Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Think Twice Before Acting

“Miss, there are no outside guests in the mansion today. In Mingzhao Hall, there is only the Eldest Madam.”

“From Xihe Courtyard to Mingzhao Hall, one must pass through a garden and two covered walkways. This servant has walked back and forth three times, everything is as usual, no suspicious persons lingering.”

“The flowers in the garden are the same as yesterday, no rare or poisonous plants have appeared. The grass has been swept twice, and repellent powder for snakes and insects has been sprinkled along the way.”

“Today the weather is clear, the breeze is pleasant, and there are no signs of rain.”

The four maids in green reported one after another. The young girl sitting before the dressing table quietly listened, eliminating a hundred possible ways she could come to harm, ensuring all was as usual.

After pondering thrice, her vermilion lips parted lightly:

“Let us set out. I will go pay respects to Mother.”

The maids lifted layer upon layer of brocade bead curtains.
Ning Wanyin rose and stepped out.

She was dressed in a goose-yellow, waist-tied Sichuan-embroidered skirt patterned with flowers, her figure slender and graceful. Every movement she made was impeccable in elegance and dignity.

Her delicate and charming face, bright eyes, and white teeth shone with natural beauty. As radiant as the rising sun in morning clouds, as dazzling as a lotus emerging from clear water. The servants immediately arranged the procession for her outing.

Eight third-class servant women cleared the way ahead, four second-class maids stayed close to guard Ning Wanyin, and her head maid Lian Rui followed right behind carrying a cloak.

Another four maids and eight servant women remained to guard the boudoir.

The legitimate eldest daughter of the Count of Shou’an’s residence, Ning Wanyin, was notoriously pampered and difficult to serve.

Each time she went out, even if it was only a fifteen-minute walk from her own courtyard to pay respects to her mother, the display was always grand and imposing, with attendants before and behind.

But to Ning Wanyin, this was all a necessary precaution.
One more poisonous flower in the garden, one more venomous snake in the grass, or an encounter with an unrelated man at a corner, any of these could destroy the life of a boudoir girl in an instant.

If she were not cautious, how could she hope to live a long life?

The journey to Mingzhao Hall went smoothly.

On the main seat sat a dignified, noblewoman, whose brows could not hide her fretful anxiety.

Ning Wanyin curtsied and said, “I pay respects to Mother.”

“Come, sit by me.” Lady Cheng beckoned her over, pressing down the worries in her heart and forcing a smile as she looked at her daughter.
“We still do not know what the imperial decree from the palace will be today.”

This was the first harem selection since the new emperor ascended the throne. According to the customs of the Great Yan Dynasty, the final palace selection result would not be announced on the spot, but rather proclaimed at the chosen ladies’ residences seven days later.

“You are fond of His Majesty. For the past three years you have studied the chess and paintings His Majesty favors, sparing no effort. Mother only hopes that your intentions will not be in vain.” Lady Cheng sighed softly, her brows and eyes unable to hide her worry.

Ning Wanyin did not explain.

Fond?

She simply did not wish to end up like her elder cousin.

Her elder cousin was the daughter of her paternal uncle and married the son of the Vice Minister of Rites.

It should have been a most felicitous match.

But the Vice Minister of Rites chose the wrong side in the struggle for the heir apparent, was imprisoned during factional purges, the male members of the family were exiled, and the women were sent to the Bureau of Entertainment.

A noble-born lady could never enter such a place.

On the day their home was raided, her cousin took her own life to preserve her chastity.

As the daughter of a meritorious aristocrat, Ning Wanyin’s future, barring accidents, would also be to marry into an official’s household of equal standing.

Her fate was never in her own hands.

Should her husband, her parents-in-law, or any uncle or elder commit a crime, she could not escape the doom of being implicated.

Ning Wanyin thought it over and over. Rather than gamble on whether others might offend the emperor and cause her death, it was better for her to personally take the field.

Life and death, honor and disgrace, at the very least, they should be in her own hands, not spent cooped up in the inner courtyard, never knowing when fortune or disaster might descend.

The Count of Shou’an’s mansion had been in decline for a century, with its sole ambition to send a daughter into the palace and thereby obtain imperial favor.
Since Ning Wanyin herself had taken the initiative to say she wished to enter the palace, the two sides hit it off immediately.

These past three years, all of Ning Wanyin’s efforts had been seen clearly by Lady Cheng, who could not help but misunderstand, thinking her daughter had developed feelings for that young emperor.

Ning Wanyin softly reassured her, “Mother, set your mind at ease. If I am not chosen, then we will make plans for not being chosen.”

In this world, when are things ever entirely to one’s wishes?

Even if you have already given your utmost, you still need a touch of Heaven’s will to see it through.

If she could not be selected, then she would simply choose a husband from a household with lower risks.

“Chosen, chosen, chosen, you will certainly be chosen! And you must not say such inauspicious words!” Lady Cheng quickly cut her off.

As mother and daughter were speaking, Nanny Zhou, who was keeping watch outside, entered to report: “Miss Cousin has arrived.”

Lady Cheng’s willow brows imperceptibly furrowed. “Invite Miaoling in.”

Tang Miaoling.

The Young Lady of the Tang family of the Marquis of Changping’s residence, and also Ning Wanyin’s cousin.

The Tang family had guarded the northwest for generations. This time she had come especially from the distant northwest for the selection. Though the Tang family’s marquisate was in the northwest, they naturally kept a secondary residence in the capital.

But Old Madam Ning, eager to ingratiate herself, had deliberately invited her to stay at the Count of Shou’an’s Mansion.

Tang Miaoling’s nature was arrogant and domineering. Since arriving at the Ning household, she had been high-handed, not treating them as kin but ordering them about like servants, taking whatever she pleased.

Perhaps it was because Ning Wanyin’s father served under her own father. In her eyes, the people of the Ning household were all her family’s “underlings.”

Some time ago, she had taken a liking to an embroidered round fan in Lady Cheng’s room and had forced her to “give” it to her.

That fan had been prepared by Lady Cheng especially as a birthday gift for her daughter, stitched by lamplight over three months.

Furthermore, since Ning Wanyin was participating in this year’s selection alongside her, Tang Miaoling had taken a dislike to her, constantly making sarcastic remarks.

Lady Cheng disliked her extremely.

But with her husband still in the northwestern army camp, his life and career were in the hands of the Marquis of Changping. She could not afford to offend, so she could only feign courtesy.

A young woman in a sapphire-blue, front-clasp brocade skirt embroidered in gold with magpie and branch patterns walked in. Different from her usual arrogance, Tang Miaoling was exceptionally polite, making a curtsy to Lady Cheng.
“I wish my honored aunt well.”

Lady Cheng was momentarily surprised by this sudden politeness, slightly dazed before reacting, then smiled warmly. “Quickly, take a seat. Nanny Zhou, serve tea.”

But Tang Miaoling did not rise. Choosing her words carefully, she said, “A few days ago, Miaoling saw Aunt’s round fan and found it beautiful. In a moment of delight, I borrowed it from Aunt for a look. Today, I have come especially to return it.”

Her personal maid immediately stepped forward and presented a brocade box.

Inside lay a perfectly intact round fan.

For a moment, Lady Cheng could not determine what she meant by these words, so she tested, “If you like it, then keep it.”

Tang Miaoling grew anxious at once. “I only borrowed it to look! This is the birthday gift Aunt prepared for Cousin, how could I possibly compete with Cousin for it?”

Everyone fell silent.

When you snatched it before, weren’t you perfectly aware it was the birthday gift prepared for her daughter?

Ning Wanyin’s gaze fell on Tang Miaoling, her eyes as deep as autumn water.

Her cousin… was not quite the same.

Sensing Ning Wanyin’s gaze, Tang Miaoling’s whole body tensed, as though walking through the mountains and suddenly encountering a wild wolf, the hairs on her body standing on end.

Her palms grew damp with fear, but to hide it, she forced herself to look calmly at Ning Wanyin, squeezing out a most amiable smile,

“Cousin, you truly look beautiful today.”

Ning Wanyin returned the smile lightly, but in her heart was all the more certain, Tang Miaoling had changed.