You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

I watched his retreating figure kneeling on the ground in the distance.

Chu Nianci felt nothing. He deserved it all; he deserved to provoke him and His Majesty.

She had said when she entered the palace that day that they would be like strangers from now on, and would not interfere with each other's affairs.

She really couldn't understand why this person was still bothering her after she had already entered the palace.

I've never seen this guy show any signs of paranoia in my past life.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Nianci walked past him with her head held high.

Lin Jingrui looked up and froze: "Nianci? You... what are you doing here?"

That's right, this guy doesn't even know he's been transferred to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Nianci didn't respond, not even glancing at him, and led the palace maid Tuanyuan toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Lin Jingrui only snapped out of his astonishment when the two men passed by him.

He was initially surprised, but then he saw that she was dressed as a palace maid. His heart felt like a jar of spices had been overturned, a mixture of all sorts of emotions.

Just now, he had been pestering her, saying that she wouldn't get past him.

But when he turned around, he found himself kneeling there in a disheveled state.

Watching her retreating figure felt like a slap across my face.

However, Lin Jingrui quickly comforted himself.

How could she blame herself? There was no one in charge of the household, and her mother had fallen ill. She had hoped to entrust the household affairs to Shunqing, but unexpectedly, her face was slapped so badly that she was too ashamed to even show her face, let alone manage the household.

How could my mother manage such a huge mess? She worked day and night, and her illness relapsed after only a few days.

He had no medicine to dispel wind, so how could he invite the imperial physician to his residence? If she hadn't made such a mess of his home, how could he have invited the imperial physician? Such a big thing happened in the palace, and no one was on duty.

If... she came back to me, I wouldn't be in such a mess.

A surge of regret mixed with resentment suddenly welled up inside him. He wanted to beg her to come back, but what came out of his mouth was: "So this is what you begged for back then?"

Chu Nianci paused for a moment, but ignored it and continued walking forward.

Seeing this, Lin Jingrui sneered a few times, his voice neither loud nor soft: "Although I am the heir to two families, I have ultimately granted you the position of principal wife... His Majesty has three palaces and six courtyards. Even if you are transferred to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and don't have to be an old palace maid, look at yourself. You have no family background, no support, so what makes you think you can compete with others? Nianci, if you regret it, I can beg His Majesty, as long as you still have me in your heart."

That last sentence came like a gust of wind.

Even the eunuchs guarding the palace gate in the distance quietly raised their heads and looked this way.

Chu Nianci knew she couldn't ignore this.

She slowly turned around and walked back step by step, her gaze calm: "Lin Jingrui, for the sake of His Majesty, I'll tell you this: that position of principal wife was not something you 'promised' to me; I bought it with my dowry. It was nothing more than a transaction between us. Since you've abandoned me, why should I keep you in my heart?"

She paused briefly, her gaze sharp and cold as she looked at him: "Furthermore, I am not a servant, but a 'wise concubine' personally selected by His Majesty to enter the palace."

These words were spoken clearly and plainly, and were meant for the ears of those around them to hear.

What kind of place is the Hall of Mental Cultivation?

Where are ears not growing, on the wall or by the window?

She deliberately brought up the Empress, hoping that Lin Jingrui would use his brain, think about his sister, and stop talking recklessly and dragging His Majesty into it.

But Lin Jingrui seemed not to listen at all, instead scoffing, "So what if you've been granted a title? You're just one of the three thousand women in His Majesty's harem. Are you so greedy for wealth and glory?"

Chu Nianci was so angry she almost laughed.

Is this person really crazy?

Who are you trying to disgust by saying these things?

Saying such things in a place, does it mean you think life is too comfortable?

She slightly raised her chin and looked directly at him: "Yes."

"I'd rather be one of the three thousand women in the harem, even if I'm just a palace maid for the rest of my life, than follow you."

"Why?" Lin Jingrui stared wide-eyed, his face full of confusion and resentment.

"Because His Majesty is open and honest," Chu Nianci raised her voice, "he never thought of cheating me out of my dowry while betraying his promise and humiliating me."

Her voice drifted gently on the cold wind through the empty palace, exceptionally clear.

On one hand, he flattered His Majesty, and on the other hand, he harshly criticized this brainless fellow.

They were practically pointing their fingers at him and calling him a hypocrite.

Lin Jingrui blushed instantly, and muttered after a moment of silence, "You're just being stubborn with Shunqing. You still have me in your heart. One day you'll regret this."

Chu Nianci didn't even glance at Lin Jingrui. "It's not a good thing for a person to be too self-righteous."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and led Tuanyuan up the golden steps in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Lin Jingrui knelt on the spot, his face turning red and white in turns, and ultimately he did not say another word.

Chu Nianci walked straight to the outside of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

She could have gone directly to the back to report to the head nanny, but she changed her mind... she had to go to the palace first to thank the emperor.

The difference between this in and out is significant.

First, I express my gratitude. In the future, I hope to receive more care and be assigned a good palace room when I am assigned a palace.

Upon reaching the palace gate, Tuanyuan quietly slipped a piece of silver into the hand of the young eunuch on duty: "Young eunuch, please inform him that our Consort Hui has been summoned to His Majesty's presence today by special decree, and wishes to express her gratitude."

The little eunuch flicked his finger, his face immediately beaming with a smile, and turned to go inside to announce the news.

Not long after, Eunuch Jingxi lifted the curtain and came out, telling Tuanyuan to wait outside. He only glanced at Chu Nianci before leading her into the hall.

The hall was warm and cozy, with a faint, lingering fragrance of wild herbs.

On one wall of display cabinets, a dazzling array of precious jade artifacts gleamed with a warm glow. Opposite them was a wall full of books, exuding a faint scent of ink. Duanmu Qingyu sat behind a large rosewood table, holding a book that resembled both a memorial to the throne and a book, intently reading it.

Chu Nianci knelt down from a distance, only able to make out a blurry outline of the emperor.

Duanmu Qingyu, dressed in casual clothes, leaned against the dragon throne.

The vast hall was quiet, with only the faint scent of ambergris wafting from the incense burner.

The Emperor didn't speak, and she didn't dare to utter a sound either, unsure how much of what was said outside the palace he had heard.

I felt a little apprehensive.

For a moment, the only sound was the occasional rustling of pages turning.

After a long while, Duanmu Qingyu finally reached for the teacup.

But after taking only one sip, his brows furrowed slightly.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch Jingxi quickly went to the palace maid serving tea and gestured for her to brew another cup.

The palace maid was only fifteen or sixteen years old. She hurriedly went to the tea set and started to make tea in a flustered manner. As a result, she accidentally knocked over the tea set and spilled tea on half of her skirt.

"You idiot, why are you being so clumsy?" Jingxi scolded in a low voice.

The young palace maid trembled with fear, fell to her knees with a thud, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Enough." Duanmu Qingyu's clear voice came from behind the desk. "The more you talk to her, the more flustered she gets. Don't I have someone here who knows how to make tea?"

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Chu Nianci, and his lips moved slightly, revealing his snow-white teeth.

Chu Nianci was slightly taken aback, then quickly replied "Yes," and walked over to the tea set.

The tea set looked as if it were solidified from clear water, carved from jade, and was lustrous and shiny.

Holding it in your hands, it feels like a pool of clear water.

She composed herself and began to prepare the tea.

In fact, she had noticed earlier that the Emperor's clear voice was slightly hoarse, probably due to the fatigue from the selection of concubines. She couldn't help but steal a glance at the Emperor's face.

But seeing a hint of illness in Duanmu Qingyu's brows, Jingxi opened a black gold box and offered him a pill.

After taking the medicine, Duanmu Qingyu frowned and sighed, "This medicine is too bitter; the taste is truly nauseating."

Suddenly, he couldn't help but cough a few times, his throat twitched.

Jingxi quickly picked up the spittoon from the side, and Duanmu Qingyu turned to the side and gagged a few times before she managed to vomit the medicine.

After coughing a few times, he calmly lay back down, breathing slightly. Sweat flowed down his fair skin, making it as smooth as jade. His dark hair was wet and stuck to his sword-like eyebrows. His eyebrows and eyes were deep and beautiful, like a masterpiece of jade carving, so beautiful that he seemed otherworldly.

Seeing him cough again, Chu Nianci understood. No wonder he left so early in his previous life.

Perhaps she had already fallen ill by then, but unfortunately I couldn't go up and take her pulse.

I don't know what illness he has.

I had no choice but to look at the several types of tea I had prepared and specifically chose "Lung-Nourishing Bee Tea," which can moisturize the lungs, remove dampness, quench thirst, and relieve bitterness.

In just a few breaths, she lowered her head and steadily offered the teacup: "Your Majesty, please have some tea."

Duanmu Qingyu took the cup, took a small sip, paused, and felt the fragrance linger in her mouth. Unconsciously, the bitterness of the medicine in her mouth had completely disappeared, and she slowly drank the cup of tea to the end.

He slightly raised his phoenix eyes, a hint of approval flashing across them.

In fact, he had already heard those words spoken outside the hall.

He had already clearly bestowed a title upon her, yet Lin Jingrui still dared to say such things.

It's not as simple as spying on the emperor's heart; it's downright treasonous.

However, he wasn't in a hurry.

These scores can be settled later.

Looking at the young woman before him, he felt that the words "His Majesty is open and honest" resonated deeply with him.

Tea is like a person: clear yet not bland, rich yet not overpowering. Its subtlety is evident in every detail. Keeping it by your side is not only pleasing to the eye but also soothing and refreshing.

I wanted another drink.

One might recall that a gentleman drinks one cup to savor, two cups to drink, and three cups are merely commonplace.

Not wanting her to think he had a strong appetite, Duanmu Qingyu coughed lightly and asked, "What's your name?"

"Your Majesty, my surname is Chu, and my given name was given to me by my mother. I read it as 'Remembering Words' every day."

"Nianci... the meaning of your name is quite good. And since your surname is Chu, it's clear your mother is a well-educated and reasonable person," Duanmu Qingyu put down his teacup. "In that case, you shall stay by my side and serve as a tea-serving maid."

Chu Nianci regained his composure and immediately knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

At that moment, the curtain rustled, and a tall, elderly eunuch bowed and stepped forward to the emperor, announcing, "Your Majesty... Her Majesty the Empress requests an audience."