In October of the nineteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the Forbidden City was already getting cold. A young palace maid's voice came from a side hall of the Chuxiu Palace.

"Princess, it's time to take your medicine."

Hearing Chunying's words, Wu Lingzhu snapped out of her daze. She never expected to be able to return to this place, the Forbidden City that she hated so much.

"Put the medicine down for now, I'll drink it later."

"Yes, Princess."

Wu Lingzhu, perhaps because her obsession was too deep, she has returned.

She was the half-sister of Empress Hesheli, the first empress of the Kangxi Emperor. She entered the palace in the nineteenth year of Kangxi's reign when she was only ten years old. She died in the thirty-fifth year of Kangxi's reign. During this time, she gave birth to a son, who died at the hands of someone left behind by her sister, the first empress, whom she had never met. The crown prince tacitly agreed to the death, and Kangxi remained silent after learning about it. She did her best to take revenge, and then she died.

When Emperor Kangxi posthumously conferred titles upon her, he only added the character "Ping" to her title.

Her first life, like the posthumous title bestowed upon her by Emperor Kangxi, was unremarkable.

After her death, she didn't go to hell. She was reborn hundreds of years later in the body of an infant who should have died. She loved her second life, but an accident sent her back to the Forbidden City.

Since that's the case, she took it all as God sending her back so she could take revenge.

Having figured this out, Wu Lingzhu picked up the medicine and drank it all in one gulp without using a spoon. Chunying, who was standing next to her, hurriedly said, "Princess, have a piece of candied fruit to sweeten your mouth."

As she spoke, she brought over a plate of candied fruit.

Wu Lingzhu then remembered that she was very afraid of bitterness when she was young. As she grew up, she ate too many bitter things. In the last two years of her first life, she was accompanied by bitter soup every day.

She picked up a piece of candied fruit and ate it.

"These candied fruits are good. Thank you for taking care of me these past two days."

"Serving my master is not hard work for me."

Chunying was someone she brought into the palace from outside, and she was of one mind with her. But she also left early, and in this life, she will never be the same again.

"Spring Cherry, I'm sleepy."

"Princess, please go to sleep. I will stay with you."

Wu Lingzhu closed her eyes and finally fell asleep peacefully.

The next day, after waking up, she heard a commotion outside. Wu Lingzhu asked, "Chunying, what's that noise outside?"

"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager heard that you were ill and specially sent you a reward."

"Have the Emperor and the Empress Dowager sent anyone?"

"No."

"What about Yuqing Palace?"

"The Crown Prince didn't send anyone either."

Wu Lingzhu smiled and said, "Never mind, perhaps the Crown Prince is unaware of this!"

“Princess~” Chunying felt indignant for her mistress.

As the Empress's sister, even if she was a concubine's sister, her birth was that of a prince's wife. However, at a young age, she entered the deep palace. The Emperor placed her in the Chuxiu Palace without giving her a title, treating her extremely perfunctorily.

It was one thing for the Emperor, but the reason the master entered the palace was more because of the Crown Prince. The Hesheli family was afraid that the Crown Prince would be influenced by the concubines in the harem because he had lost his mother, so they sent the master into the palace.

To some extent, her entry into the palace was for the sake of the Crown Prince.

The master is ill, yet the crown prince hasn't sent anyone to inquire about him. What kind of behavior is this?

Wu Lingzhu was not surprised. The Crown Prince was not much younger than her. Children in the palace at this age are already sensible. However, those left behind by Empress Hesheli might not want her to be close to the Crown Prince.

Influenced by those around him, the Crown Prince viewed his aunt as less important than even his trusted servants. In his eyes, she should be nothing more than a tool for him.

He has no heart for someone who's just a tool.

As for the inaction of Kangxi and the Empress Dowager, she was not surprised at all. Sending her to the palace was the decision of the Hesheli family. She was only ten years old. Although Kangxi agreed, he may not have felt comfortable with it.

He was the emperor; if he felt even slightly uncomfortable, he could openly and blatantly ignore her existence.

"With the Empress Dowager's reward, at least I won't have to suffer. Once I recover, I will personally go to the Empress Dowager to express my gratitude."

She was only ten years old. Although she was eager to learn, she was too young and needed to develop in a lowly manner. The Empress Dowager was an old lady who didn't care about important matters. She would approach her and act as a dependent junior, at least to gain a reputation for filial piety.

She doesn't need the Empress Dowager's help; all she needs is a little pity for her, and that's enough for her for now.

To some extent, the Empress Dowager was an easy person to talk to, and she didn't mind the concubines in the harem using her influence, provided that they didn't disturb her peaceful life.

Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk from a cocoon.

After recovering from her illness, she felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable. Wearing a headband she had embroidered herself, she went to the Empress Dowager to express her gratitude.

At Shou Kang Palace, someone came in to report: "Your Majesty, the Princess of Chu Xiu Palace requests an audience, saying she has come to express her gratitude."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "I remember that girl is only ten years old this year. It must be hard on her. Let her in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager sent a reward to Wu Lingzhu.

Firstly, it was to make a statement. Wu Lingzhu entered the palace, and regardless of whether she was a tool or not, she always carried the name of the Hesheli clan and represented the Hesheli clan, as well as the Crown Prince.

The Empress Dowager didn't pay much attention to the inner palace. Even if she knew she was ill, sending someone to give her a reward would be too much of an honor. A small reward from the Empress Dowager would be just right.

Secondly, the Empress Dowager was reminded of her own past, when she left the grasslands as a child, entered the palace alone, and never had freedom again.

Following the instructions of the old woman, Wu Lingzhu led Chunying into the main hall of Shou Kang Palace.

"Wulingzhu greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Wu Lingzhu spoke Mongolian, as everyone in the palace knew. The Empress Dowager could neither speak Manchu nor Chinese, but whether she truly couldn't speak them was anyone's guess.

However, because of the Empress Dowager's understanding and sensible nature, Kangxi was indeed quite filial to her, who was his biological mother who came from another family.

The Empress Dowager said with a smile, "Get up quickly, your Mongolian is quite good."

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Wu Lingzhu could sense that the Empress Dowager at least didn't dislike her.

In her modern life, she lived a happy life and was very good at winning the favor of her elders. In addition, she was still young, sensible yet innocent and charming, but not overly naive, so the Empress Dowager took a liking to her.

The Empress Dowager understood her situation and knew that she had come seeking protection. She acted appropriately, and the Empress Dowager was well aware of her situation.

As Wu Lingzhu was leaving, the Empress Dowager said, "When you have time, come visit me more often. Not many of the concubines in the harem can speak Mongolian."

Wu Lingzhu said with a look of surprise, "Yes, Wu Lingzhu will definitely come often. Just don't find me annoying."

Although not many of the concubines in the imperial harem could speak Mongolian, there were some. The Empress Dowager's words were indeed a sign of respect for her.

As Wu Lingzhu emerged from Shou Kang Palace, a smile appeared on her face.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was on the road, Chunying said excitedly, "Gege speaks Mongolian so well. Although this servant cannot understand it, the Empress Dowager seems to be having a very pleasant conversation with her. With the Empress Dowager's protection, our lives will not be too difficult."

Wu Lingzhu paused. Before entering the palace in her first life, she had learned Mongolian, but only to a mediocre degree. She was only ten years old at the time, and she learned Mongolian later through hard work and perseverance.

"The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted, and I have nothing else to do, so I will copy more Buddhist scriptures to pray for her blessings."

"Yes, Princess."