“Master, your subordinate was unable to uncover the background of that palace maid surnamed Xunian.”
The Empress’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.
How could a young palace maid have an untraceable identity?
Subtle footsteps approached, followed by another voice, “Master, that palace maid went to the Imperial Garden again today.”
The Empress nodded faintly, signaling him to continue his report.
“She went together with a palace maid named Qiujv…”
The Hei Yi Ren described in detail how Qiujv clung to Xunian all day, and how she persuaded Xunian to go to the Imperial Garden, recounting every little detail.
The more the Empress listened, the more irritable she felt, an inexplicable emotion rising within her.
Why was Qiujv always sticking to Xunian, following her around all day, and even calling her ‘Nian Jiejie’…
Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the pen, the knuckles whitening.
When the Hei Yi Ren finished reporting Xunian’s day’s activities, she put down the pen.
The character she had just written, its ink not yet dry, looked messier than usual.
Her face, as pale as a beauty in a painting, was marked with tightly knit brows, her gaze fixed on the freshly written character atop the desk, a lingering sorrow between her brows that refused to disperse.
Why did she care so much about this palace maid named Xunian?
Ever since she had met Xunian, she had been restless, as if there was something left undone, yet she couldn’t recall what it was.
She rubbed her temples and let out a long breath, trying to ease the stifled emotion in her heart.
Outside the window, after finishing their report, the two Hei Yi Ren simply stood there, waiting for further orders.
“Dismissed.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Within a few breaths, the Hei Yi Ren had vanished without a trace.
Such uncertain variables should be kept close and monitored at all times.
While removing the jewelry from her hands and placing them back into the case, the Empress calmly summoned,
“Li Momo.”
Li Momo, who had been standing by outside, came in at once. She was the one who had taken Xunian back to the Imperial Kitchen earlier today.
“This old servant is here.”
“That palace maid from today… I recall her name is Xunian, is it not? Bring her here tomorrow, and arrange a position for her.”
“Yes. Your Grace is merciful, this old servant will see to it first thing in the morning.”
“Put out the lamps, I wish to rest now.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
Li Momo withdrew.
The candles were extinguished one by one, leaving only a couple of night lamps in the vast hall, casting a dim, pale yellow glow.
……
The next day.
Late Chou hour. (2:20-3:00)
The sky had yet to brighten; darkness still shrouded the outside. The palace maids had already risen early to begin their duties.
Because of her modern sleeping habits, Xunian was still deeply asleep, and only after Qiujv had shaken her for half the morning did she finally awaken.
“Nian Jiejie, Nian Jiejie, get up quick, someone’s coming!”
Xunian was pushed awake, still groggy and half-dreaming, when Qiujv pulled her up.
Her vision blurred, she could only vaguely make out what seemed to be a Momo standing before her.
Li Momo frowned as she looked at the drowsy Xunian. Someone this lazy probably couldn’t even serve tea or water properly. She wondered why Her Grace would want such a maid…
After a moment, Xunian came to herself, got out of bed, and bowed her head to pay respect, “Greetings, Momo.”
Li Momo nodded slightly and said to her, “The Empress has instructed this old servant to assign you a new duty. Come with me.”
Qiujv, standing to the side, gasped softly, “The Empress?!”
Li Momo shot her a cold look, “Mind your manners.”
Chastened by the reprimand, Qiujv dared not utter another word.
Now fully awake, Xunian stood properly by Li Momo’s side, analyzing the situation.
What did the Empress mean by this?
She had thought the Empress was only using her to give that ‘Your Grace’ a show of authority, and after that, wouldn’t care if she lived or died. Unexpectedly…
What did this mean?
With Qiujv gazing after her with teary eyes, Xunian was taken away by Li Momo.
Following behind Li Momo, Xunian passed through crimson red walls and golden-tiled roofs, treading on the weed-grown bricks, heading straight for the Empress’s Fuhua Hall.
They brushed past a group of people. Li Momo stopped and saluted the refined young lady in splendid attire at their head, “This old servant greets Your Grace.”
Xunian quickly copied the exact same bow, “This maid greets Your Grace.”
She kept her head down, but in her peripheral vision caught the other person opening her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide with shock.
Xunian couldn’t help herself—she glanced up at the person.
Fu Ruxue met her gaze, her eyes full of astonishment, a hint of delight, and even a little schadenfreude.
Well, if it isn’t Xunian. In just a few days, you’ve fallen so far, reduced to a lowly palace maid.
Seeing Xunian so meek and respectful, Fu Ruxue couldn’t help the corners of her lips curling up, her clear eyes sparkling with amusement.
She nodded, pleased to accept Xunian and Li Momo’s greeting.
As soon as Fu Ruxue entered, she became Consort Fu.
Yesterday, to gather information, she had wandered through every part of the Palace she could, and naturally had seen the Palace Rules carved on a stone in the Imperial Garden.
[Rules 5]: Don’t let anyone discover you’re a Player.
Since the Rules stated that no one could discover they were Players, the best course was to pretend they didn’t know each other.
Both acted with tacit understanding, passing by as strangers.
“Pfft—”
Just as Fu Ruxue passed within a few inches of her, Xunian heard the tiniest sound of laughter slipping from her lips.
So infuriating.
Xunian really wanted to smack her, but business came first. There was no way to do it now.
She continued to follow Li Momo, passing by several magnificent palaces, until they reached the Empress’s residence—Qinghe Palace.
Outside the hall, the signboard hanging at the entrance read, in bold strokes, “Qinghe Palace.”
Here again.
Xunian followed Li Momo inside, all the way to the side hall.
“Xia He.”
Li Momo pushed open the door, calling out the name of the palace maid within.
The palace maid named Xia He was boiling a pot of medicinal herbs. The bitter smell wafted out, filling the room.
She couldn’t step away from the pot, so she performed a perfectly standard greeting right where she stood, “Greetings, Momo.”
“You’ll serve tea and water here for Her Grace, and learn court etiquette from Xia He,” Li Momo gave Xunian a subtle reminder, “Don’t be too lazy now. You’re the Empress’s person.”
“Understood. Thank you, Momo, for your guidance.”
Xunian, imitating scenes from TV dramas, thanked Li Momo.
After her instructions, Li Momo departed. Xia He said to Xunian, “What’s your name?”
“Xunian.”
“You can just call me Xia He. I’ll teach you the etiquette. When this medicine is ready, you’ll take it to Her Grace.”
“Alright.”
The Empress needs to drink medicine?
Xia He continued to stir the pot with a ladle.
Xunian noticed, off to the side, a yellow paper packet emptied of its medicinal dregs, clearly just opened.
She couldn’t identify all the herbs inside—she wasn’t trained in traditional medicine—but she did recognize one.
Ginseng.
It seemed the Empress was very deficient in qi and blood, needing such a potent tonic as ginseng.
She then remembered that the Empress’s complexion did seem worse than most people’s.
Although she’d been some distance away that time, she vaguely recalled catching a faint trace of medicinal scent.
So that was the Empress’s scent, after all?
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