Chapter 233 Love Misleads People

Yunxiang handed over a grape purple handkerchief embroidered with lilac flowers. Meng Yan took it, wiped the sugar stains off her fingertips, and then put it aside.

"Now that I am in charge of the palace, I must be fully aware of all the affairs of the harem. Otherwise, if I am careless in the future, it will lead to internal strife. Then, wouldn't I be unworthy of being the master of this harem?"

Meng Yan smiled faintly, her beautiful eyes turned slightly and fell on the face of her trusted and beloved maid.

Looking at the empress's clear eyes, Ruizhu's face was slightly hot. She lowered her head slightly and murmured softly, "I think this is such a trivial matter, not worth mentioning, Your Majesty."

Meng Yan's red lips curled slightly. "You are all people I brought from my mother's family, and you have served me since you were young. Putting aside other things, just the master-servant relationship is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Furthermore, when I was selected to serve in the Eastern Palace, my father and elder brother wanted to select several maids from the mansion as my dowry. Although there are many maids in the Marquis's Mansion, to serve in the palace, they must be intelligent, quick-witted, steady and reliable, and they must be willing to do so. After such a selection, only a few are suitable."

The two men had not expected that their mistress would suddenly bring up the old events. They were both stunned and said nothing.

It turned out that when Meng Yan was selected as the concubine of the Eastern Palace, the Marquis' Mansion was selecting people to serve as palace attendants. After searching throughout the entire mansion, they couldn't find many suitable candidates.

On the surface, this job sounded good. One could enter the palace and serve the master, seeing the world. After a few years, if the master showed favor, one could choose a good family to marry into. The status one would have was far superior to that of a slave or maid. There were even those who were even more fortunate, who could be favored by the emperor one day, becoming a concubine or imperial consort, and even bringing their entire family to a higher position.

But, what kind of place is the Imperial Palace?!

He has always been the kind of person who eats people without leaving any bones behind!

The masters and concubines of the palace fought for the emperor's favor, scheming against each other and resorting to all sorts of diabolical tactics. When the king of hell fights, the devils suffer, but at the slightest sign of trouble, their servants are often pushed aside to take the blame. Even worse, when their masters committed serious crimes, the slaves themselves would suffer the consequences. As the saying goes, no egg is left unbroken when the nest is overturned. The story of the previous emperor's concubine, Li Fei, is a familiar one, even to these maids who have lived in the imperial harem for a long time. Li Fei, once at the height of her favor, became a forsaken woman in the cold palace upon her downfall. The palace maids who served her closely were accused of aiding and abetting the tyrant and beheaded. Such a pitiful bunch of servants, merely following orders, endured daily beatings and scoldings, only to lose their lives in the end.

Even if she luckily escaped disaster, and there was no guarantee she would be favored by the emperor, she would be trapped in the inner palace for the rest of her life, never to see the light of day again. From ancient times to the present, there have been only a few Wei Zifus. The most common sight in the palace was the elderly maidens, quietly discussing Emperor Xuanzong. The maids were of humble origins, without prominent maternal families. The palace was a place where beauty was always new, but after a few nights of favor, they were forgotten, waiting for their beauty to fade.

Given all these circumstances, there were actually very few people who voluntarily entered the palace to serve as imperial attendants. If one used power to coerce someone into entering the palace, then even those who were unwilling would surely harbor resentment, and serving closely would most likely lead to trouble in the future.

After searching the entire mansion, only Yunxiang and Ruizhu, Meng Yan's maids since childhood, were willing to follow her into the palace. Furthermore, two maids from the deceased old lady's chambers volunteered, bringing the total to four.

Yunxiang was indeed mentally ill and had been immersed in the palace for a long time, so she understood everything immediately. After a slight pause, she knew what the Empress was going to say, and she lowered her head without saying a word.

But Meng Yan continued, "...When I first entered the Crown Prince's residence, I brought four dowries with me: you, Ruizhu, Lanxin, and Keren. Lanxin died of illness within two years of entering the residence, needless to say. Keren was particularly despicable. I never treated her unfairly, but she turned on me and betrayed me, selling out her master for personal gain. Fortunately, the late Queen saw through everything and made a wise decision, revealing the truth. Although Keren was beaten to death, her actions were truly chilling. Over the years, you two were the only ones who remained loyal to me. No matter the ups and downs, you supported me. I am now able to sit on the throne of the Central Palace, and I will always remember your contributions and hard work."

While she was talking about the two of them, her eyes fell on Yunxiang's face.

Yunxiang's head, already bowed, was fixed on her master's bright and clear gaze, and she bowed even more fiercely. Hearing her master's sincere and earnest words and thinking of her own selfish thoughts, she felt ashamed and humiliated, and murmured, "My master, this servant..."

Before she could finish her words, Ruizhu spoke up, "It is my duty to be loyal to my master. Furthermore, Your Majesty has treated us with such sincerity and kindness over the years. Every month when our menstruation comes, Your Majesty grants us three days off. Looking across the entire palace, is there any other palace mistress so generous? Your Majesty's words really embarrass us."

As she spoke, she pulled Yunxiang and said, "Yunxiang, is that right?"

Yunxiang looked towards Meng Yan, but saw that the master she had served since childhood was looking at her with bright eyes. Her knees softened and she knelt on the ground.

"My Lady, I know I was wrong. Please punish me."

Ruizhu was slightly startled and looked at Yunxiang who was kneeling on the ground, not knowing what had happened. She then turned to look at the queen.

But she saw the queen's delicate jaw slightly raised, and she immediately understood and stepped forward to help Yunxiang up.

But Meng Yan said, "Get up, you are not wrong."

As she spoke, her brows furrowed slightly, and she sighed softly, "It has been over seven years since I was chosen as the Crown Prince's concubine. I am now twenty-four years old. Even if you are younger than me, you are already past the marriageable age. If you were still in the Marquis' Mansion, you would have been married and had children. But now you are buried alone in this deep palace with me. It is all my fault."

After these words, both of them lowered their heads. Yunxiang was silent for a moment and then began to sob softly.

Ruizhu said hoarsely, "Your Majesty's words truly humiliate us servants. Back then, when the old marquis asked us sisters if we were willing to accompany Her Majesty to the palace, we were all willing. We know what life is like in the palace, even if we haven't eaten pork, we've seen pigs run. Since we agreed to serve Her Majesty, we won't regret it, whether we live or die. Besides, we've seen how Her Majesty has treated us over the years. Just think about how Her Majesty even contradicted the Emperor two years ago to protect us. This isn't something we would do to a master and servant, not even our own mothers and fathers. If anything else, we're truly unworthy of being human beings!"

Meng Yan ignored her words, her beautiful eyes fixed on Yunxiang's face.

After a moment, her red lips opened slightly, "Yunxiang, in another year, when I give birth to my unborn child safely, I will definitely choose a very good family for you, prepare a generous dowry, and send you off in a grand ceremony. From now on, the Yiyang Marquis's Mansion will be your mother's home. If you encounter any difficulties in your husband's family, or if you are bullied and have no one to support you, you can come to the palace and tell me, and I will make the decision for you."

At this point, she looked at Ruizhu again, "It's not just Yunxiang, you're the same. Just remember, you're both my right-hand men. No matter where you go in the future, the door of Changchun Palace will always be open for you."

At this emotional point, Meng Yan suddenly changed the subject and said, "But there is only one thing. Women should never promise their lives to others lightly. They must find a good partner to rely on for life. Otherwise, if you make a wrong move, it will be a lifelong regret. Other things are fine, but the man must have you in his heart, only then will it be meaningful."

Yunxiang's body swayed slightly, and her pretty face was as white as wax residue.

She bit her lower lip so hard that blood oozed out from the edge of her lips.

The Empress finally knew about that matter...

But Meng Yan continued, "I know that when you mentioned the jasmine cream just now, you were simply asking me to consider that man's feelings and keep him in the palace. It's not that I don't want to help you, but firstly, he is a vindictive man with a sinister temperament and is not a good match for him. Secondly, that man's family has already arranged a marriage for him..."

As she spoke, she glanced at Ruizhu.

Ruizhu understood and turned to walk to a small cabinet with gilded animal heads, opened the door, took out a large red brocade box with an eight-treasure center, and presented it to the queen.

Meng Yan nodded slightly, and Ruizhu opened the lid of the box. Inside the box suddenly appeared a brocade handkerchief embroidered with a Ruyi heart knot.

When Yunxiang first saw this thing, her face turned slightly red, but turned pale in an instant.

Meng Yan looked at her and spoke softly, "Please take this handkerchief back first. Hold it well and don't throw it around anymore. You are all veterans of the palace and know the taboos. If such personal items fall into the hands of others, there is no guarantee that trouble will arise. This time, it was picked up by a maid in the flower room. She said that the satin and needlework looked like things from Changchun Palace, so she gave it to me, and nothing happened. Otherwise, I am in charge of the palace now. Even if you are my trusted maid, if you break the palace rules, I cannot protect you. In fact, in order to maintain order in the palace, I will have to punish you severely to show fairness. It is fortunate that nothing extra has happened so far."

These words made Yunxiang blush and then pale, and she broke out in cold sweats. The little bit of romantic feelings in her heart disappeared in an instant.

She felt ashamed and embarrassed. She took the handkerchief and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty's teaching is..."

Seeing her like this, Meng Yan thought that this was pretty much it, and there was no need to talk about the rest. She smiled and said gently, "You were on night watch yesterday, and today you followed me to the Yangxin Palace and the Imperial Garden. You must be very tired now. There is no need to set rules here. Go back and write them today, and come back tomorrow morning."

Yunxiang responded awkwardly, bowed, turned around and walked out with her head down.

Ruizhu looked at her back, her heart filled with astonishment, and she was slightly shocked. "My Lady, is Yunxiang having an affair with someone?"

Two days ago, the Empress suddenly entrusted her with a brocade box. She had asked what was inside, but the Empress frowned slightly, sighed softly, and didn't answer. She knew it probably contained something unspeakable. Since the Empress refused to mention it, she just kept it safe, never even opening it in private to take a look. But she had never imagined that it actually contained Yunxiang's handkerchief!

Meng Yan remained silent for a long moment before sighing, "Palace maids and eunuchs secretly passing things around should, according to palace rules, be sent to the Ministry of Punishment to do hard labor. That being said, every time something like this happens in the palace, the masters of each palace always try to cover it up and pair them up. It's not that I'm ignorant of the situation; I must handle it impartially. But whether that person truly doesn't have me in their heart is a minor concern. More importantly, I've only been crowned Empress for a short time, and so many eyes from the former and harems are staring at Changchun Palace. How dare I make even the slightest mistake!"

Ruizhu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, what you said is true. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor love you so much, why would they be afraid of those gossips?"

Meng Yan glanced at her and said calmly, "That's nonsense. Don't let me hear it again."

This one sentence rebuked Ruizhu, who was so embarrassed she was speechless. She then sighed softly, "Yunxiang is also an old palace veteran. She's no stranger to the rules and taboos here. Her words and actions have become even more mature and prudent recently. I never expected her to do such a thing. It shows how deeply love can mislead people."

Ruizhu was listening nearby and couldn't help but ask softly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being so talkative, but who is that... person?"

Meng Yan didn't want to hide it from her, and said, "He is the direct disciple of Xiahou Imperial Physician, Lu Xuanming."

Ruizhu was slightly surprised and blurted out, "If I remember correctly, that young doctor who gave the wrong medicine and made Lin Yanrong's body swollen and red, was also beaten by the Ministry of Punishment?"

Meng Yan smiled and said, "You remember it clearly, it was indeed him."

While he was speaking, he was thinking about other things in his heart.

No matter what kind of relationship she and Xiahou Yu had in the past, they were destined not to be together in this life.

Xiahou Yu said it well: only an empty cup can hold water.

Lu Haozhi has already lived in her heart, so how could there be room for a second person?

What's more, she is now the Queen of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the wife of someone else. Her status and social status will not allow such a thing to happen.

What's more, even if to others, the things in the previous life and the things in the book were things that had never happened, but to her, they had all happened.

Those scars and pains have been engraved into her bones. She may be able to let go, but she can never forget them.

Without those past events, there would be no Meng Yan today.

If she hadn't investigated the past, she wouldn't have known that Xiahou Yu actually had such complex and profound thoughts about her.

Meng Yan vaguely understood where Xiahou Yu's inexplicable hatred for her came from in his previous life.

The depth of his obsession is truly terrifying.

Rather than letting Xiahou Yu stay in this palace, holding on to some illusory hopes, trapping himself in a cocoon and imprisoning himself in a circle, it is better to exile him into the world.

The more we see each other, the more we miss each other and the more torment we suffer.

The best option is not to see each other in this life.

Only by cutting off the past can there be a new life.

She had been thinking about this ever since she received the letter from her mother's family, and the Yunxiang incident only accelerated her decision.

If things continue to drag on, the entanglement between the two will probably become more and more serious, so we must cut the Gordian knot quickly.

The matter of Lu Xuanming's marriage was not a lie, but the truth.

Apart from the above taboos, she really didn't want her beloved maid, who had served her since childhood, to suffer the pain of being loved by the wrong person.

Just as the master and servant were each thinking and speaking in silence, they heard a voice from the corridor, "What do you mean by love? It's so misleading!"