Chapter 2, Competing for Favor

Sister Qi Fei is in a great rage

"It has been many days since I last saw her, how has she suddenly become the master?" A group of people were secretly puzzled.

Xiang Ying could not contain her curiosity and took a couple of steps forward: "What secret?"

It is already midnight, and the pavilions and towers shine brilliantly in the darkness, while the distant mirror lake shimmers with gentle ripples.

Sister, you have always been intelligent and compassionate towards the weak; you will surely help me plead with the Empress, won't you

Xiang Ying suddenly realized: "It is the Empress—"

It is now the twelfth year of Yongjia

In this body, it is she who has been reborn

"Are you saying that you let that girl go?" The Qi Consort examined her bright red nail polish and said displeased, "I detest such clumsy servants the most!"

The Empress Qi gathered her hair at the front with her fingers and asked, "What evidence?"

Rong'er and the others looked on, barely suppressing their gasps.

This body is too frail, and I do not know how long it will take to recuperate before I can practice internal skills again. After the吐呐, Chen Lu thought of this tricky problem and felt a great headache.

She appeared fragile and delicate, supported by maids on either side, yet the triumphant smile in her eyes shone brightly and dazzlingly

The pitch black in the eyes seems to draw one in, and Xiang Ying, in a daze, cannot look away, simply stating: "Indeed!"

Her close maid Xiang Ying stepped forward, and before she could speak, she saw Consort Qi biting her silver teeth slightly, with a faint cold smile, yet she said nothing and simply slapped her.

She almost laughed at herself derisively

A woman laughed behind me, her voice crisp yet imbued with an indescribable languid charm

She was dressed in a deep red embroidered palace gown, her beauty unparalleled, with a pair of phoenix eyes that naturally exuded charm yet held an air of authority. Her dark hair was styled into an elaborate bun, resplendent and dignified. The pearl, no larger than her little finger, shone as bright as snow, twinkling like stars among her hair, and under the blazing sun, it was almost blinding to behold

I never expected today would come

Rong'er found it quite strange that Chenlu, during a break from her work, unexpectedly inquired about the anecdotes from the palace—something she usually had no interest in. Being a straightforward and sincere person, she recounted the stories in detail.

In the underworld, due to the curse of the sorcerer, she was unable to even cross the Bridge of Helplessness, enduring the flames for a full twenty-six years

On the second day, the steward eunuch had something to say, stating that the previous day's fierce wind had damaged the various flowers and trees in the Yunqing Palace, and it was necessary to tend to them. With a command given, four people began to busily work in the courtyard.

After a day of cleaning the railings, the four individuals returned to their room, casually freshened up, and soon went to bed on the large bunk.

If you want to be evasive, then get out!

Having spoken, she did not wait for a response and gracefully walked back to her original residence. In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, she emerged, slightly bowed to Empress Qi, and then returned to her carriage to leave

Therefore, you must not give her any leverage to hold against you, " Xiang Ying said eagerly

Yun Luo, however, was unconcerned and laughed softly, saying: "Sister Rong Bing, I left in such a hurry that I forgot to take a few cherished items with me. Today, I will take them all away... Tomorrow, I still have to serve the Emperor and do not have the time to come back!"

The Empress Qi leaned against the edge of the couch, her lingering anger not yet dissipated, when Xiang Ying entered, cautiously presenting the incense.

The "Nine Nether Soul Capturing Technique" originates from a heretical cult in the Western Regions. In her previous life, out of curiosity, she noted down this skill but never used it. In this rebirth, during a critical moment, it proved to be of great use. Unfortunately, this body possesses weak aptitude and lacks internal energy for protection, which resulted in a backlash affecting her internal organs

Twenty-six years... life in all its splendor, suddenly withers away...

According to you ... ... However, it is essential to be meticulous about appearances, as one must not raise a tiger to trouble oneself again

Now, due to the twists of fate, in a faint dream, upon waking, I am called "Morning Dew" by others

She walked lightly, yet tightly clutched a silk handkerchief in her hand, her willow-like brows raised, and her beautiful eyes contained a hint of authority, as she quickly approached the edge of the flower bushes.

The Empress Qi was so enraged that her complexion turned pale, her hands trembled as she struck Xiang Ying again with a slap: "Yesterday, the Emperor happened to encounter Yun Luo and conferred upon her the title of Yun Guiren... Did I not instruct you to send her far away and ensure that the Emperor does not see her again? How could you perform so poorly!"

Your Highness, please see clearly... Such foolish and clumsy individuals are not worth tarnishing our reputation. Instead, I suggest that tomorrow I speak with Chief Steward Liu to have this girl reassigned and replace her with a more clever one

In this manner, after the four individuals had finished their lunch, they received instructions from the steward eunuch, who said that there was nothing to do in the afternoon and advised them not to wander around and disturb the lady. The spring weather was warm and pleasant, and with nothing to occupy them, the four of them went to bed for an afternoon nap.

Morning dew lifted its head, directly facing the curious eyes filled with incense.

As for the other side, Xiangying followed over, watching the eunuchs fetch the punishment staff, just as they were about to act, the palace maid named Chenlu gently spoke up: "Sister Xiangying, please wait a moment, I have a secret to tell you"

No one would have thought that Chen Lu, this shy and humble palace maid, had long since passed away

Indeed. The Queen's demeanor is clearly unfriendly, and she is directed towards us

A day like any other

At this critical juncture, any misstep could become a handle for others to grasp. It is said that killing a few palace maids is a matter for our Yunqing Palace alone. However, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, if they were to take action against Jing'er, it could easily be labeled as a crime of 'disregarding human life'

She had an excellent memory and suddenly recalled that this was the palace maid who had spilled paint on herself that day. A surge of uncontrollable rage welled up within her, and she pointed at Chen Lu, saying: "Drag this wretched maid out and beat her to death!"

The voice was clear and unrestrained, as if it had never known fear at all

Who am I

Your Highness, this servant has something to say, but is unsure whether it should be spoken

In the next moment, she suddenly awoke, rubbed her eyes, and sharply said to the eunuch: "Do not act yet, I need to report to the Empress."

Who is there, come out

The Empress Qi waved her hand to stop her, feeling that the place was crowded and noisy. Just as she was about to summon her trusted confidants for a secret discussion, she noticed someone faintly hidden among the flowers

Xiang Ying was indeed naive, yet she did not dare to evade, and thus she received this slap, leaving clear finger marks on her face. She knelt on the ground and pleaded for mercy: "Your Highness, please forgive me..."

This method is not a martial arts internal skill; it is merely a means to improve oneself through breathing, enhancing physical health and wellness, which has significant benefits for ordinary individuals

My name is Lin Chen

Chen Lu was pardoned and returned, which naturally made Rong Er overjoyed. The other two were also amazed, as they had seen no unusual behavior from Chen Lu in the past two days. Remembering their earlier talk about "corpse transformation," they felt somewhat guilty and became much friendlier towards her.

Rong'er exclaimed, "Why has Empress Qi returned to the palace so early today? Isn't she supposed to assist the Empress in managing the affairs of the six palaces?"

It is that little girl Yunluo!

In an instant, a flash of golden light flickered in her eyes, and Xiang Ying felt as if she were no longer in control of herself, staring directly into the depths of her pupils. The unfathomable darkness was unexpectedly filled with an eerie and enchanting quality. A chill ran through her mind, and she soon fell into a state of confusion.

Morning Dew heard the four individuals breathing evenly, gently covered her chest, coughed twice, and spat out a mouthful of blood, bitterly smiling as she said: "What a domineering and sinister skill!"

The next day, Xiang Ying came to convey an important order—Chen Lu was to be transferred to the Imperial Garden

In the second sedan chair, a woman descended leisurely. She was dressed in a light pink gown that trailed to the ground, her slender waist cinched with a cloud-like sash, accentuating her delicate figure. A hairpin made of seven treasures and coral adorned her hair, enhancing her beauty akin to that of a lotus flower.

The scenery remains the same, but the people and affairs have changed.

The four individuals rose, and before they could kneel to pay their respects, Qi Fei, with her keen eyes, caught sight of Chen Lu.

Well

Today the sky is clear and the wind is strong. Rong'er supports a cluster of vines, busy with both soil cultivation and pruning. She raises her head and anxiously glances at the morning dew, just saying: "Your clothing is a bit too thin—" when she hears a faint commotion outside. Looking again, she sees two palace sedan chairs stopping at the entrance by the wall, and the chief eunuch's sharp voice calls out: "We welcome Your Highness back to the palace!"

She struck down forcefully, and the bright red blood stained the stone bricks. However, Consort Qi paid no attention and turned back to the inner palace

The morning dew has just recovered, so I can only do some light work—fortunately, today I only need to clean the railing thoroughly

Cai'er attentively brought tea to Chenlu: "Sister, have a sip of tea... Usually, you are so quiet, yet I didn't expect you to have a close relationship with Miss Xiangying. She is indeed the most favored person in front of the Empress... In the future, if there are any benefits, do not forget about us sisters."

The Empress Qi, with her imposing presence and in a state of great anger, issued a command, and immediately, several people rushed to drag the individual out. Xiang Ying quickly followed them outside, taking on the role of supervisor

The morning dew has not fallen asleep

The "Nine Nether Soul Capturing Technique" appears to be mysterious, but in essence, it is merely a method of controlling the minds of others through one's gaze for personal gain. This skill, when mastered, possesses great power; however, Chen Lu only has a superficial understanding of it. Once faced with a person of strong will or when requiring the subject to perform actions they vehemently resist, he will still suffer a crushing defeat

Bai Ping scoffed, "Xiang Ying is a cold-hearted and ruthless person; today, she actually showed mercy and pleaded for Chen Lu. Could it be that the sun has risen in the west?"

The palace maids were just about to assist her when the first curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and Concubine Qi had already descended from the chair

"She is at the laundry, how could it be..."

"Forget it, being able to be reborn in this world is already a rare blessing; to desire too much will invite divine retribution." Half-jokingly comforting herself, she also fell into a deep sleep

Listening to the even breathing of the three, she opened her eyes, donned her robe, and approached the window

She raised her head and looked at the various scenes outside the window of the palace, silently saying

It turns out that Yun Luo was originally a palace maid of the Yunqing Palace. The Qi Consort had taken a liking to her sweet and clever tongue, keeping her by her side. However, when the Emperor visited and saw her, he casually joked that she was even more beautiful than Wang Zhaojun under the moonlight. This made the Qi Consort extremely jealous, and she hurriedly ordered someone to send her far away to the laundry department.

On this day, how many people still remember this name that once dominated the world

Rong'er let out a low cry and was about to rise, but was firmly pulled back to the ground by Cai'er, kneeling down again. She trembled all over, and after a moment's thought, it seemed as if she had grasped a lifeline. Turning to Empress Qi, she bowed deeply to the ground, saying: "Your Majesty, may you live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years, please spare her this once"

Although it is merely superficial, it is sufficient to deal with Xiang Ying, the palace maid who is unversed in martial arts. Chen Lu thought to herself, unable to endure the vexation in her heart any longer, and quickly sat cross-legged, using the methods from the "Huang Ting Nourishing Life Technique" to expel her frustrations.

Concubine Qi pondered for a moment and coldly laughed, "It must be 'her'... Yesterday morning, she pretended to be virtuous, insisting that the Emperor accompany her to the Yanhua Pavilion to visit the Empress Dowager, all just to 'casually' pass by the Laundry Bureau, so that this little wretch could have a chance encounter. Isn't it all too convenient!"

She sighed, as if seeing for the first time, examining her frail body, her hands and feet, and the cold misery of this room