Yun Shang knew that Qin Su wanted to bring her into the palace so that everyone would recognize her and know she was the Prime Minister's daughter, so they would no longer dare to bully her.
Yun Shang knew Qin Su was doing this for her own good.
Yun Shang was deeply touched. Qin Su was truly a considerate man.
"That's good!" Qin Su smiled faintly.
Yun Shang looked up at Qin Su and said, "Brother Su, you are so kind!"
"Do you like me being this kind?" Qin Su asked with a smile.
Yun Shang nodded and said, "Brother Su, I truly like you!"
Hearing Yun Shang's words, Qin Su's gaze deepened, but he maintained a smile and said, "I know!"
Seeing Qin Su staring at her, Yun Shang's cheeks flushed. "Brother Su, can you please stop looking at me like that!"
Qin Su cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment, then averted his gaze and asked, "Then shall we set off for the outskirts of the capital tomorrow!"
"Alright!" Yun Shang replied.
The next day, Qin Su ordered his attendants to prepare the carriage and took Yun Shang into the imperial palace.
After Yun Shang entered the palace, Qin Su arranged for her to stay in his sleeping quarters. Yun Shang settled in.
Qin Su went to the imperial study early in the morning, while Yun Shang stayed in the sleeping quarters, perusing medical texts.
After reading for a while, Yun Shang suddenly felt a dull pain in her abdomen. She reached out and pressed her stomach, feeling the sharp twinges. Fine sweat instantly beaded on her forehead.
Yun Shang gritted her teeth and endured the pain.
After a moment, the pain gradually subsided, and Yun Shang breathed a sigh of relief.
Yun Shang looked at the pastries on the table, walked over, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, and put it into her mouth.
The osmanthus cake was exquisitely made. After eating it, Yun Shang felt much better.
Just then, a maid's knock sounded at the door. Yun Shang said "Come in." The curtain was lifted, and a maid entered.
"Your servant greets the third young madam!" the maid said, bowing before Yun Shang.
"Get up!" Yun Shang said.
The maid stood up and respectfully retreated to the side.
Yun Shang looked at the maid and asked, "What is this place, and how did you get in?"
Hearing Yun Shang's question, the maid showed a hint of panic on her face. "Third young madam, I followed the steward from the Prime Minister's mansion. He said I was to be sent into the palace to serve the Empress."
"Oh!" Yun Shang replied. "Then how did you get into the palace?"
"Your servant doesn't know either," the maid said. "Your servant was bought from outside the palace."
Yun Shang frowned upon hearing the maid's words.
There were even people being sold inside the palace? What were the people in this palace doing?
"What is your name? Where are you from?" Yun Shang asked.
"Your servant, your servant's surname is Liu, and my given name is Ya," the maid replied.
Hearing the maid's answer and recalling the situation she had just seen outside, Yun Shang said, "Then you may go out first. I'm tired!"
"Yes, your servant takes her leave!" The maid turned and left the room.
After the maid left, Yun Shang immediately called for Xiao Cui.
"Xiao Cui, send someone to find the steward and ask about that young lady," Yun Shang instructed.
"Yes!" Xiao Cui replied.
Yun Shang continued to read for a few more pages. Feeling that the pain in her abdomen had eased considerably, she got up, washed, and changed into a pink garment. She tied her long hair into a bun and adorned it with a string of purple jade beads, appearing fresh, elegant, and exceptionally beautiful.
"Miss, your attire today is truly beautiful!" Xiao Cui said, looking at Yun Shang.
"Is it?" Yun Shang smiled. "Xiao Cui, help me find a suitable dress."
"Miss, which one would you like to wear?" Xiao Cui asked, looking at Yun Shang.
"This pink one!" Yun Shang pointed to a row of rosewood-inlaid gold phoenix patterned dresses hanging in the corner.
The dress was of a plain color, but it looked exceptionally noble and elegant when worn, making her incredibly beautiful.
Xiao Cui nodded upon hearing Yun Shang's words and said, "Alright! Your servant will prepare it for you now."
"Mm!"
A moment later, Xiao Cui returned with a dress.
"Miss, please try it on," Xiao Cui said, offering the dress to Yun Shang.
"Mm!" Yun Shang nodded.
Yun Shang took the dress, turned, and walked behind the screen. She took off her outer robe, put on the dress, and looked in the mirror.
The dress fit perfectly, accentuating Yun Shang's exquisite figure even more alluringly.
Yun Shang looked at herself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.
"Done!" Yun Shang called out from behind the screen.
"Alright!" Xiao Cui's voice immediately responded. A smile touched Yun Shang's lips as she turned and walked out from behind the screen.
In the mirror, Yun Shang's face was as fair as porcelain, her eyebrows were like willow leaves, her eyes were like watery apricot kernels, her lips were vermilion, and her teeth were white. Her skin was as smooth as cream, and her entire being exuded a lively spirit that made one want to simply hold her tightly.
"Wow! Miss, you are so beautiful!" Xiao Cui exclaimed. "Even more beautiful than your previous attire at the Prime Minister's mansion!"
Yun Shang smiled faintly at Xiao Cui's praise.
"Let's go, we're going to pay our respects to the Empress!" Yun Shang said.
"Alright!"
Yun Shang and Xiao Cui walked towards Taiye Pond together.
Halfway there, they encountered some of the Crown Prince's concubines, who were also members of the Prime Minister's household. They looked at Yun Shang with envious expressions.
Yun Shang ignored them and walked straight towards Taiye Pond.
As they reached the edge of Taiye Pond, they heard sounds of merriment.
Yun Shang saw two women sitting on stone benches, playing.
One of the women was wearing a goose-yellow dress and a golden hairpin and step-shake. The other was wearing a green dress with a pink jacket, a golden hairpin, and emerald earrings. Both had slender and graceful figures.
Yun Shang observed them for a moment, realizing that these two women were of considerable status. As for their exact identities, Yun Shang was unsure, as she couldn't possibly pay attention to everyone's identity all the time – she wasn't that idle.
Around these two women stood four or five palace maids, all wearing the same uniform, clearly identifying them as palace maids.
These palace maids were clearly not daughters from ordinary families.
Yun Shang thought of the woman she had seen the previous night and became curious. Who was that woman?
That woman's father was the current Prime Minister, and her sister was the Emperor's most beloved princess. If these two had any dealings in the palace, she, as the Prime Minister's eldest daughter, might not be able to protect them.
With a slight shift in her thoughts, Yun Shang walked forward towards the two women and smiled, saying, "Two elder sisters, may I have a word in private?"
The women looked up at Yun Shang and asked with a smile, "May we know what business you have with us, young lady?"
Yun Shang glanced at the maid beside her, who, understanding, moved a little distance away.
"I am Yun Shang, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion," Yun Shang said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of astonishment crossed the woman's eyes. She then smiled and said, "So it's Princess Yun Shang, a pleasure to meet you!"
"I just heard that the Empress is selecting new consorts soon, so I hurried into the palace with Xiao Cui to see the excitement, and I didn't expect to run into both of you playing here," Yun Shang said with a smile.
"Oh?" The woman seemed curious and asked, "Is Princess Yun Shang also entering the palace because of this selection?"