Chapter 9: Damn Imperial Power

The guards immediately dragged up a palace maid with her mouth gagged and hands tied.

Seeing that familiar face, Concubine Yun's heart skipped a beat, but her expression was filled with confusion. "What does Eunuch Zhou mean by this?"

Zhou Yuande took the handkerchief out of Xiulan's mouth.

"My Lady, save me!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, where the slap marks were clearly visible. Xiulan pleaded, "I am only doing this for you, Your Lady. It was you who told me to put oleander in the beauty cream for Lady Rong Guifei..."

"You bastard!" Concubine Yun interrupted sternly, "I've never seen you before. Everyone in the palace can testify to this. Who sent you to frame me?"

She looked at Zhou Yuande with just the right amount of indignation and grievance on her face.

"Eunuch Zhou, please don't trust this lowly maid's words. I have always respected Concubine Rong, how could I allow anyone to harm her? This lowly maid must have accepted bribes and deliberately framed me."

"Your Majesty will make the final decision on whether it is a frame-up or not." Zhou Yuande winked at the guards, who blocked Xiulan's mouth again and dragged her away.

Zhou Yuande wore a cold smile on his face. He bowed and said to Concubine Yun, "Your Majesty has ordered me to help Wanyi move to the rear hall. From now on, please ask Xu Wanyi to copy scriptures and worship Buddha in the Buddhist hall in the rear hall, and pray for His Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

"Wanyi?" Upon hearing this name, Xu Rushuang felt as if struck by lightning, with a look of shock and disbelief on her face.

Not only was his rank demoted, but he also lost his title?

She swayed and fell onto the head maid, looking like she was about to faint.

Zhou Yuande snorted coldly: "Wanyi, be careful. If you get hurt or sick, how can you pray for His Majesty and the Empress Dowager in the future?"

After these words were spoken, Xu Rushuang dared not faint.

Who knows if she really fainted, what would this damn eunuch say in front of His Majesty?

What if she was said to be dissatisfied with His Majesty, wouldn't she be directly sent to the cold palace, or even lose her life?

After clarifying the pros and cons, Xu Rushuang stood firm.

She smiled at Zhou Yuande and said, "I felt a little dizzy after the wind at noon. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Eunuch Zhou. How can I trouble you to do such a trivial matter as moving? Eunuch Zhou, you can just give instructions from the side and let the people in the palace do the moving."

She winked at the head maid Chunlian, who immediately stepped forward and handed Zhou Yuande a purse. "Thank you for taking this trip, eunuch. It's getting cold. Please have a pot of hot tea."

Zhou Yuande didn't answer, but he didn't continue to make things difficult for Xu Rushuang. He let her own people move the things.

She kept up a fake smile and sent the person away. After the person had disappeared, Xu Rushuang returned to the back hall and threw a lot of things in anger.

Chunlian and others knelt on the ground, not daring to say a word.

"Dou Jingwan, you bitch!" Xu Rushuang smashed a vase and stared at the broken porcelain pieces on the ground, saying angrily, "We'll see what happens!"

"Chunlian!"

Chunlian immediately stood up and helped Xu Rushuang sit down on the couch, gently comforting her, "Master, calm down and don't let your anger get to you. The master will receive the news soon and will certainly plead for you in front of His Majesty."

Xu Rushuang hummed softly, and her mood became a little better.

She said bitterly, "That bitch Dou is always showing off in front of Your Majesty. She must have coaxed Your Majesty into not even giving me a chance to defend myself!"

"Your Majesty is angry now. When he calms down, he will surely remember your kindness."

Chunlian poured a cup of hot tea and offered it to him. "Master, please be patient. The Empress Dowager has always valued you more than her. You might as well copy two volumes of Buddhist scriptures and send them to the Empress Dowager. This will firstly show that you have listened to His Majesty's words, and secondly, let His Majesty see your filial piety towards her."

Xu Rushuang thought it made sense, and immediately ordered people to clean up the mess in the hall, spread out paper and ink, and stayed up all night to copy Buddhist scriptures.

On the other side, Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Xia Zi, who didn't know that the imperial concubine had taken the blame for them, stood at the door of the Ministry of Punishment for a while and saw Nanny Qian from Huaqing Palace leading Xia Qiaoru out.

Xia Qiaoru looked pale and seemed to have no strength left, so she had to be supported by two palace maids.

Seeing Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Xiazi waiting at the door, she immediately smiled: "Liuzheng, Xiao Xiazi, you are here."

Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Xiazi hurried over and took Xia Qiaoru from the two palace maids.

"Are you injured?"

Xia Qiaoru shook her head and gently squeezed Chu Liuzheng's hand.

Chu Liuzheng's heart trembled, realizing that he had said the wrong thing in his haste.

It's because of concern that I'm confused. How can I ask these questions in front of the people in Huaqing Palace?

"Is this Miss Liuzheng who served tea in front of the emperor?" Nanny Qian took the initiative to greet Chu Liuzheng with a smile on her face.

"Hello, Madam." Chu Liuzheng bowed to her.

Nanny Qian turned sideways and returned a half-salute, her shrewd eyes scanning Chu Liuzheng.

Her manners are impeccable, but her face is far inferior to that of her master. How could she catch the eye of His Majesty?

I heard that His Majesty treats this person somewhat specially, but I guess it's just a rumor.

She felt relieved and her expression became more kind. She looked at Xia Qiaoru and sighed softly.

"That lowly maidservant was cunning and caused Miss Qiaoru to suffer. The queen was also deceived by that lowly maidservant. After finding out the truth, she immediately ordered the old servant to bring the young lady out, fearing that she would suffer in there."

Xia Qiaoru bowed with resentment and said softly, "Empress Rong is so kind, I am grateful for your kindness."

——Dou Jingwan, the daughter of the Minister of War, was given the title of "Rong" when she was promoted to a noble concubine last year.

[The victim even has to thank the perpetrator. What a fucking imperial power!]

Chu Liuzheng cursed inwardly, but with a hint of a smile on his lips, he continued, "Everyone in the palace knows that Concubine Rong is incredibly soft-hearted. She has always been considerate of us servants, and she will definitely not let Qiaoru suffer this in vain."

Xiao Xiazi chimed in: "Yes, I often hear the imperial doctors say that."

Nanny Qian's smile froze. She was the one who said it, so why did she feel so awkward when the two of them praised her?

Are you asking her for something?

Nanny Qian glanced at Chu Liuzheng. She thought he would take advantage of the opportunity to climb up the ladder, but she was so short-sighted. If she could close her eyes, wouldn't she be able to be the Queen's spy in front of His Majesty?

After some thought, Nanny Qian decided to go back and report to her own queen before making any decision.

She took Xia Qiaoru's hand and patted it affectionately. "The Queen, mindful of the hardships you've endured, has given you some nourishing things. I was in such a hurry to leave just now that I forgot to take them. I'll send someone to bring them to you later."

"If you feel any discomfort, please ask Dr. Liu from the Imperial Hospital to see you. The cost of the medicine will be paid for by Huaqing Palace. You must take good care of yourself, young lady, and don't let any chronic illness develop."

[Tsk tsk, those nice words, aren't they just trying to build a good reputation for Concubine Rong? You want people to praise Concubine Rong by giving her a few beatings and then a sweet date? Haha, you're making it sound like Qiao Ru's appointment to the Ministry of Punishment wasn't Concubine Rong's order!]

Xia Qiaoru said sweetly, "When I am well again, I will go to Huaqing Palace to kowtow and thank Her Majesty Rong Guifei."

Seeing that the little palace maid was tactful, Nanny Qian was satisfied and said a few more words of concern before taking her away.

Xiao Xia Zi quietly spat at her back, and together with Chu Liuzheng, helped Xia Qiaoru back to her residence.

"Xiao Xiazi, you go back first, I'm here."

Xiao Xiazi was also thinking about her work in the pharmacy, so she prepared some hot water and left.

Xia Qiaoru worked in the pharmacy of the Imperial Hospital and lived in a six-person room.

Compared to the two-person room where Chu Liuzheng lives, this six-person room seems much more cramped.