Chapter 7: Getting a Maid

This light chuckle caused Qiu Liyue, whose thoughts had wandered elsewhere, to snap back to reality. She gave a slight bow to the two of them and then attempted to bypass them to continue forward.

Unexpectedly, Ye Liuyun took a step to the left, blocking Qiu Liyue's path once again.

"Does Young Master have any instructions?" Qiu Liyue looked up at Ye Liuyun and asked.

Ye Liuyun said nothing, merely gesturing with his eyes toward Nalan Xuan. Nalan Xuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. *This kid—whenever someone needs to be offended, it's always my turn. You never think to involve me in the good things.*

Nalan Xuan looked left and right, then lowered his voice and said, "Qiu Liyue, you jumped into the Azure Wave Pool yourself, didn't you?"

*Was I seen?* Qiu Liyue glanced at the two of them. Although Nalan Xuan phrased it as a question, his tone was extremely certain. Since her goal had already been achieved, she figured it didn't matter if she was seen.

"Yes!" Qiu Liyue answered extremely bluntly.

This time, it was the two facing her who were stunned. They had expected her to deny it vehemently, to cry out her innocence, or to burst into tears; they never expected such an answer.

"Why?" Nalan Xuan couldn't help but blurt out.

"Too many clothes, too hot weather!" Once again, Qiu Liyue's words were shocking!

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" Nalan Xuan was clearly choked by his own saliva, coughing incessantly. Ye Liuyun, however, felt a surge of amusement spreading in his heart, and the corners of his lips curled upward involuntarily.

Qiu Liyue glanced at the two of them again. Confirming they had no serious business, she stepped past them. This time, no one blocked her.

Watching Qiu Liyue walk further and further away, the smile on Ye Liuyun's face finally bloomed like a flower. Nalan Xuan struggled for a long time to stop his coughing.

Gazing ahead, Qiu Liyue had already been pulled by An Xiaoman, who had rushed out from a side angle, toward a hanging flower gate.

"Attendants greet the Young Lady!" As soon as they entered the main hall, four palace maids bowed in unison to Qiu Liyue.

Qiu Liyue froze for a moment, glancing at the smiling An Xiaoman standing to the side and the kindly-faced Empress. *What is this situation?*

"What are you dazing off for? My Empress Aunt personally selected these for you. Even princes and princesses might not get this treatment. Hurry up and express your gratitude!" An Xiaoman dragged out the words "personally," curling her lip. She had never seen someone so oblivious. Although her tone was unkind, the hint of a smile in the corners of her eyes showed she was truly happy for Qiu Liyue.

Some people are just strange like that; upon meeting, it is as if they are already as familiar as can be, instantly walking into each other's hearts.

"Thank you for the Empress's grace!" Qiu Liyue hurriedly expressed her thanks, then pursed her lips and looked at the Empress with a hint of difficulty, whispering, "Does my mother know about this?"

"Sigh!" The Empress sighed. "You silly child, you are an adult now. You can make your own decisions!" She wondered how Yun Ruo taught this child every day; it was difficult for her. She would just do a little more herself, treating it as a way to pave a path for Can'er in the future.

Thinking of this, the Empress spoke again, "Rest assured, I will order someone to inform them immediately. They will not make things difficult for you."

"Thank you, Empress!" This time, Qiu Liyue truly beamed with joy. This was truly like someone bringing a pillow just as she was getting sleepy. She had been planning to return and spend some effort picking two people from the Moon Courtyard to train slowly, but now a ready-made solution had been delivered, solving one of her major problems.

The Empress looked at the woman before her, whose eyes were like crescent moons and stars, and who possessed shallow dimples. She looked so much like her; no wonder the Emperor was so attentive. She only wondered what the Emperor's plans were. Over the past two years, the Emperor's intentions had become increasingly difficult to fathom.

Qiu Liyue turned her gaze to her four palace maids. "What are your names?"

"Please grant us names, Young Lady!" the four said in unison.

Qiu Liyue was even more delighted. To ask her to grant names meant that these four would henceforth belong only to her, having no further connection to anyone else, including the Imperial Palace!

Qiu Liyue lowered her head in brief contemplation and then said, "The blue of your collar, the longing in my heart. From now on, your names shall be Qingqing, Zijin, Youyou, and Xin'er."

Upon exiting the Empress's Jingren Palace, An Xiaoman kept whispering to Qiu Liyue that her Empress Aunt and Imperial Uncle were even better to her than to her own biological niece.

"You have no idea. Empress Aunt personally went to the Jade Fragment Courtyard to pick ten palace maids, and then Imperial Uncle selected these four of them. When you get home, you must ask them about it; it will definitely be a big surprise." An Xiaoman caught sight of Yun Ruo, Qiu Lixing, and the others standing at the palace gate, and her face immediately fell. "Your family is waiting ahead. I'll be going. In a few days, I'll invite you to my house to play!"

Qiu Liyue had just nodded, and before she could even say "okay," An Xiaoman had already vanished in a flash.

Looking at Yun Ruo's ashen face and Qiu Lixing's gaze, which looked ready to devour her, Qiu Liyue felt a small sense of relief. Their anger proved that she had completely disrupted their arrangements; her identity was certainly secured. She had now stepped onto a path completely different from her previous life.

"Mother, Sister!" Qiu Liyue bowed to Yun Ruo.

"Mm, let's go. It is getting late!" Seeing Qiu Liyue in her current state, the fire of rage burned fiercely in Yun Ruo's heart. But this was the palace gate, with various noble ladies of the capital passing by; she could do nothing but maintain her appearance of virtue and kindness.

"Hmph! Troublemaker!" Qiu Lixing, however, had abandoned her usual gentle and graceful demeanor. Her eyes shot out countless flying daggers; if looks could kill, Qiu Liyue would have been sliced into a thousand pieces by now.

To this, Qiu Liyue paid no mind. Since her goal had been achieved, why should she care about a few bitter words? All Qiu Liyue could think about now was how to change her boudoir, which looked more like a bridal chamber. Should she just set it on fire and be done with it?