Chapter 517 - 425: Sister Fears She’s Made a Mistake as a Newcomer
Chapter 517: Chapter 425: Sister Fears She’s Made a Mistake as a Newcomer
"Serve... Your Majesty?"
Si Li’s fingers gently fiddled with the hem of her robes, her expression a mixture of anticipation, nervousness, and joy.
At this moment, Si Li was the very picture of a woman on the verge of succeeding in her ambitions, yet not daring to show it.
Empress Dowager Yan was very satisfied with Si Li’s reaction.
Empress Dowager Yan wasn’t afraid of Si Li having her own ideas; she was only afraid Si Li wouldn’t want to advance.
"That’s right. I want you to go serve His Majesty."
Empress Dowager Yan nodded, placing a hand on Si Li’s shoulder.
"You know as well as I do that not just anyone is qualified to serve His Majesty. Many Palace Maids can be in the Imperial Palace for ten years and never even catch a glimpse of him.
"One day, you might even receive His Majesty’s favor and become a Consort. It’s not impossible."
"This servant would not dare harbor such thoughts."
The moment Empress Dowager Yan finished speaking, Si Li scrambled to her knees, her expression one of extreme fear.
"What are you afraid of? Isn’t it normal to have such thoughts?" The corner of Empress Dowager Yan’s mouth curled up. "However, since I am sending you to serve His Majesty, I must also set some rules for you, lest you make a mistake."
"This servant will listen to the Empress Dowager," Si Li said hastily.
"First, after you go to Yangxin Hall to serve His Majesty, you must report to me everything he says, everything he does, and which noble lady’s chambers he visits in the future. Do you understand?"
Si Li’s eyes darted back and forth for a moment before she quickly agreed, "Yes, Empress Dowager. This servant understands."
"As for the second matter..."
Empress Dowager Yan glanced at Si Li, her eyes scanning her figure.
"You are quite pretty, and your figure is decent. Although His Majesty is currently pure of heart and few in desires, focusing on cultivating the Dao, he is still a young man full of vigor and Blood Qi. It’s hard to say what might happen if some vixen tries to seduce him."
As she spoke, Empress Dowager Yan’s tone grew colder, and a murderous glint flashed in her eyes.
"Before the Princess Consort becomes pregnant, if some vixen manages to win his favor first, it wouldn’t be too much to have that vixen flayed and her tendons pulled, now would it?"
"This servant wouldn’t dare!" Si Li lowered her head even further. "This servant is but a humble commoner. To be able to enter the Imperial Palace, and even to serve His Majesty, is a blessing bestowed by the Empress Dowager. This servant belongs to the Empress Dowager in life and will be her ghost in death. This servant only dares to take what the Empress Dowager gives. How could I dare to covet what is not given by you?"
"Indeed. Shuang’er was right, you are a very clever girl." Hearing Si Li’s reply, Empress Dowager Yan grew even more pleased. "Rise. Do not forget what you have said today."
"Yes." Si Li wiped the cold sweat from her brow and slowly stood up from the floor.
Empress Dowager Yan looked at a Palace Maid beside her. "Xuan Paper, take Si Li to His Majesty’s bedchambers."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." Xuan Paper curtsied.
Empress Dowager Yan smiled faintly and tucked a strand of Si Li’s hair behind her ear. "When you see His Majesty, just say that I specifically sent you to serve him. Remember?"
"Replying to the Empress Dowager, this servant remembers," Si Li said nervously.
"Go on." Empress Dowager Yan waved her hand dismissively.
"This servant takes her leave." Si Li curtsied, then followed Xuan Paper out of Lingxin Palace.
"Empress Dowager, hasn’t Prime Minister Yan already placed many spies around His Majesty? Why did you still..."
After everyone had left, Chief Eunuch Huang stepped forward and spoke softly.
"Those are my brother’s spies, not just mine. And those people only listen to my brother’s orders."
Empress Dowager Yan shook her head and sighed softly.
"It’s not that I don’t trust my brother, but... right now, the Qin Kingdom is meddling in our Great Zhou’s affairs, and the relationship between the Wanjian Sect and Shan Ao isn’t good either.
"The situation in the Zhou Kingdom is simply too complicated at the moment.
"As for my brother, he places far too much importance on power. I’m truly afraid that one day, he’ll be blinded by ambition and do something irreversible.
"Having someone of my own to keep an eye on things will give me some peace of mind."
...
Less than an hour later, the Palace Maid Xuan Paper brought Si Li to Yangxin Hall.
"This is His Majesty’s bedchamber. He should still be cultivating at the Wendao Platform right now. Just wait here for him to return," Xuan Paper told her.
"Thank you for showing me the way, Sister Xuan Paper," Si Li said politely.
Xuan Paper shot Si Li an envious and jealous glance. "Don’t think you can get a big head just because you’re serving His Majesty. Remember, you will always belong to the Empress Dowager, understand?"
"I understand, Sister Xuan Paper." Si Li kept her head lowered, as if she didn’t have a single bit of temper.
"Do your job well. Don’t disappoint the Empress Dowager."
With that final remark, Xuan Paper turned and left.
Watching Xuan Paper’s retreating back and recalling the words of the Great Zhou’s Empress Dowager, Si Li couldn’t help but smile.
’The Imperial Palace of this Mortal Dynasty is truly interesting.’
’It’s like everyone has a hundred schemes up their sleeve.’
Of course, Si Li didn’t take the Zhou Kingdom’s Empress Dowager and her ilk seriously.
But what surprised Si Li was that a new opportunity had unexpectedly appeared, giving her a chance to get close to the Sovereign of Zhou.
Si Li paced back and forth in the main courtyard of Yangxin Hall, waiting for the Sovereign of Zhou to return.
Several hours passed and the sky gradually darkened. The Sovereign of Zhou had not returned, but a few Palace Maids arrived at the bedchamber, chatting and laughing.
Seeing Si Li’s new face, they were both curious and warm.
The Palace Maids quickly struck up a conversation with Si Li in front of Yangxin Hall.
When they learned that this Palace Maid named "Si Li" had been sent by the Empress Dowager, their warmth was tinged with a great deal more respect.
And when they found out she was to be His Majesty’s personal Maid, a hint of envy was added to the mix.
Si Li, however, was still quite surprised.
’Logically speaking, serving a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. Even though the Sovereign of Zhou is a Puppet Emperor, he is still an Emperor. Shouldn’t the atmosphere in Yangxin Hall be the most oppressive and tense?’
’So why do these Palace Maids seem so relaxed?’
"Sisters, could you tell this little sister a bit about His Majesty?" Si Li asked softly. "I’m new here and afraid I’ll do something wrong."
"Just relax, Sister Si Li," a Palace Maid named Liu Mi said with a smile. "Here in Yangxin Hall, as long as you don’t do anything terribly wrong, His Majesty won’t punish you."
"Mhm, His Majesty is very kind. He even gives us pastries to eat sometimes," said another Palace Maid named Yang’er.
"That’s right, that’s right! His Majesty never beats or scolds us servants, and he’s so handsome." A Palace Maid named Yan’er nodded in agreement, but her head soon drooped, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. "It’s just a pity..."
A woman named Mi Mi quickly tugged on Yan’er’s sleeve to stop her from saying any more.
’Even though this Si Li is the Empress Dowager’s person, can I really talk openly about spying on His Majesty for Prime Minister Yan?’
"Anyway, just focus on taking good care of His Majesty, Sister Si Li. We’re all so envious of you," Mi Mi said, changing the subject.
"Yes, yes, what’s that saying? His Majesty is like a piece of jade, so gentle and warm."
Listening to their chatter, Si Li nodded with a smile.
Just as their conversation grew more animated, a eunuch’s high-pitched voice echoed into Yangxin Hall: "His Majesty arrives!"
"His Majesty is back! Quick, get in position."
Everyone immediately fell silent. The Palace Maid Yang’er pulled Si Li into one of two lines forming at the entrance to Yangxin Hall.
Before long, a man dressed in a Daoist Robe walked through the main gate.
The maids all called out in unison, "We respectfully welcome Your Majesty back to the palace."
"Mm."
Xiao Mo nodded and walked straight ahead.
The man’s indifferent voice echoed in Si Li’s ears, and a feeling both strange and familiar spread through her heart.
Si Li’s head snapped up, her gaze fixed on the man’s profile.