Yin Zhu was soon promoted, given a new residence, and became a second-class palace maid that everyone envied.
In the originally lively four-person room, only Wei Shuyi and Huaping, who was obsessed with food, were left.
"Sister Liuying! Would you like to try this donkey cake? I specially brought the ingredients from the small kitchen and made it secretly myself—"
"Sister Liuying, have I become a lot rounder recently?"
"Sister Liuying, how can I eat like you without gaining weight?"
…
The little girl had endless topics to talk about, chattering non-stop. In a trance, she remembered the years she and Meng Qingzhi had spent together in the Pharmacy Department.
But in the end, because of the word "interest", she became the abandoned child of her good sisters.
Aunt Zijin's lecture today was simple: "In Shoukang Palace, there is one more promotion available before the New Year. You all know how to perform."
Everyone held their breath and wanted to climb up, but Huaping didn't care. After they dispersed, they were laughing and discussing what to eat for lunch, and didn't take the matter to heart.
"Liu Ying!" Yin Zhu had already changed into a new palace dress, and her every move and gesture had the demeanor of a senior palace maid. "You must work hard. I'm in need of a helper, and I'm waiting for you to come!"
Wei Shuyi smiled in response: "Then sister, you must wait for me. If I fail to get promoted, don't look down on me, okay?"
"Among the third-class maids, you are the undisputed leader and will not fail."
Huaping also echoed: "That's right! Sister Liuying has won the favor of the Queen Mother, so promotion is a matter of time. I look forward to the promotion of the two sisters. When the time comes, you can provide me with some convenience in the small kitchen. I will be satisfied in this life, hehe——"
This childish behavior made the two of them smile.
But this smile could not reach Wei Shuyi's heart.
She had been deceived once by Meng Qingzhi's "simplicity and straightforwardness" and did not dare to let her guard down and completely accept such a person.
The New Year is approaching.
Xie Yanci's visits to Shoukang Palace increased again.
She had seen him more than once in the hazy tea mist, the morning glow illuminating the sky, and the sound of birdsong. But she could only watch him from afar, hiding the unknown feelings in her heart.
Although Wang Lian's reputation is well-known, he is actually very scheming. He is like a mad python lurking in the dark and spitting out poisonous venom, which always makes her feel uncomfortable.
He was a king, handsome and elegant, with a proud and heroic demeanor. He was a dragon that stirred up the world, making her yearn for him and feel deeply uneasy.
"Sister Liuying, why do you always stare at His Majesty?" Huaping came closer with a smile. "Our Majesty is so handsome. Could it be that Sister Liuying has also developed romantic feelings?"
"No, no. I was just thinking about what cakes to present today, and I got distracted."
"Look, the kitchen is ready."
Huaping swallowed hard at the tray, then looked away with difficulty, clutching her stomach and lamenting, "Oh, if only I could eat such delicious pastries! Sister Liuying, listen! It's cooing again! If the Queen Mother and His Majesty hear this, they'll definitely accuse me of being disrespectful in front of the palace!"
Wei Shuyi also heard the strange noise and felt helpless about it.
Seeing that it was almost time to serve tea, Huaping looked at her with her chin in her hand: "Sister Liuying, in order to save me and prevent me from being punished, and also for you to be able to get close to His Majesty... I will let you do this good job, how about it——"
She heard the "gurgling" sound again. If she was unlucky, she would indeed be punished.
So, she stepped forward and picked up the tray: "Just this once."
"Okay! Thank you, Sister Liuying!"
Wei Shuyi approached the main hall and, even outside the door curtain, heard a low, mellow, and clear voice. His voice always rose at the end, like flying catkins landing on the tip of the heart, tickling it.
"Why are you here today?" Yin Zhu asked softly, "Where is the person painting the screen?"
"She has a stomachache, so I brought it here for her."
After saying this, she took a deep breath, maintained her perfect appearance, and entered the inner room.
On the tray were tea offered to the emperor, as well as his favorite steamed chestnut flour cake with osmanthus sugar.
Bending closer, she smelled an unusual scent.
To further confirm, she stopped at the corner and gently crushed a small piece of the pastry underneath, and sure enough, she found tiny walnut particles!
One of the emperor's dietary restrictions was walnuts! It's said that when he was a child, he accidentally ate one and it caused him to break out in a rash and a persistent high fever.
The imperial chef in the palace shouldn't have made such a mistake!
"Who's outside? Why don't you come in?" Aunt Zijin noticed the shadow on the ground and shouted, "Do we have to wait until His Majesty is thirsty and then send someone to invite him in?"
what to do?
She was the one who sent the pastries, and if she presented them, it would most likely be the crime of regicide!
Wei Shuyi thought of Huaping's daily obsession with making pastries, and the clues connected one by one, with beads of sweat oozing out of his forehead.
She didn't have time to think about it, and while walking forward, she took the opportunity to step on the hem of her skirt, causing everything on the tray to fall to the ground!
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! I didn't walk steadily just now. I will change..."
"You're so brave!"
Zi Jin shouted angrily and subconsciously stood at the front, fearing that the flying debris would injure the masters. After confirming that everything was fine, he hurried to help Wei Shuyi clean up the mess on the ground.
Only when he noticed the surrounding area was covered with shiny walnut crumbs did Zijin stop and say, "This is..."
Xie Yanci also saw the forbidden object, and the displeasure on his face gradually deepened: "How outrageous!"
Wei Shuyi's heart trembled. Just as he was about to explain, he heard his furious voice: "Call all the tea-serving maids in Shoukang Palace!"
Soon, Huaping was pulled out of the house.
Zijin stepped forward and introduced, "Your Majesty, she is the maidservant the Empress Dowager relies on most to serve tea. The remaining ten percent of the time, I personally serve tea."
"Hmm...it's this face."
Xie Yanci stood up, stepped over the cakes scattered on the ground, and walked straight to the painting screen.
"It was Sister Liuying who was in love with the Emperor and rushed to serve tea, so I let her go! I know I was wrong!"
When Wei Shuyi heard Huaping's retort, he just found it ridiculous.
With just a few words, she was described as vain and eager for the emperor's favor.
"If that's the case, why did she use walnuts to harm me?"
Huaping pursed her lips, "Because... because Liuying was jealous of me. She was afraid that I would take away her promotion, so she used this vicious scheme to frame me!"
"Oh?" Xie Yanci said with a smile, pressing forward, "Then let me see how wronged you are! Yang Mingrui, bring me the blood-eroding juice!"
"emperor?"
Eunuch Yang waved his whisk and said, "This is a medicinal concoction developed by the Imperial Master. It combines easily with walnuts. If you haven't touched it, your hands will be safe. If you have, you will suffer from rotting fingers and excruciating pain! In the end, only blood will remain in the bowl. It's terrifying!"
Huaping's face turned pale when she heard this. When she was held on both sides by someone and her hands were forced to be immersed in the transparent medicine juice, she screamed and struggled hard!
This action has implicitly revealed the truth.
The Queen Mother helped Zijin stand up, her tone full of disappointment: "Why are there so many ungrateful people in my Shoukang Palace lately? Drag her away and don't let this place get dirty!"
The others left tacitly, leaving only Xie Yanci and Wei Shuyi who was kneeling on the ground and unable to get up.
He softened his tone and extended his right hand to her: "Get up."
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