CH 21

Whether or not she was acting a fool, it was hard to tell at first glance. However, after consideration, the answer was clear.

Zhilan held a six-sided lantern as she left Chuxiu Palace.　　

She was careful to keep the light dim, enough to just see the path before her. This way, no one could see her.　　

She took a shortcut, and that she knew the way well was apparent; Zhilan was quicker than Wei Yingluo had been at leaving the palace. Then she hid by a path Wei Yingluo was sure to pass by on her way to the embroidery workshop.　　

The moment she heard footsteps, she blew out the lantern. 　　

Darkness fell upon her. Zhilan hid behind a towering tree. The shadows acted as another layer of darkness. It were as if she were enveloped in a dark cloud, hidden from plain sight.　　

In no time, the footsteps approached.  Apart from the footsteps, there was also the sound of hiccuping.　　

“Darn!” The footsteps stopped.　

Zhilan held her breath. Paid close attention to the words that were about to leave the other palace maid’s lips. 　　

“I’ll bring back these starch balls just like this? What if they tell me to share?” said Wei Yingluo. “I don’t want to share such tasty things. What if… What if I eat it all now?”　　

Under Zhilan’s shocked gaze, Wei Yingluo lifted the bowl to gulp down all the sweet lotus starch balls. In the end, after swallowing half, she suddenly threw up, the servings she had consumed in Chuxiu Palace flying right out of her mouth.　　

Her vomiting continued, and then she crouched down on the floor in sobs. Originally, Zhilan had thought that the sobs were because Wei Yingluo felt she had been wronged. But then Zhilan heard her sigh. “Why did it all come out? Ah, what a waste, what a waste…” 　　

This person was really a fool!!　　

Zhilan couldn’t endure watching anymore. She feared if she kept watching, she would dirty her eyes. Would dirty her ears. She clicked her tongue and returned to report what she saw.

Behind her, the retching continued.　　

Wei Yingluo had activated her gag reflex. She knew the more intense her vomiting sounded, the quicker Zhilan would leave.　　

She coughed. It was difficult to clear her stomach. Wei Yingluo slowly raised her head. Tears had started to form in her eyes after throwing up so much. Yet in her eyes seemed to burn two furious flames.　　

She truly had acted as a fool.　　

Noble Consort Hui’s troublesome act had happened all too quickly. In a hurry, Wei Yingluo had only been able to come up with this method to deal with her.　　

Most people would choose this method, would pretend to be a fool, but because it was such a common tactic, it was even more difficult to pull off. The hardest part was to dispel Noble Consort Hui’s killing intent in the fastest way possible.　　

Wei Yingluo knew that this master’s heart was malicious. Noble Consort Hui could even have any of the imperial concubines killed whenever she pleased, much less a lowly palace maid like her. 　　

For this reason, she gulped down seven bowls of sweet lotus starch balls, which was just enough to elicit this effect. Enough to make her empty the contents of her stomach at this particular moment.　　

She wanted that Noble Consort Hui, who thought herself as smart, to think Wei Yingluo was mentally incapacitated. And to think that for a long period. Thus, she wouldn’t waste any more time on that fool called Wei Yingluo.　　

“Noble Consort Hui wouldn’t investigate me for no reason.” Wei Yingluo wiped the remnants of food on her mouth, and a cold smile blossomed on her lips. “So who reported me?”

That person must be someone around her.　　

The one she had suspected first was Jinxiu. After all, she was someone who had been around at that event. It was also Jinxiu who brought Zhilan to the embroidery workshop to find her. However,  Wei Yingluo currently did not have any evidence. Apart from Jinxiu, there were three other people who were antagonistic toward her. They spoke poorly of her behind her back multiple times. Like right now.　　

Three days after Wei Yingluo returned from Noble Consort Hui’s palace, the palace maids from the embroidery workshop and the gold-and-jade craft department¹ were summoned to an area. The high-ranking eunuchs had informed them there was a task for them.　　

With so many people around, conversation bloomed. 　　

Three people could be seen huddled together. Their voices were not too loud yet could not be considered soft. Those nearby could only tell that they were talking and not what their topic of conversation was. One of three said, “Wei Yingluo came back really late last night—”　　

“Could it be because Big Sister Zhilan called her to stay at Chuxiu Palace?”　　

“After Wei Yingluo finished the task Big Sister Zhilan had given her, do you think Big Sister Zhilan would keep her for dinner? Are you crazy? Once she left Chuxiu Palace, she went to meet a lover! Her lover is good. He’s one of the imperial guards!” 　　

The speaker acted as if she were speaking the truth, as if she had been there to witness it all. Half of the listeners believed her, and although the other half was skeptical, they found it interesting. Everyone had a bit of nosiness in their hearts. Even though they did not believe those words, they felt joy in hearing them.　　

The crowd of palace maids gave Wei Yingluo a sidelong glance. She couldn’t help but clutch her hands into fists.　　

“Eunuch Li has arrived!”　　

The announcement caught everyone’s attention for now.　　

Right after Wei Yingluo lifted her head to glance at the newly-arrived person, she immediately looked down.　　

It was true that good things did not often occur, but bad things were as common as dirt. Wei Yingluo recognized the Eunuch Li who had just arrived. Wasn’t he the high-ranking eunuch that had been by the emperor’s side back then?

Eunuch Li did not recognize her, however. Today was a bit hot and he did not say much. He only needed to stand under the bright and unyielding sun for a moment before his back grew damp. A few low-ranking eunuchs quickly brought a chair under the shade of a tree, and carried over fruits, dim sum, and tea. After Eunuch Li took a couple sips of water, he said, “Who are these people?”　　

“These are the low-ranking palace maids of the embroidery workshop and the gold-and-jade craft department,” said a low-ranking eunuch who was fanning him at the side. 　　

Eunuch Li nodded. “We’ll do as we’ve done a few days ago. Begin.”

He folded his hands by his chest, leaning against his seat with his eyes closed. However, he was not actually sleeping. Rather, his ears were listening carefully.　　

“Come line up and speak one by one,” the low-ranking eunuch said. “Say this: this slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch!”　　

What was this even?　　

The palace maids all shared a look. However, they could not figure out what those words meant.　　

“Hurry up. Don’t waste Eunuch Li’s time!” said the low-ranking eunuch unhappily.　　

Then a palace maid toughened her face and came out to say, “This slave is helping the tree spirit—”　　

Before she could finish speaking, Eunuch Li, who had been sitting in the chair, slowly shook his head. The low-ranking eunuch was paying close attention to his reactions, so after seeing this, he immediately said, “Next.”　　

“This slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch.”　　

“Next.”　　

“This slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch.”　　

“Next.”　　

“This slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch.”　　

“Next.” 

The line grew shorter and shorter. And the sweat clinging on Wei Yingluo’s face grew more and more prevalent. 　　

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“Big Sister Yingluo, are you feeling hot?” Jixiang handed her a handkerchief. Worry flashing in her eyes, she said, “I’ll lend you this handkerchief. Wipe your sweat.”　　

Wei Yingluo received it without a word. She used it to wipe a bit of the dampness. Suddenly, she staggered and collapsed onto the floor.　　

Jixiang was shocked to the point of jumping. She quickly threw herself over to Wei Yingluo. “Big Sister Yingluo, Big Sister Yingluo, are you alright?”　　

Because their actions were exaggerated, Eunuch Li slowly opened his eyes. “What’s going on?”　　

The low-ranking eunuch went over to examine the situation. Then he said, “Eunuch Li, a palace maid has fainted.”　　

Eunuch Li lifted his head to look at the sky. Although he was in the comfort of shade, a few rays of sun broke through the leaves of the tree. And they were as hot as scalding water. 　　

“This weather is especially difficult to endure.” Eunuch Li wiped the sweat off his forehead with a hand. He said, “Send the one who fainted back first. Have the rest of the palace maids wait under the shade. Continue.”　　

“This slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch.”　

“Next.”　　

“This slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch.”　　

“Next.”

“This slave is helping the tree spirit scratch an itch.”　　

“Next.”　　

The voice instructing the crowd grew farther and farther, and Wei Yingluo, who was being supported by Jixiang as she walked, opened her eyes. Then she quickly closed them again. She released a breath of relief in her heart.　　

Although she did not know why Eunuch Li was searching for her, she was so grateful she did not reveal her face back then. Additionally, she had worn the normal uniform of the palace maids, with no special flower embroidery on her collar or ends of her sleeves. Those special styles were reserved for the higher-ranked palace maids.　　

As such, Eunuch Li could only look for her among the low-ranking palace maids. In fact, he was only relying on his ear.　　

The leather workshop, embroidery workshop, gold-and-jade craft department, Ruyi Pavilion²… He needed to listen to thousands of voices. One would fear that after listening to so many, he would forget how hers sounded. 　　

This matter is not urgent for now. The most urgent thing currently is to deal with the rumors about me. Ah, although rumors end once they reach the wise, this world is full of the stupid. Those who are intelligent number few…　　

Even Granny Zhang was no exception.　　

After work at the embroidery workshop finished, she kept Wei Yingluo from leaving. She closed the windows and doors to combat prying eyes. Then, face serious, she asked, “Everyone said you are together with an imperial guard. Is it true?”

Wei Yingluo smiled. “Granny, so the rumor has reached even your honored self?”　　

“Everyone in the embroidery workshop knows of this rumor.” Granny Zhang advised, “Although I don’t believe it, three people can become a tiger. Rumors can destroy a person too easily. You have to be especially on alert.” 

The two kept silent. After a while, Wei Yingluo lightly asked, “What’s the worst case scenario?”　　

“That it will reach the ears of General Manager Wu.”　　

Although Wei Yingluo had met him in the past and received his appreciation, knowing who someone was was not the same as knowing their heart. Wei Yingluo understood General Manager Wu a little, but compared to Granny Zhang, who had worked in the imperial harem for many years, who strived hard to rise from the bottom, she did not know him at all. Then, she modestly asked for advice. “Granny, in your opinion, if the worst case scenario happens, would General Manager Wu punish me without verifying the rumors?”　　

“No.” Granny Zhang thought for a moment. Shaking her head, she said, “That General Manager Wu is a person who would seek the truth. If it falls into his hands, he would at least investigate a little. He won’t be like the other eunuchs, carelessly performing tasks in order to quickly get things done.”　　

“I understand…” Then Wei Yingluo surrendered to her thoughts.　　

Revenge would be performed as quickly as possible. Enemies would be dealt with immediately. One must avoid letting the other party hide in the dark, or else they could stab one at any time, at any place. As she left the embroidery workshop, a plan had already formed in her heart. However, she was missing one thing…　　

All of a sudden, Wei Yingluo stopped in her tracks. She aimed her gaze at the hallway across from her.　　

A few artisans pushed a cart over.　　

A young artisan felt someone was watching him and quickly turned around. And he came face to face with Wei Yingluo, who wore a smile. He blushed. He stood in place, unable to form words. It were as if the fairy in front of him had turned him into a statue, until his colleague slapped him at the back of his head. He yelled, “What are you looking at? Do you not want to keep your eyes? That’s a palace maid. With such a beautiful appearance, who knows when she would become a master?”　　

The artisans around quickly lowered their heads, quickly pushing the cart away.　　

Because their actions had been exaggerated, the place where the wheels of the cart rolled was sprinkled with white crumbling soil³.　　

A pair of white embroidered shoes slowly followed the trail. Then the hand of a beauty lowered. Picked up a handful of crumbling soil.　　

Lowering her head to examine it, Wei Yingluo let an extremely prepossesing smile spread on her lips.