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  Wumian looked at her with a half-smile. “So what Guifei means is… I was being naive, and this matter simply can’t be done?”

  “I didn’t mean it that way,” Guifei replied, her tone growing increasingly unpleasant. “But only those who don’t manage a household would assume things are simple. This isn’t something Your Majesty can solve with just a few words.”

  With the two locked in tension, the other dies below couldn’t very well leave, so they all reluctantly sat back down again.

  “What you say makes perfect sense,” Wumian said, turning to the steward standing nearby. “After all, I’m not the one footing the bill or handling the work—naturally, my words carry no weight. Dukang, go to the Hall of Auditors and summon Supervisor Wu to give us an answer.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “There’s no need to trouble Supervisor Wu over something so trivial,” Rong Fei quickly rose and said. “This is just a matter of the inner pace—can’t we resolve it ourselves? If His Majesty hears of this, it might seem like we’re arming the court over something so minor.”

  “That’s right. If it really can’t be handled, we can just ask His Majesty to weigh in,” added Xian Fei, pretending to look worried, though her words weren’t necessarily taking Guifei’s side.

  “If it’s such a small matter, why trouble the Emperor at all?” Wumian responded gently, not at all angry. “If Guifei can’t manage it and I, as the so-called mistress of the inner court, can’t make decisions, then all I can do is consult Supervisor Wu. I have no other solution.”

  “No need to get upset, Your Majesty,” Guifei gritted her teeth. “I’ll handle it. But this isn’t something that can be resolved in a day.”

  “Oh?” Wumian smiled, still calm and composed. “If not in one day, how many will it take? We’re already in the middle of the seventh month—how much summer is left? It’s just a small matter, really. Since you have so many things to worry about, I won’t make this one more burden for you.”

  “If it really can’t be done, we can just cover the cost ourselves,” said Rong Fei. “This will at least let us proceed. The pace maids and their stewards can simply collect and distribute the items accordingly.”

  “Yes, yes! That would be much faster. My pace is willing to do it that way,” Hu Meiren quickly chimed in.

  “Oh?” Wumian turned to Rong Fei, smiling. “And who’s paying?”

  “Let’s discuss the expenses with the Hall of Auditors afterward. For now, I’ll have to shuffle around some other funds,” said Guifei. “We’ll just have to dey autumn wardrobes and Mid-Autumn rewards a little.”

  Her meaning was clear: the Empress had a whim, and now she was disrupting the proper order of things.

  Wumian chuckled. “Oh dear, what a pity. Guifei and Rong Fei, you’ve really suffered for this. Fine, fine. Since this matter is proving so difficult, let’s just forget I ever brought it up. We’ll revisit it next summer—hopefully, Guifei will pn ahead by then.”

  With that, Wumian stood up and added, “This was my mistake. I’ve wasted your time. You may all go.”

  “Yes. Many thanks for Your Majesty’s understanding,” said Guifei.

  Wumian gave her a look that was half a smile, half something else, but said nothing. She took Linshui’s hand and left the main hall.

  Once they exited Fengyi Pace, everyone had their own thoughts, but no one spoke of them just yet.

  Only Hu Meiren quietly muttered to Zhang Meiren beside her, “The Empress just isn’t as favored as Guifei. Guifei has a princess, after all. Even if the Empress brings out all her treasures, she still can’t suppress anyone.”

  Zhang Meiren was a little speechless. But they were walking too close together for her to pretend she hadn’t heard it.

  So she simply said, “Careful where you step, sister.”

  Yang Jieyu gave a light cough. “My throat is really bothering me. Sister, do you still have any throat lozenges?”

  Zhang Meiren quickly responded, “I do. Has your chronic ailment fred up again? You’d better head back.” She gave Hu Meiren a slight nod and left with Yang Jieyu.

  When they were farther away, Zhang Meiren sighed. “I really don’t enjoy talking to her.”

  Yang Jieyu chuckled. “She’s not even competent—just has a loose tongue.”

  As for what had happened earlier, it may have looked like Guifei had won, but in truth, she was fuming.

  In the Chaoyang Pace, Rong Fei sat beside Guifei and tried to console her. “Sister, don’t be upset. Even if she’s trying to recim control of the inner pace, it won’t be easy. That was the Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s decision. If she tries to cause trouble for you, it’ll only make His Majesty dislike her more.”

  “Yes, don’t be angry, Your Highness,” said Ziying. “She didn’t even dare summon His Majesty.”

  Guifei gave a cold snort. “Maybe she didn’t dare call on the Emperor, but she dared summon Supervisor Wu! After all, she’s the Empress—I’m just a consort. If I had an issue, would I dare call a third-rank official to Chaoyang Pace for questioning?”

  Rong Fei was momentarily speechless. Of course, she couldn’t.

  “Forget it. She just wants to make me uncomfortable,” Guifei said through gritted teeth. “But without an imperial decree, she won’t get the pace authority back. Ziying, go tally the number of pace maids and attendants. She says to let it go—well, I say we distribute the money. I won’t give the servants reason to think that it was Guifei who refused to show generosity while the Empress wanted to.”

  “Yes,” Ziying answered.

  “Don’t be angry, Your Highness. Ever since you took charge, everyone’s been eating well. They all remember your kindness,” added Ziju, trying to soothe her.

  Guifei took a deep breath. “Enough, let’s not speak of it anymore.” Then she turned to Rong Fei. “I’ve asked around—Li Fei’s pregnancy was never stable to begin with. The Imperial Physicians are doing their best, but whether or not she can carry to term is still uncertain.”

  ____

  Back on Wumian’s side, after catching up on some sleep, Linshui came in to report: “A notice from Chaoyang Pace says the departments are to collect silver to distribute green bean soup rations starting today through the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

  Zhaohua frowned. “How cunning. She’s actually willing to spend the money?”

  “It’s not her money,” Linshui said angrily. “She’ll probably talk to the Hall of Auditors soon. What’s truly annoying is that she actually went and did it. I thought for sure she’d drop it.”

  Sitting at the vanity, Wumian picked up a comb. “This is nothing. Just a minor matter. Have Jinbo keep an eye out—see which stewards distribute the silver. That’s what matters.”

  Zhaohua nodded and left promptly.

  Linshui’s eyes lit up. “You mean… some of them might not give it out? That’s true—those stewards in the pace are as sly as foxes. This kind of money... It’s unlikely to reach the servants. And if it doesn’t, are we going to make up the difference?”

  Wumian ughed. “I just praised you for being clever, and now you ask something so foolish. Why would I make up for it? If they don’t get it, they’ll have someone to bme. I’ll use this chance to see which stewards are worth keeping. If I ever regain control of the inner pace, do you think I’ll just follow the old ways? I pn to expel a third of this pace.”

  Linshui stared at her mistress’s calm words, stunned for a moment—but she had to admit, it made sense.

  After the Emperor’s ascension, though a few were removed and repced, most of the inner pace personnel had remained unchanged.

  Only those close to the former Empress Shen had been driven out.

  “Do people think granting favors is that easy?” Wumian said. “Say a few words, throw around some silver, and expect everything to fall into pce? Not only did she fail to achieve her goal, but she also stirred up resentment instead. Money is good. No one doesn’t wants it. But even if the servants know their stewards are embezzling, who dares say it aloud? Most of them are scrambling to offer gifts just to get decent work. And now, who would dare say, ‘You stole our money’?”

  “Besides,” she added, “these pace maids and attendants—once they enter the pace, it’s for life.”