Chapter 7 Being late... it seems being an emperor isn't so good after all. Please, let me be your emperor...
Fulin came to report early this morning that the Empress Dowager had selected a group of palace maids for him and sent them over.
Xie Lanzhou was reviewing memorials. The old fogies in the Censorate had submitted a bunch of rambling memorials, which were nothing more than advising him not to go to war.
Upon hearing Fulin's words, he threw down the folded document and coldly asked, "Where is it?"
Fu Lin immediately realized that he had offended His Majesty, and carefully advised, "They are waiting at the door right now. After all, they were sent by the Empress Dowager. Why don't Your Majesty choose a few to keep and serve them?"
He was also thinking of His Majesty's best interests. The murder of his father and usurpation of the throne was an open secret in the court, and many senior officials had strong objections. His Majesty had only been on the throne for a little over a month, and his foundation was still unstable. If he were to become at odds with the Empress Dowager, he would probably face even greater difficulties.
Xie Lanzhou frowned in displeasure, when suddenly he heard a familiar voice coming from outside the door:
My back hurts so much from standing. If you don't like me, please don't hurt me. Please let me go back to lying down.
Just as Eunuch Fu was about to go out and send the person away, he saw His Majesty walk out of the palace.
A row of palace maids stood outside the hall. They were clearly carefully selected and dressed up, and each one was beautiful and charming.
But Su Panyue, standing at the very edge, was still a sight to behold among all these beauties.
Today she wore only a light touch of makeup and a simple hairpin in her hair, without any other decorations, which made her dark hair appear even more elegant and refined.
Upon seeing Xie Lanzhou emerge, the palace maids all knelt and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."
Xu Mama, who was standing nearby, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, these are all servants carefully selected by the Empress Dowager and specially sent to serve Your Majesty."
Xie Lanzhou glanced at her indifferently and said only four words: "I don't need it."
Xu Mama was also a favorite of the Empress Dowager and was highly respected in the palace, so she felt a little embarrassed at this moment.
He forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, this is also the Empress Dowager's good intention. If you refuse, people will question Your Highness's filial piety."
Xie Lanzhou completely lost his patience and didn't even spare her a glance. He never wasted time on a dying man.
A sudden, unspoken thought arose: "Can't you see there are still people kneeling? How much longer are we going to talk?!"
It was that audacious palace maid again. She was kneeling at the very end of a row of palace maids, her head bowed so her expression couldn't be seen.
He withdrew his gaze, glanced at Fulin, who understood and said to Granny Xu, "Do you still intend to defy the imperial decree?"
Before Xu Mama could say anything more, Fu Lin pointed to a guard beside him and said, "Xu Mama has committed insubordination. Drag her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane."
Twenty strokes of the rod, and even if a person is still alive, they'll be barely clinging to life. Granny Xu's face changed drastically as she struggled incessantly: "Your Majesty! I was sent by the Empress Dowager, you can't..."
Her voice faded into the distance, and then Eunuch Fu said to the row of palace maids kneeling on the ground, "You should all go back to where you were."
Xie Lanzhou glanced at him sideways and suddenly said, "Stand up, everyone."
Only then did Eunuch Fu realize that he had made a mistake. Being a shrewd man, he pondered and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you choose a few people you like to serve?"
All the palace maids stood up, including Su Panyue, who stood obediently with her eyes lowered.
Before Xie Lanzhou could speak, he heard her inner thoughts: "Everyone says the emperor is a reincarnation of a dragon; I wonder what makes his dragon root so different?"
He glanced over discreetly and discovered that although the palace maid appeared to be honest and keeping her head down, adhering to the rule of not looking directly at the emperor, her bright almond-shaped eyes were actually darting around his lower body.
Xie Lanzhou's body stiffened, feeling a rush of blood to his head. This was the first time someone had been so disrespectful to him, and he couldn't let this go easily.
As he pondered, the palace maid's inner voice echoed again: "Why haven't they let us go yet? Are they really going to choose a few people to serve us? Please, please don't choose me!"
Xie Lanzhou narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile curving his lips. He knew this all too well; when His Majesty showed this expression, it meant someone was definitely going to suffer.
"Then let's keep one." Xie Lanzhou said, pointing in Su Panyue's direction.
Su Panyue had a bad feeling. She looked up and met His Majesty's ambiguous gaze, and forced a bitter smile.
Eunuch Fu also looked over and immediately understood: "Why aren't you thanking the emperor? Everyone else, go back and keep your mouths shut."
After the other palace maids left, Su Panyue said weakly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
[My life is truly miserable. A lowly palace maid is caught in the crossfire between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Heaven is against me!]
She's actually one of the Empress Dowager's people? Xie Lanzhou left with Eunuch Fu, instructing as they went, "Investigate her."
Eunuch Fu carefully confirmed: "Miss Su?"
Xie Lanzhou nodded.
Eunuch Fu then asked, "What does His Majesty intend to do with her?"
Xie Lanzhou said expressionlessly, "Does even a palace maid require my personal arrangement?"
Eunuch Fu hurriedly said, "It was my oversight. His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. How could he bother with such a trivial matter?"
Xie Lanzhou didn't say anything more and went straight to the Imperial Study.
Su Panyue watched him leave, rubbed her aching knees, sighed silently, and accepted the reality.
She first went back to the Imperial Kitchen to tell Aunt Cui about this matter.
Since she entered the palace, Aunt Cui has treated her quite well, and has taught her many rules for surviving in the palace. Now that she has been transferred, she doesn't know if she will ever see her again.
It was nearing noon, which should have been the busiest time in the Imperial Kitchen, but as soon as Su Panyue entered the room, the room instantly fell silent, and everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her.
Su Panyue sensed something was wrong and, looking around, spotted Aunt Cui in the corner.
She pulled Aunt Cui to a secluded spot.
Before she could even speak, Aunt Cui already knew about it: "The palace is the most well-informed place; someone has already come to tell us."
Su Panyue's face fell, and she said bitterly, "Aunt Cui, I'm afraid I won't be coming back this time. Please remember to burn more paper money for me."
Aunt Cui showed no joy, but she was not as pessimistic as her. She said seriously, "Don't think like that. Being able to serve His Majesty and be careful and flexible might just be your destiny."
"His Majesty is not entirely as tyrannical as the rumors suggest, but he does have a sensitive spot that cannot be touched."
Su Panyue pressed, "What?"
Aunt Cui: "Do you remember what I told you before? His Majesty's birth mother, Consort Lan, must not be mentioned in front of His Majesty."
Su Panyue nodded as if she understood, and then asked, "Why didn't His Majesty grant his birth mother a posthumous title after ascending the throne?"
Aunt Cui shook her head: "Then I don't know."
After chatting for a while, Su Panyue had to go back to pack her things. His Majesty's personal maids had their own special residences, which were very close to the Hall of Mental Cultivation for the convenience of serving their master. She was going to move there today.
After spending several months in the Imperial Kitchen, she became familiar with the people there. When she saw her packing her things, many people gathered around to ask her questions.
The youngest palace maid asked her, "Sister Panyue, are you really going to serve in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"
Su Panyue casually replied, "Yes."
The young palace maid asked, "So, are you going to become an empress?"
The others chimed in, saying, "Don't forget about us now that you're rich!"
Su Panyue quickly waved her hand: "That's impossible. It would be good enough if I could live to a ripe old age and leave the palace."
The youngest palace maid looked somewhat disappointed and whispered, "If you become the empress, you can help my mother."
Su Panyue remembered that the girl's mother was in her forties or fifties and had not yet been released from the palace. She worked in the most tiring laundry department and had contracted many illnesses. She would feel unwell whenever it was windy or rainy, which was very pitiful.
Thinking this, Su Panyue patted her head and whispered in her ear, "If there's a chance, I'll plead with His Majesty on behalf of your mother."
The little girl nodded, her eyes shining.
After Su Panyue finished packing her things, Aunt Cui saw her out and gave her a worried reminder: "You must serve His Majesty well and never make him angry."
Su Panyue verbally agreed that she understood, but in reality, she had no intention of trying to serve or please His Majesty; she was content as long as she could live well.
On the second day after she was transferred to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she did not see His Majesty. Only Eunuch Fulin came to visit, accompanied by an older nanny.
"This is Granny Wei. She's been teaching you some manners these past few days. Study hard."
Su Panyue obediently agreed, but inwardly she was rolling her eyes to the heavens. She had already learned the rules once, but now she had to learn them again. Why did this emperor have so many rules?
This time, Granny Wei taught them more detailed things, such as how to serve tea and water, make beds and fold blankets, tend to flowers and plants, serve meals, burn incense and candles, massage and relax, and even bandage and apply medicine.
Su Panyue couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty is often injured? With imperial physicians available, why does Your Majesty still need maids to bandage and apply medicine?"
Granny Wei was very stern and said without a smile, "Since you are to serve His Majesty, you must be meticulous in every aspect."
Su Panyue reluctantly agreed. She always learned things very quickly, and even though she wasn't very serious, she still managed to learn most of what Granny Wei taught her.
Then you need to show her everything one by one until she is satisfied.
After three days of this training, Granny Wei finally nodded in satisfaction and let her go.
Su Panyue's heart had been tormented to the point of being completely indifferent. She felt that it didn't matter whether she learned these things or not, because she might not even live to see the day when she was massaging His Majesty, relaxing him, and making his bed.
Who knows, His Majesty might be in a bad mood one day and drag me out to be beheaded.
But Granny Wei clearly didn't think so. She continued with her final requirements: "Be respectful and dignified. His Majesty prefers quiet. When serving in the palace, do not make any noise, do not speak casually, and do not make a fuss. When His Majesty has not given any instructions, wait quietly and always observe his expressions."
Su Panyue nodded slowly, clearly feeling that Wei Mama's words were like water, going in one ear and quickly flowing out the other. After several days, she was exhausted and all her edges had been smoothed out.
On the evening of the third day, Granny Wei finally let her go. Su Panyue was still a little confused and couldn't help but ask, "This time there are no booklets for me to study?"
Granny Wei frowned: "What booklet?"
"Well... oh well, never mind." She could only look on, but when it came to actually saying it, Su Panyue found it difficult to speak.
Suddenly, Granny Wei understood, and the wrinkles on her face deepened. She said sternly, "You must not think about those shameful things. His Majesty will not be lenient in dealing with such palace maids who try to climb into his bed. I advise you to behave yourself."
Su Panyue recalled her experiences in her previous life and nodded obediently. She really didn't dare to climb into bed again; she just wanted to experience some new tricks.
After seeing off Granny Wei, Su Panyue had a good night's sleep. She was so tired these past few days that she slept so soundly that she overslept.
When she arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Eunuch Fu was waiting at the entrance.
She jogged over, catching her breath, before saying, "Has Your Majesty risen? This servant has come to help Your Majesty change your clothes."
After a moment of silence, before Eunuch Fu could answer, Xie Lanzhou walked out of the hall.
"Come to help me change my clothes at this hour?" His voice was authoritative without being angry.
Su Panyue bowed and asked softly, "Shall this servant serve Your Majesty breakfast?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Eunuch Fu spoke up to remind him, "There was a court assembly today, and His Majesty has already returned from court."
Su Panyue glanced at his luxurious and expensive dragon robe and thought to herself:
[The court assembly is so early? Looks like being emperor isn't so great after all; I wouldn't take the job even if you begged me.]
Her focus was actually on this? Xie Lanzhou was almost laughing in exasperation, but her face remained expressionless: "You're late on your first day on duty. According to palace rules, what should be the punishment?"
Eunuch Fu replied, "According to palace rules, the punishment should be ten strokes of the cane plus two months' salary."
Su Panyue immediately begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, please don't! This servant knows she was wrong. If she is punished with a rod, wouldn't that delay her from serving Your Majesty? Please, Your Majesty, change the punishment."
Staring into her large, watery almond-shaped eyes, Xie Lanzhou found himself inexplicably following up with the question: "Then tell me, how should you be punished?"
Su Panyue blinked, a hint of slyness in her eyes, and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you punish me by making me clean the side hall?"
[That chaise lounge in the side hall is so comfortable to sleep on.]
A note from the author:
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Su Panyue: To be an emperor, you have to get up early? Then I'm not going to be one!
Xie Lanzhou: Not needed to be a royal concubine [doge emoji]
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