“Miss, Aunt Lan Hua is here.”

Hearing Yan Ze’s voice, Shi Buyu stood up and walked out. “You didn’t go with Yan Shi’an?”

“Master took Yan Yi with him and left me behind. He calculated the time—Madam’s people should be arriving.”

Shi Buyu nodded. Yan Shi’an had told her before that every time Madam entered the palace, she would stay overnight. It was about time. But she added, “Ask Aunt Lan Hua to wait a bit? Your master probably won’t be back any time soon.”

Yan Ze smiled. “I already told her, but Aunt Lan Hua said just informing you is enough.”

“This aunt has more tolerance than the Madam.”

Shi Buyu was the kind of person who was easy to deal with when others came at her nicely. If they came at her the wrong way, she could be defiant to the heavens. Just like that Madam—Shi Buyu was always itching to provoke her just for fun. But since Aunt Lan Hua was polite, Shi Buyu would return the courtesy.

“She’s at Yan Shi’an’s courtyard?” Shi Buyu asked. “Have her wait a moment, I want to wash this makeup off—it’s uncomfortable.”

In fact, she wasn’t in the master’s courtyard, but Yan Ze had thought ahead. Aunt Lan Hua was Madam’s eyes—whatever she saw, Madam would see too. So it was better to let Miss Shi go to the master’s courtyard, ideally to the study, and let Madam see just how much the master trusted her.

As for whether Madam would be angry after seeing that… well, it wouldn’t make much of a difference now. Miss Shi had her own ways of dealing with things.

Yan Ze agreed readily and went ahead to invite Aunt Lan Hua to the main hall.

Aunt Lan Hua looked surprised. “The young master’s returned?”

Yan Ze personally served her tea. “Today, the master won first place again at the Floating Life Gathering, and Lord Zongzheng Shaoqing himself offered to write the preface and promised to help publish the book. Such a joyous occasion—it’s unlikely Master will be back anytime soon.”

Aunt Lan Hua was both surprised and delighted. News hadn’t reached them yet. “Lord Zongzheng Shaoqing writing the preface? With his endorsement, the young master’s talents will surely gain more recognition!”

“It was all thanks to Miss Shi today,” Yan Ze briefly explained the events at the gathering.

Having served beside Madam for many years, Aunt Lan Hua was more than just a servant—she was half a strategist. She immediately understood the benefits the young master had gained from this event, and also how the focus of Madam Zhang had been redirected from the young master to hatred toward Qing Huan. This removed a hidden threat. If Madam Zhang had continued pestering the young master, it might’ve forced him into direct conflict with the Zhang family, where he had no advantage.

Aunt Lan Hua suddenly smiled. “You’re telling me all this and letting me wait here for Miss Shi—Yan Ze, what exactly are you trying to tell me?”

Yan Ze glanced toward the door—Miss Shi hadn’t arrived yet. “You know Madam’s health better than anyone, and as for the young master, he’s already grown wings. For the past two years, he’s no longer followed Madam’s every arrangement. Their relationship has grown increasingly strained, and if it continues like this, it won’t be good for any of us. I believe you’ve been trying your best to persuade Madam, but she’s stubborn and hard to sway. As servants, we inevitably have to play the role of mediator. Wouldn’t you agree, Aunt?”

“You’re suggesting I act compliant on the surface but disobedient underneath?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Yan Ze said, bowing respectfully. “I just think their relationship shouldn’t worsen any further, and Miss Shi’s presence may be the turning point. When have you ever seen Madam unable to handle someone? But when Miss Shi writes her a single letter asking for help, Madam—gritting her teeth—still follows through. Because whether it’s Madam or Miss Shi, everything they do is for the young master.”

Aunt Lan Hua recalled how Madam had reluctantly entered the palace the day before, gritting her teeth all the way, and couldn’t help but laugh.

Miss Shi never actually hurt anyone—she just mischievously poked at old wounds, targeting whatever hurt the most. Madam cared too much for the young master to really do anything to Shi Buyu, but in a battle of wits, she was no match. A few rounds and she lost completely, which only made her angrier.

But that side of Madam felt more alive. In private, the women around her all felt that it would be best if more of Miss Shi’s letters came.

There was movement at the door. Yan Ze lowered his voice. “Please do consider what I’ve said. All of this, ultimately, is for the young master.”

Aunt Lan Hua said nothing, but turned her head toward the entrance. There, walking in the sunlight, was a young woman whose steps were so light it was as if she was being lifted by the wind. Like a kite, she thought—though whether the string was held by the young master’s hand, that remained to be seen.

“Sorry to have kept Aunt Lan Hua waiting.” Shi Buyu still had a touch of moisture at her temples. Without all that powder on her face, she felt much more comfortable.

Aunt Lan Hua saluted. “Greetings, Miss.”

As she passed her, Shi Buyu helped her up and walked to the main seat, gesturing for her to sit as well.

“Did Aunt Lan Hua come with a message from Madam?”

Such polite phrasing—a message to be conveyed. Aunt Lan Hua smiled. “After going to the palace yesterday, Madam pointed out some issues at the Laundry Palace. The palace matron had to come and apologize, and we took that opportunity to meet the woman openly. There are many eyes in the palace, so I slipped her the gourd quietly. She understood right away and asked what the character ‘Yi’ meant. I told her it meant ‘Yi Sheng’—but she didn’t promise anything. She simply took the gourd. Today, she came here under the pretense of delivering clothes and asked about Yi Sheng’s whereabouts. She said we must tell her sister’s name the next time we enter the palace. Only then will she trust us. She said that in the world, their existence has long been erased, and only she and Yi Sheng know her sister’s name.”

“She’s lived on thin ice in the palace for years—it’s natural she’d be cautious. Aunt, please wait a moment.” Shi Buyu looked toward Yan Ze. “Go call Yi Sheng.”

“Yes.”

He Yi Sheng arrived quickly, dressed as a woman, his voice so soft that one couldn’t tell if it was male or female. “Miss, you called?”

Aunt Lan Hua was inwardly surprised. Wasn’t He Yi Sheng a man? Looking closer, she did notice some subtle differences—his hands were slightly larger than most women’s.

“This is Aunt Lan Hua, one of Madam’s attendants. They met Su Juan and gave her the gourd, but she still doesn’t trust them and asked for her sister’s name.”

“Chan Yi. Her name is Ying Chan Yi,” said He Yi Sheng. “Their father gave them both names based on traditional Chinese medicine.”

Ying Chan Yi—Aunt Lan Hua committed it to memory. “Is the lady in a hurry to make use of her? Madam doesn’t visit the palace often—if she suddenly starts going frequently, it might attract suspicion.”

“No rush. We can take our time—we’ll need her more later.”

“Understood.”

Aunt Lan Hua was about to leave, but Shi Buyu had one more question. “There’s a palace hall behind the emperor’s bedchamber. Normally, no one is allowed in. Aunt Lan Hua, do you know anything about it?”

Not sure why she was asking, Aunt Lan Hua answered truthfully. “That hall was used during the late emperor’s time for entertaining close officials—it was away from the empresses and concubines, so no one would be disturbed. Later… because Madam’s position was awkward, she never went there again. I don’t know what it looks like now.”