The maid's question was like a thunderclap, silencing the whispering maids.
"I don't know," Peach Blossom said, stunned for a moment, puzzled.
The young maid was naive and unaware of the wickedness of people's hearts; her sense of justice remained as warm as ever.
“Since we don’t know the reason, why is everyone saying it’s Miss’s fault? Miss… Miss, Miss is clearly a very good person,” the maidservant argued in defense of Lu Yalan.
Peach Blossom's face flushed instantly after the maid's words.
"You...you, I'm never playing with you again." Peach Blossom said angrily, turning and leaving.
Even after Tao Hua left, the people who served Lu Guiting remained loyal to their duties.
"Hahaha, does it hurt? You want to die, don't you?"
Lu Guiting glanced at Lu Yalan's pale face, her lifeless eyes devoid of any vitality.
"Want to die? Dream on! This is how you're going to live your life!"
These words completely extinguished Lu Yalan's hopes.
A life without light is a life where one cannot live nor die; the only solution is to sever the root cause.
"Lu Guiting, you forced me to do this! You forced me to do this!"
At that moment, Lu Yalan's long-suppressed hatred finally erupted.
Half an hour later, Lu Guiting left, humming a little tune, completely satisfied.
One person left, and another came; the little maid sneaked in.
Upon entering, Lu Yalan's courtyard was neither spacious nor elegant. In the middle of the courtyard grew only a bare, dead tree whose species could not be identified, with no other potted plants or flowers.
The daughter of the current Left Chancellor lives in such a poor place that it's truly jaw-dropping.
The young maidservant looked back and saw that outside the courtyard, hundreds of flowers were in full bloom, their fragrance filling the air, and the tall trees were lush and verdant. The plants were growing vigorously, and life was vibrant everywhere.
Separated by a single wall, there is a difference between ice and fire, a world apart. How strange and bizarre!
Upon crossing the courtyard, the young maidservant saw Lu Yalan covered in wounds and blood, cried out in alarm, and rushed forward in a panic.
"Miss, Miss, are you alright?" The calls kept coming, like someone calling out to a lost soul.
Large tears fell onto Lu Yalan's face. The tears were cool and refreshing, and Lu Yalan, disturbed, slowly opened her eyes.
"Who are you?" Lu Yalan asked weakly, her voice barely audible.
Lowering her head slightly, Lu Yalan saw her own miserable state. She hurriedly tried to wrap herself in the last of her clothes, but accidentally aggravated her still unhealed wounds.
“Miss, my name is Chrysanthemum. You rewarded me with a silver ingot last time. Have you forgotten?”
Before Lu Yalan could react, Juhua, with tears in her eyes, took off her coat and gently covered Lu Yalan with it. "How could Madam treat you like this? Miss, aren't you Madam's daughter too?" They were both born of the same parents, and Juhua couldn't help but speak up for Lu Yalan.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yalan stiffened, forcing a smile, "Chrysanthemum? Oh, it's you. What brings you here? There shouldn't be anyone like you in my yard, right?"
“Miss, you are a good person. This servant…this servant wants to follow you from now on.”
Just as a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier, everyone has aspirations. A maid who doesn't want to find a good master is definitely not a good maid.
“I am not favored by my mother, and all the other servants wish they could distance themselves from me, but you do the opposite and actually want to live with me.” After thinking it over carefully, Lu Yalan said, “Chrysanthemum, are you serious? Once you’re on my boat, you won’t be able to get off.”
Chrysanthemum, though young and understanding, is the eldest sister in her family, serving her parents and disciplining her younger siblings. She is responsible and always strict with herself. A promise made is a promise kept; Chrysanthemum would never deceive Lu Yalan.
"Yes, I'm sticking with you, Miss." The words came out quickly, and his heart was unwavering.
Chrysanthemum helped Lu Yalan up and led her to a perfectly intact chair. Lu Yalan slowly sat down, took a glass of water from Chrysanthemum, and then slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
"Since you've come with me, Chrysanthemum, you're mine now." Lu Yalan put down her teacup. "Now, there's something I need you to do."
Chrysanthemum was clever. She leaned close to Lu Yalan's mouth. Lu Yalan whispered something, and after listening, Chrysanthemum's fear vanished in an instant, and she hurriedly ran out.
Watching Juhua's retreating figure as she changed her certificate, Lu Yalan murmured to herself, "It's time to use this pawn that's been buried for over a decade."
...
In the grand palace, the cold palace weeps in the chill.
As the sun sets, its crimson glow stains the ground like blood. A dilapidated gate, faded red paint, two lanterns flickering in the candlelight, shadowy figures looming, a cold wind whistling, chilling to the bone, sending shivers down one's spine.
Ji Xiaoxiao lingered outside the gate of Tihan Palace for a long time, her little face scrunched up like a bun, unable to take a step and cross the low threshold.
"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner. Shouldn't you be heading back?" The speaker was a chief eunuch who was in charge of Ji Xiaoxiao's food, clothing, and lodging.
Ji Xiaoxiao waved her hand, indicating her decision.
Previously, Ji Xiaoxiao's sudden attack caught Lu Guiting off guard. However, Lu Guiting should have realized by now that Ji Xiaoxiao still wanted to achieve a surprise victory, which was already quite an achievement. From now on, Ji Xiaoxiao will need the assistance of Xue Jinghan's mother, Xue Feishuang.
"Oh well, I'll have to face it sooner or later."
Nearly half an hour later, Ji Xiaoxiao made up her mind to meet with Xue Jinghan, who was confined to the Tihan Palace.
The guard pushed open the door. Inside the Tearful Cold Palace, the marble flooring was cracked and sprawling with weeds, both inside and out. The sound of the door opening startled insects and birds into flight, revealing a desolate scene.
"Is my Empress living here?"
"Your Majesty, this was all ordered by you personally. Even if this servant had the greatest courage in the world, I would not dare to be disrespectful to the Empress in the slightest!"
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