“I’ll go apologize to Qingyao right now!…”
At this very moment, Li Shutiao truly felt the terror of a court intrigue novel’s female protagonist.
Her pupils had only constricted twice before the person before her keenly noticed something. Wuya Shi stopped paying attention to the injury on her face and instead lowered her gaze, staring straight into the depths of her eyes. “Sister Shutiao…”
“Hic.” Under extreme nervousness, Li Shutiao hiccupped.
The words on the tip of Wuya Shi’s tongue halted. The thick inkiness in her dark eyes instantly dissolved, layer by layer, and the smile on her lips gradually transformed into deep helplessness. “Are you full, or are you hungry?”
“Um… hungry,” Li Shutiao said, feigning shyness as she lowered her head, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Her hand, hidden beneath the covers, clutched her stomach as she explained in a low voice, “I was too heartbroken yesterday, so I didn’t eat. And after waking up today, I was a bit too embarrassed to see anyone, so…”
She left it at that.
Wuya Shi, however, understood everything completely.
Come to think of it, she was the one who had instigated the events that led to Li Shi’s punishment.
So, she didn’t press further. After stroking Li Shutiao’s hair by her temples again, she got up and went outside, returning shortly with a redwood tray. On the tray were a bowl of steaming Jingmi Xiaozhou, two small plates of Jiangzhi Xiaocai, and a plate of fragrant Cong Youbing.
She said, “You haven’t eaten in a long time, so you shouldn’t have anything too greasy. For now, just have this to fill your stomach.”
While Wuya Shi was out, Li Shutiao had quickly composed herself, deciding to temporarily forget the novel’s plot and treat Wuya Shi as a trustworthy, kind older sister for the time being.
Thus, she happily threw back the covers and got out of bed. She tucked her waist-length black hair behind her ears, then took a wooden hairpin to secure it at the back of her head. Flashing a brilliantly bright smile at Wuya Shi, her voice sounded crisp and strong, “I understand. Thank you, Sister Lianchu.”
“You already call me sister, why be so polite?” Wuya Shi demurred politely while placing the bowls and plates from the tray onto the round table in the room.
Li Shutiao tidied herself up a bit and followed her over.
She was truly famished. After sitting down, she didn’t stand on ceremony with Wuya Shi at all. She picked up her chopsticks, eagerly grabbed a piece of Cong Youbing, and popped it into her mouth. Her posture was so impatient that Wuya Shi, sitting opposite her, was taken aback for a moment before the smile in her eyes deepened.
Wuya Shi said nothing, just quietly watching Li Shutiao eat.
Li Shutiao paid her no mind, burying her head and slurping away with great relish. In no time, the bowl and plates were empty, yet she was only about seventy percent full.
Li Shutiao reluctantly put down her chopsticks and cast a pleading “I want more” look at Wuya Shi.
Wuya Shi put on a stern face and shook her head. “No more. We’ll see about it at the evening meal.”
In the Qing Dynasty, the evening meal was generally around one or two in the afternoon. It was now about nine in the morning, so it was only a few hours away.
Li Shutiao obediently didn’t make a fuss. She proactively stood up, gathered the dishes onto the tray, and was about to carry it to the small kitchen when Wuya Shi raised a hand to stop her. “Let me go. I saw Wen Ya and the others when I went to get the congee just now. It’s better for you to avoid them.”
She didn’t explain why, simply taking the tray from Li Shutiao’s hands and turning to leave.
Only after her figure disappeared beyond the door did Li Shutiao puff out her cheeks in slight indignation, feeling quite frustrated.
Her timing for transmigrating was rather unfortunate, arriving on the second day after the original owner’s falling out with Guo Luoluo Shi.
—Ten days ago, it was supposed to be her turn to guard the storehouse. But on the night before her shift, Guo Luoluo Shi had found her, saying her E-niang at home had suddenly fallen gravely ill. She had already explained the situation to the managing momo, who had granted her two days’ leave to visit, but only on the condition that she first complete her duties.
Guarding the storehouse was one of them. According to the duty roster set by the momo, Guo Luoluo Shi was scheduled after “Li Shutiao.” So, if they followed the order, Guo Luoluo Shi would have to wait another two days to leave the palace. But if “Li Shutiao” was willing to switch with her, Guo Luoluo Shi could leave for home that very night after finishing her watch.
Guo Luoluo Shi had spoken with such grief and pity that “Li Shutiao” naturally couldn’t refuse.
Little did she expect that her agreement would directly deliver a stroke of immense fortune to Guo Luoluo Shi…
When the news spread that Guo Luoluo Shi had been made an Imperial Attendant, it instantly became the envy of all the palace maids in the Forbidden City.
Among them, Wuya Shi was closer to “Li Shutiao.” She quickly sought her out, asking with a face full of astonishment what had happened.
With a touch of bitterness, “Li Shutiao” recounted the whole story. Wuya Shi frowned immediately. “Lady Guo Luo Luo is ill? How come my E-niang didn’t hear anything?”
After saying this, perhaps realizing it was inappropriate, she quickly looked at her with an apologetic expression. “Please forgive me, Sister Shutiao. I don’t mean to doubt Qingyao, it’s just that this seems too much of a coincidence… Or perhaps, my E-niang’s information isn’t very current, and she didn’t receive the news in time. When I go to the Internal Affairs Office later, I’ll help you ask about it.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the original owner’s face turned frighteningly pale, her lips trembling so much she couldn’t form a complete sentence.
Seeing this, Wuya Shi quickly stepped forward to support her arm, comforting her in a low voice, “I’m so sorry, Sister Shutiao, I didn’t mean it.” After a pause, she continued, “I just think it’s such a pity. After all, in terms of looks, you are even more beautiful than Qingyao. What a shame… it’s truly a great pity.”
With just a few manipulative words, Wuya Shi had ignited a towering rage in “Li Shutiao’s” heart. In that moment, all reason vanished, and only one thought churned in her mind: Guo Luoluo Shi had stolen her good fortune!
She endured it for a few days but finally couldn’t hold back. Yesterday, during her break after her shift, she had stormed off to the Houweifang of Qianqing Palace and had a vicious argument with Guo Luoluo Shi. Then, she unilaterally declared that their friendship was over, their bond severed.
After cursing her out, she herself felt incredibly wronged. She hid in a deserted corner and shed a few dry tears before returning to her room with a slumped head and red-rimmed eyes.
In the room, Jiya Momo, who was in charge of supervising their daily lives, was waiting for her with a dark face.
The moment she returned, without a word of explanation, Jiya Momo had her dragged into the courtyard. In front of the other palace maids, she mercilessly punished her with ten slaps for the crime of “offending a superior.” Each slap struck heavily upon the original owner’s crumbling self-esteem.
Finally, after the crowd of onlookers dispersed, the original owner returned to her room in a wretched state. Touching her red, stinging cheeks, she cried all night. Just as dawn was breaking, her consciousness suddenly blurred, and Li Shutiao had inexplicably transmigrated over.
…
It was only while sorting through the memories that she discovered the original “Li Shutiao,” incited by Wuya Shi, had become convinced that Guo Luoluo Shi, jealous of her beauty, had colluded with Jiya Momo to ruin her face.
She didn’t know that as soon as she had left yesterday, Wuya Shi had followed her, listened to their entire argument, and then rushed back ahead of her to report to Jiya Momo.
When Jiya Momo learned from Wuya Shi that she had gone to settle scores with Guo Luoluo Shi, she broke out in a cold sweat, wishing she could strangle “Li Shutiao” on the spot.
This was because after Guo Luoluo Shi received the Emperor’s favor, he rarely visited the rear palaces. During this period, he summoned Guo Luoluo Shi to attend to him almost daily. Anyone in the palace could see that she was currently basking in the Emperor’s grace and favor. Where did “Li Shutiao” get the nerve to go and shout at the Emperor’s favored consort?
Fortunately, Jiya Momo still remembered how close “Li Shutiao” and Guo Luoluo Shi used to be. She worried that they might just be having a temporary spat. If she punished Li Shutiao too severely now, Guo Luoluo Shi might retaliate against her in the future…
After much thought, and incorporating Wuya Shi’s suggestion, she finally decided to settle the matter with ten slaps in front of all the palace maids.
Meanwhile, after returning the tray, Wuya Shi quickly came back.
She was mindful of the purpose of her visit to Li Shutiao, so as soon as she returned, she shut the two doors firmly.
The room Li Shutiao lived in faced north and was already damp and gloomy. With the doors shut, the light in the room instantly dimmed by several degrees. When Li Shutiao snapped out of her thoughts, she was so startled by the atmosphere that she thought for a moment she was about to meet an early end.
“There’s one more thing.”
Fortunately, Wuya Shi spoke at that moment.
Li Shutiao composed herself and asked curiously, “What is it?”
Wuya Shi sat down beside her. “Jiya Momo said that you’ve probably been mentally and physically exhausted these past few days and haven’t rested well, which is why…” She paused, not continuing.
Li Shutiao, who had read the original novel, silently completed the sentence in her mind—which is why you lost your mind, harbored such filthy and despicable thoughts, and went to offend the Emperor’s favored consort. To avoid causing even greater trouble, it’s better to stay in your room and reflect properly. It will also prevent the Emperor from getting angry in the future and implicating everyone here in the palace maids’ quarters…
The words were harsh, but the logic was sound.
Jiya Momo was not a kind person. She probably wanted to first observe Imperial Attendant Guo Luoluo’s reaction to see if she had truly fallen out with “Li Shutiao.” If so, Jiya Momo wouldn’t even need to act; the treacherous schemes among the palace maids alone would be enough to ensure “Li Shutiao” was ostracized and left with nowhere to turn.
But if Imperial Attendant Guo Luoluo still cared for “Li Shutiao”…
That would call for a different strategy.
“Jiya Momo is actually concerned about you. She said you don’t need to be on duty for the next few days. Just stay in your room and let the injury on your face heal properly. As for everything else… we can talk about it after your injury has healed.”
There would be no “talk about it later.”
Li Shutiao thought grimly.
In the original novel, after being slapped, “Li Shutiao’s” hatred for Guo Luoluo Shi deepened, especially with Wuya Shi’s occasional “reminders.”
She used her entire “paid vacation” to care for her face and inquire about the Emperor’s movements, determined to use her “beauty” to bewitch the Emperor, preferably to the point where he would neglect all the other consorts in the rear palace and dote on her alone…
She sure had some beautiful dreams.
Li Shutiao silently mocked.
She thought for a moment, then looked up at Wuya Shi with a very sincere expression and said, “Okay.”
As she replied, her two willow-leaf brows curved, making her look both obedient and pure, like an innocent child who knew nothing of the world.
For some reason, Wuya Shi suddenly felt a pang of awkwardness.
But it was just a fleeting illusion.
She clenched her fingers, her expression shifting to one of worry. “Also, there’s the matter with Qingyao.”
As she spoke, she secretly observed the expression on Li Shutiao’s face. Seeing her lower her lashes dejectedly, her profile looking somewhat melancholic, a sliver of delight flashed through her heart. She then continued, “Actually, Qingyao doesn’t have any bad intentions…”
Li Shutiao kept her head down, her eyes blinking.
Here it comes, she thought, the female lead’s top-tier green tea performance.
She devised a counter-strategy in an instant, deciding to unleash her ultimate move, called “Sincerity.”
After adjusting her expression, she looked up again, her watery eyes still full of affection and trust for the person before her. She replied with a faint smile, “I know. Whatever sister says is right!”
“If sister says Qingyao isn’t bad, then she isn’t bad!”
Wuya Shi was choked by her words, frowning inwardly.
What’s… wrong with Li Shi?
She tentatively spoke again, “I was thinking, maybe she had some difficulties she couldn’t speak of?”
“Difficulties?” Li Shutiao raised an eyebrow, then had a sudden realization. “Right, that must be it!”
Then, she feigned wiping a tearless corner of her eye. “Oh heavens, Qingyao has it so hard.”
Hard?
Wuya Shi couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her expression went blank for a second, and her tone became even more hesitant. “Then, what happened before…”
Before she could finish, Li Shutiao had already stood up, clenching her fists. Her exquisite, fair, melon-seed-shaped face wore a righteous expression as she declared solemnly, “I understand everything now. Thank you for the reminder, sister. I’ll go apologize to Qingyao right now!”
Wuya Shi: “…”