"Isn't she a Talent? Why is she doing chores?"
Li Xuan tilted his head, feeling a bit confused.
The one sweeping the ground in a palace maid's uniform in the courtyard, wasn't that Concubine Liang?
This was the woman who, to curry favor with the Empress, had secretly instructed people to withhold Jingyang Palace's monthly allowance.
Li Xuan hadn't even had a chance to show her a thing or two, yet she had already fallen into misfortune herself.
"Was I anticipated?"
Li Xuan curiously edged closer, standing on the nearest wall, watching Concubine Liang sweeping below him.
"It's this woman, no doubt."
At this moment, a beautiful figure walked out of the palace, making Li Xuan's eyes light up.
Her graceful figure, like light smoke and soft snow, was full of charm, her body swaying like dew-heavy, fragrant mist.
In modern terms, this woman had the face of an angel and the figure of a devil.
She was a living, captivating little enchantress.
"This dog emperor!"
Li Xuan gnashed his teeth in anger, immediately criticizing this vile feudal system.
And this one wasn't even a formal Consort yet!
Concubine Liang saw the person walking towards her out of the corner of her eye, but she buried her head, pretending not to see, and moved away while sweeping, trying to avoid the person.
But the other party had no intention of letting her go, walking straight towards her and stepping on the hem of her skirt.
"Liang Chuchu, where are you running off to?"
"You can't even sweep properly, you're so stupid!"
The voluptuous woman scolded her, a torrent of abuse.
"You!"
To be honest, Concubine Liang was not inferior to this woman in appearance, but unfortunately, she was at a disadvantage in terms of figure.
Not only was she a head shorter when standing, but lying down would probably be even more embarrassing.
"You what? Stop sweeping, go to my room and empty my chamber pot, and wipe it clean while you're at it. If I don't see a chamber pot that can be used as a mirror when I come back at noon, you won't eat today!"
"Wang Suyue, don't go too far!"
Liang Chuchu was furious, pointing the broom in her hand at her enemy.
But unexpectedly, this Wang Suyue was not only well-figured but also quite skilled.
The broom, which had been in Liang Chuchu's hand, was snatched away with a whoosh and pointed back at her.
"What? You want to get rough with me?" Wang Suyue smirked, twirling the broom into a beautiful stick-flower, and scoffed, "Overestimating yourself."
"Give me back the broom, you big-chested, brainless brute!" Liang Chuchu raged helplessly, rushing forward to throw a tantrum, but was immediately blocked by the broom held horizontally in front of her.
"Still daring to defy your superior? Liang Chuchu, don't forget, this month I am a Talent, and you are a palace maid. Think carefully before you throw a tantrum with me."
Wang Suyue said confidently, clearly having the other party under her thumb.
"You, you…"
Liang Chuchu pointed at the other party indignantly, repeating "you" for a long time, but couldn't utter a second word.
"You wait until His Majesty favors me and I'm bestowed the title of Consort, then I'll make you regret it!" Liang Chuchu declared defiantly.
"Oh, then you'd better remember to light a lamp, so His Majesty doesn't get confused and go astray."
Wang Suyue snickered, glancing at Liang Chuchu's flat chest, then tossed the broom aside, and left triumphantly with a final remark.
"The chamber pot is in my room. Whether you want to eat or not is up to you."
Liang Chuchu was fuming, glaring at Wang Suyue's retreating back with gritted teeth, but there was nothing she could do.
More than being asked to clean the chamber pot, Wang Suyue's final contempt was what she couldn't stand.
"Stupid Niu Niu, what's so great about that? Sooner or later, I'll drag it to the ground and make you regret being so smug!"
Liang Chuchu cursed a few more times, still not feeling satisfied, and kicked the mop on the ground, sending it flying.
She and Wang Suyue had been at odds since childhood, and as luck would have it, they were chosen to enter the palace together.
Now that she was down on her luck, there was no way the other party would let her off, bothering her in different ways every day.
The kicked broom spun, sliding across the ground, and stopped when it hit the foot of a middle-aged Eunuch.
The middle-aged Eunuch looked at the broom that had landed at his feet, his eyelid twitching, and his already cold face became even more grim.
Liang Chuchu was still quietly cursing that wretched Wang Suyue, completely unaware of the situation here.
It was a junior Eunuch following behind the middle-aged Eunuch who couldn't stand it anymore and whispered a reminder: "Concubine Liang, Concubine Liang…"
"Eunuch Yin is here, hurry and pay your respects."
Only then did Liang Chuchu notice several people around her, especially when she saw the old Eunuch, and she quickly bowed in a panic: "Greetings, Eunuch Yin."
After a moment of silence, Eunuch Yin sighed helplessly and said to Concubine Liang: "Concubine Liang, Chief Steward Shang only punished you with one month of labor, which is already a lenient act. Please take it to heart and do not make things difficult for us."
"Otherwise, though the Imperial Palace is vast, there may be no place for Concubine Liang."
Listening to these stern words, Liang Chuchu's little heart trembled.
She also understood that this Eunuch Yin was not to be trifled with, and could only nod obediently in agreement.
This Eunuch Yin held a high position in Yan Qu Hall, not only overseeing various matters big and small but also responsible for reporting which Talent were suitable for imperial favor. Then the Eunuch responsible for His Majesty's daily life would select the suitable person, so it could be said he held the future and fate of these girls in his hands.
If one were to displease this Eunuch Yin, then even if she stayed in Yan Qu Hall until she became an old maid, she would never see His Majesty.
No matter how headstrong Liang Chuchu was, she dared not joke about her future.
She immediately scurried two steps, picked up the broom from the ground, and obediently went back to sweeping, putting on a pitiful, honest appearance.
Eunuch Yin saw that she was sensible and said no more, continuing his inspection with his entourage to other areas.
Watching Concubine Liang obediently sweeping below, Li Xuan on the wall couldn't help but grin.
"Ah, so she was punished by Chief Steward Shang. It seems that her instructing those two Eunuchs to make trouble for Jingyang Palace must have been discovered."
"I must say, that old Eunuch really has some tricks up his sleeve."
Li Xuan had happened to overhear their conversation by chance that day, learning that Concubine Liang was the mastermind behind it.
Chief Steward Shang, on the other hand, had investigated the matter thoroughly within a couple of days and even carried out the punishment.
Making a Talent do a month of palace maid's work was indeed a very effective punishment.
This act would not only strike at Liang Chuchu's self-esteem but also delay her training in Yan Qu Hall, thereby pushing back her chance of being favored even further.
These Talent were already racing against time. Didn't you see how Liang Chuchu previously threatened that Wang Suyue?
As long as one gained favor first, there would be plenty of opportunities for revenge.
But if an opponent got ahead, it might not be so easy to turn the tables.
Thinking of this, Li Xuan looked at Liang Chuchu below, then looked into Yan Qu Hall, a mischievous smile gradually appearing on his face.
"I'm just a cute Little Cat, what bad intentions could I have?"
"Blame your unkind heart; Heaven sent me to punish you."
Li Xuan didn't continue to watch Liang Chuchu sweep. He stealthily slipped into the backyard of Yan Qu Hall, no one knew what he was going to do.