Mingyue lay on the bed, not daring to breathe, for fear of scaring the assassin away.
But the assassin didn't come, seeming to stop by the table, and then the sound of bowls and plates could be heard.
Mingyue was confused, what was going on?
Driven by curiosity, she carefully turned over.
Squinting, she peeked.
Then she sat up in bed and sighed, it was a misunderstanding.
She had mistaken the person bringing food for an assassin. How much did she want to die?
"The Princess is awake!
Yanliu greets Your Highness the Princess! I wish the Princess good health."
The person who came was not an assassin at all, but Yanliu, a lowly palace maid from the Imperial Kitchen whom she had saved.
"You called me Princess?"
Four dishes and one soup were placed on the table, all in the style of Wu Man cuisine.
Mingyue was already hungry and pounced on the food, tearing off a chicken leg and taking a fierce bite.
Chewing the chicken, she asked indistinctly, almost choking.
"Your Majesty the Empress, please forgive me. I only now realized this violates palace rules.
I spoke out of turn in my joy at seeing the Princess. I shall not do so again!"
Seeing Mingyue choke, Yanliu was about to serve her soup.
Upon hearing Mingyue's question, she was immediately frightened and knelt on the ground, like a startled rabbit.
"Get up quickly, why are you so timid?
I like it when you call me Princess, and I'm not blaming you.
Are you from Wu Man? How did you end up as a palace maid in Langyue's imperial palace?"
Mingyue gently helped Yanliu up with one hand, comforting her softly.
Being far from home, meeting a fellow countrywoman eased Mingyue's homesickness.
"Replying to Your Highness, my ancestral home is Cangcheng in Wu Man, and I am a native of Wu Man.
When I was ten, I came to Yuecheng with my parents to do business.
A year ago, my parents fell gravely ill and passed away.
I sold myself into servitude to bury my parents, and eventually, I was sold into the palace.
I dare not forget my roots, which is why I call you Princess, because I am your subject!
I promise I will not make such a mistake again!"
Yanliu hurriedly explained, fearing Mingyue would be displeased.
"What's wrong with calling me Princess? It's been a long time since anyone called me that.
It makes me feel less lonely. From now on, call me Princess.
If anyone troubles you for this, I will stand up for you. I like hearing it.
Your name is Yanliu, right? Why did you want to bring me food?
Do you want to come and work in Lanyue Palace? All my servants have run away, and I need people."
Knowing Yanliu's background, Mingyue's heart stirred.
Yanliu was from Wu Man, and she seemed approachable, more pleasing to the eye than the servants assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
So Mingyue tentatively tried to recruit Yanliu to Lanyue Palace.
"Replying to Your Highness, we are deeply grateful to Your Highness for your protection during the day. The entire Imperial Kitchen is indebted to you.
At dinner time today, all the palaces had already collected their meals, but no one came for Lanyue Palace.
Steward Feng feared Your Highness would go hungry, so he wanted someone from the Imperial Kitchen to deliver the meal.
However, everyone was busy, so I volunteered to come.
Your Highness saved my life. It is my greatest fortune to be able to serve Your Highness.
I am naturally willing to work in Lanyue Palace.
However, palace servants are assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I dare not act on my own."
Watching Mingyue eat ravenously, Yanliu obediently served soup and dishes by her side.
With her head bowed, she replied to Mingyue's questions.
"Everyone is busy? Are they afraid I'll kill them and dare not come?
Don't make excuses for them. I'm glad you're willing to come to Lanyue Palace.
What Ministry of Internal Affairs? I've already dismantled the Imperial Household Department, so why would I care about a mere Ministry of Internal Affairs?
You can stay here today and don't need to go back.
Tomorrow morning, I will take you to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to change your assignment.
Anyone who dares to object, I will kill them."
Mingyue was self-aware. After today's events, her fierce reputation should have spread throughout the harem.
But she didn't care. What did it have to do with her? She wasn't really going to be the Empress.
So she downed a bowl of soup and declared domineeringly.
Thus, Yanliu stayed in Lanyue Palace and did not return to the Imperial Kitchen.
This girl, though appearing delicate, was truly capable. After Mingyue finished eating, she cleared the dishes,
boiled water for tea, tidied the bedchamber, prepared bathwater, and attended to Mingyue's washing. She worked as hard as ten people.
Watching Yanliu busy herself like a spinning top,
Mingyue felt that the originally cold bedchamber now had a human touch.
She yawned and fell into a deep sleep.
"Princess, it's time to get up. I'll help you wash up.
I've already brought the breakfast. Steward Feng said
that he is happy for me to serve Your Highness in Lanyue Palace.
He instructed me to take good care of you.
There are no issues with the Imperial Kitchen, as long as we change the assignment at the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Yanliu seemed very happy as she entered with a basin of hot water.
Seeing Yanliu's smiling face, Mingyue's mood also improved.
After the mistress and servant had breakfast, Yanliu led them straight to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Eunuch Chen, the steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was scratching his head. He had been recuperating outside the palace.
But he was summoned back by the Emperor late last night.
He was only told to not arrange any servants for Lanyue Palace for the time being before being dismissed.
His head was full of questions. Upon returning to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he learned that
during his illness, the acting steward, Granny Wang, had been killed by the Empress.
It happened in Cining Palace, in front of the Empress Dowager.
Furthermore, all the servants in Lanyue Palace had been transferred to other palaces.
Now, there were no servants listed for Lanyue Palace in the archives.
His subordinates also informed him about the dismantling of the Imperial Household Department.
Eunuch Chen was overwhelmed. He didn't understand the Emperor's intention.
Was it to punish the Empress by not assigning servants to Lanyue Palace?
But if Lanyue Palace had no staff, the Empress would eventually come to him for an explanation.
Given the Empress's ferocity, would she kill him directly? Eunuch Chen was in a dilemma.
"Steward, bad news! The Empress is heading towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
What should we do? Should we close the doors and hide?"
A young eunuch guarding the gate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs saw Mingyue from afar.
He scrambled in, terrified, to inform Eunuch Chen.
Yesterday, Mingyue had executed Granny Wang, splattering blood in Cining Palace, causing chaos in the Imperial Kitchen, and leveling the Imperial Household Department.
In just one day, she had become the dreaded "Six Palaces Fiend" and "Murderous Demon King," feared by all.
Everyone avoided her, fleeing at the mere sight of her.
Now that she was coming to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the young eunuch was naturally terrified.
"You little rascal, what are you shouting about? The Empress is the ruler of the Six Palaces.
If she comes to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, do you dare to close the doors? And try to escape? You're courting death.
Quickly inform everyone in the department to prepare to welcome the Empress."
Eunuch Chen kicked the young eunuch. He himself was trembling with fear, but he braced himself and went to the entrance to welcome Mingyue.
"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress! We wish the Empress good health!"
More than a dozen people, from the steward to the eunuchs working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
all knelt at the entrance, trembling, and greeted Mingyue.
"You may rise. Are you the one in charge?"
Mingyue, with Yanliu in tow, strolled into the Ministry of Internal Affairs and asked Eunuch Chen, who had risen and followed them, "Are you the one in charge?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this old servant's surname is Chen, and I am indeed the steward of this Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Eunuch Chen, in his fifties, had his back bent at a ninety-degree angle since rising. He replied respectfully.
"Bold servant! As the steward of Lanyue Palace, you are responsible for the dispatch of servants within the palace.
Lanyue Palace had no servants on duty yesterday. Do you know your crime?"
Mingyue sat down, slammed the table, and shouted.
Eunuch Chen immediately knelt on the ground, his mind racing, "Should I betray the Emperor?"