Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After I finished absorbing the spiritual energy, I closed my eyes and meditated for a while. Then I extended a finger, and a tiny cluster of blue sparks appeared at my fingertip.

This was called Five Thunder Fire, a weakened version of Palm Thunder.

I couldn’t very well burn firewood every time I wanted to refine gold. That would cause too much commotion and make it far too easy for others to discover me. With Five Thunder Fire, I only needed to bring my palm close to the gold, and I could melt it directly and extract the spiritual energy.

My power was limited right now, so I could only condense this one spell for the time being. Only after I absorbed more spiritual energy in the future would I be able to use more spells.

“Yunyao-where is Yunyao? Consort Li is calling you to serve in the side hall.”

A shout came from a distance. I quickly put out the fire, straightened my skirt, and went out to meet them.

“Shh-Sister Liuli is asleep. I’ll go right away.”

The person who came was Zhenzhu, another senior palace maid beside Consort Li. She looked me up and down, and when she saw that I had already removed all the jewelry, she gave a satisfied sneer.

“A lowly maid really is a lowly maid. You’ve adapted awfully fast to being a palace maid again.”

“Change out of those clothes too. Go serve Consort Li as she retires for the night in the side hall.”

By the time I changed and entered the side hall, Consort Li was already on the bed, with Lu Yunzhou sitting beside her. The two of them were cuddled together, flirting shamelessly…

“Yunyao-you’ll serve here tonight.”

Consort Li pointed to the spot at her feet.

It was a carved red sandalwood canopy bed, exquisitely made, with a wooden railing around the outside. The step platform beneath Consort Li’s feet was where the palace maid on night duty slept.

I stood still. Lu Yunzhou’s expression turned hesitant.

“Forget it. Tonight, let’s call-”

“What’s this? Is the Emperor feeling sorry for her? Then take her back with you. I can’t afford to use a maid like this.”

Consort Li’s face darkened. Lu Yunzhou immediately raised his hands in surrender.

“All right, all right, we’ll do as you say. Yunyao, come here!”

I was still staring blankly at that bed.

So luxurious. Dragons and phoenixes carved all over it, the entire bed gilded with gold. I was going to be rich.

I walked over and sat down on the step platform. Consort Li let out a coquettish laugh, wrapped her arms around Lu Yunzhou, and tumbled onto the bed with him. As the gauze curtains fell, I quickly pressed my hand against the gilded carvings.

A little while later, wisps of white smoke rose from the bedpost.

“Emperor, your body is so hot-”

“Consort Li, you’re burning up too-”

The palace maid standing guard at the door secretly glanced toward the bed and turned pale with fright.

“Heavens! Fire!”

“The bed is on fire-someone, come quickly!”

Damn it. I’d forgotten the gold was inlaid into the wood. One careless move, and I’d set the whole bed on fire.

Forget it. Since it was already burning, I might as well put on an act of saving the Emperor while secretly placing my hand on a few other corners and turning up the heat.

The outer pillars of the bed burst into flames. Lu Yunzhou had been sleeping on the outside, so he moved extremely fast, rolling out at once and leaving Consort Li trapped inside alone, screaming for help.

I turned my head and saw that Consort Li still had two large gold hairpins on her head, gleaming so brightly they dazzled the eyes.

“Consort Li-I’m coming to save you!”

I charged into the fire, grabbed Consort Li’s big gold hairpin with one hand, wrapped my other arm around her waist, and dragged her out.

When I was nearly outside, I smoothly pulled out the gold hairpin and stuffed it into my sleeve. Consort Li’s hair was in complete disarray as she collapsed onto the floor and sobbed loudly. No one noticed my little movement at all.

“Wuwu, Emperor, I was so frightened-”

Consort Li cried miserably and looked at Lu Yunzhou with an aggrieved expression.

“You didn’t even pull me out-”

“Heh. Please. Him?”

I curled my lip in disdain.

Lu Yunzhou had always been selfish. When we were young, whenever I caught fish, shrimp, or birds, he would sit beside me perfectly at ease, waiting for me to prepare them for him to eat. Once, my hand was cut open with a long gash, blood pouring everywhere.

Lu Yunzhou had thoughtfully suggested,

“Yunyao, since your right hand is injured, use your left hand.”

I truly didn’t know what kind of curse I had been under to willingly give so much for him all these years.

Perhaps the contempt in my eyes was too obvious, because Lu Yunzhou suddenly became angry.

“How could the fire start for no reason? Did you set it?”

“Men, send Yunyao to the Xinzheku. Let her do two full months of hard labor before she comes out!”

That was close. You guessed right, but I’d never admit it.

I sat down on the ground, grabbed Consort Li’s arm, and took the opportunity to slide off her gold bangle.

“I’ve been wronged-Consort Li, save me-”

Consort Li ignored me. Lu Yunzhou waved his hand, and two guards rushed up like wolves and tigers, dragging me out of the hall.

“Let go. I can walk by myself.”

I obediently cooperated, while taking the chance to melt the gold hairpin and bangle clutched in my hand. This time, I melted them very carefully and didn’t set my sleeve on fire.

Before leaving, I went to the side room to get the Heaven and Earth Mirror.

Liuli happened to have just woken up. She was propping herself up on her arms, looking at me with a confused face. After her blank gaze lingered for a moment, she reacted.

“Well, well, you lowly maid! You actually dared to steal my things. I’m going to tell Consort Li right now-”

“All right, all right. I already turned myself in just now.”

“See? They’re here to escort me to the Xinzheku.”

I walked to the corner, opened the trunk, and dug out the bronze mirror. Liuli became confused again.

“Turned yourself in?”

I ignored her and lowered my head to look into the mirror.

Liuxiu Star Lord: “Huh? How did Yunyao end up in such a sorry state? Was she burned by fire?”

Shaohua Immortal Lord: “Did she climb into a stove? Even her hair is curled from the heat. She looks like a scorched flat-feathered bird, hahaha-”

Young Master of the Phoenix Clan: “Who are you insulting? My Phoenix clan will never coexist with you!”

Young Master of the Xuanniao Clan: “My Xuanniao clan will never coexist with you!”

Young Master of the Vermilion Bird Clan: “My Vermilion Bird clan will never coexist with you!”

Shaohua Immortal Lord: “…”

The Xinzheku was in charge of the roughest, most exhausting chores: tending lamps, carrying water, sweeping snow, washing clothes, and cleaning chamber pots. It was usually where criminal servants were sent. By the time I arrived, it was already late at night, so the eunuch in charge casually found somewhere to settle me.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, an elderly momo with a long face came to wake me.

“You sure slept well. Did you come here to enjoy yourself?”

“Get up. You’re not eating today until you scrub all these chamber pots!”

The elderly momo pointed at the mountain of chamber pots piled outside the window.

I was dumbfounded.

Shaohua Immortal Lord: “Everyone, come look! The mighty High Immortal Yunyao is going to scrub chamber pots-”

Liuxiu: “Hehehe, hehehe, hehehe~”