The emperor did a good job of maintaining a balance in his harem, but his favorite was Consort Shu, who was good at dealing with people, knew how to act coquettishly, and had a keen eye. Most importantly, the emperor believed that Consort Shu's family was not of high status, and her sons and nephews had few useful talents, so he could dote on her without worry.
The emperor had his own way of balancing the harem and the front dynasty, and he had no choice but to do so.
Linlang had seen his little trick clearly just now. The emperor didn't feel embarrassed at all. He now saw everyone as a suspect. He pointed at the two bowls of food on the table and said, "Doctor Rong, take a look."
Normally, eunuchs did not dare to check anything sent by concubines, but before the emperor drank it, the chief eunuch would still test it with a silver needle.
Linlang came over and first tested the poison with a silver needle. There was no problem. Then she used the reagent, and there was no problem either.
The emperor was visibly relieved, but he thought that the concubines would not be so blatant as to poison the food he sent. They were not so stupid. If they were found out, they might be framed.
"It seems that it will not be easy to find the poison. Doctor Rong, please stay in the palace and search slowly."
If it were so easy to find, the imperial doctors would have discovered it long ago. The emperor thought of the people in the Imperial Hospital. Humph, few of them were useful. Their medical skills were not as good as a teenage girl.
The emperor glanced at the black line on his palm and let Linlang move freely. "Tell others that you are the maid who takes care of my daily life. Everything has been arranged. If you feel bored, go for a walk in the Imperial Garden."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The emperor was indeed tired, so he let Linlang do as she pleased and went into his bedroom to rest.
Linlang settled down in the palace. She had her own bedroom, and Eunuch Miao took care of everything, including her food, clothing, housing and transportation.
In the afternoon, the emperor was going to summon ministers. Linlang, led by Eunuch Miao, went to visit the imperial garden, mainly to check if there were any problems.
In the palace, the Imperial Garden is the best place for palace fighting. Linlang decided to end the fight quickly and evacuate after finishing the inspection.
However, things did not go as planned. When Linlang finished the examination and wanted to leave, Concubine Shu came to the Imperial Garden with her entourage. She could only follow Eunuch Miao to pay her respects.
"This servant greets Her Majesty Shu Guifei and pays his respects to Her Majesty."
"Stand up." Concubine Shu walked gracefully to Linlang. "Eunuch Miao is in a good mood today. Come to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers."
While Concubine Shu was talking to Eunuch Miao, her eyes never left Linlang, and she looked her up and down with sharp eyes. "When did a new person come into the palace? This girl is very beautiful, but I've never seen her before."
Linlang bowed, "Your servant Linlang greets the Imperial Concubine Shu. I am a newly transferred maid to serve the Emperor."
When she was standing in the emperor's bedroom before, Concubine Shu looked inside and must have noticed her. Now she must have received the news and came to block her.
Eunuch Miao hurriedly said, "The Emperor has been a light sleeper lately. Miss Zhiqiu accidentally broke a lamp at night, startling the Emperor and has been sent away. Miss Linlang is here to replace her. She was previously working in the cold palace, so the Imperial Concubine probably hasn't seen her."
Concubine Shu raised an eyebrow, "From the cold palace?"
"Yes." Eunuch Miao said respectfully, "Some time ago, a few maids left the cold palace, and a few more arrived. I sent someone to get rid of them, but unexpectedly, I ran into someone I know."
Eunuch Miao whispered, "Your Majesty, Linlang and I are from the same hometown. I saw that she was doing things properly, so I asked for your grace."
Concubine Shu believed what she said. She glanced at Linlang and asked, "Could it be your lover?"
Eunuch Miao didn't dare to speak.
"Okay, I understand. Please stand up." Concubine Shu's hostility towards Linlang disappeared instantly. She was just a eunuch's concubine and posed no threat.
To walk around the palace, especially if one wanted to show up in front of the emperor, one had to build good relationships with these eunuchs, especially Eunuch Miao and his godfather. Concubine Shu was willing to do this favor, "Okay, go ahead, I'll just take a walk."
"Your Highness, I respectfully bid you farewell. I will take my leave."
Before leaving, Concubine Shu looked at Linlang and said, "Serve the emperor carefully. If the emperor is well, everyone will be well."
Linlang lowered her eyebrows and said docilely, "Yes, I will remember your words."
With a wave of her hand, Concubine Shu went to the other side of the imperial garden.
Just as they were about to leave after a sigh of relief, Eunuch Miao and Linlang looked up and saw Concubine De coming from the other direction towards the Imperial Garden. This was another trouble. Eunuch Miao simply grabbed Linlang's sleeve and walked behind the rockery, avoiding Concubine De.
After leaving the Imperial Garden, Eunuch Miao patted his chest and said, "Fortunately, we escaped quickly. Otherwise, if Concubine Shu and Concubine De ran into each other, they would have fought each other to the point of chaos, and we servants would have suffered the most."
Then he continued, "Miss Su, I was in a hurry and had to say that. I didn't mean to take advantage of you."
Linlang shook her head. "How could I blame my father-in-law? I should even thank him for helping me out."
Every concubine in the palace is too powerful. It feels like their spies are everywhere. You must be careful with what you say and do in the future.
"Shu Guifei is the most favored concubine in the palace, even more powerful than the Empress. We have to take the initiative to give her evidence, so she will believe it." Eunuch Miao whispered, "She is suspicious by nature. If she arouses suspicion, she will definitely target you. This time, we can get away with it."
He was the adopted son of the Grand Chamberlain, and Concubine Shu gave him face because she wanted him to be useful in the future and wanted him to repay the favor.
"Thanks to Eunuch Miao, Linlang will remember this favor."
Eunuch Miao smiled and said, "Miss Su, you are too polite."
After returning to her residence, Linlang lay on the bed with her whole body relaxed. In just half a day, she had personally experienced the difficulties of life in the palace.
I hope I can find the poison successfully and leave the palace as soon as possible.
After dinner, Linlang prepared a medicinal soup for the emperor to bathe in, and then gave him acupuncture to suppress the spread of the poison in his body.
Before the silver needle was even in place, palace maids from other palace concubines came to invite the emperor outside, saying that they had choreographed a dance and asked the emperor to come over and enjoy it.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Li has been practicing her dance for almost a month and wants to present her most beautiful dance to Your Majesty."
It's such an obvious attempt to win favor, even a fool would know it.
Linlang was used to it, so she gave the emperor acupuncture without changing her expression, packed up her things, and quietly stepped aside.
The emperor put on his clothes and said, "I will be there in a moment."
The emperor has been feeling restless lately and hasn't set foot in the harem for some time. If he doesn't go there soon, the women in the harem will become suspicious and will probably send him the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup every day.
The emperor went to watch Concubine Li dance. Linlang completed her mission and returned to her bedroom to wash up. She lay on the bed and looked at the moon outside the window.
The first day without Amu, I missed him. I wondered if he had insomnia like me.
My parents, five brothers, my father who is far away in Guliang County, and Mo'er, they must be worried about me too.
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