Xianfu Palace.
The Noble Consort Xian suddenly slammed a cup of hot tea down. Kneeling in the palace hall was the newly promoted senior maid, Snow Willow.
The scalding tea splashed onto her shoulder, causing a sharp pain, but Snow Willow didn't dare to let out a single whimper.
"You wretch! How dare you falsely convey my aunt's imperial edict! I'm not a Bodhisattva with an unmoved heart. Why should I copy scriptures or chant Buddha's name? How could my aunt be so senile as to order her niece to be under house arrest?"
"Your Highness, please make a fair judgment. I would never dare to tell lies. It was really Miss Zhimei from Cining Palace who came to convey the Empress Dowager's oral order just now. Please calm down, Your Highness."
The Noble Consort Xian's eyes were blazing with anger. "Calm down? What does my aunt mean by ordering me to be under house arrest? Is she trying to elevate that seductive slut in Taiji Palace?"
Snow Willow prostrated herself on the ground, not daring to say a word. The fates of Ming Liu and Cui Liu were still fresh in her mind.
She didn't dare to have grand ambitions or too many thoughts. She just wanted to serve quietly until she was twenty - five and leave the palace safely.
Crackle!
There was another sound of porcelain shattering, accompanied by the Noble Consort Xian's crazy roars, which made Snow Willow and the others in the hall tremble.
"What does that slut have? Is my aunt crazy?"
"I'm the most noble girl of the Langya Wang Clan in the Great Yan Dynasty. How could my aunt humiliate me like this just to elevate a slut? Why?"
"That slut is just a bit prettier, with bigger breasts, a thinner waist, and fairer skin than me. There's nothing special about her. His Majesty the Emperor would never like such a low - class seductress!"
"I won't be stupid enough to be under house arrest. Go and tell my mother to kill that slut!"
"Yes, Your Highness. I obey!" Snow Willow replied respectfully.
As long as she didn't have to go to Taiji Palace to court death, she would do anything.
---
The problems in the vegetable garden were not difficult to solve. Ling Shan only spent less than an hour to clean up all the remaining Chinese cabbages, cucumbers, and eggplants in the vegetable garden.
There wasn't a single weed in the garden. The green and yellowish vegetable seedlings looked full of vitality in the evening breeze.
Ling Shan didn't notice when there was mud smeared on her face. She sat on the stone steps, supporting her chin with both hands and looking at the garden. Her nervous, anxious, and fearful heart gradually relaxed.
Although she had inexplicably fallen asleep and then ended up in this man - eating place, not knowing if she could ever go back or if something would happen to her body, at least it seemed that she had a skill that could keep her alive for the time being.
Growl!
Ling Shan rubbed her stomach. She was a bit hungry and wondered if someone would bring food to her, the intern vegetable grower, today.
"Granny Yang, it's getting dark. Watch your step."
From afar, against the backdrop of the setting sun, a sycophantic voice sounded. Just from the address, one could tell the identity of the speaker.
Ling Shan stood up abruptly and nervously looked at the head maid of Taiji Palace.
As the glow of the lanterns approached, a stern face like Granny Rong's appeared in front of Ling Shan.
For some reason, when she met those eyes, she felt as if needles were pricking her back. Before she could even force a smile and pay her respects, she heard a stern and cold interrogation.
"Did you do all this work?"
Ling Shan lowered her eyes. "In reply to Granny, this maid was ordered by His Majesty to take care of the vegetable garden."
Yang Qiyuan's expressionless eyes scanned the renovated vegetable garden. A flicker of satisfaction quickly flashed across the bottom of her eyes.
Empress Dowager Jingyi often took care of flowers, plants, and vegetables when she was in the Cold Palace. His Majesty had been used to it since childhood. No one had expected that after ascending the throne, he would turn the back garden of Taiji Palace into a vegetable garden.
Even more unexpectedly, this beautiful girl in front of her was actually skilled in farm work.
"Not bad. Follow me."
Yang Qiyuan told the little maid Bandong who was following her to light the lamp in the bamboo house. As if she didn't see Bandong's eagerness, she said mercilessly, "Step back."
"Granny, this maid..."
Bandong was anxious and wanted to plead, but with just one look from Yang Qiyuan, she was too scared to say more.
She left reluctantly, but before leaving, she didn't forget to glare at Ling Shan secretly with hatred.
Ling Shan rolled her eyes silently and scolded in a low voice, "Stupid!"
But she followed Yang Qiyuan into the kitchen obediently. She thought to herself, could it be that she was going to be asked to cook?
Yang Qiyuan was a woman of few words. Fortunately, Ling Shan was good at observing people's expressions. She was diligent and knew when to act, so she wasn't disliked.
The only sounds in the kitchen were the crackling of the firewood and the gurgling of the hot soup. There was not a single word of conversation.
Ling Shan felt at ease. This Yang Qiyuan, who looked like Granny Rong, had taken care of Jun Wuyuan since he was a child. Empress Dowager Jingyi, Jun Wuyuan's biological mother, had passed away six years ago.
Compared to the nominal Empress Dowager Wang, Yang Qiyuan was more like a "mother" in Jun Wuyuan's heart.
Therefore, Yang Qiyuan's status was self - evident.
Ling Shan was new to this place and didn't plan to do anything she shouldn't.
Do less, make fewer mistakes, observe more. It was the best strategy to plan before taking action.
"You'll live in the west side room for the next few days. Remember, don't look at what you shouldn't, don't ask what you shouldn't, and definitely don't say what you shouldn't."
These words of advice came from Yang Qiyuan's cold face. Ling Shan was shocked in her heart, but on the surface, she gratefully thanked her.
Yang Qiyuan waved her hand. "Alright, go and send the meal to the front hall first."
The smile on Ling Shan's lips froze for a moment, but on the surface, she obediently agreed. She picked up the food box and headed for the front hall.
Jun Wuyuan threw another nonsensical memorial away. He lowered his eyes and rubbed his temples, his eyes full of gloomy coldness.
The Wang father and son had wild ambitions. Most of the memorials submitted by the Three Departments had been screened. They clearly regarded him, the emperor, as a mere figurehead and were fooling him like a fool.
The black jade thumb ring on his slender, fair finger slowly turned. A cold killing intent flashed across his eyes.
"Send these back. Tell Grand Tutor Wang that if he submits such nonsense memorials again, I'll burn them. "
As for where to burn them, it would depend on his mood at that time.
Liang Jiusi rolled his eyes and immediately understood. He ordered the little eunuchs to act.
Jun Wuyuan stood up and stared at the dark night sky outside the window. After a while, Liang Jiusi returned with a proud look on his face.
"Your Majesty, Sister Qiyuan has sent someone to deliver the meal."
Jun Wuyuan put away his thoughts. A faint smile appeared on his cold and solemn face.
Yang Qiyuan had been ill some time ago and had gone outside the palace to recuperate. No one had expected that as soon as she recovered and came back, she would cook again.
Liang Jiusi flatteringly supported the extremely happy emperor towards the side hall, not daring to peek.
But when he saw the figure kneeling to pay respects, the joy in his heart instantly faded like a receding tide.
Liang Jiusi was greatly shocked.
How dare this maid appear here so boldly?