We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 425: Little Sister Is Afraid She’ll Make a Mistake, New Here
“Serve... His Majesty?”
Sili lightly pinched the hem of her clothes, her expression carrying three parts anticipation, four parts nervousness, and three parts joy.
Right then, Sili looked exactly like a woman who was about to succeed in rising to a higher station, yet did not dare show it too plainly.
Seeing Sili like this, Empress Dowager Yan was very satisfied.
Empress Dowager Yan was not afraid Sili might have ambitions—she was only afraid Sili would have no desire to advance.
“That’s right. I’m sending you to serve His Majesty.”
Empress Dowager Yan nodded, placing her palm on Sili’s shoulder.
“You also know that not just anyone is qualified to serve His Majesty. Many palace maids enter the palace for ten years and still might not even catch a single glimpse of His Majesty.
“And if one day you gain His Majesty’s favor and become a consort, that isn’t impossible either.”
“This servant would not dare have such thoughts.”
As soon as Empress Dowager Yan finished speaking, Sili immediately dropped to her knees, looking extremely frightened.
“What are you afraid of? Isn’t it normal to have such thoughts?” Empress Dowager Yan’s lips curved up. “But since I’m sending you to serve His Majesty, I need to set some rules for you, so you don’t do something wrong later.”
“This servant will listen to the Empress Dowager,” Sili said quickly.
“First: after you go to the Hall of Nourishing the Heart to serve His Majesty, whatever His Majesty says, whatever His Majesty does, whichever noble consort’s sleeping palace His Majesty goes to in the future—you must report it all to me. Do you understand?”
Sili’s eyes turned twice, and she answered at once, “Yes, Empress Dowager. This servant understands.”
“Second.”
Empress Dowager Yan looked Sili over, appraising her figure.
“You’re pretty, and your figure is passable. His Majesty may be pure-hearted and without desire right now, cultivating the Dao, but no matter what, His Majesty is a vigorous young man. If some vixen clings to him and seduces him, who can say what will happen?”
As she spoke, Empress Dowager Yan’s tone gradually cooled, and a trace of killing intent flashed through her expression.
“Before the royal consort is pregnant, if some vixen gets favored first, then stripping that vixen’s tendons and skinning her alive would not be excessive. Isn’t that right?”
“This servant would not dare!” Sili lowered her head even further. “This servant is only a lowly commoner. Being allowed into the palace, and even being allowed to serve His Majesty—this is all the blessing the Empress Dowager has granted. This servant lives as the Empress Dowager’s person and dies as the Empress Dowager’s ghost. Only what the Empress Dowager gives, this servant dares to take. What the Empress Dowager does not give, how could this servant dare to covet?”
“Sure enough—Shuang’er wasn’t wrong. You really are a smart girl.” Empress Dowager Yan grew even more satisfied at Sili’s answer. “Get up. And don’t forget what you said today.”
“Yes.” Sili wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and slowly rose from the ground.
Empress Dowager Yan looked at a palace maid beside her. “Xuanzhi, take Si Li to His Majesty’s sleeping palace.”
“Yes, Empress Dowager.” Xuanzhi dipped into a curtsey.
Empress Dowager Yan smiled faintly and tucked a strand of hair behind Sili’s ear. “When you see His Majesty, tell him I specifically sent you to serve him. Remember?”
“In reply to the Empress Dowager, this servant remembers.” Sili said uneasily.
“Go.” Empress Dowager Yan waved her hand.
“This servant takes her leave.” Sili dipped into a curtsey and followed Xuanzhi out of the Palace of Spiritual Heart.
“Empress Dowager, hasn’t Chancellor Yan already placed quite a few eyes at His Majesty’s side? Why do you still—”
After everyone left, Huang, the Senior Lady of Ceremonial Instruction, stepped forward and asked softly.
“Those are my younger brother’s eyes. They aren’t only mine. And those people only obey my younger brother.”
Empress Dowager Yan shook her head and sighed lightly.
“It’s not that I don’t trust my younger brother, but now Qin is interfering with our Great Zhou. And the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s relationship with Shanao isn’t good either.
“The situation in Zhou is far too complicated right now.
“And my younger brother... he values power too much. I truly fear that one day he’ll be bewitched by authority and commit a mistake that cannot be undone.
“So I’m putting someone there to watch. That way, I can feel a bit more at ease.”
...
A little less than half an hour later, palace maid Xuanzhi led Sili to the Hall of Nourishing the Heart.
“This is His Majesty’s sleeping palace. His Majesty should still be cultivating at the Asking-the-Dao Altar right now. Just wait here until His Majesty returns,” Xuanzhi said to her.
“Thank you for leading the way, Big Sister Xuanzhi.” Sili replied politely.
Xuanzhi looked at Sili with envy and jealousy. “Don’t think that just because you’re serving His Majesty, you can stick your tail up. Remember—you will always be the Empress Dowager’s person. Understand?”
“Understood, Big Sister Xuanzhi.” Sili kept her head lowered, as if she had not a single trace of temper.
“Do it well. Don’t disappoint the Empress Dowager.”
After leaving those final words, Xuanzhi turned and left.
Watching Xuanzhi’s departing back, and recalling what the Empress Dowager of Great Zhou had said to her, Sili couldn’t help smiling.
This mortal dynasty’s palace really was interesting.
It was as if everyone had a hundred different schemes in their head.
As for the Zhou Empress Dowager and the others, of course Sili did not take them seriously.
What surprised Sili was that fortune had turned, and she now had an opportunity to get close to the Zhou ruler.
In the large courtyard of the Hall of Nourishing the Heart, Sili paced back and forth, waiting for the Zhou ruler to return.
Several hours passed. The sky gradually darkened. The Zhou ruler still hadn’t returned, but instead a few palace maids arrived at the sleeping palace, laughing and chatting.
Seeing Sili’s unfamiliar face, they were curious and also very warm.
Very quickly, the maids began chatting with Sili in front of the Hall of Nourishing the Heart.
When they learned that the maid named “Si Li” had been sent by the Empress Dowager, their warmth gained a layer of respect.
When they learned she was His Majesty’s personal maid, they gained a layer of envy as well.
Still, Sili was rather surprised.
By all logic, serving a sovereign was like serving a tiger. Even if the Zhou ruler was a puppet emperor, he was still an emperor. Shouldn’t the atmosphere among the maids of the Hall of Nourishing the Heart be the most oppressive, the most tense?
Why did it feel like these maids were so relaxed?
“Could you older sisters tell little sister about His Majesty?” Sili said softly. “Little sister is afraid that being new here, she’ll do something wrong.”
“Relax, little sister Si Li.” A maid named Liu Mi said with a smile. “In our Hall of Nourishing the Heart, as long as you don’t commit some truly grave mistake, His Majesty won’t punish you.”
“Yes, yes. His Majesty is really kind—he even gives us pastries sometimes.” Another maid named Yang’er said.
“That’s right, that’s right. His Majesty never beats or scolds us, and he’s handsome, too.” A maid named Yan’er nodded along, but very quickly, Yan’er lowered her head, a trace of loss flashing through her eyes. “It’s just a pity...”
A woman named Mimi quickly tugged on Yan’er to keep her from saying too much.
Even if this Si Li was the Empress Dowager’s person, was the matter of monitoring His Majesty for Chancellor Yan something they could speak of openly?
“In any case, little sister Si Li, just take care of His Majesty with peace of mind. We’re all envious of you.” Mimi smoothly took over the topic.
“Yes, yes. There’s a saying, right? His Majesty is like a piece of jade—so gentle and warm.”
Hearing them one after another, Sili smiled and nodded.
And just as their conversation grew more animated, a duck-like eunuch voice rang into the Hall of Nourishing the Heart: “His Majesty arrives!”
“His Majesty is back. Quickly—stand properly.”
Everyone fell silent at once. Yang’er grabbed Sili’s hand and pulled her into two lines at the entrance of the Hall of Nourishing the Heart.
Not long after, a man wearing a Daoist robe walked through the gate.
All the women called out together, “We welcome His Majesty back to the palace.”
“Mm.”
Xiao Mo nodded and walked straight forward.
The man’s indifferent voice echoed by Sili’s ear, and a feeling both unfamiliar and familiar spread ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ through Sili’s heart.
Sili suddenly raised her head and looked at the man’s profile.