“This subject knows and will handle this person well. She will be sent back to where she came from,” said Madam Fu.

  No matter how unwilling she was to leave the palace, Lian Yi was still taken away by Madam Fu.

  As soon as they left, Ning Shu told Qiu Ling, “Consort Zhuang had been ill for a few days. Let us go see her.”


  “Yes.”


  Ning Shu went to the Moonlight Palace to visit Consort Zhuang. Consort Zhuang was eating melon seeds and her complexion seemed pretty good.

  “Your Majesty.” Consort Zhuang hurriedly bowed to Ning Shu.

  Ning Shu pretended not to notice and said, “I’m.”


  “This consort’s heart still feels stuffy,” Consort Zhuang said, covering her heart.

  “I brought you some medicine. Remember to take it,” Ning Shu said, pursing her lips.

  “Yes, this consort will remember to take medicine on time,” Consort Zhuang said, nodding.

  Ning Shu picked up a few melon seeds from the fruit tray and started snacking. She then asked, “Did Attendant Zhou come to greet you?”


  “Your Majesty, this consort isn’t trying to instigate a fight but, since Attendant Zhou arrived at the Moonlight Palace, she hasn’t come to greet this consort despite this consort being the master of this palace!” Consort Zhuang said, very excitedly.

  “Sit down and drink some water.” Ning Shu pointed to the stool. “It’s just a ceremony, no need to mind it.”


  Consort Zhuang sat down and said, “How could this be? One’s position determines one’s noble status. If in the future, a consort saw the empress and didn’t show any proper respect then the harem would be in complete disarray.”


  Ning Shu nodded. “You’re right.”


  “Empress, Consort Zhuang. Attendant Zhou from the Jade Court has come to give her greetings,” the palace maid said as she walked in.

  “Let her in.” Ning Shu put the melon seeds in her hands back on the fruit tray.

  “Hurry up and clean this up,” Consort Zhuang ordered the maid.

  Ning Shu almost didn’t recognize Attendant Zhou when she came in. She was wearing her hair properly and her bun was neatly combed.

  There were strict regulations on the style of fabrics and hair jewelry in the palace; each class had no choice but to wear the clothes of their class, and what kind of hairstyle went with which headgear was also clearly defined.

  According to the rules, a third-class female attendant of the seventh rank would have a much shabbier outfit when compared to the other concubines.

  Attendant Zhou was followed by Mama Li. Mama Li was dressed in dark clothes and had a serious, wrinkled face. It was almost daunting. She looked like a tiger woman.

  Maybe it was only Ning Shu’s imagination but she felt like Attendant Zhou was walking strangely. Her steps were very small, almost like she was wearing a kimono.

  The old ladies of the palace were truly skilled trainers.

  Attendant Zhou’s face used to be fair and ruddy, but now she was very pale and her jaw was sharp. What happened?

  Attendant Zhou stiffly curtsied towards Ning Shu and Consort Zhuang. “This attendant pays her respects to the Empress and Consort Zhuang.”


  Her salute was like a machine’s. Very precise, but also very rigid.

  As she curtsied, Attendant Zhou watched Mama Li from the corner of her eyes. To her relief, Mama Li looked satisfied.

  All she could do was pray to see the emperor soon.

  This Mama Li was horrible. She tormented her in the name of teaching her etiquette.

  Attendant Zhou was in constant pain. Her entire body was sore and she was still forced to curtsy countless times every day by this twisted woman.

  She suspected the old woman’s sadism was caused by a combination of never having married and an endocrine disorder.

  In the past few days of house arrest, Attendant Zhou finally saw the truth. Men were all trash and she’d been dumped. After playing with her, he never came to find her again.

  Translator: Kaho