Chapter 1

While washing Consort Xu’s feet, she happened to be in the middle of a massive tantrum. Her insults were aimed directly at Feng Luan Palace, and she didn’t even bother to lower her voice. All of this was because the Emperor had gone to sit with the Empress for a single hour on her birthday.

“What a little tramp! I certainly underestimated you! Do they all think they can bully me just because I’m an outsider? Putting on airs just because of her status… does she really think I won’t deal with her? She’d better watch her skin!”

She screamed at the head maid kneeling on the floor, her delicate face still breathtakingly beautiful even in her rage.

The head maid remained as still as a quail, not daring to speak. Everyone knew she was hurling indirect insults, yet no one dared to say a word.

This was the beauty for whom His Majesty had been willing to trade away entire cities. Since she entered the palace, the three thousand beauties of the harem might as well not have existed; his favor was bestowed upon her alone. If the Empress weren’t the Empress Dowager’s niece and the Emperor’s childhood sweetheart, he likely wouldn’t have stayed for even that one hour on her birthday.

I kept my head down and remained silent, meticulously using a cloth to wipe those feet that were as white as jade, not missing a single spot. The beauty continued her tirade, and as if growing tired of the silence from those who dared not resist, she kicked me hard in the chest in a fit of pique.

Her other foot landed in the basin, splashing the footbath water directly onto my face.

The warm sensation and the sharp pain in my chest made me gasp, but I managed to endure it without making a sound.

The Imperial Consort finally looked down and swept a glance over me. With a cold sneer, she used the top of her foot to hook my chin, forcing me to look up and meet her eyes. “What? Do you dare to harbor resentment against me now?”

I raised my head, but kept my eyes lowered. Using the silk handkerchief in my hand, I carefully wiped the jade-like foot beneath my chin and said softly, “I wouldn’t dare. I was only worried, Your Highness-did you hurt your foot just now?”

She froze for a moment before scoffing. “A lowly wench is just a lowly wench, a servant fit only to wash my feet.”

I replied smoothly, “I am a servant, but I am Your Highness’s servant, which makes me more noble than the servants of other palaces. Being able to wash your feet is a blessing I must have earned over eight lifetimes.”

My words were unexpected, but they caused her expression to soften slightly.

“At least you have some sense.”

She said no more, for a deep male voice came from behind her: “Jiaojiao.”

My hand paused as I wiped her feet.

Fortunately, the Imperial Consort was overjoyed and didn’t notice my lapse. She ran barefoot toward the man standing not far away, her voice delicate and melodious, like a feather lightly brushing against the heart, making it itch.

“Your Majesty~ Why are you here? Weren’t you going to accompany the lady of Feng Luan Palace? I thought you had long since forgotten about Jiaojiao.”

As she spoke, a crystal-clear tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

A beauty in tears, like a pear blossom bathed in rain-who wouldn’t feel their heart ache at such a sight?

Pei Qi was no exception; in fact, he felt it even more intensely. For the sake of this single tear, he had even offered up cities.

“Nonsense. I only see Miaoyan as a sister. It just so happened that the Empress Dowager was also there today, so I stayed a bit longer. How could I ever forget Jiaojiao?”

“Is that true?” the Imperial Consort asked with charming innocence.

Pei Qi’s eyes were full of tenderness as he pulled the beauty into his arms, his gaze clouding with desire. Suddenly noticing her bare feet, he asked, “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

“Isn’t it because I wanted to see Your Majesty as quickly as possible? Does Your Majesty blame me?”

“Hahaha, how could it be your fault? Anyone in this world can be wrong, but it will never be Jiaojiao’s fault!”

Pei Qi laughed loudly and carried the beauty toward the bed. His voice drifted back:

“The servant who was washing her feet-punish her to kneel outside for an hour.”

I couldn’t hear what was said after that because I had already walked out the door. The winter in the Imperial City was bone-chillingly cold; the footbath water on my face seemed to freeze instantly, making it feel as though my skin was being iced over.

“Go on, get kneeling, you lowly thing. Did you really think the Noble Consort was so easy to flatter? Bah!”

The head maid was in a foul mood, so she kicked me hard in the knees. I fell heavily onto the snow. Faint sounds of mockery came from the surrounding servants.

Of course, the sounds of laughter from inside the hall were even louder.

I simply knelt there and listened quietly.

Perhaps the laughter was too piercing, or perhaps this year’s winter was simply too cold, but I began to hallucinate again. I saw that young soldier in armor walking toward me, covering my hands with his own in distress.

“Why aren’t you inside? It’s so cold here. Suniang, let’s go inside.”