Chapter 32 Enters VIP Status (Third Update)
Kunning Palace
Ah Zhu, who was terrified during that incident in front of the Emperor and whose tears hadn't stopped, genuinely thought she was going to die there.
She scrambled out of the palace, her mind blank, and she didn't even know how she got back to Kunning Palace.
Before she could even recover, she was summoned to the inner palace again.
Still shaken, A-Zhu knelt down before the Empress at the head of the table, completely bewildered.
"This servant greets Her Majesty the Empress."
May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune and happiness forever.
Every time Ah Zhu went to the Emperor's court, she would dress herself so neatly and properly, as if she wanted every wrinkle on her clothes to be in the correct position and not a single strand of hair to be out of place.
But now, her hair is loose, a plain hairpin is askew, her forehead is red and streaked with tears, her blue skirt is disheveled, and she looks utterly wretched... This contrasts sharply with Ah Zhu's usual eagerness to flatter and fawn over those in power...
But he looked exactly like a flustered fool who, after failing to attract attention, ended up being scolded and sent back home.
Empress Wang, who felt she had seen through everything and whose eyes were full of knowing smiles and disdain, still wasn't satisfied. She even reached out to lift the veil covering her face.
"In the past, you would always serve the Emperor until dusk before returning home. Why are you back so early today?"
"I thought I had misread the time."
As Ah Zhu listened to Empress Wang's words, she was already like a frightened bird. In an instant, only one thought filled her mind: Did their empress also hear some rumors?
Ah Zhu, who only regretted not being able to dig out his heart and liver to prove his innocence and loyalty, kowtowed repeatedly to Empress Wang.
“This servant is stupid and clumsy. I displeased His Majesty in front of the Emperor, and that’s why I was sent away… This servant has failed Your Majesty’s expectations and has let down Your Majesty’s kindness. This servant deserves to die.”
"This servant has failed in her duty and is willing to accept punishment. I only beg Your Majesty the Empress to have mercy and allow me to remain by your side to serve you. I will certainly be even more diligent and loyal..."
Hearing Ah Zhu's high-sounding excuse, Empress Wang's expression, which had been one of anticipation, turned somewhat impatient.
When she heard A-Zhu's shameless plea for another chance, Empress Wang looked at her with disdain. But looking down at A-Zhu's beautiful face, she eventually granted her request.
Watching Ah Zhu wipe away her tears and leave with profuse thanks, Empress Wang snorted with a mixture of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
"Despite being born with such a beautiful appearance, the Emperor has allowed her to serve before him... yet she still can't even handle such a small matter properly."
"Now, she was even sent back without any mercy. I don't know if I've been too kind to her."
Now that things have come to this, not to mention the Empress, even Nianqin herself is starting to doubt her own judgment.
But since it was Ah Zhu whom she had previously insisted on recommending, Nianqin still said a few words of defense for Ah Zhu while there was still room to salvage the situation.
"After all, she was a lowly palace maid from the Inner Palace, barely literate, and had developed such a shallow nature..."
"Moreover, the Hanyuan Hall is where the Emperor handles state affairs. She was so eager to flatter and enter, but she was only driven out. I'm afraid the Emperor showed her some leniency."
As she spoke, Nianqin gently massaged Empress Wang's shoulder.
With her eyes closed, Empress Wang leaned back slightly on her throne and sighed, "It seems that sending people directly to the Emperor is not a viable option."
After hesitating for a moment, Nianqin ultimately did not respond—if the ladies in the palace wanted to recommend someone to serve the emperor, their first night of service would generally take place in their own palace.
Empress Wang was unwilling, so she sent A-Zhu to the Emperor's presence under the pretext of serving tea and snacks. If the Emperor was interested, he could simply take her in the inner palace.
Unexpectedly, Ah Zhu, that good-for-nothing fool, not only messed up the job but was also kicked out.
Imagine Prince Qi returning to the capital with the Yellow River Waterway Inspector to report for duty; in the flickering candlelight, the face of Empress Wang, with her eyes closed, was illuminated and dimmed.
After a while, she slowly opened her eyes.
"In a few days, when His Majesty comes to Kunning Palace, I will invite His Majesty to taste the tea server's skills again... This time it will be right here in Kunning Palace, right under my nose, and I will personally oversee it."
Looking out at the dark night, Empress Wang's voice was soft and cold.
"If she remains as hopeless as ever, I will not be so lenient with her."
Nianqin quickly replied, "Your Majesty has already shown the utmost kindness and generosity to Lady Jiang."
"If she is truly incompetent, how can she possibly have the face to continue appearing in Kunning Palace?"
Empress Wang gave a soft 'humph' and closed her eyes again.
Nianqin wisely kept quiet and focused on massaging the Empress's shoulders and neck.
***
waiter
After A-Zhu took on the task of serving the emperor, she put away her "supernatural powers" and stopped tormenting the palace servants in the tea room.
Having witnessed Ah Zhu's "ability" to push herself to the limit even when facing immense challenges, and seeing her potential for great success...
While not everyone in the teahouse would fawn over Ah Zhu, no one dared to offend her easily.
As a result, things remained peaceful for a period of time.
But how many eyes in the palace are on A-Zhu?
She returned in a panic, looking utterly disheveled, and within a few days, she and countless rumors had spread like wildfire.
"Tsk tsk tsk, you didn't see how she ran back crying that night."
"I told you that this little bitch will get her comeuppance."
"Hahaha, this is a true case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead—failing to climb into the emperor's bed, he was kicked out and even lost his job as a courtier."
"She truly lives up to her name as 'shameless.' After doing such a despicable thing, how dare she come back? Humph, if it were me, I would have already found a short rope and strangled myself."
"Look, she's here."
"...Stop talking."
"What are you afraid of? After doing such a despicable thing, you should be thanking your lucky stars that she can still keep a low profile here. Do you think she would dare to be so arrogant and ostentatious?"
"......"
A-Zhu, who "failed to climb into the emperor's bedchamber and was instead driven out of the emperor's presence," has become a complete joke in the palace.
These days, no matter where A-Zhu goes or what she does, countless mocking, sarcastic, and contemptuous gazes are always blatantly directed at her.
She was "warmly" greeted, but what followed were countless whispers and murmurs of mockery.
If one is upright and has nothing to fear, Ah Zhu would naturally not take these words to heart. She might even stand tall and confront these people to get to the bottom of things... But Ah Zhu is not like that.
Since ancient times, thunder and rain have been the emperor's grace—A-Zhu, who was ungrateful, ignorant, and audacious, was lucky enough to escape with his life in front of the emperor, and was both frightened and guilty.
She was terrified that she might accidentally say something wrong or let something slip, which could lead to her death.
She feared that the Empress would believe these rumors, be heartbroken and disappointed in her, and even banish her from Kunning Palace.
Afraid of seeing the disappointed looks in the eyes of the head of the household and the nanny who had been teaching her with all their heart... A-Zhu was so afraid of so many things that she dared not open her mouth.
She just kept her head down, desperately trying to convince herself that she couldn't hear, or repeatedly telling herself that it was okay, that time would tell...
Feeling wronged and fearful, unable to speak out and with nowhere to vent her frustration and pent-up anger, Ah Zhu, hiding under the covers, swallowed her tears whole.
Did the Empress or Nianqin not know about the rumors circulating in Kunning Palace and what Azhu had been going through these days?
Of course they knew perfectly well.
But instead of stopping them, they allowed this "soft knife" to relentlessly stab A-Zhu, stabbing her heart.
The stabs drew blood from her, caused her excruciating pain, and made her remember the lesson well, understanding right from wrong, and obediently following orders to serve him wholeheartedly.
So, Ah Zhu, who was in a daze during the day and avoided people, and who even cried himself to sleep at night, spent several days in this state of confusion.
Until Nianqin suddenly reappeared in the tea room that day—
“A-Zhu”.
A-Zhu, who was a beat slow to react, looked up at the person who came from behind the sound in a daze.
After recognizing who it was, A-Zhu was about to bow and greet them when she opened her mouth: "Nian..."
Before she could even finish uttering a single word, Ah Zhu, already feeling incredibly pathetic with a lump in her throat, burst into tears, choking back sobs and unable to speak.
A-Zhu was sobbing and crying so pitifully. Nianqin took out a handkerchief to wipe A-Zhu's tears, but she kept looking at the person and secretly admired her in her heart - a beauty is a beauty.
Even when she's looking haggard and she's crying, she still has a unique and touching charm with her tearful eyes.
Nianqin's eyes swept over Azhu's face, her voice very gentle.
"These days, with all the things happening in the palace... have you ever resented your aunt for not helping you in any way?"
With tears still on her face, A-Zhu shook her head quickly upon hearing this.
She shook her little head like a rattle drum, her expression showing a mixture of shame and unease.
"It was all my fault."
"It is all my fault for acting carelessly, causing so much trouble and making Your Highness and Auntie worry..."
What a good child.
Nianqin reached out and patted Azhu's head. The more satisfied she was, the gentler her voice became.
"A-Zhu, His Majesty will be visiting Kunning Palace tonight. The Empress has instructed that you be to serve tea before the Emperor."
Startled, A-Zhu's eyes widened instantly, and the tears that were already clinging to her eyelashes and about to fall rolled down her cheeks.
She pointed at herself in disbelief, stammering, "Auntie, you mean, let me, I'll go..."
Nianqin wiped away the tears on Azhu's face, nodded, and said with certainty, "Yes, this was specially ordered by Her Majesty."
Seeing that A-Zhu remained silent, Nianqin's expression turned serious.
“A-Zhu”.
"As you probably know, since you entered Kunning Palace, the Empress has promoted you on several occasions."
"You before... never mind, since it's all in the past, there's nothing more to say."
"However, this is a rare opportunity, so you must not let Her Majesty down. You absolutely must not mess up the job again."
What could be better than having her serve tea to the Emperor again to quell the rumors in the palace? What could be better than allowing her to hold her head high in Kunning Palace?
Even though she told the Empress herself that she had offended the Emperor, been rejected, and been kicked out... the Empress was still willing to go to such lengths to plan for her.
Their lady is really... Ah Zhu, with tears streaming down her face, felt as if her heart was being squeezed into a sour and swollen ball.
At this moment, if Empress Wang gave the order, no matter if there were mountains of knives or seas of fire ahead, A-Zhu would rush over without blinking an eye.
Looking at Aunt Nianqin, Azhu nodded frantically with tears streaming down her face.
***
It's time to light the lamps.
Eunuch Chen served Emperor Xuanpei on his way to Kunning Palace.
The palace path beneath his feet, which he had walked for nearly ten years, was not particularly interesting, but Eunuch Chen couldn't help but steal glances at Emperor Xuanpei.
Who could understand the unspoken shock and curiosity in Eunuch Chen's heart at this moment—the Emperor, who they went to Kunning Palace almost without fail on the first and fifteenth of each month, rain or shine, was actually hesitating today, hesitating!!!
Seeing Emperor Xuanpei's calm and composed expression, the extremely curious Eunuch Chen dared not utter a single question.
He could only guess at it himself.
After much guessing, the only thing Eunuch Chen could think of was because of that girl, Ah Zhu.
Of course, it would be a joke to say that Emperor Xuanpei was so concerned about Azhu.
But occasionally, in a fleeting moment, she would appear like a tiny thorn, briefly revealing her faint presence before disappearing in the next instant.
It doesn't hurt or itch, it's insignificant, yet it can't help but evoke a nasty annoyance.
This thorn... Emperor Xuanpei rarely took a few extra glances at it, but in the end he still wanted to remove it.
The palace servants carrying the imperial palanquin walked steadily and quickly, and soon arrived at Kunning Palace.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Empress Wang, who had been waiting for a long time, led the palace servants to greet the emperor outside the palace as usual.
"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune and endless happiness."
"Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Soon, the Emperor and Empress entered the palace together at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Perhaps it was because that fool Ah Zhu had kept him on the edge of his seat several times, or perhaps he had already given an ultimatum...
In short, Empress Wang was surprisingly calm tonight, and her aggressive, eager-to-watch-the-show demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
Empress Wang looked at Emperor Xuanpei with a lukewarm, fake smile on her face, but her words went straight to the point: "The summer heat has not yet subsided, Your Majesty, why don't you try some lotus seed tea?"
Emperor Xuanpei looked at Empress Wang, who maintained her smile and looked back at him without flinching.
Aside from official business, Emperor Xuanpei, who was so used to self-restraint that he was almost stingy, rarely made any decisions based on his own joys and sorrows.
But clearly, tonight's "thin, soft thorn" is an exception.
Since he had come for this purpose, Emperor Xuanpei naturally had no reason to put on airs or give a perfunctory response.
He nodded and simply said, "That's fine."
Before the tea was served, Huiyue entered the hall first. Then, Empress Wang took her leave from Emperor Xuanpei under the pretext of handling palace affairs and went to a side hall.
Originally serving by the side, the very perceptive Eunuch Chen, under the Empress Wang's almost explicit instruction, also wisely took his leave and withdrew from the hall.
This tacit understanding, which everyone knew but didn't say aloud, made the atmosphere in the hall somewhat ambiguous and unspoken.
Emperor Xuanpei gently stroked the thumb ring on his hand, staring intently at a figure wrapped in a light green robe entering the hall.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
"Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After smoothly getting up, Ah Zhu carried the lacquered wooden tray forward without even looking up. Her attire tonight was downright shabby.
Previously, when Ah Zhu saw that Aunt Hua and the others were wearing hairpins and small beaded flowers, she thought that this was a respectable style that everyone around the Empress wore.
Ah Zhu, who had once been smug about having earned this respectable status, removed all the unnecessary ornaments tonight.
She even replaced the plain silver headband with an inconspicuous hair tie, which was neatly hidden in her hair.
Honestly, Emperor Xuanpei hadn't felt this ridiculous and exasperated feeling in almost ten years.
Aside from being an emperor, Emperor Xuanpei was a normal man. He disdained to force others, but he was not some empty-eyed ascetic.
Their daily meals consist of a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
Tonight, Ah Zhu was surprisingly plain, her skin was fair and pink, she was fragrant and beautiful, and her waist was slender and soft.
With her eyes lowered, eyelashes fluttering, and her face tense, she thought she was hiding her fear well and was trying her best to appear calm and composed. But when she did that, she really, really managed to stir up the worst parts of a person's heart.
A-Zhu remained silent, as did Emperor Xuanpei.
His gaze was fixed intently on A-Zhu, watching her every move with a half-smile—it was a perfect replica of what happened that day at Hanyuan Palace.
Oh, there are still differences.
She even removed the plain hairpins and pearl flowers from her temples, leaving only her dark, glossy hair tightly bound up, as if afraid of letting him see even a trace of it.
A-Zhu could clearly feel the gazes falling on her, even hotter than candlelight—and she was truly afraid.
But considering this is Kunning Palace, considering the Empress who has gone to great lengths for her, and considering that the Emperor didn't cut off her head even in that situation that day... he probably won't do it today either.
After silently setting out the lotus seed tea and snacks, A-Zhu, like all the other palace maids serving tea, held the tray in both hands, bowed respectfully, and quietly withdrew from the hall.
Inside the inner palace, only Emperor Xuanpei remained, sitting alone.
After a while, a soft snicker was heard.
Emperor Xuanpei rose and, without ever glancing at the tea and snacks on the table, simply turned and left Kunning Palace.
***
Side Hall
There is no reason in this world for the emperor to submit, so if anyone has to step down, it can only be Empress Wang who retreats to a side hall.
As for handling palace affairs in the side hall, it wasn't entirely an excuse, but...
She relinquished her own bedchamber, allowing her husband and another woman to lie on that auspicious dragon and phoenix couch, making love...
Even though this was something Empress Wang had planned for a long time, she still felt a nauseous and humiliating feeling, as if she had a fishbone stuck in her throat.
The news that Huiyue then mentioned made Empress Wang even more upset, and her face grew increasingly pale—the walls of Prince Rui's residence and the Cold Palace collapsed almost simultaneously.
The Cold Palace is alright; that area is already deserted and hasn't been repaired in a long time. With all the rain these past few days, it wouldn't be surprising if it collapsed.
But why did the Prince Rui's Mansion collapse again?
"Bang—!"
Empress Wang, whose face turned ashen upon recalling rumors of some ominous sign from the heavens, slammed her hand on the table.
"A bunch of greedy and audacious bastards!"
"They dared to embezzle the official funds allocated for the repair of Prince Rui's mansion, using inferior materials to make it collapse and require repeated repairs."
"I must report this to His Majesty, thoroughly investigate this matter, arrest and imprison these corrupt officials who have embezzled and neglected their duties, and punish them severely!"
Upon hearing Empress Wang's statement, Huiyue immediately understood and quickly wrote it down, preparing to discuss it with His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Rui again early the next morning.
As for the renovation of the Cold Palace, before Empress Wang could even speak, Nianqin rushed in in a panic.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty..."
"Your Majesty is departing!"
Hearing Eunuch Chen's singing, Empress Wang hurried to the entrance of the side hall, only to see the imperial guards escorting the imperial carriage away.
At this moment, Empress Wang's face completely fell.
She clenched her fists tightly, gritted her teeth, and uttered two words through clenched teeth: "Jiang Zhu!!!"
***
Seeing that he had successfully served tea before the Emperor without causing any embarrassment in front of the Empress in Kunning Palace.
Ah Zhu, feeling that his future path to "taking over the reins" was already bright and promising, returned to the tea room with great satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the other palace servants in the tea room were somewhat overwhelmed by A-Zhu's series of reversals, which were either "ascending to heaven" or "descending to earth."
When Ah Zhu returned after serving the tea, the tea room was unusually quiet.
Seeing this scene, Ah Zhu, who was certain that she could return to her old days, was in a particularly good mood and hummed a cheerful tune as she tidied up the tea room.
As for hearing the commotion of Emperor Xuanpei departing...
To be honest, ever since A-Zhu entered Kunning Palace, she has never seen Emperor Xuanpei stay overnight in the palace.
Ah Zhu wished she would never see Emperor Xuanpei again, so why would she care where he went?
Just as A-Zhu finished packing and was about to return to the side room, he was suddenly taken to the inner hall again.
Looking at Ah Zhu, that infuriating fool, from afar, Empress Wang gritted her teeth, and the fire in her heart burned even more fiercely.
Once, twice, three times, four times!
She was completely speechless, helpless, and irrational in her attempts to describe Ah Zhu.
Upon seeing the Empress, Ah Zhu, who was overjoyed, rushed forward, but before she could even kowtow to express her gratitude for the Empress's great kindness—"Slap!"
Only God knows how much resentment and anger Empress Wang had accumulated before that slap was extremely heavy.
The heavy Azhu couldn't even stand up straight, and in her dizziness, she collapsed to the ground.
Ah Zhu was truly stunned by the beating.
Even though her teeth had scratched her lip and caused blood to flow, even though her ears were ringing, and even though her cheeks were burning with pain... Ah Zhu still felt it was all incredibly unreal.
She covered her face, looking up blankly at the somber-faced Empress Wang, and murmured, "Your Majesty..."
Empress Wang was never a kind-hearted person.
Even now, Empress Wang, who feels as if she has been repeatedly tricked by Azhu, speaks with ruthless humiliation and harshness.
"Don't tell me you feel it's beneath you to be a bed warmer in this palace?"
"Jiang Zhu, do you still think you're some noble lady from the Jiang family?"
"The Jiang family is long gone!"
"Execute the entire family!"
"According to the late emperor's decree, you should go to the brothel and become a lowly prostitute, available to all men and trampled upon by everyone!"
The Jiang family... what does this have to do with the Jiang family?
Looking at the Empress Wang, whose face had suddenly become extremely ferocious, Ah Zhu felt as if she were in a dream, her mind completely blank.
Her mouth opened involuntarily, but she first tasted a strong metallic flavor.
It's a little sweet, but also a little disgusting.
"You ungrateful wretch!"
"Clever words and a flattering demeanor, utterly shameless!"
Empress Wang was scolding Jiang Zhu in front of her, but it didn't seem like she was only scolding her.
This sharp hatred had been honed to such an extreme that even the slightest touch of the edge would cause a cut.
Finally, A-Zhu was locked up in the storage room.
To prevent fire, there were no candles in the storage room.
In the pitch black, Ah Zhu huddled in a corner, hugging herself.
Before, amidst the rumors and gossip that filled the palace, A-Zhu hadn't had a good night's sleep.
Perhaps it was because she was already exhausted from not being able to sleep all night, or perhaps it was because tonight's events were too unexpected, too sudden, and too intense... Ah Zhu seemed extremely numb, as if all her emotions had been suddenly drained away.
She remained frozen in place, tears streaming down her face, oblivious to her surroundings.
***
The weather these past few days has been exceptionally capricious, with rain and sunshine changing at will.
Perhaps seeing how lively the palace was, as dawn broke, the dark cloud that had been shrouding the palace could be vaguely seen, and it too came to join in the fun.
Ah Zhu was dressed very thinly, and when several nannies pushed her out, the hem of her clothes was blown into disarray.
But A-Zhu didn't speak or make any extreme moves. She was like a walking corpse, not caring about her fate and letting herself be taken wherever she wanted.
Until she was taken back to that familiar place—
"By order of Her Majesty the Empress."
"It is hereby announced that Jiang Zhu, a palace maid selected from the inner palace, has behaved improperly before the Emperor, showing disrespect and insubordination, and has violated palace regulations. She is hereby punished with hard labor..."
“Sun Sufang, the head of the Imperial Inner Palace, has failed in her duties and failed to properly educate the women. She is hereby ordered to slap herself thirty times in public and to have her salary deducted for half a year.”
"The remaining teaching nannies shall be given twenty strokes of the cane and their salaries shall be deducted for three months."
"He will remain in his position temporarily to observe his performance."
A-Zhu returned to the Yeting Palace.
Instead of returning home in glory as she had imagined, she ended up in a sorry state, even dragging others down with her.
According to the order, everyone in the Yeting Palace must witness the execution.
As everyone entered the courtyard, various gazes inevitably fell upon A-Zhu, who was being forced to kneel in the courtyard.
"She is Azhu."
"So it was her."
"Wasn't she enjoying herself at Kunning Palace? How come she's doing this again...?"
"Her? I heard she angered the Emperor by trying to seduce him, and instead of repenting, she's been in Kunning Palace..."
"That's incredibly audacious."
"Who can argue with that? But look at her expression, no wonder she had those thoughts..."
"......"
"It wasn't me!"
All the pent-up frustration and resentment that had been building up inside Kunning Palace finally erupted at this moment, amidst the familiar pointing and whispering.
Jiang Zhu glared fiercely at everyone who was pointing and whispering about her.
She screamed at the top of her lungs: "I didn't!"
"I didn't mean to climb into your bed!"
"I don't......"
"Jiang Zhu!!!"
Amidst the chaos, it was Steward Sun who stopped Jiang Zhu, who was about to say something without any regard for the consequences.
After Steward Sun spoke, the courtyard fell silent.
"Splash—"
The rain that had been building up for so long finally made its appearance during this moment of quiet.
Ah Zhu looked at Steward Sun standing in the center of the courtyard, and raindrops mixed with tears streamed down her face.
She choked back tears and said, "Master, Ah Zhu really didn't."
Manager Sun looked at A-Zhu, who was sobbing, and clenched his hands tightly in his sleeves.
She believed what A-Zhu said, but whether she believed it or not didn't matter; what mattered was that A-Zhu lost.
Granny Sun clearly stated that all shortcuts in this world come at a price, and as for the price... no one cares until they are utterly defeated.
It's obvious that Azhu has failed miserably, and now it's time to pay the price.
In this palace, if you gamble, you have to accept the consequences; as long as you live, there is always hope.
Stopping himself from saying anything he shouldn't have in the heat of the moment, Steward Sun knelt down in the courtyard to receive his punishment.
The executioner took out a six-foot-long ruler, as thick as the walls of a bamboo tube.
"Smack—"
The ruler was clearly aimed at Steward Sun's face, but the spot where Jiang Zhu had been slapped the night before also started to hurt.
Ah Zhu finally stopped insisting on shouting, "I have none left."
"It's my fault, so punish me if you must."
"Smack—"
"It's me, sob sob sob, it's all my fault."
"Smack—"
"Yes, it was this servant who was disrespectful."
"It was this servant who violated the palace rules, sob sob sob, it was this servant's fault."
No one in the entire inner palace spoke, and no one pointed at A-Zhu anymore.
Amidst the bleak sound of rain, they listened to the "slap slap" of the execution, and watched Ah Zhu, lying on the ground, disheveled and crying out his apologies through tears mixed with rain.
Many people lowered their eyes or turned their heads away, not daring to look anymore.
The palace servants who had been holding A-Zhu down to watch the punishment released her after the slapping and caning were over.
After all, in this palace, killing someone is just a matter of beheading them, but the way to torture a living person is to slowly burrow into their flesh, causing excruciating pain and making them wish they were dead.
The old woman who was supposed to take A-Zhu to do hard labor hadn't arrived yet, and A-Zhu hadn't even bothered to remember what kind of work she was being punished with.
Similarly, A-Zhu did not go to see Steward Sun, who had been slapped, or the other nannies who had been flogged.
She staggered to her feet, then suddenly ran out of the inner palace like a madwoman.
Look at Ah Zhu, who has always been shameless to the point of being shameless, he has finally come to understand what face means.
But she no longer had the face to stay in the inner palace.
She ran out of the inner palace and onto the palace road. Looking at the endless red walls and golden tiles, and the endless palace gates, A-Zhu was completely lost and didn't know where to go.
Her home outside the palace is long gone.
And in this palace... amidst the endless rain, Ah Zhu, soaked by the wind and rain, wiped away her tears and suddenly ran off in one direction.
***
Nianfu Palace
In this palace, with all the excitement surrounding Kunning Palace, how could Consort Zhang be absent?
Sure enough, while she was being helped with her makeup and dressing, she heard Yin Dong come in and report on a great show that had taken place in the inner palace.
"Haha, good, good, good."
Others in the palace might not see it clearly, but Consort Zhang certainly knew the intricacies of the situation.
Seeing that Empress Wang's "good show" had backfired, she was naturally delighted and clapped her hands in celebration.
However... upon hearing that Ah Zhu was perfectly fine, neither crippled nor injured, but merely punished with some kind of hard labor, Consort Zhang sneered and stroked the kingfisher feather and peony hairpin at her temple.
"This old woman probably hasn't given up yet."
During the palace selection, Consort Zhang was a step too slow and had to endure the disgust for no reason, but now...
Consort Zhang, dressed in her finest attire, was about to pay her respects to the Empress when she directly ordered, "Bring that palace maid named A-Zhu here."
First, bring this person to the Nianfu Palace.
Once it falls into her hands, whether she fights or kills it, or uses it, and how she uses it, is entirely up to her.
"yes."
Yin Dong accepted the task and left the palace without hesitation, selecting a few people to head straight to the Yeting Palace.
***
Cold Palace
Those imprisoned here now are all concubines from the late emperor's reign, and the security is not very tight.
The weather was bad, with heavy rain falling. Based on her previous experience delivering meals, Ah Zhu simply said that the food was left inside and stuffed some silver beans in, and she was able to get it in smoothly.
"Jiang Zhu, where is my agarwood?"
Upon entering, Ah Zhu was immediately asked this question, and she was slightly taken aback. Then, blushing, she began to stammer.
"Hmph, I knew you'd forgotten."
After Consort Feng finished speaking with a half-smile, she focused her attention on Ah Zhu, eager to see the spectacle unfold.
"Look at your unlucky state... Well, if you weren't unlucky, you wouldn't even remember to come here."
Humans are such strange creatures. If Consort Feng were a gentle and comforting person, A-Zhu would probably be embarrassed and unable to stop crying.
But with Consort Feng's indifferent, even amused, attitude, A-Zhu was able to stay put even more.
So, after listening to the series of bizarre actions of the Empress's originally "loyal" servant, Azhu, who was described as "a fool doing divine things," Consort Feng burst into uncontrollable laughter.
It's just that Consort Feng's body is not visible, otherwise she would probably be laughing through her tears.
"Jiang Zhu, Jiang Zhu, I knew I hadn't misjudged you, hahaha, hahaha."
“I have seen my fair share of jokes in this palace, but someone like you is a rare sight.”
"It's a pity I didn't get to see it with my own eyes..."
After laughing heartily for a while, Consort Feng noticed something amiss when she saw Ah Zhu, who was soaked to the bone and huddled pitifully in a corner, sneezing.
Without any hesitation, she asked directly, "You've come all this way to find me, surely you're hoping I'll help you find a way out?"
Empress Wang's actions made Azhu's "unwavering loyalty" a complete joke.
Ah Zhu's dream of becoming the "Head of the Imperial Household Department," which she had worked so hard for, was ruthlessly shattered with a single step...
The palace was so vast, but Ah Zhu felt utterly lost and had nowhere to go, so she knelt down in the direction of the sound.
She kowtowed, pleading, "Your Majesty, please have mercy."
When asking for help, one should act accordingly. Consort Feng was clearly very satisfied with A-Zhu's attitude.
"Very well, then I'll ask you, Jiang Zhu, do you want to live or die?"
"In this palace, if you want to die, there are ways to live that way. But we can make your life more comfortable while you're alive. As for wanting to live..."
"Your Majesty, this servant...this servant wants to live."
"I want to live..."
Consort Feng pondered for a moment after hearing A-Zhu's answer, and then her tone became more serious.
"Then you must answer me truthfully about the questions I will ask you next."
A-Zhu, kneeling, nodded earnestly.
"This servant will tell you everything I know without reservation."
"Jiang Zhu, have you ever considered overturning the case against the Jiang family?"
"No."
Hearing Ah Zhu's quick and decisive answer without a second thought, Consort Feng was momentarily surprised.
She checked again: "Not even a single bit?"
Ah Zhu nodded firmly: "Not even a fraction."
Perhaps sensing the surprise in Consort Feng's tone, A-Zhu paused and whispered, "Your Majesty, actually my mother is Miss Jiang's wet nurse. Everyone in the manor calls her Mama Qian."
"When the entire Jiang family was convicted, I was taken in as a maid to play with the sixth young lady of the Jiang family for only six days."
“My mother… Qian Mama hit my head with a vase and dressed me in Jiang Liu’s clothes, intending to hand me over as Jiang Liu.”
"Actually, she didn't hit me hard; she only hit me lightly. I was dizzy but woke up quickly."
"But when Mama Qian held me, she kept crying and apologizing, saying that she had watched over Sixth Miss Jiang and raised her in her arms..."
“I have always lived on the estate of the Jiang family, and I eat and use the Jiang family’s food. Mama Qian also said that she gave birth to me and raised me... So I pretended to have bumped my head and forgotten the past, and pretended to be the sixth young lady of the Jiang family, taking the blame for her in prison, as if I had repaid her kindness.”
"After being transferred from prison to the brothel, all the ladies and young women of the Jiang family committed suicide one after another."
"Seeing how long the fourth sister's tongue was sticking out, I was really scared, so I secretly slipped out... and no one paid any attention to me."
"Actually, I didn't know what the Jiaofang was back then. I just thought it was really beautiful inside, and the food was plentiful and delicious... When they let me enter the palace, I even cried and made a fuss."
She repaid the kindness of being born and raised from the moment she became Jiang Zhu.
She silently accepted the sins of the Jiang family, having already become Jiang Zhu.
However, she had no special relationship with the Jiang family.
From beginning to end, Jiang Zhu never considered the so-called overturning of the verdict.
No one knows how desperate little Azhu was when she was only five years old, but she kept the secret to herself and never complained. She survived all by herself.
A-Zhu's frank confession caused Consort Feng to fall silent.
Then she smiled with a touch of emotion and said, "I am all alone, truly all alone, Ah Zhu, I believe you can survive, you can live well."
"A-Zhu, go to the Emperor's presence."
"Don't bother trying any other paths; none of them offer you a way to survive."
"Go and beg the emperor, abandon all your pride, beg him, climb up to him, follow his power, follow his status, follow everything he has, and climb up."
Upon hearing the emperor's name, A-Zhu instinctively tensed up and clutched the hem of her clothes.
She licked her lips, about to say something, when a noise came from outside.
It was an angry voice from a nanny: "You little slut, you can really run! Bah! You made me have to make a trip in the rain."
Then she started shouting and cursing in the courtyard, "Jiang Zhu, Jiang Zhu, come out here right now and come back to Xin Zhe Ku with me."
No sooner had she finished speaking than it seemed as if another group of people had arrived outside. Hearing the old woman's voice from the front, she asked, "Who is Jiang Zhu? Come out."
Even a fool could tell that the person looking for her now was definitely not a good person.
She didn't dare to breathe, her body stiff as she listened to the sounds coming from the courtyard.
"Haha, I didn't realize, Jiang Zhu, that your popularity has actually increased since you were kicked out of Kunning Palace?"
Seeing that Consort Feng was still in the mood to tease her, A-Zhu looked in the direction of the voice, opened her mouth as if to say something, but didn't dare to make a sound.
“They can’t hear me. But you, don’t waste time. Jump out the back window now.”
"There's a wall that collapsed behind there. You can run out of the Cold Palace by following that path."
Looking at A-Zhu, who was trying her best to control her nervousness but whose hands and feet were still trembling as she clung to the window, Consort Feng smiled and said softly, "Jiang Zhu."
"God has already knocked down a wall for you and left you a way out. It's time for your luck to turn around."
"Besides, if you're not even afraid of living, what else is there to be afraid of?"
As A-Zhu climbed onto the window, she wanted to thank the Empress, but then she heard Consort Feng say, "Jump down, and don't look back."
A rustling sound came from outside, clearly indicating that the two groups of people who had been arguing had finally reached an agreement and started searching the palace, intending to find A-Zhu first.
Ah Zhu gritted her teeth and jumped out of the window, then tried to climb out by clinging to the collapsed wall.
What's that noise?
"This seems to be the place... but isn't it locked?"
"Let's go in and take a look."
Amidst the chaotic sounds, only Consort Feng's voice remained in A-Zhu's mind.
"Jiang Zhu, run!"
......
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Author's note: Thank you all for your support, hehehe, hugs to the darlings who stayed and the new cuties, mwah.
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