Chapter 3: The Legend of Zhen Huan – An Lingrong
“Miss, I understand.”
Aunt Xiao nodded earnestly. “I will definitely follow your arrangements and won’t let Master act recklessly.”
“Don’t worry, Father will listen from now on.”
Li Siqi added, “If anything happens at home, send a message here. Every month, I will send someone to collect the letters.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Li Siqi had arranged everything and entered the palace with two servants.
Several young ladies of the Han military banners arrived simultaneously at the side gate of Zhenmen.
Li Siqi also saw Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang, and the others, quietly conversing.
At that moment, the waiting eunuchs approached, greeting the young ladies and guiding them into the palace.
Li Siqi bade farewell to Aunt Ruolan and followed the young eunuch away.
“Little eunuch, where does our young mistress stay?”
Lü He whispered, slipping a small scented pouch into his hand.
The young eunuch’s face brightened immediately upon receiving the silver. “Miss, Young Mistress Xin lives in Yanxi Palace.
Yanxi Palace has no chief consort, but Noble Consort Fucha entered first. Being Manchu banner nobility, she was arranged to reside in the main hall, holding a position slightly above Young Mistress Xin.
Also, Summer Changzai is in Yanxi Palace, holding a rank just above Young Mistress Xin.”
“Thank you for the reminder, little eunuch.”
Lü He expressed her thanks and returned to Li Siqi’s side.
Li Siqi was not surprised. In the story, the three of them lived separately within Yanxi Palace.
They proceeded to Yanxi Palace, where the young eunuch handed over the mistress and her servants to the stewardess of the palace.
“Please follow me, Young Mistress Xin.”
The stewardess’s tone was neither cold nor warm. Li Siqi did not try to curry favor.
They passed through the main hall of Yanxi Palace, heading toward the side hall on the right.
“Young Mistress Xin, this will be your residence.”
“Thank you, auntie.”
Li Siqi exchanged a glance with Lü He, smiled gently, and respectfully offered a bow. Proficiently, she slipped a scented pouch to the stewardess. “Auntie, our young mistress just entered the palace and knows nothing. Please kindly guide us.”
“You’re too polite, Miss.”
The stewardess, receiving the delicate pouch, felt a wave of satisfaction.
“Since Young Mistress Xin has promised her rank, she shall have two maids and one eunuch attending her.”
As she spoke, she called out, “Come in!”
Two maids and a eunuch entered in response.
“Your servant Bao Que (Bao Juan) greets Young Mistress Xin.”
“Your servant Xiao Songzi greets Young Mistress Xin.”
They knelt together to show their respect—a customary ritual to demonstrate their loyalty to Li Siqi.
“Rise.”
Li Siqi was too indifferent to admonish them.
No matter who their original masters were, after taking the puppet pill, they would obey without question.
She casually instructed, “Lü He, distribute the rewards.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Lü He took out the prepared scented pouches and handed them out. The three expressed their gratitude again.
Taking advantage of the moment, the stewardess excused herself, and Lü He warmly saw her off.
“You’re mine now, so let’s change your names.”
Li Siqi’s gaze swept over the two maids. She no longer wished to be mocked for raising a house full of little birds.
“Bao Juan will be called Jin He, Bao Que will be called Su He. Xiao Songzi, you may keep your name.”
“Yes, your servant thanks Mistress for the new names.”
Regardless of their private feelings, the two women happily accepted their new identities.
“Lü He and He Xiang will come into the palace with me but are unfamiliar with the palace.”
Li Siqi instructed, “Jin He and Su He, when you have time, please guide them through the palace’s ways to avoid mistakes that could implicate us all.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Both readily agreed.
Lü He returned and, together with He Xiang, stood beside their mistress.
Li Siqi assigned tasks, “Lü He, attend to me closely. He Xiang, manage the storeroom.
Jin He, oversee the tea service. Su He and Xiao Songzi, run errands and gather information.”
“Yes, your servants will remember.”
“Dismissed.”
Li Siqi first sent them away, then instructed the two by her side, “Lü He, accompany me to visit Noble Consort Fucha.
He Xiang, stay behind to organize the packages we brought and guard the room against intruders.”
He Xiang bowed in response, “Yes, Mistress.”
Li Siqi and Lü He left the right side hall.
“Hey, stop right there!”
A shout came from the right.
Li Siqi halted and saw Xia Dongchun approaching with palace maids.
She bowed, “An Lingrong greets Summer Changzai.”
“You’re An Lingrong, the promised Xin?”
Xia Dongchun scrutinized her with disdain, sneering, “I heard your father is a minor official of eighth rank in Songyang County?”
“So what if he’s an eighth-rank minor official?”
Li Siqi looked weary. “Did an eighth-rank official steal your family’s rice?
Your father is a bondservant corporal, but fourth rank. In the eyes of wives of first-rank officials, you’re still just the daughter of a minor official.”
“You!”
Xia Dongchun, flustered, scolded loudly, “I didn’t expect you to be so sharp-tongued.
Look at you, not much to look at, daughter of a petty official, yet you dare enter the palace to be a consort.”
“I admit I am not as beautiful as Summer Changzai.”
Li Siqi smiled in return. “Although my father is a minor official, I am still a lady of an official family.
Entering the palace through an official selection is far better than consorts born from palace maids.
Summer Changzai, am I wrong?”
“What, you want to compare yourself to a lowly palace maid consort...”
“Shh!”
Li Siqi quickly interrupted, “Summer Changzai, be careful what you say, lest you offend someone.”
She winked and pointed upward.
“You...”
Xia Dongchun was furious, about to retort, but a palace maid beside her pulled her back, whispering something that instantly drained the color from her face.
The Empress Dowager was once a palace maid.
Just one word silenced the brash and reckless Xia Dongchun, who broke out in a cold sweat.
Looking at Li Siqi’s innocent smile, she felt neither anger nor resentment.
Instead, she glared at her with wide, foolish eyes.
Li Siqi paid no mind, smiling sweetly, “Summer Changzai, Lingrong is going to visit Noble Consort Fucha. Would you like to come along?”
“Hmph, as for me...”
Summer Changzai wanted to refuse, but Li Siqi stepped forward and pulled her along.
“We three live together in Yanxi Palace, so we are the closest companions. Let’s all get along well.”
“You, you’re touching me!”
“I’m not going to eat you, what’s there to fear?”
“Let go! This pulling and tugging, what does it look like!”
“It’s fine, no one’s watching!”
Amid the stunned gazes of the palace maids, the two tugged each other and entered the main hall.
The personal maid reported, “Young Mistress, Summer Changzai and Xin Daying have arrived.”
“Send them in!”
Noble Consort Fucha spoke with a hint of satisfaction, “Good, they’re being sensible.”
“Yes.”
Sang’er smiled and stepped forward to greet them, “Summer Changzai, Xin Daying, my young mistress requests your presence.”
Under her guidance, the two entered the main hall.
Before Noble Consort Fucha on the main seat, they bowed respectfully, “Your humble servants pay respects to Noble Consort Fucha.”
“Both of you, rise.”
Noble Consort Fucha smiled warmly, “From now on, we share the same palace. Let’s all behave properly.
We can’t let others mock us.”
She glanced pointedly at Xia Dongchun, clearly aware of her temperament and issuing a subtle warning.
“Who dares to mock me?”
Xia Dongchun, true to her reputation as the palace fool, frowned deeply, eyes wide, and shouted loudly, “The Empress will take care of me. Who dares to disrespect the Empress?”