Li Fang Palace. Chu Jiu Jiu was exercising in the courtyard. Today’s “battle” was arduous, but thankfully, it ended without major incident.

The system hadn’t expected her to find a loophole and was momentarily unsure whether to consider her task completed.

【Host, today’s task…】The mechanical voice hesitated, unusually reluctant to continue.

Chu Jiu Jiu immediately sensed impending doom!

She immediately straightened her expression: 【System, don’t be a cheat. The task was to “bury a poisonous sachet in the flowerbed in Consort Hui’s palace.” Did I bury it or not? Was it a poisonous sachet?】

System: “…” The image of the sachet with the words “Poisonous Sachet” flashed before the system’s eyes. It was speechless.

【The words spoken by the original owner in the original text were not triggered by the plot.】Because the plot didn’t match, the trigger didn’t activate, and the system still couldn’t determine the result.

Chu Jiu Jiu argued, though her reasoning was weak: 【The fact that it wasn’t triggered is your system’s problem. Besides, the main plot is what matters. A few lines of dialogue are insignificant.】

【Besides, you and I share the same fate. Let’s turn a blind eye.】She earnestly hinted at it.

System: “…” That makes some sense.

【Congratulations, Host, on completing today’s task.】

Chu Jiu Jiu looked relieved:  “You’re learning.”

With the task completed, she walked from the courtyard into the palace and picked up one of the few remaining osmanthus cakes to eat.

She counted the remaining cakes and sighed: They’re almost gone again. Ancient times are so boring.

Xiao Kui made tea for her and finally couldn’t help but ask: “Madam, why did you protect Xiao Lan today?” She had never heard of such a thing. In the eyes of most mistresses, a maid’s life was as insignificant as an ant.

Even Cai Ren Li, who had such a deep bond with her personal maid who grew up with her, didn’t dare to speak up that day when she knew Xiao Yue was framed. She only rushed over the next day after Xiao Yue was taken away. This was already a rare and exceptional situation.

Countless maids envied Xiao Yue for having such a protective mistress.

Chu Jiu Jiu looked at her strangely: “You are my people. Who else would I protect if not you?” It was a strange question. She naturally took a small bite of the osmanthus cake, not taking it seriously.

A look of emotion flickered in Xiao Kui’s downcast eyes. Her lips moved several times, unsure of what to say…

Xiao Lan, with red eyes, came out from the side room.  Being protected by Madam when she kowtowed in the hall today…even now, thinking about it still moved her to tears.

After lunch, Chu Jiu Jiu was lying on the bed for a nap. Her cascading black hair spread across the bed. The image of the sleeping beauty was even more vibrant and stunning than in a painting.

She was a light sleeper. She vaguely heard someone knocking on the palace door, followed by a creaking sound as the door was opened.

Xiao Lan’s soft voice, like a lullaby, lulled her into a deeper sleep.

When she woke up, the setting sun cast its rays into the palace, adding a touch of desolation to the cold interior.

“Xiao Lan.” Chu Jiu Jiu’s voice was hoarse when she woke up.

“Madam, you’re awake?” Xiao Lan quickly stepped forward and helped her up from the bed.

Chu Jiu Jiu felt weak and uncomfortable from sleeping: “Did someone knock on the palace door while this palace was napping?”

“Reporting to Madam, it was Xin Meiren’s maid. Xin Meiren wants to invite you to Xia Yue Palace to appreciate paintings tomorrow at the end of the hour.”

The female lead? Inviting her to Xia Yue Palace to appreciate paintings? Hmm…should she go or not?  The female lead is quite dangerous at this stage.

“Xin Meiren’s maid also said that she prepared braised pork trotters for you…” Xiao Lan was about to advise her not to go, fearing that Xin Meiren might harm Consort Rou.

Hearing those words, Chu Jiu Jiu immediately made a decision: “Tell Xin Meiren that this palace will definitely be there at the end of the hour tomorrow. Tell her to keep the braised pork trotters warm.” Cold ones aren’t as tasty.

Xiao Kui sighed.  Fine, she’ll go with her tomorrow and keep a close eye on things.

“Madam…Xin Meiren rarely interacts with you…” Xiao Lan worriedly reminded her.

Chu Jiu Jiu was confident. Although Xin Meiren was dangerous, the female lead’s reign of terror was still some time away.

“It’s fine. This palace will go to kill time.” She said seriously, got off the bed to rinse her mouth, and prepared to eat dinner.

Xiao Kui: “…” Are you sure you’re going to kill time?

That night, Chu Jiu Jiu had insomnia. She had slept too long in the afternoon and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Opening her eyes to look at the carved wooden bed frame, it looked increasingly strange. The air around her felt cold and chilling.

She quickly huddled under the covers. She would never nap again.

The sky was barely light, and the fog hadn’t yet dissipated. Looking out, the entire palace was misty, with high walls everywhere, giving a sense of suffocation and solemn coldness.

Chu Jiu Jiu hadn’t slept well last night and had to get up early to pay her respects at Yangxin Palace.

Along the way, she met only maids and eunuchs. They hurried along, and when they saw her, they quickly finished their greetings and left.

Chu Jiu Jiu sighed involuntarily.  Wasn’t she also trapped here?

Passing by a high wall, she looked up at the sky. The sky seemed to be cut off by the high walls, much like the perspective of a frog at the bottom of a well in textbooks.

But she had strong resilience and could maintain a positive attitude in any environment.

From Li Fang Palace to Yangxin Palace, there was a distance.  It was a good morning workout.

In Yangxin Palace, Eunuch Li stood beside the dragon case, head bowed: “Your Majesty, Consort Rou has come to pay her respects.”

Han Chu’s ink brush didn’t stop, his strokes strong and powerful, each stroke like a gust of wind.

“Summon her to the palace.” His thin lips parted slightly, his deep voice like a plucked string.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Eunuch Li approached her, Chu Jiu Jiu was looking around, sighing inwardly: 【As expected of Yangxin Palace, magnificent and grand. Tsk tsk…it’s truly well-lived in.】

“Consort Rou, Your Majesty has summoned you to pay your respects.” Eunuch Li thought: It’s just paying respects; there shouldn’t be any mistakes.

Chu Jiu Jiu nodded and walked towards Yangxin Palace.

The scene that met her eyes made her involuntarily freeze.  Dressed in moon-white brocade, wearing a jade crown, with an exceptionally outstanding figure, he looked like a jade statue from afar, cold and noble, unattainable.