Chapter 6

Chapter 6

By the time I ran out of the eunuchs’ quarters, my head had cleared quite a bit.

I began planning to go to the greenhouse and find Matron Li, the supervisor there. Baozhu had once made a sachet for her.

It wasn’t some great favor, but the greenhouse was full of plants and herbs. Who knew? There might be some medicine there that could ease Baozhu’s suffering, if only for a while.

I thought she would be willing to help.

The more I considered it, the more it seemed reasonable. But I never expected that the moment I stepped into the greenhouse, someone would call out to me.

“You. Come here.”

The woman wore silk flowers in her hair and had a silk handkerchief tucked at her waist. Her manner was composed, and one glance was enough to tell she was a highly respectable matron.

For all I knew, she might be the head palace maid serving in some noble consort’s residence.

I hurried over and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Matron.”

“Which palace are you from?”

“The Laundry Bureau.”

“Have you finished your duties?”

“I… I have.”

She gave a nod. “Good.”

“The greenhouse is short-handed today. Come with me to deliver flowers to Ci’an Palace.”

Of course, I had no choice but to agree.

Any task connected to the Empress Dowager’s palace was of the utmost importance within the palace walls. How could I possibly refuse?

I wasn’t unfamiliar with the way to Ci’an Palace, so I simply followed at the very back of the line.

Today, we were delivering begonias.

Begonias usually bloomed in spring. His Majesty had specially ordered the greenhouse to cultivate this new variety to please the Empress Dowager.

The pinkish-red petals against the emerald-green leaves were truly beautiful.

It was just that the pebbles lining the bottom of each pot, though delicate and refined, made them rather heavy.

By the time we arrived at Ci’an Palace, both my arms were trembling slightly.

Our group formed two lines and, following the matron’s instructions, began carrying the flowers inside one by one.

Because I did not dare raise my head, and because the gold-flecked floor tiles on the steps had been polished far too smooth, I accidentally stepped on the hem of the palace maid in front of me.

She cried out softly, lost her balance, and pitched forward. Then the entire line toppled over like a row of bamboo tiles.

The begonias in our hands naturally smashed to pieces. Pebbles and soil scattered all over the ground.

My heart lurched. I even forgot to stand up.

The matron came all the way out from inside the hall, the fury on her face already boiling over several times.

The palace maid in front knelt down, her voice choked with tears as she accused me. “Matron, it was her… She stepped on me, and that was why I fell. Please punish me lightly, Matron…”

My mind felt like a pot of paste being stirred, chaotic and scalding.

“How dare you! You were serving in Ci’an Palace, yet you were still so careless. If you startled the Empress Dowager, how many heads do you have to pay for it?”

The matron was both anxious and furious, as if she wished she could deal with me on the spot.

I knew I had committed a terrible offense and hastily fell to my knees, prostrating myself on the ground.

Before I could even beg for mercy, two eunuchs came up and seized me from both sides.

“Enough. Drag her to the Office of Punishment for hard labor.”

I knew what sort of place the Office of Punishment was.

Once someone went in, they could forget about coming out in one piece.

Terrified, I somehow found a burst of courage. I broke free, crawled forward on my knees, and clung to the matron’s leg.

“This servant didn’t mean to do it. Please, Matron, spare me this once…”

I held on to her leg and kowtowed again and again.

Just as I had once kowtowed to those noble ladies by the roadside.

Back then, I had begged for a mouthful of food.

Now, I was begging for my life.

I thought, as long as I could live, that would be enough.

I bowed my head and struck it against the stone tiles, kowtowing numbly.

Until someone pulled me up by the arm. I lifted my head in a daze, only to see her startled gaze fall on the half-open collar of my robe.

“You, you, you…”

Someone rushed to my side and gathered me tightly into her arms.

As if a lost treasure had been found again. Two hot tears fell against my cheek.

“My child…”

I lifted my head blankly and froze.

Wasn’t this the venerable mistress of Ci’an Palace?