Chapter 3 Meeting the Saint

"Your Majesty, this is a memorial that was just delivered from the capital this morning."

The emperor was old and frail, and fell ill as soon as he arrived in Nanyang. Empress Chi took the opportunity to monopolize power and had memorials sent directly to her instead of being reviewed by the emperor first.

She was young and energetic, and she would personally review every memorial. She also had time to go hunting and meet with officials and ladies from Nanyang.

Chi Qi was not interested in all this.

She sat at the desk and casually flipped open a memorial. The densely packed words caught her eyes and she felt a little annoyed. She read it patiently, but found that the whole memorial was just greetings to the emperor and expressions of loyalty, which was nothing but nonsense.

I picked up the pen and wrote "read", threw it aside, and then read two more copies, which were still full of nonsense.

Chi Li dropped her pen, her brows furrowed. "Why is this little, shabby memorial of greetings placed so high up on top? Matters have their priorities; is it so difficult to categorize the memorials?"

The palace maids in the hall lowered their brows and eyes, not daring to breathe.

Dan Ying, who was grinding ink, raised his head, carefully glanced at her expression, and said softly, "My Lord, this matter was originally handled by the eunuchs, but you thought they were stupid, so... you exempted them from serving with the pens and ink."

It goes without saying that these eunuchs must be the emperor's confidants. How could Empress Chi use them? It would be better for her to do it herself.

Although Chi Yan knew the plot, she didn't know all the details. She got angry about this, and in the eyes of the palace people, she seemed a bit moody.

But Chi Li would not admit her mistake. She glanced at Dan Ying and said, "So what?"

Danying immediately stepped back and knelt in greeting. "Your Majesty, the eunuchs are as incompetent as pigs and truly useless. I would like to recommend someone to help you with your burdens. This person is not only talented but also has no one to rely on. He will undoubtedly be loyal to you."

"Oh?" Chi Yan finally looked at Dan Ying. This maid seemed to be no ordinary person. She asked with great interest, "Who is this person you are talking about?"

"This person's name is Wu Wenxiu. Her father was convicted and taken captive. This is her poem. Please take a look, my master." Danying said, presenting something with both hands.

Chi Qi took it and found it was a white handkerchief, folded neatly. When she unfolded it, she saw a black eagle and four lines of poetry embroidered on it.

Just as she was about to look, Wang Li, the chief eunuch beside the emperor, came in and bowed, greeting her, "Your Highness, the Emperor has something to discuss with you. Please go to the Lingxiao Palace."

Chi Qi lowered her eyes and raised a mocking smile at the corner of her mouth. The memorial from the capital had just been delivered, and the emperor sent someone to invite her. I'm afraid he can't hold back any longer.

She put away her supa, left Danying in the palace, and took two maids with her to Lingxiao Palace.

Dan Ying looked at Chi Luo's leaving figure, and her expression was full of disappointment.

She walked to the table, picked up the top few memorials, and placed them at the bottom. After making sure that no clues would be revealed, she left the front hall and hurried to the back door.

A young woman was waiting by the corridor outside the back door. Her clothes, though worn, were exceptionally clean and tidy. Upon seeing Danying, she immediately went over to greet her with joy, "Sister Danying, does Her Majesty wish to see me?"

Danying shook her head and sighed softly, "I originally wanted to summon you, but the emperor suddenly sent someone to call the master away. I'm afraid the master won't remember you for a while."

Wu Wenxiu's eyes immediately became dim, his lips trembled slightly, and he raised a seemingly cheerful smile, "I am honored to have Her Majesty the Queen see my humble work. Thank you for your trouble, sister." He took out a bag of silver and stuffed it into Danying's hand.

Danying weighed the silver, put it into her sleeve with a smile, comforted Wu Wenxiu a few words, and returned to the front hall.

Wu Wenxiu walked slowly along the palace wall with heavy steps and returned to his residence.

When she pushed open the door, she saw a woman in her forties sitting in the corridor, embroidering with an embroidery frame. However, she would wipe her tears with a handkerchief after only two stitches.

Wu Wenxiu immediately stepped forward and snatched the tent frame away. "Mother, didn't I tell you not to use the needle and thread anymore?"

The woman smiled and said, "My child, my tears are an old problem. It's nothing serious. I'm just embroidering for fun."

Wu Wenxiu glared at her and said, "Of course you think it's okay. If you go blind while embroidering, you still have to let me serve you!" After that, he drove the woman into the house, sat down on the stool himself, picked up the needle and continued embroidering.

A woman's voice came from inside the house, "In a couple of days, I'll have to send some ice to Eunuch Sun. Do you have enough money?"

Wu Wenxiu paused, then raised his voice, "Enough, of course it's enough."

The woman didn't suspect anything and continued, "By the way, Wenxiu, how's that introduction you mentioned last time going? If you don't have the money, I can find a way."

"Mom, don't worry about this. I've taken care of everything. Her Majesty the Queen will definitely summon me, and I'll definitely be given an important position when the time comes!"

The woman laughed happily. "Of course. I heard that Queen Chi appreciates women with literary talent. If you can gain her favor, you won't have to waste your youth in the palace like me."

Wu Wenxiu stared at the pattern of flowers and butterflies on the embroidery cloth, and felt a bitter taste in her throat. "Yes, then we can leave this shabby place."

She raised her face. If the woman were here, she would see that her brows were furrowed and her eyes were filled with endless melancholy, as if containing broken tears.

Looking up at the blue sky above, a majestic female eagle flapped its wings and flew into the sky, and a long and low roar resounded through the sky.

Wu Wenxiu lowered his eyes and muttered to himself, "Claws as sharp as blades, eyes as sharp as bells, catching rabbits on the plains is a noble act. Without reason, I have fled to the blue sky, but I cannot be lifted up by the king's arms."[Note 1]

————

Lingxiao Palace.

All the serving maids were sent out, and the room was filled with silence.

Chi Lan looked down at the emperor who was sitting sideways on the bed. His face was covered with deep wrinkles and black spots, and even his skin was sagging.

Even if the room was lit with rich ambergris, it couldn't cover up the smell of a dying old man on him.

It's really disgusting.

But it is such an ugly old man who possesses the supreme status and the power of life and death.

The emperor didn't seem to notice Chi Li's disgusted look and said gently, "Queen, I heard that you went hunting in the enclosure with Mingyue yesterday?"

He took a quick breath before continuing, "Chun'er is naughty, and Mingyue is even more willful. It's really hard for you. Not only do you have to take care of these two children, but you also have to help me with government affairs. It's really hard work. I can see that you have lost weight."

Chi Qi was silent, and her inner irritation was getting worse. Why should she stand here and listen to an old man nagging at her?

Seeing her lack of response, the emperor frowned slightly and spoke in a colder tone, "Fortunately, I've felt much better these past few days. From now on, memorials will be sent directly to Lingxiao Palace. Queen, you should have a good rest."

When Chi Qi heard this, she suddenly realized that this old man really wanted to take back the power from her.

Although she found reviewing those memorials boring, it did not mean that she was willing to give what she had in her hands to others.

Chi Qi's eyes darkened slightly, and she said in a cold voice, "What if I refuse?"

The emperor opened his cloudy eyes wide and looked at her in astonishment, "You... refuse?"

Seeing that Chi Li still had a calm expression and there was no trace of awe in her eyes, his face immediately darkened and he angrily said, "Are you trying to disobey the imperial order? Are you, a woman, planning to rebel?"

Chi Qi's chest heaved violently, and she clenched her fists almost immediately. Her dark eyes were filled with murderous intent.

but--

A good cleaner should not leave any traces that arouse suspicion.

There were too many palace maids and guards guarding outside the palace. If she took action now, she would definitely be stopped, which would be too troublesome.

Thinking of this, Chi Li slowly unclenched her fist, looked directly at the emperor, and said calmly, "I just think that you should be the one to rest. After all, you are old, and it is time to step down and let someone more capable take over."

"You—!" The emperor was dumbfounded, his face livid with anger. He turned his head and looked around. He grabbed the teacup on the table and threw it at Chi Lu violently, shouting, "You vicious woman, you are so ambitious! I will destroy you!"

With a snap, the teacup shattered at Chi Lan's feet. She looked at the black tea stains on her shoes and her patience was completely exhausted.

"Whatever you want. I don't want to be the queen anymore." She turned and walked out, pushing the door open. Incompetent curses mixed with painful coughs came from behind her and gradually disappeared as she walked away.

Ignoring the surprised looks from those around her, Chi Lu left Lingxiao Palace. On the way back, she kept thinking about how to quietly get rid of this emperor.

This person is really an eyesore. Moreover, what she hates most in her life is the powerful people who want to step on her head.

The emperor, such a stinky old man, actually dared to threaten and abuse her. He should be prepared to pay the price!

As soon as she returned to her residence, Chi Li summoned the system, "Xiao Liu, open the system store."

Every time a cleaning task is completed, the cleaner will receive a certain amount of points, and the host can use these points to redeem items in the system mall.

006 crashed for the entire night. Even the system found it difficult to accept the sudden change from heaven to hell overnight, not to mention that its host clearly intended to go all the way to the end.

However, upon hearing Chi Li's request, 006 became excited again, "Host, your points have all been frozen by the Lord God and cannot be used, but——"

Before she could finish, Chi Lu's face turned cold. Dan Ying, who happened to walk into the bedroom, felt a cool breeze blowing in the room, and her hand holding the teacup could not help but tremble.

006 looked aggrieved, "Host, please let me finish. Have you forgotten that you exchanged all your points for weapons in order to kill the Lord God? There are only 3 points left in total. Even if they weren't frozen, they can't be used!"

Chi Li rubbed her nose awkwardly. She'd thought she'd still have a few hundred points left after exchanging for weapons. The Lord God was speechless. Why was there a need to freeze just three points?

006 continued, "But for the Evil Stepmother's punishment mission, you can earn points by gaining the heroine's trust and dependence. Yesterday, the host taught the heroine archery and earned 50 points."

Chi Li frowned. Only 50 points? Not enough at all. At most, I could redeem an ordinary-grade knife. It seemed I had to earn more.

She looked at Danying, "Go and ask the princess to come over."

Danying put down the teacup, answered yes, and left the room.

————

"What is it that A Niang asked me to come over at this time?"

Zhao Mingyue, who was leaning on the couch reading a book, looked up at Danying with some confusion in her eyes.

After a night, she had calmed down.

Chunying and Qiushi were right. Queen Chi was still young and would have her own children. It was impossible for her to truly treat her as a daughter.

Danying replied respectfully, "The master didn't say anything, but he probably wanted to invite the princess to have lunch with him."

Zhao Mingyue was hesitant, but before she could open her mouth, she heard the sound of running and jumping outside the house, and then they came into the house with a clattering sound.

It was a boy wearing a royal blue brocade robe, with an anxious look on his face. He shouted loudly: "Zhao Mingyue, I don't allow you to go. You have to accompany me for dinner!"