In the northwest corner of the palace stood rows of low, cramped houses, where most palace servants resided.
Huddled inside her small room, Sui Er kept the doors and windows tightly shut, not even lighting a lamp. Her mind was consumed by the image of Linglan being dragged away earlier that day.
Wrapped tightly in her blanket, she couldn’t stop trembling. She could still see Linglan’s deathly pale face, her terrified eyes, and the way she collapsed to the ground.
She wasn’t heartless. She hadn’t wanted to kill anyone.
But she had tormented her for so long!
Ever since she entered the Imperial Kitchens, Linglan had trampled over her, treating her as nothing more than a servant beneath servants.
She only wanted to survive. She only wanted an easier life.
If Linglan hadn’t bullied her, if she hadn’t stepped on her, she never would have thought of resisting. She never would have wanted her dead.
This was Linglan’s own doing.
It had nothing to do with her.
“Sui Er, are you feeling any better?”
A voice suddenly called out, making Sui Er shudder violently. She only relaxed slightly when she recognized the voice—it was Yuqing.
Peeking her pale face out from under the blanket, she whispered, “Sister Yuqing, why are you here?”
Yuqing walked in and placed the food box she was carrying on the table. She quickly walked over to Linglan’s bed, reached out to touch her forehead, and said with relief, “It’s not hot anymore, that’s good. You’ve been burning for most of the day, and I was really worried about you. How are you feeling now?”
Sui Er felt a warmth in her heart. Sister Yuqing had always treated her well. Whenever Linglan bullied her, as long as Yuqing saw it, she would always say a few words on her behalf.
“I’m much better.” Sui Er smiled.
Yuqing took a bowl of porridge and a small dish of vegetables from the food box. “Eat something first to settle your stomach. You must be hungry.”
Sui Er was startled. “Sister Yuqing, where did this come from?”
“Shh, I bought it from the people at the stove. Don’t worry, eat it,” Yuqing said, taking a spoon and placing it into the porridge bowl. “I still have to go back to work, I can’t stay long. Hurry and eat so I can go back.”
Sui Er’s eyes reddened. “At this time, only Sister Yuqing would still care about me.” She said, reaching for her pillow, pulling out a yellowish pouch from inside. “How much was it? I’ll pay you back.”
Yuqing tightened her grip on the spoon, a moment of hesitation flashing across her face, but it was quickly suppressed as she smiled and said, “A bowl of porridge doesn’t cost much. You get better soon, and if you help me with something, that’ll be enough. If you don’t eat, it’ll get cold, so hurry up.”
Sui Er took the bowl of porridge and the small vegetables on top, and began to eat while shedding tears.
She lowered her head, not wanting Yuqing to see how worried she was. She drank the porridge and ate the vegetables in large spoonfuls, quickly finishing the bowl.
When Yuqing saw she was finished, she quickly put the bowl away, stored the food box, and then handed Sui Er a small, dark red embroidered pouch. “Inside are a few pieces of candy, leftovers from the kitchen. I secretly saved some sweet ones for you. I’ll leave now. Rest well, and get better so you can go back to work.”
Sui Er wanted to refuse, but Yuqing insisted on tucking the pouch under her pillow before quickly leaving. She gently closed the door behind her with great consideration.
Sui Er slowly laid down, reaching under her pillow to feel the candy, and a sweet smile appeared on her face.
Linglan definitely wouldn’t survive this time. Once she died, no one would bully her anymore, and she could live peacefully in the palace.
She just had to endure a little longer, her good days were coming soon.
Once she saved up some silver, she would buy a hairpin for Sister Yuqing as a thank you gift.
Sui Er closed her eyes, still tightly holding the pouch with the candy Yuqing had given her.
Her eyes slowly closed, and she wanted to sleep peacefully.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she woke up with a sharp pain. She clutched her stomach tightly, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead.
Breathing heavily, she tried to get out of bed and call for help, but the pain caused her to curl up, and blood began flowing from the corner of her mouth.
“Help…” Sui Er tried to shout, but the sound was more like a cat’s meow.
It felt as though a knife was twisting in her stomach, and blood continuously surged from her throat, soaking her clothes.
Suddenly, Sui Er remembered the porridge she had eaten earlier…
Her vision blurred, the intense pain and the blood choking her throat made her gasp for air.
She had harmed Linglan as a way of seeking revenge for herself.
But why did Sister Yuqing… harm her?
She only wanted to live well.
In the palace, it was so hard to survive, to live well.
If there was a next life, she never wanted to enter the palace to be a palace maid again…
***
“The person is already dead.” Yuqing spoke with her head lowered, addressing the person across from her through a cluster of flowers.
“Did you see it with your own eyes?”
“Yes.”
“Well done. I will report this to Her Majesty, and she will credit you for it. Next time there is an opportunity to leave the palace, your name will certainly be on the list.”
“Thank you, Gonggong.”
The person on the other side of the flowers quickly departed. Yuqing lowered her head and slipped away down a secluded path, her figure vanishing into the depths of the red flowers and green shadows.
At Kunde Palace, the Empress received the news without a flicker of emotion, as if the dead person was nothing more than a stray cat or dog.
“Since they have taken their own life out of guilt, send word of it to Ding Zhao,” the Empress said, her fingers idly tracing the embroidered phoenix feathers on her robe. “This will serve as an explanation for Ning Qin Wang.”
Zhang Mingde smiled and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I will take care of it immediately. County Princess Muhua truly has the worst luck—two palace maids’ petty grudges ended up implicating her.”
The Empress lifted her gaze to Zhang Mingde. “Keep a close watch on Consort Shu. I don’t want any more trouble from that side.”
“Rest assured, Your Majesty. There is no way Consort Shu will find out anything. Yuqing has been our planted informant in the Imperial Kitchens for over ten years—she is the safest bet.”
The Empress nodded. “Go.”
After Zhang Mingde left, the Empress turned to the screen. “Come out.”
Li Peilan finally stepped forward, her head bowed. “Aunt.”
The Empress’s expression was cold. “If you act recklessly like this again, I won’t bother saving you.”
Li Peilan bit her lip and said in a pitiful voice, “I never thought things would turn out this way. I just wanted Duan Mingxi to suffer a little. Who would have known that palace maid would use such a potent poison?”
The Empress scoffed. “Do you think there are any easy people to deal with in the palace? That maid, Sui Er, was using you as a weapon, but you foolishly thought she was your blade to wield.”
Li Peilan’s face turned embarrassed. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around the Empress’s arm. “Aunt, I won’t dare do it again.”
“Remember this—no matter who asks about this matter, you must act as if you know nothing. When you go back, bury this secret deep inside you and never speak of it again!”
“Yes, Aunt,” Li Peilan hurriedly agreed. Seeing that the Empress’s expression had softened slightly, she hesitated before cautiously asking, “Aunt, are we really going to let Duan Mingxi continue acting so arrogantly? She’s already won over so many noble ladies in the capital—I don’t know what kind of magic she’s using on them.”
The Empress looked at Li Peilan and sneered. “Look at how easily flustered you are. Just a mere Duan Mingxi has you losing your composure? This is only the beginning. Remember, those who shine the brightest often fall the fastest.”
