<h1>Chapter 368</h1>


    “I cannot leave the pce.”0


    Mu Qianqian''s body trembled as she was about to exin her difficulties, but Matron Duan had no interest in hearing her sob story. With a wooden expression, she said, “Then fight for favor. Use your entire life, even your very life, to win the Emperor''s favor.”0


    This statement was too profound for the fifteen-year-old Mu Qianqian.0


    She simply didn''t understand.0


    Wasn''t it natural for the Emperor to favor the maidens?0


    Why did Matron Duan tell her to risk her life for favor?0


    Under the bright sun, the pce that had just experienced a snowy winter now gleamed with a fresh luster, as if the eaves and corners had been washed clean.0


    The sunlight bathed the orderly rows of green tiles and red walls, highlighting their grandeur and splendor.0


    At the end of the long pce path, pce attendants suddenly knelt down along the walls in unison.0


    A noble''s pnquin was approaching.0


    Matron Duan pushed Mu Qianqian to the side: “Kneel.”0


    As the grand procession approached, Mu Qianqian felt a fragrant breeze and couldn''t help but sneak a nce.0


    Twelve attendants surrounded a pnquin, on which sat a stunningly beautiful woman, her attire luxurious and her borate hairstyle adorned with an array of exquisite ornaments that didn''t appear cluttered but rather exuded the elegance of a pampered noblewoman.0


    Her crimson pce gown, paired with her perfectly applied makeup, made her seem as if she had been born for this majestic imperial city.0


    The woman''s lofty presence was akin to the pce itself—rich and mesmerizing.0


    Xi Que couldn''t help but cover her mouth andugh, prompting Jiang Xinyue to nce at her: “What are youughing at by yourself?”0


    Xi Que looked up, her eyes brimming with mirth: “I was just thinking about three years ago when I apanied you, Your Highness, to the pce for the selection. Back then, we encountered thete Empress''s pnquin on this very path, and some maidens were scolded by the chief eunuch for daring to look up at thete Empress.”0


    She took a deep breath, as if reminiscing: “Now, our Highness has be the object of envy for the maidens. Isn''t this what Eunuch Qian Sheng always says—that while the flowers remain the same each year, the people change?”0


    Shuang Jiang chuckled: “He actually says, ‘Year after year, the flowers remain simr; year after year, the people change.’”0


    Xi Que retorted confidently: “Isn''t that the same meaning?”0


    Jiang Xinyue also chuckled softly. Xi Que''s logic was unbeatable, and Shuang Jiang stood no chance.0


    “But I think this saying needs to be revised now,” Xi Que mused, shaking her head.0


    “It should be, ‘Year after year, the flowers remain simr; year after year, the people remain the same.’”0


    Jiang Xinyue nodded: “It seems our Xi Que has the potential to be a great poet.”0


    The pce was now filled with roses of various species, including new varieties developed by craftsmen.0


    Gardens of plum blossoms, crabapple flowers, and lotus ponds were gone, reced entirely by roses.0


    Qingyang Pce had been renamed from Xihuo Pce. The former lotus pond had been filled in and covered with roses, making the pce no longer damp and mosquito-infested. In spring, the blooming roses created a breathtaking sight.0


    Many maidens were already inquiring about Qingyang Pce, hoping to move in after their ennoblement.0


    As for the rumors of deaths within the pce and vengeful spirits in the lotus pond, the Emperor had ordered that no one was to speak of such matters. Who would dare to reveal them?0


    Everyone only knew that this was the former residence of the Imperial Noble Consort, where she had regained the Emperor''s favor. It was considered a blessed ce for the maidens.0


    Praised by Jiang Xinyue, Xi Que was overjoyed, pouting her lips at Shuang Jiang: “Did you hear that? Her Highness says I''m a poet.”0


    Shuang Jiang: Her Highness said you have the potential to be a poet, didn''t she?0


    And thatment was clearly a tease. Yet here you are, taking everypliment as truth and ignoring any criticism.0


    Truly, you are Xi Que.0


    “Yes!”0


    Shuang Jiang teased her, seeing her smug expression: “Our great poet can write several love poems tonight for someone. I''m sure that someone will be thrilled to receive them.”0


    “Shuang Jiang!”0


    Xi Que''s eyes widened, her face and neck turning crimson. Assuming Jiang Xinyue was unaware, she nced at her mistress and nudged Shuang Jiang with her elbow: “Don''t talk nonsense. I don''t like Qing Yu. I''m not getting married. I want to serve Her Highness forever.”0


    “Did I say that someone was Qing Yu?”0


    Jiang Xinyue nearly burst outughing at the silly girl but held back, biting her teeth to maintain herposure.0


    She had to pretend ignorance, allowing Xi Que and Qing Yu to develop naturally without putting too much pressure on Xi Que.0


    In this era, marriage was akin to rebirth for women.0


    She didn''t want to reduce women''s worth to marriage and childbirth, but in The Great Yan Dynasty, women''s opportunities were limited to the inner chambers.0


    Engaging inmerce or politics, or showing their faces in public, was considered disgraceful and impossible for women.0


    asionally, a woman might rise above men, but that was an exception, driven by circumstances and requiring unimaginable hardship.0


    Therefore, if Xi Que were to marry Qing Yu, Jiang Xinyue hoped they would fully understand each other, ept each other''s strengths and ws, and ensure they could be together for life before marrying.0


    Xi ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Que turned bright red and quickly changed the subject: “Your Highness, did you notice? The maiden behind Matron Duan looks just like you when you first entered the pce!”0


    From her demeanor, figure, and gestures, the resemnce was striking.0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, the maiden had her head down, so Xi Que couldn''t tell how simr their faces were.0


    It was this resemnce that had caught her attention.0


    Jiang Xinyue turned back but saw only a vague silhouette as Matron Duan and the maiden disappeared at the end of the path.0


    Still, it didn''t matter.0


    She was young and beautiful. The Emperor wouldn''t seek a substitute unless she were dead. With the original version still present, why would he bother with a copy?0


    The Emperor was at least fourteen or fifteen years older than her. If anyone were to die first, it would be the Emperor. No one could rece her.0


    “Qingyang Pce?”0


    Wei Shu sneered: “Let that fool move into Qingyang Pce if she wants. Let''s see if she''ll cry and beg to leave once she knows the truth.”0


    Huang Yanyu''s bribery of the Internal Affairs Department to secure a ce in Qingyang Pce was no secret.0


    Her arrogance made it impossible for others not to notice.0


    Such a brazen person, if protected by the Imperial Noble Consort, might enjoy a brief period of dominance.0


    Without that protection, her fate was sealed.0


    Wei Shu had grown up in the imperial court and knew more pce secrets than others.0


    She had heard about what happened in Qingyang Pce from her sister-inw, Pei Wu.0


    A ce where people had died was considered unlucky by the Emperor. How could he possibly favor a maiden from such a ce?