Chapter 3: Audience with the Emperor

Chapter 3: An Audience with the Emperor

"Your Highness, these are the memorials that arrived from the capital this morning."

The emperor, frail with age, had fallen ill shortly after reaching Nanyang. Empress Chi seized this opportunity to consolidate power, ordering all memorials to be sent directly to her, bypassing the emperor entirely.

Young and vibrant, she personally reviewed every document, yet still found ample time for hunting and summoning Nanyang’s officials and noblewomen.

None of this, however, held any interest for Chi Jing.

Seated at her desk, she casually opened a memorial. The dense script that met her eyes stirred a flicker of irritation. She patiently read through it, only to find it filled with nothing but empty pleasantries and pledges of loyalty to the emperor—utterly devoid of substance.

She dipped her brush, scrawled "Reviewed," and tossed it aside. Two more equally verbose memorials followed.

Chi Jing threw down her brush, her brows knitting tightly. "Why are these worthless, fawning memorials placed at the top? There are priorities in state affairs. Is it so difficult to categorize them properly?"

The palace attendants lowered their gazes, holding their breath.

Dan Ying, grinding ink nearby, cautiously glanced at Chi Jing’s face before softly saying, "Your Highness, this task was originally handled by the eunuchs. But you found them incompetent and… relieved them of their duties with your documents."

It was obvious that these eunuchs were the emperor’s confidantes. Why would Empress Chi employ them? It was better to handle matters herself.

Though Chi Jing was aware of the general plot, she didn't know every detail. Her outburst, in the eyes of the palace staff, made her seem rather capricious.

But Chi Jing would never admit fault. She shot Dan Ying a sidelong glance. "So what?"

Dan Ying immediately took a step back and curtsied. "Your Highness, the eunuchs are indeed as foolish as pigs and utterly useless. I would like to recommend someone to assist you. This person is not only exceptionally talented but also without any connections, ensuring her unwavering loyalty to you."

"Oh?" Chi Jing finally looked directly at Dan Ying. Her maid seemed more complex than she appeared. With a hint of interest, she asked, "Who is this person you speak of?"

"Her name is Wu Wenxiu. She was enslaved after her father was convicted of a crime. This is one of her poems. Please take a look, Your Highness." Dan Ying presented a neatly folded plain handkerchief with both hands.

Chi Jing took it and unfolded the handkerchief. Embroidered on it were a black eagle and a four-line poem.

Just as she was about to read it, Chief Eunuch Wang Li, the emperor’s head eunuch, bowed as he entered. "Your Highness, His Majesty wishes to discuss matters and requests your presence at Lingxiao Palace."

Chi Jing lowered her eyes, a mocking smile playing on her lips. The memorials from the capital had just arrived, and the emperor was already summoning her. He could no longer restrain himself.

She tucked the handkerchief away, leaving Dan Ying in the palace, and took two other maids with her to Lingxiao Palace.

Dan Ying watched Chi Jing’s departing figure, unable to conceal her disappointment.

She walked to the desk, picked up the top few memorials, and placed them at the bottom, ensuring nothing seemed amiss. Then she left the main hall and hurried toward the back door.

A young woman waited by the path outside the back door. Though her clothes were worn, they were clean and tidy. Seeing Dan Ying, she eagerly approached. "Sister Dan Ying, is Her Highness going to summon me?"

Dan Ying shook her head and sighed softly. "She was going to, but the emperor suddenly sent for her. I’m afraid it will be a while before she remembers you."

Wu Wenxiu’s eyes immediately dimmed. Her lips trembled slightly as she forced a lighthearted smile. "It is already an honor that my humble work caught Her Highness’s attention. Thank you for your efforts, sister." She took out a pouch of silver and pressed it into Dan Ying’s hand.

Dan Ying weighed the silver, smiled, tucked it into her sleeve, comforted Wu Wenxiu with a few words, and returned to the main hall.

Wu Wenxiu leaned against the palace wall and trudged slowly back to her residence.

When she pushed the door open, she saw a woman over forty sitting under the corridor, embroidering with a hoop. The woman would pause every few stitches to wipe her tears with a handkerchief.

Wu Wenxiu immediately stepped forward and snatched the embroidery hoop. "Mom, I told you not to embroider anymore!"

The woman smiled. "Silly child, my teary eyes are an old ailment. It’s nothing. I’m just doing this for fun."

Wu Wenxiu glared at her. "You may think it’s nothing, but if you go blind from this, I’ll be the one taking care of you!" With that, she shooed her mother inside, sat down on the stool herself, picked up the needle, and continued embroidering.

Her mother’s voice came from inside the room. "In a couple of days, we’ll need to send the summer tribute to Eunuch Sun. Do you have enough silver?"

Wu Wenxiu’s hand paused briefly before she raised her voice. "Enough, of course, I have enough."

Her mother, unsuspecting, continued, "By the way, Wenxiu, how did your attempt to get a recommendation go? If you need money for bribes, I can think of something."

"Mother, don’t worry about it. I’ve taken care of everything. Her Highness will surely summon me, and I will definitely be given an important position!"

Her mother laughed happily. "Of course! I heard Empress Chi appreciates talented women. If she values you, you won’t have to waste away your youth in this palace like I did."

Wu Wenxiu stared at the pattern of butterflies flitting among flowers on the embroidery cloth, her throat tightening with bitterness. "Yes, then we can leave this wretched place."

She lifted her face. Had her mother been there, she would have seen her furrowed brows and eyes filled with endless melancholy, as if holding shattered tears.

Her gaze turned to the azure sky above, where a powerful female eagle soared into the clouds with powerful wingbeats, its long, low cry echoing across the heavens.

Wu Wenxiu lowered her eyelids and murmured, "Claws sharp as blades, eyes bright as bells; / Hunting hares on the plains, a noble pursuit. / Yet it flies for no reason toward the blue clouds, / Never to be perched on the emperor's arm." [Note 1]

————

Lingxiao Palace.

The attending maids had been dismissed, leaving the hall in silence.

Chi Jing looked down at the emperor, who was slumped on his bed. His face was covered with deep wrinkles and dark spots, his skin sagging loosely.

Even the strong scent of ambergris burning in the room couldn’t mask the odor of decay that clung to him.

It was utterly nauseating.

Yet this repulsive old man held the highest authority and the power over life and death.

The emperor seemed not to notice Chi Jing’s disgust. He spoke gently, "Empress, I heard you went hunting with Ming Yue yesterday?"

He paused, gasping for breath, before continuing, "Chun'er is mischievous, and Ming Yue is even more willful. It must be difficult for you—not only caring for these two children but also handling state affairs on my behalf. You’ve worked hard. I can see you’ve grown thinner."

Chi Jing remained silent, her irritation growing. Why did she have to stand here listening to this old man prattle on?

Seeing her lack of response, the emperor frowned slightly, his tone cooling. "Fortunately, I’ve been feeling much better these past few days. From now on, the memorials should be sent directly to Lingxiao Palace. You should rest, Empress."

Hearing this, Chi Jing suddenly understood—the old man was indeed trying to reclaim the power she held.

Though she found reviewing memorials tedious, that didn’t mean she was willing to hand over control to someone else.

Chi Jing’s eyes darkened, her voice cold. "What if I refuse?"

The emperor widened his murky eyes, staring at her in astonishment. "You... refuse?"

Seeing Chi Jing’s calm expression and the complete lack of reverence in her eyes, his face darkened with anger. "Does the Empress dare defy the imperial decree? A woman like you—are you attempting rebellion?"

Chi Jing’s chest heaved violently. She almost immediately clenched her fists, her dark eyes surging with killing intent.

But—

An excellent cleaner should never leave behind any suspicious traces.

Too many palace attendants and guards were stationed outside the hall. If she acted now, she would undoubtedly be stopped. That would be far too troublesome.

At this thought, Chi Jing slowly unclenched her fists, looked directly at the emperor, and said calmly, "I just think it should be you who needs to rest. After all, you're getting old, and it's time to step down for someone more worthy."

"You—!" The emperor was speechless, his face livid with anger. He turned his head, scanning the room, then grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it violently at Chi Jing, shouting, "You venomous woman! You wolf-hearted schemer! I will depose you!"

With a sharp crack, the teacup shattered at Chi Jing’s feet. She looked at the dark tea stain on her shoe, and her patience finally ran out.

"Do as you please. I don’t want to be Empress anyway." She turned and walked away, pushing the door open. Behind her, the emperor’s coughing, furious curses echoed, fading as she moved farther away.

Ignoring the astonished glances around her, Chi Jing left Lingxiao Palace. On her way back, she pondered how to quietly remove the emperor.

He was such an eyesore, and above all, she detested those in power who dared to think they could trample over her.

How dare this stinking old man threaten and insult her? He should be prepared to pay the price!

As soon as she returned to her quarters, Chi Jing called up the system. "Xiao Liu, open the system store."

For every cleanup mission completed, a Cleaner would earn a certain amount of points, which the host could use to exchange for items in the system store.

006 had been in meltdown all night. Even for a system, it was hard to accept going from heaven to hell in one night, especially since its host seemed determined to walk a dark path without looking back.

But upon hearing Chi Jing’s request, 006 cheered up. "Host, your points have been completely frozen by the Supreme God and cannot be used. But—"

Before it could finish, Chi Jing’s expression turned icy. Just then, Dan Ying, who had entered the bedchamber, felt a sudden chill in the room, and her hands trembled slightly as she held the tea tray.

006 said with grievance. "Host, let me finish. Have you forgotten that you exchanged all your points for weapons to kill the Supreme God? You only have 3 points left—even if they weren’t frozen, they’d be useless!"

Chi Jing awkwardly rubbed her nose. She had thought there would be a few hundred points left after the exchange. The Supreme God was so absurd—why bother freezing a mere 3 points?

006 continued, "However, the punishment mission as the wicked stepmother allows you to earn points by gaining the female lead’s trust and dependence. Yesterday, when you taught the female lead archery, you earned 50 points."

Chi Jing frowned. Only 50 points? That wasn’t nearly enough—it might only be enough for a common-grade dagger. It seemed she needed to earn more.

She turned to Dan Ying. "Please invite the princess over."

Dan Ying set down the tea tray, acknowledged the order, and left the room.

————

"Why does Mother want to see me now?"

Zhao Mingyue, who had been reclining on the daybed reading, looked up at Dan Ying with a puzzled expression.

After a night to cool off, she had calmed down.

Chun Ying and Qiu Shi were right—Empress Chi was still young and would have children of her own. It was impossible for her to genuinely treat Zhao Mingyue as a daughter.

Dan Ying replied respectfully, "Her Majesty didn't say, but she likely wishes to invite you to join her for lunch."

Zhao Mingyue hesitated, unsure how to respond. Before she could speak, pattering running footsteps echoed from outside, and a boy in royal blue brocade robes rushed into the room.

His expression was irritable as he shouted, "Zhao Mingyue, you're not allowed to go! You have to have lunch with me!"