“I won’t go. Master, it’s dangerous. You can’t be left alone. Baisu is capable of kung fu, but without a close maid to serve you, what if your sickness recurs?”
The speaker was Baiji, who always listened to Lin Mengya before.
The other two immediately echoed what she said. Everything that happened tonight had given them a severe fright.
It had been a real fight. They saw for themselves, a lady about Lin Mengya’s age, killed by assassins, and lying in a pool of blood on the ground.
Their round eyes were wide open, and reflected their reluctance to leave her.
Therefore, the three maids refused to leave Lin Mengya alone in this place.
Should Lin Mengya ever encounter any danger one day, they would sacrifice their lives for her, at least, to repay her for her appreciation of them.
“I’m a doctor myself. So I’m clear about my own condition. Besides, I will not be staying here forever. I know, you’re worried about me, because of what happened today. But have you ever thought of this? If they take you hostage in order to threaten me, then, it will be more dangerous. So what you should do is to stay in Sanjue Hall, and not come out without my permission. Luckily, no one else knows about this place. Wait there and I will come and get you once I get out.”
Lin Mengya turned her head sideways, and a teardrop dripped from the corner of her eye.
She did not want to leave them, especially Baizhi, who had grown up together with her.
But in the palace, even Lin Mengya herself, had no confidence to survive any potential dangers. Therefore, she must make a good arrangement for the people and things she cared about. Only in this way, would she feel at ease.
Tonight was particularly long, because of the silent atmosphere.
Lin Mengya tried to force herself to sleep, but failed, until daylight was breaking.
In the Imperial Palace, every action would be a potential trap. Thus, she must keep herself in perfect condition, so that she would be able to continue her fight against her enemies.
Thanks to the Shen Nung system, Lin Mengya fell into a deep sleep unexpectedly, after clicking the button of the sleep assistant.
When she got up, most of her tiredness were already gone.
The moment she pulled aside the gauze curtain, she found her room looking totally new.
“Baisu? Baisu?”
Her four maids had already disappeared, leaving no traces in the empty room.
“The function of sleep assistant was so effective that she was even unaware that her four maids had been taken away?”
But after seeing the figure she was familiar with, Lin Mengya started to calm down.
Baisu looked cool, but not angry. It seemed that the situation was better than she expected.
“You are up, Master? Let me serve you.”
Baisu shouted louder than before, as if she was deliberately letting the others hear.
Lin Mengya nodded. “When I was sleeping, someone must have stirred up some trouble with Baisu.”
“The three of them have already gone back. Steward Deng personally took them away. These were changed when we were out. I’ve checked them and found nothing wrong.”
Baiji brought a basin of warm water and carefully washed Lin Mengya’s face and hands, and then, helped her dress her messy hair.
In fact, Lin Mengya had already seen the totally new yard, as what Baisu had told her.
It was a warning from the Empress. It meant that the Empress could decide what kind of house Lin Mengya should live in, as well as what kind of life she would have, in future.
Everything changed overnight. The Empress showed her confidence in her own plan, and also wanted to warn her that the Imperial Palace was the Empress’s place.
As the Empress of Dajin, why would she be so involved in such a small thing?
After dressing up, Lin Mengya’s lunch was already served on the table.
Lin Mengya did get a good sleep last night. It was already noon. Steward Deng did not only take her maids away, and also sent her some things.
For now, no, forever, she could not return to Liuxin Courtyard. But what was laid elaborately in Liuxin Courtyard would be stuck in her mind, and would never be forgotten.
After lunch, the servants the Empress sent to serve her, were already waiting outside.
Two of the maids looked cunning and capable, and Aunt Qinglan who led them to the house, stood in front of her, and greeted her respectfully.
“Greetings, Your Highness. Her Highness knows that you have sent your maids back to your house. She’s afraid that you might find it inconvenient, so she told me to send two maids to you. One is called Zhenzhu, and the other one is Manao. They are very clever and are from the Household Department. Come and greet Her Highness. In the future, both of you will serve her here.”
Qinglan made the decision immediately, without even asking Lin Mengya.
Lin Mengya smiled silently. “They are sent here not to serve me, but to watch me.”
The house was like a graveyard in a ghost film, last night. Today, it became a new house. The Empress did make an effort.
“Thank you, how thoughtful mother is. She is letting me stay in such a beautiful house and also sent two smart girls to serve me. I have to thank her personally.”
Lin Mengya gave a humble smile, and showed a gracious attitude.
Since the two maids were already here, what she needed to do was to accept them. The Imperial Palace was big, and every single action of Lin Mengya would be watched by others.
If she could not refuse, why not accept it calmly.
“Greetings, Your Highness. May you live for a thousand years.”
Zhenzhu and Manao obviously had to kneel and greet her, and said this loudly. This did not put them off.
But Lin Mengya knew clearly that in the palace, she could only believe in Baisu alone.
“You do not need to give thanks. Her Highness was scared last night, and so she will rest in Yongle Palace for the next few days. I know you’re grateful to Her Highness. That’s enough. I’ll convey your thanks to Her Highness. I’m leaving then.”
Qinglan bowed and then left. Then, there was only Lin Mengya and the three maids left.
After glancing at Zhenzhu and Manao, Lin Mengya continued reading the book in her hand. She looked indifferent and arrogant at the moment, different from what she looked like when she was with her four maids. She was friendly and soft then.
When it came to her enemies, Lin Mengya was unable to be warm, like the spring wind.
It was claimed that she was brought here to treat the Emperor, but she did nothing in the next few days, and was like rubbish thrown in a corner. The house was very desolate, except for the two maids who followed her closely.
“Baisu, do they know kung fu?”
Lin Mengya was reading a book inside the room, and looked calm and peaceful.
Baisu gave them a quick glance and then shook her head.
“Right.” Lin Mengya smiled. “It’s impossible to have maids capable of kung fu. After all, this kind of maid would be difficult to find, unlike cabbage in the market.”
“Alright, let’s go to the Imperial Hospital and have a look.”
Lin Mengya was kept in the courtyard, next to the resting palace of the Emperor. But she was not that stupid as to try and break into it.
There was only a wall between the small courtyard and the resting palace of the Emperor. But it was lonely here, while lots of people were guarding the resting palace of the Emperor.
Since the Empress did not send any guards to watch her, it proved that she did not restrict Lin Mengya’s movements here.
And it also proved that the Imperial Palace was really like a metal bucket. How confident the Empress was to believe that Lin Mengya was unable to create any disturbance.
When Lin Mengya got to the gate, she was blocked by Zhenzhu and Manao.
Qinglan had just left, and the next second, both of them showed their true colors.
They did not care about her, even though she was Princess Yu.
“What are you doing? How dare you get in the way!”
Baisu was irritated, and immediately scolded and pointed at them.
Zhenzhu was half a head taller than Baisu. She was still young, but she looked sophisticated. After looking at Baisu from top to toe, Zhenzhu said with contempt.
“You’re wrong. We’re sent by Her Highness to serve Princess Yu. “The Imperial Palace is not Prince Yu’s Mansion. It’s bigger, so the rules are more strict here. I’m showing my kindness, in case Princess Yu might bring shame to Prince Yu, when she makes a mistake, am I right?”
Unexpectedly, Baisu was given a scolding right in her face.
She had never encountered such unkindness, since she came into Prince Yu’s Mansion.
There was a cold gleam in her eyes. When Baisu was about to teach her a lesson, Lin Mengya patted her on the shoulder.
“It’s better if they would like to follow us. After all, I’m unfamiliar with the paths in the palace. It’s good to have someone to lead us. I want to go to the Imperial Hospital, please show me the way.”
Baisu was surprised. “Since when has Master become so affable?”
Lin Mengya winked at her, and Baisu instantly got what she meant. “Right, Master won’t be that easily humiliated.”
“There will be others trapped later.”
“You know clearly what’s important, Your Highness. The Imperial Hospital is not far from here. Your Highness, this way.”
Zhenzhu looked smug, and with Manao, held their heads high and walked ahead of Lin Mengya.
“The Imperial Palace is different from the ordinary folk world. Rules are very important here. Watch your step, Your Highness. This is Zyuyang Palace in the front. His Majesty meets those officials out there. Then it’s His Majesty’s resting palace behind Zyuyang Palace. Concubines or princesses are not allowed here. But Her Highness showed her solicitude for you, when she allowed you to stay here.”
Zhenzhu’s words were full of respect for the Empress, as well as the implication that Lin Mengya did not know the rules.
Lin Mengya did not care. It was just a light taunt, not powerful enough to be the appetizer.
But if what Zhenzhu said was true, Lin Mengya had to be more cautious. The Empress never showed her kindness to Lin Mengya.
“Keep going and the Imperial Hospital can be seen across two gates. But don’t miss the time, Your Highness. Every day from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., the two gates will be locked and won’t be unlocked unless there’s an emergency. It will be terrible if you forget it when you are in the Imperial Hospital.”
“From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.?” Lin Mengya kept it in her mind. She was not in Prince Yu’s Mansion, and Qinghu could not carry her through the windows to get into the house.