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

Inside the Jiaofang Palace, Wulan Yun listened to Granny Su reporting on Shen Wangxi's appointments of Wei Zheng and Yun Wenhan at the morning court session.

"Minister of War, Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy, excellent, truly excellent!" She said this almost through gritted teeth.

"Shen Qingruo, you now truly have someone to rely on."

Ulan Yun's chest heaved with anger. The thought of that vile woman thriving in both the imperial court and the harem, while she herself was in a precarious situation, made her resentment almost uncontrollable.

She no longer wanted to just kill her; she wanted to skin her alive, dismember her, and torture her to death.

Just then, a palace servant announced from outside the hall: "Consort Liu requests an audience."

A flash of annoyance crossed Wulan Yun's eyes, but she quickly composed herself and her voice regained some of its usual composure: "Let her in."

Liu Rusi entered with her head bowed and eyes lowered, and carefully curtsied: "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."

Looking at her timid and cowardly appearance, Wulan Yun sneered inwardly, intending to send her to disgust Yilan Palace.

She offered a gentle smile: "Get up. Consort Liu looks much better today."

Liu Rusi was flattered and quickly said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

She felt even more uneasy, wondering why the Empress had suddenly become so kind to her today.

Wu Lanyun slowly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then said, seemingly casually:

"Speaking of which, it is truly a joyous occasion that Consort Zhao's father and maternal grandfather have been given such important positions by His Majesty today. As the Empress, I should also express my gratitude."

Liu Rusi's heart tightened, and she dared not reply.

Wu Lanyun put down her teacup, her gaze falling on Liu Rusi, and spoke in a way that brooked no refusal:

"Consort Liu, please make a trip to Yilan Palace for me and deliver the few new pastries made in the small kitchen to the Imperial Concubine. Tell her it's a small token of my appreciation."

Liu Rusi's face turned pale instantly.

To Yilan Palace?

That person is currently very popular, and she instinctively doesn't want to get close to him.

Liu Rusi's voice trembled, "Your Majesty, I am but a humble woman, and my words carry little weight, I fear..."

"What are you afraid of?" Wu Lanyun interrupted her, the smile fading from her face, leaving only coldness.

"Can't you even handle such a small matter? Or do you, like everyone else, not respect me, the Empress?"

"This concubine dares not!" Liu Rusi was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground.

Ulan Yun looked down at her as if she were an ant: "Not only do I want you to deliver it, but I also want you to stay in Yilan Palace and talk with the Imperial Concubine for a full hour before returning."

Liu Rusi looked up in confusion. How could she possibly stay in Consort Zhao's palace for an hour?

Ulan Yun continued, "If you do not wait long enough, you shall kneel before me on the stone slab outside the palace for ten hours upon your return."

Ten hours! Liu Rusi's body went limp, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

That would kill her.

"Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty..." She cried, tears streaming down her face, still trying to plead.

Wulan Yun, impatient to listen any longer, directly called out, "Granny Su, give the food box to Consort Liu and watch her go to Yilan Palace."

Granny Su immediately stepped forward and shoved a food box into Liu Rusi's hands with considerable force: "Noble Lady Liu, please."

Liu Rusi was half-supported and half-dragged to her feet. She looked at the food box in her hand, then at Wu Lanyun's cold face, and felt an overwhelming sense of regret.

If she had known that when the carefree prince asked her, she should have chosen to leave the palace and become a wealthy and leisurely county princess, rather than being tormented and abused by this hypocritical and vicious empress in this deep palace.

But now, she has nowhere to retreat.