“I know you’re upset about your mother, but things have already turned out like this, and there’s nothing we can do to change it. We can only wait and plan for the future, do you understand?”

Huan Bi nodded, “Huan Bi understands.”

Zhen Huan took a basket from under the bed and told Huan Bi to open it. When Huan Bi saw the paper money inside, she couldn’t help but cry again.

“Big sister, I didn’t know you had quietly done so much for me.”

“Look at you, why are you crying again? You’re my sister. Whatever I do for you, it’s only right.”

Zhen Huan really didn’t know how to deal with Huan Bi. Perhaps, when someone has lacked love since childhood, they become easily moved.

“Alright, it’s getting late. Find a place where no one is around and burn this for your mother. It’s just a small token of my feelings.”

“Yes, big sister.” Huan Bi said, taking the basket and heading out.

Zhen Huan reminded her, “Don’t cry anymore, in case someone sees and gets suspicious.”

Huan Bi obediently nodded.

This time, she was very careful in choosing a place, fearing that one wrong move might bring trouble to Zhen Huan.

In this life, Huan Bi didn’t cry to her mother about her helplessness, nor did she complain about how, being the daughter of the same father, her elder sister could bring honor to the family while she could only serve as a maid.

She told her mother only about the kindness Zhen Huan had shown her and how her father, Zhen Yuandao, also had her in mind, reassuring her mother that things would get better in the future.

After this matter was settled, Huan Bi returned to her usual cheerful self.

Liu Zhu bounced over to Huan Bi, teasing her, “Huan Bi, today I finally see you smile.”

“When have I not smiled?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know. A few days ago, you were like a frostbitten eggplant, showing a sour face to everyone. I thought I had done something to offend you!”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart if you keep saying things like that.”

Huan Bi reached out her hand toward Liu Zhu. Liu Zhu immediately ran to Zhen Huan, pouting and pointing at Huan Bi as she threatened to complain.

“Little Mistress, I just said a few words to Huan Bi, and she wants to tear my mouth off. You have to stand up for me!”

She looked at Huan Bi with a smug expression.

Zhen Huan put down her embroidery and looked at the two of them, panting from running. She smiled and said, “If she hits you, then just take it. How can you not fight back and still come complaining? I’m not involved in this matter.”

She said this while lowering her head and chuckling.

Liu Zhu saw that Zhen Huan was teasing her on purpose, so she pretended to be angry and turned her face away, “Little Mistress, look at you, always protecting Huan Bi.”

“Alright, ladies, stop messing around. The Mistress has something to say.”

Jin Xi entered with a smile, and everyone turned to see that many servants had gathered in the courtyard.

Liu Zhu and Huan Bi both looked curious. “The Mistress has something to say? How come we didn’t know about it?”

Zhen Huan tapped Liu Zhu’s nose, “With your playful nature…”

It turned out that Zhen Huan had already told Jin Xi in the morning to gather all the servants from the palace. She wanted to ask each of them who had any special skills, like singing, dancing, and so on.

She was going to choose one she liked and keep them by her side to serve her.

She also had Jin Xi deliberately spread the word, with the intention of letting Hua Fei know how Yu Ying’er had gained her favor. It was also to prepare for the upcoming trip to the Yuanmingyuan.

After hearing the news, Hua Fei sent someone to tell Yu Ying’er that she had to seize the opportunity to serve Zhen Huan personally, no matter what.

To gain the Mistress’s favor, many palace maids in Shuiyu Pavilion, no matter their size, all wanted to give it a try. In the end, many of them were left behind.

Zhen Huan told those who considered themselves talented to go and prepare well, as in a few days, she would personally watch and choose. Naturally, Yu Ying’er was among them.

Zhen Huan also invited Shen Mei Zhuang, An Ling Rong, and Chun Er to come and watch.

There was no secret in the palace. Many people knew about this matter.

When Zhen Huan went to greet the Empress, the Empress mentioned it.

“I heard that Guo Gui Ren is holding some sort of competition in her palace?”

Zhen Huan rose and bowed to the Empress. “It’s just that I was bored and needed something to pass the time.”

Hearing Zhen Huan’s words, Qi Fei sarcastically said, “The Emperor just left the palace, and Guo Gui Ren finds it boring? What are we supposed to do, then?”

This time, Hua Fei didn’t target Zhen Huan. She used the opportunity to glance at Qi Fei while fixing her hair.

“Qi Fei, what you said sounds so sour. If you’re not happy, you can do it too!”

Zhen Huan noticed that the Empress showed a slight look of surprise when Hua Fei spoke, but it quickly disappeared.

Qi Fei couldn’t believe her ears. She stared at Hua Fei with her clear and naive eyes, secretly thinking, “Huh? What’s going on with Hua Fei today? Why is she speaking up for Guo Gui Ren? Did the sun rise from the west?”

But she didn’t dare show it on her face and forced a smile at Hua Fei.

“Ah, I don’t have the elegance of Guo Gui Ren. I only sit in the Changchun Palace, daydreaming about mahjong!”

Zhen Huan understood. Hua Fei wasn’t speaking up for her; she was eager to get her people into the palace.

As for Qi Fei’s love for playing mahjong, it was something everyone in the palace knew.

Just like Jing Pin’s love for raising turtles…

In this palace, the women were most afraid of being idle. Once idle, the endless power struggles would begin.

Sometimes, Zhen Huan would wonder, why must we keep fighting? Why not just relax, play mahjong, raise pets, and watch performances?

But people’s thoughts are never the same, right?

Wherever there are women, there’s bound to be gossip. Playing tricks, shedding tears, putting on smiles while talking behind each other’s backs.

On the surface, everything seems calm, but underneath, there’s a raging storm. Just because you want to live peacefully, doesn’t mean others will leave you alone.

There are many twists and turns in this!

After the concubines finished gossiping, the Empress looked at Zhen Huan, who was smiling.

“No wonder the Emperor dotes on Guo Gui Ren so much. The more I look at her, the more I like her.”

“If all the sisters in the harem could be like Guo Gui Ren, serving the Emperor without fighting or grabbing, just peacefully staying in their own little corner, then managing the vast harem would be so much easier.”

Zhen Huan listened to the Empress’s words, and her ears almost formed calluses. If someone didn’t know better, they would think the Empress was praising her. But in reality, the Empress was always stirring up hatred against her!

But she had no choice but to rise and bow to play along with her. “Your Majesty, you honor me too much. I really don’t deserve such praise.”

Before the Empress could speak, Hua Fei gave Zhen Huan a dismissive glance. She fiddled with the armor on her hand and said, “Deserve it or not, you’ve already earned it. Guo Gui Ren, there’s no need to say such fake words.”

“Alright, enough. Hua Fei, you’re too much. Guo Gui Ren is such a polite person, how can you say something like that to her?”

After that, the Empress used the excuse that it was getting late and dismissed everyone.