her maidservants to take Madam Su to her seat.

Madam Su made another courtesy and said, "Thank you so much." She then sat down on the right with the help of Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Duanmu, Wei Changying, and other people stood behind her.

Wei Changying didn't feel relieved until now. Before Wei Changying had time to look around, Empress Gu asked, "I was unfamiliar with the lady in a pale purple upper shirt behind Madam Su. I wonder if she is Madam Wei, the Private Guard Shen's wife."

Wei Changying was exactly in a cloud-patterned pale purple upper shirt, and she was shocked when she heard this. However, Madam Su had replied for her, "In response to the Empress, she is my third daughter-in-law, Madam Wei." Madam Su then let Wei Changying step forward and greet the Empress again.

Empress Gu smiled and asked Wei Changying to stood up. She then said, "Raise your head. Let me have a look at you."

Wei Changying took a breath, raised her head naturally, and looked into Empress Gu's eyes. Empress Gu came from the Gu Family in Hongzhou, which was only in the middle and lower ranks among all the eminent families. She was about 40 years old, but her skin looked good because of her facial care, so she looked like a lady of sixteen in the lights.

Empress Gu had been favored by the Emperor for years and had defeated the abolished Empress Madam Qian, who had once been chosen by the Emperor because of her beauty. Empress Gu was so beautiful that even the Emperor's lineal cousin Honored Consort Deng couldn't compare with her.

The Empress had an oval face, with narrow eyebrows and beautiful eyes. Her eyes were like the pond in spring, and her hair was as dark as ink. She was so elegant and beautiful as if her appearance could brighten the whole palace. Because it was princess Linchuan's birthday, Empress Gu wore her most formal uniform, with twelve flower-shaped hair clasp in her hair. The strings of pearls and precious stones hung beside her chignon and ears, which made her look even more dignified.

...Wei Changying dared not stare at Empress Gu because she was only a wife of an official. She immediately looked down when Empress Gu looked into her eyes. She saw Empress Gu's hands were as white as jade, and her fingers nails were dyed into a red color. Being set off by her crimson red-colored dress, Empress Gu's hands looked attractive when they were put on her knees.

Empress Gu didn't care that much. She took her time to look at Wei Changying, and said with a smile, "People say that the Wei Family has a lot of beauties. It seems that the saying 'there is no fool under great fame' is true. This child is beautiful and bright, but she doesn't look boorish at all. She is worthy of being the daughter of the Wei family. Among so many people that I've met in the Wei Family, only the original wife of the Minister of the Public can compare with her."

Wei Changying didn't know what to say. She had just praised the Empress with the saying "there is no fool under great fame," but now the Empress had also praised her by using this idiom.

As she was about to reply, the one on Empress Gu's left smiled and say, "Of course. She is as lovely as a flower. I feel like getting younger when I look at her."

Wei Changying looked at the person secretly. She was a lady in purple, and her hair was made into a cloud-shaped bun. Her face was pale, and Wei Changying could even see from a distance that this lady was elder than Empress Gu... However, the lady also had a spirit of calm and strength. She was like a piece of jade that exuded warmth and implicit brilliance.

Wei Changying found that this lady looked a bit similar to Deng Zongqi, so she guessed that she was Honored Consort Deng.

Meanwhile, Empress Gu's words had proved Wei Changying was right. The Empress said with a smile, "It's rare to see sister Deng praise someone like today." She then turned to Wei Changying and said, "You should come and accompany the Honored Consort so that she can have someone to talk with."

When the Empress said "have someone to talk with," Honored Consort Deng's eyes dimmed. She was the Emperor's lineal cousin and had become an Honored Consort as soon as she entered the palace. But she had only given birth to one child, the sixth prince. What was worse, her child had already gone.... She hadn't adopted other princes or princesses and was always alone after she lost her child. Therefore, there were not many people around her.

On the surface, Empress Gu was echoing Honored Consort's praise to Wei Changying, and let Wei Changying accompany the Honored Consort as soon as she expressed her appreciation.... But in fact, Empress Gu was mocking that Honored Consort Deng was lonely with no children....

They had become opponents for years. Honored Consort Deng's eyes dimmed, but she immediately said, "Thank you for being so considerate. To be honest, I'm too unfortunate to keep my son, and I have been feeling lonely these years. If I want to talk, I can only talk with my parrot!"

Honored Consort Deng then said, "However, the third young madam of the Shen Family has already got married, so she can't stay with me every day in the palace. If you are kind enough, would you please let Linchuan come to my palace and stay with me for several days? After all, you have got the Crown Prince and Princess Qingxin and a crowd of grandchildren. You will allow Linchuan to come, won't you?"

Empress Gu was shocked. She subconsciously looked at the girl in orange on her right. Needless to say, she was Princess Linchuan. Because she was not Empress Gu's lineal daughter, she looked different from Empress Gu—she was far less beautiful than the Empress. Although her eyes were big and bright, and her skin was smooth and white, her appearance was only on an ordinary level.

Princess Linchuan was in a phoenix-patterned orange crossed-collar upper shirt, with a colorful pleated skirt tied on her waist. Her hair was made into two children-styled buns, decorated with a bird-shaped hair clasp and peony flowers. Although she was nicely dressed, she could only be described as a lovely girl rather than a beauty. Just as Shen Cangfeng had said, Princess Linchuan was a little imperious. She looked a little arrogant.

Hearing Honored Consort Deng's words, Princess Linchuan lowered her eyes and said, "Mother Deng, it's my fortune to be loved by you, and it's my pleasure to stay with you. Why will I refuse?" It seemed that she didn't remember that Empress Gu was also at the scene until she said those words. She then turned and looked at Empress Gu as she said, "Mother, can I?"

Since Princess Linchuan had agreed, how would Empress Gu refuse? She could only smile and said, "The Honored Consort sometimes gets ill. Although she likes you, you shouldn't bother her too much. Just a few days. Or else you will cause her trouble."

The Empress didn't want the Honored Consort to speak, so she immediately said to Madam Su, "Can I ask your daughter-in-law to accompany my sister Deng?"

Madam Su forced a smile. She knew that the Empress had a secret conflict with the Honored Consort, but she didn't expect that they would involve Wei Changying. The Shen Family could neither offend the Empress nor the Honored Consort, but they also didn't want to develop a cooperative relationship with neither of them. Now that Wei Changying was involved, how could Madam Su rest assured?

However, since the Empress had asked for her permission, Madam Su could only say, "It's her honor to be favored by you. How will I be reluctant?"

Therefore, Wei Changying was required to stay beside the Honored Consort Deng.... The Empress then chatted a while with Madam Su, and signaled the servants to let in the next group of visitors....

Wei Changying expected that the Honored Consort Deng would say something to her. But in fact, the Honored Consort only took Wei Changying's hand and said, "I found that you look even prettier than seeing you from a distance. What a nice child." She then said, "Stay here with me to greet the guests. After we have leisure time, we can have a nice talk."

She then became busy talking to the imperial madams and left Wei Changying alone right beside her.

At first, Wei Changying stood still and held her breath, getting herself ready to answer the Honored Consort's question. When she saw the Honored Consort was busy talking with other guests, she felt relief and began to take advantage of the height of where she was standing to observe the people in the Changle Palace.

Madam Su's seat was very front forward, but not the most front among all the women. Looking from their dresses, the ladies near the vermilion steps should be queens. But Wei Changying couldn't tell their names.... In the crowd behind the queens, there were some girls in bright-colored dresses. They should be the daughters of the County Lords.

Then there were the First Rank Madams. The wives of the six senior commanders were all First Rank Madams. The former vice-premier Wei Huan and former Minister of the Public Song Xinping had returned to their hometowns, and they didn't pass the title of the senior commander to their heir. Also, the present Grand Preceptor's wife Old Madam Qian was dead. Therefore, there were only three First Rank Madams in the Changle Palace, including Madam Su. Wei Changying had met the Grand Guardian's wife Old Madam Deng before. Another woman, Old Madam Pei, was the wife of the Military Officer Liu Siyuan. When the servants were calling their names, Wei Changying looked carefully at her.... The old madam was very old, and her granddaughters were elder than other girls as well.

Wei Changying also saw Liu Ruoyu and her sister Liu Ruoye. Both of them were nicely dressed, following a lady in green.

Needless to say, this lady in green was Mrs. Zhang, who had seduced her brother-in-law, and was harsh to her stepdaughters.

People had said that Mrs. Zhang was good at scheming. There were some rumors saying that she had been seducing her brother-in-law before she got married, so she immediately became her brother-in-law's wife as soon as her lineal sister died. However, for so many years, Mrs. Zhang had always been Liu Hai's wife. Not only did she give birth to their only child Liu Ruowo, but also intended to defeat Liu Xixun then help their son to become the next Family Head.

Facing such a talent, Wei Changying became alerted. She peeped at them and found that Liu Ruoye looked exactly the same as her mother Mrs. Zhang. If Liu Ruoyu looked like her lineal mother, it meant that Mrs. Zhang was much more beautiful than her sister. Since Liu Hai was a scumbag, it was reasonable for him to be seduced by his more beautiful sister-in-law....

Thinking of this, Wei Changying looked at Liu Ruoyu pitifully. With such a step-mother and step-sister, Miss Liu Ruoyu was surely living a miserable life.... Liu Ruoyu found that Wei Changying was looking at her, so she also looked into Wei Changying's eyes. Seeing that Wei Changying was standing beside the Honored Consort, Liu Ruoyu was a little surprised, but she immediately calmed down and nodded to Wei Changying as a greeting.

Then, she turned back her head and stood behind Mrs. Zhang. She looked calm and dignified, and her manners were perfect.

Wei Changying was surprised: the Tenth Miss of the Liu Family seemed to be different from the last time they met.

When Wei Changying was observing the people with excitement, she felt a line of sight heading towards her, which made her look back subconsciously....