Outside the most remote and dilapidated courtyard of the Eastern Palace, the young eunuch guarding the gate unlocked the door, and several burly old women, their faces full of fat, rolled up their sleeves and stepped into the courtyard.

Last night, Wang Yuan stayed here overnight. For dinner, she only ate a steamed bun and a bowl of water brought to her by a young eunuch.

The young eunuch told her that His Highness the Crown Prince did not like women who were too fat, so she needed to eat vegetarian food for a month.

Wang Yuan glanced at her slightly plump figure and then thought of Ning Yin's slender waist, so she didn't think much of it.

However, because this side hall had been in disrepair for many years and the palace servants rarely came to clean it, a centipede as thick as a finger quietly crawled up her thigh after she fell asleep last night.

Wang Yuan was startled awake and immediately reached out to touch it. She knew what it was just by touching it.

She screamed and howled inside, but no one paid any attention. In the end, she huddled in a corner and sat there all night.

Just as dawn was breaking, Wang Yuan drifted off to sleep, but the next second she felt someone grab her ear and drag her upwards with great force.

"It hurts, it hurts!"

Wang Yuan was instantly jolted awake by the old nanny's tugging. When she looked up, she saw several governesses with their hands on their hips, staring at her fiercely.

"I say, Miss Junzhu, you've only just moved into the East Palace and you're already shirking your duties. Do you know that His Highness dislikes women like this the most?"

The head maid, Granny Guan, was in charge of training the newly arrived palace ladies. She was not only shrewd and experienced but also ruthless. Most importantly, Xiao Xuan had specifically instructed her to take good care of this girl, Yunzhu.

The old men in the palace are all shrewd and calculating. They have climbed their way up to their current positions through hard work and are best at figuring out their masters' intentions.

This girl, Yunzhu, is no master at all; she's clearly a lamb to the slaughter, and not even one that can die quickly and easily.

Granny Guan's fleshy face trembled, revealing a half-smile.

Wang Yuan was displeased, but when she heard what Granny Guan said, she didn't dare to talk back. After all, becoming His Highness's woman would definitely require some effort.

She bowed slightly to Granny Guan, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes. She thought, "Just a bunch of old scoundrels. Once I become an empress, all these blind fools will die."

"Granny, I didn't sleep very well last night. There are centipedes in this bedchamber. Could you please send someone to clean it up for me and also bring some daily necessities over?"

"Clean up? Miss Yunzhu, you're not the mistress yet!"

Wang Yuan was speechless for a moment after Guan Mama's words. She was about to retort when she saw Guan Mama wave her hand, and an even more ferocious-looking old nanny quickly brought over a tray of tools.

Wang Yuan was a virgin who had never experienced anything like this before. Looking at the rows of tools on the tray, she suddenly felt flustered.

"Miss Junzhu, if you want to become a royal woman, the first step is to test whether your body meets the requirements. Please take off your clothes now."

Granny Guan's voice was devoid of any emotion, displaying a purely businesslike attitude. After all, His Highness the Crown Prince had said that sparing one's life would suffice, so how could they not understand?

You can do whatever you want with this bamboo, as long as you don't kill it. Besides, this inspection is in accordance with the rules.

"May I ask, Granny, what does this mean?"

She was just a sixteen-year-old girl after all. No matter how cunning she was, she couldn't compare to these shrewd people.

They were locked in the deep palace their whole lives, never enjoying the favor of men. Why should this wretched girl want to rise to the top and become a phoenix?

Therefore, given the opportunity, they will vent their years of frustration on others.

When Granny Guan saw Wang Yuan dawdling, her face immediately darkened, and she gestured with her chin toward the others.

The men grabbed Wang Yuan's hands and then slapped her several times across the face.

The blow was so powerful that Wang Yuan's lip split open and bled, and a jade hairpin on her head fell to the ground and broke in two.

"What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? I told you to take your clothes off, didn't you understand!"

Granny Guan reached out and pinched Wang Yuan's cheek, her nails digging into her flesh, causing Wang Yuan to wince in pain.

"You've gone too far! I need to see His Highness! His Highness!"

"Your Highness? His Highness doesn't have time to deal with you right now. His Highness is in court; how can he protect you every moment?"

"You guys, rip her clean!"

"Insolence! Don't you want your heads? I was appointed by the Crown Prince and will be the master of this Eastern Palace in the future! Are you all insane!"

Wang Yuan glared with bloodshot eyes and struggled desperately, but those old women were incredibly strong and she couldn't budge them at all.

In no time, the men had stripped her naked.

"Let me examine whether you are even qualified to climb into His Highness's bed."

Granny Guan spoke in a sarcastic tone, examining Wang Yuan thoroughly. Wang Yuan was in excruciating pain. Granny Guan, annoyed by her constant chatter, had someone stuff a tattered rag into Wang Yuan's mouth.

Wang Yuan's face was streaked with tears, and she was trembling with hatred and humiliation.

Your Highness, come quickly! Please come and save Yuanyuan! Yuanyuan is about to be killed by these wicked servants!

Wang Yuan thought of Xiao Xuan's handsome face and the tenderness in his eyes yesterday, and she simply couldn't believe that a man would treat her like this.

She even suspected that these old men were sent by Ning Yin to take revenge on her.

Yes, it must be that bitch Ning Yin. Knowing that things had been exposed, she wanted to take revenge on me.

Wang Yuan clenched her fists tightly, thinking that His Highness would come to see her after court.

She should just bear with it a little longer, just a little longer.

It took a long time for Granny Guan to finish her examination. Wang Yuan collapsed to the ground, her clothes torn to shreds and unwearable.

Granny Guan squatted down, patted her face, and said kindly, "This is something every lady in the palace has to go through. This old servant is just doing what's required. Please don't blame me, Miss Junzhu."

After saying that, Granny Guan ripped the rag out of her mouth, smiled smugly, and then threw Wang Yuan an old dress belonging to a low-ranking palace maid.

"That was the morning's project; we'll continue this afternoon..."

After Granny Guan left, Wang Yuan's bloodshot eyes were instantly filled with murderous intent. She wiped away her tears unwillingly, got up and put on her clothes.

Ning Yin, you will die a horrible death! Everything you've done to me, I will make you pay back a thousandfold!

She had to find Xiao Xuan and tell him everything. She staggered to the courtyard gate, which was unlocked. However, the two eunuchs at the gate couldn't help but smirk when they saw Wang Yuan's disheveled appearance.

"Miss Junzhu, where are you headed?"

The eunuch's voice was soft and high-pitched, with a hint of teasing, and his eyes kept lingering on Wang Yuan.

"Get out of the way, I need to see the Crown Prince!"

Wang Yuan glared at the two men, who then blocked her path. "Tsk tsk tsk, once you enter the Eastern Palace, you have to behave yourself. Don't even mention that you're not His Highness's woman yet. Even if you were, you'd still have to stay in this courtyard. Besides, you're not even a concubine yet, pfft..."