Chapter 516 - 424: What If You Were to Serve His Majesty?
Chapter 516: Chapter 424: What If You Were to Serve His Majesty?
The Zhou Royal Palace.
Si Li was training with the other new Palace Maids at the Bureau of Ceremonies.
Si Li held a curtsy, remaining perfectly still.
A bowl of water was balanced on each of their heads.
Anyone who spilled their bowl would be punished.
After a quarter of an hour, many of the Palace Maids’ legs were trembling, and the bowls on their heads were wobbling precariously.
But Si Li was as steady as a statue, not moving an inch.
Even the Female Official in charge of the training, let alone the other Palace Maids, was secretly amazed. She thought this girl named "Si Li" was truly exceptional.
Si Li ignored the stares from her peers.
Her mind, however, was still on the events of last night.
’The death of the Sky-horned Mosquito is a small matter. It wasn’t a particularly valuable Spirit Beast.’
’The real problem is that crazy woman.’
’Honestly, I have no idea how I provoked her. She just came after me and Wangxin for no reason. I don’t even know her.’
’And now, not only is she in the Imperial Palace, she’s even appeared in the Sovereign of Zhou’s bedchambers.’
’What is her relationship with the Sovereign of Zhou? Why would she be in his bedchambers?’
’One is a Great Cultivator at the peak of the Immortal Realm, at least. The other is just an Emperor of a small Mortal Dynasty.’
’Logically, their paths should never have crossed...’
’Forget it. There’s no use thinking about this now.’
Si Li sighed internally and reined in her thoughts.
’Whatever the relationship between that crazy woman and the Sovereign of Zhou is...’
’Since she found the Sky-horned Mosquito, she must be suspicious.’
’She might already be secretly investigating the Zhou Royal Palace.’
’For the time being, I should just lay low and act cautiously.’
’As for how to get the Sovereign of Zhou’s blood, I’ll figure that out after things have cooled down.’
Having organized her thoughts, Si Li decided to simply be a proper Palace Maid for a while and not wander around.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
With the wedding of the Sovereign of Zhou and his two future Imperial Consorts drawing closer, the Imperial Palace grew increasingly lively.
But Si Li had no interest in any of it.
In contrast, she was finding that being a Palace Maid in a Mortal Dynasty was certainly not easy.
At first, she had only learned etiquette and practiced various courtesies.
But gradually, the Female Officials of the Bureau of Ceremonies began teaching Si Li and the others how to fold and wash clothes, brew tea, and so on...
The Female Officials even brought out numerous Erotic Paintings to explain the matters of the bedchamber.
Looking at the Erotic Paintings and hearing about these "matters between men and women" for the first time, many of the Palace Maids blushed.
They were excited and expectant, yet also a little wistful.
They knew they were learning these things so they could better serve His Majesty, should they be favored by him in the future.
But the question was, how many Palace Maids ever actually received His Majesty’s favor?
How many of them would simply endure a lonely life in the Imperial Palace until they reached a certain age and were sent away?
Becoming a Female Official was the best fate most of them could hope for.
「Five days later.」
It had now been twenty-one days since Si Li entered the Imperial Palace.
And today, the training for Si Li and the other new Palace Maids would come to an end.
「On this day.」
Some Palace Maids were assigned to the laundry, some to the Imperial Kitchen, and others to the artisan workshops.
Those who had performed exceptionally well during training were assigned to the palaces of the two future consorts.
These Maids were the happiest of all.
After all, His Majesty would surely favor the consorts in the future and would frequently visit their palaces.
That meant they would be able to see His Majesty often.
’What if, on a whim, His Majesty decided to favor one of us?’
It wasn’t impossible.
And even if His Majesty didn’t take a liking to them, serving the two consorts was still better than washing clothes and cooking every day.
Soon, the Palace Maids who had received their assignments were led away one by one.
Only Si Li was left standing in place.
The Female Official in charge of assignments was chatting with another Female Official in the distance.
Their gazes drifted toward Si Li from time to time.
Si Li’s heart began to beat faster.
’Has my identity been exposed?’ she wondered.
Si Li was already prepared.
’If I’ve been found out, I’ll drop the act and fight my way out of the Imperial Palace.’
’So what if he’s a Sword Cultivator in the Ascension Realm?’
’If I want to leave, even a Sword Cultivator of the Ascension Realm can’t stop me that easily!’
"You’re Si Li, correct?"
After half an incense stick’s time, the unfamiliar Female Official walked up to Si Li.
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Si Li curtsied.
"Mm." The unfamiliar Female Official nodded, looking Si Li up and down. "My name is Liu Shi. I am a Female Official from the Empress Dowager’s palace. I heard from Shuang’er that you are the most outstanding among this new batch of girls. Come, follow me to the Empress Dowager’s residence."
"The Empress Dowager’s residence?" Si Li said, surprised.
The Female Official, Liu Shi, smiled. "What? Are you unwilling?"
"Of course not," Si Li said quickly. "To be able to serve the Empress Dowager is a blessing accumulated by my ancestors. For such a blessing to fall upon me, how could I possibly be unwilling?"
"It’s good that you know. However, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to stay with the Empress Dowager. Well, there’s no point in saying more. Follow me."
Liu Shi turned and walked out of the courtyard.
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Putting on a look of anxious reverence, Si Li hurried to follow.
「Three quarters of an hour later...」
「Lingxin Palace...」
"Your servant, Si Li, pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."
Standing before Empress Dowager Yan, Si Li curtsied, her expression a mixture of nervousness and flattered surprise.
"Mm." Empress Dowager Yan nodded. "Raise your head. Don’t keep it bowed."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." Si Li slowly lifted her head.
As Empress Dowager Yan sized Si Li up, Si Li was also observing her.
In Si Li’s eyes, although Empress Dowager Yan was forty years old, she was very well-preserved. She showed no signs of aging and even possessed a mature charm that ordinary women lacked.
"You’re fair of face and have a decent figure. Your every move is graceful and composed."
Empress Dowager Yan nodded in satisfaction as she appraised Si Li.
"I hear you also know poetry and songs?"
"Your servant wouldn’t dare claim to know them. I have only learned the barest surface," Si Li said quickly.
"Mm, you know to keep a low profile. Good, very good."
Empress Dowager Yan retracted her gaze and smiled at her.
"I must say, I am now quite tempted to keep you here in Lingxin Palace. But... there is a better place. Would you like to go?"
"There is no place better than serving the Empress Dowager," Si Li replied.
"Heheheh..."
Empress Dowager Yan laughed.
"Quite a clever girl.
But you spoke those pretty words too soon.
What if I were to say...
that I want you to go and serve His Majesty?"