The saying 'you'll understand in time' was no lie for an observant soul. For instance, the Imperial Consort was not one to punish frivolously. She inflicted more harm with words than with physical blows. She governed her palace with tranquility; all her servants were obsequious, considering their placement in this palace a great fortune, allowing them to lord over servants in other consorts' residences. Moreover, Lii Fei was not a mad beauty who merely punished her attendants to vent her frustrations when the Emperor did not visit, unlike some other consorts.
Should a night come when the Imperial Consort had to retire alone, she would confide her grievances to Wan Ying and Xi Ying until she drifted off to sleep.
Imperial Consort Lii Fei preferred wearing brightly colored garments. She considered herself still young. In seven days, she never wore the same colored attire even once.
Lii Fei enjoyed strolling in the imperial gardens, to display herself to the other palace women. She often returned to her palace with a radiant expression if she chanced upon the Emperor. But if on any day Imperial Consort Lii Fei returned with a sour face, it indicated that someone must have uttered words displeasing to her ears.
'Elder Sister Lii Fei has truly peculiar tastes. Do you not see that lotus-leaf bordered robe does not suit the nine-strand gold necklace on her neck?'
'The emerald earrings are indeed beautiful, but when Imperial Consort Lii Fei wears them, her face looks dull. Perhaps it is because she applies too much rouge.'
'Does she have no palace maids to assist Her Highness in dressing? Why does she wear pearl hairpins with plum blossom hairpins so clumsily?'
These were things Lan Se sometimes overheard, for she did not frequently summon eunuchs to attend her. She usually called upon palace maids instead.
It was not that no one helped Imperial Consort Lii Fei dress; rather, Her Highness held the belief that a beautiful woman looked beautiful in anything, and insisted on adorning herself with jewels and jades, disregarding the dissuasions of her accompanying palace maids. The reason the young boy felt something was amiss upon first seeing the Imperial Consort was precisely due to her manner of dress.
Or perhaps this was precisely what captivated the Emperor's heart. His Majesty bestowed countless treasures upon her, including fine, smooth silk, large pearl-encrusted phoenix hairpins, garnet rings, lotus-petal jade bracelets, and countless other priceless items.
No matter. What kind of beauty the Emperor favored was not Lan Se's concern. What he had to do now was swiftly finish mending the palace maids' and eunuchs' clothes and deliver them to the Imperial Robe Department before Wei hour (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM).
"You've finished mending all these already? So fast!"
"You're so skilled at mending clothes; you've lightened our burden greatly."
The two palace maids praised him, each uttering a sentence. Lan Se handed them the pile of clothes. In return, they gave him a handful of copper coins.
The young boy had only recently discovered this method of earning money. Lan Se's embroidery skills were not exceptional, but he was adept at mending torn sections. After his father's passing, their family had become impoverished, and they had not purchased new clothes since. His mother had taught him to sew and mend on his own. It so happened that Lan Se had taken the attire of all the servants in the palace to the Imperial Robe Department and saw two palace maids sitting and mending old and worn clothes, complaining loudly. Lan Se then offered to help in exchange for money.
The young boy grinned broadly, seeing the cluster of copper coins. "I'm off now. I'll come back for new work in five days."
Not only the Imperial Robe Department, but the young boy also scurried to the Imperial Library Department.
"Brother Zise! I'm here! Where are the books I need to bind? Give them to me quickly!" He shouted upon arrival, startling Zise.
"They're in the chest beside the table. This time, it's not paper books like last time, but bamboo scrolls. They're heavy. Be careful when lifting the chest."
CRASH!
"Hehe. Why didn't Brother Zise tell me sooner?" The young boy scratched his head, bending down to pick up the bamboo slips inscribed with ancient characters.
"If it's too heavy, just take half first." Zise turned to help him collect them.
"It's alright. I can lift it. I'm strong! Hup!"
"As you wish. The pay remains the same."
Indeed, the young boy also accepted extra work from the Imperial Library Department, mending damaged scrolls.
"Oh, if your calligraphy improves, I'll let you help transcribe scrolls in the future. But for now, your brushstrokes are not steady. Practice with fine-tipped brushes more often."
"Understood, Brother Zise. Thank you for your guidance."
His return journey was slower than his outward one, due to the heavy chest of bamboo scrolls. Lan Se quickly placed the chest in his room and then went to find Sun Yunzhi at the Imperial Consort's palace. He had heard that the Emperor would be dining with Imperial Consort Lii Fei that evening, so he had to sweep and clean the inner palace again.
"Where have you been?" Yunzhi furrowed his brows, seeing the young boy panting. "To the Imperial Robe Department and the Imperial Library Department again, I presume?"
"Brother Yunzhi already knows, so why ask me?"
The senior eunuch clicked his tongue, pondering for a moment, then spoke. "I see you hunched over those clothes and scrolls, even bringing your work to do while eating. You don't get to sleep until Chou hour (1:00 AM - 3:00 AM), and then you have to wake up early to sweep the palace courtyard. Aren't you tired?"
"I'm not tired. I need lots of money."
"A lone young eunuch like you is truly pitiable. Shall I tell you a good way to earn money?" Sun Yunzhi looked left and right, then leaned in to whisper into the boy's ear.
"What method?" Lan Se's ears perked up.
"You serve the Emperor's favored consort. Why don't you try to get closer to her? Just a little praise, and she'll reward you herself," Yunzhi winked. "I used to use this method, but I was foolish. I could only offer the same old praises and words. She probably grew bored, so I turned to being a eunuch who runs errands outside the palace. But you are clever; you can read. Though not as fluent as a scholar, you possess knowledge. Try to find an opportunity to praise her a sentence or two."
Lan Se pondered this. It seemed the Imperial Consort, with her exquisite beauty, truly enjoyed receiving compliments. He had noticed that Wan Ying and Xi Ying never stopped praising her, even if in his eyes her attire looked ridiculous. But the beauty of her fair face was something no clothing or ornaments could match.
"The better you are at praising and pleasing her, the more often she will reward you, just like Wan Ying and Xi Ying," Yunzhi continued.
"Why is Brother Yunzhi telling me this? Are you not afraid I will steal the Imperial Consort's favor?"
"Steal it! I don't wish to be her Confidant Eunuch anyway. I prefer being able to leave the imperial palace. If I became her confidant, I'd be stuck to her side. No thanks!"
Seeing the young boy swayed, Sun Yunzhi continued, "You should think about it."
The young boy did not reply, merely continued to stoop and wipe the floor with a vacant expression.