Empress Dowager Sun’s hair was already half white, dry, brittle, and prone to breaking. She had to be extremely careful when styling her hair, trying to prevent any hair from falling out. If she noticed fallen hair, she would glare without discussion or have you suffer ten spanks, with no permission to cry or call for help.
However, Wan Zhen’er was clever and quick-eyed. She would often secretly collect the fallen hair into her sleeve when the Empress Dowager wasn’t paying attention, and then discreetly dispose of it.
Such an unreasonable life.
While combing her hair, Empress Dowager Sun called: “Little Attendant.”
Wan Zhen’er respectfully replied: “This servant is here.”
Empress Dowager Sun asked: “How was my imperial grandson when we went to see him yesterday?”
Wan Zhen’er combed the Empress Dowager’s hair while answering: “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the prince is very smart.”
Empress Dowager Sun looked puzzled: “My imperial grandson is strange. He cries when strangers hold him, but he smiles when you hold him.”
Wan Zhen’er was startled: “Con-connection?”
Empress Dowager Sun narrowed her eyes: “Yes, a connection.”
Wan Zhen’er didn’t understand what connection she could have with the prince and couldn’t be bothered to think about it. The prince was so tiny, still unable to control his bodily functions. Because he was the current emperor’s firstborn son, he was considered especially noble, and everyone treated him like a sacred Buddha, afraid of offending him.
The Empress Dowager’s hair was quickly styled by Wan Zhen’er into a popular golden thread bun. The bun was like dark clouds with silver threads emerging, majestic in appearance. The Empress Dowager looked in the mirror, examining herself from all angles, quite pleased. Because she was short and thin, this hairstyle made her appear taller.
Sometimes, Wan Zhen’er had nothing to do and liked to run in front of the mirror.
Although not stunningly beautiful and far from being a supreme beauty, her body was full and curvaceous, with perfect proportions – majestic from one angle, peak-like from another, with ample curves in the right places. Her most captivating feature, and the source of her greatest pride, was her eyes – long and narrow, becoming a mere line when she smiled, seductively alluring.
Facing the mirror, Wan Zhen’er unconsciously struck a flirtatious pose: slightly raising her chin, pursing her cherry-like lips, eyes sparkling, and provocatively swaying her slender waist – she thought: look at her, how elegant and charming she was.
Immediately after, Wan Zhen’er became discouraged.
She knew that no matter how beautiful she was, how perfect her figure, what did it matter? She was still just an empty vessel, her prime years passing by, alone with her reflection.
She dreamed of a handsome man in white, riding a white horse, presenting 99 roses, kneeling before her and asking deeply: “Wan Zhen’er, will you marry me? Will you live with me through sickness and health, poverty and wealth, beauty and ugliness, success and failure? Will you love, comfort, respect, and protect me, remaining faithful throughout our lives?”
Wan Zhen’er would loudly answer: “I do.”
But upon waking, it was nothing more than a fleeting dream.
If there are choices, Wan Zhen’er would rather not go to the Eastern Palace. Originally, she was doing well in Renhou Palace, and over the years, she had worked hard as a servant, dedicating herself to serving Empress Dowager Sun, all for the sake of gaining her appreciation and hoping to be promoted in the future. Now, not only did she not get promoted, but she was kicked around like a ball, sent by Empress Dowager Sun to another palace.
Wan Zhen’er was unwilling, but she had to obey unconditionally.
While packing her few belongings, wrapping them in a piece of cloth, she thought resentfully: Hmph, if one day she had good luck and became a master, she would take revenge and treat her servants twice as harshly, venting her accumulated grievances.
But, was that possible?
She was just a palace maid, an ordinary, insignificant palace maid.
Wan Zhen’er knew she was just daydreaming.
The Crown Prince, named Zhu Jianshen, was only two years old, a tiny toddler. However, he was very beautiful, perhaps because of his two small dimples, looking almost like a girl, with fair skin, large eyes, and long eyelashes that could serve as fans.
Seeing Wan Zhen’er, he smiled and broke free from the small palace maid’s hand, tottering towards Wan Zhen’er, calling her inarticulately: “Jiejie! Jiejie!”
Wan Zhen’er squatted down, looking at him, and corrected him: “Call me Gugu! I’m your aunt, not your sister.”
The Crown Prince was obedient and called again, still unclear: “Gugu! Gugu!”
This little person was very adorable.
Wan Zhen’er lovingly picked him up. The Crown Prince always clung to Wan Zhen’er and wanted her to hold him.
Wan Zhen’er was seventeen years older than the Crown Prince.
Wan Zhen’er thought: If she were lucky, if someone had married her as a wife or concubine, her child would probably be about the same age as the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince continued calling: “Gugu! Gugu!”
“Yes!” Wan Zhen’er answered, then gave a loud kiss on the prince’s small face.
That was Wan Zhen’er’s first kiss, and she generously gave it to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince laughed happily, and mimicking her, he brought his soft, small mouth close to Wan Zhen’er’s face to give her a kiss.
However, being too small, he had no technique and simply covered Wan Zhen’er’s flower-like face with saliva and snot.
Wan Zhen’er burst into laughter.
The little Crown Prince also opened his mouth and laughed.
The nearby small palace maid said: “Sister, the Crown Prince and you are truly destined, love at first sight.”
Everyone said Wan Zhen’er and the Crown Prince were meant to be.
The small palace maid asked: “Sister, will you be serving the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace from now on?”
Wan Zhen’er said: “Yes.”
The small palace maid said flatteringly: “Then I’ll listen to you, sister. Just give orders whenever you need anything.”
Although Wan Zhen’er was also a small palace maid, her status was different from this small palace maid. Wan Zhen’er was personally sent by Empress Dowager Sun to specifically care for and serve the Crown Prince, representing the Empress Dowager. Therefore, Wan Zhen’er’s position in the Eastern Palace was particularly high, incomparable to those small palace maids without backing.
“Tumu Fortress Incident” Aftermath (1)
Empress Dowager Sun’s authority had been affected because sitting on the dragon throne was no longer her biological son, but Zhu Qizhen, who claimed to be the orthodox emperor. The orthodox emperor led troops on an expedition but was defeated and captured, becoming a prisoner of the Oirats in the historically famous “Tumu Fortress Incident.”
The orthodox emperor remained in the northern wilderness undergoing labor reform, enduring material poverty, harsh climate, and the humiliation of living under others’ roof, hoping to be reborn in the flames.
A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Temporarily serving as emperor was Zhu Qizhen’s half-brother, known as the Jingting Emperor.
Zhu Jianshen became crown prince because it was proposed by Empress Dowager Sun as an exchange condition for supporting Zhu Qiyu’s ascension to the throne, as the crown prince was the empress dowager’s biological grandson.
This is also why Empress Dowager Sun brought Wan Zhen’er to the crown prince’s side – as a trusted confidant, she wanted Wan Zhen’er to protect the crown prince’s safety and prevent people around the crown prince and Zhu Qiyu’s loyal dogs from secretly harming the young and naive crown prince.
