With a crisp sound, a pale blue shadow floated in front of me.
The person in front of me was slender, with an oval face, cherry lips, dark and bright eyes, and a charming appearance with red lips and white teeth.
"Who are you?"
"This humble servant is Shaoyou, the personal attendant of the Palace Master."
"Oh, Shaoyou." I nodded. This child was so cute that my mood improved. "Aren't personal attendants supposed to be by their master's side at all times?"
He probably didn't expect me to ask this. "Uh... Shao Yan and Shao Ming are also serving. Master told me to follow Miss."
Surveillance? No need. What trouble could I possibly cause in Wuyue Palace, your own territory?
I sighed, suppressing the clamor that ran through my heart.
"Where does Miss Yue Ling live?"
"Miss Biao lives in Qiushui Pavilion in Ye Garden. Just walk west and go around two flower halls to reach her."
"Oh," I smiled at him. "Could you please take me there?"
His two dark eyes widened as he hurriedly said, "Of course, but please don't do that, Miss. It will shorten my lifespan."
After saying that, she hurriedly walked westward, not caring whether I followed or not. Ah, she really frightened him; when has Miss Rong ever used honorifics with anyone?
I followed with a smile, but no matter how much I suppressed it, a little bitterness would inevitably well up inside me.
Speaking of the scenery and architecture of Wuyue Palace, it is truly exquisite and impeccable. I carefully memorized the path, and we arrived at Yeyuan in less than a quarter of an hour.
Outside the garden stood two locust trees. It was late spring, and their petals, carried by the wind, filled the courtyard with a rosy fragrance, creating a serene and beautiful scene. I took a deep breath, savoring this long-lost sense of freshness and tranquility.
"It's very comfortable here, and the scenery is beautiful. Miss Yue is truly a blessed person."
“Every garden and every building in Wuyue Palace is meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, and almost every place is a beautiful spot. Ye Garden, in particular, is decorated by Miss Biao herself, so it is naturally different.”
See? I'm already jealous before I even see Yue Linghe. Sigh, the days ahead are going to be really agonizing. I bet Nangong Ling knew this all along and deliberately pushed me into this huge pit of fire, making me suffer all the time.
Chapter 6
As I walked through the outer courtyard, I attracted a lot of stares. Some people looked at Shao You in front of them with friendly and cordial eyes, but when they glanced at me, they looked at me with disdain. Some even treated me as if I were invisible.
I pursed my lips, pretending that I was blind, deaf, and mute, unable to see, hear, or speak.
As I walked into the central hall, I was stopped by a nanny who was not tall but had a very imposing presence.
Having served a favored master, her status was naturally different. Although she was still a servant, her position was much higher. Yet, she dared to stop even Nangong Ling's personal attendant, which showed how confident she was in her master's favor.
Just then, I couldn't help but laugh, and the old woman's face darkened... It seems my ability to offend people hasn't diminished at all; I've already made an enemy of her since I arrived. But this unchanging principle of relying on one's master's power is indeed laughable. Wasn't one of my little maids used to be like this? Relying on my backing, she even slapped Protector Xiao in the face, although the little maid disappeared the next day and never appeared again.
"You're Rong Lian?" She raised her chin and squinted.
I maintained my smile, clenching my fists tightly inside my sleeves. Bah! You dog of a servant, how dare you call Rong Lian that?!
"It was the Palace Master who sent Shaoyou to escort Miss here. Please do me a favor, Granny." Shaoyou actually smiled ingratiatingly, his tone extremely cautious and polite.
"Miss?" The old woman raised one eyebrow. "There's only one young lady here."
Shao You scratched his neck awkwardly, "Yes, yes, it's to have the young lady serve the young lady."
"Hmph! What can these pampered young ladies do if they can't even carry a tea basket?"
"Well... the Palace Master instructed Miss to make the arrangements."
The old woman grumbled and mumbled for a long time before finally moving her "honored vehicle" to lead us into the inner hall.
I lowered my head and silently gritted my teeth, desperately trying to suppress the urge to kill.
"Please forgive her, Miss. That's just how Granny Wei is. She's not a bad person. Just ignore her."
This child is so sweet, and his smile is so charming. I managed a weak smile when I looked at him.
Yue Linghe's room had three doors. Granny Wei led us to the side hall of the outer room and wouldn't let us follow. She went into the inner room to invite the young lady herself.
After waiting for a while, Yue Linghe came out and greeted me with a smile.
"Brother Ling really does what he says. Since Ling'er likes Sister Lian, Brother Ling gave Sister Lian to Ling'er."
Her words chilled me to the bone. What did she mean? Or had I really overestimated myself? Nangong Ling didn't even bother with me, and only refrained from killing me because Yue Linghe liked him? So, I'm standing here alive entirely because of Yue Linghe? Should I prostrate myself and beg to repay her kindness?
Ha, what a huge joke!
*Crack!* The table snapped in half. I did it!
Perhaps it was too sudden, because Yue Linghe was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale, and her bright eyes were also covered with a layer of mist.
Shao You was stunned for a moment and was about to say something when Granny Wei jumped out and beat him to it.
"What kind of spoiled brat are you throwing? What kind of crazy tantrum are you acting like? Would you and your daughter still be alive today without this young lady?"
"Granny Wei!" Shao You shouted sharply, giving Granny Wei a sidelong glance.
Even the most arrogant Granny Wei knew that Shaoyou was not someone to be truly provoked. After all, she was just a servant and could not compare to her master. If she went too far, she would only be kicked out. So she muttered a couple of things and then stopped talking.
"Oh, Miss Rong, you're causing trouble again? If this were to be told to the Palace Master, you'd be in for a world of trouble." A crisp female voice rang out from the doorway.
Looking back, she is the only woman among the four protectors, and also Qionghua's younger sister, Qiongying.
"He'll find out sooner or later anyway." Come on, let's just go all in.
"You really scared Miss Biao this time."
My face must look terrible, but I don't care about the fact that I was saved by someone else.
"...Never mind, it's just a table, it's alright." Yue Linghe sniffed and smiled. "Sister Lian is probably not used to it yet, but she should get used to it in the future. As long as everyone doesn't tell anyone about what happened today, your brother won't know."
Miss Yue, you are so kind and naive. Don't you even think about whose place you live in? Let alone Wuyue Palace, even when I was still far away in Lin'an City, he knew my daily routine clearly in Luoyang, who I met, who I went out with, where I went, how long I stayed and how long I stayed before returning home... He knew even more about these trivial matters than I did!
"It doesn't matter, Nangong Ling can't kill me, because Miss likes me."
I smiled with satisfaction as I received four pairs of surprised eyes.
"You really are... sigh..." Qiongying sighed, "Your life or death is none of my business. You almost made me forget why I came here. Ling'er, do you want to go see the flower viewing party tonight?"
"Hmm?" Yue Linghe seemed a little confused, probably still not quite recovered from the shock. "Is your brother going?"
"Uh...it's hard to say. There are a lot going on in the palace lately, and the Palace Master may not be able to spare the time."
Don't worry, he'll go no matter how busy he is. Didn't he still have time to make sure I took that damn medicine yesterday?
"Oh, then Sister Lian, why don't you come with Ling'er too?" Her innocent and naive smile was irresistible.
I looked at her for a while and laughed, "If I'm still alive enough to make it tonight."
Chapter 7
After Yue Linghe awkwardly accepted my offer, Shao You gracefully withdrew from the scene. Qiong Ying stared at me with a half-smile for a while, exchanged a few words with Yue Linghe, and was then called back to work by her subordinates.
Granny Wei sent me to fetch water from the courtyard. I stared at the well on the ground, but since I've practiced martial arts since childhood, fetching water wasn't a problem for me. At least, the rule about not being able to carry water on my shoulders was wrong. Brewing tea was also a piece of cake for me. In the past, when I had nothing to do, I liked to brew a pot of pre-rain Longjing tea or flower tea and savor it slowly. If you're not an expert in this field, most people really don't have my skill.
So when the aroma of tea filled the air, Yue Linghe's eyes lit up with excitement. Granny Wei, holding her breath but unable to reprimand me, could only grumble and do her own thing. But my smugness didn't last long. When the tea was served, I didn't notice it was too hot, and a pot of excellent Mengding tea was ruined by my hands. In the past, when I brewed tea, servants would warm it for me. I only had to brew it; I never had to lift a finger to serve it.
After ruining everything, she never visited me again. I couldn't grind ink, I tore clothes while washing them, and I got covered in dust while sweeping... In short, I accomplished nothing all morning. Enraged, Granny Wei grabbed a rattan cane and started whipping me all over the room. The young lady tried to stop her, but Granny Wei couldn't control her. I pushed her aside, but before I could dodge, I got two lashes from her cane. The skin wasn't broken, but there was bruising, so my arm was burning with pain.
The pain was so bad that I couldn't even eat lunch because I couldn't lift either of my hands at all. That dim-witted old woman, Granny Wei, was quite skilled at hitting people; she used a rattan cane on each hand, making my hands ache terribly whenever I moved them.
When Yue Linghe took her afternoon nap, Qionghua dutifully came to drag me back to take my medicine. When Granny Wei saw him, she was incredibly polite, her face so wrinkled from smiling that it looked like she could trap several mosquitoes, and the way she looked at me was as if she wanted to tear me to pieces right then and there.
Upon entering the room, I saw a bowl of steaming black medicine already laid out on the table. I looked at it and realized that it was something I couldn't eat or pour away.
"If you keep looking, the medicine will get cold." A sarcastic, half-dead voice sounded behind me.
I ignored him and continued looking at the bowl of medicine.
A delicate little food box was placed on the table. When the lid was opened, the box was full of candied fruit.
I swallowed hard.
"After you finish taking the medicine, all of this is yours." Someone began to coax them.
"Well... I need to be able to drink it too."
"What?" He leaned closer, somewhat puzzled.
"If you don't mind, please condescend to look at my hands."
He raised an eyebrow and held out his hand. "Exquisitely crafted, like an ornament. You can tell at a glance that it's the hand of a well-maintained young lady. Is this all you want me to see?"
“No.” I felt my brow twitch. “Roll up your sleeve.”
He must have been in a really good mood today, his beaming smile making him seem radiant. But that was just before he rolled up my sleeve; in an instant, his expression darkened.
"Who did this?" He lowered his head, his fine wisps of hair obscuring his eyes, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
"Go check it yourself, so you won't accuse me of being the guilty party who filed a false accusation."
"You hurt yourself on the very first day..." He looked up again and put on his usual smile, "Clumsy."
As she spoke, she pulled me down to sit, picked up a bowl, and before I could react, she pinched my nose and shoved the medicine bottle down my throat. She did it so fast that the medicine was steaming in my stomach before I snapped back to reality. It was so bitter that I frowned and coughed twice. I reached for the candied fruit on the table, but when I raised my hand, it hurt terribly.
The person across from me put down their bowl and watched me sweat profusely with an air of leisure, their bright, beautiful eyes sparkling. Wasn't this person supposed to be very busy? No time for your little cousin, but plenty of time to laugh at me?
"Want some?" She pointed to the food box on the table with her long, beautiful fingers.
Nonsense. I showed him with my eyes.