Song Meiren hastily straightened her clothes and hair, immediately ordering Xiao Songzi to invite Eunuch Dong inside.
When she saw Xu Lanshan following behind Dong Zhi, the smug smiles on the faces of Song Meiren and Su Ying instantly froze, their expressions stiffening.
Watching the two of them change expressions, Xu Lanshan secretly felt a surge of satisfaction.
Serves them right…
Su Ying quickly glanced at Xu Lanshan and demanded, "Lanshan, why are you following Eunuch Dong?"
Song Meiren glared fiercely and scolded, "Lanshan! Step back at once! You have no sense of propriety! Eunuch Dong, this lowly servant is ignorant and disrespectful. If she has offended you, please be magnanimous and do not hold it against her. I will discipline her properly later!"
Xu Lanshan: "…"
She felt even more secretly pleased, her anticipation reaching its peak.
Eunuch Dong did not disappoint her. Smiling, he said, "Ah, Song Meiren, you misunderstand. Miss Lanshan has not offended this old servant at all, hehe!"
Song Meiren and Su Ying’s expressions changed drastically.
"Eunuch… Eunuch Dong… this… this lowly servant…" Song Meiren’s mind exploded with shock, leaving her utterly stunned. Miss Lanshan? How dare this lowly servant allow Eunuch Dong to address her as "Miss Lanshan"! What had happened without her knowledge?
"Ahem," Eunuch Dong maintained his ever-unchanging amiable smile. "Song Meiren, be careful with your words. Miss Lanshan is no lowly servant. The Emperor has instructed Song Meiren to take good care of Miss Lanshan, especially her hands. Make sure nothing goes wrong with them again."
Song Meiren felt as if all her strength had been drained. She sat there stiffly, dazed and bewildered. What had Eunuch Dong said? Was it what she had heard? Surely not… right?
Su Ying instinctively looked at Xu Lanshan’s hands, her pupils contracting violently as she nearly screamed in shock.
This was impossible!
How could her hands have healed so quickly!
It couldn’t be…
Su Ying was both shocked and terrified, almost fainting from fright.
She knew exactly how severe Lanshan’s hand injuries were. Under normal circumstances, such wounds could not possibly heal completely in such a short time.
With her limited understanding, Su Ying instinctively believed that the Emperor must have given Lanshan some exceptionally effective ointment—something so miraculous must be extremely precious.
If the Emperor was willing to give her such a thing, didn’t that mean she was highly favored in his presence? What… what should she do…
Would Lanshan seek revenge on her…
Su Ying felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, trembling with fear and dread!
Song Meiren’s expression was also extremely unpleasant—not out of fear, but out of anger! She was on the verge of exploding with rage!
This lowly servant had truly climbed into the Emperor’s bed behind her back. Otherwise, the Emperor would not have sent Eunuch Dong to personally escort her back.
Song Meiren’s face twisted with fury, but she dared not lose her temper in front of Eunuch Dong. Forcing a smile, she nodded and said, "Eunuch Dong, rest assured…"
"That’s good. Since Song Meiren says so, this old servant can report back to the Emperor with peace of mind. I shall take my leave."
"Eunuch Dong!" Song Meiren couldn’t help herself and looked at him with hopeful eyes. "The Emperor… does the Emperor have any other message?"
The Emperor had taken someone from her palace, yet he didn't even offer a kind word or a single benefit in return? Song Meiren felt utterly heartbroken and devastated.
Eunuch Dong smiled faintly. "Not for now. Does Meiren have any other instructions?"
Song Meiren let out a despondent, light laugh and shook her head. How would she dare to give Eunuch Dong any orders?
Eunuch Dong bowed slightly and withdrew.
As soon as Eunuch Dong left, the atmosphere in the hall shifted abruptly.
It grew so quiet it felt suffocating.
Song Meiren glared fiercely at Xu Lanshan, her gaze as if poisoned, wishing she could slice her into a thousand pieces.
Crash! With a sharp, crisp sound, Song Meiren grabbed a teacup and hurled it violently at Xu Lanshan's feet. The porcelain shattered, scattering shards across the floor.
"Kneel before me!"
Xu Lanshan lifted her gaze slightly to look at her.
Tsk, honestly, she really didn't enjoy conversing with such a brainless, impulsive fool.
Kneeling was out of the question. Once she knelt, this Song Meiren would only come up with more tricks.
Song Meiren sneered, gritting her teeth as she spoke word by word, "I told you to kneel. Are you deaf? You are still my servant. What? Do you think I can't command you? You lowly wretch! How dare you defy your master! Where do you get such audacity!"
Xu Lanshan still did not move.
Su Ying, her mind clouded by rage, stepped forward angrily, raising her hand to slap Xu Lanshan across the face. "How dare you defy your master! You deserve to be beaten!"
The fear in Su Ying's heart had twisted into jealousy and malice. She wanted to ruin this wretched servant! What if she disfigured her? Would the Emperor still spare her a glance? No! Would the Emperor go to such lengths to seek justice for a lowly palace maid? Of course not!
By then, the Emperor would discard her like worthless trash.
Xu Lanshan raised her hand, caught Su Ying's arm, and unceremoniously shoved her aside.
"Meiren, tonight the Emperor told this servant to rest assured, saying that Meiren would certainly not bully me again. Is Meiren sure you want Su Ying to strike? That would be slapping the Emperor in the face!"
"You—" Song Meiren was so furious she felt dizzy, glaring venomously at Xu Lanshan as she gnashed her teeth. "You wretched servant! When exactly did you sneak behind my back and climb into the Emperor's bed? You… you…"
Song Meiren was frantic with rage, countless curses flooding her mind, yet she didn't know which one to hurl first.
Xu Lanshan replied, "This servant did not."
"Hmph!" Song Meiren sneered, dripping with sarcasm. "Did not? If not, why would Eunuch Dong personally escort you back? Why would the Emperor… say those things? Or perhaps you know it's a shameless, lowly act and dare not admit it? Ha! I must have been blind to have misjudged you!"
Xu Lanshan thought to herself, You truly are blind, otherwise you wouldn't have allowed Su Ying to cause the original host's death.
Just then, two young eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen arrived, each carrying a food box. They entered, bowed to Song Meiren, and then said with polite smiles, "Song Meiren, Eunuch Dong from Qianyuan Palace instructed us to deliver some food for Miss Lanshan. May we ask where Miss Lanshan is?"
Song Meiren and Su Ying were startled once more, both turning their gazes sharply toward Xu Lanshan.
Xu Lanshan stepped forward to take the food boxes, smiling courteously. "I am Lanshan. Thank you both for your trouble so late at night! Many thanks!"
"Oh, you're too kind!" The two young eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen quickly smiled and shook their heads, informing Xu Lanshan that someone from the Imperial Kitchen would come to collect the boxes first thing in the morning. Then, tactfully, they hurriedly took their leave.
The atmosphere in this hall was clearly off, so shouldn't one leave quickly?
Eunuch Dong was the most favored and trusted confidant serving by the Emperor's side. He would not care for a mere palace maid without reason—it must have been for the Emperor's sake. It was no wonder Song Meiren's complexion looked so poor.
This palace maid named Lanshan was truly beautiful, with a commanding presence yet not frivolous—no wonder she was no ordinary person!