Night fell.
Xiao Wenyi called for water twice. Just like the previous night, he threw the limp Zhang Wanrou into the bathtub, pulled her out again, and changed the bedding twice before finally resting.
He lay beside Zhang Wanrou, his mind still clear. After a moment of thought, a sense of irritation suddenly rose within him.
He knew he had crossed the line and broken the rules he had set for himself!
He did not know what had come over him that afternoon; how could he have been so muddled as to do such a thing in broad daylight!
This was a mistake!
Although not fatal, he was the Emperor!
An Emperor must not make even the slightest mistake!
His face turned cold. He threw off the quilt and got up, saying indifferently, "Dress me!"
Until Xiao Wenyi left, Zhang Wanrou did not wake up.
Mainly, she was truly exhausted!
She had already been overexerted last night, took the contraceptive pill during the day, then got injured, and finally was tossed about again! It would be strange if she could wake up at this time!
She felt as if she had just closed her eyes when someone came to push her.
"Lady Jieyu! Wake up quickly! Someone has come from the Empress's palace!"
Zhang Wanrou was stunned for a moment, her thoughts clearing slightly.
Her heart was shrouded in a sense of gravity and unease, but more than that, she felt doubt.
Was the Empress going to make a move against her so soon? She had only been favored for two days; how could she be so impatient?
She wanted to get up, but her body felt as if it had fallen apart, almost beyond her control.
Qing Ning was so anxious she was about to cry and could only quickly grab clothes to put on her.
She had originally intended to call the two palace maids sent by the Noble Consort to help, but those two had both "fallen ill" and could not get up!
She had no time to think about whether this was true or false and could only hurry to get her up and dressed; otherwise, she feared she would be punished for being late!
"Qing Ning, don't panic, don't panic, take it slow. You are hurting me so much!" Zhang Wanrou moaned, her brows almost knotted together.
Qing Ning was flustered. Because the lighting was dim, she did not notice the marks covering Zhang Wanrou's body.
She only apologized incessantly: "I am sorry, my Lady, but we really must be quick! The Empress only gave us less than half an hour!"
They still had to get dressed, wash up, do her hair and makeup, and walk from Yonghe Palace to Kunning Palace... just the journey alone would take a long time!
Zhang Wanrou squinted her eyes. Her lower abdomen felt like it was churning, and her legs were trembling so much she could barely stand.
It seemed she would need to find time to exercise her body; otherwise, how would she have the physical strength to deal with the monsters and demons in this harem?
After she was dressed, Qing Ning supported her as they walked out.
Zhang Wanrou truly had no strength; her legs felt like they were filled with lead, and she wished she could just lie down on the spot and continue sleeping.
"Qing Ning, actually, it doesn't matter if we arrive a little late!"
She begged in discomfort, asking if they could stop supporting her like this while walking.
Arriving early would only lead to more suffering.
"That won't do! If the Empress summons us and we are late, we will be punished! Nanny Xu also said there are many ways to punish people in the harem, and each one can make life worse than death!"
"My Lady, if you really cannot walk, I will carry you!"
Zhang Wanrou sighed, "Forget it, forget it. Your small frame isn't even as tall as mine. If you carry me, you'll be crushed!"
In the end, she compromised and said, "Just walk slowly!"
As Zhang Wanrou walked, she suddenly remembered something, "You mentioned earlier that the palace maids and eunuchs of Yonghe Palace were beaten by the Noble Consort. Did you go to deliver medicine and show goodwill?"
Zhang Wanrou had instructed Qing Ning to show goodwill to the maids of Yonghe Palace early on, but she did not know if she remembered.
Qing Ning was startled, then her face was full of shame and regret, "I am sorry, my Lady. I went to deliver the medicine, but they did not accept it..."
Zhang Wanrou was not surprised, nor did she blame her, "It is fine, as long as you went. Whether they accepted it or not is not important."
Qing Ning nodded. Although she did not know her specific intention, she would do whatever her Lady said!
Zhang Wanrou looked at her still-swollen face and sighed softly, "Qing Ning, you must remember, from now on, no matter what the Noble Consort does to me or says to me, do not stand up for me!"
"Although I am only a Jieyu, I am, after all, the Emperor's woman! She will not dare to do anything to me!"
"But you! In this harem, a servant's life is the least valuable! Once you offend her or anger her, this time it is a beating, but next time, I fear you will lose your life!"
Hearing this, Qing Ning's eyes grew sore again, "My Lady, Qing Ning is not afraid! If others bully you, Qing Ning will definitely protect you! Even if it means death, Qing Ning must die before you!"
Zhang Wanrou patted her hand and scolded lightly, "You are not allowed to say such unlucky things! I will not die! And you are not allowed to die either!"
In her previous life, she had failed to protect her; in this life, she would never let anything happen to Qing Ning!
Qing Ning remained silent, tears falling silently as she just nodded woodenly.
Zhang Wanrou continued to instruct, "When we arrive at the Empress's palace in a moment, I will definitely be punished. This is the Empress's show of power and also a warning. I am telling you this so you can be mentally prepared. When the time comes, do not be impulsive or get messed up, do you understand?"
Hearing this, Qing Ning's face turned pale, "My Lady, are you saying that no matter if we arrive early or late, the Empress will punish you?"
Zhang Wanrou nodded; this was unavoidable.
Especially with what happened yesterday, she feared that besides the Empress, there were other troubles waiting for her!
"Then what should we do?" Qing Ning panicked, "Why don't we go find the Emperor! The Emperor likes you so much, he will definitely protect you!"
"That won't work." Zhang Wanrou walked slowly, her brain working rapidly.
"This punishment today cannot be avoided. Furthermore, if we go to the Emperor without anything having happened, it will only make the Emperor think I am relying on his favor to be arrogant and ignorant of etiquette!"
"Then what should we do? Your body is so weak, if you are punished again..."
Zhang Wanrou's expression darkened, and she said softly, "Since it cannot be avoided, then let's take a gamble!"
Use a serious injury to trade for even deeper favor from the Emperor!
After deciding, Zhang Wanrou said no more, only leaning on Qing Ning as they walked along the empty, endless palace corridor, her fingers clenched into fists under her sleeves.
...
When the two arrived at Kunning Palace, the sky was already turning white, and there was less than half a stick of incense left before the deadline given by the Empress.
In other words, the two had arrived at Kunning Palace half a stick of incense early.
Zhang Wanrou let go of Qing Ning, endured the pain in her body, and bowed respectfully and earnestly toward the main hall of Kunning Palace, calling out, "Your subject Zhang Wanrou pays respects to the Empress!"
Not long after, an old nanny walked out from the side hall, wearing brown Shu brocade, with two silver hairpins in her hair, followed by two palace maids.
When she pursed her face, deep furrows appeared between her brows and on both sides of her nose, looking quite frightening.
"This old servant, Rong Gu, pays respects to Lady Jieyu."
The old nanny walked over, speaking words of respect, but her body did not bend at all.
Her eyes were slanted, and her voice was raised. This demeanor showed not a hint of respect; it was as if she were the mistress and Zhang Wanrou were a palace maid.
Qing Ning was dissatisfied with her attitude, but she knew that the status of people in this palace relied entirely on the favor of those in power.
Although her Lady Jieyu was favored, her rank was what it was. This Nanny Rong, although a palace maid, was a favorite by the Empress's side, a first-rank head nanny! Who in this harem didn't have to show her respect when they saw her?
Zhang Wanrou did not show any dissatisfaction on her face, only saying, "Nanny Rong, you are too kind. Your subject has come to pay respects to the Empress."
Nanny Rong nodded but had no intention of leading the way.
After a moment, she said, "The Empress heard that yesterday afternoon, the Emperor disregarded state affairs and spent time whispering and cuddling with Lady Zhang in the side hall of Yonghe Palace until nightfall before leaving... Is this true?"
The light in Zhang Wanrou's eyes dimmed. She immediately knelt and kowtowed, replying, "Please punish your subject, Empress! It was your subject who lacked a sense of propriety and pestered the Emperor, causing the Emperor to delay state affairs!"
Qing Ning, seeing this, knelt down as well.
A trace of disdain flashed in Nanny Rong's eyes, and she said indifferently, "So, Lady Zhang admits it?"
Zhang Wanrou kowtowed, "Your subject admits it! Please punish your subject, Empress!"
Nanny Rong brushed her sleeves, her tone becoming contemptuous, "Since that is the case, then Lady Zhang shall kneel here! Reflect well on how a palace consort should serve the Emperor!"
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