The Former Crown Prince incident showed the Emperor your loyalty. He relies on you more and more, to the point he discusses courtly matter with you. You are going to overtake Eunuch Hai, who's been following the Emperor for years. Still you never show any arrogance. You do your job properly and never relay your duties to others.
Emperor: [Takes your teacup] The Noble Consort and Shu Xian prepared plants and donated them to the capital's temples. They prayed for the people and the palace too.
Xiu Ying: I heard about that as well. The Abbots and masters were all very pleased.
Emperor: The people praised how beautiful the temples looked during their prayers too. Word on the street is that my ladies and I are faithful and heaven will bless us all.
Xiu Ying: You and the ladies are all faithful. The heaven knows.
Emperor: I heard from Shu Xian that it was your idea?
Xiu Ying: (Shoot. Forgot to tell Shu Xian ahead of time, so the nice girl tried to give me some credit. But I was just pretending that I didn't know about it...)
You smile to cover up your embarrassment.
Xiu Ying: The Noble Consort and Attendant Shu Xian wanted to take some pressure from you. Your Majesty. I've learned quite a few things from you as well. That's why I told the girls my idea. Still I didn't do much, It's the ladies who did everything and they should get the credit.
Emperor: [Laughing] During your time with me, the only thing you learned is being sneaky. Good work though. As the brains behind the operation, I should reward you, so nobody calls me cheap.
You wouldn't dare call the Emperor cheap even if you have a hundred lives. Still the Emperor rewarded you quite a bit after being cheered up.
Xiu Ying: Not bad, the feeling of getting rich.
As you organize all your stuff, Hui Xin rushes inside.
Hui Xin: [Confused] Since when are you so close with Concubine Zhuang?
You never really got acquainted with Concubine Zhuang. You are puzzled.
Hui Xin: I met Concubine Zhuang a while ago. She somehow knows we're close and she told me to invite you over to her palace tomorrow evening.
The invitation is mind boggling. A few other ladies that you almost never talk to also show up in front of you. Some give you gifts, some give you invitations. The gifts are inexpensive, and the invitations are sensible. You can't find any reason to refuse.
Xiu Ying: Something is fishy.
Shi Lian: [Naively] You are overthinking it, miss. Of course everyone wants to be friends with a nice girl like yourself.
Xiu Ying: Shi Lian, you just make me fell so good about myself. The longer you spend with Shu Xian, the more naive you become!
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Supervisor maid Ruo Xi knocks on your door during your confusion.
Xiu Ying: [Surprised] Miss Ruo Xi, what a pleasant surprise!
Ruo Xi: [Coldly] I told you so many times to mind your own business. See, now trouble finds you.
You look at her blankly.
Ruo Xi: Consort Rong invites you to meet her at the Imperial Garden tomorrow evening.
Consort Rong is the mother of the 6th Prince, she ranks only one below the Noble Consort. I can't believe even she sent an invitation.
Xiu Ying: [Worried] Are they... trying to win me over?
Ruo Xi: News of you helping Shu Xian and the Noble Consort got out. There are no secrets between these walls. As the Emperor trusts you more, the ladies would naturally want to bond with you.
Xiu Ying: They used to act all high and mighty, and now they act like we are best friends. I can't bear with this.
Ruo Xi: That's how the palace works. You better be prepared for what's coming.
Xiu Ying: If I accept one over another, it's only going to make matters even more muddy. What else is there to do? The only way is to stay formal and just.
Ruo Xi: I'm not too worried. You are always full of ideas. Let me know if you run into trouble.
You think hard after saying thanks to Ruo Xi. The ladies fighting over you will only makes things troublesome. You have to figure out a solution.
