Then Lin Yu was the only one serving, wherever the Empress Dowager looked, she would stretch her chopsticks there. Jiagui Ren and Ye Xiu Xin were like wooden stakes, they didn't dare to reach out with their hands, and if they didn't reach out, they stood there awkwardly.

  The palace maids next to her were slightly stunned, they usually served the empress dowager like this, it was a tacit understanding accumulated over many years. But Lin Shi knew what to do as soon as she came over for the first time.

  Look at their demeanor, that temperament, that cleverness, and the other three young masters put together, the difference is obvious. Zhi Jing secretly admired in her heart, Lin Xiao Zhuang was only 15 or 16 years old, but this ability seemed to have been honed for decades in the palace, or cultivated in some other place of practice.

  The Empress Dowager finished her lunch at a leisurely pace, and Wang Chengyi had just returned after changing her clothes. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Lin Yuan serving with diligence and speed, while the other two people stood there in a daze, also shocked for a moment. She quietly walked past them from the side of the wall, and stood together with Jia Gui Ren, both with gloomy faces that matched each other well.

  The Empress Dowager put down her chopsticks, and Lin Wan presented a cup of tea for rinsing her mouth. After the Empress Dowager finished rinsing her mouth, she said to Lin Wan: "You served well today, I ate half a bowl more."

  Lin Wan did not show her emotions and replied calmly: "Thank you for the compliment from Her Majesty."

  The empress dowager smiled and said: "You all go back, I still have to worship Buddha today."

  The four of them bowed and exited the grand hall. As soon as they came out, the other three people looked at Lin Yuan together. Yesterday and today were both Lin Yuan's big show-offs, and she even received praise from the empress dowager herself. Jiagui Ren was so angry that her face turned bright red, her eyes staring hatefully at Lin Yuan.

  Ye Xiu shrunk back to the end of the line, watching as the people in front of her were scolded by the empress dowager. Wang Chengyi was still reeling from being rebuked and pulled on Jia Gui's sleeve, asking: "Sister, what did the empress dowager mean? What kind of clothes are we supposed to wear when we come to Chang Le Palace in the future?"

  Jiaguiren pushed her away and scolded, "Fool, have you forgotten what the Empress said? The Empress was not saying that she dislikes your plain clothes, but rather that they are too old-fashioned! From now on, we will still wear plain clothes, but in light colors. Don't wear those dark blue and brown colors anymore!"

  Saying that, he coldly snorted at Lin Yuan again and left in a huff.

  At this time, Ziyun hurried up to stop her and bowed to the four of them, saying: "Young masters, please stay, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has taken note of your service and has a reward for you."

  Several people heard that their faces showed joy, and the noble person was no longer angry. They hurriedly knelt down with Lin Yu and others to receive the reward. The eunuch transmitted the imperial edict, reading: "Rewarding Noble Lady Jiashu with a pair of Dongzhu double-strand silk bracelets, rewarding Beautiful Lady Lin, Ye Chengyi, and Wang Chengyi with lotus flower auspicious cloud jade pendants."

  Behind her, an inner servant brought over a lacquer box covered with red silk, and the four of them each took one, saying "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your gift." Jiagui Ren hastily lifted the lid to look inside, and saw that there were twelve Eastern pearls on the bracelet, each one perfectly round and about the size of a thumb.

  She was both surprised and delighted, wanting to pull him back to ask a couple of questions, but Zhiyun didn't give her the chance, turning around to bid farewell.

  The three of them received the same reward, just ordinary jade pendants, not particularly expensive things. Jiagui Ren secretly calculated in her heart, and the joyful color on her face became even more intense.

  Wang Chengyi also understood the difference and hastily flattered the noble lady, saying: "Dongzhu is precious and heavy, only concubines of the third rank or above can wear it. The Empress Dowager bestowed Dongzhu on Sister Jia, she must have a special liking for her!" As she spoke, she was also secretly delighted that she had sided with the right person, thinking that in the future, as long as she stuck close to Noble Lady Jia, she might also be able to gain the Empress Dowager's favor.

  "Just now, I saw the empress dowager praising her, and I thought she was very satisfied with her." Jiagui Ren smiled smugly: "In my opinion, the empress dowager doesn't particularly like Lin Meiren either. What do you think, Lin Meiren?"

  Lin Yan's face showed a faint smile, and she didn't get angry. She said, "The young master of the noble family is right. Perhaps it was the eggplant dish you brought that pleased the empress dowager."

  Although Jiagui didn't understand what the Empress Dowager liked about her, she was certain that the eggplant dish wasn't to the Empress Dowager's liking and had even led to the demotion of the head of the Imperial Kitchen. At this moment, hearing Lin Wan speak out, she couldn't help but feel hatred again, stamping her foot: "This humble mistress's status is originally higher than yours, now you've also gained the Empress Dowager's favor, yet you still dare to talk back to me? Lin, you...

  She was just about to say "kneel down", but halfway through she remembered that they were in front of the gate of Chang Le Palace, so she had to swallow her words.

  Lin Wan's mouth curled up in a cold smile, but as a noblewoman of a higher rank than herself, she thought about making her kneel? Such a shallow woman was also worthy of being chosen to be by the king's side.

  Jiaguiren had a fit and couldn't help it, so she left. Wang Chengyi hastily followed behind her.

  Ye Xiu pulled Lin Wan's sleeve and said, "That's just the temperament of Jiagui people, speaking directly, Sister Lin don't be angry."

  Lin Wan looked at her and thought for a moment, then asked: "Jiagui has obtained the Dongzhu, with a promising future ahead of her. Why are you still with me, Chengyi?"

  Ye Xiu smiled and said, "The future of a great talent like you is not something that can be clearly stated at this moment."

  Lin Wan listened to this and looked at Ye Shi's gaze with a hint of curiosity.

  This Ye Xiu Xin is indeed not an ordinary person. She said that Jia Gui Ren's future is unclear, implying that she doesn't think Jia Gui Ren will have a good future, which means she doesn't think the Empress Dowager likes Jia Gui Ren. However, discussing the Empress Dowager's thoughts in public is not proper, so she changed her words.

  Seeing Jiagui Ren receiving Dongzhu's reward, anyone would think that this is the Queen Mother's affirmation of her, but Ye Xiu didn't think so.

  Lin Yuen was very surprised by this answer - not only surprised by the content of what Ye Shi said, but also surprised by her way of speaking. Lin Yuen asked her why she didn't abandon herself to climb up a more noble person, and she didn't say that she liked being sisters with Lin Yuen or that she would never betray her, but instead replied that the noble person was not a good choice. This answer was very straightforward, without any disguise or pretence, directly telling the other party of her purpose. This is the method of opening one's mind and speaking frankly between intelligent people.

  Lin Wan knew that this outwardly timid Ye was not simple.

  Two people walked back and forth, each with their own worries.

  However, when they arrived at the Ning Shou Gate, the two of them heard a commotion ahead and Ye Xiu's heart pulled Lin Wan, saying in fear: "It's the voice of Empress Sheng."

  Lin Wan saw that there were about a dozen eunuchs in front of her, estimated to be the palace staff brought out by Xiang Fei. She and Ye Shi stood here, fearing they had already been seen. Since they met Xiang Fei, if they didn't go to pay their respects, it would be impolite. The notorious Xiang Fei might make things difficult for them.

  The two of them then went forward to pay their respects. But after passing by, they were shocked to see that Jia Gui Ren and Wang Cheng Yi were kneeling in the center, while Empress Sheng sat on a red wooden chair brought over by the palace maid.

  Xiang Fei was dressed in a golden hundred-butterfly embroidered skirt, with wide sleeves casually draped over the armrest of her chair. Her face was as beautiful as ever, but her eyebrows and eyes seemed to have added a lot of sharpness. Lin Yuan and Ye Xiu both paid their respects, and Xiang Fei turned her head, saying: "It's quite lively today, Lin has also arrived."

  Xiang Fei had a bit of an impression of Lin Wan, she vaguely remembered that she had found an excuse to punish her to kneel, but now she couldn't even remember what the original excuse was——because that day she was in a huff with the Empress Dowager, so angry that she didn't like anyone, and to vent her anger, she casually grabbed someone as a scapegoat and ordered her to kneel.

  She thought Lin Wan was just an insignificant ant who couldn't even get on stage, and back then she was a palace maid who was good for nothing but being a punching bag. But now, Empress Xiang felt slightly surprised by Lin Wan's favor and promotion - thinking of this, Empress Xiang couldn't help but sneer, Lin Shi was able to gain the emperor's favor because of her own doing, that day she had advised the emperor to go to Yichun Garden in order to trip up Bai Shi, as a result, Lin Shi benefited from it...

  Now, Xiang Fei indeed paid a little attention to Lin Wan, but only a little.

  Xiang Fei dislikes any concubine who has gained favor, Lin Yu Xian knows this and lowers her head to say: "This concubine is just passing by."

  Xiang Fei snorted, no longer paying attention to her, and ordered the attendants: "What are you waiting for? Zhou Shi offended me, according to the rules, slap her twenty times, do it right here in front of me."

  Lin Wan lowered her head and stood aside, listening to Xiang Fei's words, she understood a bit in her heart. It was probably that Jia Gui Ren had somehow offended Xiang Fei, who had always been intolerant of others. With Jia Gui Ren being favored and having been caught with evidence, it was impossible for her to be let off.

  At this time, the kneeling Jia Gui Ren already had tears all over her face. Looking at the two robust and plump sisters-in-law who were about to come and twist her, she kowtowed to the ground and begged for mercy: "Consort Shang, spare my life! I really didn't do it on purpose. I was just looking at my hand ornament and didn't notice Your Highness's carriage, accidentally falling in front of the sedan chair... Please forgive me, Consort!"

  Wang Chengyi was also kneeling, and at this time he had been intimidated by Empress Xiang's power and did not dare to plead for Imperial Noble Consort Jia; Empress Xiang glared at Imperial Noble Consort Jia, her face only showing a hint of annoyance, and said displeased: "Imperial Noble Consort has broken the rules, and should be punished. If everyone is like you, finding excuses to avoid punishment, then what rules can be spoken of in this palace?"

  Lin Wan and Ye Shi listened to the side, only feeling that this noble person today is unlucky. Although Zhou Shi herself was not a good thing, but Xiang Fei was too arrogant. Looking from afar at this side crying and kowtowing, thinking it was some big deal. It turned out that they had just collided with the sedan chair, and didn't even knock Xiang Fei to the ground, yet she deserved to be publicly slapped in the face and humiliated.

  Xiang Fei was speaking when a loud and clear slap landed on Jia Gui Ren's cheek from an aunt.

  Jiaguiren, who had been spoiled by her family since childhood, had never experienced such a scolding and humiliation. At first, she was stunned and then let out a shrill cry of pain. She grabbed the hand of the aunt and shouted with a swollen face: "Why are you pushing me so hard? You know that all the concubines have to go serve the Empress Dowager soon, if I go there with this wound on my face, what will happen when the Empress Dowager asks about it?"