Xu Lanshan timidly raised her head, her lovely oval face adorned with delicate, exquisite features. Her slender, distant-mountain-like eyebrows arched gracefully into her temples, and her watery almond-shaped eyes held a touch of pitiful nervousness. She pursed her lips slightly—those lips were small, rosy, and beautifully curved, looking soft and alluring…
Lanshan was already beautiful by nature, but after Xu Lanshan’s deliberate efforts in dressing up and a complete transformation in her demeanor, she seemed reborn, almost unrecognizable from her former self.
Emperor Yuanyong truly did not recognize her at all.
But he was evidently in an excellent mood, after all, this was a pleasant surprise he had stumbled upon himself, not someone else’s offering or a concubine taken into the harem for various reasons.
Fundamentally, this was different.
“Rise.”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
Emperor Yuanyong paused, then laughed heartily, “Very well, I pardon you. Rise!”
Xu Lanshan’s face lit up with joy, her almond eyes brightening as a perfectly measured, faint smile graced her lips. “Yes, thank you, Your Majesty!”
She rose gracefully, feeling reassured.
Since the Emperor himself had pardoned her, no one could later find fault or use the Palace Regulations against her.
Her reaction greatly pleased Emperor Yuanyong, who couldn’t help but laugh again. “What is your name? And where do you serve?”
Dong Zhi quickly glanced at Xu Lanshan, thinking to himself, Here it comes, here it comes—finally, the main topic. Oh dear, I must remember this well so I can report it later.
Xu Lanshan curtsied slightly before standing upright and replied, “Your Majesty, this servant is named Lanshan. I serve at the side hall of Yongchun Palace, under Song Meiren.”
In the harem of the Great Wen Dynasty, only those ranked Jieyu or higher, starting from the third rank, were qualified to become the mistress of a palace and reside in the main hall. Song Meiren held the fifth rank, so even though Yongchun Palace had no mistress, she could only live in the side hall.
Emperor Yuanyong was surprised. “So that’s how it is.”
Xu Lanshan’s hands unconsciously fidgeted with the hem of her robe, a gesture of unease that naturally drew the Emperor’s attention. Those hands—
Those hands were slender and elegant, with long, graceful fingers. He finally remembered, feeling a strange sense of fateful connection, and smiled, “So it’s you! Your name is Lanshan!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xu Lanshan replied with a shy smile, her voice soft with excitement and delight. “So Your Majesty… actually remembers this servant…”
The young woman’s thrilled joy greatly flattered Emperor Yuanyong. He had initially intended to tease her further but suddenly remembered she was a maid serving one of his concubines and stopped himself.
As the dignified Emperor, it would be somewhat beneath him and rather improper to pursue a maid belonging to his own concubine so openly. It would be better to wait until matters were properly settled.
So Emperor Yuanyong asked, “What are you doing here so late at night?”
Xu Lanshan’s expression shifted slightly. “This servant… this servant…”
Emperor Yuanyong frowned slightly. “Tell me the truth.”
Xu Lanshan quickly knelt, her voice trembling with tears and grievance. “This servant doesn’t know why I suddenly angered Meiren these past few days… I’ve been feeling upset and missing my mother. Seeing how lovely the moonlight is tonight, and because my mother loved peach blossoms, I quietly came here to pray… I never expected to… to encounter Your Majesty…”
Emperor Yuanyong was no fool. While Xu Lanshan claimed not to know why, he could easily guess after a moment’s thought.
Why? It was nothing but jealousy!
He had some impression of this Song Meiren—her looks were passable, but she was pretentious and brainless, so he quickly dismissed her from his thoughts.
It seemed that his casual praise of this palace maid that day had displeased Song Meiren, leading her to deliberately torment the girl.
Hmph, how utterly unreasonable!
Looking at it this way, it was actually he who had harmed this little palace maid.
If Emperor Yuanyong had been somewhat hesitant before, he was now resolute—this palace maid would be his.
Emperor Yuanyong then spoke gently, "So that's how it is. Don't worry, Song Meiren won't bully you anymore. It's getting late, you should go back. Dong Zhi, escort her back personally."
Dong Zhi perked up, immediately understanding the implication. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Tsk, tsk, this little girl's fortune had indeed arrived, hadn't it?
Xu Lanshan showed a hint of joy and quickly glanced at the Emperor with admiration. "Yes, with Your Majesty's words, this servant is reassured!"
What an innocent little girl! Emperor Yuanyong chuckled softly, "Mm, go on."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave."
Just as Xu Lanshan was about to curtsey, her stomach let out an untimely series of rumbles.
She stiffened in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing with heat.
This—this—she hadn't eaten anything for two days, she was truly starving!
The most infuriating part was, why did it have to happen at this exact moment? What if it made the Emperor dislike her? Wouldn't all her efforts go to waste? Ahhh!
Xu Lanshan was about to apologize, "Your Majesty—"
Emperor Yuanyong cut her off, "Have you had your evening meal?"
Evening meal? That term wasn't one a servant would use, but the meaning was clear enough. She stammered and shook her head lightly, "N-no, not yet…"
A flicker of anger flashed in Emperor Yuanyong's eyes. Song Meiren, huh! Good, very good! If such a person wasn't disciplined, she would surely turn the palace into a cesspool.
Emperor Yuanyong turned to Dong Zhi, "Send someone to the Imperial Kitchen later and have them deliver some food."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Xu Lanshan also hurriedly expressed her gratitude, and this time, her thanks were genuinely heartfelt.
As Dong Zhi accompanied Xu Lanshan on her way back, he thought to himself, the Emperor was openly slapping Song Meiren in the face. Truth be told, masters bullying and tormenting servants wasn't uncommon in the palace, but who told Song Meiren she was unlucky?
In principle, Song Meiren deserved it!
There were many unsavory things in the palace that the Emperor didn't pay attention to or know about, but as the head eunuch of Qianyuan Palace, Dong Zhi was well aware of them.
Ever since the Emperor praised Lanshan's hands that day, he had known about everything Song Meiren had done—and it wasn't just starving Lanshan.
He had thought Lanshan would seize the opportunity to complain and plead for the Emperor's intervention, but she hadn't!
This girl… he had underestimated her before. She had potential…
Dong Zhi's attitude unconsciously grew three parts more respectful, and he offered several comforting words to Xu Lanshan along the way.
In this palace, rises and falls were common. Favored today, cast into the Cold Palace tomorrow; lowly as dirt today, elevated to a high position the day after—who could say for sure? It was always wise to leave some room, to show kindness at the right time. It never hurt.
Xu Lanshan naturally reciprocated, treating Dong Zhi with even greater courtesy and friendliness.
She was clever by nature and knew how to speak well, charming Dong Zhi—the top confidant of the Emperor—into beaming with delight and growing fond of her.
The Meiren rank is entitled to two palace maids and one eunuch for personal service, while other duties such as cleaning and washing in the courtyard are uniformly arranged by the Shang Gong Bureau.
When Xiao Songzi came in to report that Eunuch Dong from the Emperor's side had arrived, Song Meiren was overjoyed!
"It must be that the Emperor has sent Eunuch Dong to summon me! The Emperor has finally remembered me!" Otherwise, why would Eunuch Dong come at this hour?
Su Ying also beamed with delight: "Yes, yes, congratulations, Meiren!"