"My lady, please rest assured, we will follow you all our lives."
"Good," Liu Liu smiled, nodding. These two eunuchs were quite good. If they followed her, she would naturally not treat them badly. As long as they followed her, she would not let anyone bully them from now on.
For a moment, the desolate Huaqing Palace main hall seemed to be filled with a joyful atmosphere, and a few people talked happily.
Just then, a stream of eunuchs ran in from outside the main gate. A eunuch in a dark blue eunuch robe, holding a whisk, rushed to Liu Liu's front: "I am Afeng, a senior eunuch under Chief Eunuch Jiang. I am here on behalf of Chief Eunuch Jiang to help the Empress clean Huaqing Palace."
Liu Liu glanced at him with surprise and couldn't help but wonder why Jiang Cheng was treating her so well. Was he taking extra care of her at her father's request?
Thinking this, Liu Liu felt relieved. Besides, cleaning such a large palace was quite tiring. It would be better to assign it to them, so she nodded.
"Alright, then assign them to start cleaning."
"Yes, your servant will start now," the senior eunuch Afeng nodded. With a wave of his hand, those junior eunuchs quickly got to work. The senior eunuch Afeng was a capable confidant of Chief Eunuch Jiang Cheng.
Normally, his appearance represented Jiang Cheng's intentions, so everyone in the harem feared him. But at this moment, he was like a docile cat, diligently cleaning the Huaqing Palace with his hands and feet.
Because of their arrival, Liu Liu and the two eunuchs and two maids had some leisure time. Cui'er wanted to pour a cup of tea for Liu Liu, but unfortunately, there were no tea leaves or tea sets, so she frowned in annoyance. However, someone soon brought them.
Chief Eunuch Jiang Cheng dispatched the second batch of people, bringing all the necessary items for Huaqing Palace, and also specifically sent two cooks.
The previously empty main hall was now filled with eunuchs and palace maids, each holding something. From small tea sets to large dressing tables and curtains, everything was available.
Cui'er and Qiao'er went over, their eyes wide with amazement, and smiled in satisfaction, their previous gloom swept away. Afeng, leading his men, had already cleaned the Huaqing Palace main hall inside and out.
All the eunuchs worked together, placing the items sent by Chief Eunuch Jiang in order. Instantly, Huaqing Palace was renewed. Although it still looked like the same dilapidated palace from the outside, the interior was now clean and refreshing.
Afeng walked over and respectfully presented a list: "My lady, this is the list prepared by Chief Eunuch Jiang. Please have someone check it. If anything is missing, send someone to find me, and I will immediately send someone to deliver it."
Qiao'er took the list from Afeng's hand and handed it to her mistress. Liu Liu glanced at it and nodded indifferently: "Thank you. Please convey my thanks to Chief Eunuch Jiang for me."
"I will certainly convey it. If my lady has nothing else, I will take my leave," Afeng said respectfully, bowing.
Liu Liu glanced around the inner and outer palaces. There was indeed nothing else to do, so she waved her hand and said lightly, "Good, you can all go back now."
The senior eunuch Afeng led a large group of eunuchs out of Huaqing Palace, leaving only two cooks. Liu Liu glanced at them and instructed Xiao Anzi: "Take these two cooks down and arrange them."
"Yes, my lady," Xiao Anzi nodded happily. It seemed he had chosen the right master. Judging by the Chief Eunuch's attitude towards the lady, he must also know that the lady was kind-hearted, which was why he treated her so well, Xiao Anzi thought innocently.
"You two, follow me."
The two cooks bowed to the Empress, then followed behind Xiao Anzi. The remaining three had already hugged each other, cheering.
"This is great, we have everything now," Cui'er said excitedly.
"Yes, we have good judgment to follow the lady," Xiao Nianzi was also very happy.
Liu Liu looked at the three people in front of her and couldn't help but smile. However, she was truly grateful to Jiang Cheng.
Although her father had asked him, as the chief eunuch of the harem, he could completely ignore it. Had her father helped Jiang Cheng before, and he was repaying the favor? Liu Liu guessed wildly.
Jiang Cheng's actions reached the Emperor's ears before dark. The Emperor immediately ordered his personal eunuch, Xiao Wanzi, to summon Jiang Cheng. He looked at the kneeling Jiang Cheng with displeasure: "I heard you were trying to curry favor with that ugly woman?"
Jiang Cheng lowered his head and said respectfully: "Your servant does not understand the Emperor's meaning. Your servant has no intention of currying favor with anyone. Your servant is merely acting according to the harem regulations. If the Emperor believes your servant has made any mistakes, you may dismiss your servant's title as chief eunuch, and your servant will not complain."
Feng Xie listened to Jiang Cheng's words, and his previous anger subsided. Jiang Cheng was the one who had raised him.
Most importantly, he was not just a servant. He had also imparted countless principles of life, guiding him, the Emperor, forward. Therefore, he would not easily get angry with Jiang Cheng.
"Alright, I am not blaming you. You may rise."
Hearing the Emperor's words, Jiang Cheng felt relieved. In fact, he was also very nervous, his palms sweating. But since the deed was done, he could only face it calmly. Fortunately, the Emperor did not blame him. He carefully stood up and retreated to the side.
Feng Xie glanced at Jiang Cheng. His slender and perfect hands gently tapped the dragon desk. In the candlelight, his handsome face cast long shadows from his eyelashes, obscuring the calculations in his eyes. He casually instructed Jiang Cheng.
"From now on, do not bother with matters concerning Huaqing Palace. If they need anything, wait until they bring it up. Do you understand?"
Jiang Cheng was taken aback. It seemed the Emperor truly disliked the Empress. He couldn't help but worry for the Empress. Being in the harem but not receiving the Emperor's favor, her path would likely be difficult. He felt a bit angry at the person who had sent the Empress into the palace.
Prime Minister Liu, Prime Minister Liu, what exactly do you want to do? Knowing that the Empress would not be favored, why did you send her into the palace? However, despite Jiang Cheng's resentment, he could not let the Emperor see any clues, so he bowed and reported.
"Your servant obeys. From now on, the Empress will fend for herself."
Feng Xie's expression flickered upon hearing Jiang Cheng's words. Why did that sentence sound so harsh? He said unhappily: "Jiang Cheng, what do you mean 'fend for herself'? She is still the Empress. Haven't you given her everything she is entitled to?"
"Doesn't the Emperor mean that?" Jiang Cheng looked up at the Emperor with feigned innocence. The Emperor had been raised by him since childhood. He was exceptionally intelligent and acted with integrity. His words had probably struck a chord with him.
"Alright, you may go down," Feng Xie waved for this servant to leave. He knew that this damned Jiang Cheng was doing it deliberately. He did mean that, but he couldn't say it so directly; it was too unpleasant.
Jiang Cheng respectfully performed a kowtow: "Your servant takes his leave."
After Jiang Cheng left, the eunuch Xiao Wanzi walked in and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the rewards for the consorts of various palaces have been distributed, except for?"
"Except for what?" Feng Xie looked up at Xiao Wanzi, who had stopped speaking. His phoenix eyebrows were raised, waiting for his next words.
Xiao Wanzi quickly said: "Your Majesty seems to have forgotten Huaqing Palace of the Empress."
Feng Xie smiled chillingly. What did these servants mean? Why were they all reminding him about that ugly woman? It was truly annoying. His eyes suddenly swept over them with a dark and unclear gaze.
As the Emperor's personal eunuch, Xiao Wanzi recognized the Emperor's expression and knew that the Emperor was getting angry. He dared not say anything more and quickly spoke.
"Your servant deserves death. Please punish me, Your Majesty."