Qiao Qiu slept very well and didn't wake up until noon. When she opened her eyes, she saw the magnificent room, and her memories returned; she was still in the imperial bedchamber. She raised her hand and looked at it carefully; all ten fingers were bandaged.

In truth, even if she played for three days and three nights, let alone all night, her fingers wouldn't break, and she wouldn't show any signs of fatigue. It's just that she's currently in the identity of an ordinary person, so everything must appear normal. Before the emperor woke up, she deliberately pricked her finger. Although it hurt a little while playing, it was much better than breaking it in the middle of the night. The ten fingers are connected to the heart; this isn't something to be taken lightly.

Qiao Qiu propped herself up and looked around; there was no one in the bedchamber.

"Someone come here!"

Hearing her voice, the person outside immediately pushed open the door and entered. It was an unfamiliar young eunuch who came in.

"What are your orders, Consort Qiao?"

Where is Honglan?

"Reporting to Lady Consort, His Majesty instructed her to go to Xianghu Courtyard to fetch clothes for you."

Qiao Qiu nodded. "Where is the Emperor?"

"His Majesty has been watching over you all morning, and now he has gone to meet with Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Justice."

"Oh." Having waited all morning, what exactly is this emperor up to? "You may leave."

"His Majesty has ordered that as soon as you wake up, a meal should be served immediately. Would you like to serve the meal now?"

"Such a good thing?" Qiao Qiu almost thought she had misheard. But no matter what, she had to please the emperor and be obedient; otherwise, she definitely wouldn't last two years in this deep palace.

The question now was whether she should wait for the emperor to return for dinner, or eat first? Qiao Qiu thought for a moment and decided to eat first. Was the old Qiao Qiu really this thoughtful? The fact that the emperor hadn't immediately brought the meal and was already being lenient by throwing a tantrum here was already quite kind of him.

"pass."

"yes."

The young eunuch left, and Qiao Qiu lay down again, pulling the soft quilt over herself. The palace was warm and cozy, with a charcoal fire burning inside.

Thinking back to her Xianghu Courtyard, she hadn't dared to wear too little clothing these past two days, or she would shiver from the cold. When she was brought here last night, she was still wearing a warm cloak, but after she came in, the cloak was taken away, and she felt that it was warmer inside than with the cloak on.

The emperor's life was indeed luxurious and enjoyable. Even just two rooms were worlds apart. On such a cold day, staying inside really made me not want to go out.

A little while later, Honglan came over first, helped her get dressed and wash up, her face beaming with a smile, she looked genuinely happy.

Qiao Qiu was probably happy for her, she knew perfectly well, but she didn't know if continuing down this path would really be smooth sailing.

After lunch, the imperial physician came again to change her "medication," repeatedly instructing her not to get it wet, before leaving.

Then Xiao Shunzi, a favorite of the emperor, ran over and told her to go back first.

Qiao Qiu was overjoyed and immediately took Hong Lan back to Xianghu Courtyard. Just as they arrived at the entrance, she suddenly realized something.

"Consort Qiao is back."

"Oh, you've come back injured?"

"Has the imperial physician seen him? I heard he rested in the Emperor's bedchamber all morning and only just returned. Was he punished enough by the Emperor and rushed back?"

A large group of women blocked the doorway, making sarcastic and mocking remarks towards her.

Damn, what a petty emperor!

Qiao Qiu gritted her teeth. All she did was scold him once. Why did he have to keep harassing her like this?

How can you say that?

Qiao Dong appeared, with a beautiful and charming face, and a voice as sweet as a nightingale. As soon as she arrived, she spoke up for Qiao Qiu, her expression angry, as if she had really come to stand up for Qiao Qiu.

"His Majesty didn't expect to hurt my sister. This morning, he summoned all the imperial physicians to the palace. His Majesty's concern for my sister is truly enviable."

“Sister, you’re wrong,” one of the girls blocking the doorway said. “In terms of rank, none of us here are as high as you, sister. Moreover, you are the only one favored by the emperor. He summoned you to his bedchamber on the very first night. How can some of you compare?”

"That's right, my sister is so kind."

"Someone doesn't know how to cherish his blessings. I've heard of what happened before he entered the palace... Ha."

These people kept saying things like, belittling Qiao Qiu and praising Qiao Dong, doing everything they could to curry favor.

Qiao Dong smiled but didn't take it seriously. If she hadn't been reborn, she would be floating on air right now. She remembered clearly who her enemies were among these people.

Qiao Qiu watched coldly, glanced at Qiao Dong, then turned around and said, "Hong Lan, let's go."

"Yes." Honglan was furious. If she wasn't afraid of causing trouble for Qiao Qiu, she would have rushed up and slapped each of them.

"Where are you going, sister?" Qiao Dong quickly stopped her.

Qiao Qiu brushed her hand away without saying a word and walked away.

Qiao Dong lost his balance and fell to the ground. He turned around and called out to her, revealing a pitiful expression.

When the women of lower rank saw this, they all came over to help Qiao Dong and started cursing at Qiao Qiu's back.

Qiao Qiuli didn't even bother with the group and left without looking back.

The news soon reached the emperor's ears. When he heard that she turned and left without saying a word, he wanted to applaud Qiao Qiu. Her courage was far superior to that of other women, and even surpassed that of her gentle younger sister.

That night, the emperor summoned Qiao Qiu to his bedchamber again.

Qiao Qiu looked at her fingers wrapped in white gauze, bared her little tiger teeth, and looked like she was about to bite someone.

That's right, she wanted to bite the emperor; she wanted that damned emperor to die!

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Qiao Qiu paused, took a deep breath, rubbed her face with her palm, put on a gentle smile, and stood up.

Before the eunuch finished speaking, the emperor's figure had already appeared before them, his steps somewhat hurried.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."

"My beloved concubine, there's no need for such formalities."

The emperor scooped Qiao Qiu into his arms again, looking down at her with a smile in his peach blossom eyes, "Why can't you even enter your own place?"

"It's better to avoid trouble. They're clearly after me. I... Your Majesty, I don't want to waste my breath on them." Qiao Qiu realized she had mispronounced her name halfway through her sentence and quickly corrected herself.

"If you can't say 'Your Majesty,' then don't. From now on, just refer to yourself as 'I.' Let me see your hands." The emperor was very gentle, lifting her hand and examining it carefully. "Has the imperial physician come tonight?"

"I've been here." Qiao Qiu was very uncomfortable with this, but no matter how many negative emotions she had, she didn't pull her hand away even a little.

"I fell asleep unintentionally while listening to your zither playing yesterday. I intended to ask you to stop after playing three or four pieces, but you played all night. When I woke up this morning, I saw blood on the zither. Do you know how guilty and heartbroken I am?"

The emperor's affectionate words almost touched Qiao Qiu's heart. Since ancient times, the emperor's words have been the least trustworthy. She had been an emperor's concubine before, so why was she somewhat moved this time?