Chapter 3: Watching the Beauty Under the Moon

Xu Lanshan raised her head timidly. Her pretty oval face was delicately adorned with small features. Her slender, mountain-like eyebrows curved down to her temples. Her watery, almond-shaped eyes held a hint of pitiful nervousness. She pursed her lips slightly. Her lips were small, rosy, and beautifully curved, looking soft and alluring...

Lanshan was naturally beautiful, and after Xu Lanshan's careful dressing up, her temperament also changed. She seemed to have been reborn, almost completely different from before.

Emperor Yuan Yong didn't recognize her at all.

But he was obviously in a very good mood. After all, this was a surprise he had encountered by chance, not something that was forced upon him by others or taken into his harem for various reasons.

Essentially, this is different.

"Get up."

"Your Majesty..."

Emperor Yuan Yong was startled, then laughed heartily: "Alright, I forgive you, stand up!"

Xu Lanshan's face showed joy, her almond-shaped eyes lit up slightly, and the corners of her lips raised a just right smile: "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty!"

She stood up gracefully, feeling relieved.

The emperor himself said that she was forgiven, so even if someone wanted to find fault with her and use palace rules to pressure her, they couldn't do it.

Her reaction greatly pleased Emperor Yuan Yong, who burst into laughter and asked, "What's your name? Where do you work?"

Dong Zhi quickly glanced at Xu Lanshan and thought, here it comes, we are finally getting to the point. Oh, I have to remember this and find someone to help me later.

Xu Lanshan bent her knees and stood up straight, then said, "Your Majesty, my name is Lanshan, and I serve Concubine Song in the side hall of Yongchun Palace."

In the imperial harem of the Dawen Dynasty, only concubines from the third rank of Concubine Yu and above were eligible to become the head of a palace and live in the main hall. Concubine Song was a fifth rank beauty, so even though there was no head of Yongchun Palace, she could only live in a side hall.

Emperor Yuan Yong was surprised: "So that's how it is."

Xu Lanshan's hands were somewhat uneasy and she unconsciously fiddled with her clothes. Her small movements naturally attracted the attention of Emperor Yuan Yong. These hands——

The fingers of these hands were slender, graceful and elegant. He finally remembered them, and he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of fate. He smiled and said, "So it's you! Your name is Lanshan!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Xu Lanshan smiled shyly, and said softly with excitement and joy: "So Your Majesty, you still remember me..."

Emperor Yuan Yong was very pleased with the girl's excitement and joy. He wanted to tease her a little, but suddenly remembered that she was a maid of one of his concubines in the harem, so he stopped.

For him, an emperor, to have an affair with a maidservant of his concubines was a bit demeaning and disrespectful. It would not be too late to wait for a clear path.

Emperor Yuan Yong then asked, "What are you doing here so late at night?"

Xu Lanshan's eyes changed slightly, "Your servant, your servant..."

Emperor Yuan Yong frowned slightly, "Tell me the truth."

Xu Lanshan quickly knelt down, crying and aggrieved, "I don't know why I suddenly angered the beauty. These past few days, these past few days... I've been feeling sad and missing my mother. Seeing that the moonlight is beautiful today and my mother likes peach blossoms, I quietly came here to pray. I didn't expect to run into the emperor..."

Emperor Yuan Yong was not stupid. Xu Lanshan didn't know why, but he understood after thinking about it for a while.

Why? It’s jealousy!

He had some impression of this Lady Song. She was okay in appearance, but she was pretentious and brainless, so he quickly got over her.

I think he casually praised the palace maid that day, which made Concubine Song unhappy, so she deliberately teased her.

Humph, this is outrageous!

From this perspective, it seemed that I was the one who harmed this little palace maid.

If Emperor Yuan Yong was still hesitant before, he had now made up his mind and he wanted this palace maid.

Emperor Yuan Yong said gently, "So that's the case. Don't worry, Concubine Song won't bully you again. It's getting late, so go back. Dong Zhi, you will escort her back yourself."

Dong Zhi was shocked and understood what this meant: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Tsk tsk, this little girl, good fortune is really coming.

Xu Lanshan also showed a hint of joy, and glanced at the emperor with admiration: "Yes, with your words, I feel relieved!"

What an innocent little girl! Emperor Yuan Yong chuckled, "Well, go ahead!"

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

As Xu Lanshan knelt down to salute, her stomach made an inopportune rumbling sound.

She stiffened with embarrassment, her cheeks burning.

This, this - she hasn't eaten for two days and is really hungry!

The most annoying thing is, why did they have to ring at this time? What if it offended the emperor? Wouldn't all the efforts be wasted?

Xu Lanshan was about to plead guilty: "Your Majesty——"

Emperor Yuan Yong interrupted her: "Is dinner ready?"

Dinner? This word is not used by a servant, but the meaning is the same after all. She hesitated and shook her head gently: "No, no..."

A flash of anger flashed across Emperor Yuan Yong's eyes. "Concubine Song, huh! Very good, very good! If this kind of person is not disciplined, she will surely make the palace a mess."

Emperor Yuan Yong turned to look at Dong Zhi and said, "Send someone to the imperial kitchen to tell them and have some food delivered."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xu Lanshan also quickly expressed her gratitude, and this gratitude was truly sincere.

Dong Zhi accompanied Xu Lanshan away, thinking to himself, "The Emperor has clearly slapped Concubine Song in the face." It wasn't uncommon for masters to oppress and torture servants in the palace, but who had it in common for Concubine Song to be so unlucky?

Logically speaking, Concubine Song deserves it!

The emperor doesn't pay attention to or know about many messy things in the palace, but Dong Zhi, the head eunuch of Ganyuan Palace, knows everything.

Ever since the emperor praised Lanshan's hands that day, he knew everything that Concubine Song had done, and it was not just about making Lanshan starve.

He thought Lanshan would take the opportunity to complain and cry, asking the emperor to make a decision, but he didn't expect that!

He had underestimated this girl before. She has a bright future...

Dong Zhi's attitude unconsciously became three times more polite, and he said several words to comfort Xu Lanshan on the way.

In this palace, ups and downs are normal. One day you're favored, the next you're banished to the cold palace. One day you're lowly, the next day you're in a high position. Who can predict that? It's always good to be reserved and to show off when the time is right.

Xu Lanshan naturally reciprocated the favor and became even more polite and friendly to Dong Zhi.

She was a smart person and spoke nicely, which made Dong Zhi, the boss's most trusted confidant, smile and have a good impression of him.

The position of a beauty is served by two palace maids and one eunuch, and the cleaning and other work in the palace will be arranged by the Shanggong Bureau.

Xiao Songzi came in to report to the emperor that Eunuch Dong had arrived, which made Concubine Song very happy!

"The Emperor must have sent Eunuch Dong to summon me! The Emperor finally remembered me!" Otherwise, how could Eunuch Dong come at this hour?

Su Ying also looked delighted: "Yes, yes, congratulations, beautiful lady!"