Chapter 5: Here He Comes

Chunhua looked at the gift with worry in her eyes. When Shen Qing rested for her noon break, Qiulu grew a bit restless.

She quietly pulled Chunhua aside and said, “Yesterday I asked Nurse Li, and she still needs people. Do you want to go with me?”

Chunhua was stunned. “What are you trying to do?”

Qiulu’s face showed resentment. “Don’t you see what’s happening? Shen Liangren is probably doomed. The Empress Dowager only sent over such a small gift. Isn’t that clearly a message to reprimand her? She has no face in front of the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager doesn’t favor her either. How could she possibly turn things around? The people in the Imperial Kitchen all go with the flow — when you went to get the morning meal, you must have seen how they treated her.”

Chunhua had indeed noticed it. When their young mistress had someone fetch the morning meal, they were polite, but when it came to her, she was only given some watery soup. When she asked for more snacks, they outright said there was none.

In this palace, it’s common for people to exalt some while stepping on others. When the wall falls, everyone pushes it down — that’s just how it is.

Chunhua thought for a moment. “Liangren has always been kind to people. Going to Nurse Li might not be any better — she might not have good work there either. Don’t rush to go. Staying might not be bad.”

Qiulu understood Chunhua’s meaning. “Since you want to stay, I won’t. Once I get settled with Nurse Li, I’ll try to transfer to serve one of the new young ladies who just entered the palace. If you change your mind later, come find me.”

Chunhua saw how determined she was, so she just pressed her lips and didn’t say more.

Qiulu immediately went to find Nurse Li.

Nurse Li knew exactly why Qiulu was there but saw disdain in her eyes. Qiulu was quick to act — only last night she was sent back from the bedchamber, and today she was already here.

Qiulu knelt and begged to stay by Nurse Li’s side.

Nurse Li was displeased. When she first needed help, there were vacancies; now there were still vacancies. But Qiulu had served Shen Qing for over ten days, and suddenly wanting to leave — though her words were polite, saying she had been thinking of her all along — it was clear someone had seen Shen Qing’s good looks and decided to serve her instead.

It was just fear that Shen Qing wouldn’t have a chance to get ahead and leaving early.

Nurse Li didn’t dare keep such a person close.

Though the palace had many who played the game of exalting some and stepping on others, she despised those who wore their ambition on their face like this. Chunhua seemed better, and since she hadn’t come to beg today, if Shen Qing’s days became hard, she would be glad to lend a hand.

But for now, since Qiulu was begging to come, Nurse Li would accept her — though where she was placed afterward was still Nurse Li’s decision alone.

Once Nurse Li agreed, Qiulu was delighted and hurried back to Shen Qing in tears.

She said with heartfelt sincerity, “Nurse Li helped me when I first entered the palace, and today she came to find me because she needs someone. She wants me to go with her.”

Shen Qing almost laughed.

She had always thought Qiulu was restless, but she didn’t expect her to act so decisively. Shen Qing had only just finished her first bedchamber duty, and Qiulu was already leaving.

Well, such a person wasn’t worth keeping.

Shen Qing said sincerely, “You and I have been together as master and servant. Originally, if you wanted to leave, I should give you a gift. But you know my situation — I really have nothing to give. So just go.”

Qiulu thought she’d at least get scolded but didn’t expect Shen Qing to say it so kindly.

After leaving Zhaohua Palace, Qiulu didn’t think Shen Qing was truly kind. Rather, she felt Shen Qing was hopeless — with such a temper in the palace, anyone could easily trample on her.

She felt more confident that leaving Shen Qing was the right choice.

Shen Qing didn’t ask Chunhua for her thoughts. Now that Chunhua hadn’t left, it meant she had some affection for her. Shen Qing remembered that kindness.

While Shen Qing lost Qiulu over the bedchamber incident, at night, Xuanyuan Ling finished handling matters from the previous court and it was time to flip the name plaques again.

The people from the Department of Palace Affairs brought a green token. Xuanyuan Ling glanced at it and suddenly said, “Was she sent back yesterday?”

Wang De didn’t immediately react, but Zhao Hai reminded him, “Shen Liangren is the first to be sent back after being sent to the bedchamber.”

Wang De was surprised that the Emperor still remembered her. This unsettled him.

Shen Liangren had actually caught the Emperor’s attention?

Now both Wang De and Zhao Hai thought alike. There were many women in the palace. Not many, but around a dozen. If someone who hadn’t even served in the bedchamber could make the Emperor remember her, that meant there would be a next time. That meant she had hope of gaining favor.

They were clever. Zhao Hai’s hint was enough for Wang De to understand. He said to Xuanyuan Ling, “Then return her today.”

Wang De squinted as he went out.

Yesterday, the order came from a junior eunuch at the Department of Palace Affairs. But today, Wang De thought it over and summoned a junior eunuch named Xiaochunzi. “Go, tell Shen Liangren something. Be extra sweet with your words. She must have been frightened when she was carried back yesterday. Say something nice, she’ll surely appreciate it. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”

Xiaochunzi immediately said, “Thank you, Master, for the advice.”

He then quickly went to deliver the message to Shen Qing.

Shen Qing thought there must be a next time, but she didn’t expect it to come so soon. Maybe this was to make up for the huge loss of face yesterday?

If so, this dog Emperor isn’t completely heartless.

No matter what, this was a good thing. Especially since the junior eunuch spoke so kindly. Shen Qing caught the nuance, but unfortunately, she still didn’t receive any monetary reward.

Then Shen Qing was carried again as she was yesterday, once more to the dragon bed. But today was different.

When she was brought in, she immediately spotted Xuanyuan Ling sitting on the dragon bed, leaning on pillows with a book in hand.

She had the eunuchs put down their burdens and leave. The surroundings fell silent.