Quick Transmigration: Playing the Role of a Devoted Tool

Gu Qing exchanged a few polite words with Shu Jing. Seeing that Shu Jing was very polite and had no other emotions in her eyes, Gu Qing had a good impression of her.

"Ninth Brother, you will also come to the main hall to teach with me from now on. I have already spoken to Father." Gu Wensi smiled.

He wanted to tell Gu Qing that his kindness went beyond this, and it all depended on whether Gu Qing was willing to cooperate.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am willing." Gu Qing naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

Whether Gu Wensi was using him as a shield for the Fourth Prince or genuinely trying to win him over, Gu Qing had no choice in the matter.

He can only seize every opportunity to climb up, to a high enough position, to take control of his own destiny.

A few days later, the weather cleared up, and the palace held a banquet, keeping everyone busy again.

In the Imperial Household Department, Lan Bo was transferred to work in Consort Xiao's courtyard, still doing odd jobs, sweeping the courtyard and doing low-level work.

As for the tasks that would allow him to see his master, they were simply not for a lowly, unranked servant like him.

"Lanbo, go and clean the back garden," Rongbao, the personal eunuch of the Imperial Concubine, ordered, his tone not very friendly. "Work quickly and sweep all the snow away so that Her Highness doesn't slip."

"Yes, Eunuch Rong." Lan Bo bowed his head in agreement and went to the back garden.

Consort Xiao's garden is located behind the three courtyards. It's quite large, and since it's not snowing today, many places are frozen over.

Lanbo and two other eunuch servants swept the snow and, not daring to delay, knelt on the ground to shovel ice.

When Consort Xiao arrived, they had not yet finished cleaning, so they all knelt down to pay their respects.

Consort Xiao was born with a stunningly beautiful appearance.

A red-gold hairpin adorned with kingfisher feathers was worn askew by her temple, the dangling pearls swaying slightly with her light, lotus-like steps, making her oval face appear as white and jade-like.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, thin and curved, and her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners. Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with watery light. At first glance, she was full of gentle charm. With the movement of her eyes, she could make people forget about the things around them.

Her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips were a natural cherry pink color. When she smiled, they curved into a crescent moon, and two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her lips. She was beautiful without being vulgar, and charming without being seductive.

But beneath that beautiful face lies a cunning and ruthless heart, laced with poison.

She never raised her voice or spoke harshly. Even when reprimanding palace servants, her voice was gentle, her eyebrows curved, and she smiled. Yet, her words were like knives.

One day, when a young palace maid was serving tea, she accidentally splashed some tea onto her skirt. She was not angry; she simply raised her hand to smooth the damp fabric, her smile undiminished, and softly asked the young maid a question.

"Is my sister's hand not obeying her commands?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the head eunuch beside her understood immediately, dragged the little palace maid away, and broke her hand.

She never looked up, only slowly wiping her fingertips, listening to the cries coming from outside. The curve of her lips became softer, but her eyes were devoid of any warmth, as cold as ice in the depths of winter.

She was adept at using others to do her dirty work; she was always amiable to everyone on the surface, but could whisper sweet nothings in the emperor's ear the moment she turned her back.

A few words can plunge an innocent concubine into an abyss of no return.

Her wickedness was never an open and blatant evil, but rather poison wrapped in honey, a knife hidden in a gentle smile, making it impossible to guard against, and by the time one realized it, one had already fallen into the abyss.

Lan Bo knew he was doomed. He kowtowed to the ground, his head pressed firmly against the ground. Without the Imperial Concubine's permission, none of the three dared to raise their heads.

A few days ago, a servant eunuch was executed, and that's when Lan Bo was assigned to come over.

Consort Xiao glanced around the courtyard, her gaze landing on the scattered remnants of ice that hadn't been cleared away by the pond, and a chill instantly filled her eyes.

"Raise your head."

Consort Xiao casually traced the edge of the brazier with her fingertips, her gaze sweeping over the three huddled figures. "Did you shovel the ice in this garden?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it was...it was our servants who did it." The lead eunuch's voice trembled.

"Shoveled?"

Consort Xiao chuckled lightly, her laughter devoid of any warmth. "I see there are still quite a few pieces of ice left by the pond. Are you just going through the motions and not taking me seriously?"

The three men turned pale with fright and repeatedly kowtowed, begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare us! We'll go and clean it up right away!"

"No need." Consort Xiao raised her hand to stop her, her gaze fixed on the frozen pool surface. Her tone was light, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Since you can't clean it properly, then go soak in it and help me melt the ice at the bottom of the pool."

Upon hearing this, Lan Bo and the two eunuchs froze instantly, their faces drained of all color.

In the twelfth lunar month, the pond water, as soon as the ice is broken, emits white steam; that kind of cold can freeze you to the bone!

But they dared not disobey; everyone in the palace knew of Consort Xiao's methods.

Disobeying orders will only lead to a more miserable death.

After a brief moment of surprise, the three of them got up almost simultaneously and staggered to the edge of the pool.

With three muffled thuds, the icy pool water instantly swallowed their figures.

The biting cold seeped into their limbs and bones through their pores, and the three of them couldn't help but shiver as soon as they stood up. The sound of their teeth chattering was particularly clear in the silent garden, and their lips quickly turned blue from the cold.

Seeing them struggling in the water, Consort Xiao's earlier frustration dissipated considerably.

A pleasant smile played on her lips, her eyes slanted upwards, exuding charm, yet her eyes were as cold as frozen water.

The three eunuchs in the water were almost numb from the cold. When they saw the Imperial Concubine smiling, they thought they would finally be spared and begged for mercy.

"Your Majesty, we know we were wrong. Please, Your Majesty, allow us to go up..."

But as soon as they finished speaking, Consort Xiao's voice rang out again, still in that gentle tone, yet every word was piercing.

"What's the rush? I haven't had enough yet. How about this, only one person is allowed to leave the pool today. The remaining two can stay inside and keep Bing company."

She paused, looking at the three figures in the water who had suddenly frozen, and her smile became even more cruel: "You guys figure it out yourselves. Whoever survives can come up."

Lan Bo was startled and looked at Consort Xiao with astonishment in his eyes.

He never imagined that the Imperial Concubine would make such a cruel request.

Before he could react, a usually domineering eunuch beside him, his eyes reddening, lunged at him, roaring, "Then don't blame me! I want to live!"

Caught off guard, Lan Bo was tackled into the water, the icy pool water stinging his nose and burning.

His survival instinct was instantly triggered. Without hesitation, he gripped the other man's neck tightly with both hands and fought back fiercely.

The eunuch struggled, flailing his limbs wildly in the water, but Lan Bo's eyes became exceptionally fierce, and his strength was astonishing.

Only when the other person's struggles gradually weakened and finally stopped moving completely did he release his grip, letting the other person's body float on the water.