“Your Highness needs this servant…” Xu Qiu’er gestured to stop Ning’er from speaking. Chang Xi, standing nearby, clearly saw Xu Qiu’er, and a fleeting hatred crossed her eyes, almost imperceptible, but Xu Qiu’er caught it. In this world, no matter how much you give, you gain only a tiny fraction.
“Bitch,” a low voice reached Xu Qiu’er’s ears.
Ning’er almost dropped everything she was holding. This little bastard should remember that without the Empress, she would not have her current good life. Ning’er was about to step forward, but Xu Qiu’er lowered her eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
The three followed, leaving one after another.
“Did you see?
The three senior female officials by the Crown Princess are key to serving her,” the palace maids whispered. In recent years, the Empress had not managed palace affairs, and the Old Buddha paid excessive attention to the Crown Princess, who had become the de facto mistress of the palace. Apart from these three senior officials, no one could approach her.
A putrid smell hung in the air.
Rats crawled along the wall, occasionally crossing someone’s foot—after all, someone had been sitting motionless here for decades, and even vermin had become accustomed.
This was a sealed stone chamber, with almost no light except for a tiny ventilation hole at the top, where daylight was scarce. In the corner, a human figure remained completely still.
After an indeterminate time, a familiar sound broke the silence—the sound of wood being pushed open, the only sound heard besides the rats. Following this, a bowl of food arrived. The person outside placed the bowl in a small opening, saying nothing and seemingly waiting for the person inside to retrieve it.
After nearly half a tea’s time, an extremely thin, bony, and pale hand slowly reached out. The food deliverer couldn’t help but shiver.
He had been responsible for bringing food to this person for decades but had never heard a single word spoken.
Pulling the valve down, darkness engulfed the space again, but her eyes remained fixed on the spot that had just emitted light. The food was carelessly placed aside—only extreme hunger prompted eating. Consequently, most meals were consumed by rats, which explained their frequent visits.
