On the other side, outside the palace chambers, Cuiping stood in the open space, her eyes fixed intently on the moon in the sky. Then she murmured softly, "Your Ladyship, this servant will show you. Only this servant truly wishes you well."
Meanwhile, in Concubine Shu's palace.
She was still awake, while her maid Xiaoxiang beside her had already fallen into a deep slumber.
"Xiaoxiang?" she called out softly.
Finding that the one called didn't wake up, she carefully turned over and got out of bed, then walked out of the chambers.
Once in the outer courtyard, she casually found a stone bench and sat down. At this moment, she truly yearned for the days in the countryside. Although the food, clothing and daily necessities there were far inferior to what she had here, she had the freedom that she couldn't even dream of in this place.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but heave a long sigh. She knew that she could only express her emotions like this in the dead of night. And apart from the Empress, everyone in the harem made her feel so insecure.
As she was lost in thought, a female voice came from behind her, "Your Ladyship?"
She suddenly turned around and saw Xiaoxiang standing there blankly behind her.
Actually, Xiaoxiang had long noticed that her mistress would come out and sit for a while every night. She had never exposed it, but today she just couldn't hold it back anymore, because of her mistress's desolate look...
"You're awake?" Concubine Shu couldn't help but frown and ask.
Hearing this, Xiaoxiang walked over. Standing in front of her, she stammered a bit and asked, "Your Ladyship, do you have any worries? If... if Your Ladyship is willing, you can tell this servant..."
She had served the woman in front of her for so long and knew that she was a good mistress worthy of trust, so she was willing to follow her all the time.
Concubine Shu naturally saw her concern for herself. She couldn't help but curl her lips slightly and then said, "I miss home."
"Your Ladyship, if you miss home, you can ask Lord to come into the palace to visit you," Xiaoxiang replied naively.
But she shook her head and said, "This palace doesn't miss that home."
What she missed was the countryside with mountains and rivers, where people were kind and there was no scheming. But she could never go back.
"Your Ladyship..." Xiaoxiang murmured with a frown.
Seeing her so worried, Concubine Shu stood up with a smile. Then she reached out and tapped the bridge of her nose, and said, "Alright, let's go back to the chambers!"
She thought she was being too sentimental. After all, now she had people who cared about her and people she wanted to care about. What else could she be dissatisfied with?
Days passed by. One afternoon, when Princess Dongfang was practicing calligraphy at the desk, a shout came from outside the palace, "Her Majesty the Dowager Empress is here!"
Hearing this, her brows couldn't help but furrow. Her heart skipped a beat, for she knew that whenever the Dowager Empress came, it could never be a good thing. Maybe she came here to pick a fight again.
Soon, a woman in gorgeous robes walked in. Behind her was Nanny Li.
"This subject pays respects to the Dowager Empress," she said as she bowed slightly.
But the Dowager Empress ignored her. Instead, she let out a cold snort and sat down on the armchair beside. Then she asked, "Did you beat Concubine Chu?!"
Princess Dongfang thought to herself that this had happened so long ago. Why was it being brought up now? Concubine Chu's injuries must have almost healed by now.
But she couldn't answer like this. Instead, she said with a smile, "Your Majesty the Dowager Empress, please listen to this subject's explanation. The situation was like this. Concubine Chu injured this subject and the Emperor. Naturally, this subject had to teach her a lesson on behalf of the Emperor. But since Your Majesty has clearly stated that she need not be severely punished, this subject thought that since she had made a mistake, she must be slightly punished to show the dignity of our royal family!"
She spoke seriously, and there was nothing wrong with what she said.
Hearing this, the Dowager Empress couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Slightly punished? Concubine Chu had been beaten so badly that she couldn't get out of bed for ten days.
But she didn't come here for this matter. Instead, she asked about another thing.
"Something has happened in this palace recently. Have you heard any rumors, Empress?" she asked.
Hearing this, Princess Dongfang frowned. She couldn't help but look at Donghua beside her. Donghua shook her head after seeing this. Then she replied, "This subject doesn't know what has happened in Your Majesty's palace. This subject really hasn't heard any rumors."
Hearing this, the Dowager Empress couldn't help but slap the armrest of the chair and roared in a deep voice, "Two old nannies died in this palace. Do you know who they are?!"
Hearing this, Princess Dongfang felt even more confused. She thought that this was a matter in the Dowager Empress's palace. How could she possibly know? But she still replied, "This subject doesn't know."
Hearing this, the Dowager Empress let out a cold snort. Then she said coldly, "You don't know?! The two nannies who died were the ones who whipped you back then. You said it was just such a coincidence. There had been no incidents in this palace for decades, but suddenly two palace servants died, and they were related to the Empress."
After saying this, she stared intently at the woman in front of her. The suspicion in her eyes was obvious to everyone.
Hearing this, Princess Dongfang couldn't help but curse in her heart. She thought that this had happened ages ago. How could it still be related to her? The Dowager Empress's suspicion of taking revenge was too obvious.
"Your Majesty the Dowager Empress, you must have misunderstood. This matter happened so long ago. This subject has long forgotten about it. Moreover, Your Majesty whipped this subject for this subject's own good back then. How could this subject take revenge at this time?" she still replied with a forced smile, but she was rolling her eyes in her heart.
But the Dowager Empress didn't take her words to heart. She had already decided that it was the Empress who had done this. After all, there was no one bolder than her in the harem, who dared to shout in front of her. So this matter of killing must also be done by her.
Thinking of this, she let out a cold snort. The snort seemed to come from the back of her throat, showing the owner's strong disdain. Then she said, "This palace will naturally find out the truth!"
After saying this, she stood up and was about to leave. But just before leaving, she turned back and left a sentence, "By the way, this palace has lifted Concubine Chu's house arrest. You've beaten and scolded her. Let this matter go. This palace is counting on her to serve."
The meaning in her words was obviously aimed at the woman in front of her. She clearly knew that the Empress disliked Concubine Chu, but she still did the opposite of what the Empress wanted.
After saying this, she left the Empress's palace.
Princess Dongfang, who was still standing there, frowned tightly. There was an unknown look flashing in her eyes. She was very displeased with the Dowager Empress's actions.
If the Dowager Empress was targeting her, she had nothing to blame. After all, she was the Dowager Empress and had the right to dislike the concubines.