Prioritize (above)

  The jewelry box sent by Gual Jia is not exquisite in shape, only with simple silver flowers inlaid on black wood, and the edges are also very simple, without any carvings or other fashionable patterns. The lock is just an ordinary copper lock, but it's made quite delicate.

  Yunzhu's jewelry box and dressing case were numerous, and the wife of the Duke of Fuguo had once given her a complete set of nine boxes, with the largest one being one foot high, having 49 bright grids and 18 dark grids. The smallest box was only the size of a palm, but when opened, it also had nine small grids, which were nested together, and could be disassembled. All were made of purple sandalwood, jade, and ivory inlays, with nine pairs of large locks and eighteen small fish-shaped locks. This set of jewelry boxes was exactly to Yunzhu's liking, whether in terms of materials or design. Even if she wasn't a person who loved playing with jewelry, when she got this box, she couldn't help but take out all her favorite pieces and put them inside.

  I don't know what's inside, it feels like opening a treasure chest, it's quite interesting. Yunzhu took out the key from her purse, unlocked and opened the small door of the case, and pulled out the first layer of tray. The bottom of the tray was covered with a layer of fine red velvet, on which were placed several water jade carvings of ice cicadas, golden toads, Pixiu, and red carp, as well as several colorful butterflies carved from beryl, including a pair of connected butterflies that looked lifelike and lovely. Yunzhu remembered that she had a pair of top-grade celadon carvings of small deer, a sheep fat white jade carving of a rabbit, and a full green jade toad, and quickly took them out and put them inside as well.

  The second layer of the bed is also covered with a fine red woolen blanket, on which are placed a pair of jade bangles with four faces carved with the images of Fu, Lu, Shou and Xi, in colors of crimson like blood, yellow like chicken fat, purple like eyes, and green like fresh vegetables. The craftsmanship is truly exceptional, and it would be hard to find another pair that can match its beauty anywhere in the world. In addition, there are also rose-red crystal bracelets, hairpins, earrings, and beads, which together form a complete set of headdress, extremely rare and precious.

  If the things in the first layer of the box, except for that pair of butterfly hairpins, are only suitable for wearing during leisure time, then the things in the second layer can only be worn with this crystal headpiece. The bracelets are too eye-catching, and such good things may not even be found in the imperial family. Crystal is rare, but it's not unheard of in noble families, it's just that the color isn't as beautiful and pure, and it forms a complete set of headpieces. This color is only suitable for young women to wear, and those who are slightly older can only collect it.

  Yunzhu opened the third layer of the box, and was stunned. Inside, there were not jewels or expensive rare jade accessories, but some small stones that even she couldn't recognize. Some looked like obsidian, with a hint of golden light shining through; some were blue like the deep sea, with thin silver lines mixed in; some were gray and silvery, but as big as a pigeon's egg, yet heavier than a large iron lump; there was also one that was black-purple in color, slightly transparent, and soft to the touch... These small stones filled a box, and while others might think they looked ordinary, Yunzhu felt an abundance of spiritual energy emanating from them as soon as she picked them up. The jade orchid hidden in her palm seemed to sense it too, its leaves trembling with excitement, filling her heart with joy...

  Are these strange stones useful for her jade orchid? She was both puzzled and delighted, wondering where they came from and what their specific uses were... Even with her extraordinary memory, she couldn't recall any memories related to them in her mind, even in modern times, things similar to them were only man-made, where could there be ones that are naturally born like these?

  Alas, even if she thinks she's worldly and knowledgeable after two lifetimes, when it comes to mysterious things... she's still completely clueless. I suppose Guo Luoma's ancestors were the same way, thinking they're extraordinary so they kept them hidden, not knowing their purpose but too afraid to ask openly - probably secretly asked some high-ranking people, but couldn't find out.

  Yunzhu put things back in the jewelry box and said to Guo Nainai: "Nainai, I want to take a bath."

  Madam Guo knew the young lady's habits and said, "Ling Shuang has already ordered someone to boil water, it should be ready soon. I'll go take a look."

  "Uh-huh," Yunzhu responded lazily, "Let Lingxu wait outside for now, and you can go rest first, Nanny. You're tired from the whole day too. I'll take care of these things myself later."

  Madam Guo was used to Yunzhu's attitude towards jewelry since she was a child, and also knew that she didn't like others to be by her side when bathing, so she responded and retreated to instruct. She had indeed been busy for the whole day, and it would be good to rest early.

  After a while, Ling Xiu indeed led a group of servant women to carry the bathtub and hot water into the bathing room. She also ordered people to move the red wooden frame with fragrant oil, towels and other items next to the bathtub for Yunzhu's convenience. She personally put the newly taken cloak on the clothes rack before retreating to the door to guard it.

  Comfortably leaning back in the wooden tub, she lazily turned over the palm-sized Yulan tree, put a Yulan fruit juice into the water, and pinched off a flower to gently chew on it, swallowed, then pinched off another one to chew on, swallowed... until a moment passed, slowly and smoothly got out of the water, wiped her hair and body dry, and put on her robe.

  Yunzhu slowly finished the warm milk, closed her eyes for a while, and made sure there was no peeping gaze or anything unusual around before asking in a low voice: "What's the situation like in Yuqing Palace now?"

  Ling Xue knew what she was referring to and replied in a low voice: "Gegi Fucha treats the Fourth Prince with increasing warmth and consideration, asking about his well-being every day, eating and dressing him with great care. According to the news from Shang Ayi, she wants to get pregnant before the Emperor appoints the Fourth Prince's consort."

  "Hmm, a very correct plan. Yunzhu secretly praised this rich and noble lady's plan in her heart. As long as she becomes pregnant, even if it means being confined to the palace for the sake of reputation, it wouldn't be good to take action immediately. With proper protection and having an heir by her side, she would have more power than others. Who knows what kind of person the Emperor has chosen as the official wife for the Fourth Prince? Besides, once the Fourth Prince takes an official wife, he will be considered a formal adult, and there will be plenty of beautiful women in the future. She is already two years older than the Fourth Prince, and this age advantage will become a disadvantage later on, so she can only seize the opportunity first."

  Historically, she was posthumously honored by Qianlong as the wise and virtuous imperial noble consort, although she died early, but successfully gave birth to Qianlong's eldest son Yonghuang... Without asking around, it is clear that she was a woman with both beauty and wit. However, Yunzhu did not intend to stop her plotting, firstly because she had no feelings for Qianlong and had long understood his flirtatious nature, which could be stopped once or twice but not three or four times, and she didn't want to waste that effort. Secondly, Qianlong was a long-lived person, naturally heartless, from historical records, he was not someone who valued his children... This early birth of a son is not necessarily a good thing.

  However, the Fourth Prince has been out of the palace frequently recently. Otherwise, he is either in the imperial study or the martial arts training ground. The time he spends in the Yuqing Palace is mostly spent in the study... Ling Shuo continued to report back. Since Fucha and Gualgiya handed over some of the dark forces within the palace to Yunzhu, after Yunzhu took charge, she brought her out to take over this area. Therefore, she knew that the Fourth Prince Hongli's heart was now focused on his own master, but it wasn't something that could be said out loud. The reported information remained objective.

  Yunzhu nodded: "How is Gao Shi doing after being assigned to Yuqing Palace?"

  "Dongmei had successfully sold a clever trick to her predecessor, following the master's orders and not intentionally getting close to her. However, this Gao Shi was a thoughtful person who paid attention to everything, and after more than half a year, she already understood the fourth young master's daily routine and living habits quite well. But she was just an immature little maid, and Ling Shuo didn't understand why the master would pay attention to her. Even if she had some small thoughts, her father was still a favored official of the emperor, but wasn't she still just a slave? Of course, when the master gave orders, they could only obey."

  After careful consideration, she can indeed say that it's not a bad idea to become the wise and virtuous imperial noble consort of the future. Yunzhu narrowed her eyes, as Gao Bin's eldest daughter is now married to Ertai's second son, Eshi, as a concubine, managing the Suzhou weaving factory, with access to wealth, and having served as the head of the Imperial Household Department, sending her younger daughter to the palace of Prince Yongzheng was indeed a plan to climb up to the next emperor. What a great shield! You have this intention, I'll help you achieve it, but whether or not she can give birth to a child with the Aixinjueluo family's bloodline and raise them alive, I won't guarantee! "Think of a way to remind Fuca's people around her about Gao's existence. If our opponent has children, it wouldn't be good, would it?" Using someone else's knife to kill? She likes that idea. Who knows if Fuca will do it or not?

  "Yes." Ling Xue was even more puzzled, why did Fu Cha think that the master didn't want to have children with her, but instead didn't want Gao Shi to have children? The two had different backgrounds, and it was obvious that the child's status would be a threat to Fu Cha.

  Poor Linghui, she still doesn't know that there are men in this world who dote on their concubines and abandon their wives, or situations where underlings climb over the heads of their masters. She also doesn't know that royal families have a special favor called "raising the flag", which later all went to consorts born into servitude.

  "What about Liu and Zhang?" Yunzhu never underestimated anyone who could potentially become an enemy, no matter how small. Liu and Zhang were the first trial palace maids given to Hongli by Xi Fei, their status was much lower than that of Fuca Gege, who was a concubine listed on the imperial household register, while they were just nameless and insignificant concubines without Hongli's promotion.

  "After Zhu Fu's family entered Yuqing Palace, their days became somewhat difficult to pass. Normally they were still quite peaceful, but secretly had some dealings with the Gao family."

  Gao's family is already pulling strings? Yunzhu hooked her lips, "Let the Fuca family know about this too."

  "Yes."

  "Call someone in to serve and help with washing up."

  The work report has ended. Ling Xiu retreated and left, soon leading a few second-class maids with water basins, towels, and other items entering in a line. Yunzhu lifted her hand, took the basin, rinsed her mouth, put it back, took a wet towel, and gently patted her cheeks and mouth corners... The entire set of movements was warm, smooth, and elegant, carrying a lazy noble air, extremely refined and beautiful. A little maid on the side saw this and thought: others do these rough and crude actions, but the young lady does them so elegantly, no wonder Master, Mistress, and the young masters all like her, she's truly born for wealth and nobility.