Xiuyu nearly lost control of her expression, struggling to steer the conversation back on track. "Sister, though you have no family background, you could still become an eighth-rank Cainu."
"Cainu?"
"Yes, at least you'd be a mistress. Perhaps if you take more initiative, good fortune will come your way."
"Am I really capable?" Li Zhu appeared extremely lacking in confidence.
"You are. You must believe in yourself."
"Sister Xiuyu, while my looks are passable, clothes make the man just as a saddle makes the horse. I have neither fine garments nor decent jewelry…"
"This…"
Xiuyu was at a loss for words. She glanced up and noticed Li Zhu's hair adorned only with a few sparse silk flowers.
"Sister Xiuyu, the white magnolia hairpin in your hair is truly beautiful!" Envy nearly overflowed from Li Zhu's eyes.
Xiuyu raised her hand to touch it, then with determination, pulled it out.
"Little sister, I gift you this magnolia hairpin today!"
Li Zhu waved her hands. "I couldn't possibly accept it. How could I take something from you?"
"Keep it. When you become an imperial consort in the future, I'll still benefit from your favor."
"What if I never succeed?"
You'll definitely never make it. The Emperor despises women who try to seduce him, Xiuyu thought to herself.
"Regardless, take this hairpin. It's a token of sisterly affection."
"Then I'll gratefully accept instead of declining." Li Zhu reached out and took hold of the hairpin.
Huh? It didn't budge.
Xiuyu's reluctant expression remained unconcealed.
"Sister Xiuyu?" Li Zhu tilted her head, inquiring with an innocent look.
Xiuyu snapped back to reality, smiling as she inserted the hairpin into Li Zhu's bun. "I spent ten taels of silver to have the Treasury Department make this. It truly suits you."
Li Zhu beamed brightly. "Really? Then thank you, sister, for parting with something you treasure."
That afternoon, a white magnolia hairpin appeared in Li Zhu's hair.
Hong Yu recognized it as Xiuyu's. She didn't know what had transpired, but she didn't ask further.
Li Zhu, holding three months' worth of monthly stipend along with the white jade hairpin, spent the day in blissful contentment.
News quickly spread that the Emperor had summoned a palace maid to read to him at night. The imperial harem's consorts grew intensely curious about Li Zhu, each trying to uncover her identity.
Though none had seen her in person, reports from their informants consistently described her as: exceptionally beautiful.
This only fueled their curiosity—just how beautiful was Li Zhu?
The imperial selection had concluded months ago. Despite repeated urging from the court, the Emperor had stubbornly refused to visit the rear palace even once.
Yet a mere palace maid could enter the imperial bedchamber to read to him—how could this not provoke jealousy?
Though they hadn't seen Li Zhu, many already cursed her to die.
Unaware of this, Li Zhu had been working irregular hours lately. Combined with the lingering spring chill, she fell ill again.
Li Zhu had "no choice" but to temporarily leave imperial service, resting and recuperating in her own room.
On the first day of her convalescence, Li Shengyuan didn't feel much difference.
By the second day, he began feeling unsettled. Not only were there no more eating broadcasts and murmuring, but the nightly reading sessions had vanished too.
Easier to go from frugality to luxury than vice versa. Li Shengyuan ate poorly, slept worse, and his mood naturally soured.
Even Ji An received a scolding once, let alone the other palace staff.
Everyone had to tread carefully, wishing they could become invisible, terrified of accidentally losing their lives.
At this moment, they missed Li Zhu even more than Li Shengyuan did.
"Your Majesty, Wang Gōnggong from the Directorate of Ceremonial requests an audience."
Li Shengyuan looked displeased. "Let him in."
Soon, Wang Gōnggong entered with a bow.
"Greetings to Your Majesty! May the Emperor live ten thousand years!"
"Rise. What matter do you report?"
"Your Majesty, the various palace mistresses have been in the palace for nearly four months now, and they all eagerly await Your Majesty's presence."
"Hmm."
Hearing the Emperor's noncommittal response, Wang Gōnggong continued, "Might Your Majesty consider visiting the consorts today?"
"You concern yourself with quite a lot."
Wang Gōnggong immediately knelt down. "This is merely this humble servant's duty."
"Oh? Then tell me, which consort's residence should I visit today?"
"This lowly servant dare not speak recklessly."
"No matter. Speak your mind."
"Consort Xian is dignified and graceful, and Zhaoyi An is the Empress Dowager's niece, talented and beautiful…"
"Anyone else?"
"Consort Shu is captivatingly beautiful, with peerless elegance…"
"You seem to have observed my consorts quite thoroughly."
Wang Gōnggong shuddered. "This servant misspoke! May Your Majesty show mercy!"
"Tell me, which of these three gave you the most silver."
"N-none…"
"So all three gave you bribes."
Feeling the cold gaze from above, Wang Gōnggong's legs trembled violently.
"No, no! This servant only accepted silver from Consort Shu… I'll never dare again, never again!"
Li Shengyuan ignored his pleas for mercy.
"Guards! Drag him to the front of Welcoming Spring Hall and beat him to death with clubs."
Wang Gōnggong never imagined he would face such a catastrophic end, crying and screaming all the way as he was dragged to Welcoming Spring Hall.
The commotion was so loud that even Li Zhu, who was recuperating from illness, heard it.
She instantly grew excited – when there's gossip to be had, one shouldn't miss it.
She quietly went out and randomly stopped a palace maid. "I heard shouting outside just now. What happened?"
"Oh, Wang Gōnggong from the Directorate of Ceremonial was dragged out."
"Why?"
"Not sure how he angered His Majesty, but the Emperor ordered him beaten to death with clubs in front of Welcoming Spring Hall."
Li Zhu was startled. "Beaten to death with clubs?"
The palace maid replied calmly, "Yes."
Li Zhu finally remembered that the emperor in the original story was a hot-tempered ruler.
"Does His Majesty often sentence palace staff to death?"
"Not exactly often, but since Sister Li Zhu arrived, His Majesty has rarely punished anyone."
"Ah?" Li Zhu didn't understand.
The palace maid continued, "When Sister Li Zhu wasn't here, His Majesty suffered from insomnia and poor appetite, so his mood naturally wasn't good."
Li Zhu never realized her influence was so significant, but now she understood.
This emperor was the type who, having been drenched by rain himself, would make sure to piss on others too.
When he was unhappy, he loved to make others suffer.
"Wang Gōnggong was beaten to death with clubs, so the blood must have soaked through the bricks in front of Welcoming Spring Hall," the palace maid remarked.
The cruelty of imperial power was once again displayed bloodily before her eyes.
Li Zhu felt chilled to the bone.
She saw clearly now the so-called strict and tyrannical monarch described in the original book.
Li Zhu felt retrospective fear – she had been too relaxed before, unaware that a single misstep could anger the Emperor and cost her life.
"Sister Li Zhu, you should go back inside to rest. The most important thing is to recover from your illness quickly."
Li Zhu forced a smile. "Alright, I'll go in now. You may return to your duties."
The palace maid nodded and turned to leave.
Palace Consort Rankings:
Above Standard Rank: Empress
First Rank Principal: Imperial Noble Consort
First Rank Secondary: Noble Consort
Second Rank Principal: Four Consorts (Virtuous Consort, Consort Shu, Consort Xian, Consort De), one each
Second Rank, Upper Grade: One each of Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, Zhaoyuan, Xiuyi, Xiurong, Xiuyuan, Chongyi, Chongrong, and Chongyuan;
Third Rank, Upper Grade: Four Jieyu;
Third Rank, Lower Grade: One each of Wanyi, Fangyi, Fenyi, Deyi, and Wenyi;
Fourth Rank, Upper Grade: Noble Consort;
Fourth Rank, Lower Grade: Consort;
Fifth Rank, Upper Grade: Liangyuan and Liangdi;
Fifth Rank, Lower Grade: Guiji;
Sixth Rank, Upper Grade: Ji;
Sixth Rank, Lower Grade: Noble Lady;
Seventh Rank, Upper Grade: Talented Lady and Beauty;
Seventh Rank, Lower Grade: Lady;
Eighth Rank, Upper Grade: Xuanshi;
Eighth Rank, Lower Grade: Cainu;
Ninth Rank, Upper Grade: Daying;
Ninth Rank, Lower Grade: Gengyi.