Consort Li, accompanied by her personal maidservant, slowly left Li Fang Palace.  After exiting, she looked back at the palace with a rather disdainful expression; the hall was rather gloomy.

After Consort Li’s departure, many concubines chatted with Chu Jiujiu one by one.  After today’s events, many concubines hoped to get closer to her.

[What if Consort Hui seeks trouble with me? That would be terrible.]

Chu Jiujiu didn’t want to make enemies, because she still had unfinished system tasks. Being surrounded on all sides would be detrimental to her.

The concubines: “…” You’re not afraid of the Emperor, but you’re afraid of Consort Hui?

Seeing Consort Li leave, Consort Kang approached: “Sister Rou, I had some osmanthus cakes made. I’ll have someone send them over later.”

[Osmanthus cakes! This is good, this is good.]

There were very few osmanthus cakes left today.  Luckily, Consort Kang’s delivery was timely.

“Thank you, Sister Kang,” Chu Jiujiu happily curtsied.

Consort Kang was captivated by her gaze, almost lost in her eyes, like a misty Jiangnan landscape.  She was secretly amazed; in the palace, her beauty was truly unparalleled.

After a while, the high-ranking concubines mostly dispersed, and the remaining concubines also left, leaving Li Fang Palace to its usual coldness.

Xiao Xiao still knelt on the ground, refusing to get up. She still couldn’t believe she had escaped Yuhua Palace.

“Everyone’s gone, get up quickly,” Chu Jiujiu came to her senses, seeing the maidservant still kneeling. She gestured for Xiao Kui and Xiao Lan to help her up, guessing her legs were numb.

Xiao Kui and Xiao Lan helped her up, with Xiao Kui supporting Xiao Xiao.

“Now you’re a person of Li Fang Palace, what’s your name?” Chu Jiujiu didn’t know the maidservant’s name.

Xiao Xiao tearfully curtsied: “Consort Rou, my name is Xiao Xiao.”

“Xiao Xiao, it’s a good name,” Chu Jiujiu complimented.

Xiao Xiao wanted to cry even more.  It turned out… Consort Rou was so kind…

“Xiao Kui, Xiao Lan, take Xiao Xiao to the side room and prepare a bed and bedding.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Chu Jiujiu watched the three of them walk towards the side room, picked up a cake, and ate it in small bites. Even with Consort Kang’s osmanthus cakes, she had to save them.

[System, is the task completed?] I hope the next task comes slowly.

[Host, the task is completed.] Although the plot’s development is heading towards an uncontrollable direction, the task was undeniably completed. The system has no fault to find.

[That’s good.] Chu Jiujiu finished the cake and comfortably drank her tea.

She had also thought through her worries. If Consort Hui wanted to deal with her, it was normal. After all, both tasks targeted Consort Hui.  Picking on someone repeatedly, it’s only natural to be angry.

There’s nothing she can do about it, she can only meet challenges head-on.

As she guessed, Consort Hui was currently in Yuhua Palace, biting her handkerchief, her teeth itching with anger.

“Consort Rou! I will never get along with you!”

The next morning, Chu Jiujiu had just woken up when Xiao Lan, with her lively personality, opened the palace door and saw the figure moving in the curtains, knowing she was awake.

Xiao Xiao followed behind her, standing timidly. Seeing Xiao Lan’s loud voice, having lived in Yuhua Palace for a long time, she unconsciously clenched her hands, lowering her head in fear.

“Madam, I just went to the kitchen,” Xiao Lan excitedly told her the good news.

Chu Jiujiu yawned, lifting the curtains. A cascade of green hair flowed down her slender waist and spread across the bed. Her flawless, jade-like face, with delicately arched eyebrows and naturally red lips, exuded an ethereal beauty, the entire background seeming misty because of her, making people stare at her for a long time, lost in thought.

Xiao Xiao subconsciously feared her anger, and upon raising her eyes, she couldn’t look away.

“What about the kitchen?” Chu Jiujiu’s drowsiness disappeared at the mention of the kitchen.

“Replying to Madam, the meat and vegetables distributed today are more than usual,” Xiao Lan, with her hair neatly tied in double buns, smiled brightly. After all, Li Fang Palace now had an extra mouth to feed. They had originally expected less food, but today’s meat and vegetables were at least enough for two more people.

Chu Jiujiu excitedly got out of bed: “Really?”

Xiao Lan nodded emphatically: “Absolutely true, there are more cakes too.” Before, the cakes weren’t enough for Madam alone. Recently, Madam had shared some with her and Xiao Kui, and Consort Rou herself hadn’t eaten much.

Chu Jiujiu was thrilled. In this dull and boring ancient time, the only thing that gave her hope and comfort was food.

It must be the big villain, seeing that her palace had an extra maidservant, ordering more food and cakes for her.

Chu Jiujiu gently patted Xiao Xiao’s shoulder, her smile dazzling: “Xiao Xiao, you’re truly a lucky star for Li Fang Palace.”

Xiao Xiao hurriedly lowered her head, she had actually been staring at Madam… This was disrespectful.

“I… I’m not, it’s Madam who saved me, Madam is my savior,” Xiao Xiao was about to kneel, afraid that Consort Rou would reject her.

Seeing her trembling, Chu Jiujiu held her arm, preventing her from kneeling, quickly gesturing for Xiao Lan to come over.

Xiao Lan was very quick-witted, immediately understanding Chu Jiujiu’s meaning, quickly stepping forward to hold Xiao Xiao’s arm.

“Sister Xiao Xiao, Madam is very kind, she won’t scold us, you don’t have to be afraid.”

Xiao Xiao was still trembling, Chu Jiujiu could see that she couldn’t control it, the fear from 365 days of continuous high-pressure environment. She knew it would take time.

“It’s alright, take your time, don’t force yourself,” Chu Jiujiu said softly.

Xiao Xiao’s eyes were wet. Why… was Consort Rou so kind…

“Thank you, Consort Rou.”

Xiao Kui outside hadn’t pushed open the door, she could clearly hear the conversation inside. Her face remained expressionless, but in fact… she was deeply touched by the conversation.

Thanks to the big villain’s silent “care,” Chu Jiujiu set out for Yangxin Palace earlier than usual.

Before even reaching Yangxin Palace, she encountered Han Chu returning from court.

In the sedan chair, the man’s hair was bound with a golden crown, his handsome face was cold and frosty. The bright yellow dragon robe enveloped his broad and strong shoulders, revealing his long neck. The intricate edges of his collar accentuated his prominent Adam’s apple, making him appear even more attractive.