Zhen Huan couldn’t help but admire the Empress. Not only was she able to endure, but she was also able to put on a facade.

On one hand, she pretended to be all righteous, claiming to be the Empress who represented the morals of the world.

On the other hand, she schemed tirelessly to eliminate the Emperor’s child.

Then, unexpectedly, she made Hua Fei the scapegoat.

She was like a smiling tiger, and a soft knife.

Each knife plunged deep into the heart, but you couldn’t help but admire her.

Now, Zhen Huan thought to herself that she was really amazing—

In a harem full of danger and traps, she had managed to defeat everyone and sit on the Empress Dowager’s throne.

Good times were always short-lived, and soon it was the fifteenth of September, the day she was to enter the palace.

Before she left, her mother repeatedly reminded her to take care of herself.

In her interactions with the other concubines, she had to be extra cautious, avoiding any conflicts.

Being a favored concubine was great, but her own life was far more important.

After bidding her parents farewell, Zhen Huan kept their words in mind, repeating them over and over in her head.

She felt that in her past life, she had been too stubborn, always eager to argue and to get the last word, which had caused her so many problems.

She reminded herself that in this life, she had to constantly remember her parents’ words and learn when to yield.

After all, as long as there were no major issues, yielding wouldn’t kill her.

Thinking of this, Zhen Huan couldn’t help but feel her eyes water.

Other people’s parents mostly hoped their daughters would stand out in the harem and rise to power.

But her own parents only wished for her to remain safe and well in the palace.

Zhen Huan’s thoughts wandered, and before she knew it, she had arrived at the side door of Shun Zhen Men.

She learned from the eunuchs there that concubines could only enter through the side doors, while only the Empress could enter through the main gate.

Fang Ruo asked, “Which palace is Wan Changzai in?”

“Shuiyu Xuan.”

When Fang Ruo heard the words “Shuiyu Xuan,” her expression became slightly uncomfortable, almost as if she were pitying Zhen Huan.

Clearly, Shuiyu Xuan was not a good place.

But this was something Zhen Huan hadn’t realized in her past life.

As she walked down the familiar palace path, Zhen Huan didn’t feel even a little bit scared.

Arriving at Shuiyu Xuan again, she felt as though she had returned home, a sense of warmth and familiarity.

As soon as she entered, she saw Kang Luhai and his group kneeling on the ground, greeting her, the little master of Shuiyu Xuan.

Seeing Kang Luhai’s fawning expression, Zhen Huan’s heart didn’t even stir.

To her, a servant who betrayed their master wasn’t worth the time or energy.

She could use him, but he wouldn’t be able to harm her in the slightest.

Kang Luhai introduced the situation in Shuiyu Xuan to Zhen Huan.

Zhen Huan listened absent-mindedly.

Her gaze, however, was drawn to the osmanthus tree planted in the yard.

“Little master, this is the new batch of golden osmanthus, specially ordered by the Empress. She instructed that more osmanthus be planted here to mark the new noble taking charge, a sign of good fortune for the harem.”

A new noble taking charge, a sign of good fortune for the harem?

Based on what Zhen Huan knew about the Empress, she always had an ulterior motive for everything, so this couldn’t just be about planting trees.

Zhen Huan quietly thought to herself:

Fang Guiren’s miscarriage, the musk found near the tree, it all likely had to do with the Empress.

But in the end, it was Hua Fei who had been made the scapegoat.

And now, the Empress sending flowers couldn’t just be to win her favor…

Could it be… to mask the scent of the musk?

If in her past life Zhen Huan hadn’t accidentally seen the palace maid observing ants by the tree,

She might have never discovered the musk hidden near the tree.

In that case, the Empress would have been able to quietly prevent her from having children without anyone noticing.

Such a malicious scheme!

How foolish I was in my past life to think of you as a good person!

Helping you deal with Hua Fei!

Your schemes are a thousand times more vicious than Hua Fei’s!

Zhen Huan thought this in her heart.

But on the surface, she smiled and said:

“Empress, you are so thoughtful.”

She didn’t want to be immediately labeled as disrespectful to the Empress upon entering the palace.

After all, she was still just a small Changzai, not the powerful Niu Gulu Zhen Huan!

After observing everything, Zhen Huan moved to the main hall, where she once again received the kowtows of the servants.

When Zhen Huan saw Cui Jinxi kneeling on the floor, she initially wanted to help her up, but the thought quickly faded.

If she treated Cui Jinxi too well right away, wouldn’t that be too strange?

It would also lead to gossip, and the others in Shuiyu Xuan would grow resentful.

Thinking this, Zhen Huan treated Cui Jinxi just as she did when she first met her in her past life.

She listened to Kang Luhai and Cui Jinxi introduce themselves as the head eunuch and lead palace maid.

But in her mind, she thought about Jinxi, Xiao Yunzi, Pei’er, and Juqing, wondering how they were doing.

When the servants bowed to her again, she said just as she had in her past life:

“From today on, you are all my people! It’s good if you do your work quickly and efficiently, but above all, I value loyalty. Do you all understand?”

The servants replied in unison:

“We will definitely be loyal, without any ulterior motives.”

Zhen Huan looked at Kang Luhai and Xiao Yinzi, who swore so seriously, and couldn’t help but find it a little amusing.

But she also knew that in the harem, it was common for power to dictate who was on top.

Even among the concubines, the weak had to rely on the strong.

Let alone the servants!

Since it was so common, Zhen Huan didn’t take it too seriously.

But she definitely wouldn’t trust people like Kang Luhai and Xiao Yinzi.

Fortunately, they hadn’t caused her any trouble and would eventually leave on their own.

After giving Liu Zhu and Huan Bi some silver, she sent them away.

When Zhen Huan, accompanied by Liu Zhu and Huan Bi, entered her bedroom, Jinxi had already arranged the bed.

When she saw Zhen Huan enter, Jinxi hurriedly knelt to greet her, and Zhen Huan quickly stepped forward to help her up.

Jinxi said she had previously served the Dowager Consort, and since the Dowager Consort preferred peace and quiet, she had been sent to serve Zhen Huan.

Zhen Huan said that in the future, she would inevitably trouble Jinxi with more palace matters.

Thus, the two chatted for a while.

Zhen Huan then told her to rest.

For Zhen Huan, it had been a tiring day.

She kept using her hands to massage her waist.

Since becoming the Empress Dowager, she hadn’t felt this tired, always watching others work.

As soon as she sat down, Liu Zhu blurted out:

“You really scared me! The rules in the palace are so strict.”

She looked around curiously:

“But it’s so beautiful here.”

At this, Huan Bi reminded her:

“Don’t get distracted. The rules are more important.”

This perfectly confirmed Zhen Huan’s words:

“Liu Zhu is quick-witted, Huan Bi is meticulous.”

Liu Zhu obediently closed her mouth and sat by Zhen Huan’s side, massaging her legs.

Zhen Huan took Liu Zhu and Huan Bi’s hands, smiling as she said:

“You’re all my people now, so you have to be extra careful with your speech and actions. Don’t make any mistakes.”

Liu Zhu blinked her big, bright eyes and happily said to Zhen Huan:

“Mm, I understand!”

Huan Bi, hearing this, waved her handkerchief in front of Liu Zhu and started teasing her:

“Liu Zhu, just make sure to control her quick mouth!”

Liu Zhu, hearing this, gently tapped Huan Bi’s hand and playfully said:

“Stop it!”