Chapter 68: [World 3] Royal Secrets 7 : The Emperor

The Empress frowned slightly. “When it’s just the two of us, you don’t need to address yourself as ‘this servant’. I don’t like that word.”

“Alright.”

Xunian agreed readily; after all, whatever the Empress said, she had to agree.

Then, as she realized what the Empress meant, her eyes widened slightly. She gripped the table and hurried to get up, about to kneel on the floor.

The Empress grabbed her, not allowing her to kneel.

“From now on, come here to my palace every day at youshi (1:00 pm). I will teach you.”

“Thank you for your grace, Madam!”

Xunian replied with a look of utmost fear and respect as she thanked the Empress.

“You may leave.”

The Empress still wanted to keep Xunian for a while, but was afraid she might be scared, so she didn’t keep her.

After all, every Palace Maid who saw her would look at her with nothing but terror in their eyes; she had never seen a Palace Maid who wasn’t afraid of her.

Xunian withdrew.

……

Once Xunian had left, a soft laugh echoed in the hall.

So she gained a Palace Maid friend. How interesting.

Whatever the Empress had wanted since she was a child, she simply had to have it. If she couldn’t get it, she would destroy it.

When she was a child, her father and mother went traveling, and when they returned, they brought gifts only for her elder brother.

So, she smashed the gift they’d brought for her brother and challenged him to a fight single-handedly, making him cry and scream for their parents.

Her parents were frightened of her and deliberately made up for it by giving her a gift as well.

Unfortunately, her health now was already failing; she relied on Traditional Chinese Medicine just to stay alive, and even walking a few steps left her breathless. If she were to run, she’d probably faint on the spot.

She was already on the verge of becoming her family’s discarded one.

Now, her family kept everything from her; it was no longer like those previous days when they’d listen to her.

It was time to teach them a lesson.

Any Gift that was rightfully hers, she had to get it. Any Palace Maid she wanted, she was bound to have.

If she couldn’t get them, then she’d destroy them.

The Empress tapped her index finger on the table.

A Hei Yi Ren suddenly appeared at her side. “Master.”

“Keep a close watch on her for me.”

She smiled, but there wasn’t a trace of mirth in her eyes.

If Xunian betrayed her and made other friends, then she’d have no choice but to lock Xunian in Qinghe Palace for the rest of her life.

“Yes.”

The Hei Yi Ren did a backflip and disappeared out the window.

“Time to rest.”

Was it really so relaxing in the Empress’s palace?

The day before, Xunian had spent the whole day washing vegetables in the Imperial Kitchen, and her hands were so sore she could barely lift them.

That was why she had written such a mess of characters for the Empress.

Yes, she wasn’t faking it—her hands were simply too sore and tired, so her writing turned out like that.

Xunian keenly sensed that there was a gaze hidden in the shadows, always falling on her, but she could never find out where the person was.

Could it be another Player?

When she reached the corner, Xunian suddenly turned and disappeared.

The Hei Yi Ren followed closely, but when he looked out from around the corner, he couldn’t see any sign of Xunian.

What was going on?

The Hei Yi Ren scanned the surroundings in confusion, still unable to find Xunian.

Damn! He lost her!

Just then, a girl’s voice suddenly sounded behind him, and a dagger was pressed to his neck. “Looking for me?”

His scalp tingled instantly, and he dared not move.

“Speak. Whose man are you?” Xunian’s gaze was cold as she pressed the blade to his neck, threatening him.

“Cao Noble Consort.”

Cao Noble Consort? Who was that?

Xunian remembered that “Madam” who wanted to make her the scapegoat at the beginning—perhaps it was her?

While she was distracted, the Hei Yi Ren elbowed her arm away.

Xunian’s arm was already sore, and now, caught off guard, the Hei Yi Ren escaped easily.

The Hei Yi Ren hid in the shadows, inwardly thinking how lucky he was.

Fortunately, he was clever and named Master’s nemesis, Cao Noble Consort.

Xunian remained where she was, motionless. Her eyes lowered, lashes casting a shadow across her face.

She was considering whether that Hei Yi Ren just now could really be a subordinate of Cao Noble Consort.

The possibility was low.

If she guessed right, Cao Noble Consort was the “Madam” who had wanted her to take the blame.

If it was really Cao Noble Consort’s subordinate, he would have gone for the kill.

But just now, that Hei Yi Ren, who clearly had high martial skills and could have taken her life, let her go.

So he wasn’t one of Cao Noble Consort’s people.

Whose person was he then?

So hard to guess.

Xunian recalled the face of that pale, sickly woman.

No way, could it be the Empress?

The Empress really did seem rather concerned about her, though Xunian couldn’t figure out what was so interesting about herself.

She circled around several times, mapping out the positions of the nearby palaces, and planned to ask around for information.

She thought of someone.

The perfect choice.

“Big Sister Nian!” Qiujv, who had sneaked out, stared blankly at Xunian with her clear eyes. “Did the Empress not want you anymore?”

Xunian shook her head. “I came to ask you something.”

“What is it? Just say it, I’ll tell you everything I know.” Qiujv patted her chest, speaking confidently.

Xunian lowered her voice. “Cao Noble Consort…”

At her words, Qiujv’s expression changed, turning serious. “Why are you asking about her?”

Xunian produced a reason she’d prepared long ago. “I just entered the palace and don’t know much about the big names here. I wanted to ask you and learn a bit—can’t hurt to know more.”

Qiujv’s face grew cold, the smile vanishing as if she’d become a different person. “I advise you to stop asking. I can tell you about anyone else, but not Cao Noble Consort.”

Xunian was a bit puzzled. “Why?”

Qiujv’s expression turned somber. “No reason. Just don’t ask anymore.”

Seeing Qiujv’s resolve, Xunian didn’t push further about Cao Noble Consort. “Then tell me about the others. I’m afraid if I run into them, I won’t know how to address them.”

Qiujv hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to tell her. “The Emperor has three sons. The eldest is the Taizi, the other two are the Second Prince and the Third Prince.

The inner palace has one Empress and four Noble Consorts. Then there are various Consorts and Talented Ladies—there are so many I couldn’t tell you all of them.

There’s something strange, though. The Emperor…”

She glanced around, and, seeing no one nearby, leaned in close to Xunian and whispered, “He never lets anyone see his face.”

Xunian found this extremely odd. “Then what about morning court?”

He has to see the ministers, right?

He has to see the Consorts, right?

“I don’t know either. No one’s ever seen his face.”

“Then how did he have sons?”

“Those sons were all adopted from others.”

“I’ve said everything I should,” Qiujv gave her a meaningful look, “and things I shouldn’t say as well. Just be careful.”

Since this was the Rules Creepypasta World, the fact that the Emperor never showed his true face seemed reasonable enough.

It wasn’t truly ancient times, after all; weird things in the Game were normal.

Xunian patted her on the shoulder. “Thanks. No need to give me that half-month’s Salary.”

Only then did Qiujv remember, to persuade Xunian to go to the Imperial Garden earlier, she’d put up half a month’s Salary…

“What are you doing?” The Eunuch’s sharp voice rang out behind them. “Slacking off?!”

“No, no, it’s just that the Empress’s Palace Maid had something for me to do~”

A smile appeared on Qiujv’s face again, giving the illusion that the stern person from just now wasn’t her at all.

Xunian saw this and kept it in mind.

Qiujv was not simple, either.