Xunian still planned to investigate Cao Noble Consort, but before that, there was someone she wanted to meet.
She might as well use this person to ask about Cao Noble Consort.
Come to think of it, it had been quite a while since she last saw her.
It had been a long time since they parted in the world before last.
……
“Achoo—”
Fu Ruxue sneezed.
What was going on? It was summer—how did she catch a chill?
She picked up a fresh lychee, peeled it, and popped it in her mouth.
A Palace Maid came in to report,
“Your Highness, we’ve found the Palace Maid you were looking for.”
Then she added, “Her name is Xunian. She’s currently working under the Empress.”
Fu Ruxue leapt up from the bed like a startled carp. “That’s her! I suspect she stole something from me! Hurry, bring this Xunian here at once!”
The Palace Maid exclaimed in disbelief, “Your Highness, you must be joking?”
How could someone like you, a lesser Consort, possibly accuse someone from the Empress’s household?
In recent days, Fu Ruxue had gotten quite close to her attendants—these Palace Maids of Fu Consort Palace.
How close, exactly?
She picked up a lychee and handed it to the Palace Maid. “Here.”
The Palace Maid took the lychee without hesitation, peeling it as she said, “Your Highness, I heard that this Xunian was personally transferred from the Imperial Kitchen by the Empress’s trusted Li Momo. She must be someone the Empress values a lot.”
After speaking, she stuffed the lychee into her mouth and started chewing.
Fu Ruxue recalled that yesterday, when she went to pay her respects, she hadn’t even seen the Empress’s face—only her silhouette behind a curtain.
The Empress hadn’t said a single word to her.
Such an aloof Empress, yet on only the second day, she’s already paying so much attention to Xunian?!
Xunian always had a sullen look and was so cold—how did she have such good connections?
Even someone as frosty as the Empress, who wouldn’t spare Fu Ruxue a glance, seemed to have succumbed to her charm?
Fu Ruxue narrowed her eyes. She had to find out how Xunian managed to win the Empress’s favor.
Just then, a Palace Maid rushed in, panting. “Your… Your Highness, someone is requesting an audience at the door.”
“Why are you so flustered? Speak slowly—have a lychee.”
Fu Ruxue handed her a lychee.
The Palace Maid accepted it, bowed, and then said, “The Palace Maid named Xunian requests to see you.”
“What?!”
Before Fu Ruxue could express her surprise, another Palace Maid standing beside her gasped in shock.
“Ahem, let her in quickly,” Fu Ruxue cleared her throat, standing with her hands behind her back, and said coldly.
She had to take advantage of her status as Consort to give Xunian a proper lesson.
Fu Ruxue planned to present a cold and distant back to intimidate Xunian.
Under the Palace Maid’s guidance, Xunian arrived at Fu Ruxue’s residence.
Though a Consort’s palace was nothing compared to the Empress’s, it was still a lavish little villa.
There was no lack of rock gardens, ponds, or flowerbeds.
From afar, Xunian saw Fu Ruxue standing at the entrance, facing away from her, presenting a cold silhouette.
As Xunian approached, Fu Ruxue glanced at her coldly. “Who are you?”
“This servant greets Your Highness,” Xunian said, preparing to kneel and bow.
“Get up at once!”
Fu Ruxue hurriedly stopped her, afraid it would shorten her own life.
“Why won’t Your Highness let me kneel?” Xunian asked, a fake smile on her face.
She hadn’t forgotten the time Fu Ruxue passed by and laughed at her.
Xunian held grudges.
“Naturally, because there’s no such rule here in my palace.”
Fu Ruxue ordered the Palace Maids, “You may all leave. Since the Empress sent a Palace Maid here, she must have something very important to discuss with me—none of you should be listening in.”
All seven or eight of the Palace Maids in her palace withdrew.
That was far more than the number in the Empress’s Palace.
So far, Xunian hadn’t seen any other Palace Maids in the Empress’s Palace besides herself and Xia He.
Once everyone had left, Fu Ruxue eagerly asked, “Do you have a Key?”
[Rule Four]: Remember, someone among the Players possesses the “Key”.
Xunian shook her head.
Fu Ruxue continued, “Then have you identified any Players?”
Xunian pondered, “I have a few suspects for now.”
“Who are they?”
“The Emperor, Cao Noble Consort, and Qiujv.”
Fu Ruxue typed out a question mark in the air, “Who is Qiujv?”
“A Palace Maid.”
“Why do you suspect the Emperor, the Empress, and this Palace Maid? Do you have any evidence?”
“No one has ever seen the Emperor’s face…” Xunian recounted what Qiujv had told her to Fu Ruxue.
Fu Ruxue asked, “So why suspect Cao Noble Consort?”
Xunian described everything that had happened to her upon arriving here.
“That person must be Cao Noble Consort!” Fu Ruxue said with certainty after listening.
Xunian asked, “Why?”
Fu Ruxue sighed. “I’ve met Cao Noble Consort, and she matches your description exactly—just as annoying.”
So her guess was right—the “Consort” who had tried to frame her at the start was likely Cao Noble Consort herself.
She continued, “And who is Qiujv?”
Xunian explained her connection to Qiujv.
Qiujv wasn’t as simple as she seemed. The Task Paper she had received to capture Players was no ordinary thing—the paper was smoother than her own clothes, and more suited to making garments.
Her own clothes were rather coarse.
Speaking of which, she still hadn’t received new attire and was still wearing the uniform from the Imperial Kitchen.
Li Momo had said a new Palace Maid Uniform from the Empress’s Palace was being made and would be ready in a few days.
Fu Ruxue remembered something. “And what about the Empress? Did you find anything after interacting with her?”
“Nothing.”
Xunian didn’t know much about the Empress, except that she was quite gentle and liked to have someone follow her.
The two talked for a long time. Xunian worried that if they chatted any longer, someone would realize they were Outlanders from another world.
She took her leave from Fu Ruxue and walked alone toward the Empress’s Palace.
Fu Ruxue watched her departing figure and suddenly realized she had forgotten to ask for Xunian’s phone number.
Oh well.
They got so absorbed talking about the horror game that she forgot all about it.
……
When Xunian returned to the Empress’s place, it was already dark.
The Empress’s Palace, Qinghe Palace.
A figure in black was reporting Xunian’s activities to the Empress.
“Today, Xunian first went to see Qiujv…”
Qiujv again?
The Empress’s gaze grew cold.
“Then she went to Fu Consort Palace…”
Fu Consort Palace?
The Empress’s expression turned even colder.
So Xunian had so many friends?
A Palace Maid daring to make friends all over the place—wasn’t she afraid of people with ulterior motives…
“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…” The Empress’s coughing grew worse from anger.
“Xunian…”
She slowly pronounced the name—a name that, despite having appeared for only two days, had already left a deep impression on her.
It seemed her Palace Maid was getting out of hand. It was time to confine her for a few days as punishment.
For some reason, the thought of punishing Xunian brought a strange feeling to her heart.
It was a kind of… inexplicable pleasure.
“Li Momo, summon Xunian.”
“Yes.”
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