Ji Yunhuan first went to the imperial kitchen to find Xia Yang. When Xia Yang heard that it was a reward from the Grand Prince, he accepted it without saying a word and was not polite at all.
She went to the slave camp to find Baizhi again. She thought she would encounter difficulties and there would not be much left by the time the things were delivered to Baizhi. Unexpectedly, she met Baizhi very smoothly.
"No, no! Life in the Eastern Palace is already difficult. You and His Highness just need to have enough food and clothing. I have everything I need, so I don't need you to repay me."
Ji Yun laughed and said, "His Highness asked me to give it to you. If you don't accept it, I won't be able to explain it to His Highness when I return."
Bai Zhi touched the exquisite fabric and said in a voice so soft that it was almost inaudible, "So His Highness still remembers me."
"I'll take the gift. Xiaoyun, you must take good care of His Highness. Taking good care of him is the best way to repay me."
Ji Yunhuan noticed that Bai Zhi seemed to have deep feelings for Xiao Yan. When he stepped forward to go to the Eastern Palace in her place, perhaps it was not to help her, but because he really wanted to take care of Xiao Yan.
"Don't worry, sister. This is all my responsibility."
The two chatted some more. Bai Zhi was particularly concerned about Xiao Yan, so Ji Yunhuan could only talk about some small things like food and clothing, and Bai Zhi listened with great interest.
"Miss Xiaoyun is here." A young eunuch with a fair face came over and greeted Ji Yunhuan with a smile.
Bai Zhi immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Eunuch Shun."
Xiao Shunzi was the new manager of the prison camp. He gave Bai Zhi a slight hand and said with a smile, "Since you are Miss Xiaoyun's friend, there is no need to be so polite. Just call me Xiao Shunzi."
He turned to look at Ji Yunhuan again, "Miss Xiaoyun, are you done with your work?"
Ji Yunhuan didn't even know this little Shunzi, so she could only bow and reply, "I'm done, I'll be leaving right away."
Xiao Shunzi nodded and said, "In that case, come with me, girl."
Ji Yunhuan recognized that this was the road to Jinhua Palace.
No wonder Xiao Shunzi became the manager of the slave camp at such a young age. It turned out that he had the support of Concubine Wu.
The entire harem was under the control of Concubine Wu. As long as she left the Eastern Palace, Concubine Wu would know immediately.
If Concubine Wu wanted to kill her, a criminal slave, there would be no need to go through so much trouble. She was very curious that she would go to so much trouble just to see her.
Xiao Shunzi took Ji Yunhuan into Jinhua Palace through the corner gate quietly without disturbing anyone.
After living two lives, Ji Yunhuan met Concubine Wu for the first time.
It was thought that Concubine Wu, who was favored the most in the six palaces, should be a beauty with extraordinary beauty, but Concubine Wu's appearance could only be considered above average. Although she was very beautiful, she was not to the extent of outshining all other beauties.
She is nearly forty years old, with round eyebrows and a gentle and kind temperament. When she smiles, there are traces of time in the corners of her eyes, which makes her look even more gentle.
"Good boy, stop kneeling and sit down."
As soon as Ji Yunhuan knelt down, she was helped up. A stool was already prepared. The nanny beside Concubine Wu smiled and pulled her to sit down, not allowing her to refute.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am so frightened. I don't know why you summoned me here."
Concubine Wu looked at Ji Yunhuan with gentle eyes, as if she was looking at a younger generation of her own family.
"She is truly a beauty. With such good looks and a beautiful figure, it's a shame for her to go to that cold and icy place called the East Palace."
"The deposed Crown Prince is brutal by nature. The palace maids were all sent here from good families. Even if they were from the royal family, they couldn't be beaten or killed at will. I had no other choice but to ask Die'er to go to the prison camp to select someone. Die'er has good taste and chose you at first sight. Die'er, come here."
Die'er came over with her head down and bowed to Ji Yunhuan, saying, "Miss Xiaoyun, I'm sorry. It was my younger sister who was ignorant and offended you. I didn't discipline her well. Now that she's gone, please be magnanimous and don't hold it against her."
Ji Yunhuan hurriedly stood up and bowed, even more respectfully than Die'er. "Sister, you are too polite. I am just a slave, how can I deserve your apology? Besides, you are here to carry out your mission, so someone has to serve His Highness."
Concubine Wu nodded in satisfaction. "I'm relieved that you're so sensible and considerate. Although you were sent to the Eastern Palace by mistake, you've done a great job in serving the deposed Crown Prince."
Ji Yunhuan said even more respectfully, "Serving Your Highness is my duty. I dare not take credit for it."
Concubine Wu ordered people to display a lot of gold, silver and jewelry. The exquisite sandalwood boxes were opened one by one, and the things inside were shining brightly. Any one of them was a treasure that an ordinary person could never get in his lifetime.
"These are my gifts to you, take them and play with them."
Ji Yunhuan not only confiscated it, but also took out the banknotes in her arms and spread them flat on the table, saying seriously: "No merit, no reward. Your Majesty's generous reward makes me feel uneasy."
Concubine Wu couldn't help but look at Ji Yunhuan with admiration. "You are indeed a sincere child. I was not wrong about you. You are different from those who climb up the social ladder. Everyone loves gold, silver and jewelry, but you don't want them."
She waved her hand to let everyone leave, leaving only Ji Yunhuan. "I like this child and want to talk to her. You all go out. Don't come in and disturb me if you don't have anything to do."
A group of palace maids filed out, Die'er was at the end, and couldn't help but glare at Ji Yunhuan.
Her sister died in unclear circumstances, so she didn't believe that she would commit suicide by jumping into a well. Xiaoyun was the only one in the entire harem who had a grudge against her sister, so it must have been Xiaoyun who did it!
Xiaoyun not only seduces the Fifth Prince, but now she also pretends to win the favor of the Imperial Concubine. She is so despicable!
Even though she was unwilling in her heart, Dier could only endure it for the time being. One day, she would kill Xiaoyun to avenge her sister!
Concubine Wu pulled Ji Yunhuan to sit beside her, lifted up Ji Yunhuan's sleeve, revealing the hideous "slave" mark on his forearm.
Criminal slaves would be branded with a red-hot iron and then stained with a special ink. It was a mark of shame that could never be removed.
Ji Yunhuan couldn't help but shrink back and lowered his head even lower.
Concubine Wu touched the slave mark on Ji Yunhuan's body lovingly and sighed, "You are a good child, but you have a miserable fate and were sent to the slave camp."
"Even if I offer you a first-class maid, you'll still be a criminal slave, unable to leave the palace for the rest of your life. But are you really willing to spend your entire life serving others and never being able to hold your head up high?"
Ji Yunhuan's eyes were indifferent, but her voice was choked with sobs. "Now this is already a sign of your Majesty's love for me. What else can this servant ask for?"
"You don't have to belittle yourself. I can help you escape from slavery and let you leave the palace to live a free and happy life. You can live an upright life and no longer have to bear this shameful mark!"
Ji Yunhuan suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with unconcealed joy, "Are you serious, Madam? Is this really possible?"
Concubine Wu smiled. She knew that as long as one is a human being, he or she will have desires, and she has found Xiaoyun's desires.
"Of course!" Concubine Wu placed a small black porcelain bottle on the banknotes and pushed it in front of Ji Yunhuan. "As long as you are willing to serve me, and after you are freed from slavery, I will grant you fertile land and a house, and guarantee you a life of wealth and glory!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com