"Put it on," the person suddenly spoke, and Qin Jiujiu inexplicably felt a sense of oppression in the room.
"Thank you, Your Ladyship." She had no choice but to comply.
The person standing before her was the aunt who had led her into Yao Ju earlier. She was staring at Qin Jiujiu intently. Under her scorching gaze, Qin Jiujiu extended her hand, revealing a fair wrist.
The silver bell on her wrist suddenly emitted a faint silver light.
The woman seated on the throne's eyes flickered, and a dangerous glint appeared on her face.
Qin Jiujiu fastened the bracelet onto her other wrist, but the aunt in front of her suddenly grabbed her hand. "Yao Ju has strict rules. Such bells are inauspicious and cannot be worn!"
There was such a saying?
Xie Jing's words still echoed in her mind, but now she was in a difficult position and could not refuse.
"Please, Aunt, release my hand. Your servant will take it off immediately..."
The person with a dark expression finally let go.
Qin Jiujiu, with no other choice, removed the bell from her wrist.
She felt a strange sense of unease...
"You may withdraw," the person on the throne, who rarely spoke, had already closed her eyes. Qin Jiujiu obediently retreated.
But she couldn't wear her bell, which meant if something happened, she would lose her lifeline.
Her Qiankun Bag at her waist was still there, but it was a temporary solution. If she encountered that nine-tailed fox, these talismans would be useless.
Qin Jiujiu had to put the bell into her Qiankun Bag, intending to retrieve it only when in danger.
Fortunately, she had pleaded with Xie Jing for a long time before he agreed to remove the curse on the bell, allowing her to take it off freely. If she couldn't have removed it in front of that person earlier, it would have been problematic.
She had just arrived, and Xie Yun and the others likely didn't know yet. She hadn't even had time to tell them about what she had discovered. Therefore, Qin Jiujiu simply returned to her room, quickly wrote a letter, and then, under the guise of her duties, sent it to Xie Yun.
Fortunately, in this palace, money could solve many problems, which allowed her to deliver the letter so smoothly.
She figured that upon seeing the letter, Xie Yun would naturally investigate Yao Ju.
Ever since Xie Yun and Bai Qianluo had saved the Empress's life, they had become popular figures in the palace.
Especially with their exceptional looks, they had not only caught the attention of the palace maids but also that of the First Prince, who was at odds with the Crown Prince.
She figured they were now being courted by the First Prince...
Su Ming did not know if it was truly the person from the illusion, but Su Ming was aligned with the First Prince. Therefore, Xie Yun and Bai Qianluo must have already dealt with Su Ming.
As for Xie Jing, she wondered what he was busy with.
...
"Jiujiu, the Emperor is coming tonight, and Her Ladyship has specifically requested you to attend to him personally."
A strange young palace maid came to deliver the Consort's verbal order. Qin Jiujiu was busy in the small kitchen when she received the summons and had to rush to the main hall.
Because the Emperor was coming, even though it was still evening, everything was in a flurry of activity. Everyone in the main hall was busy cleaning and helping the Consort bathe and change.
"The Emperor has arrived!" Qin Jiujiu, along with others, attended to the Consort. After everything was tidied, the sky had completely darkened. They all waited in the hall for the announcement from outside.
When the Emperor arrived, everyone lowered their heads even further.
A figure in imperial yellow appeared at the entrance. Sheng Qi Kingdom revered imperial yellow; besides the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince, no one else could use this color.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Qin Jiujiu did not lift her eyes and knelt on the ground with everyone else.
"Rise..."
"Beloved consort, come here and let me have a good look at you..." the Emperor spoke, and everyone in the room stood up.
One by one, people filed out. Qin Jiujiu, however, remained standing as she was to attend to him closely.
Listening to his voice, it didn't sound like that of an old and frail person.
It was even somewhat low and hoarse, rather seductive...
"Your Majesty~" Ruoyao smiled charmingly, her voice inadvertently carrying a hint of playful teasing.
"Let's go inside and talk..."
The two entered, their voices gradually fading. The aunt beside Qin Jiujiu nudged her arm, and Qin Jiujiu quickly followed them into the inner chamber.
It was a table.
The two had already taken their seats. Qin Jiujiu stood to the side, stepping forward to serve them dishes.
"Yaoyao, I've been too busy these past few days, that's why I haven't seen you. Are you..."
"Your Majesty has probably been busy meeting with the Grand Preceptor, haven't you? You wouldn't have time to see your humble concubine..."
Her tone was laced with a woman's playful jealousy, but Qin Jiujiu fell into a memory.
This address, "Yaoyao," inexplicably reminded her of "Yaoyao."
"..."
"You all may leave..."
"Yes!"
Qin Jiujiu inexplicably felt Ruoyao glance at her. She couldn't help but steal a look at the two of them.
That person was clearly not the incompetent and degenerate emperor she had imagined.
And that face was not much different from the person in the Empress's dream. Aside from being older and possessing more maturity and steadiness, there were no other changes.
Why would such a person be obsessed with seeking immortality and eternal life?
"This is your reward money." It was the same aunt.
Qin Jiujiu stopped her work and quickly accepted it. It felt heavy in her hand.
"Consort is always generous. You attended her personally last night, so this is a reward from Her Ladyship. Everyone receives it..."
"Thank you, Your Ladyship." She humbly accepted the silver.
"Did you all hear? Chunmei has disappeared again. Wasn't she good friends with Xia'er? I heard that after Xia'er vanished, she became deranged..."
"..."
"This palace is extremely unsettled now, especially near Yao Ju. Accidents happen frequently. You must lock your doors and windows tightly at night..."
Behind the flower bed, Qin Jiujiu was crouching down, her movements halted.
Xie Yun had replied, stating that there was no anomaly in the Empress's palace.
It was likely that this demon was hidden in Yao Ju.
But where could it be?
As darkness deepened, Qin Jiujiu finished her duties and emerged from the main hall, heading back to her own courtyard.
"Meow~" A sudden sound came from behind her. Qin Jiujiu, startled, quickly turned around.
There was no movement behind her, only the sound of the wind. In this winter season, only the biting cold wind remained.
The night was thick and unyielding. Qin Jiujiu tightened her robes and quickened her pace forward.
The moment she turned around, a figure suddenly appeared before her.
It was a woman, wearing a white cloak, standing some distance away with her back to Qin Jiujiu.
...