Chapter 9: 009 Hanyu's Grievance

At this moment, Liu Qian'er was rushing back to the palace. To prepare for the Empress Dowager's birthday, they had practically run their feet to death.

However, in the end, she still returned to the Prime Minister's manor to bring the Purple Glaze—a national treasure bestowed upon the Prime Minister by the late Emperor—into the palace. In truth, this was also the Prime Minister's intention. He knew the Empress Dowager had always wanted to possess Er Bao, and since it was undoubtedly an item belonging to the late Emperor, he handed the Purple Glaze to her. This served two purposes: first, to please the Empress Dowager, and second, to make up for how poorly he had treated Liu Qian'er over the years.

Before Liu Qian'er could even step into Yilan Palace, Han Yu came out to greet her. Han Yu jogged up to Liu Qian'er, panting heavily, and only spoke after a moment: "Niangniang, where did you go? You scared me to death!"

"I went out of the palace," Liu Qian'er said softly. "I went back to the Prime Minister's manor!" She was exhausted to death. After all this tossing and turning, why was it more tiring than filming a drama? Upon entering the main hall, Liu Qian'er sat straight down in a chair and took two large, aggressive gulps of the tea on the table.

"Niangniang, you must be tired, right? Let Han Yu massage your shoulders." Han Yu quickly walked behind Liu Qian'er. Seeing Liu Qian'er's state, she felt extreme heartache. She couldn't stop complaining, "Niangniang, if you go out of the palace, you shouldn't leave Han Yu behind. What were you doing for two whole days? Now look, you've had to suffer all by yourself!"

"Han Yu, there's no need! Go rest! I'll be fine after sitting for a while." Liu Qian'er reached her hand to her shoulder and pulled Han Yu's hand away. She had only been tired for a short while, but Han Yu was busy running back and forth every single day, exhausted to the limit; how could she only think of her own enjoyment?

Han Yu, however, was incredibly stubborn. When her hand was pulled away by Liu Qian'er, she placed it back. In the end, Liu Qian'er could only let her be and stopped resisting.

"Niangniang, just sit still! It's not tiring for Han Yu to knead them for you. Consider this Han Yu's punishment for you leaving the palace without bringing me along!" Han Yu pouted, leaning her head close to Liu Qian'er's side.

"I couldn't find you, so I went by myself." Liu Qian'er closed her eyes slightly. Under Han Yu's kneading, she felt much more comfortable.

"Oh, Niangniang. Han Yu was summoned by the Empress Dowager!" Han Yu still felt a bit angry when she thought of what happened the day before yesterday. She had originally intended to fetch some water to water the flowers, but halfway there, she was called to He'an Palace by Xiao Dezi. This Empress Dowager was truly strange; with so many palace maids in He'an Palace available, she insisted on having Han Yu serve her. It was one thing to serve her, but the Empress Dowager was always nitpicking, which made Han Yu incredibly frustrated.

"The Empress Dowager?" Liu Qian'er was startled and quickly opened her eyes. This Empress Dowager was indeed strange; what business did she have with Han Yu? "What did the Empress Dowager want you to do?"

"She wanted me to serve her!" Han Yu's tone was stiff, her words revealing her dissatisfaction. She only wanted to serve Liu Qian'er alone.

"She wanted you to serve her? Does she not have any maids in her own palace?" Liu Qian'er felt a surge of anger. She heard the dissatisfaction in Han Yu's voice and assumed the Empress Dowager had been making things difficult for her. She truly didn't know what the Empress Dowager was up to; not only was she making things hard for her, but she was also targeting Han Yu. Did she not consider her the Emperor's consort anymore? Even if she was not favored, she shouldn't be treated this way. "Did the Empress Dowager make things difficult for you?"

"Don't even get me started! This morning, while I was helping her change her clothes, I accidentally caught her collar, and I ended up getting slapped!" Han Yu was extremely aggrieved. Although she was a maid, she had never suffered such an indignity. The Empress Dowager just ordered a slap and it was given. They say even when beating a dog, one must look at the owner; in her view, this was a warning shot from the Empress Dowager!

"The Empress Dowager slapped your mouth?" Liu Qian'er's willow brows shot up. Han Yu was her personal maid; how could she just slap her like that? Even if one doesn't respect the monk, one should respect the Buddha. Surely, this was the Empress Dowager declaring war on her. She wasn't afraid. Let it come! She would deal with whatever came her way. She was, after all, a person from the 21st century; could she really not handle a mere Empress Dowager? "Don't worry. Today was the only time she succeeded because I wasn't here. In the future, don't even dream of touching a single finger of yours!"

"She is the Empress Dowager. If she is in a bad mood, she can hit whoever she wants or kill whoever she wants. As maids, we can only obey orders." Han Yu understood this logic. Once one enters the palace, it is as deep as the sea, and even maids are no exception; one will always eventually run into the blade.

"As long as I am here, nothing will happen to you!" A flash of confusion crossed Liu Qian'er's eyes. She truly could not understand the Empress Dowager's actions. There were countless capable maids and eunuchs in her palace, yet she chose to borrow the maid of the Emperor's consort instead. What kind of logic was that?

"Niangniang!" Han Yu let out a startled cry. "Oh no, today is the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet!" If they were absent from the banquet, they would surely suffer a lot. Han Yu didn't mind suffering, but she feared the Niangniang wouldn't be able to take it.

"I know!" Liu Qian'er stood up at a steady pace and smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead. She absolutely could not be absent today. Didn't the Empress Dowager want to see her make a fool of herself? She gave a graceful smile: "Han Yu, help me dress up!"

"Yes, Niangniang!" Han Yu gave a silly smile. She had thought the Niangniang was going to stop showing respect to the Empress Dowager altogether; she had been scared to death!