An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

Shoukang Palace.

Zhu Xi lifted the curtain and entered, the bitter smell of medicine filling the entire palace room and lingering for a long time.

The bed curtains were not lifted, and through the dark gold gauze, one could vaguely see the Empress Dowager resting on soft pillows.

"Your Majesty, everyone has arrived."

"Hmm, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, it's not clear yet."

"That's true. It's the first time we've met them. How can we possibly understand anything? Let them rest for now."

"Yes," Zhu Xi replied, and was about to turn around to do so when she turned back. "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this Consort An is quite thoughtful." As she spoke, she took out face cream from her sleeve. "She didn't come empty-handed on our first meeting."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Then please take good care of me during my stay at Shou Kang Palace."

-

It was past noon, and the Empress Dowager still hadn't summoned them, nor had Zhu Xi returned. Instead, an older, unfamiliar palace maid came to deliver a message, saying that the Empress Dowager had ordered people to prepare all three residences in Shouxi and arranged for An Lingrong and Fucha Yilan to stay in Shoukang Palace for the time being.

Although An Lingrong was surprised, since she was already there, she understood the principle of making the best of it. So she followed Shuangxue and the palace maid through the alley and the side gate to Shouxi Sansuo.

The furnishings inside were nothing special, clearly hastily arranged, but fortunately everything was prepared. An Lingrong, who had not been pampered since childhood, felt much more at ease looking around.

Shuangxue was quick and efficient. After brewing a pot of tea, she began to tidy up the items. Since An Lingrong had not planned to stay at Shou Kang Palace today, she did not ask Shuangxue to bring any items. In fact, tidying up was just checking the supplies prepared in the room.

As An Lingrong watched Shuangxue bustling about, her thoughts drifted. Upon reflection, she realized that this second young lady of the Fucha family had truly exceeded her expectations.

"Does An Changzai think my sister and I look alike?"

An Lingrong closed her eyes and recalled carefully, and indeed felt that Fucha Yilan's voice was somewhat similar to that of Consort Fucha.

---

Fucha Yilan was a natural beauty, with skin as smooth and white as cream. Her cheeks were only lightly powdered, which made her face look even more delicate.

An Lingrong hadn't expected that their first meeting would be devoid of pleasantries, with the question going straight to the point.

An Lingrong was taken aback and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Sister An, do you not remember? My sister is the former Consort Fucha who used to live in Yanxi Palace. It's quite a coincidence that we are connected." Seeing that An Lingrong did not answer, Fucha Yilan did not mind. It seemed that she had expected An Lingrong to have this expression. She chuckled, and a deep dimple appeared on her right cheek, making her even more beautiful.

"Consort Fucha is a woman of exceptional beauty, one of the most outstanding beauties in the harem. How could anyone forget her? I had heard that Sister Fucha would be entering the palace soon, but I never expected to see her today. It was quite a surprise." After saying this, An Lingrong nodded slightly, thus fulfilling her previous courtesy.

Fucha Yilan, without any affectation, smiled and sat down in the seat opposite An Lingrong. The hot tea brought by the palace maid was at the perfect temperature, and Fucha Yilan, without any modesty, picked up the teacup and took a sip. She frowned without realizing it, "This Pu'er is too bitter."

Seeing that Fucha Yilan looked innocent and genuine, An Lingrong picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Although Pu'er tea is bitter at first sip, the aroma lingers on the lips and teeth. The Pu'er tea from the Empress Dowager's palace is made from the tenderest buds, which have the longest aftertaste. Why don't you savor it a little longer, sister?"

Fucha Yilan shook her head, making the jewels on her head jingle, completely lacking any decorum. Even the maidservant behind her couldn't help but gently tug at her sleeve to remind her.

An Lingrong noticed that this Miss Fucha seemed to be spoiled and pampered, but since it was their first meeting, she didn't say much. However, seeing that Fucha Yilan's expression was calm and she seemed easy to get along with, she felt a little relieved. She picked up her teacup, took another sip of tea, and savored it carefully.

Although An Lingrong did not like drinking tea, she had spent a long time with Zhen Huan and had some understanding of tea principles. She deliberately tasted the bitterness of the tea to help herself concentrate and be ready to be summoned by the Empress Dowager.

However, no one summoned them for a long time.

Fucha Yilan sat opposite An Lingrong, but she wasn't particularly dignified. It was their first meeting, and although An Lingrong was somewhat curious about Fucha Yilan, she didn't dare to look at her directly, only glancing at her occasionally.

However, Fucha Yilan seemed to have completely lost the restraint she had shown at their first meeting. She rested her chin on one hand and picked up the cup lid with the other, stroking the floating tea leaves with great interest. After playing with them for a while, she suddenly looked up and stared at An Lingrong with her bright eyes. "I've heard that Consort An likes scented tea, but I didn't expect she also loves Pu'er tea."

An Lingrong was taken aback for a moment, then quickly composed herself and smiled, “This is the first time my sister and I have met. I didn’t expect to get along so well. She even remembered something as small as my liking for scented tea.”

Fucha Yilan smiled gently, "I have long heard that Sister An is kind and gentle, and I naturally wish to get close to her."

"I never imagined that you, my sister, who lives a secluded life, would have heard about my past. I just wonder, what exactly have you heard?" An Lingrong remained composed, her eyes still holding a smile.

"It's just that I often heard my elder sister mention things in the palace, and she spoke highly of Sister An, so I was deeply impressed." Fucha Yilan smiled, then stirred the tea leaves floating in the teacup, making the tea soup sway.

This statement is not entirely true and is not worth considering in detail.

However, An Lingrong felt a bit curious about the woman in front of her, Fucha Yilan.

Looking at Fucha Yilan's casual and unrestrained style of behavior and her innocent and romantic expression, it was really hard to tell whether she said a lot unintentionally or deliberately wanted to attract his attention.

"I heard that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has chosen an auspicious day for you, sister, so you can enter the palace in June. Is it because the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has chosen a different auspicious day for you to enter the palace now?" An Lingrong thought to herself. Since the conversation was so ambiguous and disjointed, she might as well join in with some seemingly ambiguous remarks and try to find out what was going on between them.

“Sister An is right. I am indeed not allowed to enter the palace until June. It is only because the Empress Dowager is feeling restless during her illness and wants to find someone to talk to, that she summoned me to the palace.”

According to the rules, she can only enter the palace to serve as the second young lady of the Fucha clan, and can only move within the Shou Kang Palace. It is inconvenient for her to go into the inner palace.

An Lingrong listened and thought about it, and it seemed to make sense.

When Consort Fucha was murdered, although the Emperor did not investigate thoroughly, he did provide the Fucha clan with many conveniences, both openly and secretly. Allowing Fucha Yilan to enter the palace was a deliberate act of bestowing honor upon the Fucha family. If she were to enter the palace so quietly as she did today, wouldn't that be a betrayal of the initial favor?

However, one could not discern the emotions of the person involved from Fucha Yilan's words; she seemed to be talking about someone else's affairs without any joy or sorrow.

"Sister Yilan does indeed bear a resemblance to Consort Fucha in her eyes and brows," An Lingrong said, taking a closer look at Fucha Yilan as she spoke. While Fucha Yilan was beautiful, she didn't quite resemble Consort Fucha. The slight similarity between their eyes and brows was barely noticeable without deliberate observation.

Fucha Yilan tilted her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought. "I can't remember what my sister looks like anymore. If there's any resemblance, it's perhaps because we both look somewhat like our grandmother." As she spoke, her eyes crinkled into a bright smile. "Does Sister An have any sisters?"

An Lingrong nodded, "I also have two older sisters at home, who are now married."

"Are there any women who married into the capital?" Fucha Yilan asked again.

“Both of my elder sisters are at home. I’m the only one in the capital right now,” An Lingrong said with a gentle smile.

"Does your sister often miss home?"

“My home is in Jiangnan, where it’s spring-like all year round and the scenery is beautiful, but it can’t compare to the prosperity of the capital or the distinct seasons here. To be honest, my sister, I only saw snow for the first time after I entered the palace.” An Lingrong unconsciously thought of her hometown, and then thought of how she was now in the capital. Nearly two years had passed since she came back, and she couldn’t help but sigh.

"I really envy Sister An, she has even seen the scenery of Jiangnan." Fucha Yilan said, while moving her wrist, which had been numb from supporting her chin, her eyes filled with envy.

An Lingrong smiled and said, "There will be plenty of time in the future, and you will have a chance to go, little sister." As soon as she said this, she thought that since Fucha Yilan had already chosen the day to enter the palace, she would be like a bird in a cage in the future. Looking at Fucha Yilan's seemingly innocent and romantic face, she couldn't help but feel a little reluctant.

But Fucha Yilan smiled and said, her eyes crinkling slightly, "But I envy my sister's simple family background and lack of worries."