In early May, it was already swelteringly hot in the imperial city.
In the Taiji Palace, everyone was on tenterhooks.
A few days ago, Liang Jiusi, the supervisor of the eunuchs, somehow angered the emperor and was punished to clean the chamber pots.
The other palace servants were even more cautious and didn't dare to relax the slightest bit.
They were no match for Liang Jiusi, who had been by the emperor's side for many years and was his trusted aide.
If they were really careless on duty, it wouldn't be as simple as just cleaning a chamber pot.
Notably, after Liang Jiusi was punished to clean the chamber pots, the most favored person in the Taiji Palace had become the new palace maid, Ling Shan.
The little eunuchs who served in front of the emperor were under Liang Jiusi's management, so there wasn't much difference.
However, the palace maids had always been led by two senior maids, Ban Chun and Ban Xia.
These two senior maids were already in their thirties and had been in the Taiji Palace since Jun Wuyuan ascended the throne.
Even though Ban Qiu and Ban Dong had been replaced countless times, these two senior maids had always remained.
They could be said to be the most trusted aides besides Yang Qiyuan.
Ban Qiu, after experiencing the comings and goings of countless "Ban Qius", just wanted to live in peace until she could leave the palace.
But Ban Dong was different. Maybe she thought she was good - looking, and combined with the "feud" she had with Ling Shan in the peach orchard that day.
Moreover, in contrast, Ling Shan was gradually gaining favor in front of the emperor, who was as handsome as a god.
When had it ever been that only Liang Jiusi was allowed to serve the emperor closely? Now this hussy who came out of nowhere had beaten them to it!
Ban Dong gritted her teeth in jealousy.
—
Ling Shan, irritated by the heat, carried the fruit iced drinks she had painstakingly made.
Since she started serving Jun Wuyuan five days ago, Ling Shan had truly experienced what it meant to be in a miserable situation.
Trying to fathom the emperor's mind was sometimes a double - edged sword.
Undoubtedly, over these days, her loyal and considerate attitude had broken through the initial layer of defense and estrangement.
Even though there was still some probing in it, compared to the beginning when he would easily order her to be beheaded and used as fertilizer for the flowers or fed to the fish, Jun Wuyuan's attitude had softened, and that was enough.
Even though this dog - tyrant didn't act like a human being every day.
Sometimes he would openly order her around and torment her, and sometimes he would secretly torture her with his thoughts.
Take the iced drink in her hand for example. The emperor was tired of the sweet pastries made in the palace.
It was very hot, and even though there was no shortage of ice in the Taiji Palace, he was still in a bad mood.
As a loyal and considerate personal maid, Ling Shan had wracked her brains to make all the cold drinks she could remember from before.
Jun Wuyuan was a picky eater.
When Ling Shan was making the mung bean iced drink just now, she even thought that if she didn't have this mind - reading ability, would she not have to be so considerate?
But it was just a thought.
Ling Shan knew that if she didn't have this golden finger, she would have died on the first day.
"You hussy! You're so shameless..."
At the corner of the corridor where she had knelt last time, a figure full of jealousy and anger blocked her way.
With a slap.
Ling Shan didn't even give her a chance to get closer and say a second word. She protected the food box with one hand and slapped the other hand hard.
Before the hatred in Ban Dong's eyes could spread, she was slapped to the ground, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"You... How dare you hit me?" Ban Dong covered her face and asked in disbelief.
Ling Shan smiled and said the classic line.
"I hit you. Do I need to pick a date?"
"Slut!"
Ban Dong's face contorted. Struggling, with hatred in her eyes, she was about to pounce on Ling Shan.
A cold glint flashed in Ling Shan's smiling eyes. She raised her foot and kicked Ban Dong mercilessly.
"This is the first and the last warning to you. Keep your mouth clean. When you see me, act like you don't. Don't come in front of me to seek attention.
If there's a next time, I'll kill you."
The cold and emotionless voice was like a poisonous snake crawling into Ban Dong's ears.
That face still had a gentle smile on it, but somehow it made Ban Dong shiver.
When she came to her senses, she could only see Ling Shan's annoying back getting farther and farther away.
Ban Dong's face hurt, and her shoulders hurt badly too. She angrily pounded the ground, then hid to tidy up her clothes before hurrying back to the palace.
【It's so hot! Why hasn't that stupid goose come back yet? If I get heatstroke later, I'll blame it all on that stupid goose!】
Ling Shan, who had just reached the palace gate, paused: "......"
【No, I'm already heat - stricken. Who told that stupid goose to be half an incense stick's worth of time late?】
Ling Shan: "?"
【I'll just pretend to faint. When that stupid goose comes back, no matter how she shouts, I won't wake up. I'll scare her and see if she dares to neglect me like this again!】
Ling Shan silently closed her eyes, carried the food box, and walked closer step by step, cursing in her heart.
Sure enough, there was a round head lying on the imperial desk made of yellow rosewood. It was so childish that it seemed as if he didn't hear her approaching.
There were ice containers placed around the palace, and the maids were fanning them with cattail fans, but the hot air still kept coming.
Those who served in the Taiji Palace had to stand with their heads down silently like ornaments unless Jun Wuyuan gave an order, in order to survive well.
Therefore, this "heat - stroke fainting" of Jun Wuyuan was only seen by Ling Shan.
People really want to laugh when they're speechless.
Ling Shan carried the heavy food box and seemed not to see Jun Wuyuan who was sleeping with his head down.
When she got closer, as if her wrist couldn't bear the weight, she almost dropped the food box heavily on the table.
With a loud thud, it was very obvious in the quiet palace.
【What does this stupid goose mean? She's late herself, and now she's even getting angry at me?】
Even the maids who usually acted like wooden people in the palace couldn't help but take a look after hearing the sound.
Before quickly looking away, they only saw the figures entangled in front of the imperial desk without any gap.
This glance made the maids tremble, and they didn't dare to look up randomly again.
"Your Majesty." Ling Shan's tone was gentle.
Jun Wuyuan didn't move, his heart full of anger.
【I think this stupid goose is becoming more and more presumptuous. I'm still too kind - hearted!】
Ling Shan: "......"
Your Majesty, doesn't your conscience ache when you say such things?
Ling Shan reached out her hand and gently touched Jun Wuyuan's forehead. It was a bit hot.
But her tone suddenly became urgent, full of worry:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you okay?"
In her panic, her hand accidentally poked Jun Wuyuan's cheek. Anyone could tell that the worry in her voice was genuine.
"Your Majesty? What's wrong with you? Someone!"
Her voice rose a few notes. "Someone, go and call the imperial physician quickly. His Majesty has fainted!"
The palace immediately became chaotic. The maids seemed to have already seen the scene of people losing their heads and quickly got moving.
Why did His Majesty faint?
Why didn't they notice that His Majesty had fainted?
【This stupid goose is pressing on my hair! Don't call the imperial physician. I'm perfectly fine!】