My Lady is well

Shen Yueyao picked up the pen and drew some circles on the paper, arranging them in a pyramid shape, and tapped the circles casually with her fingertips.

"You see, the power structure in the palace is roughly like this. The one at the top is the Queen. Below her is Concubine Li, and below them are Concubine Shu, Concubine Rong, and Concubine Shen. These people are the core struggle circle of the entire harem. Don't be fooled by the seemingly harmonious situation in the palace now. Who knows what kind of fights may happen in places we can't see."

"We should avoid these people if we can. We don't have to worry about them dealing with us. We are small people. As long as we don't hinder their interests, they won't bother dealing with us."

"After all, their swords are definitely pointed at the Queen's seat."

"I'm afraid...they will bring harm to innocent people."

Xu Niannian looked at Shen Yueyao with confusion and asked in confusion.

"The position of Empress? Isn't there already a Queen?"

Shen Yueyao raised the teacup calmly and spoke slowly.

"Her body...I'm afraid she won't be able to survive for two years."

Xu Niannian opened her eyes wide in disbelief. She had not even met the queen since she entered the palace, but she heard that she was about to die. A hint of regret flashed across her heart.

"Then... which lady is most likely to become the Queen?"

Shen Yueyao's lotus-white fingertips were slightly curled, supporting her delicate chin, and she thought.

"Put aside the feelings and offspring, Li Ning. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"If she really wants to be the queen, she must give up her offspring. The Li family is too powerful, and as a monarch, it is impossible for him not to be wary and cautious. Of course, it could also be Concubine Wen Shu. After all... she is the one favored by the emperor."

Xu Niannian nodded in agreement: "I heard that the emperor seems to be quite special to Concubine Wen Shu. I heard that he rewarded her with a green jade ruyi with poems engraved on it, which made Concubine Song Rong jealous for several days."

Shen Yueyao tapped the circle with her fingertips and said thoughtfully.

"What's a Ruyi? She is the core figure in this conspiracy, and she will at least be a noble concubine in the future. In fact, among these concubines, her character should be the best, but she also has the most faults. It's too dangerous to cling to her thigh now. If we are not careful, we will become pawns."

"What about Concubine Song Rong? She is the Queen's cousin. She will have a chance to become the Empress in the future."

Shen Yueyao didn't even raise her eyelids, her fingertips skipped over the circle around her, and her tone was light.

"You're just an idiot, just ignore it."

"......Ah?......Oh. Then......where is Concubine Shen?"

Shen Yueyao frowned and thought to herself, it has been so long since Jing Lince's rebellion, and I heard that he has been imprisoned in the Sky Prison ever since, so Yang Li should not have the energy to engage in palace fighting.

"She...is fine as long as she's not crazy."

"what does it mean?"

"Well...anyway, stay away from her. When she gets crazy, she won't care about the consequences."

She moved her fingertips to the next circle and continued.

"These concubines, beauties, and talented women below are suppressed by the bigwigs above, so it is difficult for them to become successful for a while, but they have the opportunity to contact the emperor, so those who want to rise to the top will fight for favor desperately, and use endless means."

Shen Yueyao frowned slightly and pursed her lips.

"In a sense, there are good and bad people among them. Those who can rise to the top by competing for favor here must be very cunning and scheming. They will definitely threaten those above them in the future."

"We must avoid becoming pawns and be careful not to be dragged down by them."

"As for us, as concubines of the lowest rank in the palace, it is not our turn to compete for favor. The people here are at most just bullying others to gain a sense of existence, just like Wan Qiaozhen. Didn't we hear last time that she hooked up with a certain Baolin? Who is that Baolin?"

"So, we must have our own judgment. Even if we are trying to curry favor with someone, we must see the situation clearly. Like Wei Cainu, she is unwilling to be a pawn and wants to become the master. She does have some scheming in mind, but unfortunately, she is just a fence-sitter."

"Since ancient times, the worst fate for people who are two-faced and fence-sitters is that of people who sit on the fence."

Shen Yueyao felt the teacup with her fingertips, picked it up and drank it all in one gulp, then glanced at the "Instructions for Women" which was piled aside and had not been copied yet.

He quickly moved the rice paper in his hand, spread the thick stack of rice paper on top, and continued copying while talking to Xu Niannian.

"Take your time to digest it. It's getting late and I have to hurry. After you finish reading it, burn it."

Xu Niannian stared blankly at the circle on the paper, tilting her head left and right for a long time, and asked.

"Sister Shen, where am I?"

Shen Yueyao didn't even raise her eyelids, but the tip of her pen was flying.

"You can't reach these circles yet."

She looked at it for a long while and said "oh" faintly. Shen Yueyao raised her eyes and glanced at her. When her eyes swept across her slender wrist, she paused, then looked up at her again and said.

"Nian Nian, where is the bell bracelet on your wrist?"

Xu Niannian didn't look up, but looked around a few times and said in a low voice.

"I'm not wearing it. Last time, Aunt Shang said it sounded noisy and told me not to wear it."

Shen Yueyao felt that something was not quite right with her. Logically, Aunt Shang would not care whether she wore the bracelet or not.

Xu Niannian looked at the sun outside the window and smiled.

"Sister Shen, hurry up and copy. I won't bother you anymore. Otherwise, if you can't finish copying, the emperor will punish you again."

Shen Yueyao noticed that she was acting strangely and wanted to ask her a few more questions, but she saw that she was not interested in the topic.

Xu Niannian folded the rice paper and looked at the brazier.

"I haven't even fully understood this important secret book yet, so I can't bear to throw it away."

She took a lingering look at the rice paper in her hand and slowly threw it into the fire. The dying charcoal suddenly turned into a bright flame, reflecting on her face, sometimes bright and sometimes dim. The paper and charcoal melted together and turned into ashes.

......

Shen Yueyao came to the imperial study with her "homework". Luo Zhong had a keen eye and took a look at the person sitting at the imperial desk marking memorials.

He quickly bowed, quietly retreated, and greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Shen Cainv is here."

Shen Yueyao smiled and nodded, "Eunuch Luo."

"The emperor is still busy at the moment, please wait a moment."

Shen Yueyao glanced into the hall, feeling uneasy. She lowered her head and bit her lip lightly, feeling a little guilty.

She stood there waiting attentively, with her head lowered, thinking secretly.

If I had known earlier, I would have copied it more. Why are you in such a hurry?

There were memorials piled up like a mountain next to Jing Ruzhang. After he finished reviewing the last one, he raised his eyes to glance at the palace gate, curled his lips slightly, put down his pen, and threw the memorials onto the mountain.

The two young eunuchs lowered their heads and walked quickly forward to tidy up the memorials and move them out.

Luo Zhongzheng was chatting with Shen Yueyao. Seeing that the emperor was free, he bowed.

"Ms. Shen, wait a moment. Let me go in and report."

Shen Yueyao nodded gently and said, "Thank you, eunuch."

She didn't know why, but her palms were sweating from nervousness as she held the thick stack of papers in her hands.

After a while, Eunuch Luo came out with a smile.

"Shen Cainu, please."

Shen Yueyao felt like she was going to hell and stepped slowly inside.

Cheer yourself up in your heart and don't show any weakness.