10. Chapter 10

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Li Shuyao blushed as she took her monthly allowance from Nurse Lin’s hand. She gently pinched the soft pouch, feeling its weight, which was considerably heavier than what a tea-serving palace maid should receive. Her clear eyes suddenly welled up with visible confusion. She lowered her head, intending to open the pouch to take a look.

Unexpectedly, Nurse Lin smiled warmly, grasped her hand, and pressed it down until both hands, along with the pouch, were hidden beneath her sleeve.

Only then did she speak with a smile, “The tea-serving palace maid is the closest position to the emperor in the entire Palace of Heavenly Purity, second only to Eunuch Liang. Work diligently and wholeheartedly, and in the future, you will not be treated unfairly.”

What Nurse Lin implied was this: perform well and make yourself seen by the emperor, and all that Guo Luoluo Qingyao now possesses, you will have in time.

However, Li Shuyao did not grasp the deeper meaning at all. After all, she still did not know how she had ended up in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Mistaking Nurse Lin’s words for mere surface pleasantries, she immediately stood at attention, straightened her back, her gaze as resolute as if pledging under the national flag, and said solemnly and clearly, “Rest assured, Nurse Lin, I will!”

Seeing her demeanor, Nurse Lin felt a vague worry rise from deep within — did she truly understand?

…

From that day on, Li Shuyao, uncharacteristically, stopped being so listless.

She knew Song Fuwen would never let her handle anything related to the emperor’s affairs, so she did not compete with her. Every day, she arrived early at the study’s tea room, meticulously wiping the tea table and treasure racks, washing tea utensils, replacing the leftover water from the previous shift, and sweeping the floor.

If she finished cleaning and Song Fuwen hadn’t arrived yet, she would flip through the tea catalog, memorizing the types and quantities of tea on the racks.

When Song Fuwen brewed tea, she quietly noted the steps and procedures.

—This was also preparation for the future. If one day Song Fuwen was unable to serve in the tea room, she would be the only maid on duty and could not afford to be clueless or inexperienced.

If she delayed the emperor’s tea, and Eunuch Liang held her accountable, how could she face it?

“Be prepared for danger in times of peace,” was a lesson taught by her language teacher.

Li Shuyao dared not forget this.

*

Time passed quickly, and Li Shuyao gradually adapted to working in the tea room.

One day, just as she was about to finish her shift, Eunuch Liang’s figure appeared at the tea room’s entrance, startling everyone changing shifts inside.

Li Shuyao clenched the travelogue she had been reading to pass the time. Song Fuwen nearly tripped over a small stool, while two other maids dropped a tea clip and nearly mislabeled a tea can.

Eunuch Liang stood at the door, holding his whisk, coldly observing the commotion inside. His expression was inscrutable, his aura inexplicably imposing.

It did not look like he had come to praise; rather, it seemed an inspection, searching for faults.

Realizing this, Li Shuyao hastily hid the travelogue behind her back, trying to look innocent and clueless.

Song Fuwen quickly stood up and, with the other two, saluted at the door.

Li Shuyao remained where she was and followed suit with a knee bend salute.

Eunuch Liang hummed noncommittally, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Li Shuyao.

Li Shuyao: “?”

Her mind raced, reviewing her recent actions — she hadn’t made any mistakes, had she?

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At that moment, Eunuch Liang spoke, “Do what you are supposed to do. Li Shuyao, come with me.” His tone gave no hint of emotion, but since he hadn’t caused a scene, it meant this was not an accusation.

Everyone else quietly exhaled in relief.

Only Li Shuyao, who had been singled out, stiffened all over.

After speaking, Eunuch Liang walked out and stood quietly by the study’s door a short distance away.

Song Fuwen and the others relaxed but glanced at Li Shuyao, with Song Fuwen’s look the most unfriendly.

Li Shuyao looked back at Eunuch Liang to confirm he couldn’t hear the conversation, then approached the stiff Li Shuyao and whispered a threat, “You know what to say.”

Say what? Li Shuyao blinked in confusion, feeling utterly out of place in this palace world full of scheming and intrigue.

She frowned irritably and snapped, “Sister Song, what do you want me to say?”

Her tone was full of annoyance and displeasure.

She truly didn’t want to endure Song Fuwen any longer; if necessary, she was ready to fight — who was afraid of whom?

Song Fuwen was momentarily speechless, about to scold her further when she suddenly remembered Eunuch Liang was nearby. This was no time to pick a fight, so she bit her lip and whispered, “Just be careful. No tattling!”

Otherwise…

She did not finish her sentence.

Li Shuyao immediately placed her hand on Song Fuwen’s shoulder and pushed her away, “Step aside! Don’t stand so close—do you know you’re blocking my way?”

“Didn’t your mother teach you that a good dog never blocks the path?”

As she spoke, she turned sideways and swiftly tossed the travelogue into a small wooden basket. Song Fuwen glared at her but didn’t notice the gesture.

The other two maids noticed but, recalling Eunuch Liang and the matrons’ regard and kindness toward Li Shuyao, their eyes flickered, and they decided to hold back, watching the unfolding conflict quietly before returning to their duties.

Song Fuwen was nearly infuriated! She opened her mouth to continue, but Li Shuyao ignored her. After putting away the travelogue, she sidestepped Song Fuwen and took several quick steps toward the door, as if avoiding her, which only fueled Song Fuwen’s anger.

Meanwhile, Li Shuyao had already stepped out of the tea room and stood before Eunuch Liang, bending her knees and respectfully bowing to him with a sweet voice, “Please, Eunuch Liang.”

She wasn’t deliberately being coquettish, but Eunuch Liang usually served close to the emperor and rarely left his side. Usually, others handled tasks like serving tea.

On her first day at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Eunuch Liang had come to interview her while the emperor was in court. The two other times he had come afterward were probably because something required his personal attention.

Now, he didn’t even enter the room and, with a stern expression, called her to follow him.

Li Shuyao worried she might have truly made a mistake, or that someone had complained about her... or that her idling in the tea room had been discovered!

Her heart was anxious and unsettled; she decided to behave well, hoping Eunuch Liang would take that into consideration...

Just then, he spoke in his usual low voice, “Guo Luoluo, the young mistress, wishes to see you.”

With that, he turned and led the way.

Li Shuyao: “…”

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She couldn’t believe such surprise had come so suddenly.

She stood still for a while before hurrying to follow, keeping about two steps behind Eunuch Liang. Nervously, she stammered, “Qingyao, um, Eunuch Liang, why does the young mistress want to see me?”

“Has she been well lately? And is it her turn to accompany the emperor today? How can she meet with me?”

Where was the emperor? Wasn’t Qingyao supposed to accompany him? Why did she suddenly think of her?

… Actually, she most wanted to ask if the emperor was by Qingyao’s side. If he was, would it be inappropriate for her to visit? If not, where had he gone?

Fearing suspicion of spying on the emperor’s whereabouts, she prudently refrained from asking.

Eunuch Liang walked ahead without turning, his pace steady as he patiently waited for her questions to end before replying, “Today, the emperor invited Guo Luoluo, the young mistress, to accompany him. But just now, the Nara Consort of Yanxi Palace sent someone to fetch the emperor away.”

“Originally, I was to escort the young mistress back, but she said she hadn’t seen you in a long time and wished to meet you. The emperor agreed and sent me to fetch you.”

“I see,” Li Shuyao suddenly understood, her steps becoming lighter.

Immersed in the joy that her close friend had not forgotten her, she unconsciously quickened her pace, closing the distance with Eunuch Liang.

At that moment, he suddenly stopped.

Li Shuyao: !

To avoid bumping into him, she forced herself to halt, leaning forward involuntarily. Just as she was about to touch his back, she stopped, looking somewhat ridiculous with her upper body bent forward, hands folded in front at her waist, and legs tightly stretched.

She was balancing precariously on the tips of her toes, heels raised.

When Eunuch Liang turned around, she quickly straightened up on her toes and smiled at him, “Eunuch Liang?”

“We’ve arrived.” Eunuch Liang, unaware of her small antics behind him, turned with some puzzlement — when had the little girl grown so tall?

The doubt lasted only a moment before fading.

He turned back, pushed open the large door ahead, then stepped aside, saying, “I must hurry back to serve the emperor. You may go in alone.”

“When it’s time to leave, someone will notify you.”

With that, he left without waiting for her to move.

Li Shuyao lowered her heels and exhaled deeply — she had been truly frightened just now.

Her anxious feelings were soon replaced by the joy of seeing Qingyao. After calming herself, she happily entered through the door, bypassed the screen embroidered with landscapes and birds, and peeked inside from the side of the door, seeing only Qingyao and Lingluo.

Without hesitation, she stepped in.

“Qingyao, Lingluo, I’m here!”

The pair turned their heads at her voice simultaneously.

Li Shuyao suddenly froze in place: “...What is this about?”