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

Inside Yilan Palace, Shen Qingruo was leaning against the soft couch by the window, listening to Xiao Jiu chattering in her mind about the morning court session.

"Aruo, Aruo, your father and maternal grandfather are now officials. Let's see who will dare to say you are helpless and alone in the future."

Shen Qingruo smiled slightly but did not speak.

She picked up a piece of almond shortbread that the palace maid had just served and ate it in small bites.

At this moment, Granny Yan walked in, her expression somewhat strange: "Your Highness, Consort Liu from Jiaofang Palace has arrived. She says she is here on the Empress's orders to bring you some snacks."

Shen Qingruo paused, then raised her eyes: "Consort Liu?"

Wasn't Liu Rusi granted the title of Noble Lady by Shen Wangxi and placed in the Jiaofang Palace? Why is she suddenly in her palace?

"Let her in." Shen Qingruo put down the almond shortbread she was eating halfway through and picked up a handkerchief to wipe her hands.

Liu Rusi walked in with her head down, carrying a food box, her steps unsteady.

She dared not raise her head, and knelt down to pay her respects: "This concubine, Liu Rusi, greets Your Highness, may Your Highness live a thousand years."

Shen Qingruo looked at her slender back as she lay prostrate on the ground, her voice soft and calm: "Get up, what is it, Consort Liu?"

Liu Rusi stood up and handed over the food box with both hands:

"Her Majesty the Empress was overjoyed to hear that the Consort's father and grandfather had received imperial favor, and specially ordered her concubines to send over some newly made pastries from the small kitchen to express her congratulations."

Granny Yan stepped forward and took the food box.

Shen Qingruo's gaze fell on Liu Rusi, and she said indifferently, "I am grateful to Consort Liu for making this trip, and I would also like to thank Her Majesty the Empress for her kindness on my behalf."

"If there is nothing else, you may return."

When Liu Rusi heard that she was told to go back, she panicked.

She knelt down again with a thud, her voice trembling with tears, "Your Majesty!"

"Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to spend more time talking with the Noble Consort and to serve her..."

Shen Qingruo raised an eyebrow, looking at her frightened appearance, and understood.

It seems that Wulan Yun deliberately made things difficult for Liu Rusi, assigning her a task and intentionally sending her to Yilan Palace to annoy her.

"Talk to me?" Shen Qingruo's tone remained flat. "What is there for me to say to you?"

Liu Rusi lay on the ground, unable to answer a single word.

These days, she feels like she's walking on thin ice, and the path to success she once envisioned is nothing like what she imagined.

Shen Qingruo looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and had no intention of making things difficult for a tool that Wu Lanyun was using.

She said in a distant tone, "Since Consort Liu is ordered to stay for the required time, then she may sit in Yilan Palace. However, I do not like noise."

After speaking, Shen Qingruo picked up the poetry collection and began to read it, and the room fell silent for a moment.

Liu Rusi stood up and sat down, secretly glancing at Consort Zhao, who was reading a book with her head down, looking quiet and beautiful.

She felt a mix of emotions: envy, jealousy, but mostly sadness for herself.

Where did she get the audacity and confidence to dare to compete for the emperor's favor with such a woman?

After an unknown amount of time, Granny Yan approached Shen Qingruo and whispered, "Your Highness, an hour has passed."

Shen Qingruo then looked up from the poetry collection, her gaze sweeping lightly over Liu Rusi.

"The time has come. Consort Liu may return to report to the Empress."

Liu Rusi quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. This concubine takes her leave."

She fled from Yilan Palace as if she were escaping.

Inside Yilan Palace, Shen Qingruo put down her poetry collection and said to Granny Yan, "Take out the pastries that the Empress sent and dispose of them."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Granny Yan replied, bowing her head.

Shen Qingruo picked up the warm tea beside her, took a small sip, and found Wu Lanyun's annoying little tricks really boring.

She whispered in her mind, "Xiao Jiu".

The sphere of light immediately lit up. "Aruo, do you want to ask about Liu Rusi?"

"Hmm." Shen Qingruo put down her teacup.

"I remember when she was by the hot spring, she had the audacity to offer herself to me, quite ambitious. How come she's become so timid and fearful in the Empress's Chamber now, as if she's a completely different person?"

Xiao Jiu's aura flickered with excitement. "Aruo, there's no need to check, I already know."

"I've been bored lately, so I've been keeping an eye on the Empress Dowager's quarters, and it's quite something."

"That woman, Wulan Yun, has fallen out of favor and is seething with anger. She's taking it out on Liu Rusi, who's conveniently provided as a punching bag. Does she really think she can let this opportunity pass?"

"That wicked servant, Granny Su, always tries to torment people in various ways, just to please her master."

"Tell me in detail." Shen Qingruo lowered her eyes, her voice still soft.

Xiao Jiu continued, "When Liu Rusi was first assigned to the side hall of the Jiaofang Palace, she was still unwilling to give up. Relying on her looks, she still wanted to find an opportunity to get close to His Majesty."

She even secretly practiced in front of the mirror how to smile most beautifully and how to walk most gracefully, hoping to one day replicate your success, Aruo.

Shen Qingruo gave a soft "hmm," her expression unreadable.

Xiao Jiu continued, "It's a pity that Wulan Yun no longer helps her or gives her any more chances."

"On the contrary, they are quick to find fault."

"For example?" Shen Qingruo asked.

"For example, if she goes to pay her respects to the Empress at dawn and dusk, she is said to be impatient, reckless, and unruly if she goes a quarter of an hour early; if she goes a quarter of an hour late, she is said to be disrespectful to the Empress and her superior."

"We'll always find a reason to punish her."

Xiao Jiu clicked her tongue and continued, "The most common punishment is kneeling."

"They wouldn't let her kneel inside the house, but instead made her kneel on the bluestone slab outside the hall for two or three hours at a time."

"A few days ago, the sun was very strong, and she fainted after kneeling for less than an hour. She was woken up by being splashed with cold water, and then she continued kneeling."

"And that's not all."

"When Ulan Yun was in a bad mood, for example, when news came from the previous dynasty that your father and maternal grandfather had been recruited to surrender, she would call Liu Rusi to her side."

"She neither hit nor scolded her, but simply made Liu Rusi kneel beside her and massage her legs."

"Then, holding a fine needle for sewing, while talking to Granny Su, he would gently prick Liu Rusi's hand and arm with the needle tip, then prick her again."

"Liu Rusi trembled with pain, but she didn't dare to dodge or cry out in pain. She could only endure it with a pale face."

Xiao Jiu's ball of light trembled. "Aruo, how twisted do you think this woman's mind is? She can't sleep herself, so she can't stand seeing others have it easy and uses this method to vent."

Shen Qingruo remained silent.

Xiao Jiu concluded, "Liu Rusi has learned her lesson now."

"She knew that in this deep palace, without the emperor's favor, she was less than an ant. The empress could crush her more easily than crush an ant."

"So now if you ask her to go east, she would never dare to go west. She has become trembling with fear, and the slightest sound can terrify her."

"Judging from her expression just now, she must be kicking herself."

"If I had known this would happen, I should have kept my title of county princess and stayed far away when I gave her the choice."

Shen Qingruo remained silent for a moment before speaking softly: "She chose this path herself."

There was no sympathy or pleasure in her voice, just a calm statement of facts.

"Yes, he was too ambitious and didn't know his own limitations. He can't blame anyone else for his current predicament," Xiao Jiu chimed in.

Xiao Jiu thought for a moment, then continued, "But the more miserable Aruo is, the more Wulan Yun's malice will be revealed, which will be advantageous to us."

"After all, Shen Wangxi had cut himself during the incident with the aphrodisiac in the Jiaofang Palace, yet he only gave the Empress a light warning and let the matter drop."

"This proves that no matter how harsh his words were, he still remembered the kindness in his heart."

Shen Qingruo didn't reply. She simply stood up slowly, walked to the window, and looked at the swaying flowers in the courtyard outside.

Does he remember the kindness? In his heart, the kindness shown to the Ulan family has almost completely faded.

But he probably still cherishes some old feelings for the Liu family.