Chapter 5: I have my own value.

Chapter 5: I Have My Worth.

Ruan Hanzhang smiled serenely, unhurried and unperturbed. She gently patted Zhao Tingfang, her voice soft and soothing: "Don't rush."

Zhao Tingfang inexplicably felt her tension ease.

They had known each other since childhood.

Indeed, Ruan Hanzhang had saved her life, and her current opportunities were also thanks to Ruan Hanzhang's efforts. So, when Ruan Hanzhang told her not to worry, Zhao Tingfang truly found peace.

She exhaled softly, her expression softening, no longer as distant as it had been moments before.

Seeing her relax, Ruan Hanzhang couldn't resist taking her hand. "Sister Fang, it's been two years since we last met. How have you been?"

"I've been well," Zhao Tingfang replied, a rare smile gracing her lips. "My master has treated me kindly, going to great lengths to secure my position as a court physician in the palace. Thanks to the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort, I now have a stable position in the Imperial Medical Bureau and have even been promoted to Associate Sixth Rank Physician. The dowager consorts are all very amiable."

In Great Chu, most official positions were gender-specific, especially roles like imperial physicians. For instance, the Imperial Medical Bureau had both a male and a female Chief Physician to better attend to the nobility.

When Zhao Tingfang decided to follow her master to the capital and enter the palace as a physician, Ruan Hanzhang had advised her to cultivate good relations with the dowager consorts, emphasizing that serving them was far more advantageous than serving the new imperial concubines.

That advice had proven prescient.

Over the past two years, though they occasionally exchanged letters, they only discussed major events, never delving into minor details. Now, finally meeting in person, they had the chance to confide in each other.

After briefly recounting her experiences of the past few years, Zhao Tingfang turned her gaze to Ruan Hanzhang.

Only at this moment could Ruan Hanzhang perceive such profound concern in another's eyes.

Zhao Tingfang, usually so composed, now had reddened eyes, as if on the verge of tears.

She felt a pang of heartache for Ruan Hanzhang, a sense of sorrow and injustice on her behalf.

"A-Ran," Zhao Tingfang murmured, almost a whisper, "why did you still enter the palace?"

Ruan Hanzhang's expression turned frigid. "If I didn't enter the palace, Sister Mo and Stone wouldn't have survived. If I didn't enter the palace, who would avenge them?"

As she spoke, Ruan Hanzhang gripped Zhao Tingfang's hand tightly, her eyes gleaming with unmistakable resolve.

"Don't be afraid," Ruan Hanzhang said, her lips curving slightly, her voice as cold as an icy spring. "The nobles may mock our insignificance, thinking we are mere ants trying to topple a tree. But even a cornered beast will fight back, and a desperate rat will bite a cat. Sooner or later, we will fight and emerge victorious."

Zhao Tingfang looked at her somewhat unfamiliar face, her heart aching even more.

"A-Ran, don't let vengeance blind you."

Her voice was gentle, just as it had been in their youth.

Ruan Hanzhang patted her hand and abruptly changed the subject. "What has the Emperor done?"

Zhao Tingfang turned to ensure no one was eavesdropping outside the bedchamber, then lowered her voice. "Over the past two years, I've built some connections in the palace. My relationship with Matron Mu of the Palace Matron Directorate is quite good. Today, she happened to have back pain, so I went to give her acupuncture. That's when I learned the Emperor had requested your records."

An imperial concubine's records were her official dossier.

They meticulously detailed her background and significant life events. For instance, the eldest daughter of the Ruan family, Ruan Hanzhang, entered the palace in February of the Yuanhui 5th Year and serviced the Emperor last night. She was born in September of the Tianqi 3rd Year and had a high fever as a child that nearly claimed her life.

Later, she returned to her ancestral home in Qingzhou to recuperate. At the age of twelve, she enrolled in the White Crane Academy and became a renowned talented lady in Qingzhou.

These important events were all documented in the files.

While not every minute detail was included, they provided a comprehensive overview of a person's background and life trajectory.

Through these records, one could also infer aspects of a person's character.

Hearing this, Ruan Hanzhang's brows relaxed slightly, and a smile lit her eyes.

"This young Emperor is truly perceptive."

Zhao Tingfang was momentarily stunned before understanding dawned. She whispered, "You did it on purpose?"

"Yes."

Seeing Zhao Tingfang's confusion, Ruan Hanzhang lowered her voice. "I am petty and vindictive. The Ruan family treated me this way, and I will ensure their utter ruin."

Zhao Tingfang remained silent, listening intently.

Yet, her eyes were filled with approval.

Not because of Ruan Hanzhang's ruthlessness, but because she, too, harbored a deep hatred for the Ruan family.

Ruan Hanzhang looked at Zhao Tingfang and said, "When that haughty madam of the Ruan family first forced Yixiang Pavilion to make me entertain clients, I fully understood that only by seizing power could I drag them down from their lofty perch."

She spoke slowly, enunciating each word.

"Commerce and a career in government are the slowest and most arduous paths. Moreover, given my unique status, the Ruan family would never allow me to gain significant influence."

"Therefore, entering the palace was the only way. Right now, I am Ruan Hanzhang, but I won't always be Ruan Hanzhang. Sooner or later, I will be myself again."

"As Jiang Yunran, I will make the Ruan family pay for my mother's death, and even..."

It suddenly dawned on Zhao Tingfang.

"Only by standing higher than the Ruan family can we achieve revenge."

She suddenly understood that Jiang Yunran had assumed Ruan Hanzhang's identity to enter the palace not to permanently impersonate her, but to use this identity to get close to the Emperor. Whether through affection or manipulation, she intended to leave an indelible mark on the young Emperor's heart.

She intended to leverage the Emperor's imperial power to achieve her own objectives.

At this thought, the pity in Zhao Tingfang's eyes gradually receded, replaced by a renewed gleam of resolve.

For them, love had always been the least valuable thing. Only vengeance achieved, supreme power attained, and a future lived entirely on their own terms truly mattered.

As long as Ruan Hanzhang had a plan from the outset, Zhao Tingfang would steadfastly follow her, accompanying her through this long journey.

"Alright."

Zhao Tingfang clasped her hand in return. "In the palace, I am your support. Whatever you need to do, just give the order."

"I will do my utmost."

Ruan Hanzhang suddenly smiled, reaching out to embrace Zhao Tingfang, her heart softening with a rare tenderness.

"Sister Fang, you truly are the best."

Zhao Tingfang asked, "What is your plan?"

Ruan Hanzhang lowered her eyes. "Last night, during my first attendance, I realized the Emperor is far too astute. Using a proxy to achieve our goals is impossible."

"For now, I need to gradually reveal my vulnerabilities, to make the Emperor suspicious. At the same time, I must let him know that I am different from others."

"I have my worth."

Jing Huayan had been on the throne for five years. His harem included Noble Consort Yao, Moral Consort Xu, Consort Yi Zhou, and Mei Zhaoyi. Above them were also the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort.

The Empress Dowager was not his birth mother and had her own son, the Second Prince, Prince Rong. The Imperial Noble Dowager Consort was his paternal aunt and also had her own son, the Third Prince, Prince Li.

The court appeared calm on the surface, with power firmly in Jing Huayan’s hands, but underlying conflicts from previous reigns were intensifying, and factional struggles persisted.

The Empress Dowager, the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort, the noble consort, the moral consort, Consort Yi, Prince Rong, and Prince Li—their intricate web of relationships was deeply entrenched in the prosperous capital of Yujing.

Even before entering the palace, Ruan Hanzhang had committed all of this to memory.

She had been waiting for precisely such an opportunity.

Zhao Tingfang looked at Ruan Hanzhang’s bright phoenix eyes and suddenly smiled.

"You will achieve your desires."

Who wouldn't be captivated by such an ambitious beauty?

"We will both achieve our desires."

Ruan Hanzhang leaned in and whispered a few words in her ear before adding, "This face of mine requires Snowmelt Grass for maintenance. I'll have to trouble you with this, Sister Fang."

Earlier, Zhao Tingfang had found her appearance unfamiliar because it wasn't Jiang Yunran's true face.

The current Jiang Yunran had delicate features, a less prominent nose, and lips that lacked perfect curvature.

She resembled the eldest daughter of the Ruan family by about six or seven parts, looking more like Mrs. Liao, the wife of the Ruan family, rather than Jiang Yunran herself.

Even with altered features, she remained strikingly beautiful.

The original Jiang Yunran was truly a peerless beauty.

Zhao Tingfang understood why she had changed her appearance. If she were to revert to being Jiang Yunran while still navigating the palace, she couldn't bear the same face as Ruan Hanzhang.

Being similar yet distinct was the best protection.

Snowmelt Grass could maintain the skin and prevent wrinkles. It wasn't an extremely rare herb, but since it wasn't used for common illnesses, not many apothecaries stocked it.

"Don't worry, I will find it within ten days."

Though their conversation seemed lengthy, only fifteen minutes had passed. Peilan, who had been keeping a close watch on Ruan Hanzhang day and night, was exhausted. She didn't recognize Zhao Tingfang at all, assuming she was just an ordinary palace doctor, so she let down her guard.

This provided an opportunity for Ruan Hanzhang.

After a moment of thought, she added, "I need a new identity. Arrange it as follows."

Once they finished speaking, Zhao Tingfang completed massaging her lower back and asked softly, "Will you take the anticonception tonic or not?"

Ruan Hanzhang thought for a moment and replied, "Peilan will watch me take it. When the time comes, just keep an eye on the ingredients for me."

This implied she intended to take it but didn't want Peilan to poison her.

Zhao Tingfang acknowledged her understanding and then departed.

After she was gone, Ruan Hanzhang called out, "Who's outside?"

Soon, Qing Dai hurried in. "My lady, I am here. Would you like some tea?"

Qing Dai was lively and diligent, while Hongxiu was honest and dutiful. Both were palace maids assigned to her, and Ruan Hanzhang found them quite satisfactory.

She looked at Qing Dai and asked leisurely, "Qing Dai, do you still wish to leave the palace in the future?"

Palace maids could leave at twenty-five, return home, and marry. Those serving consorts could even receive a reward, making their departure quite honorable.

Some consorts’ families would also provide support and care, which was why palace maids were often very loyal.

Qing Dai replied decisively, "My lady, I am an orphan. Both my parents are dead, and I have no relatives. I will not leave the palace. I will serve you for the rest of my life."

She certainly knew how to declare loyalty.

Ruan Hanzhang looked her over carefully and smiled. "Good."

"What about Hongxiu?"

Qing Dai thought for a moment and said, "Hongxiu has two younger sisters. I'm not sure if she wants to leave the palace. I haven't asked her."

Ruan Hanzhang nodded and said nothing more.

She still had plenty of time, and Ruan Hanzhang was not in a hurry. She sat before the vanity mirror, carefully examining her face.

Ruan Hanzhang did share five or six parts in common with her, but these were inherited from Ruan Zhongliang. Ruan Zhongliang was ruthless, disloyal, and unfilial, yet he was born with exceptionally good looks. Even though he didn't make the top three in the imperial examinations, only placing thirty-eighth in the second rank, he had still become famous in Yujing.

It was because he was naturally extraordinarily handsome, with a tall, graceful figure that carried an air of elegance, captivating anyone who laid eyes on him.

In comparison, the noble-born Mrs. Liao didn't measure up.

The alterations to her face leaned toward the half of Ruan Hanzhang that resembled Mrs. Liao, naturally making it far plainer than her true appearance.

Jiang Yunran had grown up in Yixiang Pavilion and was highly skilled in these artful techniques. Creating a face similar to Mrs. Liao's was not difficult for her.

She gazed quietly for a while before saying to her reflection, "Father, Mother, I'm waiting for you to enter the palace."

"Let us have a real family reunion."