Liu Chan was taken to the side chamber of Yuqiong Residence.
According to palace rules, only consorts of pin rank could reside in the main hall of a residence and raise children. As a mere ninth-rank Da Ying, she could only live in a side chamber.
Liu Chan didn’t mind these arrangements.
Whether it was being the mistress of a residence or a palace, she would climb step by step.
Before long, Huang Jiu, the eunuch serving the Emperor, personally arrived, bringing along the maid Xiao Cui.
“This servant remembered that Xiao Cui had served Consort Liu for some time, so I specially brought her here,” Huang Jiu said.
Though delighted inwardly, Liu Chan showed no outward expression.
She softly expressed her thanks.
Huang Jiu thought for a moment and politely said, “If Consort Liu needs anything, you can inform this servant at any time.”
“There is actually one thing,” Liu Chan spoke up, hesitating slightly. “Troubling Eunuch Huang, I would like a bowl of child-avoidance decoction.”
Upon hearing this, Huang Jiu was taken aback.
His earlier words had merely been polite, yet Consort Liu actually dared to ask, and for something… he couldn’t decide on his own.
After Huang Jiu left, Liu Chan turned to look at Xiao Cui beside her.
Xiao Cui knelt before her with reddened eyes. “Consort Liu, today it was this servant’s fault for not taking good care of you.”
She was referring to the incident at the palace banquet where Liu Chan’s drink had been drugged. When something happened to their mistress, servants usually couldn’t escape blame.
“What’s done is done, no need to dwell on it,” Liu Chan helped her up. “Now that I’ve become a Da Ying serving the Emperor, are you willing to continue serving me?”
Xiao Cui quickly nodded.
From the very beginning, she had felt a natural closeness to Liu Chan, as if… as if she had been Liu Chan’s maid in a previous life.
Liu Chan also felt relieved. She had been reborn, but Xiao Cui hadn’t.
She had been afraid that Xiao Cui might not want to leave Weiyang Palace. Since Xiao Cui was willing, it showed that they truly had this master-servant bond.
“Who gave you the name Xiao Cui?” Liu Chan asked again.
“The Internal Affairs Bureau assigned it,” Xiao Cui said softly.
Generally, after entering the palace, everyone abandoned their original names and received new ones from the Internal Affairs Bureau, though these weren’t particularly meaningful or good names.
Her original name was Zhen Zhu, which her parents had thoughtfully given her.
“Then let’s change it back,” Liu Chan thought for a moment. “Pearls are priceless and jade flawless. From now on, I’ll call you Zhen Zhu, to show the closeness between us.”
Zhen Zhu’s eyes widened in surprise.
Tears immediately fell from her eyes. “Thank you for bestowing this name, mistress.”
Liu Chan handed her a handkerchief, smiling warmly as she looked at her.
Of course… she knew Zhen Zhu’s original name.
Not long after, a young apprentice from the Imperial Hospital delivered a packet of prepared herbs. “Royal Physician Wang said that all ingested medicines carry some toxicity. After Consort Liu drinks this dose, be sure to drink plenty of water.”
Zhen Zhu expressed thanks and went to prepare the decoction for her to drink.
Regarding the disturbance that occurred during the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, the palace staff whispered among themselves, but no one dared to speak of it openly.
The addition of another minor ninth-rank Da Ying in the palace wasn’t considered a major event.
The only noteworthy point was that this Da Ying came from the Empress Dowager and Guifei’s maternal family—she was Jing Guifei’s younger sister.
Several days passed, and the palace gradually settled into calm.
One evening.
After finishing the mountain-high pile of memorials, Xiao Lin habitually went for a walk in the Imperial Garden.
Huang Jiu had instructed the Cat Room in advance to release a few cats.
“Is that the one Liu Shi protected?” Xiao Lin suddenly asked.
The eunuch guarding the Cat Room immediately fetched the Big Orange Cat, holding it respectfully against his chest as he stepped forward to show it. “Your Majesty, this is the one.”
“How has Liu Shi been these past two days?” Xiao Lin asked, his gaze fixed on the Big Orange Cat.
Naturally, this wasn’t a question directed at a cat. After a moment’s thought, Huang Jiu beside him replied softly, “From what this servant knows, Consort Liu hasn’t left her room for several days now. She…”
Before he could finish the latter part of his sentence, he saw his master suddenly stand up and stride forward.
Huang Jiu hurried to follow.
In less than half an hour, Xiao Lin stood at the entrance of Yuqiong Residence. He hesitated briefly before ultimately stepping inside.
At this moment, Zhen Zhu was carefully draping a blanket over Liu Chan, who was sleeping while reclining on the Imperial Concubine Couch.
Although silver charcoal was burning in the room, given Liu Chan’s current rank, they didn’t dare use too much. The room remained rather chilly.
“Does she sleep excessively?” A somewhat authoritative voice sounded from behind Zhen Zhu.
Zhen Zhu turned around, startled, and immediately knelt. “This maid pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Rise and answer.” Xiao Lin’s gaze fell on Liu Chan’s delicate face, which appeared restless in sleep. She occasionally furrowed her brows and let out soft sobs.
Zhen Zhu stood up properly and replied, “In response to Your Majesty, the young mistress has been mostly drowsy these past few days and has little appetite. She…”
After hesitating, she added, “She’s been in low spirits.”
Originally thinking she could joyfully marry after leaving the palace, she never expected such sudden changes. No one could adapt to this immediately.
Unless she had planned to enter the palace from the very beginning.
Xiao Lin thought of this too. He never forced women to enter the palace; those who came did so voluntarily.
The one before him was the only exception – the only one who was forced.
Remembering how she had been drugged that day in Shou’an Palace, yet she would rather harm herself while desperately trying to save herself, a flicker of pity crossed his heart.
“When you have free time, keep her company and talk with her more,” Xiao Lin said, his voice still cold.
Before Zhen Zhu could respond, he suddenly bent down, his long arm slipping beneath Liu Chan’s slender neck as he scooped her up horizontally and carried her toward the bed.
During the movement, the blanket covering Liu Chan slipped to the floor.
Her jet-black hair cascaded loosely, her features free of makeup appearing exceptionally delicate and charming. Perhaps due to recent weight loss, her clothes seemed slightly looser, and the unique fragrance of a woman’s body subtly wafted into Xiao Lin’s nostrils.
As Xiao Lin gently laid her on the bed, he felt his entire body tense momentarily. The memory of her enchanting form beneath him that day surfaced in his mind.
With effort, he pulled his thoughts back, withdrew his hand, and prepared to leave.
“Mmm…” Liu Chan furrowed her brows and suddenly grabbed his clothes, though her eyes remained closed. “Don’t go, don’t go.”
She murmured, “Brother-in-law, save me.”
Xiao Lin felt an inexplicable stir in his heart, his feet rooted to the spot. As if guided by some unseen force, he sat down at the edge of the bed and clasped her small hand in return. “I am here.”
“How could sister treat me like this!” Liu Chan suddenly began to sob again. “Brother-in-law, brother-in-law…”
“I am here,” Xiao Lin said, frowning as he half-embraced her.
“Your Majesty,” Zhen Zhu thought for a moment before speaking up to explain on Liu Chan’s behalf. “Every day when evening approaches, the young mistress sleeps particularly restlessly. Several times she has woken up crying and calling out, truly pitiful.”
Xiao Lin did not respond to her words.
Perhaps because being held in his arms gave her a sense of security, although Liu Chan sobbed a few more times, she gradually quieted down.
“Huang Jiu.” Xiao Lin recalled Meng Xun’s confession, his gaze turning icy cold. “Have you traced the origin of the Yilan Flower?”
Huang Jiu bowed his head respectfully and replied, “According to the florists, it was Chun’er from Jing Guifei’s side who instructed them to deliver the Yilan Flower to Consort Liu. I also inquired with the Needlework Bureau—the clothes Consort Liu wore that day, which were stained with pollen, were also retrieved by Chun’er.”
After a moment of thought, he asked, “Chun’er is currently in the Laundromat. Should I send someone to summon her?”
The situation was already quite clear. Questioning Chun’er further would only lead to implicating Jing Guifei.
But at present, the Emperor could not afford to move against Jing Guifei, who served as a strategic pawn.
Sure enough, Xiao Lin looked down at the person in his arms again and tightened his hold slightly.
“No need.”