Suzhen didn’t get angry, only asking: “May I ask, sister, where should I get bowls and chopsticks?”

Ji Er laughed mockingly: “How would I know? Anyway, our things were prepared when we first came in. Your Ladyship comes from nobility and naturally wouldn’t know about preparing such things. Now… why don’t you ask at the imperial kitchen?”

After she spoke, the other palace maids all laughed. Suzhen replied coolly with “Thank you” and withdrew.

In the courtyard, palace maids who had finished eating came out from other rooms in twos and threes, chatting idly and preparing to work, occasionally casting glances her way and whispering quietly.

As they watched her, Suzhen was also observing them. After brief consideration, she took a string of coins from her bosom, suddenly walked up to several palace servants, and pulled one aside. The palace maid she grabbed was startled and stammered: “What do you want to do?”

“Nothing much. This money is for you – buy me your bowl and chopsticks. Quick, or I’ll give it to someone else.” Suzhen smiled.

The palace maid was stunned, then quickly ran back to her room and soon brought out a set of bowl and chopsticks for Suzhen. Suzhen gave her the money. She walked back to the group of palace maids, and everyone asked curiously what had happened. The palace maid explained with some pride, but was immediately pulled aside by two sisters who whispered something to her.

The palace maid was shocked, looking at Suzhen with some apprehension.

Suzhen knew some people had heard about her situation from Supervisor Qi or Ji Er. She naturally wouldn’t go to the imperial kitchen – how would the imperial kitchen bother with a small abandoned consort? Besides, that was Senior Food Supervisor Xiao’s domain. So she deliberately picked someone who looked honest and simple to ask for things.

Now that she had obtained what she needed, she walked back to her room. As she lifted the curtain, she heard someone saying “She wouldn’t be stupid enough to actually go ask the imperial kitchen for things,” another person said “This kind of lady used to enjoying pleasures understands nothing,” and someone else said “I think she seemed quite clever when she spoke yesterday…” At this point, the voice stopped – everyone saw her by the door curtain.

Suzhen said softly: “Please continue. I came to get some food.”

Ji Er was obviously somewhat stunned, but then smiled with sarcasm: “Fine, since you’re here, take some. I’ll get it for you.”

On the table were some leftover pickled vegetables and two steamed buns. In the stone pot was some thin porridge. She picked up the pickled vegetables and buns and threw them all into the pot, then lifted the pot.

Suzhen still didn’t get angry, only quickly walked over and reached out to take it. As she did, Ji Er’s lips curved up slightly. Suzhen knew there was a trick, but even though she pulled her hand back quickly, she was still scalded by the steaming hot porridge.

“Sorry about that. Look at my clumsy hands and feet—” Ji Er deliberately smiled apologetically, but her eyes were full of mocking laughter.

The back of her hand immediately began to hurt. Suzhen glanced at her reddened skin but ignored Ji Er. She took her bowl and chopsticks to the table and set them down heavily before finally speaking: “I was demoted here for angering the Dragon’s wrath, not for offending any palace consort. His Majesty said everyone should do whatever work they do, and I should do the same. He wants me to suffer and be punished, but beyond that, he has no intention of taking my life. If I starve or die of thirst here, interrupting his pleasure in watching me suffer, do you believe everyone in this room could escape involvement?”

“The Laundry Bureau acts according to others’ expressions, but if His Majesty wants to vent his anger later, would he go find his most beloved Empress or consorts? Palace maids are different though. Don’t you all agree this makes sense?”

“I’ll leave this food here. It wouldn’t be impossible if someone accidentally knocked it over.” After speaking, she glanced coolly at everyone, not even looking at Ji Er, and walked out.

Behind her, everything was extremely quiet, with only Ji Er’s slight cold laughter audible.

Going outside, she saw many palace maids in the courtyard had begun sitting down to work. Supervisor Qi had arrived and was standing by the clothes she was responsible for washing, covering her nose. Suzhen could see clearly – beside her stood several palace maids holding wash basins, each basin containing another large pile of clothes.

Suzhen walked over and greeted her: “Good morning, Supervisor Qi.”

Supervisor Qi saw her appear and spoke coolly: “The palace has palace rules. Your Ladyship is new, so inevitably you’ll have to do more at first. This servant follows the rules. I hope Your Ladyship won’t blame me.”

Suzhen replied just as coolly: “That’s as it should be. Please excuse yourself, Supervisor. This place is dirty and unsuitable for lingering.”

She walked back and sat down properly, rolling up her sleeves again. This female official was an old hand, different from these palace maids – she couldn’t intimidate her!

Supervisor Qi frowned slightly. Seeing Ji Er come out, she left a comment “You work well” and walked away. Suzhen glimpsed from the corner of her eye that the two walked out one after the other.

Suzhen laughed once. This bitter life was just beginning. A Luo and the others wouldn’t let her off.

Her scalded hand, when put in cool water, still hurt to the bone.

By mealtime, Suzhen’s back could barely straighten, but she had only just finished washing the morning pile of clothes completely clean. She glanced at those large basins – there were over a hundred pieces of clothing again… Though the surrounding palace maids also worked hard, they had much less work than her. She gritted her teeth, scooped half a ladle of clean water to rinse her hands that had lost a layer of skin, slowly stood up, and returned to the room to get food.

This time, Ji Er didn’t make things difficult. She was extremely hungry and wolfed down the food, hearing her and everyone’s whispered mocking laughter.

Those laughing sounds were extremely grating. Suzhen’s heart flared with anger, and she almost wanted to throw the food in Ji Er’s face.

But thinking was just thinking – in the end, she didn’t do it.

If she couldn’t endure even the beginning, how could she continue?

She finished the food in a few mouthfuls, gulped down several sips of water, then wiped her mouth and walked out, sitting back down on that small stool.

At this time, two figures quietly appeared on the path to the Laundry Bureau.

One man and one woman, the man said quietly: “Supervisor Guo, thank you so much this time. You’re thorough in your work – you found out which room our lady is working in, making it much easier for us to ask people for help.”

The woman was indeed Supervisor Guo. Hearing this, she sighed: “I have no friendship with Female Official Qi of the Laundry Bureau, and though this person looks kind, she’s deep and scheming with considerable methods. I’m afraid she won’t sell me any favors. I can only speak a few words with a female official from the neighboring courtyard, hoping she can sometimes come over to look after and help out. She and Female Official Qi came up together from low-level palace maids and have some friendship.”

The person beside her was undoubtedly Little Luzi. He was overjoyed: “This is already more than good enough…”

Just as he was speaking, he suddenly stared at someone ahead in shock: “How are you here?”

The person smiled: “What’s strange about me being here? Rather, you – a mere little palace servant – what right do you have to question my whereabouts!”

“Since he’s just a small person, why should Senior Food Supervisor Xiao bother with him? We have business to attend to, so we’ll take our leave first.” Supervisor Guo’s eyes flashed slightly as she replied coolly, then beckoned to Little Luzi to leave.

Senior Food Supervisor Xiao stepped forward, blocking their path: “Supervisor Guo, don’t be in such a hurry. I’m not looking for you – it’s Her Majesty the Empress who knew Supervisor Guo would definitely come by once, so she had me wait here respectfully.”

Supervisor Guo couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Her Majesty the Empress has her own considerations, but you must have said something from the side as well.”

Senior Food Supervisor Xiao’s eyes half-closed: “Whether I speak or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that Supervisor Guo should remember – Her Majesty the Empress said that though she favors me for the position of Head Palace Supervisor, she has no intention of moving against you. But if Supervisor Guo manages affairs she shouldn’t, then don’t blame her for meddling as well.”

Supervisor Guo’s expression changed dramatically. After a long moment, she said quietly: “Please tell Her Ladyship that this servant isn’t someone who meddles in affairs that don’t concern her – it’s just that we were master and servant after all. I hope Her Ladyship will understand. This servant will do what she should do.”

Upon hearing this, Senior Food Supervisor Xiao clicked her tongue and smiled, then left without lingering.

Little Luzi spat fiercely at her retreating figure: “That despicable woman, using her position to intimidate others! Supervisor Guo, let’s go.”

He reached out to support Supervisor Guo but found the woman beside him hadn’t moved at all. He couldn’t help but wonder: “Supervisor Guo, that despicable person has left. We can go now too.”

“I’m sorry, Little Luzi. I can’t go.” Supervisor Guo’s voice fell softly to his ears.

Little Luzi was stunned: “You… weren’t you just deceiving her?”

Supervisor Guo smiled bitterly: “I wasn’t deceiving her. I really can’t manage Consort Shu’s affairs anymore. How could I deceive her? The Empress controls the six palaces and is watching the Laundry Bureau. If I do anything, how could she not know?”

Little Luzi stared at her blankly: “So Auntie will never help our Precious Master again? We can’t be people who break our word.”

Supervisor Guo became angry and said coldly: “I want to help, but I can’t. I’ve worked for many years and finally have today’s position. Though it’s nothing much, at least I don’t worry about food and drink. I respect Consort Shu, but we’re neither relatives nor friends. I can’t risk my own life for her.”

“If you’re so righteous, then you go die for her!” She said through gritted teeth and left with a sweep of her sleeves.

Little Luzi remained stunned in place, standing silent for a long time before taking something from his bosom – two strings of coins.

He had saved by eating and spending frugally for so long – all his accumulated savings. But in this man-eating world, in this palace full of dragon pools and tiger dens, what could this little money help that person with!

He couldn’t help but squat down, remembering long ago when he hid in the crowd and saw that person wearing a dark red official robe, standing at the highest place in the court hall, coldly looking at the real criminal below. That was a high official’s son of the current dynasty.

But her face showed an unshakeable stern solemnity, as if no one could stop her from overturning the case.

He knew then that his relative who had been framed would definitely be fine. At that time, he didn’t yet know she was just a girl.

He began to cry.

“Enough, don’t cry. Supervisor Guo has her difficulties, but I’m not afraid of the Empress. Today I’m going to force my way into this Laundry Bureau. What Supervisor Guo couldn’t arrange, let me handle.”

Just as he was crying sadly, he heard a gentle voice from behind. Surprised and delighted, he turned around trembling to see just a few steps away – it was actually that Noble Consort who had married over from the Wei Kingdom!

“This servant pays respects to Noble Consort Miao and begs Your Ladyship to save our master.” He knelt down and pleaded tearfully.

The woman in magnificent jade-green robes said gently: “Get up. Your master is in trouble but you haven’t forgotten your original intentions – you’re a good young man.”

The maid beside her was extremely anxious: “Master, are you mad? Coming here today to see Consort Shu was already more than enough kindness. Now you want to oppose the Empress for her?”

“I’m not mad. Precisely because I’m not mad, I must do this.” Miao Yin smiled: “I received kindness from her. Besides, someone whose own life and death are held in others’ hands, yet who could still rescue her lover’s brothers from danger – just for this bold spirit alone, I cannot refuse to help.”