The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

The atmosphere inside the Jiaofang Palace was more somber than usual.

Liu Rusi, dressed in a fairly decent lotus-colored palace gown, carefully entered the main hall and respectfully bowed to Wulan Yun, who was seated on the phoenix throne.

"This humble concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress."

She lowered her eyes, still clinging to a sliver of hope.

Although things didn't go as planned last night, and His Majesty only granted her the title of Noble Lady, she thought that since the Empress had gone to such lengths to arrange things for her, she wouldn't just give up on her as a pawn.

If the Empress is willing to continue to help her, she may still have a chance to turn her life around.

Wu Lanyun glanced coldly at the submissive Liu Rusi below and sneered.

That idiot can't even see the situation clearly.

"Get up." Wu Lanyun's voice was devoid of emotion.

Liu Rusi stood up, carefully choosing her words, trying to express her loyalty: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Last night, it was my incompetence that I was unable to keep His Majesty. But I am loyal to Your Majesty and will do my utmost to win His Majesty's favor and share Your Majesty's burdens in the future."

"I beg Your Majesty to give me another chance."

Ulan Yun scoffed as if she'd heard a joke: "An opportunity?"

She sized up Liu Rusi and spoke without any mercy:

"Even aphrodisiacs couldn't get you into the Emperor's bed. You're still a laughable virgin. You dare mention the future to me? You expect me to take care of you?"

Liu Rusi was stung by the contempt in her words and subconsciously took a half step back.

Wulan Yun commanded, "Come here and kneel down."

Liu Rusi's heart trembled. She took a few steps forward and knelt down.

Wu Lanyun looked down at her, casually picked up the teacup next to her, and with a flick of her wrist, poured the entire cup of slightly hot tea, along with the tea leaves, onto Liu Rusi's hair.

"Ah!" Liu Rusi cried out in surprise, stunned by the sudden humiliation. She raised her head, her eyes filled with fear, "Your Majesty the Empress..."

"Useless thing!" Wulan Yun casually threw the empty teacup on the ground, making a crisp shattering sound.

"You're so useless, you can't even earn a single night of my favor, yet you have the nerve to ask me to take care of you?"

Looking at Liu Rusi, Wulan Yun felt an even greater surge of anger in her heart, fueled by His Majesty's reprimand the previous night. She felt that even glancing at this good-for-nothing was an eyesore.

Her tone was harsh, "Want to compete for favor? If you're so capable, then figure it out yourself. I won't waste any more effort on you here."

After speaking, Wulan Yun called out loudly, "Granny Su!"

Granny Su, who had been waiting outside the hall, immediately bowed and entered: "This old servant is here."

Wulan Yun pointed at Liu Rusi, who was kneeling on the ground and trembling, and waved her hand in annoyance: "Take Consort Liu out."

"Go kneel outside the hall and calm your mind. You can get up when you've figured things out."

Granny Su understood and stepped forward, her tone not particularly respectful: "Noble Lady Liu, please."

Liu Rusi panicked completely, crawling two steps on her knees and trying to grab Wulan Yun's skirt to beg for mercy: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please have mercy! This concubine knows her mistake, please..."

Ulan Yun avoided her touch with disgust, her eyes icy: "Drag her out!"

Granny Su no longer stood on ceremony. She gestured for two rough-looking palace maids to come forward, one on each side, and dragged Liu Rusi out of the main hall without any pity.

The sunlight was bright outside the hall, and Liu Rusi was forcibly forced to kneel on the stone slab.

Granny Su stood before her, forcing a smile, and said, "Noble Lady Liu, this old servant dares not disobey Her Majesty the Empress's orders. Please kneel in peace."

She paused, then instructed the maid beside her, "Keep an eye on them. If their kneeling posture is improper or they are slacking off, remind them."

So-called reminders are naturally not gentle words.

Liu Rusi knelt under the scorching sun, her cheeks still smeared with tea leaves. Although the palace servants passing by dared not look at her openly, their subtle gazes and whispers still made her extremely embarrassed.

She finally realized that she was not only a useless piece, but also a tool for Wulan Yun to vent her anger.

From now on, her life in this deep palace will probably be a hundred times more difficult than she imagined.