“Master!” Fifteen stamped her feet anxiously.

“Enough, my mind is made up. You needn’t say more! The mantis stalks the cicada – I knew the Empress and her group wouldn’t let things go. Sure enough, following along, they truly didn’t ‘disappoint’ me.” Miao Yin smiled coldly and walked away.

Little Luzi thanked her profusely as he followed behind. Fifteen had no choice but to follow as well.

The three quickly arrived at the Laundry Bureau.

“Noble Consort Miao, how did you come here too?” Just as Miao Yin was about to have Fifteen go in to announce her, she suddenly heard a light voice. She stiffened and turned around, then seemed nailed to the spot, unable to make a sound, only shock remaining in her eyes!

It was the newcomer who spoke first: “Noble Consort Miao, this place is filthy and unsuitable – not where you should come. This dowager hopes not to see you here again in the future.”

Just a few short sentences, yet they carried immense authority with hidden murderous intent.

Miao Yin’s eyes tightened as she bowed slightly: “Your Majesty, though Consort Shu was wrong to bring outsiders into the palace, considering her father’s reputation and her treatment of His Majesty—”

“You helped His Majesty conquer the realm, and this dowager truly likes you from the heart, but do you have any regard for this Empress Dowager in your eyes!” Princess Consort Jin’s gaze suddenly darkened as she shouted coldly. Fifteen’s heart jumped, about to dissuade Miao Yin, but fortunately Miao Yin had already bowed deeply without speaking further.

Princess Consort Jin’s expression softened slightly: “This dowager has matters in her palace and must return first. You shouldn’t linger here either – go back.”

“Yes, this concubine respectfully follows the Empress Dowager’s edict.”

“Mm.”

Princess Consort Jin nodded and left with her attendants. At this time, a woman beside her spoke softly: “Mother, let me stay and speak a few words with Sister Miao.”

“Good. Your Sister Miao is kind-hearted, but kindness must be directed at the right people. Since you are master of the six palaces, speak well with her – it won’t disappoint His Majesty’s trust in you.” Before leaving, Princess Consort Jin glanced at Miao Yin and said this.

Seeing her walk away, Miao Yin suddenly laughed: “I thought I was the oriole behind, but it turns out the oriole behind was someone else entirely. Her Majesty the Empress guessed I would come.”

A Luo also smiled lightly: “Noble Consort Miao’s words are too hurtful. I do this only hoping you’ll rein in at the precipice, not wanting you to anger His Majesty and offend the Empress Dowager for this.”

“Whether I’ve angered His Majesty or not, Miao Yin doesn’t know. But now I’ve truly offended the Empress Dowager. In her heart, even if I hadn’t entered, her impression of me wouldn’t be as good as before. Now I can’t help Consort Shu in the slightest. Her Majesty the Empress used this strategy of killing two birds with one stone very well.” Miao Yin said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Mei Er couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Noble Consort, this servant once heard a saying: if you don’t want others to know, don’t do it yourself. If you want the Empress Dowager not to think of you that way, wouldn’t it be fine not to come at all? You did this yourself but now blame my master – that doesn’t seem right.”

“How laughable! I only know that when I’m speaking, no matter what my servants want to say, they don’t dare speak before me – this is basic breeding. Sister Empress, are you certain such a maid can befit your status?” Miao Yin retorted sharply, then bowed to A Luo: “Sister Empress, I truly don’t consider myself your rival. Your rival should be that girl from the Wei family. You might as well focus your attention on her.”

“The same goes for Consort Shu. Lian Yu is already dead – why must you target her at every turn? I’ve also heard His Majesty speak of your affairs. The fault truly doesn’t lie with Feng Suzhen. Sister, think it over carefully. I take my leave.”

After speaking, she beckoned Fifteen and Little Luzi to leave. After just a few steps, A Luo’s voice came coldly from behind: “The fault isn’t hers, isn’t theirs – then is the fault mine?”

“If you hadn’t vented your anger on Gu Shuangcheng then, Xiao An never would have gotten a handle on you. Today it would be you by Lian Yu’s side. What’s past is past – isn’t it good for you to be properly with His Majesty now?”

“Miss Miao,” A Luo suddenly smiled, “I understand why you would help Feng Suzhen now. You simply want to use my repeated obstruction making Feng Suzhen’s life difficult to remind His Majesty that I still think of Lian Yu. Are you wanting to help her, or do you actually want to gain something else?”

Miao Yin trembled slightly but said nothing and left.

Seeing her leave, Mei Er whispered to A Luo: “Your Majesty, in this servant’s view, that Miao Yin has exactly that intention. Fortunately you anticipated they would come and sent people to monitor them early. When they made their move, we also brought the Empress Dowager over. Otherwise, relying on her favor with His Majesty, we might not have been able to suppress her.”

“Mm.” A Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly, then she said lightly: “But favor cannot forever hold a man’s heart. I’m not too worried about that point.”

“Then what can hold His Majesty’s heart?” Mei Er asked in confusion.

“Love – his love for a woman, true romantic love.” A Luo said softly: “After revenge, it will be time for me to completely withdraw my heart from Lian Yu. Otherwise, once His Majesty senses it, even Miao Yin’s favor will gradually suppress me. What’s more, there’s Wei Wu Lei and the three thousand in this harem. But if I love him wholeheartedly, and he originally loved me, then there’s nothing too frightening in this palace.”

…

On the other side of the palace wall, Miao Yin stopped and looked apologetically at Little Luzi, saying quietly: “I’m sorry. This time, I have no way to help your master either.”

But Little Luzi shook his head vigorously, saying sadly: “Just now I still blamed Supervisor Guo, but now I understand – how can I blame you all?”

“Like this, Little Luzi – though I cannot say anything at the Laundry Bureau, I’ll see if I can work from His Majesty’s side. If there’s any news, I’ll notify you.”

“Thank you for Your Ladyship’s great kindness.” Little Luzi knelt and kowtowed.

As Miao Yin left with Fifteen, she could still see Little Luzi gratefully kowtowing there. Suddenly she laughed self-mockingly: “Fifteen, my heart feels uncomfortable.”

Fifteen was surprised but quickly realized something: “Is Miss uncomfortable because she couldn’t help that Feng Suzhen?”

Miao Yin shook her head: “The Empress was right. I do want to help Consort Shu, but at the same time I have selfish motives. Sometimes when His Majesty sleeps at my place, I can sense he doesn’t sleep peacefully at night. The Empress is His Majesty’s true love, but I hope that person could be… me. If the Empress does something to Consort Shu, I could say a few words to him. If he knew, perhaps he’d soften slightly and spare Consort Shu, and also understand that the Empress hasn’t forgotten the old person.”

Inside the Laundry Bureau, Suzhen wasn’t aware of these undercurrents but remained vigilantly guarding against everything. She began to get used to, or perhaps it’s better to say was forced to get used to, this high-intensity life.

In more than ten days, they hadn’t made things difficult for her regarding food, but there were endless clothes to wash. When she dragged her exhausted body back to the room at night, they would wet her bedding. In the early days, she would still take the quilt and mat out to dry at dawn. Later, she gave up because even after drying them, Ji Er and the others would continue. Later, she simply curled up to one side, resting her head on the damp cold bedding to sleep.

Little Luzi occasionally brought her news from Miao Yin and Wu Qing. Little Luzi’s position was low and humble, so no one would stop him from coming. But he couldn’t do much when he came.

Wu Qing had secretly found Little Luzi, having him bring her news and silver.

Though he commanded the Six Doors Bureau, he was far inferior to Supervisor Guo in being unable to penetrate the inner palace networks. He could only plead with Li Zhaoting.

But Li Zhaoting remained unmoved, and the same was true for Miao Yin’s side.

Of course, they didn’t have Little Luzi convey much, but each time with that phrase about finding ways to plead with His Majesty and definitely thinking of methods, she understood that Li Zhaoting’s attitude was hard as iron.

Ten days ago, she had told Little Lotus Seed there would definitely be a way, but now she was beginning to despair.

The endless work left her no time to scout various parts of the palace as before, nor did she have paper, brush, ink, and inkstone to make plans. Even this work had become more than she could bear. Though she still couldn’t sleep peacefully in bed, her entire body ached with exhaustion to the point where she couldn’t think of anything.

Sometimes she really wanted to have Little Luzi tell Wu Qing: Brother, I can’t endure this anymore. Can you take me out?

She knew that if she said this, Wu Qing would definitely risk his life to storm the palace. But this would be useless – she couldn’t harm this only relative, and no matter how much she resented him, he was still her brother.

This evening, she dragged her extremely weary body back to her sleeping quarters as usual, but saw everyone’s faces looked strange, seeming very excited. Her heart jumped as she quickly walked to her bedding and felt around – the silver Wu Qing had given her, hidden under the quilt, was indeed gone.

She had been too tired these past two days. When she received Wu Qing’s package, she stuffed it in her place and went to work, forgetting to find a good place to hide it.

The bed was wet and soggy as usual. They had taken her silver yet still did these despicable things! Her Little Lotus Seed grew and lived in such a place every day, just like Lian Yu’s childhood – even worse than Lian Yu’s bitter circumstances then. Her heart’s anger was completely ignited. Her hands clenched tightly as she slowly stood and looked around the room.

Ji Er laughed: “What’s this? Has Your Ladyship finally had enough of life here? Looks like you want to take it out on us, is that right?”

Suzhen stared at her coldly, her knuckles cracking slightly.

At this moment, someone suddenly lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing the situation, she frowned: “You all dry the bedding for Her Ladyship. Your Ladyship, please come out with this servant.”

When this person spoke, everyone was shocked – how could it be Supervisor Qi?!

This Consort Shu’s daily work was assigned by her.

Seeing Suzhen hadn’t moved, Supervisor Qi called again. Suzhen’s heart also jumped – she wasn’t unaware of what Senior Food Supervisor Xiao had instructed this Female Official Qi. Why had she suddenly changed her attitude?

Could it be that A Luo and others were plotting something behind the scenes? But whatever she thought, she couldn’t not follow her out.

All the way, Supervisor Qi said nothing, choosing only small paths. Her expression was far from kind – on the contrary, her eyes held some sinister darkness. Suzhen’s heart grew more suspicious. Where was she taking her? Perhaps to find some place to kill her and bury her.

But unless Li Zhaoting ordered it, no one in this palace would really dare do such a thing.

Could she be leading her to see someone? But if it were A Luo and the others, the meeting place wouldn’t be so secretive. If it were Wu Qing, that didn’t make sense either – Wu Qing didn’t have the ability to arrange this. Could it be Miao Yin?

They walked into a courtyard.

Suddenly, the person ahead stopped.

This was an area of broken walls and ruined tiles – apparently an abandoned palace courtyard.

“Your Ladyship, this is the place. Someone wants to see Your Ladyship. This servant takes her leave first.” Supervisor Qi spoke, then suddenly left without looking back.

Suzhen was startled to see a person slowly walking out of the dark room ahead.