Zhen'er wasn't angry. She said, word by word, "If not for yourself, then for others?"

As she spoke, she gestured to Empress Dowager Cixi to have her attendants leave.

Empress Dowager Cixi felt that she could not cause any trouble, so she ordered: "All of you, step back. No one may come to disturb us without my permission."

After all the maids had left the palace, she looked at Zhen'er and said, "Now you can tell me, there's no need to keep it a riddle."

Upon hearing this, Zhen'er didn't mince words and asked directly, "I wonder if my sister has dreamt of the late Emperor?"

"I am an unfortunate person. I suppose the late emperor has long forgotten me. How could I appear in his dream?" Cixi replied with an awkward laugh, though she thought Zhen'er was showing off.

After all, when Emperor Xianfeng was alive, Zhen'er was much more favored than Empress Dowager Cixi.

“No…” Zhen’er suddenly shook her head seriously, “You are the blessed one. If I could, I would rather not dream of him.”

Empress Dowager Cixi thought she was being sarcastic and said with a wry smile, "Sister, please don't make fun of me."

"I'm serious." Zhen'er's eyes seemed even more serious as she looked around, afraid that Emperor Xianfeng's spirit would appear before her.

This dramatic performance made Empress Dowager Cixi somewhat believe it, and she couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

"Shh! Don't let the late emperor hear this." Then she whispered in his ear, "The late emperor knows that we executed the eight ministers he left behind, and he's about to settle accounts with us."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Empress Dowager Cixi said, feeling somewhat guilty.

“I’m not talking nonsense. The late emperor said he would kill me first before he came to find you,” Zhen’er muttered to herself.

No, it won't.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Cixi still didn't quite believe it, Zhen'er began to seek help from the system, spending a thousand yuan to project an image that looked exactly like Emperor Xianfeng into the palace.

Although it only lasted three seconds, Empress Dowager Cixi still saw it. She was so frightened that she trembled all over and even stammered, "It really...it really is the late Emperor."

Zhen'er also pretended to be scared and quickly hid behind Cixi. "Right, sister? I didn't lie to you!"

Empress Dowager Cixi nodded. "Then what should we do?"

Zhen'er did not answer, and after a long while she said, "The late emperor has already passed away."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Cixi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At this moment, Zhen'er was extremely grateful for Cixi's ignorance. If Cixi had known some principles, this trick might not have been able to fool her.

"So I asked a Taoist priest, who said that as long as I don't kill any living beings on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month and accumulate more good fortune, perhaps the late emperor will release me."

"Really?" At this moment, Empress Dowager Cixi completely believed Zhen'er's words. "No wonder you released that imperial chef, so that's why."

Zhen'er nodded earnestly, "Today was alright. Sister, you haven't seen what the late Emperor looked like in his dream. He was bleeding from all seven orifices, his face was pale, his tongue was sticking out long, his eyes were bulging, and his fingernails..."

"Stop...stop talking." Upon hearing this, a terrifying image flashed through Cixi's mind. The image was so horrifying that she dared not continue thinking about it and quickly stopped Zhen'er.

Seeing her frightened expression, Zhen'er cooperated and stopped talking, saying, "To be on the safe side, little sister, why don't you do it with me too!"

What could Empress Dowager Cixi say? She could only nod in agreement.

Seeing this, Zhen'er was very satisfied. If she hadn't laid such a solid foundation, how could she have gained Cixi's trust later?

After a cup of tea, Empress Dowager Cixi had calmed down and was about to ask Zhen'er when she would return to the palace when a fly flew over and landed on the dish in front of her.

Already somewhat annoyed by the 'ghost,' Cixi was now filled with inexplicable anger when an annoying fly flew in. She slammed her hand on the table and said to the palace maids and eunuchs outside, "You're all like wooden statues! The food is almost spoiled. Hurry up and take it away!"

She originally wanted to punish the person in charge today, but then she remembered what Zhen'er had just said, so she forced herself to hold back, since today happened to be the first day of the month.

Upon hearing this, the palace servants rushed in in a panic, fearing that Empress Dowager Cixi would punish them for their words, and all lowered their heads, not daring to look up.

"What are you standing there for? Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"

The shouts grew louder and louder, making the palace servants even more terrified. Fortunately, they were quick and agile, and soon all the dishes were removed.

After the palace servants left, Zhen'er turned around and saw Empress Dowager Cixi again, shaking her head and saying, "Sister, you can't eat 108 dishes in one meal."

"Why?" Empress Dowager Cixi asked Zhen'er, puzzled.

After thinking about what to say, Zhen'er slowly replied, "That Taoist priest told me that everything a person eats and uses in their life is arranged by the Heavenly Emperor and is finite. If one is extravagant and wasteful and uses it all up prematurely, then naturally one's life will come to an end. On the contrary, if one is diligent and frugal, even if one's original lifespan is only eighty years, one's lifespan will be extended by a few more years because one has not used up all the resources, until one has used them up."

This was Zhen'er's real purpose in coming here this time.

Empress Dowager Cixi was stunned for a moment, but then she realized that it made a lot of sense. In order to live a little longer, she immediately gave the order that from now on, each meal should consist of only three dishes and a soup.

Having achieved her goal, Zhen'er did not linger any longer. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Empress Dowager Cixi, she left.

After returning to her palace, she dismissed everyone under the pretext of needing to rest and closed the door.

Seeing that she was alone in the house, she smiled slyly, "So, Empress Dowager Cixi, you're not as clever as I thought!"

She muttered to herself, thinking that she would have to go through another round of trouble, but she didn't expect to get it done so quickly. She couldn't stop smiling.

Her goal was always for the good of the people. If Empress Dowager Cixi could save even a little bit of silver, the national treasury would be more abundant, which would benefit the people.

And so, as I pondered these thoughts, the gloom that had set in that morning dissipated.

Zhen'er looked at the bright sunshine outside, a smile appeared on her lips, and her heart was filled with hope and anticipation.

I would be content as long as I can change my current situation, even if it's just a little bit.

The ice beside the bed began to melt slowly, and soon formed a thin layer of white mist that enveloped the entire room.

Zhen'er took a deep breath, slowly walked to the edge of the ice block, cupped the mist in her hands, and gently sniffed it, immediately feeling a refreshing coolness wash over her.

Unfortunately, only someone of my status can enjoy this coolness, while most ordinary people still have to work hard under the scorching sun.

She started to get agitated again, then went to the bedside and lay down.

He lay there for half a day.

Zhen'er didn't know when she fell asleep; when she woke up, it was almost evening.

Zhen'er looked out the window at the sky, where the stars twinkled and the moonlight was bright, and her mood became cheerful.