The ancestor was a person of immense importance, and if anything were to happen to her here, it would be beyond the speaker's ability to bear the responsibility. She wished she could treat the person before her like a treasured deity.
"Would Your Ladyship, Consort Shu, care to come in and sit for a while?" the steward asked cautiously.
"That would be fine. I have nothing else to do. Will my presence here disturb you?" Nan Zhiyun seemed to ponder.
"Not at all. Your Ladyship's visit today is our honor," the steward replied with great humility. Nan Zhiyun smiled, appearing incredibly innocent.
"Then I shall trouble you, Sister Steward." Nan Zhiyun accepted the offer naturally and even had a seat arranged outside, so she could watch the training.
"Miss, is that Consort Shu? I've heard she's been very favored recently. Whenever His Majesty enters the inner palace, he always goes to Consort Shu's palace," a palace maid beside Su Qianyan asked proactively.
Su Qianyan looked in Nan Zhiyun's direction, her brow furrowed. This wasn't right... This Consort Shu shouldn't be favored at all. Not only was she not favored, but His Majesty also detested her and deliberately tormented her. Furthermore, her rank was incorrect; shouldn't she be a mere Talent?
"Miss Su, are you perhaps envious as you gaze upon Consort Shu?" Bai Yusheng's voice cut in as she approached and stopped beside Su Qianyan.
Su Qianyan turned to Bai Yusheng, knowing she was not someone to be offended lightly, as she had many tricks up her sleeve...
"Miss Bai, what do you mean? I was merely looking with a bit of curiosity, please do not misunderstand. However, I heard that your father was once a formidable general under General Nan. I imagine your relationship with Consort Shu is also quite good, wouldn't you say?" Su Qianyan asked deliberately, wanting to cause trouble for Bai Yusheng.
No one knew what Bai Yusheng was thinking, but her expression didn't change much.
"Miss Su has great skill. I rather look forward to the surprise you have in store," Bai Yusheng said meaningfully. This morning, Yu Yan had been punished by the steward, and Miss Su had played no small part in it.
"Compared to Miss Bai, it's nothing," Su Qianyan replied, not wanting any further entanglement or association with Bai Yusheng.
"Miss Su, why do you think Consort Shu has come here today?" Bai Yusheng asked Su Qianyan.
"How would I know? Miss Bai overestimates me," Su Qianyan replied. Bai Yusheng gave her a faint look, then smiled softly and said no more.
Nan Zhiyun sat there, having specially requested small kumquats and her favorite grapes. She ate them while watching them practice, and she had to admit, it felt quite pleasant.
Nan Zhiyun spotted Yu Yan in the crowd. Their eyes met, and she saw the resentment in Yu Yan's gaze. Nan Zhiyun naturally paid it no mind, but... today was different, because she had come intentionally to stir up trouble.
"What are they learning today?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Replying to Your Ladyship, they are learning kneeling etiquette," the steward answered, silently praying, *She's going to make a scene, isn't she? Please don't hurt anyone innocent...*
"Oh... kneeling, is it? But... these etiquettes shouldn't be difficult for Princess Yu Yan, should they? She's a royal princess, after all. These shouldn't be a challenge for her, so there's no need to practice them, right?" Nan Zhiyun sounded genuinely puzzled.
Yu Yan's heart sank with a sense of foreboding upon hearing Nan Zhiyun mention her name.