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Chapter Two: Vying for Favor

  Its just another ordinary day.

  The morning dew had just cleared, so she only had to do some light work - fortunately, today she only needed to wipe the railing thoroughly.

  Ronger found it very strange that Chenluo, during a break from work, actually asked about the palaces private affairs - normally she had no interest in such things, and being a straightforward person, she spoke freely.

  After wiping the railing for a day, the four of them returned to their room, casually washed up and quickly went to bed on the big kang.

  The morning dew did not sleep.

  Listening to the even breathing of the three people, she opened her eyes, got dressed and went to the window.

  It was already midnight, and the pavilions and buildings were shining brightly in the darkness. The distant Mirror Lake had a faint ripple of light on its surface.

  The scenery remains the same, but people and things have changed.

  Its already the 12th year of Yongjia now...

  She sighed, as if seeing it for the first time, gazing at her own frail body, hands and feet, and this cold and bitter room.

  Never thought it would come to this today...

  She almost laughed at herself.

  No one would have thought that Chenluo, this timid and humble palace maid, had long since passed away.

  In this body, reborn, is she.

  In the underworld, due to the curse of the sorcerers seal, she couldnt even cross Naihe Bridge, and was burned in fire for 26 years.

  Now due to fate, a dream, after waking up, but was called "morning dew".

  Twenty-six years... The glory of life, all gone in an instant...

  Who am I?

  She raised her head and looked out of the window at the scenery in the palace, silently saying:

  My name is Lin Chen.

  How many people in this world still remember this name that once shook the heavens?

  On the second day, the eunuch in charge had something to say: "Yesterdays strong wind damaged the various flowers and trees in the Cloud Celebration Palace. We cant help but tidy them up." With one order, the four of them started busily working in the courtyard.

  Today the weather is fine, and the wind is strong. Ronger props up a cluster of branches, cultivating the soil and pruning, busy non-stop. She raises her head, looks at the morning dew with concern, and just says: "Your clothes are too thin..." when she hears a faint commotion outside. Looking again, she sees two sedan chairs stopping in front of the gate, and the sharp voice of the eunuch shouts: "Welcome Her Majesty back to the palace!"

  Ronger exclaimed, "Why did Empress Qi return to the palace so early today? Didnt she have to assist the Empress Dowager with matters in the six palaces?"

  Just as the palace staff were about to assist her, the pearl curtain of the first sedan chair was lifted, and Empress Qi had already gotten out.

  She wore a crimson and gold palace attire, her face was stunningly beautiful, a pair of phoenix eyes were charming and natural, yet they also exuded an aura of majesty. Her black hair was styled in an elegant coiffure, adorned with intricate ornaments, and the small pearls on her fingers shone brightly like snow, twinkling among her hair. Under the scorching sun, it was dazzling to behold, making one dare not look directly at her.

  She walked with a light step, but her hand was tightly clutching the handkerchief, her eyebrows were inverted, and her beautiful eyes were full of majesty, she had already walked to the edge of the flower cluster in just three or two steps.

  Her personal palace maid Xiang Ying stepped forward, but before she could speak, she saw Consort Qi slightly gritting her silver teeth and giving a faint cold smile. Without saying a word, she slapped her with one palm.

  Xiang Ying was indeed confused, but didnt dare to dodge, and suffered this slap, with finger marks on her face, kneeling down to beg for mercy: "Your Ladyship spare me..."

  "Empress Qis sister has a bad temper..."

  Behind him, a woman laughed and said, her voice was crisp, but also lazy and charming.

  In the second sedan, a woman slowly got out and walked over. She was wearing a pale pink dress that trailed on the ground, with a slender waist cinched by a cloud-patterned belt, making her figure look even more delicate. A seven-treasured coral hairpin in her hair made her face shine like a lotus flower.

  She was supported by her maids on either side, seemingly fragile as a leaf, but the triumphant smile in her eyes shone brightly.

  "Its Yunluo this little girl!"

  Ronger and the others looked on, barely holding back their voices.

  Originally, Yunluo was a palace maid of the Cloud Celebrating Palace. Empress Qi liked her sweet and clever mouth, so she took her in as an attendant. However, Yunluos appearance was outstanding, and one time when the Emperor visited, he saw her and jokingly compared her to Wang Zhaojun under the moonlight. This made Empress Qi turn against her, and she hastily ordered someone to send Yunluo far away to the laundry department.

  "Its been many days since we last saw her, how did she become the mistress?" Everyone present was secretly puzzled.

  Yunluo didnt mind, and laughed melodiously: "Sister Rong, when I left in a hurry that day, there were several beloved things that I didnt bring with me. Today, Ill take them all away... Tomorrow I still have to serve the Emperor, and dont have the leisure to come!"

  Having finished speaking, she didnt wait for a response and floated away to her original residence. Before even half an incense stick had burned, she brought it out, slightly bowed to Empress Qi, and directly returned to her sedan chair to leave.

  Consort Qis face turned pale with rage, her hands trembling as she slapped Xiang Ying again: "Yesterday, the Emperor coincidentally met Yunluo and made her a Cloud Noble Lady... Didnt I tell you to drive her far away, not let the Emperor see her again? How did you do such a poor job!"

  "Shes at the laundry bureau, how could..."

  Zi Fei thought for a moment, then coldly laughed: "It must be her... Yesterday morning, she pretended to be virtuous and insisted that the Emperor accompany her to the Yunxia Pavilion to visit the old Empress Dowager. It was just an excuse to accidentally pass by the laundry department, so that this little woman could have a chance encounter with him. Isnt it all going according to plan?"

  "Its the Empress..."

  Empress Qi waved her hand to stop her, feeling that there were too many people around and it was not a good place to discuss confidential matters. Just as she was about to gather her trusted advisors, she saw someone lurking in the flower bushes.

  "Whos there? Come out!"

  The four of them stood up and were about to kneel down and pay their respects when Empress Qi caught sight of Chen Lu.

  She remembered it well, and suddenly thought of the palace maid who had dripped paint on herself that day. A raging fire was burning inside her with no place to vent, so she stretched out her hand and pointed at Chen Lu: "Take this lowly maid out and beat her to death!"

  Qī Fēis dignity was profound, and in the midst of her great anger, with one order, someone quickly dragged the person out with seven hands and eight feet. Xiāng Yíng hastily followed them out, temporarily acting as a supervisor.

  Ronger let out a low cry and was about to get up, but Caier grasped her tightly and pulled her back down to kneel on the ground. Her whole body was trembling as she thought for a moment, then turned around to face Empress Qi, knocking her head against the ground with great force: "Your Majesty, may you live for a thousand years, please spare her this one time!"

  She fell heavily and fresh red blood stained the stone bricks. Consort Qi didnt even bother to look back, turning around and returning to the inner palace.

  On the other side, Xiangying followed, watching as the eunuchs went to fetch the punishment rods. Just as they were about to administer the punishment, a palace maid named Chenlu spoke up softly, "Sister Xiangying, wait, I have a secret to tell you."

  Her voice was clear and crisp, as if she had never been afraid at all.

  Xiang Ying couldnt help but be curious and took two steps forward: "What secret?"

  Morning dew lifted her head and met the fragrant and curious eyes of Shang Xiang.

  In an instant, a golden light flashed in her eyes, and Xiang Ying felt that she was not in control of herself. She looked straight into the depths of his pupils, where the dark and unfathomable blackness was filled with eerie and mysterious aura. Her head suddenly turned cold, and then she became dizzy.

  "Sister, youve always been clever and sympathetic towards those who are weak. Youll definitely help me beg Mother for mercy, wont you?"

  The dark eyes seemed to suck people in, and Xiang Ying stared blankly, unable to move her gaze, only nodding: "Yes!"

  The next moment, she suddenly woke up with a start, rubbed her eyes and shouted at the eunuch: "Dont move yet, I want to go and report to Her Majesty."

  Ziqi leaned against the edge of the bed, her anger still lingering. Xiangying came in and carefully presented incense.

  "Your Ladyship, I have something to say, but I dont know if I should."

  "Either spit it out or get out!"

  "Yes. The queens words this time are clearly malicious, aimed directly at us."

  "Uh-huh."

  "So you cant give her a handle to grab onto." Xiang Ying said eagerly.

  "What evidence?"

  "In this matter, any carelessness could be used as a handle. To say that beating a palace maid to death is our own business in the Cloud Celebration Palace. But if it falls into the eyes of someone with ill intentions and they make an issue out of it, it would become a crime of not valuing human life."

  "Are you saying that you let that girl go?" Consort Qi examined the bright red nail polish on her fingertips, displeased: "This palace hates this kind of clumsy and careless servant the most!"

  "Third Young Mistress, youre so naive... Its not worth ruining our reputation for such a foolish person. Instead, Ill go find Manager Liu tomorrow and have this girl transferred away, replaced with a clever one."

  "Relying on you... However, be sure to carefully observe his appearance, cant afford to raise a tiger again!"

  Chenlu was forgiven and went back, Ronger was naturally delighted, and the other two were also amazed. These two days they saw Chenlu with no different expression, thinking of themselves shouting what "corpse change", their faces were not going well, and they were also much more affectionate to her.

  Xiang Ying, that little vixen, is a heartless and ruthless person. Today, shes suddenly showing compassion and pleading for Chen Lu, has the sun risen in the west?

  Caier carefully handed Morning Dew a cup of tea: "Sister, have a sip of tea... Youre usually quiet and unassuming, I didnt expect you to have a relationship with Xiangying. Shes the most favored person in front of Her Majesty... In the future, dont forget about us sisters when there are benefits."

  After lunch, the four of them received an order from the eunuch in charge, saying that there was nothing to do in the afternoon and they should not wander around and disturb the princess. The spring day was warm and sunny, with nothing to do, the four of them all took a nap.

  Chenlu heard the four peoples breathing evenly, gently covering her chest, coughed twice, and spat out a mouthful of blood, bitterly smiling: "Good tyrannical evil sect skills!"

  "This Nine Underworlds Soul-Capturing Technique originated from the Western Regions heretic teachings. In her past life, she had once been curious and recorded this technique, but never used it. This time when she was reborn, in a moment of crisis, it came in handy, unfortunately, this bodys innate talent is weak, and without internal energy to protect itself, it backfired onto her internal organs."

  "The Nine Underworlds Soul-Capturing Technique" seems mysterious, but in reality its just using ones gaze to control another persons mind and use them for oneself. This technique is extremely powerful when mastered, but Chenluo only has a superficial understanding of it. Once she encounters someone with a strong will or tries to make the recipient do something they strongly resist, shell still fail miserably.

  Although it was just a superficial move, it was enough to deal with Xiangying, the palace maid who didnt know any martial arts. Chenlu thought to herself, unable to bear the discomfort in her chest anymore, and hastily sat cross-legged, using the "Huangting Nourishing Life Method" to vomit up the foul air.

  This trick is not internal martial arts, but only through breathing to improve oneself, strengthen the body and nourish life. For ordinary people, it has a great effect.

  This body is too weak and frail, I dont know how long it will take to recover before I can resume practicing internal energy. After vomiting, Chenlu thought of this thorny issue and felt a severe headache.

  "Its alright, being able to be reborn in this world is already a rare privilege, asking for too much will invite heavenly punishment." Half jokingly consoling herself, she also fell into slumber.

  The next day, Xiangying came to convey an important order - Chenlu was transferred to Yu Huayuan.

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