all waiting for Qi Lin’s answer.Qi Lin smiled slightly and took out the clothes from inside the washing machine, tossing them into a wooden basin. She then put in the last remaining clothes and chang...Chapter 4: Successful Infiltration

The Hou Palace of Feng Changqing had nearly a hundred women, which meant he had a hundred wives.

What a formidable man.

Silently wiping the sweat from her forehead, she looked around at the lush blooming flowers and plants.

Hmm, it's quite rare to see so many flowers in bloom now. Although most of them are still buds, this imperial garden truly lives up to its reputation.

The rock formations and flowing water here are unique, but what’s key is that everything is natural; something one couldn’t find in the twenty-first century, where even if it existed, it would be protected. She was so fortunate to be experiencing this now.

Suddenly, Qi Lin's gaze was drawn to a small white four-petaled flower on the ground, delicate and pure white, swaying in the cold breeze. It wasn’t artificially planted but naturally grown; she suspected it must have been wild, ranking as one of the beauties among these extravagant flowers.

“Swoosh swoosh”

Hmm Qi Lin got up warily, having just heard something scurrying through the bushes at a fast pace.

A snake Would it be anything other than a snake that could move so quickly among the grass

At the thought of snakes, Qi Lin felt her hair stand on end and cold sweat pour down her back; she was terrified of both snakes and mice.

Involuntarily stepping back until a chilly wind blew across her neck, sending a chill through her body, she realized it was early spring. Snakes fear the cold.

She had made such an elementary mistake. Covering her face in embarrassment, she continued crouching down to admire the small flowers.

However, Qi Lin forgot one thing—Feng Changqing was a strange man, super strange.

So when a white snake stared at her with black eyes, Qi Lin thought it was a dream. But seeing it flick its tiny tongue, she finally realized this creature that only appeared in the hot summer months was indeed a snake.

"Ahhh!!!"

With no preparation whatsoever, Qi Lin jumped up and screamed while wildly flailing about.

The poor little snake hadn’t even registered what happened before it got stepped on by Qi Lin. Its head started spinning, tail straightened, and it fainted.

All it wanted was to get close to her; it had finally escaped for some fun.

But Qi Lin completely missed this point and continued screaming...

Sweat~~

This resulted in the following situation.

"This is a tribute to His Majesty from the Northern Mountain Kingdom. How could you possibly step on it and kill it!" The woman's eyes were brimming with tears, which she was desperately holding back from falling. However, what came through her tear-filled gaze was anger.

Qi Lin was still in shock at this moment. She tightly pressed her chest, trying to suppress the pounding of her heart. But when she looked at the woman in jade-green attire who was tenderly cradling that thing with watery eyes as if about to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on it, Qi Lin felt a chill.

The woman noticed Qi Lin's terrified expression and walked forward, but Qi Lin abruptly took several steps back. Each time the woman approached, Qi Lin retreated further.

In the end, Qi Lin even climbed onto a rockery, while that woman shouted at her from below. The palace maids around them were worried she might slip and hurt herself, but to Qi Lin, they seemed more concerned about what was in her hands.

The little creature in Qi Lin's hand once again suffered oxygen deprivation, spitting out the small scroll bit by bit.

"Beauty, that lady is said to be a concubine whom His Majesty has bestowed a title upon and resides in Qinquan Pavilion," one of the palace attendants noticed Qi Lin’s attire despite its disarray and managed to recognize her identity.

Hearing this, the woman finally stopped yelling and frowned as she sized Qi Lin up.

Of course, she knew who this woman was. Although His Majesty had ignored her ever since she entered the palace, and the Department of Household Affairs treated her harshly, it was said that he did visit her place. According to the rumors spread by the maidservants, it was the first time His Majesty had laughed so heartily at a concubine's place. And he didn't even inquire about his swollen face the next day.

Oddly enough, there were no rewards after that night’s visit, but every single one of the Department of Household Affairs' lackeys received lashes instead.

"So you're the out-of-favor concubine. What was your name again" She looked down at Qi Lin with contempt, using her eyes to tell Qi Lin she had forgotten even her name.

Qi Lin frowned slightly. Judging from her attire, this woman's rank seemed about the same as hers—she must be the Liang Beauty whom Jinyu mentioned earlier.

"Very well," Qi Lin raised one corner of her lips and said, "I heard His Majesty recently conferred a title on a beauty concubine. I assume that would be my dear sister."

“Sister has never heard of you before, truly rude,” although angry, but she was still the woman beside the emperor, so she didn't dare to provoke. She could only tone down her attitude and said, "This is the Emperor's imperial garden, why did my dear sister come here Are you trying to attract His Majesty's attention here But your step on His Majesty’s pet, I think my dear sister should be worried about yourself."

So that was it. Jinyu said this was Feng Changqing's must-pass route after court sessions, so many concubines wanted to gain favor would lay in ambush here, so she also came.

She smiled slightly and tidied up her disheveled hair as she said, "I heard His Majesty likes the tea brewed with morning dew on flower petals, so I... "

Saying that, she took out a bottle prepared beforehand. It was filled with more than half of it, but enough to capture the Liang Beauty's attention.

As expected, the Liang Beauty’s surprised gaze couldn't escape Qi Lin's eyes; she had taken the bait.

"Humph! If His Majesty finds out that you've killed his pet..."

"I will be as good as dead," Qi Lin raised her head and did not look at Liang Beauty. At this moment, the sun was just rising with a rosy hue on its face, and she could already sense its light.

This really is an amazing country. The scenery is too beautiful, women are beautiful, men even more so. If it weren't for the power struggles here, she would definitely think this place was paradise.

"But pets are just to amuse His Majesty. As long as he's happy, who cares what it is" She shook the bottle in her hand, and her smile exuded confidence as she continued, "Right"

Even though it was a question, she said it like a statement. The light in Liang Beauty’s eyes was that of someone trying to make another person happy.

"I... I can also pretend not to know anything." She waved her hand dismissively and dismissed the others, continuing, "This place is actually very dangerous; who knows what might happen"

This is how women are.

"What's my sister saying" She didn't intend to make a direct deal; that wasn't her purpose.

Hearing Qi Lin had no intention of making a deal, Liang Meiren suddenly got angry and raised her hand slightly.

Before Qi Lin could figure out what was happening, someone grabbed her and dragged her down from the fake mountain. As soon as she hit the ground, an empty feeling in her hands told her that the bottle had been snatched away.

Perfect, this is exactly what I wanted to happen.

"What's this..." Liang Meiren shook the bottle and then looked at Qi Lin’s wet hem of her dress. She suddenly threw the bottle towards Qi Lin, hitting her right on the forehead. Seeing blood seeping through her hair, a knot formed in Liang Meiren's heart, but she quickly diverted her gaze and said with somewhat weakened resolve, "Hmph, you can't even dodge this. It has nothing to do with me."

The eunuchs holding Qi Lin were also startled, releasing their grip and stepping back.

Qi Lin touched the blood on her forehead and thought of a famous saying: "When one is in the world of martial arts, how could they avoid getting hurt"

Indeed, hit to the point. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard an eunuch's announcement from afar.

"The emperor has arrived."

The emperor! This wasn't something she had anticipated.

Before Qi Lin could think of what to do next, everything went black in front of her eyes. A long strand of hair brushed across her face, making it itch.

"Sister, are you alright"

Qi Lin was taken aback and looked up just as Liang Meiren’s tear-filled eyes met hers. She appeared pitiful, wiping her forehead with a handkerchief; however, she applied too much force causing Qi Lin some pain, but she hid it well.

"How dare you! Not bowing to the emperor immediately—what crime do you deserve" Little Ningzi sternly reprimanded, startling Liang Meiren’s attendants into a line of kneeling figures.

"Long live the Emperor."

"Your servant greets the Emperor, long live the Emperor," Liang Meiren quickly turned around with tears streaming down her lightly made-up face, resembling morning dew-drenched lotus blossoms.

Qi Lin kept her head lowered, pondering how to respond.

Feng Changqing's gaze remained fixed on Qi Lin’s forehead. A barely noticeable concern flashed across his eyes before it vanished instantly.

"Why are you crying"

Hearing Feng Changqing speak, Liang Meiren slightly raised her gaze and looked at the emperor from the best angle. Her nose flared as tears fell like broken strings of pearls onto her hands. She said, "Your servant is guilty. Today, seeing such pleasant weather, I thought to bring Ke'er out for a stroll. Ke'er was having fun when suddenly—"

She then looked at the small white snake lying unconscious in the young eunuch’s hand and shed more tears saying, "Emperor, your servant is guilty."

Feng Changqing glanced at Ke’er with a slight frown. The snake had unusual habits, preferring cold environments to move around in, and it was pure white, very beautiful and beloved; but now...

"Who has the audacity to kill the emperor's pet" Little Ningzi started scolding when he saw the situation. Servants must find someone to blame before their master gets angry, so that their master can vent his frustration.

"This... This," Liang Meiren hesitated and looked at Qi Lin with a pleading tone, "Your Majesty, my sister did not mean to do it. Please show mercy."

Right, an unintended mistake—nobody would intentionally do such a thing.

"But how did you get injured"

Liang Meiren was stunned. The emperor didn’t blame her but asked about the injury instead.

In a blink of an eye, Feng Changqing had come to Qi Lin's side and lifted her chin, furrowing his brows as he asked, "How did you get hurt"

Liang Meiren stared at Qi Lin fearfully. If she revealed the truth behind what happened, she would surely die.

"Your Majesty," Qi Lin calmly looked back at Feng Changqing and said, "I was startled by that snake and accidentally hit my head on a rock. I also stepped on your pet by mistake. Please punish me."

She wasn’t used to Qi Lin’s cold tone or her calm eyes. When he passed by earlier, he had heard their conversation. His years of martial arts training gave him excellent hearing, and he thought his sudden appearance would make Qi Lin's eyes light up with joy at least, but it turned out she was as indifferent as ever.

Feeling Feng Changqing’s displeasure, Qi Lin felt her chin might break from the tight grip. Had he really gotten angry He’d actually be so upset over a snake.

"Your Majesty~" Liang Meiren called out softly.

Feng Changqing finally let go of Qi Lin, and where his fingers had gripped her chin was now red; he felt a bit regretful for having squeezed too hard.

Rising hurriedly so that she wouldn’t see the embarrassment in his eyes, Feng Changqing turned to Liang Meiren and said, "Shall I punish her Beauty, what do you think"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Of course, she wished this woman would die. But she circled back with, "Sister didn’t mean it."

“Does the beauty mean to plead for leniency on her behalf”

"I just think that since both of us... are serving Your Majesty..."

"Then does the beauty want to take her place in punishment" Seeing Liang Meiren’s shocked and hesitant expression, Feng Changqing felt a great deal of disdain for her. But he liked to toy with people like this in the harem; everyone would cry “sister” or “little sister,” but when trouble came, they’d all fly off on their own.

Yet Qi Lin saw it as an opportunity and spoke up: "Your Majesty, Sister and I are already acquainted despite meeting for the first time. How could I let her take my punishment Please don’t be hard on her. I’m willing to make amends."

Make amends Feng Changqing frowned slightly at Qi Lin; she was telling him he must punish her.

Of course, he quickly thought of the Empress Dowager’s matter as well. Hmph, what a clever woman—she actually tried to use it to her advantage. But whatever; seeing Qi Lin's red chin, Feng Changqing smiled faintly.

"The kitchen in Changle Palace is short-staffed since their chef retired recently. You’ll work there every day and return to Qinquan Pavilion at night. If the Empress Dowager isn’t satisfied with you, I’ll kill you." Then he turned to Liang Meiren and pulled her into his arms; whispering softly in her ear, "Is this arrangement acceptable to my beauty"

"Your Majesty is wise."

The Empress Dowager’s Changle Palace was the last place concubines would want to go. The Empress Dowager was eccentric and had fired many chefs over the years; nobody knew how many of them died unjustly, but most didn’t return from their posting there.ng those words to Zi Yin yesterday, she received this treatment today. Looking at Yu Mu with a slight smile, Qi Lin understood the meaning behind it.Without hesitation, she reached into the basin. She...