Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Reborn Cousin 

Tang Miaoling certainly knew her behavior was strange! 

But facing someone who had once sent her to her grave, how could she dare not be amiable? 

She had once believed that with her stunning beauty and noble status, she would effortlessly rise to prominence in the imperial harem. 

Yet, she never imagined she wouldn’t even survive a month! 

And what no one expected was that the emperor would dote exclusively on an obscure woman named Ning Wanyin. 

Being favored alone would have been one thing, Tang Miaoling would have just cursed her for being shameless, for having some seductive tricks to lure men.
But what was even more terrifying was Ning Wanyin’s ruthlessness… 

Just a month after entering the palace, Ning Wanyin had already “taken care of” three people! 

It was like rushing to a banquet, one after another. 

Tang Miaoling was the third one she “dealt with.” 

Because Tang Miaoling had foolishly tried to steal the emperor’s favor from Ning Wanyin, failed, and then, in a fit of humiliation and anger, framed Ning Wanyin and even threatened her parents’ lives to force her to help secure the emperor’s favor… 

In the end… she ended up in the cold palace. 

Ning Wanyin, under the guise of her cousin, came openly to send her off on her final journey. 

Ignoring her pleas and without tormenting her, Ning Wanyin gave her a quick end. 

She died peacefully, perhaps the only silver lining. 

When she woke up again… 

Tang Miaoling found herself back to the time just before she entered the palace. 

Ning Wanyin, the woman who had killed her in her past life, was now living right next door to her.

Wuwuwu, this was too terrifying! 

She was certain she was no match for Ning Wanyin, nor for any of the other women in the harem. 

She had only been reborn, not given a new brain. 

If Ning Wanyin could kill her once, she could kill her again. 

The harem was terrifying!
Her cousin was ruthless!
She just wanted to go home. 

If given another chance, she would never have come to the capital to participate in the imperial selection, let alone offend Ning Wanyin! 

Fortunately, none of the suicidal actions she’d taken after entering the palace had happened yet.
The worst offense she’d committed against Ning Wanyin so far was snatching a fan. 

It wasn’t too late to mend her ways, maybe her life could still be saved? 

“Cousin, when I came to the capital, I brought a chest of jewelry. Your birthday is coming up, and as your elder sister, I haven’t prepared anything special. So, I’d like to offer this chest of jewelry as a humble gift to celebrate you,” Tang Miaoling said eagerly, turning to her maid Cui Ping and ordering, 

“Fetch my treasure box.” 

Cui Ping was stunned. 

The treasure box contained all the exquisite, newly crafted jewelry Tang Miaoling had commissioned specifically to compete for favor in the palace, each piece was expensive and her most prized possessions. She had never been willing to give even a single piece to anyone else before.
Now she was going to gift the entire box to Ning Wanyin? 

Had her Miss gone mad? 

Ever since waking up today, the Young Lady had been alternating between crying and laughing, it really did seem like she was possessed. 

Ning Wanyin remained unmoved by her sudden change, calmly declining with a composed expression, “Cousin, you’re too kind. These are your personal belongings, how could I take what you cherish…” 

“No, no! I’ve lost interest in jewelry lately… Please take it,” Tang Miaoling insisted, pushing the box toward her.

Lady Cheng was equally astonished by this scene and quickly declined on Ning Wanyin’s behalf. Such valuable items were not something they dared to accept. 

After several rounds of polite refusals, Tang Miaoling was nearly frantic with anxiety. 

In the end, she practically forced the box into Lady Cheng’s hands. 

Only then did Tang Miaoling feel half of her worries ease. 

She had returned the fan, apologized, and even made amends, surely Ning Wanyin wouldn’t turn hostile and kill her now, right? 

As the group exchanged words, each lost in their own thoughts, a steward hurried in to announce, “Someone from the palace has arrived!” 

“Quick, set up the incense table to receive the decree!” Lady Cheng exclaimed, both shocked and delighted. 

The courtyard was soon filled with people kneeling in reverence. 

The eunuch proclaimed the imperial edict: 

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Tang Miaoling, daughter of the Marquis of Changping, is hereby enfeoffed as a Sixth-Rank Meiren, to enter the palace on the first day of the third month. So it is decreed.”

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Ning Wanyin, daughter of the Count of Shou’an, is hereby enfeoffed as a Seventh-Rank Guiren, to enter the palace on the first day of the third month. So it is decreed.”

Ning Wanyin and Tang Miaoling bowed and received the decree. 

Overjoyed, Lady Cheng ordered someone to discreetly hand the eunuch a heavy pouch of silver. 

Heaven be praised, her daughter had finally achieved her wish.

Ning Wanyin also let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The first step, entering the palace, had gone smoothly.
From here on out, she would need to tread even more carefully… 

Once the eunuch had been sent off, Lady Cheng was about to congratulate Ning Wanyin when, before she could speak, Tang Miaoling eagerly fawned over her,

“Congratulations, cousin! I always knew someone as beautiful as you would surely be chosen. In the future, you will rise swiftly, your prospects boundless!” 

Ning Wanyin’s gaze settled on Tang Miaoling’s face, her deep, inscrutable eyes revealing no emotion. 

They had both been selected, yet Tang Miaoling had been granted a higher rank. 

Given her usual temperament, she ought to be looking down on Ning Wanyin, so why the sudden flattery? 

Where there is abnormality, there must be deceit.

Ning Wanyin returned the courtesy with neither arrogance nor humility. “Congratulations to you as well, cousin.” 

Tang Miaoling grew nervous under her gaze, and the atmosphere turned awkward. 

Lady Cheng also found Tang Miaoling’s behavior odd today, but she naturally refrained from commenting and instead smiled. “For both of you cousins to be selected is truly a joyous occasion! We must host a banquet to celebrate.” 

“Excellent idea!” Tang Miaoling quickly agreed. 

She had decided that before entering the palace, she would actively mend her relationship with Ning Wanyin’s mother!
She also needed to write to her father and urge him to promote her uncle! 

For the sake of survival, Tang Miaoling’s mind was working with unprecedented clarity! 

— 

Back at the Xihe Courtyard. 

The servants all came forward to offer their congratulations. 

Ning Wanyin rewarded them before sitting by the window on her gold-traced butterfly-patterned bamboo chair, lost in deep thought. 

After careful consideration, she ordered,

“Lian Rui, send someone to investigate, which other candidates were selected this time?” 

Since she was entering the palace, this was the most crucial information to obtain. 

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

“Yes,” Lian Rui acknowledged with a bow before withdrawing. 

A second-class maid, Peng Qin, stepped forward to ask, “Miss, how should we store this folding fan and the treasure box?” 

Ning Wanyin had not allowed the items to be brought inside.

They were still in the courtyard. 

“Summon Physician Ge to examine these,” Ning Wanyin instructed calmly.
“If the fan is clean, store it in my luggage to take into the palace. As for that chest of jewelry, leave it in the Mansion’s treasury.” 

The folding fan was a token of her mother’s affection. 

But that box of jewelry… 

She would never keep gifts from outsiders by her side. 

Even if they weren’t poisoned or in violation of imperial regulations, she couldn’t guarantee absolute safety. 

Who knew what hidden stories lay behind an unassuming hairpin?
To be cautious, she wouldn’t bring a single item gifted by others. 

She didn’t know whether Tang Miaoling intended to harm her. But if someone wanted to frame her, what easier method was there than gifting seemingly harmless objects that could later bring disaster? 

Peng Qin bowed and withdrew, already accustomed to the routine of checking for poison. 

Every item that came into Ning Wanyin’s hands, even gifts from her parents, was first inspected by a physician. 

Because one never knew how many hands those items had passed through. 

Of course, she had secretly studied medicine under Physician Ge herself. But she still had him examine everything, never revealing her own knowledge. 

If everyone knew about it, it wouldn’t be called a trump card anymore. 

Ning Wanyin then turned to another second-class maid, Peng Qi. “Send someone to investigate what happened to Tang Miaoling last night and this morning.” 

“Yes,” Peng Qi acknowledged. 

Before long, Nanny Zhou came to summon Ning Wanyin again. 

Earlier, in front of outsiders, Lady Cheng hadn’t had the chance to speak privately with her daughter. Tang Miaoling had clung to her for a long “chat,” only leaving now. 

Ning Wanyin returned to the Mingzhao Hall. 

“Wan’er…” Lady Cheng’s eyes welled with tears before she could even speak. 

Before the imperial decree arrived, she had worried her daughter wouldn’t be chosen. Now that it was settled, she dreaded her daughter entering the palace. 

The palace gates are a fathomless sea, once entered, they’ll never meet again.

Ning Wanyin’s birthday was in June. Lady Cheng had prepared the gift early precisely because, if her daughter were selected, she wouldn’t be able to celebrate with her this year. 

“Your unfilial daughter can no longer serve at your side. Please take care of your health, Mother, and do not worry about me.” Ning Wanyin lifted her skirts and knelt before Lady Cheng. 

“Wan’er, my Wan’er…” Lady Cheng hugged her, tears streaming down her face.
“Once you enter the palace, you must protect yourself above all else. Nothing matters more than your life!” 

Though usually composed, Ning Wanyin’s eyes reddened as she nodded in her mother’s embrace. 

The Ning family had declined, leaving only their hereditary countdom as a rare distinction. Years ago, before her father inherited the title, the various branches of the Ning family had schemed relentlessly against the main line to seize the peerage. 

Ning Wanyin had grown up amidst such machinations. She regarded blood ties with indifference, except for her mother, who had sheltered and doted on her since childhood. 

Her mother was her only vulnerability.

“I won’t be able to celebrate your birthday with you this year. Keep this gift safe.” Lady Cheng helped Ning Wanyin to her feet and handed her an embroidered box. 

Ning Wanyin was momentarily taken aback. “But I’ve already accepted the fan…”

“Tang Miaoling changes her mind every moment, who knows what she’s truly scheming? If she ever asks for it back, don’t hesitate to return it. Don’t offend her…” Lady Cheng fretted. 

Ning Wanyin’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Her mother always worried, worried she’d make enemies, worried she’d suffer. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

She would never let Tang Miaoling take away her mother’s birthday gift. But if something happened to Tang Miaoling in the Count’s mansion, it would bring trouble to her mother. 

Originally, she had planned to act only after leaving the mansion.

“Wan’er… my Wan’er, the imperial harem is no kind place. I know you admire His Majesty, but you must remember, he is first and foremost the Emperor, and only then your husband. Never let love cloud your judgment.” Lady Cheng held back tears as she carefully advised. 

She wished she could pour all her wisdom into Ning Wanyin, to spare her even a few missteps. 

Ning Wanyin listened quietly. She was no naive child.
Growing up in the scheming halls of the Count’s mansion, she had long understood these truths. 

But she wanted to hear them again. 

In this world, every meeting is one less.

So meet, so listen, so cherish.