Chapter 46 – Another Trouble Arises

In truth, Madam Li found Qiu Lu disgusting as well. Back then, Qiu Lu had come to her behind her master’s back, begging for help. Thinking that Qiu Lu’s temperament was utterly unsuitable to remain by her side, Madam Li had promptly sent her off to the Laundry Bureau. She hadn’t expected this little girl to be so troublesome—to turn right around and cozy up to Lady Shen.

The one who had arranged her post was Madam Li, but who knows how many slanderous things Qiu Lu had said behind her back?

She’d helped her, and now she was being badmouthed in return. How could Madam Li possibly treat Qiu Lu kindly?

Now that she’d taken the silver, Madam Li simply sneered and carried out the deed.

Lady Shen had put it well—Qiu Lu just didn’t want to wash clothes anymore and missed the days of serving her mistress. Since that was the case, Madam Li would let her go serve someone, then.

Qiu Lu was eagerly awaiting news, wondering where she might be sent. Truthfully, she still thought Noble Lady Fang’s palace was best—after all, Noble Lady Fang was now pregnant and had great prospects.

Just as she was imagining things, Yun Yi, one of Madam Li’s attendants, approached with a faint smile.

Qiu Lu quickly went up to greet her. “Why has Aunt Yun Yi come in person?”

It was too obvious she was putting on a show.

Yun Yi had already heard the full story from Madam Li and felt only scorn for Qiu Lu. “Madam has given orders. You no longer need to remain in the Laundry Bureau. Come with me.”

Qiu Lu was overjoyed and followed Yun Yi eagerly.

But after walking for a while, something felt off.

Why weren’t they heading toward the inner palace? From the direction, it looked like they were going outside the palace?

Startled, Qiu Lu asked, “Auntie, where are we going?”

Yun Yi gave a mocking smile. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to stay in the Laundry Bureau and wanted to serve your masters? Every palace in the harem already has more than enough attendants. But the manor out in the eastern outskirts is short of people. Since you’re so eager to serve, that’s the perfect place for you.”

Qiu Lu’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

“Isn’t that where they serve eunuchs?”

“You mustn’t say it like that,” Yun Yi said with false civility. “Those are the chief eunuchs left behind from the late Emperor’s reign. Now that they are being looked after there, serving them is your good fortune.”

These eunuchs had served the late Emperor for their entire lives, so they couldn’t be discarded outright even under a new ruler. It was said, new emperor, new ministers, but these old servants still had to be given due respect. A piece of land was designated just to house them, and they were provided with attendants in their retirement.

However, hardly any of those eunuchs were normal to begin with—especially those who’d once wielded great power in the palace. Now that they were cast out, their temperaments had grown erratic, and they were notoriously hard to serve.

Qiu Lu had once heard about this. Supposedly, some of the more ill-tempered ones delighted in beating and torturing their servants—stories of horrific abuse.

And now she was to serve such people?

She screamed, “I’m not going! I won’t go!”

Yun Yi sneered. She had already expected this kind of reaction. Servants to the left and right immediately stepped in, gagged her, and firmly held her down on either side, escorting her out of the palace just like that.

This matter with Qiu Lu was ultimately a small thing. Once it was handled, it was done.

When Shen Qing learned of it, she didn’t think much of it. Fang Yun had come to report the news—she’d been the one who handled the task, so of course she came to give the follow-up.

Shen Qing didn’t feel the slightest pity for Qiu Lu. Who in the harem wasn’t pitiful? Even the Empress, waiting alone for Xuanyuan Ling to visit while he never did, was pitiful. But when someone’s heart changes, they only have themselves to blame for the hard road ahead.

While Shen Qing casually disposed of Qiu Lu, Xuanyuan Ling had to go pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

After all, even the Emperor must greet the Empress Dowager—it was protocol. Unlike visiting the Empress, which was formally required only twice a month, filial piety dictated that he could visit the Empress Dowager daily. But since their relationship had always been lukewarm, Xuanyuan Ling visiting twice a month was already considered giving her face.

When the Empress Dowager heard the Emperor would be coming that day, she immediately had her ceremonial robes put on.

“Greetings to the Empress Dowager,” Xuanyuan Ling offered a proper bow. After all, she was his birth mother. Even now that he was Emperor, he was not exempt from such courtesy.

Seeing him rise before she had spoken made the Empress Dowager visibly displeased. “Have a seat, Your Majesty.”

Xuanyuan Ling replied, “I still have state affairs to attend to, so I won’t disturb Mother’s rest.”

He turned to leave.

The Empress Dowager couldn’t even keep up the act anymore. “What pressing affairs could there be? Is there no time even for a mother and son to talk?”

Zhao Hai, attending at the side, bowed so low his head nearly touched the floor.

Day after day, he was terrified.

Your Majesty, please stop causing a scene.

Of course, that was something he only dared think, not say.

Xuanyuan Ling halted. “Does Mother still have something to say?”

“Last time, I told you to spend more time in the Empress’s palace, but you’ve done the opposite—coldly ignoring her and skipping even the customary visits on the first and fifteenth of the month. Are you trying to defy me on purpose?”

When she’d received word, the Empress Dowager had shattered several teacups. If not for her attendants’ persuasion, she would’ve confronted him immediately. Even though some time had passed, the Emperor’s indifferent attitude had brought it all back to the surface.

“The Empress mismanaged the harem and caused Consort Yu to lose her child. Should she not be punished?” He hadn’t even laid the full blame on her—he’d spared her dignity. Yet the Empress Dowager still dared to question him.

She snapped coldly, “Consort Yu lost the child by falling herself, and you’re still blaming the Empress? You’ve clearly been bewitched by that Consort!”

Xuanyuan Ling knew she didn’t care about that—what she cared about was whether the Empress could bear a legitimate heir.

“The Empress is the mother of the nation and the head of the inner palace. The child in Consort Yu’s womb was a dragon heir. She had a duty to protect it. She failed. How is it not her fault?”

The Empress Dowager knew the Empress bore responsibility but snapped, “That’s no reason to stop going to her palace!”

Xuanyuan Ling gave a cold laugh. “But I’m tired of the Empress. Perhaps Mother could select someone younger and prettier for me?”

“Absurd!”

Their conversation left everyone nearby wishing the ground would swallow them whole.

This wasn’t something a servant should be hearing.

They were scared out of their wits.

The Empress Dowager was so furious she nearly passed out. The old nanny beside her quickly supported her, patting her back and helping her breathe.

Xuanyuan Ling said, “Better summon the imperial physician.” Then he turned to Zhao Hai. “Go call the doctor.”

He looked back at the Empress Dowager. “Then I shall not disturb Mother during her consultation.”

The Empress Dowager slammed the table and threw things in a fury. Her vision nearly went black with rage.

After leaving, Xuanyuan Ling’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. As he walked, he muttered, “Is the only thing in her head whether the Empress can bear a legitimate son? My birthday is coming soon. The whole palace is busy preparing, and she doesn’t even notice?” Even if she pretended and said one nice thing, he would’ve accepted it. He could’ve put on the act of a harmonious mother and son.

Zhao Hai didn’t dare respond, merely pressed his lips together and lowered his head.

Xuanyuan Ling didn’t expect him to say anything anyway. He sneered, “Of course. That winter long ago, when she made me stand in wet clothes until I got a fever just to make Father see her—she probably wasn’t thinking I was her son then either. How could she remember something as small as a birthday now?”