Chapter 3, last month I went to Fuliang to buy tea

Perhaps the emperor has been waiting for me to show him favor, and then he will reluctantly grant me his attention

The moon turned back to look at the plaque of Kun Ning Gate, smiling very happily: "Xiao Xiao, I told you, with me around, no one can bully you, don't be afraid."

Money, money, money, this blockhead only knows about money and court secrets. He partners with me to make money simply because the salary provided by the court is insufficient, prompting him to travel far and wide in search of medicinal materials; otherwise, he would not be willing. In his own words, it is "out of necessity that he does this," truly a pity for him

"Your Highness, Empress Hua instructed me to inform you that she has just gone to Qianren Palace, but His Majesty is not there and is on his way back to Qianren Palace." As Fu Xiang said this, she could not help but cover her mouth and giggle, though it was unclear what kind of good news had made her so happy

Upon learning that the Empress had been struck several times by the Emperor, I was taking Princess Chengmin for a walk in the garden of the Luan Yi Palace

I have some vague and unclear concerns, always sensing that the queen will not easily let things go. That day when she reprimanded me, the queen's expression, cold and sinister, remains vividly etched in my memory

In any case, I cannot leave the Luan Yi Palace in the next few days. If I truly alert the Queen's people, then...

If it were in the past, I would have been overjoyed if he had actively brought goods in, but his current state has persisted for about ten days, and I feel not only numb but also a desire to drive him away with a stick.

The emperor, seeing that I was silent, comforted me by saying: "Do not be afraid; just speak the truth. The retired emperor has always cared for you, and in every letter from home, he inquires about your situation. I will not hold any anger against you."

The Empress was even more anxious than I had imagined. That evening, I was having dinner with Yue'er and the three children in the Chengqian Palace when the Empress sent her chief maid, Rouhong, to the Chengqian Palace, saying that she wanted to invite me to the Kun Ning Palace for a conversation

Is it truly the case that the great river of Jiangxi flows, revealing the sun at night? Has the Empress perhaps been frightened into a stupor by us

This statement is reasonable, but I cannot truly reveal all the facts. After some thought, I knelt down respectfully and performed a grand bow, saying to the Emperor: "I have been in the palace for ten years. Although it appears that I have received the Emperor's grace and consideration, I am well aware that without my dear sister Yue'er, my situation would have been much worse. Your Majesty, one must have a heart of gratitude. Yue'er has treated me sincerely for ten years without fail, and I truly cannot bring myself to act in a way that would take away love."

"Did you not just come from the Luan Yi Palace to the Cheng Qian Palace? How can you say it is inconvenient to move?" Rou Hong was overly bold, completely disregarding my authority, and took a step back, gesturing towards the door with a "please" gesture, "Your Highness, please."

Fang Zhixuan carefully collected his medical instruments and took out a sandalwood box from the compartment of the medicine cabinet: "I bought this from a shop owned by a Fuyu person on East Zhuque Gate Street. Take a look, if you like it, I will give it to you; if you don't like it, you can sell it."

As for me, I shall wander alone in this palace, taking each step with caution. As long as the moon is present, I shall have no fear for my life. What imperial love, what utmost honor and wealth, if it does not stem from genuine sincerity, is merely a performance for the eyes of others

It has been several days since the Queen had me punished with a cane. During these days, the Emperor and Yue'er came to the Luan Yi Palace to see me. Initially, they intended to send me some bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin to nourish my body, but upon seeing my storeroom full, they changed their gift to a reward of one thousand taels of silver. In truth, my injury is minor; I only need to lie down and rest for two days to recover. It is not a significant matter. The money the Emperor bestowed upon me, had it not been such a large sum, I might not have valued it at all. After the Emperor left, I felt quite happy in my palace for several hours.

I previously thought he was rather dull and was concerned that he would not be able to conduct business

After coming to this realization, I felt even more dispirited. I finally understood that to the Emperor, I am merely a mouse toyed with in the palm of his hand by a cat. It seems that there is no immediate danger to my life, but as soon as the Emperor grows weary, my life and death could be decided in an instant

How could the queen be so frightened by me? She is merely playing along, clinging to the bond between me and Yue'er without letting go, turning the tables on us. If I refuse the emperor, I am guilty; if I betray Yue'er, I am filled with remorse. I am caught in a dilemma, while she, Xiao Xunbi, watches the drama unfold with a smile.

As Yue'er and I walked hand in hand to the entrance of Kun Ning Palace, I looked up at the crescent moon in the sky and suddenly felt a deep pity for the Empress

He is the emperor, the supreme master of this palace. Although I am a recognized concubine, to put it bluntly, I am still a dependent, relying on the favor of others. He can certainly monitor me at any time and can also choose to ignore me at will.

Even to this day, even Emperor Gu Heng himself has begun to have doubts about this issue

The emperor listened to the words of the empress and Yue'er, but did not express any opinion. He merely adopted a cold approach to the matter, neither pursuing the issue of the empress striking me nor holding me accountable for privately selling goods within the palace.

Fang Zhixuan was initially a bit dazed, perhaps not fully understanding the meaning of my words. After blinking a few times, he slowly nodded his head. Seeing him nod like that made me feel as if the fire in my heart could tear me apart. When he had money, there was no news; when he was broke, he came to Luan Yi Palace to peddle goods. It was truly unexpected that the seemingly simple-minded Doctor Fang had such a clever scheme.

If I were the queen, perhaps I would have long been unable to endure the humiliation and would have taken my own life in the Kun Ning Palace

The moon calmly walked up to the queen, lifted her delicate chin with her hand, and said aggressively: "Do not be so self-indulgent. You gave birth to a daughter for the man you love, but has he ever properly accompanied you for a meal, celebrated your birthday with you, or promised you a lifetime?"

Now, whenever the moon sees Rou Hong, it is as if it has encountered a bitter enemy with a deep-seated grudge, its expression fierce and twisted, wishing it could swallow her whole

Your Highness, something terrible has happened. The head maid of Kun Ning Palace, Rou Hong, is holding the Empress's decree, claiming that you have colluded with the concubines of the harem to disrupt the palace regulations, and that you are to be sent to the Yeting Bureau! I just thought that I must not alarm the Empress, and yet her trusted aides have come to seize me. Fang Zhixuan, if I manage to return alive to Luan Yi Palace, you should prepare yourself for death!

She cried in my arms at the Luan Yi Palace, which was quite heart-wrenching. After that, she turned around and went to the Qian Ren Palace to report to the Emperor. Little did she know, the Empress was also with the Emperor at that moment, discussing my matters.

You insolent ones! The queen seems to be very fond of Rouhong, as she hurriedly walked up to her to check on her injuries, then raised her head and shouted at us in anger, "Yueyanxiao, how dare you strike someone from my court!"

The queen squatted on the ground, her eyes darting back and forth between me and the moon. She remained silent for quite some time, seemingly contemplating something. Today could be considered a day of humiliation for Xiao Xunbi, having been publicly slapped by the emperor during the day and then being subjected to various humiliations by two concubines before going to bed.

Ever since the moon knew that Rouhong had me bound and taken to Kun Ning Palace, she has suggested more than once to ask the Emperor to transfer Rouhong to Chengqian Palace, so that she could properly torment Rouhong

After saying this, Yue'er, with red eyes, struck a few more slaps. It was unclear where she derived such immense strength, as she forcefully pressed down on Rouhong, causing her to kneel on the ground. "Wretched maid, do not kneel and apologize to the noble lady! Otherwise, today I shall dispose of you right here in the Chengqian Palace!"

"The Yue Clan." The Empress finally spoke, her tone icy and tinged with a hint of the triumph of a victor

I gave Fu Xiang a glance, and she immediately helped Fang Zhi Xuan up, jokingly saying: "Doctor Fang, you are indeed being too formal; you and my master are both one of us, so there is no need for excessive politeness." Afterwards, she went to my bedroom to fetch the box of silver notes

Moreover, the current queen, Xiao Xunbi, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lanling Xiao clan, was originally designated to be the consort of the King of Yue. After the emperor was proclaimed crown prince, he forcibly made Xiao Xunbi the crown princess. This led to the later situation where the original crown princess, Shang Wanjiao, married the King of Yue but eventually became a nun due to discord in their marriage

We bound Rouhong tightly and, after entering the main hall of Kun Ning Palace, I kicked her in the back. She rolled a few times like a round ball and ended up at the feet of the stunned Empress, who was taken aback by the scene before her. Neither Yue'er nor I took the initiative to pay our respects, waiting for the Empress to regain her composure

She paused to glance at Xi'er, who was admiring the flowers, and whispered to me with a suppressed smile, "Your Highness, His Majesty visited Kun Ning Palace at the hour of Si today and slapped the Empress several times in front of everyone." Then, she could no longer hold back and burst into laughter

The young eunuch Liu Fu from Qianren Palace came to Luan Yi Palace to convey a message from Lady Hua. I thought it would be too troublesome to walk from the garden to the main hall, so I sent Fu Xiang to help me listen and relay the message. I originally thought it would just be some advice on being cautious with Princess Chengmin's diet, not to feed her whatever she wants, like a parenting guide. However, when Fu Xiang returned, she had a look of secret delight on her face

The moon approached me and helped me up, and then said to the emperor: "Perhaps she thought that the sordid deeds she committed were well concealed, truly a person of utmost foolishness"

I had originally prepared to go directly to the Yeting Bureau for trial and punishment, but after someone from the Rouhong faction tied my hands, I was taken to the ear room of the west side hall of Kun Ning Palace and locked up. As I was wondering why she had confined me here, the Empress entered.

When Yue'er and I arrived at Kun Ning Palace, it was already the hour of You. We deliberately lingered in Cheng Qian Palace for one or two hours, arriving to see her just before the Empress's usual bedtime.

She raised her hand and pointed at me fiercely, saying: "This time I have finally caught you red-handed. Su Liangyue has been indulging you in private dealings for several years, which is a serious violation of palace regulations. This is a grave offense! Engaging in such activities within the palace has also allowed you to profit immensely, so a little physical suffering is of no consequence, right?"

I gazed calmly into the emperor's eyes, which were turbulent with hidden currents; within them lay distrust, calculation, and a myriad of emotions, yet there was no sincerity towards me. Of course, I never expected an emperor to divide his heart, made of flesh, into dozens of pieces, each for a concubine. Rather than that, it would be better to give it all to Yue'er, for she loves the emperor so deeply, having navigated the complexities with the empress and the noble consort Zhang Yi for ten years, doing everything she could to protect their three children; she deserves it.

Strangely enough, upon hearing Yue'er’s words, the queen's expression suddenly turned to one of terror, resembling a thief caught in the act of stealing. Xiao Xunbi forcefully pushed Yue'er aside, straightened her wrinkled sleeves, and feigned calmness as she retorted: "Lowly maid, do not speak recklessly"

This question is likely not only pondered by him; the maidservants of the Luan Yi Palace, the personnel of the Kun Ning Palace, and even the currently neglected Yang Shuyi may have contemplated it as well. The Yue family boasts a distinguished lineage, with the Grand Emperor as her support and a favorable relationship with Consort Hua. Why has she not seized every advantage to win the Emperor's favor?

I never expected that the emperor would ask me this question in front of both myself and Yue'er. It seems that this question must have lingered in the emperor's mind for a long time

Since the Empress is intent on taking revenge on me, there is no need for further words, please proceed. I suppressed my smile and straightened my back

What price should I set to sell it without incurring a loss, given that the cost price is 20 taels of silver and I need to mark it up by several tens of taels?

The moon is not wrong; the Empress has indeed waited for the Emperor in Kun Ning Palace for most of her life, and it is true that she has been overly sentimental. However, as a woman in the inner palace, what means does she have in the face of imperial power

I shared my thoughts with Fu Xiang and asked for her opinion. Fu Xiang is an elder in the palace; although she is two or three years younger than me, she entered the palace at a very young age and knows everything about it. Consulting her is always a wise choice.

Hearing Fu Xiang's words, I was somewhat surprised: "Is there such a thing?"

The moon took a deep breath several times, looking at the disheveled hair and disordered clothes of Rou Hong, and coldly sneered, "The Empress has summoned us, how can we, the concubines, not go?" She turned her head to comfort me, saying, "Do not be afraid, I will accompany you."

"Yue, what do you think of the queen's proposal?" The emperor did not express his opinion directly, but instead posed the question to me. He exchanged a vague glance with Yue'er, and I truly could not discern his thoughts, so I could only respond with silence.

"Fang Taiyi, today you shall speak the truth before me," I said sternly, calling out to Fang Zhixuan. Once he looked up at me, I continued, "Quickly reveal the truth; have you not been away for several months, accumulating a significant debt to someone outside?"

Can I express my thoughts to the Emperor without any concealment or reservation? No, I cannot. As an emperor, his pride includes the option of "not allowing others to easily guess his thoughts." If I were to touch upon this point, I would no longer be in this palace by tomorrow.

I performed a bow, expressing a sense of humility. Perhaps the emperor was indeed correct; the concept of loyalty is something I learned from my father in the military. How can one say there are no clothes? Sharpen my spear, and let us share the same enmity.

No wonder the Emperor would deliberately bring up the matter of King Yue in front of the Empress a few days ago; no wonder the Empress appeared so flustered.

These words made my old face flush with embarrassment, as if they were speaking directly about me

However, he does not understand me. He does not know that although I appear gentle on the surface, I am actually a person who holds grudges. I seem carefree, but in my heart, I still have my own expectations regarding love and marriage. Whether the emperor loves me and how much he values me, even though I have never asked him directly, I already have an answer in my heart

The urgency with which he seeks to sell goods to me likely indicates that there is some pressing financial need. We have been collaborating for several years, and he would not be so secretive with me regarding financial matters.

Your Majesty, I must reiterate my previous answer; I truly cannot commit the act of seizing love with a drawn sword.

I had thought that the Emperor had learned about the commotion I caused in Kun Ning Palace with Yue Er the previous day, and that he would summon me for questioning. However, after Yue Er and I got up together, the Emperor informed us that it was the Empress who had written a letter of admonition, earnestly emphasizing the great significance of familial ties, urging him to visit me at the earliest opportunity

The queen was quite surprised by my reaction, but did not hesitate for long. With a look of triumph, she ordered: "The imperial concubine, the Yue family, has disregarded palace regulations; therefore, I decree that she shall receive twenty lashes as punishment!"

Fang Zhixuan must have never imagined that I could so readily bring up the matter of borrowing money from him, his two eyes fixed on me, nearly popping out of their sockets. Soon, he realized this was not a dream, bowing his head repeatedly like pounding garlic: "Your servant thanks the Empress!"

That being said, after listening to the brief conversation between Yue Er and the Emperor, I suddenly realized that the apparent discord between Xiao Xunbi and the Emperor is perhaps far more complex than it seems. However, I have always been an outsider, seeing flowers in the fog and the moon in the water; all my thoughts are merely wild guesses

I pointed at Rouhong, who was still lying on the ground unable to move, saying with my mouth that it was not Rouhong's fault, while my eyes were fixed on the queen, whose cheeks were swollen and red from being slapped during the day. "A mad dog running amok everywhere, it would be one thing if Her Majesty the Queen did not care, but since I have some free time, I would like to offer my assistance in managing things for you, how about that"

"Yue Yanxiao, do not think that just because your father is a governor and your mother is a grand princess, this palace cannot do anything to you." The Empress ultimately gritted her teeth and uttered these words, yet it felt as though she had struck a punch into cotton, lacking any real force. After speaking, she fixed her gaze on the moon and let out a cold laugh, suddenly bursting into tears.

This is akin to realizing one did not perform well only after an argument. While I was immersed in regret, I coldly said to Rouhong: "You may go and report to Her Majesty the Empress that I have been unwell in recent days and am unable to move about."

Upon seeing that the queen truly intends to take action, I feel the need to express myself before the situation escalates.

"You fool, why didn't you come and ask me if you were short on money?" I rolled my eyes at Fang Zhixuan and picked up a red date from the coffee table to eat.

The next day, I inexplicably received a summons from the Emperor, requesting me to accompany him to the Qianren Palace.

I have a vague feeling that the Empress may intend to punish me. I have never flaunted my maternal family's background in the palace, nor have I ever mentioned my mother, who was conferred the title of Grand Princess, or my close relationship with the Emperor as his cousin. However, given the current situation, I particularly want to present my family background before the Empress and let her hear it.

Although I do not express my anger as overtly as the moon, I will not show Rouhong a good face either. I waved my hand and said softly, "Can't you tell whether I am at ease or not from the day you caught me?" Looking at Rouhong's eternally expressionless face, I once again recalled the words and actions of the Empress that day in the ear room

At that moment, Shang Baiwen stood at the entrance of the Dongnuan Pavilion and reported to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, may you be in good health. I, your humble servant, have come with my father to seek an audience."

I once again felt the terrifying nature of the emperor. Perhaps, even if the previous few legitimate princes had not died before the emperor ascended to the position of crown prince, the position of crown prince and the throne would ultimately still belong to the emperor. According to his character, whatever he desires, regardless of the means employed, he will certainly seize it. Anyone who competes with him will face his vengeance

In the ninefold deep palace as spoken of by the populace, I find that I have gained a new understanding. Although the emperor harbors deep suspicions about everything around him, he would never anticipate that his lawful wife possesses such a sinister and terrifying side. In this dimly lit chamber, akin to a secret room, there are only the Empress Xiao Xunbi and myself. After she entered, she did not take any further action, merely walking to a spot a few steps away from me and gazing at me.

Although I am not particularly kind, I still cannot bring myself to bully a servant simply because I am the master. I waved my hand at Yue'er, urging her to let it go

I have been languishing in the Luan Yi Palace for nearly half a month, and I have not attended the morning and evening rituals at the Kun Ning Palace. When someone inquires about me, I claim to be ill. Yue'er has visited a few times, and each time I have pretended to be seriously unwell. When she asks about my symptoms, I tell her that I have trouble sleeping at night. Over time, the storeroom of the Luan Yi Palace is almost filled with the tonics and medicinal materials sent from the Cheng Qian Palace.

The emperor's reaction was somewhat unexpected; he clapped his hands in approval and said, "I have been in this world for over thirty years, and at last, I have encountered a woman of deep feelings and strong principles. Truly, a tiger begets no dog daughter, and a good woman emerges from a noble family. It seems that the adults and the Grand Princess have raised you, this precious daughter, very well."

Hearing the Empress directly name me, I immediately restrained the Moon who was about to erupt, and stepped forward with a cold smile towards the Empress: "Although I am but a trivial servant before Your Majesty, in front of this lowly wench, I am indeed her true master. Your Majesty should not let anger cloud your judgment."

I have not yet figured out how to deal with Rouhong. The usually quiet and composed Yue'er suddenly released my hand, rushed in front of Rouhong, and slapped her several times, cursing at her: "You shameless wretch who relies on others for power, just because you follow the Empress, do you think you are someone important? Today, His Majesty has slapped your master, and now I shall slap your face!"

The emperor redirected his attention back to me. When it was just the two of us, he always appeared expressionless like an iceberg, and his tone was rather stiff. However, whenever the moon was present, he seemed to transform into a different person. He said, "Yue, today you should boldly tell me, why have you had numerous opportunities to approach me over the years, yet have never taken the initiative to get close to me?"

For several consecutive days, I have been leading Fu Xiang, carrying the list of goods, running back and forth to the Six Palaces. Aside from Kun Ning Palace and Shou Kang Palace, I have visited the entire inner palace and sold my wares everywhere. If I make another round, I am certain that some concubines will be unable to tolerate it and will go to the Empress to report me. At that time, it would be a minor issue if I lost money, but if I lost my life, that would be a significant loss

I am truly distressed

Telling him these things is no different from playing the lute to a cow

How should the moon treat me? Every detail from the past ten years is etched clearly in my memory; she is far more important to me than an emperor.

What he wants is not Yue Yanxiao, but the daughter of the Governor of Donghai and the Grand Princess of Lin'an.

Rou Hong, seemingly oblivious to the piercing gaze of the moon, performed a respectful greeting towards me, saying: "This servant pays her respects to Lady Hua and Lady Jie, wishing both esteemed ladies peace and well-being."

King Yue has always been simple-minded; how could he have anticipated that the emperor would hold such a grudge, preferring to part ways with Shang Wanquan rather than allowing him to be with his beloved fiancée, thus causing him distress?

Fu Xiang was still very happy, squatting down with the rattle drum and playing with Princess Chengmin. She was likely pleased because the Emperor had come to my aid. The Empress, in this instance, truly ended up losing more than she gained; she did not harm Yue'er, but instead was personally rebuffed by the Emperor, resulting in a net loss.

I looked at the Emperor with sincere expression: "Your Majesty, Yue'er wholeheartedly regards you as her husband. As her good sister, how could I possibly usurp the one she holds dear in her heart?"

I stepped forward and took Yue'er’s hand, allowing her to calm down from her excitement. I then asked Rouhong, "I am unwell; may I be excused from visiting Her Majesty the Empress in Kun Ning Palace?"

I have an inkling of the direction hinted at by Yue, but I do not dare to make reckless guesses. The vast palace contains nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine rooms, and I do not know how many unknown secrets are hidden within. It is not just the Empress, nor just the Emperor; it may even include the noble Consort Zhang Yi, as well as Yue and myself. Each person living in this realm of red walls and yellow tiles harbors a secret that belongs solely to them, and the consequence of revealing it could very well be a matter of life and death

After this, the King of Yue remained disheartened in the royal palace for a long time, taking a full year to regain his spirits. He married a concubine and had a son, then led troops to the front lines, returning to the capital only three or four times over the course of ten years

Is it because of my previous matter? However, this incident has long since passed, so why has the emperor suddenly thought of punishing the empress?

The discontented Yue'er was worried that I would anger the Emperor, so she specially came to accompany me for a night, urging me to remain calm and composed

The queen, under the pressure of the moon's aura, dared not meet her gaze, avoiding her eyes while turning her back. After a moment of silence, her demeanor showed a hint of panic, and she then instructed the palace maid behind her: "See off the guests"

How would I know that the items Fang Zhixuan brought to the Luan Yi Palace treasury this time are so difficult to sell? After tirelessly promoting them, there is still a huge copper dressing mirror inlaid with yellow rosewood that hasn't been sold. This dressing mirror was brought back by Fang Zhixuan from Qiongzhou, and I was in such a hurry to acquire it that I didn't even ask whether it was genuine Hainan yellow rosewood or truly made of pure copper. I simply believed Fang Zhixuan's nonsense and paid him twenty taels of silver to buy it.

The moon rose up suddenly, and then lowered her voice, looking at the flustered queen with a meaningful expression, and said: "Your Majesty, you are the eldest daughter of the prominent Xiao family of Lanling in the Central Plains, why must you belittle yourself so?"

As the youngest legitimate son of the Emperor, he shares the same age as Prince Gu Wan, the son of the Empress Dowager Zhang, who is now known as the Dowager Zhang. Logically, the Emperor and Gu Wan played and studied together every day, and their relationship should have been very good. However, ever since several of his legitimate elder brothers passed away in succession, the struggle for the crown prince position has thrust him and Gu Wan into the spotlight, and he has not spoken a word to Gu Wan since then. Logically, the Emperor and Gu Wan played and studied together every day, and their relationship should have been very good. However, ever since several of his legitimate elder brothers passed away in succession, the struggle for the crown prince position has thrust him and Gu Wan into the spotlight, and he has not spoken a word to Gu Wan since then

Although my martial arts skills are not as advanced as those of my brothers, defeating a frail woman like the queen should not be a problem. However, the difficulty lies in the fact that I cannot take the initiative to strike, otherwise I would be offending the queen

Your Highness, His Majesty has always been a very composed person. Among the four princes born to the Empress Dowager, he is the most adept at scheming. Fu Xiang seemed somewhat hesitant to discuss the topic of the Emperor, pausing for a moment before responding to me. After saying this, she thought for a moment and added, He has always held grudges, but he does not retaliate immediately; he always waits until the other party has paid the highest price before taking action

Indeed. The merchant is clearly a confidant of the emperor, yet Shang Wanjiao has been accused of being involved with the King of Yue, who has a deep-seated conflict with the emperor. The emperor, who clearly does not favor Xiao Xunbi, still insists on marrying her to demonstrate his power to the King of Yue. Currently, the relationships of both couples are even worse than mere appearances, and there must be some underlying intrigue behind it.

He held the moon's hand and asked me, "Then tell me, why did the queen suddenly recommend you?"

Although he is not my mother, in the future, the procurement and distribution will rely on him and his little apprentice. I might as well lend him some money

When I poured out my grievances to him, he was quite indifferent and offered me some advice to ease my mind

Yue'er gently smiled as she touched the embroidery on her cloak, saying: "If Xiao Xunbi is a pitiful person, then there are pitiful people everywhere in this palace. Her current fate is not due to Brother Heng abandoning her, but rather because she brought this upon herself and cannot survive. If it were me, after giving birth to Princess Yining, I would strangle her, and then, like the wife of King Yue, retreat into a life of seclusion to preserve my life"

"The queen is truly pitiful." Yue'er and I entered the palanquin one after the other, heading towards my Luan Yi Palace

I will not believe the materials you provide, and you opened your mouth to tell me a story about the emperor's childhood

Indeed, within this deep palace, only the heart of Yue'er towards me remains unchanged. However, the tragedy of the Empress truly fills me with shock. It is said that after she gave birth to the Crown Princess, Princess Yining, the Emperor never shared a bed with her again. I am deeply concerned that Yue'er, so infatuated with the Emperor, may one day meet the same fate as the Empress.

On a day when the sun is shining just right, taking the children out for a walk is always a good idea

The emperor did not immediately respond to my answer, but instead beckoned Yue'er to come to his side

On the day the Queen had just finished administering the long-planned twenty big slaps, and returned me to the palace, the moon knew this news.

Looking back, as a concubine, although I cannot directly confront the Empress, why did I not kick her when she bound my hands with a red cloth to express my feelings?

The moon is concerned that I might feel bored during my recovery alone, so after I was able to get out of bed, she sent my favorite Princess Chengmin to my palace. It was not truly for me to take care of her, but rather to have Princess Chengmin keep me company. With such a delightful companion, my days have become much more cheerful

I had never found you so interesting before; I only thought you were timid as a mouse. It seems I have been too harsh on you in the past. As soon as the emperor uttered these words, I felt a sense of unease. What does he mean by this? Has he taken an interest in me and wishes to favor me?

After Yue'er finished speaking, the hall fell into silence, and no one dared to utter a word. I remained in shock, gazing at Yue'er, who was so different from her usual self, tears streaming down her face, whether from anger or from the pain she felt for me. My heart ached as if pricked by needles. Ten years had swiftly passed, yet she was still the same good girl who would stand up for me and always remembered to share her good fortune with me.

Recently, the supplements and medicinal materials sent by Yue'er, along with the goods that Fang Zhixuan frequently brings to me, have caused my small storage room to be unable to close its door. Today, he has come again to add to the chaos

I pretended to still be very angry and fiercely said to him: "How much more do you need? I will help you make up the difference."

Goodness, Fang Zhixuan truly is a person of hidden depth. He appears to be a weak and bookish individual, yet he harbors considerable ambition. However, his sincere dedication to his beloved career is indeed commendable. It is just that I really do not appreciate the fact that he comes to trouble me when he is short on money. I am his partner, not his mother.

I presented the queen with a dignified smile and calmly said: "I understand, Your Majesty, that it has not been easy for you to gain a legitimate cause. You intend to use my flesh and blood to seek merit before His Majesty, hoping to have the real power of the six palaces returned to you. You merely wish to achieve two goals with one action: to eliminate both me and Consort Hua. However, do not forget that you have no capital to take such risks before His Majesty."

What else can I do? The queen is, after all, the nominal mother of the nation. I certainly cannot write to my mother and ask her to petition the retired emperor on my behalf to depose the queen as my daughter-in-law.

Fang Zhixuan noticed that I was in a fit of anger, and wisely knelt down to bow to me: "Your Highness, please do not be angry. I found a precious skincare ingredient in a hot spring in Luzhou. This ingredient is extremely rare and valuable, and I was concerned that ordinary merchants might not recognize its worth and would waste it, so I intended to purchase that hot spring."

She smiled through her tears and said, "Su Liangyue, do you really think that Yue Yanxiao is genuinely willing to be your sister?" Her finger trembled as she pointed at me, and her voice quivered as well, "She is merely trying to cling to you because she has lost favor in front of the emperor and has no other choice; do not be so self-indulgent."

"What are you worried about? You and I are making money together now; even if you were to go to the guillotine tomorrow, you would still be a wealthy ghost." Fang Zhixuan seems unlikely to leave the capital in the short term, and has resumed the previous frequency of visiting for a peace pulse check every five days. Each time he comes, he brings me some exquisite little items from outside the palace.

As an observer, one might perceive me at this moment as an undercover agent whose identity has been exposed, while she appears to be the one interrogating me. To speak frankly, the demeanor and reactions of the queen took me somewhat by surprise; I do not understand why she is looking at me in this manner

Rou Hong was being restrained by Yue Er, forced to bow to me three times, reluctantly apologizing with her words. It was only after Rou Hong pleaded for mercy that Yue Er released her, saying: "Foolish thing, do you not know whether you are a servant or a master?"

"How could I possibly guess the thoughts of Her Majesty the Empress?" I exchanged a quick glance with Yue'er before giving this response. If the Emperor were to think that I was in collusion with the Empress because of this, what could I do? Aside from trying my best to defend myself, there was nothing else I could do.

When meeting someone, one only speaks a third of the words; the emperor is not an ordinary person, so I shall speak five parts to him. I will omit the part that I dislike about him.

The emperor lifted the teacup beside him and took a gentle sip, then turned to Yue'er and said: "The empress's audacity has truly grown bolder; could it be that she thinks, with Princess Yining about to marry, she has no more ties and can act with impunity?"

Empress Hua, Empress Hua, please calm your anger, calm your anger... The maidservant, frightened by the moonlight, retreated to the doorway, unable to stop pleading for mercy with her lips.

During this past half month of languor, I have been contemplating whether the emperor, who is highly suspicious and harbors strong wariness towards the vast majority of people in this palace, might already be aware of my collusion with Fang Zhixuan in the illicit trade, yet has refrained from mentioning it for some reason

The moon smiled mysteriously at me, carrying a hint of intrigue: "Xiao Xiao, isn't it a bit of a coincidence that the King of Yue treats the Queen of Yue poorly, and that Brother Heng treats the Empress poorly?"

She was expressionless, a stark contrast to her usual timid demeanor

The moon observed Rouhong with great vigilance. She rose and walked to my side, taking my hand in a protective gesture, her eyes fixed intently on the seemingly puppet-like, expressionless Rouhong: "Wretched servant, what do you want?"

"Yue, you have been wandering around the six palaces these past few days, what is the reason for this?" The Empress took a few steps closer to me, and the door to the room opened again. Several aunts entered, carrying a long bench, seemingly intending to punish me. Unfortunately, I endured many beatings from my father when I was young, and I have become accustomed to it. They won't be able to hurt me with less than seventy or eighty strikes. At most, it will just be a bit painful, and I can endure it.

How can someone as shallow as I am compare to the depth of his scheming mind