Chapter 1 Climbing into Bed: "Wasn't I dead?"
"Su Panyue! Are you slacking off here again?!" the older nanny shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Oh dear, Aunt Cui, I was wrong. I'll get to work right away." A crisp, clear female voice came from inside the house.
Then a woman dressed as a palace maid emerged from the corner.
She wore her hair in a simple double bun, with a begonia flower tucked diagonally between her hair. She had a stunningly beautiful face, her fair skin with a hint of pink and white, her bright eyes and snow-white complexion, and her features were exquisitely perfect.
Even in a plain light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her exquisite figure and graceful posture are still evident. She is a beauty who would attract men's attention wherever she is. She also has a pair of round almond-shaped eyes, which makes her charming and innocent yet playful.
"These dishes are for His Majesty. If we delay them, we're all doomed!" Aunt Cui muttered to herself as she deftly cleared the plates off the table.
Su Panyue also came over to help, muttering softly, "Anyway, that guy doesn't eat much each time."
His Majesty is not fond of food and drink; the food sent to him is often returned with only minor damage, and sometimes it is not even touched.
This benefited the palace maids who worked in the Imperial Kitchen. Su Panyue gradually became plump after half a year. What pleased her most was that the flesh grew to where it was meant to grow.
Thinking of His Majesty, Su Panyue couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Aunt Cui, do you think he really eats blood and flesh every day?"
"Shh, shut up! I think you've really had enough of life, haven't you? Is this something you can talk about?" Aunt Cui glared at her, sighing silently in her heart.
This girl has been here for half a year. She has always been carefree and heartless. With such a beautiful appearance, she has attracted the attention of countless eunuchs and guards, but she doesn't care at all. She spends her days eating and drinking without a care in the world.
Suddenly, an eunuch entered the Imperial Kitchen. Dressed in the robes of a high-ranking eunuch, he spoke in a high-pitched voice to Aunt Cui: "His Majesty will be dining in the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight. It will be a little late. Be ready to serve the meal immediately."
"Understood, Father-in-law."
"But His Majesty always dines in the Wenhua Hall, why is it different today?" Aunt Cui asked cautiously.
"Just listen to His Majesty's orders, why ask so many questions?" The eunuch said and left.
Looking at Aunt Cui's worried face, Su Panyue asked in confusion, "Why do you look so worried, Aunt?"
“In the past, there were special eunuchs in charge of serving His Majesty’s meals, but today we from the kitchen are the ones delivering them. I’m afraid… something is amiss,” Aunt Cui said worriedly.
"Let me go, Aunt Cui~" Su Panyue volunteered, tugging at her sleeve and acting coquettishly.
“No, you’re so clumsy in your words and actions. If you offend His Majesty, you won’t even know how you died.” Aunt Cui shook her head and refused.
Su Panyue persisted, holding up three fingers to assure her, "I promise to be careful with my words and actions, so please let me go."
"Besides, I've been in the palace for so long, but I haven't even seen His Majesty yet."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Cui seemed to ponder for a moment, then gave her a deep look.
Finally, he compromised, only helplessly instructing, "His Majesty dislikes others getting close. After you finish delivering the food, you should leave. Do not displease His Majesty."
Su Panyue nodded obediently, but her mind was racing with little schemes.
She was originally from the State of Lu. Born an orphan, she grew up on the charity of many families. Later, she was taken in by someone who saw her beauty and sent her to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They also taught her some martial arts and nurtured her with care, hoping to present her to a noble person for appreciation in the future.
By chance, she overheard that her adoptive father was recruiting beauties to serve as spies in the Great Qi Dynasty in order to seduce the new emperor.
She volunteered and was determined to seize this opportunity.
Rather than waiting to be sold and become someone else's concubine, or even a mistress who cannot be brought into the open, Su Panyue decided to take a gamble.
Being a concubine of the Emperor of Qi is not bad. If you are lucky, you will be favored by the Emperor and will have no worries about food and clothing in your next life; if you are unlucky, it is not bad to be a commoner in Qi.
Su Panyue had planned everything, but she hadn't considered what she should do as a spy.
And so, she erased her identity and came to Daqi.
Originally, she was to be placed in the harem of the Great Qi Emperor, but the new emperor, Xie Lanzhou, was eccentric and indifferent to women, so the harem was practically non-existent. Therefore, she was assigned to the Imperial Kitchen instead.
She didn't become a concubine, nor did she enjoy wealth and honor; she spent her days slacking off and doing odd jobs in the Imperial Kitchen.
Su Panyue was heartbroken and determined to fight for her future. The old man from Lu had promised her that if she could become a concubine and successfully get close to Xie Lanzhou, he would give her ten thousand taels of gold to help her get out of trouble unscathed.
Thinking this, Su Panyue made careful preparations. She was naturally beautiful, and with a little makeup, every glance and smile was charming. No one could remain unmoved when they saw her face.
But she waited and waited, until almost midnight, and still no eunuch came to summon her.
Aunt Cui sat with her and waited. As an old servant in the palace, how could she not see through her thoughts?
Unable to resist, she advised, "You must have heard the rumors circulating about His Majesty. While rumors shouldn't be taken entirely at face value, what about the palace maid who climbed into his bed earlier..."
"Your Majesty, please prepare the meal!" Aunt Cui's voice was interrupted by a young eunuch who rushed over.
Su Panyue was overjoyed. Not having heard the second half of Aunt Cui's sentence, she turned around, picked up the food box, waved to Aunt Cui, and followed the little eunuch.
On the way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Su Panyue felt both nervous and excited. She had been in the palace for so long but had never seen what the emperor looked like. What if he looked really... should she still compromise for ten thousand taels of gold?
Moreover, I've heard that this emperor is not interested in women. What if he's too picky and doesn't like me?
As she was lost in thought, the young eunuch leading the way suddenly stopped, turned around, and gave the order:
"Go inside and set out the food. His Majesty will be here soon, so hurry up."
"Yes, thank you for your trouble, sir." Su Panyue watched the young eunuch leave.
After everyone had gone far away, she looked up at the three golden characters of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, straightened her back, and gave herself a pep talk before quietly carrying the food box inside.
It was early winter, but the palace was warm as spring.
Su Panyue looked around and found that although the hall was brightly lit by candles, there was no one there. After passing through two curtained doors, there was a very large rosewood table in the center, which must be where the emperor dined.
She placed the food box on the table and quietly touched the gold-inlaid patterns on it. The nine-clawed golden dragon was so lifelike that it seemed about to take off at any moment.
After looking at and touching them enough, she finally took out the carefully prepared dishes from the food box and slowly placed them on the table one by one.
While setting things out, they would peek outside, and by the time everything was arranged, the emperor still hadn't arrived.
Su Panyue was anxious. This was an opportunity she had waited half a year for. If she couldn't see the emperor today, she didn't know how long she would have to wait.
She pretended to tidy up the utensils on the table again, and when there was really nothing else to do, she finally made up her mind.
For the sake of a bright future and ten thousand taels of gold, he gritted his teeth, turned around, and went into the inner hall.
The rear hall was where the emperor rested and slept. The first thing you see is a landscape screen as tall as a person, and behind the screen is the dragon bed. The furnishings in the hall are majestic and grand, and everything is laid out at a glance. There is not a place to hide in the entire rear hall.
After looking around, Su Panyue resolutely walked towards the dragon bed. She was going all out; she didn't believe the emperor could resist such a beautiful woman who was offered to him!
As she approached the dragon bed, Su Panyue prayed silently: "May the Bodhisattva bless me, may the Emperor be handsome and fall in love with me at first sight, and may he be so pleased that he bestows upon me the title of Imperial Concubine. If only I had a better figure, and was tall, strong, and vigorous..."
Before he could finish thinking about his wish, a man in black suddenly appeared from nowhere, dressed in black from head to toe, even with a black iron mask covering his face.
Su Panyue was startled. When she met the man's eyes, she felt a chill run down her spine. Just as she was about to scream for help, her neck was grabbed.
Her soft sobs were choked in her throat, and Su Panyue struggled with her hands and feet, but to no avail.
The man in black's hands were like iron, gripping her neck tightly. He could easily lift her up, and soon her head became dizzy, and she could no longer exert any strength.
"I'm doomed. I'm really going to die this time. I hope I can be reborn into a better family next time." Su Panyue slowly closed her eyes, feeling the passing of life, with only this one thought in her mind.
On her deathbed, whether it was a hallucination or not, Su Panyue heard a deep and powerful male voice ask, "Seventeen, what did she do wrong?"
She tried to call for help, but the next second she was dead.
*
"Cough cough cough."
"You brat, why are you sleeping again?"
Su Panyue slowly opened her eyes, touched her neck with both hands, and felt the pinch marks left by the man in black.
Turning her head, she saw a familiar face and asked in surprise, "Aunt Cui? Why are you down here too? Did I get you involved?"
"Waaaaah, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have been so reckless. I made you die with me."
"You have a fever? Did it damage your brain?" Aunt Cui said, raising her hand to touch her forehead.
Feeling the warm touch on her forehead, Su Panyue asked in confusion, "Wasn't I dead?"
Aunt Cui looked at her speechlessly and said, "Were you sleeping in and having nightmares? His Majesty's banquet at Wanshou Palace is about to begin today. If you don't get up and get to work, you'll really die."
"A nightmare?" Su Panyue murmured, touching her neck again, still feeling the suffocating sensation before she died.
Suddenly she realized something, grabbed Aunt Cui and asked, "Aunt, what banquet are you talking about?"
"The Empress Dowager's investiture banquet, all the court officials and their wives will be there." Aunt Cui looked at her in confusion. "Oh, I can't talk to you anymore. Once you've finished tidying up here, come over to the front and help."
Su Panyue blankly accepted the food box from her, her mind a complete mess.
She vaguely remembered the Empress Dowager's investiture banquet; it was only a week after she entered the palace. How come it was again...?
Could it be that I've been reborn?!
Su Panyue suppressed her overwhelming joy at being resurrected and tried hard to recall the scene of the banquet, but suddenly remembered something that annoyed her.
When she first entered the palace, because of her beautiful appearance and seemingly weak and vulnerable appearance, some guards deliberately approached her.
At first, Su Panyue didn't care. She had seen many men like that before. But on the day of the Empress Dowager's investiture banquet, a bold guard tried to force himself on her.
Su Panyue remembered that it was on the palace road leading to the Hall of Supreme Harmony that the guard named Jianren suddenly rushed out and tried to abduct her, threatening her not to make a sound, or she would lose her head if she disturbed the investiture ceremony ahead.
Having been raised through hardship and trained for a period of time, Su Panyue is no delicate girl; she has plenty of strength and means.
She feigned compliance, but once they reached the back of the artificial hill, she suddenly raised her knee and kicked the guard hard, sending him flying. No one knows how this person fabricated the story, but afterwards, there were far fewer palace servants who harbored ill intentions towards her.
However, because he delayed her, by the time Su Panyue arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the banquet had already begun, so she had no reason to go in and serve.
Remembering her past life, Su Panyue decided to wait on that road. If that guard Jianren came again, it would prove that she had truly been reborn.
She avoided others and arrived early at the palace road leading to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. She quietly hid behind a rockery and her big eyes were scanning her surroundings.
Not long after, the guard crept over furtively. Su Panyue's heart pounded wildly, and she couldn't help but want to shout, "I'm back!"
To save time, she didn't wait for the guard to make a move this time, and jumped out to kick him.
Only then did she realize that she had truly been reborn.
In this life, she decided to stay away from the emperor and live a good life!
A note from the author:
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New story started!! This is a lighthearted and sweet romance. If you like it, please add it to your favorites. Updates are stable, so it's definitely worth reading! [pleading][throwing flowers][shy]
My next book is called "The Stolen Sister-in-Law Has Amnesia," the synopsis is below, please add it to your favorites~
[A seemingly innocent but actually cunning noblewoman x a jealous and lewd man] A chaotic scene of brothers fighting over a wife.
Shen Wanyun, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family, was born with unparalleled beauty and charm in Shengjing. She and the heir of the Duke of Dingguo's family were childhood sweethearts, and everyone said that the two were a perfect match, a marriage ordained by heaven.
Until the second son of the Duke of Dingguo's family, born out of wedlock, returned from the battlefield and made great contributions.
The emperor was overjoyed and asked him what reward he wanted. He only asked for an imperial decree to grant him marriage, and thus married his future sister-in-law, Shen Wanyun.
A year into their marriage, the second son was gentle and considerate, while Shen Wanyun was obedient and virtuous. The two respected each other like guests, yet their differences remained clear.
However, due to an unexpected incident, Shen Wanyun was drowned and lost three years of her memory, completely forgetting where this marriage came from.
The second young master deceived her, saying that he and his wife were deeply in love, but Shen Wanyun didn't believe him at all.
She turned to her childhood sweetheart, the young master, and confided, "How could I possibly marry such a warrior as your brother?"
Upon learning of this, the second young master was consumed by jealousy and resolved to show her what a real warrior he was. However, at the last moment, he gently kissed away her tears: "My lady, don't cry. It must be someone else's fault!"
But from that day on, Shen Wanyun was imprisoned in the backyard by him.
The upright gentleman of the past is gone. The second young master has revealed his ruthless methods and even betrayed his own brother, the heir of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, to send him to prison.
Back in the backyard, he saw Shen Wanyun with her legs crossed, beckoning him with her finger: "Husband~ locking him up isn't enough, could you kill him for me?"
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