You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

The Imperial City of Jinling.

After finishing his official duties for the day, Lu Zuo headed towards the inner palace.

He did not ride in the imperial carriage, but only accompanied by a few personal attendants. He walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying this rare moment of leisure, while his mind was still calculating the many details of the deployment of firearms and the training of the new army.

After passing through a moon gate, we arrived near a side hall called "Shuyu Pavilion".

This area is close to the Western Six Palaces and was mostly used to house concubines and female officials of lower rank, or, as it is now, to house former imperial relatives of special status.

The palace was not grand, but it was quite exquisitely built. The corridors were clean, and several late-blooming magnolias in the courtyard were exuding fragrance.

Lu Zuo's gaze swept casually across the area, but he didn't stop walking.

But when he caught a glimpse of the small square in front of Shuyu Pavilion, paved with blue bricks and half-hidden by trees, he paused slightly.

A hunched figure, dressed in the lowest-ranking gray-brown tunic worn by a lowly eunuch, was kneeling on the cold brick floor with his back to him.

In front of the man was a worn-out wooden bucket and a rag, and he was painstakingly wiping the grout lines on the floor inch by inch.

His movements were slow and clumsy, clearly indicating he was not used to this kind of work. Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, dancing on his gray hair and thin shoulders, but brought no warmth, instead highlighting a desolate loneliness.

It was Wanyan Dan.

Lu Zuo's gaze swept indifferently over the retreating figure.

Since the fall of the capital a year ago, this man was captured and subsequently "voluntarily" surrendered, making his existence a special and subtle symbol of the new dynasty.

On the way back from the north, in order to eliminate any future troubles and to thoroughly humiliate and control the person, Lu Zuo had already issued a secret order to find an opportunity to secretly deal with this person, removing the root of the trouble and turning him into a true palace servant.

After the capital was moved to Jinling, he was assigned to the lowest-ranking cleaning and chores job at Shuyuxuan.

This matter was done in secrecy, and very few people in the palace knew his true identity. They only knew him as a taciturn and somewhat dull old eunuch.

Even though he was a mediocre and incompetent emperor, he never personally spilled the blood of my Han people...

Lu Zuo sneered inwardly, his gaze icy. "You sit in that position, enjoying the wealth and resources plundered from the people by the Jin Kingdom. The illustrious military achievements of your Wanyan clan are built upon the blood and tears of countless Han people!"

The humiliation of Jingkang, the tears of blood in the Yellow River region, the flames of war in the Jianghuai region...

These countless blood debts, national and personal grievances—you are the highest banner and the greatest culprit!

How can you be let off so easily just because you are incompetent?

Killing you now would not benefit the overall situation and might even cause unnecessary trouble.

But while the death penalty may be avoided, punishment is inevitable.

To let you live like this, doing this most menial work day after day.

Being looked down upon and rebuked by his former subjects, even his bedmate, the last vestiges of dignity and respect a monarch possessed were utterly crushed in the daily grind...

This is the best way to commemorate and settle scores with you and with that bloody history.

He no longer looked at the figure wiping the floor, as if it were just an inconspicuous rock by the palace wall, about to take another step forward.

Just then, the carved screen door of the main hall of Shuyuxuan creaked open from the inside.

Several young women, dressed in palace gowns of various colors such as light green, pale yellow, and lotus root, with their hair neatly styled and adorned with fashionable silk flowers, gracefully walked out.

They were beautiful and moved with a light step, clearly having dressed up carefully.

Leading them were Tu Dan Yunxiu and Tang Kuo Wantang. The group had been chatting and laughing in hushed tones, their expressions relaxed, even displaying a certain reserve and satisfaction with their own appearance and demeanor, characteristic of women in the palace.

However, when they looked up and saw Lu Zuo standing not far away with his hands behind his back, the smiles on the women's faces froze instantly, then turned into surprise, fear and deep awe.

Almost instinctively and with practiced ease, they knelt down in unison before the palace gates, bowing gracefully, their voices a cacophony of sweet chatter:

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

The sound was clear and delicate, and it was particularly distinct in the quiet afternoon courtyard.

The commotion naturally alerted Wanyan Dan, who was engrossed in wiping the floor not far away.

His wiping motion abruptly froze, and his gray-brown back trembled violently.

He didn't dare turn around, but his fingers, gripping the damp, cold rag, tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white.

He can recognize those sounds!

Each of them had once been in his harem, obedient and flattering to him, addressing him as "Your Majesty" or "Your Majesty, Your Majesty"!

Tu Dan Yunxiu, Tang Kuo Wantang...

He seemed to be able to match up the others with him!

Now, they kneel before another man with such respect and even fawning, calling him "Long live the Emperor!"

An indescribable torrent, a mixture of extreme shame, sorrow, anger, and endless bitterness, instantly shattered his barely maintained numbness.

He kept his head down, almost burying his face in the cold, damp cracks between the bricks, wishing he could disappear immediately or die on the spot.

My body convulsed slightly from the extreme emotional impact.

Lu Zuo's gaze swept lightly over the kneeling beauties, their necks drooping gracefully white, their postures submissive and charming.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The women rose as instructed, still standing with their hands at their sides, but their eyes and brows involuntarily drifted toward Lu Zuo, filled with undisguised admiration, anticipation, and caution.

Tu Danyunxiu was the most astute. Seeing that Lu Zuo seemed to intend to stop, she quickly stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. You must be a little tired to have come here now."

"This servant has some newly harvested Lion Peak Longjing tea in the palace, and the tea is just warm. Would Your Majesty like to come in and sit for a while, enjoy some tea, and rest?"

Her tone was perfectly controlled, neither overly flattering nor lacking in concern or devotion.

Tang Kuo Wantang quickly echoed, his eyes sparkling: "Yes, Your Majesty, although there is shade outside, there is still wind."

"The palace is refreshing. We have just learned how to make tea and snacks in Jiangnan, and we are about to invite Your Majesty to taste them."

The other girls echoed in hushed tones, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Lu Zuo remained noncommittal, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the gray-brown figure frozen in the distance, before he took a step and walked towards the entrance of Shuyu Pavilion. "Very well."

The women were overjoyed and quickly stepped aside to make way for Lu Zuo as he entered.

As Tu Danyunxiu passed by Wanyan Dan, who was still kneeling at the door, his body stiff as a stone statue, she paused slightly, her delicate brows furrowing, a hint of undisguised disgust and impatience flashing in her eyes, and she hissed in a low voice:

"You clueless idiot!"

"His Majesty has arrived! Quickly fetch the celadon-glazed tea set from the tea room and brew tea again with spring water!"

"Hurry!"

"If you mess things up, you'll be in big trouble!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and cold, carrying the imperious air of a master towards a lowly servant. This voice was like a poisoned whip, lashing cruelly at Wanyan Dan's already wounded heart.

He trembled violently, letting out a short, sharp gasp. He abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Tu Danyunxiu, his gaze filled with boundless shock, grief, and...

Unbelievable pain.

Clouds and peaks...

Yunxiu, who used to be the most gentle and understanding in front of him, and who once played the zither and sang for him, now speaks to him with such eyes and such tone.

Should I have him...make tea?

However, when Tu Danyunxiu met his desperate and resentful gaze, she was not moved at all. Instead, she turned her face away in disgust, as if even looking at him would taint her eyes, and urged him on:

"Hurry up and go! What are you standing there for!"

When Wanyan Dan encountered the genuine, undisguised contempt and indifference in her eyes, his last shred of self-deception was shattered.

He seemed to have all his strength drained away; his wide eyes instantly dimmed, leaving only a deathly gray.

He lowered his head, mumbled a vague response that he couldn't even hear himself, and scrambled to his feet from the cold ground. He staggered because he had been kneeling for so long and was so emotional, before he could barely stand.

Then, hunched over, like a soulless puppet, he shuffled along, stumbling and staggering, toward the small teahouse to the side and behind.

Every step I took was on the wreckage of my self-esteem.

Lu Zuo had already seen the whole scene, but acted as if he hadn't seen it, and walked straight into the hall.

The interior of Shuyu Pavilion was elegantly and comfortably furnished, with a delicate fragrance of pear blossoms in the air. Lu Zuo casually sat down on a rosewood couch by the window.

The women who had been outside the hall immediately gathered around him eagerly. Tu Danyunxiu personally offered him a warm, damp towel to wash his hands, her movements gentle. Tang Kuo Wantang knelt on the brocade cushion in front of the couch, extending her slender fingers to massage Lu Zuo's calves with just the right amount of pressure.

Another woman brought over a small lacquered dish containing peeled and cored longan pulp, which she carefully fed to Lu's left lip with a silver skewer.

Another person stood behind him, gently massaging his shoulders and neck with a jade wheel.

The warbling of orioles and the soft fragrance of jade surrounded him.

Lu Zuo half-closed his eyes, enjoying their service, his expression relaxed.

These women were all once beauties carefully selected from the Jin Dynasty's palace. Now, in order to secure a stable place in the new dynasty's court, or even just a little bit of pity, they are doing everything in their power.

It brought out the ultimate in that gentleness and obedience that had been meticulously crafted by court rules.

Their methods may be clumsy, and their intentions may differ, but this cautious flattery and ingratiation is itself the most direct manifestation of the conqueror's authority.

The palace was filled with a warm fragrance, creating a romantic atmosphere. Occasionally, a woman's soft laughter or gentle whispers could be heard, asking His Majesty if his strength was appropriate.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the palace door was gently pushed open again.

Wanyan Dan lowered his head, holding a vermilion lacquered tray in both hands, on which was a set of sky-blue glazed porcelain tea set, with wisps of steam rising from the spout of the teapot.

His steps were unsteady. He walked five or six steps away from the couch, then dared not approach any closer. He knelt down straight, raised the tray high above his head, but his arm trembled slightly uncontrollably, causing the teacups to clink gently together, making a soft tinkling sound.

He stared intently at the smooth, mirror-like gold-brick floor before him, where the image of the couch was vaguely reflected:

He stared intently at the smooth, mirror-like gold-brick floor before him, where the image of the couch was vaguely reflected:

The figure in black leaned back lazily, while his concubines served him with various intimate gestures, massaging his legs, rubbing his shoulders, and feeding him...

And I, like the lowest of servants, kneel here, serving tea.

Every breath he took was filled with the stench of blood and the searing pain of humiliation. He felt an unprecedented sense of absurdity and desolation.

Is this the fate of a monarch who loses his country?

No, this is a thousand times more cruel than the imprisonment and killing recorded in history books!

This completely destroyed everything about him as a "human being".

"Your Majesty, the tea is here."

Tu Danyunxiu glanced at Wanyan Dan, who was kneeling, and spoke softly to Lu Zuo. Then she turned to Wanyan Dan and her tone turned icy.

"Bring it here now!"

"Why are you kneeling so far away?"

"He doesn't understand any rules!"

Wanyan Dan's body trembled again. He gritted his teeth, crawled two steps on his knees, and raised the tray even higher, almost touching the edge of the bed.

Tang Kuo Wantang reached for the teapot, first pouring a small amount into a small white porcelain cup. She tasted the temperature herself, finding it just right, and then carefully filled a celadon-glazed conical cup to about seven-tenths full. She presented it to Lu Zuo with both hands, smiling sweetly.

"Your Majesty, please try it. Is the water temperature and color of the tea to your liking?"

Lu Zuo took it, gently blew on the floating leaf, took a sip, and said lightly, "It's alright."

These two simple words made Tu Danyunxiu, Tangkuo Wantang and others' eyes light up, as if they had received a great praise, and they served them even more attentively.

Wanyan Dan, still holding the tray high and kneeling on the cold ground, felt that the simple comments and the women's joy were like red-hot iron spikes, repeatedly piercing his already numb heart.

The hall was warm and fragrant. The women's soft voices and Lu Zuo's occasional low replies blended into a blurry yet jarring noise, isolating him from the outside world and nailing him to the pillar of shame.

His vision blurred, and he almost fainted, but he could only rely on his last bit of instinct to hold onto the tray and maintain this extremely humiliating posture.