This was the first time Ling Jingshu had ever set foot inside the Zichen Palace. Compared to the lavish opulence of the Jiaofang Palace, the Zichen Palace was furnished far more sparingly, projecting instead an air of steadiness and dignified grandeur.

The air carried a mingling of medicinal herbs and sandalwood incense, dense and somewhat stifling.

The palace maids and attendants moved in and out with light, soundless steps. Although they were greatly curious about Ling Jingshu’s sudden appearance, not one of them dared to steal a glance.

A eunuch with a pallid, beardless face walked toward her. He looked Ling Jingshu up and down, his gaze filled with a certain meaningful depth. “So you are Lady Ling.”

Two months in the Imperial Prison, and she inevitably bore some thinness and haggardness. Without the adornment of fine robes or jewels, even the most beautiful woman would lose some of her luster. Yet this Ling Jingshu was an exception.

Her bare, unpowdered face remained lovely and radiant, her eyes clear and bright, as though they could see straight into the depths of one’s heart — an impression impossible to forget once seen.

No wonder His Majesty had been unable to put her out of his mind, and had summoned her to his side before he had even fully recovered…

This eunuch was none other than Chief Eunuch Ding, the one who served at His Majesty’s side. Ling Jingshu had encountered Chief Eunuch Ding only once before — on the night of Empress Xu’s downfall. Even so, the impression this Chief Eunuch Ding had left on her was uncommonly deep.

Ling Jingshu did not dare be negligent, and quickly bent in a bow. “Jingshu pays her respects to Chief Eunuch Ding.”

Chief Eunuch Ding replied with considerable courtesy, “Lady Ling need not stand on such ceremony. His Majesty has been resting in bed of late to recuperate and should not leave his bed. Please follow me into the bedchamber to pay your respects to His Majesty.”

Ling Jingshu acknowledged this respectfully, though she could not help but frown inwardly.

His Majesty summoning her so suddenly was already perplexing in itself. That he was now calling her into the private bedchamber to meet with him… she was, after all, merely a female official. Such treatment was, to say the least, distinctly strange.

Something that defied normal pattern was bound to harbor ill intent.

She must tread with the utmost caution.

Ling Jingshu instinctively heightened her alertness, and followed Chief Eunuch Ding into His Majesty’s bedchamber.

As for Bai Yu — she had no standing to enter, and could only remain outside to wait.

The smell of medicinal herbs was even heavier inside the bedchamber.

Ling Jingshu kept her head bowed throughout and did not look around. Once inside, she knelt to pay her respects. “Your servant Ling Jingshu pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, reclining halfway upon his bed, answered with a casual sound of acknowledgment. “Rise and be at ease.”

Ling Jingshu expressed her gratitude with proper decorum and straightened up. As she stood, she swept a brief glance around the room. His Majesty’s gaze was fixed intently upon her, with a strange and particular gleam in his eyes.

That single glance sent Ling Jingshu’s heart plummeting to the very depths.

She was not the least bit unfamiliar with that kind of gaze.

In her previous life, after her marriage to Lu Hong, she had seen that same light in Lu Qian’s eyes — and in Lu An’s. After her rebirth, there had been the Crown Grandson and Prince Yan as well…

It was the gaze of a man beholding a beautiful young woman — a gaze filled with appreciation and covetous desire.

It was also the gaze she most deeply loathed and detested above all others.

She had gone to such lengths to reach the capital, had worked so hard to draw close to Princess Changping and Empress Xu, with the singular purpose of seeking her revenge. She had no wish to draw near any man ever again. And yet fate was always this merciless.

Round and round the path had turned — and still she was confronted with the same suffering she had known in her previous life.

No. This was a predicament even more difficult to navigate and escape than her previous life.

The elderly man standing before her was the Son of Heaven of the Great Zhou dynasty, master of all the world. A single word from his lips could grant life — a single word could condemn multitudes to death. There was no room for defiance or refusal.

Ling Jingshu’s expression did not change greatly, but the hands hidden within her sleeves trembled ceaselessly with fine, involuntary shivers. The turmoil in her heart was tangled beyond unraveling, and the whole of her felt as though it had been cast into a cold and frigid ice cellar.

The weather was oppressively hot and stifling, yet she was ice-cold from head to foot.

“Ling Jingshu, you have been confined in the Imperial Prison for two months now. Is there anything you wish to say to Us?” His Majesty’s tone was not severe — it might even be described as mild, and a faint smile passed through his eyes, barely perceptible.

One troubling matter had followed another, and the Emperor’s mood in recent days could well be imagined. Today, on a sudden whim, he had summoned Ling Jingshu to come before him.

And now, looking upon this lovely, charming young woman, his mood had indeed lifted considerably.

Ling Jingshu steadied herself and replied, “Your servant is grateful for Your Majesty’s gracious inquiry. During this time in confinement, I have spent the days in quiet reflection, reviewing the mistakes I have committed, and feel deep and abiding shame.”

“Your servant was aware that something in the Jiaofang Palace was amiss, yet was too timid and faint-hearted to report it to anyone. As a result, Your Majesty was forced to witness that disgraceful scene with your own eyes, and flew into a great rage, injuring your sacred health, and has been confined to bed recuperating all this while still without full recovery…”

Chief Eunuch Ding’s expression stiffened.

This Ling Jingshu — sharp and perceptive by all appearances — how could she say something so obtuse? The events of that night were His Majesty’s open wound; no one dared to raise it lightly. And here she was, the moment she arrived for her audience, speaking without stopping.

His Majesty’s brow shifted slightly, and the smile in his eyes dimmed.

Ling Jingshu’s melodious and pleasing voice continued to sound in his ears: “…Your servant knows full well that she has committed a grave error. To have been allowed to keep this life is already more than enough imperial grace — she dares not hope for anything more. Your servant only begs to be permitted to remain in the Imperial Prison and live out her days in quiet obscurity.”

His Majesty looked at Ling Jingshu for a long, searching moment. “What you say rather surprises Us. The Imperial Prison is a place without daylight or sky — even an ordinary person could not endure several days within it. Yet you have been there for two full months already. Do you truly have no wish to leave?”

Ling Jingshu’s fingers dug into her palm, a piercing pain with each breath, yet her face remained composed and tranquil. “Rui Lian, Qiu Shuang, and the others are all imprisoned as well. What merit or standing does your servant possess that she should dare presume to hope for release?”

“Rui Lian and the others served in the Jiaofang Palace for years — they were Empress Xu’s most trusted confidants. You came to the palace not of your own choosing and had not yet been here even half a year, and were not privy to the hidden matters within the Jiaofang Palace. You are quite different from those few.”

His Majesty spoke in an even tone. “We are the Son of Heaven, yet We are not one who slaughters the innocent without cause. You need not feel dread or fear in Our presence. If you have something you wish to say, say it freely. We grant you immunity from punishment.”

Even Chief Eunuch Ding could not help but be astonished at those words.

His Majesty showed Ling Jingshu truly extraordinary favor and preferential treatment. Had it been anyone else who had spoken with such reckless disregard, they would most likely have been dragged back to the Imperial Prison long before now. There would be none of this “say what is on your mind freely,” let alone any “We grant you immunity from punishment.”

It seemed the palace would soon be gaining yet another favored consort or lady of high standing.

And who knew — perhaps the imperial favor bestowed upon her might even surpass that which had once been shown to Wei Jieyu in her time.

Chief Eunuch Ding’s thoughts moved rapidly, making swift calculations. Before Ling Jingshu had yet gained the Emperor’s personal favor, he ought to show her more care and goodwill first, to lay the groundwork for a mutually beneficial relationship…

Before Chief Eunuch Ding could finish his mental deliberations, Ling Jingshu’s voice rang out again. “Your Majesty’s heart is boundlessly magnanimous and benevolent — your servant is overwhelmed with humility. Then your servant will venture to speak her deepest wish boldly, and pray that Your Majesty will grant it.”

Go on, say it, say it!

Say that you are willing to remain in the Zichen Palace and serve His Majesty in close attendance!

Say that your heart is wholly loyal to His Majesty without a second thought!

From this day forward, you will set foot upon a path of glory and splendor, and wealth and honor will be within your grasp!

Chief Eunuch Ding looked toward Ling Jingshu with an expression of eager expectation.

What His Majesty was thinking was evidently not far removed from what Chief Eunuch Ding imagined, for a gleam of pleased delight also passed through the imperial gaze. “Oh? What matter is it that you wish to petition Us for?”