“These slaves deserve ten thousand deaths. We beg Your Majesty to spare our lives.” The two eunuchs prostrated themselves on the ground, their bodies trembling all over.

Wei Yi glared furiously and grabbed a wine bottle, hurling it at them.

The wine bottle struck one of the eunuchs, then crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces!

That eunuch dared not move, keeping his head lowered, both hands frozen in place supporting him on the ground.

“This slave knows his error. We beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Wei Yi said with a stern face, “Listen well. From now on, if that Miss Ji Er comes again, you are to send her directly to the Disciplinary Bureau and let her properly learn how to be a servant!”

The Disciplinary Bureau was a place in the palace specifically for disciplining servants. In name it was called disciplining, but in reality it was like a living hell. Any servant who entered either couldn’t endure it and died inside, or emerged covered in wounds. In the mouths of palace servants, the Disciplinary Bureau was called both the Cold Palace and the prison!

That Wei Yi could say such words showed that in his eyes, Ji Wanxin was truly like a blade of grass—dispensable.

The two eunuchs said in unison, “Yes!”

“Leave.”

The two withdrew in panic.

Wei Yi sat on the cushioned mat. After a long while, he pushed himself up and walked into the main hall with unsteady steps, his eyes unfocused. He suddenly laughed loudly several times, then pulled down the sharp sword from the nearby screen stand.

He drew it!

Swinging it wildly within the hall.

Perhaps only this way could he vent the anger in his heart and that indescribable pain.

…

After leaving Fuyang Hall, Ji Wanxin didn’t immediately return to the Fangjin Bureau.

With her extremely strong self-esteem, how could she endure the humiliation Wei Yi had just inflicted upon her? It was as if countless knives had been stabbed into her body, yet she couldn’t cry out in pain—she could only grit her teeth and desperately endure.

At this moment, she wandered like a headless fly through the corridors along the palace’s inner walls.

Only when she was exhausted did she stop.

Because her body was already unwell, she leaned back against the high wall behind her, pressing both hands to her chest, gasping for breath. Her body gradually slid down to the ground.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

She didn’t know how long it took before she recovered.

Thinking of what had just happened in the hall, she felt both hatred and grievance, tears bursting forth uncontrollably.

Like an unwanted child!

At this moment—

The sound of orderly footsteps came from not far away, with firelight gradually illuminating the area.

She suddenly snapped to attention, wiped away her tears, and hastily got up from the ground.

Looking around at the red walls and green tiles, she didn’t know where she was.

Immediately she felt somewhat at a loss.

A group of eunuchs on night patrol had already approached carrying lanterns, and they noticed her looking somewhat flustered.

Seven or eight eunuchs stopped.

The leader asked, “It’s so late—which palace are you a maid from? What are you doing here? Acting so furtive!”

As the eunuch spoke, he had already walked before her, shining the lantern in his hand toward her.

Ji Wanxin nervously wrung her hands together, keeping her head lowered as she said, “This servant is… is…”

“Hmm?”

She couldn’t say she was from the Fangjin Bureau. Otherwise, once the matrons of the Fangjin Bureau were notified, she would inevitably face questioning. After all, coming out so late would certainly arouse suspicion, especially since she had sneaked out.

She thought about it but really didn’t know how to answer.

Which halls and bureaus were in the palace? She hadn’t yet figured it out, let alone knew which halls or bureaus had maids who could go out at night.

The eunuch grew increasingly suspicious.

He squinted as he scrutinized her. “Which palace are you a maid from exactly? What are you doing here so late? Speak!”

“…”

“Still won’t talk?”

She closed her eyes, just about to open her mouth—

When a voice came from behind her. “Oh my, Lianxiang, why are you here? I’ve been looking for you for quite a while. Really!”

Hearing the sound and looking over, she saw a palace maid hurrying toward them, carrying a tray with some neatly folded clothes on it.

The palace maid walked to Ji Wanxin’s side and glared at her fiercely, saying in a tone both reproachful and instructive, “I just asked you to deliver something, and it’s been ages now. What are you dawdling for? I already told you when you first entered the palace not to wander around. After delivering things, just return the same way. You made me search for you for so long.”

Huh?

Ji Wanxin was bewildered, her surprised eyes looking at her, but immediately reacted, replying, “It’s my fault. I won’t dare do it again.”

“Good that you know.”

The palace maid turned to speak to the eunuch. “Honored eunuch, she’s called Lianxiang. She just entered the palace to work at the Laundry Bureau. We were delivering clothes to various palaces, but unexpectedly this girl got lost.”

“Is that so?” The eunuch was half-convinced.

“Naturally it’s true. If the honored eunuch doesn’t believe it, you’re welcome to go and inquire.”

Palace servants were usually worked to death and wouldn’t bother going to the Laundry Bureau to investigate for the sake of one palace maid. That would be wasting time—better to use that time to rest a bit.

Thus—

“Forget it, forget it. Hurry up and finish your work and get back. Don’t wander around the palace anymore.”

“Yes.”

The eunuch led his people away!

Once they had gone far enough, Ji Wanxin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Just now, thank you.”

The palace maid looked at her and smiled faintly. “It’s nothing.”

“You are?”

“My name is Sang Lan.”

Sang Lan?

Ah!

Wasn’t this the palace maid who had been by Consort Xiao’s side? When the late emperor demanded punishment, he actually didn’t kill her?

Sang Lan looked her up and down. “You’re the second young miss of the Ji family who just entered the palace?”

“You recognize me?”

“Everyone says you’re as beautiful as a celestial being, with a red mole between your eyebrows, so at first glance, I recognized you.”

So that was it.

Ji Wanxin’s expression turned bashful, acting embarrassed. “Now, I’m just a palace maid.”

How pitiful!

After all, who didn’t know about the Ji family’s sordid affairs!

Sang Lan smiled again, carrying the items in her hands as she turned to walk ahead. “Follow me. I’ll escort you back to the Fangjin Bureau.”

Ji Wanxin quickly followed.

The two walked along the corridor beside the palace walls.

Ji Wanxin asked her, “You’re at the Laundry Bureau?”

As if wanting to confirm.

Sang Lan nodded slightly, her expression indifferent. She glanced sideways at her and asked, “Are you very surprised?”

“No!”

“Actually, it’s normal for you to be surprised. After all, the palace maids at the Laundry Bureau are all those who have made mistakes.”

“…You?”

“I was punished and sent there because I made a mistake.” Sang Lan didn’t try to hide it. Instead, she said to her, “I’ll give you a piece of advice. In the future, don’t wander around. This is the imperial palace, not the outside world. If you’re not careful and go somewhere you shouldn’t, or witness something you shouldn’t witness, the one who suffers punishment will be you. If it’s serious, you might even lose your life. I’m not trying to scare you.”

Ji Wanxin humbly accepted the teaching. “I understand.”

“However…” Sang Lan turned her head to look at her and asked, “What were you doing here so late? This isn’t the direction back to the Fangjin Bureau.”

“I really did get lost.”

“Oh!” Sang Lan didn’t press further.