Li Shengyuan summoned An Yi, ordering him to lead a team to Qing Zhou to investigate the Chen Family, Chen Boyu, and Zheng Jian.
Meanwhile, Li Zhu felt considerably lighter after setting aside a worry.
While chatting idly with Hong Yu, Li Zhu asked, "Where are we palace maids allowed to go for fun?"
Hong Yu looked helplessly at the naive Li Zhu and said, "We are palace servants. Our only duties are to serve our masters well and complete our assigned tasks. How could we go out to play?"
Li Zhu murmured, "Alright."
Seeing her like this, Hong Yu couldn't bear it. "Ah, you're still young, it's normal to want to play. How about this – tomorrow you can go to the Shangyi Bureau to collect our clothes for me."
"Huh? What clothes?"
"Each palace maid receives two new outfits per year. Our clothing has already been prepared by the Shangyi Bureau."
So it was work uniforms. Li Zhu happily agreed to this task.
"On the way to the Shangyi Bureau, you'll pass by the Yu Garden. You can take a quick look there too."
"Mmhmm!"
"But the Yu Garden is also a favorite spot for the imperial concubines. You must be careful."
Hong Yu glanced at Li Zhu's exceptionally beautiful face and added this warning.
"Sister Hong Yu, don't worry! If I see any of the consorts, I'll definitely stay far away!"
"That's good."
~~
The next day, Li Zhu struggled to get up. Though she still wanted to sleep, she couldn't afford to be late for her afternoon duties, so she had to rise early to collect the clothing.
Li Zhu quickly prepared herself and left Qinzheng Palace alone, heading toward the Shangyi Bureau.
The scenery in the Yu Garden was indeed beautiful. Li Zhu admired it as she walked until she reached the Shangyi Bureau.
Li Zhu introduced herself, and the female official from the Shangyi Bureau stared at her meaningfully for a moment.
The official didn't cause any trouble, and Li Zhu quickly obtained the new "work uniforms" for herself, Hong Yu, and Xiuyu.
Just when Li Zhu thought she could return smoothly, she suddenly noticed an imperial concubine admiring flowers not far away.
Li Zhu lowered her head and continued walking naturally, then naturally paid her respects.
Consort Shu normally wouldn't have noticed a palace maid, but perhaps because the spring sunlight was particularly bright, she caught a glimpse of Li Zhu's face as it flashed by.
Consort Shu stopped and turned back.
"Halt."
Li Zhu's heart tightened, and she stopped.
"Turn around and lift your head."
Li Zhu inwardly groaned, thinking she was done for.
When Li Zhu didn't move immediately, the palace maid beside Consort Shu pushed her roughly and said unkindly, "Her Ladyship is calling you! Why are you dawdling?"
Resigned to her fate, Li Zhu turned around and raised her head.
Instantly, everyone was dazzled by Li Zhu's beauty – Consort Shu was no exception.
After a moment, Consort Shu asked, "What's your name? Which palace do you serve in?"
"Replying to Your Ladyship, this humble maid is named Li Zhu. I am a first-rank palace maid serving His Majesty."
Li Zhu thought that by saying this, the consort before her wouldn't trouble her too much.
Unexpectedly, Consort Shu sneered coldly and walked over. "So you're Li Zhu."
This person actually knew her? Li Zhu felt this was very bad.
"Yes."
"Truly beautiful," Consort Shu remarked, then pinched Li Zhu's face.
Li Zhu was forced to lift her head. She frowned – not for any other reason, but because Consort Shu's grip was very strong.
Li Zhu even felt that her sharp fingernails might pierce her cheeks.
"I heard you serve His Majesty every night, reading by his bedside?"
"Yes."
Consort Shu was extremely jealous. Though she held the position of consort, she had only seen the Emperor once, while this Li Zhu could accompany the Emperor daily.
And she was so beautiful too.
Fortunately, Consort Shu knew she couldn't punish palace servants without cause, especially since Li Zhu was an attendant serving before the emperor.
Yet letting her off entirely was equally unsatisfying.
Consort Shu lowered her hand, pretending to leave.
But as she departed, she deliberately bumped hard into Li Zhu.
Li Zhu tried to evade but couldn't completely avoid it, stumbling back a step.
Unexpectedly, before Li Zhu could utter a word, Consort Shu nearly collapsed to the ground.
The palace maid quickly helped Consort Shu up, glaring fiercely at Li Zhu. "How dare you! You actually knocked over Her Highness Consort Shu!"
"I didn't…"
Clearly, no one would listen to Li Zhu's explanation.
"Enough," Consort Shu said. "I know you didn't mean it, but as a servant, your clumsiness needs correction."
Li Zhu saw through it—Consort Shu simply wanted to torment her!
Furious as she was, Li Zhu could only seethe inwardly.
She valued her life too much.
Consort Shu continued, "Although you serve the emperor, as one of His Majesty's consorts, I have every right to discipline you. You shall kneel here for two hours and reflect on your behavior."
Li Zhu glanced down at the gravel path beneath her feet.
Kneeling here for two hours wouldn't break any bones, but it would be sheer agony.
"Your Highness, this servant must return to Qinzheng Palace to attend to the emperor…"
Consort Shu retorted, "The emperor won't miss one attendant. I've heard he permits you to report for duty only at noon each day. Kneeling here for two hours won't delay your duties."
Li Zhu had no rebuttal. She must have forgotten to check the almanac for auspicious days before going out.
Under Consort Shu's gaze, Li Zhu reluctantly knelt.
Consort Shu watched with amusement for a while, then said smugly, "The sun is too harsh. I shall return now. Shilei, keep watch over her. Two hours—not a minute less."
"Yes, Your Highness! This servant will watch her closely!"
Satisfied, Consort Shu departed.
While Consort Shu was still within earshot, Li Zhu checked her gossip profile.
As she read, Li Zhu clicked her tongue in disbelief—the seemingly dignified and amiable Consort Shu actually enjoyed torturing servants in private!
To avoid leaving marks on the maids' bodies, she always targeted hidden, vulnerable areas on women and particularly favored needle torture.
The palace maids serving Consort Shu suffered immensely.
Li Zhu then clicked on the exclamation mark above Shilei's head. As expected, Shilei was also frequently abused by Consort Shu.
Though Consort Shu often beat and scolded Shilei, Shilei appeared remarkably loyal—a paradox Li Zhu struggled to comprehend.
Li Zhu knelt alone on the gravel path where everyone passed by, visible to all coming and going palace staff.
Fanglan happened to pass by and recognized Li Zhu.
Sensing something amiss, she hurried to Qinzheng Palace.
Peering anxiously inside, she caught the attention of a young eunuch who asked, "Who are you? What brings you here?"
"Honorable sir, I'm a palace maid from Funing Palace. Do you happen to know Li Zhu?"
"Of course. What about her?"
"Li Zhu has offended some consort and is being punished—kneeling in Yu Garden right now!"
The eunuch was shocked. Everyone in Qinzheng Palace knew Li Zhu—she was the emperor's favorite attendant.
"Don't worry, let me consult Sister Hong Yu," he said before turning to enter.
Hong Yu was currently supervising the cleaning maids.
"Sister Hong Yu, Lady Li Zhu is being punished with kneeling!"
"What?" Hong Yu's expression tightened. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure of the details, but a maid from Funing Palace came to report that Lady Li Zhu offended some consort from another palace."
"Very well, I understand. Tell the palace maid outside the hall not to worry—I will find a solution. Go immediately to the Yu Garden to investigate what exactly happened."
The young eunuch nodded and hurried out.
Hong Yu did not hesitate either and went straight to find Ji An.
"Chief Steward Ji An, Li Zhu has been punished with kneeling."
Hong Yu relayed everything she knew to Ji An.
After hearing this, Ji An felt the situation was somewhat tricky. Not long after, the eunuch sent to investigate returned.
Having learned the full story, Ji An finally entered the main hall.
"Your Majesty."
Li Shengyuan did not look up. "What is it?"
"Miss Li Zhu has offended Consort Shu and has been sentenced to kneel for two hours."
The vermilion brush in Li Shengyuan's hand paused.
It wasn't even noon yet—shouldn't Li Zhu be sleeping at this hour?
Seeing this, Ji An promptly recounted the sequence of events, including what had transpired in the Yu Garden. He presented the facts objectively, without adding any personal bias.
But Li Shengyuan cared little about who was right or wrong. All he knew was that Consort Shu had overstepped her authority.
Even if Li Zhu had done something wrong, it was not Consort Shu's place to punish her!
Besides, Li Zhu was so timid—she would have to be a fool to provoke Consort Shufei.
"Go to the Yu Garden and have Li Zhu stand up."
Ji An acknowledged the order.
"Deliver my oral decree: Consort Shu has acted improperly and failed to uphold the virtues of an imperial concubine. She is to be confined to her quarters for two months."
"As you command."