Chapter 6 She came, and he came too

Yun Zhao was led to Yanying Palace.

This palace is where the emperor reviews memorials, summons important officials, and decides on state affairs.

The air seemed to be filled with the weight of power, with the interweaving of sandalwood and ink scents, yet unable to conceal the invisible solemnity and oppression.

Zhang Fuan, who was leading the way, whispered, "Your Majesty is diligent in his work and spends most of his time here every day."

However, the word "tyrant" flashed coldly through Yun Zhao's mind.

"Thank you for the advice, sir."

"Miss Yun, this is a blessing in disguise for you. Not only has the Yun family been pardoned, but you are now serving His Majesty. This is a great blessing, not everyone can have it."

Blessing?

"Thank you for the advice, sir."

The image of several young eunuchs cleaning the bloodstains at the door flashed through Yun Zhao's mind, which was quite ironic!

She was taken to a small side room in the palace used for palace maids to take turns on duty.

There was already a palace maid inside, with a figure as straight as a green bamboo, a pretty face but with a sense of alienation that made it difficult to approach.

Zhang Fuan introduced: "This is Wu Lingyu. She has been serving tea in front of the emperor for five months and is very prudent. Miss Yun, you will learn the etiquette from Miss Yu in the future."

Wu Lingyu. Yun Zhao searched his memory quickly. In his short and dark previous life, he had no recollection of this name.

That's right. At that time, she was busy taking care of herself and had no energy to care about the fate of a palace maid.

Yun Zhao suppressed his emotions and stepped forward politely, keeping a very humble attitude. "Yun Zhao greets Sister Yu. I hope you will give me more guidance in the future."

Only then did Wu Lingyu's gaze truly fall on Yun Zhao.

The look was very indifferent, like the thin frost in early winter, neither scrutinizing nor intimate. It only lingered for a moment on her plain dress, which was obviously made of much finer material than the palace maid's uniform.

She spoke, her voice as cold and clear as her personality, "Now that you're here, focus on your duties. A job at Yanying Palace is something many people would struggle to get. You... do have a good background."

There was no sense of joy or anger in these words, but they were like the tip of a tiny needle, piercing with precision.

Yun Zhao understood the reminder: she came to this position easily because of her identity as a young lady from the Duke's Mansion, not because of her real ability.

The palace maids in such a huge harem must have already looked at her with awe.

Yun Zhao's face remained humble as he bowed slightly again. "Thank you for your advice, sister. Yun Zhao is new here and is ignorant of everything. I will be careful with my words and actions, learn diligently from you, and serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly. I will not dare to slack off in the slightest."

Wu Lingyu raised her eyebrows slightly, as if slightly surprised by Yun Zhao's "understanding", but her face remained expressionless. "You will live with me in the West Wing from now on. I will be on duty during the day, and you will take over at night. If you have nothing to do now, you can go to the side hall and wait. Get familiar with the place and wait for the call."

She gave the instructions briefly and crisply, then turned around to prepare tea.

Yun Zhao accepted this indifference, but that didn't mean she had to endure the other party's scrutiny. As Wu Lingyu was about to step over the threshold, she spoke in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, with just the right tone of inquiry: "Sister, please wait. Yun Zhao is not very knowledgeable, but I have a question for you. Your Majesty... do you have any special tea preferences or taboos? I'm afraid that since I'm new here, I might be clumsy and violate taboos, which would... bring trouble upon you, sister."

She spoke the last half of the sentence very clearly.

Wu Lingyu's steps indeed paused. She slowly turned around, and her cold eyes finally took on a hint of emotion other than scrutiny—a faint, almost playful, half-smile.

She looked at Yun Zhao with a gaze that seemed to penetrate people's hearts.

"Miss Yun," she spoke slowly, each word carefully chosen, "In Yanying Palace, Your Majesty... has no preferences, and no taboos."

She paused, her eyes meaningful, "Just watch and serve with all your heart."

After saying this, he did not stop and his figure disappeared into the shadow of the corridor leading to the main hall.

Yun Zhao stood alone in the slightly empty ear room, his fingertips slightly curled up.

No preferences, no taboos?

Wu Lingyu's words were like a cloud of fog, but more like a warning. This seemingly simple task of serving tea was likely to be a bottomless pit of cold.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her turbulent emotions, and turned to walk towards the side hall. Every step she took was on thin ice in the unknown.

…

In the huge tea room, the heavy air seemed to be permeated with the fragrance of tea and invisible pressure.

Yun Zhao took a deep breath, trying to suppress the pounding heartbeat in his chest.

Although she came from a family of meritorious service and had learned the six arts of tea ceremony since childhood, the complexity and sophistication of the royal tea ceremony before her far exceeded her previous knowledge. Brewing tea is like alchemy, and the slightest mistake can lead to disaster.

Her fingertips were cold and trembling as she picked up the "Tea Classic" again.

Tonight is my first night watch, serving the tyrant who works diligently until late at night.

Is this tea supposed to be a wake-up call or a sleep aid? She hesitated in front of the Linlang Gong tea, her mind hanging by a thread.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Yun Zhao, thinking it was the returning female official Wu Lingyu, breathed a sigh of relief and stood up to greet her. The moment he looked up, his smile froze—it was Su Mingli!

It was late at night, why was she staying in the palace?

Su Mingli looked arrogant and waved her hand to send the palace maid away.

The tea room suddenly became empty.

"Daughter of a guilty minister, why don't you kneel when you see me?"

Yun Zhao straightened her back. "My father has already pardoned you! You haven't received the imperial decree, so why should I kneel? My father is a meritorious duke, and I am a lady-in-waiting to His Majesty. According to etiquette, you should bow to me!"

Su Mingli's face darkened. She rushed forward and grabbed Yun Zhao's wrist with incredible force. Her shrill cry pierced the silence, "Yun Zhao! You're just jealous of me getting into the harem! You're the Princess of Qin. Why are you trying to get involved with His Majesty?"

Before she finished speaking, she fiercely tore off the beads on her wrist with her other hand!

"Crackling" sounded, "The South Pearl was given by the Queen Mother herself! How dare you destroy the gift from the Emperor!"

There was a movement of figures outside the door, and the palace maids were startled and stood there.

Yun Zhao's heart sank to the bottom, and he sighed tiredly, "Su Mingli, you're a dog that always eats shit! You dare to make a scene in the important place of Yanying Palace? Do you have to make a scene in front of His Majesty?"

Su Mingli's eyes flashed fiercely, and then turned into tears in an instant: "Sister Yun Zhao... I know you are wronged.

Yesterday you caused a scene at the Su Mansion, and my father advised me not to bother with you... I finished talking with the Eighth Princess and came to see you. Why are you taking your anger out on me..."

Yun Zhao closed his eyes and opened them again, his expression cold and icy: "Forget it. Your Majesty will decide right from wrong. Whether to beat or kill is up to your Majesty."

"Yun Zhao!" A stern rebuke came from behind him.

Wu Lingyu stood at the door, his face frost-covered, his eyes like a knife slashing across: "How dare you! You have offended Miss Su to such an extent, and you still don't apologize? Pick up every imperial bead immediately! Do you hear me?"

Yun Zhao turned around in surprise.

Wu Lingyu's voice was as sharp as an icy cone: "If you dare not obey, I will report to His Majesty immediately and banish you from the palace and never employ you again!"

The last trace of warmth faded away.

Yun Zhao's whole body stiffened and he slowly squatted down.

My vision was blurred by the mist.

Pale fingers trembled as they reached for the scattered white beads. One, two... their fingertips touched the icy surface, sending a chill piercing through their bones.

Just when her fingertips were about to hold the third pearl, a pair of gorgeous embroidered shoes studded with pearls suddenly stepped down!

The heel crushed her fingers precisely and brutally!

The piercing pain is like a sharp spike piercing into the brain!

Yun Zhao suddenly looked up, tears in his eyes that had not yet rolled down. In his blurred vision, he only met Su Mingli's eyes that were not concealed and were filled with pride and viciousness.

"stop!"

A loud shout filled with overwhelming rage, like a thunderclap, instantly tore through the stagnant air!

"Su Mingli, are you tired of living?!"

That sound?!

The air suddenly froze! All the palace servants fell to their knees as if struck by an invisible hammer, their foreheads pressed against the cold tiles, holding their breath and concentrating, not daring to move.

Is it him? !

Yun Zhao's tearful eyes looked up through the hazy light of the water.

The first thing that caught the eye was the corner of a dark brocade robe, which was embroidered with a python with extremely fine red gold thread, emitting a cold golden glow under the dim candlelight.

The hem of the robe brushed across the smooth floor tiles, silently, but with an oppressive pressure like a collapsing mountain.

A black jade belt was tied around her waist, and a black jade pendant was pressed against her sleeve, with a deep luster.

The most eye-catching thing is the sword hanging at the waist. The scabbard is simple, but in the interweaving of light and shadow, it emits a heart-pounding cold light that is enough to freeze the bone marrow.

The tall figure was as majestic as a mountain, and the invisible pressure pressed down heavily, instantly crushing the solidified pride and viciousness on Su Mingli's face, leaving only pale panic.