Chapter 7: 007 Unreasonable Demands

Hanyu sat on a stool, chin resting in her hands as she stared at Liu Qian'er, who was currently applying her makeup. "Niangniang, let Hanyu do your makeup for you!"

"No, I want to do it myself." Liu Qian'er held a rouge pot and applied it to her face. "I'm more used to doing it myself."

"Didn't Niangniang always like Hanyu to do your makeup before?" Hanyu's expression was somewhat puzzled.

"Oh, that's because I wanted to try it myself. Wouldn't it be better if it also lightened your burden?" Liu Qian'er stood up and walked over to Hanyu. "Silly Hanyu, you don't know how to enjoy life, do you?"

"Following Niangniang is already very easy and enjoyable. I'm not used to not being allowed to work," Hanyu protested, pouting her lips.

"So silly!" Liu Qian'er gave Hanyu's head a firm poke with her finger.

*Not knowing how to enjoy life? People in the 21st century spend every day wishing they could just wait to be fed and clothed, longing to have clothes placed on them and food brought to their mouths.*

"The Empress Dowager's imperial decree has arrived!" A sharp announcement rang out.

Liu Qian'er wiped the strange grin from her face and quickly tidied her somewhat messy hair.

Soon, the eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree last time strode in. He bowed deeply and said softly, "Xiao Dezi pays his respects to Consort Liu Niangniang."

Liu Qian'er stepped forward with a radiant smile. "Quickly, rise! You are most respectful, Eunuch."

Seeing how well-mannered and educated Liu Qian'er was, Xiao Dezi felt somewhat uneasy. He gave an awkward laugh. "Consort Liu Niangniang, three days from now is the Empress Dowager's birthday. You must not be absent at that time." He had always thought that the Liu Qian'er he saw when he first delivered the decree was a hallucination, but seeing her now, she was still a beauty. Just what was going on?

Liu Qian'er felt a flicker of surprise. Why would the Empress Dowager send someone specifically to invite her for her birthday? She had been married into the palace for so long and hadn't met a single person in the palace, yet the Empress Dowager actually remembered that she, Liu Qian'er, existed. Could something be wrong? The fortune teller had repeatedly warned her to be careful, saying she would encounter disaster.

"Then may I ask, Eunuch, what is the Empress Dowager's decree?" Liu Qian'er tucked away her contemplative expression.

"I heard that Consort Liu Niangniang is proficient in song and dance. Therefore, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager hopes that Consort Liu Niangniang can showcase her dancing skills at that time." Xiao Dezi looked at Liu Qian'er with a serious expression. "This is the Empress Dowager's requirement, so..." He didn't understand what the Empress Dowager was thinking. Liu Qian'er was, after all, the Emperor's consort; to ask a consort to perform song and dance in front of everyone was simply making things too difficult for her.

Liu Qian'er, however, was amused in her heart. This Empress Dowager was quite interesting. Wasn't it obvious she wanted to make things difficult for her? But this matter was a minor issue for her. After all, she had been a celebrity in the 21st century; how could she not know song and dance? "Very well, Eunuch, this Palace understands! I have troubled you. This Palace will not disappoint Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!" The corners of Liu Qian'er's mouth curled up slightly, preventing Xiao Dezi from continuing.

Xiao Dezi's mouth hung open in surprise, wide enough to fit an egg. This Liu Qian'er gave him too many surprises. This well-mannered, unpretentious woman before him—was she really that legendary Liu Qian'er who was said to have mediocre looks, was unsociable, and never stepped a single foot out of her house?

Looking at the dazed Xiao Dezi, Liu Qian'er couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. "Eunuch, what is wrong with you?" Surely this eunuch couldn't connect her to the original Liu Qian'er, which was why he couldn't figure out what was happening. "Oh, oh." Xiao Dezi snapped back to his senses nervously, staring at Liu Qian'er with a solemn face. "Forgive me, Niangniang. This servant was impolite!"

"What crime could you have committed?" Liu Qian'er showed no anger, instead looking at Xiao Dezi with a smile. "Alright, please trouble you to pass a word to the Empress Dowager for this Palace. Tell her to rest easy; this Palace will make Her Majesty satisfied."

She knew that to live well in the deep palace, one couldn't even offend a servant. There was no need to go looking for trouble for herself.

Xiao Dezi was bewildered. Logically speaking, his momentary distraction was an act of great disrespect; if he were in front of any other consort, he would have been punished long ago. "Yes, yes, this servant will certainly deliver your words, Niangniang. Then this servant shall take his leave!"

Liu Qian'er walked quickly to the table and opened a small box inlaid with gold and diamonds. She took out a gold button from inside, pressed it into Xiao Dezi's hand, and smiled faintly. "Go on!"

Xiao Dezi was startled at first, then stunned, but he quickly calmed down and tucked the gold button away. He had seen this many times and naturally understood the meaning behind it. "Thank you, Niangniang. This servant takes his leave."

With that, Xiao Dezi bowed and hurried away.

Watching Xiao Dezi's receding figure, a trace of a smile flashed across Liu Qian'er's face. It seemed there wasn't a single person in this palace who wasn't greedy for wealth!

Hanyu did not understand the meaning of Liu Qian'er giving a gift, nor did she understand how Liu Qian'er could still be happy. She clearly knew that Liu Qian'er didn't know any song or dance at all; how was she going to deal with it then? This Empress Dowager was truly making things difficult on purpose!

Seeing the complex expression on Hanyu's face, Liu Qian'er couldn't help but laugh. "Hanyu, you don't understand, do you? I have my own reasons for giving him a gift. You are too innocent and don't understand; you will understand in the future, alright?" Liu Qian'er gently closed the box on the table. This had been a gift from the Emperor himself. Thinking of that Emperor she had never met, she felt a bit of anticipation to see him—to see that cold-blooded, ruthless, and domineering imperial husband.

"Yes, Hanyu really doesn't understand. But what Hanyu understands even less is that you don't know how to sing or dance at all, Niangniang. I heard the Empress Dowager is very tyrannical; I'm afraid she is intentionally making things difficult for you!" Hanyu stared intently at Liu Qian'er, not even daring to blink. She was afraid that the fortune teller's words—"there will be disaster"—were true.

Seeing Hanyu's nervous state, Liu Qian'er was even more amused. So this girl was actually worried about her? What a silly girl! Who said she couldn't sing or dance? She just didn't know any pop songs, for fear that singing them would scare people! As for dancing, that went without saying—ballet, waltz, hip-hop, pole dancing—which one didn't she know? Otherwise, how could she have become a star?

"Who said I couldn't? Just you wait and see!" Facing Hanyu's questioning eyes, Liu Qian'er nodded mysteriously. "However, I must go out of the palace once more!"

"Niangniang, you're making Hanyu completely confused! I heard the Empress Dowager's birthday is in three days; do you still need to go out of the palace?" Hanyu was utterly bewildered by Liu Qian'er.

"Alright! I won't tell you now; how about I give you a surprise?" Liu Qian'er gave a playful smile. "The old rules apply, okay? Men's clothing! Now, go!"

"Oh!" Hanyu gave a low response and walked out of the room, lost in thought.

After Hanyu left, Liu Qian'er clenched her fists and kicked the stool hard. The Empress Dowager? Hmph! Knowing she couldn't sing or dance and still trying to mess with her? Just wait and see! She was no longer the old Liu Qian'er, and she certainly wouldn't let anyone look down on her again!